friends like these

When customers turn into friends, and come bearing gifts- that is when you love being a "shop-keep". These paper frocks were created by Barbara, one even from a COREY&CO bag.  so dear.

bit o' color

one fish, two fish: kimonos by natural habitat, snappy wallets by amazing artist linda fig, and a dash of a colorful felted vest by moi: corey&co. all fa la la here and having fun.

accessorize !

Variety and lots of it : fine beadwork bracelets by Tina Christensen, the abstract patterns of Hardboiled Design scarves, fun wooded bracelets by Elk of Australia.....the tip of the accessory iceberg here at COREY&CO, as we gear up for holiday gift season.

bundle up

It's great to be snug and warm, but let's keep it interesting. So many options in color and texture ! Try these: quilted UTILTY jacket, Tessuti printed scarves from Scotland, chunky COREY&CO vest, and animal prints to warm your neck from SOPHIA COSTAS.

holding pattern

As the beautiful , temperate weather of September and October lingers on, everyone is avoiding the idea of the approaching (winter...ssshhhh) season. As much fun as woolier textures are, I am still in the transitional fabric mode. Here are some examples, and you might notice...they are all in a close color range. Perhaps I believe that if I change fabric weight and color , it will alter the weather pattern.

Butapana

Last year was the first season for the Japanese knitwear company Butapana at COREY&CO. It was a hit. Their luxurious knits are really unlike any others I have seen. This year- ordered more !! but apparently not enough. Every piece I put out quickly disappears. Sweaters, dresses, skirts, vests are out. But scarves, leg warmers, fingerless mitts, and neck pieces are still hiding in the stock room.

ny ny ny ny ny

I have reached some crazy saturation point where 5 days in New York makes me yearn for Maine!!!!'Never thought that would happen. From the work venue of the Javitz , to Eataly, to Bryant Park , to night-music at Washington Square : all good. But it does not put sand twixt your toes like a walk on Willard Beach........ah, home.

early to work

These days are full of busy : marking summer goods down to ridiculous prices, unpacking the bounty of winter clothing which arrives in scary, big boxes (did I order way too much?), and still trying to keep up with the daily 'make'.  Once in awhile, an amusing break presents itself, like friend Tonia's request that I fashion a little blue jacket for Peter Rabbit on his way to a baby shower....

twill tape story

Twill tape is a necessity of sewing. Miki directed me to a website and I ordered. I thought they would come in normal-sized spools of tape, but arrived in massive quantities ! I hung them on the existing nails in my sewing area, and only yesterday realized how many repeat shapes live in that corner. The painting is an old one of mine, one of several box-themed works at that time. The white cardboard shapes are my daily-used pattern 'blocks'. The plaster casts are a weakness of mine....I have a foot as well.

new york minute

I had very little agenda for this NY trip : buy stuff , see stuff . Done.  A quick walk through:1) Javitz Center , the scene of buying  2) Sculpture in the park  3) Garment center- more buying   4)A Village vignette

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that time of year

' having a sale

' having a sale

' having a really good sale

home work

I thought that I had a fair bit of stockpile built up- of Corey&Co.,made -by-me,garments. The summer had been a bit more sluggish than those past. The monsoons, the killer heat...but whammo....I forgot about the incoming other-city regulars, and the random newAugust visitors ....and I have been hit with multiple-piece buyers. How great , how lucky, and how happy I am about that....but the stockpile disappeared quickly and it's "to the mattresses", sewing-wise. Call Erin to shop-sit, drag the serger home, bring up the ironing board and the cute little second sewing machine. Dining room table=workspace. And all the while, the backyard chaise beckons. 

shop talk

One of the real pleasures of having a shop these almost-five years has been the customers : fun and interesting people I would never otherwise have met. This morning a couple came in who frequent Portland a few times a year and pay me a visit when they do. I was reminded , nicely, that I have not been blog-posting as often as I used to. I am just so glad she looks at it enough to notice !!  And so , lovely customer- this one is for you (You know who you are). Recent shop additions :The top photo is the back of a jacket I made, the second down is a new Miki of Moondance skirt with apron panel. On the next photo , we get together : vest is mine, skirt Miki's. The last photo is a reminder of why we live in Maine and why, maybe, I get a little less work(and blogging) done in summer !

new additions

Some new additions to the shop-stock: the fabulous JED bag by Linda Fig is back!! It was great to visit with Linda , in Maine for her annual island vacation. And it was great to stock up on these sculptural, body-hugging leather gems.  The linen totes were stitched up by Miki, with fabrics brought back from Japan. Three little summer berets: my hat offerings, although in this sun, I would recommend a shady straw topper (We have those, too).

simple gift

My friend Ronnie presented me with a gift she purchased at a vintage shop: a sewing-study journal from the McDowell School, Julia Thomas: student. It appears to be from the late '40s and has made me very happy. Aside from the useful information on sewing construction- which I have neither the patience  nor the interest to learn- it has a clarity of line and presentation that makes me want to draw and paint. The way the information is so simply, clearly and thoroughly documented is beautiful in itself. Inspiring. And the charming little doodle found on a page corner makes me want to know this young woman of another era. I am quite sure she went on to be an accomplished seamstress/tailor. I hope she had a very nice life.