Analogue Chic

Archive for the ‘My Other Projects’ Category

Very soon, I will be unveiling a warm, yummy batch of treats, fresh from the Analogue Chic ovens (metaphorically speaking).

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Very, very soon.

The new Salvation Army Store window display is up– OK, it’s been up for a couple of weeks.  It is such a pain to try to get good pictures through glass, dirty, splattered glass.  Sorry, I did my best.

The theme, for the next month and a half, is "Garden Party".  This is a pretty straightforward window, just a tableau of mannequins with a few props, nothing elaborate.  The full-figure mannequins are dressed in casual party clothes, with a mismatched, multiculti twist.  The metal outline mannequins (there’s got to be a better term for these…) are wearing some lovely West African-style robes.  The tea table is set with a really pretty floral teapot, black tea cups on kiwi-pattern saucers.  The backdrop is white, pink and green, with paper blossoms scattered across, and swirls of leaves attached to the window.  East Asian-style paper umbrellas are hung strategically throughout.

I love gardens, and I especially love parties in gardens, so I wanted to create that feeling of an outdoor room, with an easygoing, multicultural guest list.  And yes, the "African" trends of the season are on my mind, but I wanted to interpret African fashion as something cosmopolitan and chic, rather than exotic and curious or campy.

The last photo in the set is my favorite mannequin, just a colorful, cute outfit that would look amazing with ballet flats…

Also a plus for me, this was my least expensive window to date. Nice!

See it in real life!  Main Street, Danbury.

Paper umbrellas, about $8 at Danbury Dollar and Gift, 249 Main Street.  Main Street love!

I’ll be launching my Spring/Summer 2009 collection of handbags (and a touch of women’s apparel) in the next couple of months, for your internet shopping pleasure.

Meanwhile, the elves and I are scouring western New England for the best in recycled textiles, and dreaming up new designs during our sleepless nights.  Our sewing calluses are coming along quite nicely, thank you.

More news as launchtime approaches!

I’m working on some bigger, long-term projects (which you will hear about, all in good time…), but wanted to give a quick look at some of the smaller projects I’ve accomplished lately.

 Clockwise:

• boxers for my man – Simplicity 9958; I shortened the legs just a tad, they were old-school long. Fabulous, easy-peezy pattern.  This feller looks remarkably like the wearer:
• owl potholder – knitting pattern from Workbasket Magazine, July 1995, which noted the pattern had also been printed on Aunt Lydia’s Rug Yarn (is that still even produced?) years before.  This was inspired by this beautiful sweater– I can’t afford that much yarn, so a potholder from leftover yarn will have to do me.
• Fascinator - jerry-rigged from purchased feathers, ribbon and doodads from my stash, held together with dental floss (yes, really) on a plastic haircomb.
• Chicken of the Sea Purse – first mentioned here.  Made from a pattern from Creative Quilting Magazine, with some adaptations. 
• Madame X embroidery – I’ve been itching to do some embroidery ever since I found a very colorful, straightforward book at my grocery store, of all places (see sidebar, What I’m Reading). This was my own pattern, adapted from a stencil my sister helped me make years ago; just brown embroidery floss on a scrap of hot pink crap satin, outlined with stem stitch, filled in with satin stitch.  Sargent is one of my favorite painters, and this painting is just so badass. Sargent’s work is very much tied up with Edith Wharton in my mind, and I’ve been thinking about all these folks a lot, as far as ambience and fashion and textiles.  See:

Edith Wharton – Age of Innocence – by AllieAnalogue on Polyvore.com
Edith Wharton at Home – by AllieAnalogue on Polyvore.com