Growing, growing, gone

My apologies to those of you looking for your new belts that you've requested!

You may be wondering why the sewing machine(s) haven't been humming here at LBF.

In one word: summer
Two words: kid's activities,
Three words: constant driving everywhere,

Although the machines have slowed down, the creative ideas are churning. Once we get back to the school year routine, they will hopefully be flying off the needleplate.

Another point of note: The name Lulu Bel's Fancy has begun a fadeout and will become "Nell Gleason" for very practical reasons. First, that's my name altho the Nell is my family nickname. Secondly if you have ever done a google or etsy search for a form of Lulu Bel, there exist many variants of the name, and all delightful little businesses of their own.

If you'd like to take a peak at Nell Gleason, hop over to nellgleason.com. Altho its a very short site right now, and the Etsy shop isn't completely up yet with listings, it'll give you an idea of how LBF is evolving.

Thanks so much!
Joanne

When preppy and steampunk collide

Basically I'm a bit of a prepster in dress--tho not in the pink and green mold, more navy and green.   Despite my tendency to dress in Vineyard Vine clothes, I'm always intrigued with the looks that today's youth put together.  Over the last couple of years I haven't been able to let go of the whole Steampunk style--greatly admire the creativity and attention to detail.  Perhaps the look brings me back to watching "Wild West" in the living room with my parents, many ages ago.  I'd think that show had a Steampunk styling to it......

Well, finally a belt, of the ribbon/fabric variety--with a bit of this look I love.....

Petit Maison

 

A rainy date and my fascination with hand embroidery led to a tiny french cottage with window boxes and laundry hanging on the back.  Hand embroidered french knots and leaves grace the window boxes.   However the black embroidery is free form machine stitched.

Belts under construction

Back from our Easter South Carolina trip, and getting caught up with some special requests.  A bit of delay occurred when I was distracted with some new fabrics, but then refocused on my orders asking for the Anna Maria Horner Good Folks fabrics.   I stitched many rows of those fantabulous fabrics together intending to make multiple belts.  Dutifully I pressed the seams, left the room to poke around the vegetables simmering in a skillet for  dinner (various practices tonight require dinner be made at noon today), as I walk back into my studio and see my fabric rows from the doorway, I am compelled to now make a striped quilt throw.

Perhaps those belts will be finished tomorrow......

Leprechaun Hunting

On the drive to school this morning, we (those very perceptive children of mine) realized that in our WHOLE family--I'm the only one who hasn't a drop of Irish in me.  They are quite pleased that they are legit Irish today and everyday, thanks to my husband's heritage.  

However, they know that it is likely for the lack of an Irish gene that a quick pizza night in our house means a from scratch event (dough started in the morning, and a quick marinara sauce made just before popping it into the oven).  Truly, I have never ordered a take out pizza.  For that matter I've never opened a jar of ready made sauce.  Italian food just was always a home made no big deal event.  To this day I hide the cans of Muir Glen peeled tomatoes from my mom, because the only tomatoes worthy of sauce are home canned tomatoes from the garden (mini-farm) that they have.

Anyway, after school the kids are going Leprechaun Hunting using the directions that the 5th grade math teacher at their school provide:  

1. you must go into the woods; 
2. grab them by the foot without them seeing you;
3. then hold onto the foot until they hand over the bag of gold; 
4. do not let go until the bag is in your hand. 
   

Then to celebrate the hunt I have a  beef brisket and cabbage simmering (with a bit of garlic, wine, and the aforementioned Muir Glen organic tomatoes).  Since I'm not eating meat, I also have a salmon marinating in soy sauce, dark sesame oil, and natural sugar.  (I remember eating alot of salmon on our Ireland trip.)  

Finally, I spent a bit of my St. Patrick's day on these ribbon belts.

Blooming Bows Belt

Not too long ago a friend gave me a pretty silk scarf  that I have worn mostly as a belt.  Though I like the look of a scarf casually thrown over the shoulders, I'm a bit to uncoordinated to carry it off.  My mother-in-law can so gracefully move about with her beautiful Herme's scarves insouciantly staying in place.  So, for me, generally scarves are rolled ( which is another matter of keeping all its parts in place) into belts.

Back to this scarf my friend gave me--which I love the colors, how it looks around jeans--and I thought about making one with my Anna Maria Horner Good Folks fabrics.  But then I started to tinker with this German ribbon I bought last year and came up with the belt pictured above.   I've christened it "Blooming Bows".

 

Country Flowers Belt

Lean modern rectangles made from floral fabrics patchwork their way around this belt.  The enameled flower buckle perfectly punctuates the Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks fabrics used.