Albuquerque High

Traveling to Albuquerque for the American Sewing Guild’s 2009 convention, the back of the car was layered with dozens of freshly ironed aprons and household cloth goods for my booth and a mini-exhibit to be displayed within the Exhibitor’s Hall. However, parking incovenient to the convention center’s front doors, the aprons and dishtoweling and fabric and hot pads and hankies and all else were less than delicately folded into one large mass by Tote Boy, my normally helpful and happy PC, and hauled several blocks with only one concern – that he reach air conditioning post haste. Alas, the collectibles I’d ironed to crispness summarily melted into wrinkles. Call it a heated moment in the extreme heat that is summer in New Mexico.
Once inside, one of us re-energized with a nappy.
Faced with transforming the booth and six portables all by my lonesome, I fortified first with a Coke; then, with hundreds of push pins, I attempted to create a flow of cloth. Within a half hour, I realized that having a drawn out plan of what went where would have been a huge help. Instead, I raced about rearranging or altogether pulling down what I’d just put into place.
Finally, I just stopped. Whatever was up and however it looked was good enough. Lesson learned. Here is a photo collage of the booth (the center picture) and the six displays.

I thought this collage would be a great way to share the display, but now I’m not so sure. Perhaps I need to post the pictures individually, so they are better viewed.

One delight of returning to ASG’s yearly convention was catching up with the wonderful women I’d met two years ago in Sacramento. And then there is the surprise meeting up, like this fabulous smiley moment with Ellen March, editor in chief of Sew News and Creative Embroidery magazines, and new sponsor of National Tie One On Day!

And the winner of my favorite pie book, Humble Pie by Anne Dimmock, is Bonniesline. A new Sunday giveaway is coming up. Only subscribers to the Apron Memories newsletter are eligible, so if you’re reading this and not subscribing… do give it a go!
xxea
Tie One On…an apron, of course!

Vintage Capery

What began as the most gorgeous morning with a sunrise of every hue of pink, has shifted to a gray sky and ferocious winds…sure signs of a storm on the horizon. A quick check of the refrigerator and cabinets indicates a trip to the grocery would be a good idea. Sigh. A gloomy day now looking to be even more so, what with the grocery store my least favorite destination. What to do to cheer myself up but to wear my special cape.

Created during my artistic residency in New York City when I studied to be a fashion illustrator, I purchased the cape from a vintage shop in the Village. It’s a deep navy blue, 100% wool, practically drags the floor and weighs a ton.

My decoration of choice utilized felt squares, the psychedelic palette indicative of the Sixties color wheel. The cape had such voice, it announced its own entrance:

Blog_Cape (Medium)

At first, I glued the pieces to the wool, but with the acquisition of a sewing machine that included the zig zag stitch option, I affixed the designs permanently.

The back of the cape is an explosive garden filled with all things happy.

Blog_Cape Back (Medium)

Not exactly a sophisticated design, it represents the spirit of the artist wannabe that was and is me.

I deem this cape so special, it is stored in a container, swathed in archival tissue. But not today -today I will wear it to the grocery store. While I’m prepared for stares, I also anticipate smiles. Brightening someone else’s day brightens mine, too…no better way to face a coming storm.

xxea

Tie One On…an apron, of course!