You Can Go Home Again

When I visit "home" I like to tour around some of my old haunts, but I rarely seem to have the time. While we were in CA last week, I really wanted to get out to the coast, even if it was to get just a glimpse of the ocean. Unfortunately I got a migraine and we didn’t quite make it all the way to the beach, but it was still a nice drive and I got a few pictures that I think are representative of the area.

Miles and miles of dairyland lie between Hwy 101 and the coast.

The black and white cows are my favorite.

We stopped in Point Reyes and ate lunch at the Pine Cone Diner.

Pt Reyes is an old and diverse community, with some unusual public art.

This is "Our Lady of the Harbor" in an empty lot just off the main street.

Closeup: she has birds, feathers, shells, fish, plants and other accessories and offerings

I could not resist this mossy, falling-down shack on the road to Petaluma

Of course, the common theme in my photos is the lush greenery. We had rain for two of our four days, and the air was humid the rest of the time. It was quite a shock to my desert-adapted system, but so pleasant. I hope to get back there again soon!
Katrina

Things We Don’t Often See

On our lovely trip to Northern California, we saw many things we don’t get enough of in Arizona:

The color GREEN!

Fog

Redwoods

Dew (and a little friend)

Ancient oak trees covered in moss

Jackrabbit

Yes, we see plenty of jackrabbits in AZ, but they’re usually moving fast. This guy was happy to sit and eat while I took his picture.

We had a great but too-short trip. Our friend’s celebration of life was colorful, joyous, and sad, as it should be. My parents are doing wonderfully well, or else they are very good at hiding whatever may ail them. They entertained us with stories and good meals and loaded us up with books. (Probably the greatest fear known to anyone in my family is being trapped on an airplane for hours with nothing to read.)

Between family and friends we squeezed in a nice drive to the coast, and I will have a few photos to share with you next time.

Katrina

Going Away; Back Soon

I’m leaving on a short trip tomorrow – just a couple of days in SF to attend a celebration of life for the dearly departed D. While I’m there, I’ll also visit my parents and maybe have a bit of time to take in the local color. Going back to the Bay Area (my childhood home and home of my heart) is always frustrating because there are approximately 8000 things to do and we usually only have time for two or three.

I’m not going to fool myself into thinking I’ll be able to visit the blogoverse from any of my destinations. The last time I traveled, my laptop refused to boot up. The time before, I could not get a wi-fi signal. So I just won’t worry about it. I figure if I bring a couple of embroidery canvases with me, I won’t even think about the internet.

And I'll be back next week with news and pics. Have a lovely week!

Katrina

Revisiting the Pattern Collection

After yesterday's serious topic, it’s time to lighten up and share another selection of goodies from my burgeoning pattern stash!

Today we have 1940’s dresses. The styles of the decade ranged from the tea-length, flared hems carried over from the thirties, to the narrow, fabric-conserving dresses triggered by wartime shortages, and then to the voluminous skirts of the post-war New Look. Shoulders grew and shrank, hemlines went up and down, but a common theme of tailored fit and ladylike refinement ran throughout.
The shirtdress or shirtwaist is the style I most strongly associate with the 40s. Even the simplest dresses had special little details.

Some more casual styles. The dress on the far right is from 1950, and shows the transition to a fuller, longer skirt.

I could not resist these gorgeous reproduction patterns. A bit beyond my skill level at this point, but maybe some day…

The shirtdress continues its popularity. In the 80s the silhouette was supersized but recognizable (left and center). The modern shirtdress (2005 pattern, right) looks like it could have come straight out of 1942.

I haven't yet tried sewing any of the original 40's patterns. Some are unprinted, which I think takes some getting used to, and some are missing minor pieces and will require a bit of ingenuity.

Have you tried sewing any of these older patterns, and if so, what's been your experience?

Katrina