may-december jacket

I began this linen-cotton canvas jacket in late December, inspired by the sleeves on a jacket in Burberry's spring 2007 line, a kind of "circle jacket" that I'd seen somewhere - craftster, perhaps?, and my own lack of a shrug/bolero for those times when only my arms need a bit of coverage.

I'd pretty well put it together before class got back in, but had sketched out an embroidery pattern which I never finished. Originally started in amber silk, but decided I wanted a change and swapped to an aqua cotton definitely inspired by the wonderful world of Alicia Paulson over at Posie Gets Cozy.

I have a couple of chocolate leather buttons and will ultimately make a little closure for it, but for now, it's ready to wear out! Details of stitching (satin stitch, laisy daisy, back stitch, split stitch, french knots) below:

work in progress?

I picked up this sheer cotton Lux top (sleeveless, deep V neck, with opaque vertical stripe) for a song a year or two ago at one of those fabulous after-Christmas sales that Urban Outfitters has. It has little drawstrings under the bust to gather the empire seaming. There was a seam on the left side of the neck that needed a little restitching after someone with an apparently too-large chest tried it on. I could have simply sewed it up, but I've been meaning to do something more with it. My solution? The needle, of course. The poppy (worked in basketweave, satin stitch, and french knots) is adapted from one I saw on some drapery in an Anthropologie catalogue from fall 2004. I am debating adding a bit more to it, but we shall see. Thus far, I like it. I didn't finish this in time for Beltaine, but even as it is (finished? in progress?), I think it will make a lovely part of my look on Litha (Solstice).