First off, friends, I finally got my regular camera back from my brother today. I loved my old camera (Canon SD1000 Digital Elph) when it was new, but compared to my current (Canon PowerShot S90) it was a PITA -- slow and with a tendency to blur. I did appreciate the smaller size though.
My brother and SIL are headed off to India next week and have been purging a lot of their old clothes; actually I don't think the purge was related to the trip. Anyway, I got a few lovely sweaters, including this brown crew neck. Nice, no?
It's especially timely since Freddy vomited on my blue Starlight Express sweatshirt yesterday -- in truth, he vomited on the sofa, and I sat down in it. You'll be seeing a lot of this sweater in the future, and I now have matching ones in navy and gray. I love my brother.
I spent most of the morning preparing for tonight's FIT class and I still have a bit to do, so if this sounds a little hurried you'll understand why. I wanted to share today's library haul though. I don't usually find sewing books at the library but I had put a few things on reserve there lately and they all came in at once.
I don't remember how I stumbled upon Illustrated Guide to Sewing: Tailoring" but it looks interesting. I haven't had a chance to give it more than a cursory glance but I'll let you know when I do. I already have a lot of tailoring books but you can't have too many, right? Are you familiar with it?
Having become obsessed with all things Miyake, I was excited to pick up his book Making Things. It has many beautiful color photographs.
Next, I borrowed another Japanese pattern book. This one is Clothing for Everyday Wear in the Stylish Dress Book series by Yoshiko Tsukiori. If you think this book looks just like the Japanese pattern books I wrote about last week, you're to be forgiven (Smocks! House coats! Gathered skirts! Dainty cotton prints!). I've learned that a lot of this aesthetic is derived from the Japanese "mori girl" fad (also known as "forest girl"). Google it and you'll see what I'm talking about. (Layers, layers, layers.)
Finally, who doesn't love a good Doris Day movie? Trouble is, there were actually very few good Doris Day movies made, but I think "Calamity Jane" is among them. It's not my all-time favorite Doris Day movie (she's too exhaustingly energetic in it), but it's a classic. I haven't seen it in years and look forward to watching it again.
And that's it! Class tonight and tomorrow a photo shoot. Could it get more glamorous?
In closing, friends, do you have luck finding sewing books in your local library?
What's your favorite Doris Day movie?
Have a great day, everybody!
Calamity Jane is my all time favourite Doris Day picture. I must have seen it fifty times. There's not a duff number in the score!
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The Pajama Game is my favorite, LOVE the costumes, followed by Calamity Jane. Good haul. Long live the library!
ReplyDeleteI also love The Pajama Game and think she's just perfect in it.
DeleteFor fashion, "Romance on the High Seas" is the best. For creepy factor, "Midnight Lace" wins. For Doris at the height of her powers, "Pillow Talk" is tops (with "Lover Come Back" as a close second). For suburban charm, "The Thrill of it All" is awesome. For Cary Grant, "That Touch of Mink" is the only choice. "Teacher's Pet" is a weird pairing with Clark Gable but is surprisingly mature. In "Storm Warning," Doris, Ginger Rogers, and Ronald Reagan tackle the KKK. I love all these and Doris too but I admit that it is only her charm that carries most of her movies.
ReplyDeleteThe more they get used, the more new ones the library will purchase. Ask for specific titles - it's your tax money. Be the squeeky wheel.
ReplyDeleteI am totally jealous of your score of the Issaye Miyake book! I have a collection of old VCR's from sewing shows past. One was a Vogue Sewing segment featuring Miyake doing these pleated type fabrics that bounced. I always wished I knew how it was done. They'd be so fun for little girls or even thin teens. Holley in Roseville.
ReplyDeleteI own that Tailoring book- it's pretty decent. The diagrams are clearly drawn, and it's got a lot of information packed into it, but I feel like "The Classic Guide to Sewing The Perfect Jacket: Tailoring" is a little better because of the step by step guides, and it seems to cover more. (That is the world's least descriptive book title, in a way. This is the book I'm referring to: http://www.amazon.com/Tailoring-Classic-Sewing-Perfect-Jacket/dp/1589232305/
ReplyDeleteThe only sewing books my library has are the ones I have donated! Have fun in class.
ReplyDeleteI really need to search out sewing books at the library.
ReplyDeleteFavorite Doris movie- 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' with Jimmy Stewart. I have my mother to thank for introducing me to Alfred Hitchcock.
oo yes. well, in ruggy's hometonwn library. it's glorious, been meaning to post about it....
ReplyDeletei feel quite sad about your starlight express sweatshirt. that's a collector's item. for real.
I'm with Amy. The Man who Knew Too Much and I think the costumes in that were by Edith Head.
ReplyDeleteI recently got a knitting book haul from the library - it's a great feeling isn't it?! Such a shame about your sweater (and you sitting in it!)
ReplyDeleteI love browsing the stacks at any library or used book store for sewing and knitting books. We have a wonderful library system in Cleveland. Occasionally, I search on "Sewing" and then sort by publication date and find all the newest books! I love to buy books that I think I'll use as a reference or has multiple projects that I am interested in.
ReplyDeleteI love Calamity Jane but my favorite is Lover Come Back.
ReplyDeleteMy library is awesome too! I currently have all the Pattern Magic, ShapeShape, DrapeDrape books plus some fitting books and other gems.
ReplyDeleteDo you know that some people don't even *KNOW* to check their library?!? For shame!
Calamity Jane, not a fave. The "contemporary" DD movies are fabulous for the clothes and interior decor. Both are the ultimate chic for all time, always.
ReplyDeleteBesides, those sixties hat she dons are always a gas.
It's been a long time since I've seen a Doris Day movie. As far as the library - they have a 3 foot shelf for ALL crafts combined and it's half full. I may have donated the only sewing books they have. And their DVD selection seems to be geared toward kids selections. I really should try to get there again (it's not easy with their hours) and see if they do inter-library loans.
ReplyDeleteI adore Calamity Jane! But I agree the Pajama Game is perfection. Most of the selections in the libraries here are knitting, crochet, and needlepoint books from the 1970s.
ReplyDeleteFavorite DD Movie: Young At Heart. Fascinating (for that era) combination of fake, "Leave It to Beaver" family with a dark story.
ReplyDeleteI always go to the library first when I think I might need a book on sewing or pattern making. Of course, they don't have everything, but I keep getting surprised at how much they do have about a huge range of subjects.
ReplyDeleteThe library in my town is fantastic. Has a lot of books on various crafts etc. Most importantly, they do home delivery if you have mobility problems. Just order on line and they deliver and pick up once a month. the only problem I have with library books is some borrows mess them up, either messing up the pattern sheets (even taking them) or spilling food on them.
ReplyDeleteOur library is a hit or miss. I can usually get most titles, but they often arrive at the same time and I am usually in the middle of some huge project or have too many other things. Sometimes, I use them to decide if I want to buy the book for my library.
ReplyDeleteCalamity Jane - I like hearing her refer to the Windy City as" Chicagie".
ReplyDeleteOh man I LOVE Calamity Jane! I haven't seen that since I was little. I was surprised at my library here in West Orange - it had pretty current sewing books, even Gertie's! And a subscription to Threads, thank goodness!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the reminders to check out our local library again. (Recently, I've been using the faculty library...) As far as I remember, they don't have many sewing books but some good ones, and they are subscribed to Burda.
ReplyDeleteMy vacation day is going to the central library in Seatle and sitting n the stacks reading the reserve titles in the 646 section. Heavy envy on the Miyake title: I've not seen that one anywhere in person.
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