Peter in Mustard and Audrey in Rome

Damn those paparazzi, always on my tail!

Hey, do you remember these mustard jeans I made last October?

When Sewing Bloggers Jump the Shark

Friends, you're no doubt familiar with the popular term "to jump the shark" but do you know its provenance?  It's the 1970's sitcom Happy Days, and you can read more about it at your leisure here.

I use the term jump the shark today to describe those particular moments when a favorite blog -- and by extension, favorite sewing blogger -- shifts from relative normalcy to outright wackiness.  It's happening a lot these days.  And I think I know why.

Welcome, 2013!

Happy 2013, everybody!

The start of a new year is always reason to celebrate.  It means a fresh start, renewed energy, and most important of all, an end to the seemingly endless holiday season.  Enough already!

"I Love Lucy" Fashion Love

When it came to fashion, my mother's interest stopped at lipstick and cologne.  A widowed elementary school librarian with two kids to raise, she didn't aspire to be a stylish woman.

When I think back on how I became interested in glamorous women's clothes, I know it came via our black and white Zenith television set.  My boyhood idea of high fashion came from three women:  Lisa ("The stores!") Douglas (Eva Gabor) on Green Acres, Ginger Grant (Tina Louise) on Gilligan's Island, and first and foremost, Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) on I Love Lucy.

How to Sew a Wild Bikini

Readers of a certain age, do you like beach party movies?  I ask you specifically because I'm not sure anyone under forty knows what they are.

Puttin' on the Glitz!

Rhinestones.  Bugle beads.  Sequins.  Fringe.

These are the elements of glitzy dressing, our topic for today!

Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever?

Friends, I am back from a very intense, thankfully short, bout with something I'm guessing was Influenza.  It came on rapidly Saturday evening and within 3-4 hours I could hardly lift my head off the pillow.  I'm a big believer in letting fever do its thing (unless you have other medical problems or are a small child or elder) and now, roughly 36 hours later, I'm 85% of the way back.  Was this a cold, a flu, something else entirely?  Who knows.  Suffice it to say I'm glad to be vertical once again and not shivering under three blankets, a ski cap, and a heavy fleece.

Whither the Chorus Girl? + ASSIGNMENT

Friends, to say that the chorus girl was a popular stock character in old Hollywood movies (by which I mean the pre-Sixties studio days) is to state the obvious.  But have you ever wondered whatever happened to her?  Look around: she's nowhere to be found.

Mae West Style + GIVEAWAY!

She wasn't thin, she wasn't young (not at the height of her fame anyway), and she wasn't particularly beautiful, yet there's no denying that Mae West was a true sex symbol in her day.

What do you make of Brooklyn-born Mae West -- actress, playwright, singer, comedian, sexual trailblazer?

"Would you believe Jane Wyman?" and other Halloween hash

It can't be ignored so why try?  Today is Halloween whether we like it or not.

Peter's Labor Day Labors

Friends near and far, today is Labor Day in the USA, a legal holiday we enjoy thanks to the struggles of union workers, and probably on the chopping block.  But let's not get political.

Labor Day or no, I have a lot of labor staring me in the face. 

What brings you joy?

Friends, there are times when so much awfulness seems to be occurring in the world, on so many fronts, that it can leave one feeling very discouraged -- or is it just me?

At periods like these, it can be helpful to remember that no matter what may be happening "out there," we always retain the power to create positive change in our immediate communities, in our families, and in ourselves.

We can start by making joy a priority in our own lives. 

Making a Ginger Rogers Dress

What can you say about Ginger Rogers that hasn't already been said on a million other sewing/vintage style blogs?  I'll try to come up with something. I've actually written about her a few times, early on, here and here.

Tuesday Stream of Consciousness

Good morning, friends!  I'm back and feeling rested, thanks no doubt to the subliminal messages I received from Joey Heatherton's Serta mattress commercial yesterday.  I may be sleeping on a Serta myself for all I know; I should look.

Today is all about reflection and re-centering.  I hope you'll indulge me and perhaps join me.

No, no, NOOOOO!

Another screw up on the cocktail dress!

Liz Style

Like many people around the world, I was shocked and saddened by the death of Elizabeth Taylor yesterday.  It just seemed like that Dame was going to live forever -- she'd been through so many health emergencies and always pulled through.  Alas, this time it was not to be.

Look, Ma, I'm teaching!

Loyal readers, all sorts of exciting news today.  First, I'm delighted to announce that at this very moment I am blogging directly from my bed.  That's right, friends, my home internet service has been restored and I couldn't be happier.

Men Who Dress Like Women

Friends, finally, the topic you've all been waiting for.  Isn't it time we addressed the 10-ton elephant in the room?  And what better time than MPB Guy Week?

Grab a cup of coffee, turn off the radio, and shut the door -- I have a confession to make. 

GUY week!

Readers, I'm thrilled to announce that tomorrow, March 6, we'll be kicking off our First Annual MPB Guy Week.  

And what a week it's gonna be!

Toggle Coat vs. Duffle Coat + ARRIVAL OF THE TOGGLES!

Refined readers, you'll be happy to know that for what I could have spent on dinner for two in a moderately priced Japanese restaurant, I bought four leather toggle sets yesterday, complete with genuine horn toggles and four matching buttons (for sleeves and detachable neck strap).