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Cat Lady Art

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done any house sewing and home revamping. A few years ago I started moving the living room color scheme from beachy whites with blues, to sunset reds, purples, and oranges…but then life got in the way as it does. It’s something I want to finish before end of year.

When I found these panels in the remnant bin at Bolt, I about died. This is from a 2017 Moda Fabrics collection called Catnip by Stacie who owns Gingiber. You can see her original post and colorways here. These are not easy to find anymore, let alone in the dark colorway! They take me back to the Rachel Perry lip gloss art of my childhood. They’ve got a late 70s/early 80s art nouveau vibe I am so very in love with. (If you love these as much as I do, there are some tea towels with this design here on Stacie’s site.)

The first thing I did was order canvases to put these on. These are the canvases I got:

As is the nature of panels and things on bolts, they’re never perfectly printed on grain. It’s just something you learn to work around after buying a few panels or border print fabrics. There was no perfect sized canvas for the cats…especially when the plump cat was factored in, so I went with larger-than-panel size at 16×20 inches. This worked out, because it allowed me to then border the panels with coordinating fabrics for my living room.

I sewed a strip of fabric on the top and bottom, then used a tiny spritz of 505 adhesive to position them on the canvas, before I flipped the canvas over to staple them down.

That’s the actual spray I use, and yes, I know, at $25, that’s really expensive! However, I use it so rarely that one can has lasted me over 5 years. I literally use it in bra making to just keep fiddly pieces still, and at times like this.

I popped some painters tape over the back to keep the staples from scratching the wall too.

Here they all are, close up. We named each one after cats in our lives. This is Frack.

This is Lucy.

This is The Spud.

And this is our beloved Big Boy, Frick.

I’m quite happy with them. Here they all are up in their spot.

It turned out to be quite the nice “palate cleanser” after a crazy couple months of Frocktails and socializing. I think I got the remnant for around $15? $20? I don’t recall as it was well before Frocktails… and the canvases were about $22, the other fabric was in my stash, so about $40for a refresh? Not bad, eh?

Speaking of… I have a few of the Frocktails craft stations embroidery hoops left. I think I’ll finish them up and put them around the living room too.

These are by Aimee Ray, and they’re really cute. Aimee is known for those Doodle Stitching books. I print them on water soluble paper, then the paper sticks just enough to the fabric for you to embroider through it. When you’re done, you wet it and block it as you normally would, and in that process, the paper melts away.

I also revamped my couch cushions and drapes… I may need to do a whole living room reveal….if I ever finish! hahaha. Do you use your sewing for around the home?

(you may have noticed there’s a few aff links. It’s my first time trying them out, so we’ll see how it goes. <3 I really did use these exact items and am happy with them.)

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Frocktails Not-Dress

This is a LONG post where I want to document my makes over the last couple months, and then do a sharp detour into updated goals. Sort of updated…mostly reiterated. I hope it will make sense.

While I realize it’s sorta ass-backwards to organize a party where everyone wears a dress they made….then turn around and make pants – it had to be done.

There was a dress made for Frocktails….but it’s a wrap dress, and a test pattern. The pattern wasn’t launched before the party, but that wasn’t my biggest concern. As the party organizer, I couldn’t risk the wrap-dress-flash-factor with all the moving around I’d be doing. So….I went with much more modest and stylized.

I actually don’t have a whole lot of shots of me IN the outfit. 😀 Silly, huh? There’s a few on the previous Portland Frocktails post and some on the Frocktails site. Here’s one of me trying to figure out which shoes to wear on Instagram, while my mirror was buried deep in Frocktails stuff.

The rose twill I had in my stash for at least 5 years, waiting for the right inspiration. When I saw the Anna Allen Persephone pants pattern, I knew that is what it had to be.

I took a few Instagram shots of the pants when I finished them.

I made a few adjustments to the pattern, such as increase the back rise and grade out a bit for lower hip…I don’t recall what exactly…like a 6 waist to a 10 low hip? Something like that. I added about an inch and a half to the back rise – I could probably take that extra half back out.

Next pair will be a heavier canvas. The twill is nice, but is too thin for these ultra-tight waist pants, and they won’t last through a year.

I believe it was a fabric.com clearance purchase, so I’m not super shocked how thin it gets with every wash. Not that I think the Kamm-pants look is going to last more than a couple years anyway…it’s more for fun than comfort, know what I mean?

And now that we’re in a 90+ degree heat wave, we’re going to have Ms. Dressform do the modeling. Outfit is on size 10 dress form. I’m smaller than my 12 dress form, but a bit bigger than my 10 and definitely proportioned differently, so 10 it is.

So, the top part. I knew the Sewcialists were going to have their Sew Style Hero month coming up, and I wanted to participate, but there was no way I was going to pull off a Frocktails outfit AND a completely different Sew Style Hero outfit, so I combined them, and chose Cate Blanchett for my Sew Style Hero, and went menswear-inspired.

The vest is the Thread Theory Belvedere Waistcoat. It’s a men’s pattern, and I altered it for my body. I took out the broad back curve made for a man’s broader back shoulder span, deepened the back waist darts quite a bit, and took in the under-arm seam at the armscye about a half-inch on both sides on an XS size pattern. If you’re much smaller than me, than you may want to print the pattern at a 75% scale first, as XS is the smallest size, and adjust from there. If you need any smaller than that, and I don’t know that I’d dicker with it.

I used vintage buttons in my stash from my mom, and the lining is left over from a custom sports coat I made my husband.

I do love the vest. It is NOT shaped like a typical women’s vest even with my adjustments… the armscye is pulled in towards center front so as to not restrict arm movement on a man, and the neckline is high…as opposed to normally you’d see a women’s vest stylized to have a wider, deeper neckline, and the armscye would align closer to the armpit crease for a narrow, scooped out, more corseted look. I like both styles, but this was definitely more androgynous looking on me. While I’m pretty happy with the final product, I went against my intuition and followed the instructions. Next time, I will be changing the order of construction to my preferred method – but that’s a personal choice.

Excuse the wrinkles throughout – this has been worn, but not fully re-pressed.

All that said, the pattern is drafted very well. I used a proper, stiff, sew-in stabilizer for the front (fashionsewingsupply.com for always) and I’m glad I went the heavier route.

The shirt is more or less a Grainline Archer. I find the Archer a really great, basic block that can be adapted into a million different ways. I had this poly chiffon in my stash forever too… I think I got it on some Instagram destash, but it has been around awhile. It’s shear, slippery, and likes to fray. Lots of fun, right? I used a LOT of starch, a 60 Microtex needle, and really, it wasn’t too bad. French seams, flat felled the shoulder which got a little squirrelly, oh, and used bias for the cuff plackets. I wasn’t about to try to press a tower placket into the poly.

I free-hand cut the neckline down to my cleavage, and added in a tie-neck instead. Easy-peasy.

The tie is really just a 4 inch wide piece, with the length the width-of-fabric (WOF), and sewn on. It seems arbitrary, but folded on itself, it creates enough structure, at 1″ wide, hides the insides, and is still long enough for a pussycat bow tie.

Untied, with the vest and paired with jeans, it is decidedly less feminine, but still very female, as in my Cate Blanchett Ocean’s 8 inspired version:

A little added on-trend sheer doesn’t hurt either.

Overall, this ended up being a huge learning experience. While all the patterns used are well known, highly rated patterns, and pretty TNT for me except the vest… I’ve never planned to sew an outfit with multiple parts from top to bottom before. I’ve always been the magpie, going where my whims take me. Don’t get me wrong, this was totally whimsical for me. A little 70s gender-bending glam for Frocktails, and a badass Cate Blanchett look for Sewcialists – very much playing dress up here. I mean…more like, whoa, instead of assuming I’m going to stick to my usual palette and this will all meld with my wardrobe, I made a mini wardrobe in and of itself.

So… a couple things.

  1. I’m doubling down on my drafting. I’ve been using Illustrator FOREVER but now learning to grade in it, instead of just by hand. I’m hoping to launch a few patterns in August, and do some freelance as well. There’s stuff brewing.
  2. Bini, of Josephine’s, said something to me a couple weeks ago – she said, she’d like to see people elevate their sewing and dressing. I like that. I’m going to adopt that. I’ve never been much of a “cake” sewer – frilly dress sewing…more of a meat and potatoes kind of gal…but I can elevate. I feel I need to.
  3. This all coincides with Seamwork’s next round of Design Your Wardrobe series. Now, I know I swore I’d never commit to one style…but I want to pull out my clothes everyday and feel more than just comfortable. I want to elevate it…and I need structure for that to happen, especially if I’m going to stay committed to #1 as well.

Do you find yourself doing this half-yearly re-evaluating, and readjustment? I always find New Year’s Day to be poorly placed. The dead of winter is not a place of inspiration for me…it’s more just done out of cultural norm, but who is inspired when you’re Vitamin D is at its lowest? Not me. July fire is more my style.

Are you joining in the Seamwork session? Have you tried it?

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Portland Frocktails: We Did It!

June was CRAZYAWESOMEAMAZING. But in order to understand that…let’s back up to the end of January.

Love To Sew Podcast had 2 back-to-back episodes that changed everything. I caught up on them backwards, and this part is important.

I listened to Workroom Social’s Jennifer Weise first. Jennifer’s take on making sewing social workshops, and in particular how she instructs her staff and guests, is everything. Keeping talking/social circles open so others can approach without feeling intimidated or like they’re interrupting, instructing staff to socialize with new guests every day (“no staff lunch table”)… As the sewing tribe grows with people on the spectrum of introvert-to-extrovert, it doesn’t change the fact that sewing is often solitary, and getting out to connect is HARD. Jennifer’s approach is GOLD in my book.

Then, I was LITERALLY on the floor cutting out a pattern, listening to Caz Adams of Useful Box talking about Sydney Frocktails (if you don’t know: you dress up in something you’ve sewn, and go and mingle with other people who’ve done the same), and I thought to myself, “I wish Portland had one.”

Then lightbulb.

“Wait a minute Becky. Seriously. How many events across the last 20+ years have you planned and executed? Everything from annual shareholders meetings to retirement parties to grand openings to land use symposiums…not to mention booths in major conventions and all of that crap. You can do this. You can do this in your sleep.”

So, I got up off the floor and registered the domain Portland Frocktails and got the Instagram before I could talk myself out of it.

Reality: The next two weeks were sleepless and I got an ulcer after a month. I even went to the doctor, my stomach was in so much pain. I never go to the doctor. 

It’s one thing to plan and launch an event with a corporate budget, and implied guest list. It’s another thing to do it with your own ass on the line and no one is required to attend.

What kinds of things require your ass to be on the line, Becky? I’m glad you asked.

Catering. Space. Photographer. Oregon Liquor Control Commission requires that if you are to charge for tickets and there is alcohol, there must be a licensed catering bar & staff on site. This increases catering costs by 30-40% with JUST beer and wine, not hard booze, especially IF attendees don’t buy the bar-retainer minimum. I’m a firm believer in tipping catering, so that must be factored in. The ticket site, EventBrite, takes their cut. SquareUp takes their cut. Hosting and web design or driving around town meeting with sponsors isn’t free, let alone the full-time “job” this all requires for a few months.

Portland doesn’t have the, let’s say, highest income per capita, so while there was proof-of-concept with other cities’ Frocktails, there was no guarantee of attendance and a bad ticket price could make or break the inaugural event, unlike in say a higher income per capita city like Manhattan. Sure, there are plenty of people that offer help and they are so very much appreciated, but help doesn’t pay for an event.

I’ve never been a sales person, but that’s what I had to do. I had to ask for financial help from business in our industry. And you know what? Wow. Did they pull through. WOW. I offered to ask attendees to tag sponsors in Instagram and to put logos on sites with a little blurb, just so I could afford to throw a party…and they said yes. Josephine’s Dry Goods and Clutch Camera both donated space & photography. That took a huge chuck out of forecasted expenses. Bolt Fabric Boutique sponsored a decent chunk of catering. The space needed tables, and Helen of Seam Divas picked up and delivered tables. Karleen of the Portland Sewing Studio, which she JUST relaunched and has her own finances to think of, donated to the catering and ran to pick up the special order vegan, gluten free cupcakes. Michael Miller Fabrics, Modern Domestic, Colette Patterns: all donated financially. The financial sponsors didn’t stop there, they donated huge door prizes and swag bag gifts for every attendee. There were additional prize donors like Dritz, Soak Wash, Pendleton, Craftsy, Sew House 7, Wiksten, and a huge surprise: We had Pati Palmer and Marta Alto attend with their latest book and do a mini book signing + make a lovely speech. Even the catering company, Delilah’s, knocked off their service fee for us, after creating a specialized menu including vegan and gluten free items.

So. We did it. It took a lot of amazing people to get it to launch day, and I’m beyond grateful for every single one of them. I couldn’t do this without them or the attendees.

And launch day was beautiful. All 100 attendees were incredible. Everyone was open, social, smiling. Sure, we can iron out a few wrinkles for next time, …but it was incredible. I am so humbled by the community. 5 months from spark to party. I am so grateful. Have I mentioned that? lol. I am.

I write this sort of gritty, nuts and bolts post in hopes of encouraging everyone to make a Frocktails in their city. It’s hard work, but it is worth it.

Know some of the reality going into it. No particular order:

  • Make a spreadsheet, and forecast your expenses, all the way down to buying name tags. Make a formula in your spreadsheet that multiplies attendees x catering per head + additional costs. Keep that running total against ticket sales and any sponsorship money coming in so you can be sure you’re financially on track.
  • Know the financial situation of the population in your city. A high ticket price will make it so you may not need sponsors, but that may be financially excluding a lot of people. You’re going to have to make a choice.
  • Know your mantra before you even launch it (I recommend Jennifer Weise above.) Inclusivity, social-setting awareness, gratitude, and “sewcializing” as an act of self-love are what I chose.
  • Know your audience: is your city formal, casual, swanky, high fashion, all of the above?
  • Are you going to get hobbyists, professionals, designers, or all of the above? You won’t know all of the answers, but put together lists of all scenarios and costs.
  • Call up other cities and ask how they do it (I did.) Just don’t take my list – ask theirs. Due diligence is key.
  • Call up multiple event space options and get quotes on catering + space.
  • Call photographers and ask them hourly rates, how long for turnaround, and what are the usage rights for the photos afterwards.
  • For me, I wasn’t making this a job for income or a for-profit event – I didn’t want to be in the red nor did I want money left over. This was a passion project for our community, and that needs to be an authentic drive. Will that work for you?
  • Can you dedicate the time?
  • If you’re going to have sponsors, they’re going to want know how many people you expect and what they get in return. Are there tiers of sponsorship? Do you have tickets to comp for sponsors? I did not think to comp tickets, but I was charging such a low price, especially “Early Bird” pricing, that a ticket didn’t cover the cost of catering per head, so I couldn’t have anyway. Something I need to address next time.
  • Are social ice breakers, themes, crafts, or pattern swaps going to be part of your event? I gave brief talks, asked the attendees to be mindful of closed social circles, and had a keynote speaker (Pati & Marta), and we had a loose pattern swap going on, plus and unmanned photo “booth.”  There was an optional book signing with Pati & Marta in a side room. We had raffle tickets for the door prizes towards the end, and with a 2 hour event, that really took up all the time. Perhaps with a 3 hour event, we could add in a social ice breaker theme? Maybe.
  • Don’t forget to sew something for yourself to wear to the event!

Anyway, you get the idea. I asked one smaller Frocktails city their advice before I started, and one of the ladies suggested a more simple meet-up at a cocktail lounge. If your city is small, or maybe you’re not sure how many people you can get your first time out, that may be the way to go. We ended up selling out at 100 attendees and had a waiting list because our space couldn’t take any more people. A larger city I asked gets just as large a group, but their tickets are twice as much too. (I did not ask permission to quote these lovely ladies, so I’m leaving those details out, but you’re welcome to search around and inquire to other cities.)

I hope this helps you make your own local Frocktails event. Let me know if you have any questions.

One last thank you: My family for supporting me throughout planning this event, my husband for believing in me 100%, and my mom for babysitting and supporting me always. I love you all.