weather update

We escaped the brunt of the storm in my part of OK.  I live in a narrow corridor where the storm split above and below me.  Thank you peeps for checking on me!

Remember the families in Moore this morning as they continue to process the aftermath.

source

source

Fitch the Homeless

In case you missed it, Abercrombie and Fitch's CEO made a really regrettable statement a few years back in an article with Salon.com. If you missed the original commentary, someone made a very cool graphic representation that sums it up nicely:

I have been living in a box for 2 months writing a monster-long novel draft (my 3rd since Christmas!), so I have no idea how this got resurrected recently (I'm assuming this douchebag made another asinine comment. Or possibly the universe decided to play fair for once and zap him karmically.) 

However it became news again, my two favorite responses are Ellen's "Fitch, Please" (because it's Ellen and she's HILARIOUS) and a savvy youtuber named Greg Karber, who shot a most excellent video campaign titled "Fitch the Homeless". 

Enjoy. 

Colette Sorbetto Inspiration

My ultimate summer top has come out of winter hiding again!

Colette Sorbetto - Free Pattern

I've been wearing last year's versions (vers 1, vers 2) and of course dreaming up new variations. (Last year's are now too big, so there's that motivating factor too). Here's another cute gathered version (and the linked post has several other adaptations):

via craftser

These are toddler dresses from the etsy shop pinkdixie, but I think they're adorable and would be easily adaptable for a Sorbetto (or any tank pattern).  FINALLY. A use for all those cute cottons I have in my stash!!

quilty cottony faves

doilies? yes/no?

old sheet or tablecloth or giant peasant dress cut down! YES!

And Mary's buttoned version is one of my all-time faves. Plus Mary is adorable.

source - Mary I <3 a="" u="">

Oona's feathery embellisment (and DRESS variation!) makes me swoon.

Oona

 There are a ton of cute variations out there.  The best of the lot seem to benefit from fiddling with the (somewhat dodgy) armhole/armscye shape.  Be forewarned and make a muslin for this one! It's not much fabric and takes VERY little time (2 pattern pieces!)

GUYS. I might actually sew something this weekend.

(although I have a huge research paper to write for my class. Yikes. I haven't written one of those in YEARS. Nevermind how many.)

Happy weekend peeps!

Swing Time.

Always my favorite.

Happy Birthday, Fred Astaire

The Night Witches

In 1941 when Germany invaded Russia, a female aviatrix named Marina Raskova worked to form regiments of women fighter pilots. There were three: the 586th, the 587th, and the 588th.

The Germans came to fear the 588th so much they called them the Nachthexen, or the Night Witches.

Most of the pilots were approximately 20 years old.

They flew militarized crop dusters, a pilot and a navigator, open cockpits with no radio or machine gun. 

Largely due to the simpleness of the planes they flew, they were often undetected by German radar.  On approach, the pilot would kill the engine and float silently until she dropped her bomb. On the ground, there was no warning. 

Their planes' slow speeds and ability to make tight turns made it next to impossible for German fighters to catch them; the Witches had far more maneuverability. 

Over the course of the war, the 588th alone would fly more than 24,000 missions. 

Thirty-one members of the regiment died in combat. Twenty-four were made Heroes of the Soviet Union. 

The Night Witches. 

Not lost to history. 

Not today. 

"The bravest are surely those 

who have the clearest vision

of what is before them,

glory and danger alike,

and yet notwithstanding,

go out to meet it."

~Thucydides