S3 - day 14

Since today dawned lovely and cool and grey, I can wear a work tunic over my dress. The dark grey dress was made from a cotton duvet cover, during the last big sewing rush this spring, and is actually a kind of very finely woven chambray or shot cotton, black crossed with tan.

The work tunic is re-fashioned from a grey cotton chambray vest that belonged to my mother, on one of the sewing days on my last visit east. (It is always a treat to sew at my parents house, the sewing machine is set up in the small bedroom at the end of the upstairs hallway, and the windows overlook the woods behind the backyard. And my mother has a Bernina!) Enough of the length was cut off to make gores to add width, and a pair of front pockets, the center front was seamed closed, and new deeply scooped neckline and armholes were recut. The edges were bound with pieces cut from my fathers discarded and very soft grey chamois cloth shirt. (note to self: remember to iron wrinkly clothing before taking pictures)

Thought it would be fun to wear these necklaces today. The larger beads are made from corn kernels, from the decorative corn that is sold in the autumn*. The other necklace is a skinny strand of vintage whitehearts, with one unusual trade bead. I've seen the turquoisy-greenish chevron beads before, but never one with eyes; this one has three blue millifiore eyes embedded in the glass. Can you tell that eye beads are a real favorite of mine? The earrings are tiny doves-of-peace, in cloisonné with painted enamel olive branches

≈ : ♥ : ≈

*Remove the dried kernels from the corncobs, and soak in water for as long as needed till the kernels are soft enough to pierce with a needle and thread (these took about two days to soften). These are strung on doubled heavy upholstery thread; once the kernels dry out again they will shrink, and can be snugged up on the cord and the ends tied together.