Sewing for a Higher Power, Part Five

August has been the month of liturgical sewing. I've been working on the stoles for the red gold set this month, consisting of 3 priest stoles and a Byzantine stole for the deacon. I'm happy to report that they're all done and I'll be delivering them tomorrow!!

I've been asked to do some documentation on this project in case someone wants to attempt this project in the future. There are also bills to submit. But then I'm done, and hopefully out of the vestment business.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not sorry I took on this project and I've learned a lot about sewing silk dupioni. But making 2 sets of vestments is a major project. Each set consists of 3 priest stoles, a Byzantine (deacon) stole, and a chasuble--that's sewing 10 items and all that entails. Plus, I drafted patterns, made a prototype of the chasuble, calculated layouts, and sourced fabrics. It's a lot of work. Now that I've typed it all out, I don't feel bad that this project has taken more than a year(!) to complete.

After all that, here are some results. This round, I was working on the red-gold set. I made the matching chasuble last fall, so these are the remaining pieces. The priest stoles are all the same and look like this:

They are exactly the same style as the green silk ones I made before.

The deacon's stole is the same style but a different pattern than the green one. As I mentioned recently, she didn't like the fit of the green one so I made a new pattern from this stole:

It's a gorgeous piece from our Lenten set, made from hand woven wool ikat with a lightweight wool lining. It was made in France by this company:

I'm not sure if they have a web site, the rector actually found this place by accident on a trip. My version looks like this:

I'll have a few more posts in this series with more details on this stole vs. the green one, some sewing techniques, and a summary of all the pieces.

For my East Coast readers, stay safe and may any property damage be limited.

I'm Still Around, or Still Sewing for a Higher Power

I've just been busy with the gold vestments. And I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 2 of the 3 priests' stoles are done, and the third just needs a little more poking and prodding to refine the corners before finishing it up.

I also got some feedback from the deacon on her stole. Seems the original version makes her look "hippy", as in "my hips look big" not "I look like I'm from the 60's." So I borrowed a French stole we use for Lent and will make a new pattern from it before proceeding with her stole. Leave it to the French, even their vestments are chic and slimming!!

I'm enjoying working with this project's fabrics. It's hard not to like natural fibers that yield under the sewing machine and iron. More on all that later, but I'm using dupioni silk underlined with flannel and lined with hand-dyed cotton. I'll have to make something for myself soon using the same combination.

My View from the Kitchen Sink

A couple of weeks ago, hostess of the humble bungalow shared some still shots of her kitchen sink and invited her readers to share their views. Lately, my views have been nonexistent since we've been keeping the blinds closed in attempt to cool the house. One recent morning, I pulled them up so you could see what I normally see when the weather is more temperate.

The side yard is in some disarray right now, since last winter's extended cold wiped out all of my Mexican bird of paradise trees. They're putting out new growth but the established trees died and will have to be removed. You can also see a bit of my neighbor's house. Occasionally, wild life will be on top of the wall--I've seen several roadrunners, quail, doves, and even a hawk perched there at various times.

The wine bottles are the D'Aquino wine assortment, DH's family name before being slightly modified. The wine maker is actually a distant relative. The wine isn't expensive, but the bottles are pretty to look at. The family crest is even embossed on several of the bottles.

The figurine to the right of the bottles is a madonna from South America. She's made of recycled soda bottles. I bought her several years ago from a local fair trade store as Christmas decor, but I like her so much that she stays on the windowsill year round.

There's a Mexican ceramic cross to the left of the window. I bought it on a trip to San Antonio. The design features chiles so it's perfect for Albuquerque. Below the window is a tinwork retablo of San Pascual, the patron saint of the kitchen. The picture above was taken with the natural morning light, so the interior details are dark.

This one was taken with flash, not as aesthetically pleasing but what are you gonna do?

This shot also captures the crystal collection that hangs from the sink's overhead light fixture. The largest one is a water prism that shoots rainbows all over the room.

It's a pleasant kitchen with lots of light and counter space. This part of the house has an open floor plan so whoever's cooking isn't isolated. 

Sundaze

Another weekend almost over already!

And another hot day. Bleh, August.

Smudge agrees. Here he is, trying to catch a breeze on the patio.

Anyway, not much going on here at Casa DaQ. I should be working on the final vestment project but I'm not feeling it at the moment. I cut out a tank top from the Loes Hinse Tank pattern last night, so it's more likely that it will be today's project. The stoles will be done by end of the month, I just don't feel like starting A Major Project this afternoon, know what I mean?

But first, I plan to relax in the office for a while. A church friend gave me several sewing-related magazines today that I'm planning to look over before doing anything productive.

A big thank you to everyone who left comments about recent projects here and at Stitcher's Guild about my recent projects! Honestly, I never dreamed that they would attract so much attention and praise.

Another gratuitous photo of Smudge before I go flop on the loveseat...