Review: Book
Recommended Reading: Talley, Fassett and McMaster
Yes, Talley, Fassett and McMaster sounds somewhat like an academic paper, but they’re the authors of three interesting books I’ve just finished reading. The Chiffon Trenches – a memoir The Chiffon Trenches – a memoir by Andre Leon Talley (2020 Harper Collins). (Note: small very font.) I was alerted to this book after reading Andre…
Read More3 books for bedside reading
The Haywood Household has been laid low. After the first few days in bed feeling utterly wretched, one migrates to the sofa in a dressing gown. Absolved of all household responsibilities, the time passes with reading, watching TV, nose blowing, taking little naps and eating ice cream with a teaspoon (to soothe the throat). This…
Read MoreBook recommendation: Mend it, Wear it, Love it!
Mend it, Wear it, Love it! – Stitch your way to a sustainable wardrobe is a new, highly-beginner-friendly “mending + more” book. It’s a nuggetty little hardback book. The author is Zoe Edwards, who will be familiar to those who have participated in Me-Made-May. Zoe blogs at Sozowhatdoyouknow. This is her first book. So…you might…
Read MoreBook recommendation: Modern Mending
Mending is trending, but there are better reasons to mend your clothes… Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald’s new book Modern Mending is a comprehensive guide to mending your clothes that combines practical know-how with whimsical creativity. There is a light-hearted, creative vibe flowing through this book; mending can be artistic, stylish, maybe quirky, and add to a garment’s…
Read MoreBook recommendation: The Art of Dressing
Have you ever read a book that came just at the right time? The Art of Dressing by Tziporah Salamon was like that for me. I borrowed it from the library last week and had been feeling sort of flat about fashion and dressing. Uninspired, a bit bored. This book, in all its colour and…
Read MoreBook recommendation: Measure of a Man
Measure of a Man – From Auschwitz survivor to presidents’ tailor is the memoir of Martin Greenfield, considered by many to be the best men’s tailor in the United States. I read this book in one day! Martin Greenfield grew up in a Czechoslovakian village by the Carpathian mountains. When he was 15, he and…
Read MoreBuilt by Wendy meets Puce Floral
Do you remember the Built by Wendy sheath dress I started back in September? Unfortunately I only got as far as a toile fitting before being paralyzed by fabric and styling indecision. Since then, though, I’ve dug through my extensive fabric collection and come up with a very old cotton sateen pink/purple/puce floral. I can’t…
Read MoreBuilt by Wendy, Sewn by Lizzy
The arrival of spring weather has given me the urge to sew a summer dress. Does this happen to you when the season changes? I was also inspired by a library book: Built by Wendy Dresses: The Sew U Guide to Making a Girl’s Best Frock. The book was published in 2010 and has had…
Read MoreGoodbye Handbag
There have been some moments in the past few years where I’ve thought Why am I carrying this large handbag? I never thought of myself as a handbag person but I’ve been carrying one around for nearly a decade. It started innocently enough: I had a baby and carried around a baby change bag. Then…
Read MoreBook review: Makery books
Makery (2013) and Makery Sewing (2015) by Kate Smith are entry-level sewing project books designed to inspire creating. I actually bought these books from our post office. I didn’t get a good opportunity to flip through them in the shop, but the beautiful photography and covers attracted me enough to buy them. The books are…
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