Younger Next Year... Or in 2014

I've been reading an interesting book titled, "Younger Next Year for Women."  The author begins with a quote, "Women, when they are old enough to have done with the business of being women, and can let loose their strength, may be the most powerful creatures in the world "

I feel that way. Liberated from major caregiving, and job commitments, I feel that I can take time to look at myself. Not out of selfishness, or narcissism, but out of interest in continuing to grow as an individual.  In my own way, that's what this blog is about... Growing.


Deborah

My Submission for Project Run and Play Contestant

"Have a heart and take a closer look at this Wizard of Oz jacket sewn by Deborah.  She sewed it with love for her granddaughter," said the Tin Woodman.

 

"She wasn't afraid to draw her own applique pictures or to line her jacket with fabric that was repurposed from her husband's shirt," cried the Cowardly Lion.

"She thought about how she could show the journey of Dorothy and her friends, and came up with a plan. I think she's quite clever at sewing and hand applique.... all those little hand stitches and they don't show," stated the Scarecrow.

 

And here's the finished jacket and hat...

 

 

"Deborah has been dreaming of competing in the Project Run and Play Challenge.  Please vote for her," pleaded Dorothy. 

 

 

Thanks to all my Wizard of Oz Friends for endorsing me. 

Deborah

 

 

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Jacket




Edna Woolman Chase was the editor in chief of Vogue from 1914 to 1952

 

 

 My signature style has been influenced from my past experiences, love of color and fabrics, and my willingness to challenge myself to keep on learning new things.

 

 I created this jacket as my submission to the Project Run and Play "Signature Style Challenge".

 

As a youngster, I loved to read. I read all the fourteen different Wizard of Oz books.

 

Did you know there is even a map of the Land of Oz that was first issued in 1932?

 I use to refer to it as I read the books and add new landmarks on my copy of the map.

 

 

 

This past experience and love of reading influenced the creation of my "Signature Style" as I created this jacket for my granddaughter.

The original illustrator of The Wonderful Wizard of OZ  was W. W. Denslow, and his illustrations are quite charming.

These are the images that I used on my jacket, and not the Hollywood version of "The Wizard of OZ."



The Scarecrow



The Cowardly Lion

The Tin Woodman
 



Dorothy fast asleep among the Poppies

I'm not that great of an original artist, but I understand color and can mimic the drawings that I see. So I used a fabric marker and drew on white fabric, which I then colored and shaded using permanent fabric markers and paint with textile medium added to the paint.
  Dorothy was hand stitched onto the blue fabric after I drew the image on the white cotton fabric.
 The multi-layed Poppies, for example, are red velvet fabric with black marker used to add details to the flowers. The stems on the flowers were  embroidered using embroidery thread. 

My granddaughter was so scared while watching the movie when  Dorothy and her friends
were walking through the forest.
 I just had to add a fighting tree from the forest.

Of course, the story begins when Dorothy's house landed on the Wicked Witch of the East.

 

Does the jacket show a drawing of the Wicked Witch of the West?

 

Well I've never really liked W. W. Denslow's image of the Witch, so I tried drawing my own.

 

I drew her and then sewed her to the jacket, but 
 but then I removed her the next day, as she SCARED ME!

 

I challenged myself to create this journey through the Land of OZ.

I really enjoyed the journey, as I manipulated the fabric and colors to create my own signature outfit.

The Jacket Back

The jacket lining was repurposed from one of Miss E's grandfather's

micro-fiber shirts. 

 As soon as she tried in on she said,"OOOh, that so soft."

Notice the funky, huge, easy to close snaps that I used to close the jacket.
 I wanted the front  of the jacket to be focused on the yellow brick road, and not on any buttons that might visually interfere with the view.
For the same reason, I did not add a collar.

 

The back of the lined jacket has a pleat with this button tab sewn at the top of the pleat.  Each button is a combination of 2 or 3 buttons.
 

The Matching Hat

There are many more wonderful characters in the story that are not shown in the movie.

 

Two other characters are illustrated on the matching hat.

The first character lives in the Country of the Quadlings. He tried to prevent Dorothy and her friends from getting to the Good Witch of the South. He is a HammerHead.

The second character is a Kalidah,  which is a great beast with a body like a bear and a head like a tiger.

Notice the 9 hole buttons that I used to create the word "OZ."

These COOL monogram buttons are available in 2 sizes and many colors.

 Since these buttons are hard to find, I am providing this link to the fabric shop that I purchased the 9 hole buttons and large snaps. You can purchased the buttons by giving them a telephone call .

And now for the most important part of this outfit... the model.

 

 

 

. . . Always glad to be home,
Deborah and Miss E