Relax, Rewind and Return, My Little Chinchilla

Pink chinchilla and silk satin "tuxedo" jacket, fall/winter 2006, Ralph Rucci

I am going to get my keyboard sweaty with salt right now.  You know I blog best after my tennis session with Amanda. Man she really helped me.  Let's start by saying I need to RELAX my frickin grip.   I want to be so good.  As good as this chinchilla jacket.  OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH my gawd! This is what I am talking about.  All we need is a little Vivaldi and RUCCI.  Only the best for you my friend. I like RUCCI because he is in a class all his own.  He is about simplicity and grace. Rucci only designs with haute couture in mind.  His garments are the most expensive garments in the world right now.  You could say hmmmm, should I buy this new Prius or this wool crepe coat? Decisions. 

Button details, pieced black wool crepe coat, haute couture fall/winter 2004, Ralph Rucci

I actually saw this button detail up close.  I breathed on it.  These buttons are all operable.  Think of the Victorian wedding gowns that buttoned all the way down the back.  In our modern world most wedding gowns have the buttons going down but they are not operable because there is a zipper.   The grooms got involved with the design. You might get that later.  If you were stuck in an elevator for 5 hours or on a Greyhound bus with nothing to do you could literally unbutton this whole coat in pieces. 

Cathedral, 1947 Enamel and aluminum paint on canvas, 71"x35", Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock, Kirk Varnedoe with Pepe Karmel

"Twombly Swan" cotton gazar evening dress inspired by Cy Twombly, Ralph Rucci

Rucci, I know you were inspired by Twombly here but I see some Pollock too.  This is why I love Rucci.  These stitches look RANDOM, but they are carefully executed with delicate sequins.  I would make something like this.  I adore Pollock.  Ok, I really need to take a shower, honestly. My elbows are sticking to this here leather Il Bisonte http://www.ilbisonte.com/ desk mat.  If you don't have a leather desk mat you should get one.  You will REALLY be living.

See now, that was easy.  I want my forehand and backhand strokes to be delicate and hard to return like Rucci's garments.

The Last S'more

Here I am tanning at the watering hole this afternoon.  I am Goaty, I am on leave from Boston for an undetermined leave of absense.  I haven't given that much thought until now.  My dearest Jani did not specify when my return UPS journey would occur.  Hope she reads this.  Jani, I do love the time away, but you really underpacked for my sojourn. All I have is this draw string tunic and evergreen cotton pants.  What to do...

I am still fascinated over the irrelevent causes for excitement that pulses from Lara, my current keeper.  She was holding this roll of cheap chain in adoration today.  It is possible I had some influence in this purchase.   I am responsible for explaining how Gabrielle Chanel used to sew chains at the hem line of her distinct jackets for an even hang.

Couture Sewing Techniques, Claire B. Shaeffer, page 183

Note the chain detail here on the inside lining of the coat.  I am sure you will be hearing much more about Chanelisms when Lara returns to the blog. 

Before the pool, I indicated that she needed to shrink the military green fabric so it is pre-shrunk and ready for sewing.

We decided to shrink the silk lining as well.  It is beautiful isn't it?

Wet silk in the desert.  I was amazed at what a short 10 minutes it took for this to dry in the 106 degree afternoon sun.  Back home Jani would have to leave this out for a couple of hours.  Lara was telling me how she wants to wear this jacket in Washington state when she visits her mother and Rick.  You do know about her mother who has packed and is moving next week didn't you?

Well somebody needs to inform you.  Right now, Lara is busy putting out the fire in the fire pit after making s'mores for the last supper as she phrased it.  Yes, that's right, she built a fire while it was 106 degrees outside.  Tonight signified the last supper, the last neighborly dinner she would have with her parents being her neighbors.  From here on out, having dinner with them will mean booking airfare.  No more skipping through the desert to borrow some milk or have tea with Chris.  Such a symbiotic relationship between 2 families.  

I am becoming aware that my western caregiver is showing signs of having "Saying Good-bye" issues.   It makes sense that she hasn't told you yet.  Of course she would wait until the facts were obvious.  Lara has simply buried her emotions.  Lara has never had this kind of distance from her mother.  I can see that Lara doesn't really enjoy saying goodbye to anyone.  It is really not so difficult.

Luckily, I brought with me Vogue's Book of Etiquette from Boston.  While Lara drank her afternoon green tea, I read her Chapter 1, Manners in General, with special emphasis on Saying Good-bye.  It is quite ironic that her Mother-in-Law should call her this evening out of the blue, and remind her that "Saying Good-bye" is important.

When a man and woman are together, the woman should always make the first move toward departure.

It is courteous to add some remark as, "I enjoyed meeting you so much," or "I hope we will meet again soon."

Pro-longed good-byes are both inconsiderate and boring.  One should leave fairly promptly, although never brusquely, after making the first remark such as "We must be going along...".

When saying good-bye, men and women rise as they do when being introduced.

Vogue's Book of Etiquette, Simon and Schuster 1969.

I know, a little outdated but real style never fades.

Lara making s'mores.

Eva eats a gooey one!

Goaty Has Some Notions

I am Goaty from Boston.  My keeper is Jani who also lives in Boston.  Jani has sent me on sabbatical to help Lara sew a jacket and entertain Eva and Lily.  Lara informed me that I could blog for her tonight since she is studying Royal Tenenbaums for her next R blog.  Was I supposed to say that?

A UPS box came a couple days ago and she had to send it back.   She is adamant that her 'R' blog cannot be complete without this article.   She has been tracking this package daily.  While we wait for the package I told Lara that she really needs to start constructing the jacket that she promised she would make.  At first she resisted, she seemed more interested in the romantic notion of the jacket. Once I saw her at her sewing machine it seemed she was able to focus and dive into the process.

Louis Vuitton Spring Ready to Wear 2010

I guess by now you are familiar with this?  This is the boucle' jacket Lara is making.

Lara used muslin, which is inexpensive fabric to trace each pattern piece. The pattern is Burda with European sizes.  Lara guessed at a size 28 since her Hudson jeans are a size 27.  Seemed logical to me too.

When she placed it on the dress form it seemed big enough for 2 or 3 Lara's.  For clarification, this is a muslin toile, like an inexpensive version of the final jacket that can be tweaked and cut up for the perfect fit.  Once the toile is a perfect fit, it can be taken apart and used for the final pattern.

All the seams were taken out.  Lara used large basting stitches when sewing the muslin toile so it was easy to take apart.

At this point Eva and Lily became very interested in what their mother was doing and wanted to help out.  Taking out basting stitches is rather mindless and fun.  I even ripped some seams out while I was watching my TV that has no electrical connection to the grid.  I hope these westerners have more exciting plans in mind while I am here on vacation!

After all the pattern pieces were taken apart, Lara retraced each one on the her light table.  She is quite proud of this light box that plugs into the wall.  The white box is lit, she listens to NPR and it is as if nothing else matters but this jacket.  This is her operating table.

There she is trying it on for size after she basted it together for the second time.  She is still not satisfied with the fit.  She was desperate for answers so I suggested she read Couture Sewing Techniques by Claire B. Shaeffer.  Lara had her nose in that book for hours last night before bed.  Then she woke up at 1:30am after dreaming of how she was going to make this Vuitton jacket.  When she woke, she completed Chapter 10 Jackets and Coats.  She seemed perplexed.  Once she finished reading about Chanelisms, details and construction techniques on Chanel's legendary suits, Lara became really excited and insightful.  I don't think she has ever made a coat.  Do any of you know?

As for me, I am going to retire in my Queen bed that is out of scale for me in the Vermont Farm House.  I hope tomorrow is not as dreadfully hot as it was today.  I do miss my Jani.  I am happy Catty is here to keep me company.  Catty didn't want to have her photo taken at all.  She is afraid of technology and prefers to communicate with pen, ink and Cranes paper.

Quixote Quietly Rubbed Quinoline on His Quadriceps

QUAINT

I know this is still P for Prada but I kind of forgot to add this on the last P post.  This photo is the most inspiring thing I can think of right at this moment.  I so want these sweet frames.  They are so quirky and crazy QUAINT.  You can use that QUOTE if you want.  QUAINT: unusual or different in character or appearance.

These frames that I bought from Target last night are the closest I am getting to Prada at this moment in time.  A sweet 16 bucks.  I really love these frames.  I am wearing my night gown too.  I look like the Prada girl, but in my very humble opinion, mo betta!  Tracy, if you are reading this... Do you remember when we used to make our own lipstick by mixing eye shadow with lip gloss. I had to do it today because I couldn't find my damn coral lip stick.  Must have fallen into the QUICK SAND during the QUAKE.

I also smelled like Donald Trump for this photo and later during tennis.  Well then I smelled like a sweaty high roller at the jack black table in Vegas.  I bought Pinaud after reading in the New York Times zine that powdery bed hair is the thing now.  It does work pretty well.  Well enough if you want to smell like an old man!

A little snap of my inspiration board in my sewing room.  I finally cut out my muslin for my tweed jacket today, see it there on the bottom?  Next I will have to do some QUALITY CONTROL and sew the muslin together to make sure this jacket will fit.  This is not a QUICK task.  Also spoke with Lisa Helfant at IAS and the SAM HARVEY handbag hardware pieces are complete!  All 5,000 pieces!  I wonder if each one is going to be wrapped individually or I will just open up boxes with a mess of shining hardware that I can snap QUICK for you to see.  Just a little overwhelmed right now!

 Aunt Jan who lives in Boston sent this care package to us.  She sent these folk art figures a.k.a. Goaty and Catty to stay for the summer in Goodyear.  Two years ago, we spent the Fourth of July with Jan in Boston.  Jan had these figures up high on shelves but the girls spotted them right away and became attached to Goaty and Catty.    

Why is Q so dependent on U?

I Wonder What Pablo Picasso Would Do with Post-its?

Picasso, Seated Bather, Paris, 1930. Oil on canvas. Museum of Modern Art, New York.

This painting makes me think of plain Greek yogurt.  It is raw, thick and tangy.  It is about 100-95 degrees here in the desert, so it is already summer to me.  It seems pretty obvious that Picasso was very much inspired by days spent by the ocean.  This would be my PERFECT day:  I play tennis with Amanda and I am all salty and sweaty.  I run to the beach and jump into the ocean and body surf for about an hour.  I wash up.  I eat a grapefruit from Cynthia's tree.  I sew.  My sewing machine would be under a hut with white gauzy curtains blowing in the wind.  Totally.

POST-ITS

I wonder what Pablo Picasso would do with Post-its?  Isn't this size too cute.  Next 3M will come up with a Post-it the size of my second toe nail.  If you know me, then you know that my second toe is really creepy. E.T. phone home.  I am going to keep one in my car so I can remember all my cool ideas.  Not my toe, the Post-it. Gawd! 

PINK cake sitting on a napkin that looks PICNIC-ISH.  Yes, I made the cake with real butter cream icing. Special assistance by Eva and Lily of course!

I PICKED out more fabric at Mood Fabrics in Los Angeles last week.  It only took me 30 minutes.  I loved knowing what I was shopping for.  I only had like 6 hours in the car and 2 years to figure out what I needed.  Two years ago, I didn't know about color like I do now.  I bought all the wrong stuff last trip.  Not this time.  In and out. Tim Gunn would have been pleased.  OH, you want to see what I bought?  No way!  That would spoil all the fun! 

POOL PARTY

Trina Turk bathing suit *like you can really see it*, turquoise necklace made by me and View swimming goggles in my favorite turquoise color.  I made a surprise visit to the pool today while the kids were there with their fellow Summer Campers.  Eva saw me, came up to say hi and then said BUH BIGH.  Lily was running around going down the water slides.  I met her on top of the slides to surprise her.  Before I went down the dark tunnel slide she made me pinky promise that I would scream "THIS IS RADICAL!" while going down.

 I am up to P now. For those who live in a cave or new to my blog, I have been posting with the alphabet. Each blog has been focused around things that inspire me that start with A, B, C etc.  Just look at the oldies yah know! Hey kids, for those that are up to date then I want to say thanks for stopping by.

What would be a perfect day for you?

Original Outfits on My Outing

Oh I missed you!  I snapped tons of photos while I was away at The Happiest Place on Earth! 

This is me laying down on the bench *notice the hedge*.  Jeffrey likes to go from opening to closing.  Literally no sleep till Brooklyn here my gorgeous friends. Notice how I am using gorgeous so loosely.  Yes, I am feeling pretty full of myself after getting my forehand and backhand mo betta today at my tennis lesson. Oh how I digress.  Back to corn dogs and fast passes.

OVER did the churros.  He didn't even know that I zoomed in on him. Hee hee. You know you want to know me.  What is he thinking?

The window displays are really one of my favorites.  The horse is totally thinking "Hey, how do I get away from the psycho blue thing with a wand!".

 

Anti-establishment head gear.  Waiting in line for teacup ride.  Once again I totally zoomed up from a distance. He has no idea that he is on some crazy girl's blog right now.

Baloo is my favorite character.  I used to listen to "The Bare Necessities" from the Jungle Book on my turn table when I was Lily's age, OVER and OVER and OVER.  I would always get bitter about Baloo singing to Mowgli and not me.  Damn you Mowgli.

These babies were pretty much everywhere. 

OH my.

Most inspiring fashion statement.  Check out his ORANGE loafers!!!  She is OVER THE TOP!  I love everything she is wearing here.  The knee highs, red bag and dark delph blue tunic!  Made me want to go platinum with my hair but alas, I cannot do that.  That would be OBVIOUSLY wrong.  I used to be blonde. It is tremendous upkeep and expensive.  I would rather spend money on shoes.  O-SNAP!

Tinkerbell with Lily and Eva.  We decided to go to Fairyland first thing after breakfast so we could catch Tinkerbell in a chipper mood.  She rocks green.  Later that night she flew along side the fireworks.  Really fun time!

This guy was working the Space Mountain rocket ship seating before take off post.  He loves his job.  He liked ushering people into the rockets like airplane crew usher in a plane on the tarmac. I know you had to be there but this guy was hilarious!

Best dressed while waiting for Space Mountain ride.  The wait was only 45 minutes.  We counted the number of people with turquoise shirts and tatoos to help pass the time.

We still didn't have enough Space Mountain so we returned first thing in the morning. This German guy was talking on his cell phone like he was going to work but he was ahead of us for Space Mountain.  I like his gray plaid trousers.  I know he has no butt what so ever but the guy knows how to dress. Ay?  It is very peculiar to get on a roller coaster right after having an omelet and waffles.

OYE VAY, this thing is really stuck in here!

OMG how cute is this list of cheeses on Minnie Mouse's frigerater!

Can anyone tell me what Welch Rarebit is?

OH crap it's late.  I seriously have missed you all.  I hope we all have a safe, fun and OUTSTANDING summer!   You want ONE more don't you!  I can sense these things.  OK. OK. OK.  I will put some tooth picks to hold my eyelids open.

It is a state law in California to hold your hands up while riding a roller coaster.  Night.