Lucky Me!

See the beautiful cover of this beautiful book?  It is a brand spanking new one written by Norah Graham all about knitted and crocheted afghans...is there anything anywhere that speaks comfort like an afghan?  Well Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin graciously had a giveaway on her blog and I was the lucky winner of this book.  It is so Lovely, full of bright colorful photos that make you want to run out and buy tons of brightly colored yarn and knit and crochet, and crochet and knit up a storm. There are like 40 patterns included for all skill levels.   It's available on Amazon and in book stores everywhere, or you can go to the above blog and link to it that way...Thanks Natalie for an inspirational treat!

Sweet Home Alabama.....Chanin

You know how I love it.....(Alabama Chanin, that is....)

It only gets worse with time....

I see it......

...and I can't help myself....

It's just all so inviting...

...and casual....everything country living...and dressing...should be...

...yes. please....

Happy Friday, Happy Stitching.

Farm Couture

I got a package in the mail today.  It's a book I ordered called Alabama Studio Style and follows Natalie Chanin's first book Alabama Stitch which I have mentioned before.  I am very excited...I love Natalie Chanin's beautiful handstitched things and look forward to a good chair sit with the new book. 

I think it is particularly interesting that it came today.  One of the first things I read in the new book was about a neighbor who did not have a garbage can in her home as a child. She writes that the neighbor explained "...we used every scrap we could and what we could not use went for either compost or feeding the livestock..."  Natalie goes on to say what a beautiful concept this is, taking scraps from everyday life and giving them a new use.

I therefore offer up for her possible re-use, the farmer's coat.  Seen here in all it's glory, it is my belief that is has outlived it's usefulness as a coat.   Maybe Natalie could come up for a new use.  Maybe her neighbor would re-think that "no garbage can" approach to life. 

You see, the farmer is not one to quit on a garment.   He is not ready to get rid of his coat.  I was ready to "can" it 5 years ago.  But since it is one of his faves, I decided perhaps if I could "jazz" it up a little he could get a little more wear out of it. 

 I started with a simple tee-shirt flower.  It doesn't seem quite right to me..

Maybe a hat along with it would improve the look......maybe not.

  A jaunty scarf?   Not really his color. 

The sad truth is, the farmer likes the coat just as it is.  He really does.  I am not making this up.His defense is that  he does not wear it "out", as in out to eat, out to the movies.   He has a closet full of good work coats, but he keeps this one around "just in case".  Just in case of what?  A nuclear disaster?  Hobo convention?  It comes  "back in style"?  I don't know. 

Today, he brought the "coat", or what's left of it, in to be washed.  It survived...much to my dismay.  For your viewing pleasure, I took it's picture.  If I ever write a book I think I will call it Farm Style and put this on the cover.   I really think he is taking recycle, reuse, reduce a little too far.

Maybe I will send it to Natalie Chanin.  What do you think?

ADDENDUM:  My brother thinks if Brad Pitt wears the coat it will improve it's looks....Anyone agree?

Me and Gilda

One of my very favorite quotes in the world is from Gilda Radner...she said "I base most of my fashion sense on what doesn't itch."

Now, I have worn some really tall shoes in my time and once even wore them to work. I have worn pants that felt constricting and shirts that I tugged at all day. I have worn shoes that wore blisters because they looked good, skirts that I had "outgrown", sweaters that itched, and blazers that when buttoned felt like strait jackets - all in the name of fashion. Many is the time I would have worn sweatpants and a tee to a wedding if that was acceptable. But in 2010, I am declaring "no more"! No more tight jeans, no more constricting belts, NO MORE tall shoes. I have reformed.

Why am I writing this you ask? I will tell you. My new favorite "fashion" website is one you should immediately check out. http://www.alabamachanin.com/ is a mecca for those of us who yearn for comfort AND style. I stumbled into this website and blog and am now a certified fan....most of Natalie Chanin's clothes are made from.....wait for it...tee shirt fabric....that's right...tee shirt fabric. Her clothes are so brilliantly made, they are art. Pricey art, but art still. Since the prices are way out of my league for the most part, I immediately ordered her beautiful book "Alabama stitch book" and began to collect all the old tee shirts in the house to press into recycled service, soon to be lovely hand stitched scarves I hope. I love hand stitching so she is "scratching me where I itch" so to speak.

I encourage anyone who loves a comfortable, contemporary sustainable style to visit Alabama Chanin. You, like me, might be swept away to a place where scratchy clothes are a thing of the past.