Jessica Simpson is NOT fat

Okay...this is my VERY LAST POST about Project Runway.

One thing that keeps coming up in my conversations about this debacle was the guest judge -- Jessica Simpson. I think she did a very credible job as a judge -- and it's not easy to disagree with Michael and Nina. Altho, apparently -- her opinion didn't count for ANYTHING. Because no matter how much she and Heidi stuck up for Mondo -- THE CLEAR WINNER...at the end of the show, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia got to make the call.

Why is that??

But, for Jessica -- the biggest problem is probably that since the show aired -- she has to listen to everybody calling her FAT.

And SHE IS NOT FAT. However, the fact is -- she looked TERRIBLE on the show...

Here's a picture of her, in the dress she wore during the Project Runway Finale...can you imagine anything more unflattering?? Do you know what the problem is??



It's a Michael Kors original.

That's it.

Michael Kors needs to retire. If his dress can make a beautiful young woman like Jessica Simpson look like an overweight, middle-aged matron -- HE NEEDS TO STEP AWAY FROM THE RUNWAY...

Really. You are finished, Michael Kors. You are officially way too full of yourself. Quit reading your own press releases. If that's the best thing you could find for Jessica Simpson to wear -- your career in fashion is officially over.

Now I know why you wanted Gretchen to win Project Runway. It's all clear to me....Mondo would have been too much competition.

I no longer trust your taste level, Michael Kors...

And, hey, Jessica -- GIVE MONDO A CALL!! He will design something that will make you look fabulous!!

I'm still not over it...

Gretchen's entire line could be called Granny Panties...yes, four or five of her outfits had this same "silhouette"...

THIS IS WHAT MICHAEL KORS AND NINA GARCIA believe women want to wear...

THAT'S RIGHT -- BROWN BELTED UNDERWEAR -- THAT'S OUR FUTURE, LADIES...

Whereas, Mondo's final collection was full of great color and sassy patterns...


Really?? I have two words for you people...

Rueben Studdard...

Project Runway Sucks

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

When Heidi started arguing with Michael Kors and Nina Garcia -- I figured it was all just hype -- trying to make it feel like a competition.

Because, clearly -- MONDO WON -- HANDS DOWN.

By any criteria I could imagine -- Mondo was the winner. Best point of view, most creative, biggest surprise EVERY WEEK, by far the most original designs, he was the only designer with a truly identifiable aesthetic -- c'mon -- six weeks ago, I started calling Project Runway "The Mondo Show".

This picture is just one of Mondo's designs...he created at least a dozen memorable, wonderful outfits...I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the oversize polka dot dress in the finale.

Gretchen won two early challenges this season and her head got so big she could hardly walk through a doorway. She was SOOO COMPLETELY FULL of herself -- giving the other designers "advice" and sharing her opinions about everything they were doing wrong....

Of course, for me, the problem was Gretchen's design aesthetic...which is mostly brown. This, of course, goes against my biggest fashion rule. Everybody who knows me understands my important "TB" rule.

Too Brown...so I've gotta turn it down...

I once refused to buy a perfectly good car, even though it had everything I wanted -- simply because it was BROWN...

How will I remember Gretchen? Brown. Yep. Boring, boring brown...Yet -- THEY MADE HER THE WINNER OF PROJECT RUNWAY....I simply could not believe it. I wanted to throw a pool ball at my television screen. I am completely disgusted...

And hey -- with the big Finale episode being two hours long -- and all that yackity yack between the judges....NOBODY -- NOT EVEN ONCE -- MENTIONS THE FACT THAT GRETCHEN IS WEARING A SEE THROUGH SKIRT?? Really? I fear the pregnancy hormones have affected Nina's vision...

What's next? Bristol Palin winning Dancing with the Stars?? ugh...I'm going to go eat some chocolate now...

Deborah and Simon

FINALLY! My embroidery-crazed sister Deborah got to meet her sewing star idol -- Simon Haskins!! If you are a regular reader of this blog -- you may remember an actual video of Simon talking to Deb on my cellphone...

Yes, she's a HUGE FAN of his...

Behind this embroidered masterpiece -- my sister Deborah...taking part in an all-day hands-on class with Simon Haskins -- in Paducah, Ky.


After attending Simon's class -- Deb sent me this note:

The day was awesome Simon did a great job teaching the class and keeping everyone on track. We learned different things about stabilizer-how to weave ribbon on sticky stabilizer and attach to a design-how to use fabric softner to get the sticky off the fabric by letting it soak in water. It was really neat seeing the quilts that you have seen in magazines.

Simon was just like I thought he would be -- creative and fun loving. He is all about just getting it done.

This is a picture of my sister Deborah on the left, Simon, and her friend Nancy...

This is my favorite picture...of Deb and Simon...I'm gonna have it framed...

AFTER the class -- Simon sent me this note:

Rita -- Your sister is a doll you are lucky to have her and she is drop dead stunning. We had a great day she was wonderful to have in the class full of energy and happiness.

Quilt Stories

When I went to the local quilt show -- I was so struck by how unique every single quilt was. How women used their sewing skills to "tell a story". One of my favorites was the quilt a Grandma made for her grandson -- who had always loved his boxer shorts. Do you see the story? That Grandma's love and sense of humor...every block is made out of outgrown boxers...with a few carefully placed t-shirts...

There were some great t-shirt quilts -- sometimes, combining the technology of printing photos on fabric -- very special...

One woman made a memory quilt, using her father's ties...

What a beautiful quilt -- to help keep her father close...

WHAT A GREAT DAY. We had a wonderful time! Inspirational quilts, lunch at Riefe's, shopping at Ritzi Reruns...

My two Lindas...and Sandy....my little book club. You know what a big fan I am of spending time with women friends. It's the only way you can keep your head on straight!!

We've enjoyed our summer breakfast club so much we decided to keep it going YEAR-AROUND.. right, girls??!!

Hey -- everybody oughta have a posse...and these are my people....yes, life is good...

Mary & Doug's wedding present

I wanted to give Mary a wedding present from the Hanson Sisters. If you know us -- you will remember our famous "Hanson Sisters Linen Auction"...

So I started with a never-used, 50-year old small kitchen tablecloth...

I loved the kitchen print -- and I figured Mary would know EXACTLY where it came from.

Then, I needed a nice big plastic tray from the Goodwill store...

Other important elements -- their wedding picture, and some zebra fabric...

I cut a pattern out of newspaper...

Using my ink jet printer -- I printed their photo on muslin fabric --

Then, I layered the fabric, the photo, six or seven coats of Mod Podge...

It's a nice large tray. And truly -- it IS THE THOUGHT that counts, people...My crafting skills suck. I should have just given them a gift certificate.

But I knew they could use a nice big tray -- for picnics on their lake home...

There's a FOX HUNT??

If you're a regular reader of this blog -- you know Mary & I had a Ya Ya job in Geneseo, New York last month. Which I just can't stop blogging about....

We were delighted to have a knowledgeable tour guide during our visit to upstate New York. After Carol told us there was an actual FOX HUNT going on -- we just HAD to see it. She turned down this country road -- really?? Anybody see the fox?

After a long scenic ride -- we came upon this REALLY BIG DEAL. There were lots of tents -- and many, many horses -- a dog show, kids riding horses, vendors -- OH MY!! This is not like any Fox Hunt I ever imagined...

Mary and I just HAD to visit quaint downtown Geneseo...and the campus of SUNY...it was all charming...

There's actually a store called "Frugal Fashionista"..!! Which is SOOO right up our Ya Ya alley. But, Carol knew I was a little disappointed that we didn't actually SEE the "Fox Hunt". I don't know what I was expecting. She said, "get back in the car"...you want a fox....I'll show you a fox...you are not leaving town until you see a real fox....
Next thing I knew, Carol pulled off the road...so I could take this picture....

Yes, I know -- EEWW...EWWW...EEWWW...
Please don't write to me....I know it was wrong...

Carol made me do it. I'd be happy to give you her contact information....

More Autumn Adventure in New York

Alice and her team did such a beautiful job -- I'm pretty sure this is her sister Molly -- who was recruited to help...

It was such a wonderful weekend of sewing fun and girlfriend time...everybody had a great time...

A mother-daughter team. Dee and Lisa? I'm terrible with names...

This is Mary -- looking at all the great door prizes people are going to win...

Of course, we all KNOW THIS GUY -- It's JEFF..!!

Yes, he did, indeed, make it up to us. (leaving us at the airport) He wanted the event to be the best it could be...and as it turned out -- he was a very charming, hard-working guy!!

Breakfast Clubbers Show & Tell

Okay -- I've caused some confusion. For many years, I've belonged to wonderful little "book club". And when I talk about "my clubbers" -- THOSE are the girls. Linda K., Linda P., Sandy and me. We all love to read -- but last summer, we realized that meeting once a month just wasn't good enough. So we decided to get together once a week for breakfast. And WE LOVE IT.

The four of us share a love of reading AND sewing. Although it's not mandatory -- we often have "show and tell' -- and those are the pictures I often blog about.

Linda P. made an apron for her grandson -- and she was afraid she'd "missed the window" -- but it was a BIG HIT with him and his friends...

As she was organizing her "stash" -- she decided to make napkins for us!! YIPEE..


Me and Linda K. -- delighted with our new napkins!!



Catching up with my clubbers ONCE A WEEK has been a wonderful addition to my schedule. I look forward to our breakfasts...and I never know what they're going to come up with...

yep. these are my people...

Carol, our Tour Guide

OKAY -- this is exciting. HANG ONTO YOUR HATS. During our action-packed Autumn Adventure in Geneseo, New York -- we squeezed in a quick TOUR OF THE TOWN. Carol was our official tour guide...here she is, as we pack up her Mini-Cooper...(for the record, it can accommodate three women and two suitcases)...

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY WE HAD. If I ever get tired of this sewing gig -- I'd like to be a photographer....wouldn't this be a perfect postcard?? Geneseo is a college town -- and the SUNY campus is beyond charming...in all it's Fall glory on this day...

Carol could be considered a local historian -- and she drove us by the Wadsworth mansion. The founders of the town...still a very impressive estate.

Imagine our delight when Carol told us the FOX HUNT was going on this weekend. WHAT?? There's an actual FOX HUNT?? Are you kidding me...??

Giddy-up, girls. THERE'S A FOX HUNT IN THIS TOWN....

You know you haven't seen the last of Carol, right??

Autumn Adventure

They kicked off the Autumn Adventure with a "dessert reception" on the first night! WHAT A FABULOUS IDEA...I'm telling you -- it was a gourmet extravaganza of delicious desserts...

Behind every worthwhile thing in the world -- there will usually be ONE WOMAN... and the chick who did a lot of the heavy lifting for this event was Alice....it was hard to get her to stand still long enough to even TAKE the darn picture...

Alice and her team did a beautiful job of setting up the room in the hotel -- all the teachers had displays -- and I have NEVER EATEN BETTER desserts in my life...Oh My!!

Here we are again -- THE YA YA SISTERS EATING DESSERT...(you can't see our empty plates)...

I took a lot of great pictures during our quick visit to Geneseo, New York. There are always so many people to thank after an event like this one...and -- hey -- WE HAD A GREAT TIME..!

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

The best thing about a ROAD TRIP with Rhonda Pierce is that she is extremely organized, yet willing to be spontaneous. That's a strange mix, right? Well -- here's what I mean.

Knowing we were going to be in St. Louis for Baby Lock Tech -- Rhonda did a little Google search to see what (besides the arch) -- St. Louis had to offer...and she got the address and a bit of information about a place neither one of us had ever been to. The St. Louis Basilica...

On our "travel day" -- we had a little pocket of time -- so we "GPS"ed the location for the Basilica...

In the middle of a beautiful St. Louis neighborhood -- there it was -- stunning...we were both sooo excited. What an incredible building. They began construction in 1905...


The inside of the Basilica is decorated with the largest installation of mosiacs IN THE WORLD. Unbelievable...

83,000 square feet of tiny mosiacs...the installation continued until 1988...

First, they blow the glass, sometimes with real gold layered in...then, they chip the tiny mosaics...there are millions of tiny mosaics...

On every surface inside the cathedral...there are scenes MADE ENTIRELY OF MOSAICS...

Every square inch is breaktaking...and my poor pictures cannot do it justice..

Even the floors are mosaics...

Wow. Amazing. There are no words. If you EVER get the chance -- please be sure to visit the St. Louis Basilica. They have a wonderful museum...

Hey -- THANKS AGAIN, RHONDA. I'm thinking about you today...