Project Runway -- spoiler

The challenge was fun. Take your inspiration from a bird....then, Tim picked teams of two. But the twist was that the designers were actually competing head-to-head against each other.

The Piperlime accessories finally came into play because Anya killed a roach with a shoe off the Piperlime wall. GOOD JOB, ANYA...

Speaking of Anya. I thought she had two winning looks tonight and was not the least bit surprised when she won. I was actually disappointed that we didn't get to see her first look on the runway...

Their final looks -- Anya, Bert, Joshua, Kimberly, Laura and Viktor. It's pretty obvious which bird inspired which outfit.

But I would have picked Viktor for the #2 spot. The way he shredded the chiffon was very delicate and completely on point for the challenge. Viktor's dress was WAY better than Kimberly's lame imitation. But the judges totally gigged him for being "too literal". Are you kidding me? The INSPIRATION IS A BIRD, PEOPLE....it's not like he used a feather boa...

So, then -- they want it to be a more subtle reference? Like Bert's gray dress? When the model walked, the colors were revealed and you could see the green parrot inspiration. But -- NO. The judges hated it. So much so, that Bert was sent home. I loved his dress. It fit the model beautifully, when she walked, the colorful chiffon was revealed...every detail looked impeccable.

At the end of the episode, Bert and Laura are standing there, and we know one designer is going home. I was sure it would be Laura. Her outfit looked terrible. The cheap satin pants were skin tight, and the back of the jacket jutted out like bird feathers. I think Nina has been too hard on her -- but this week, she deserves to go.

BUT NO -- I WAS WRONG. Bert was auffed...Bummer.

My dream Finale would be Anya, Viktor and Bert. THAT would have been a really great show...

Myla Joyce

In July, I posted a funny little video of my grand-niece, Myla, CRYING...with everybody holding her...from one loving relative to the next...she was CRYING...

After she was born, the family made a lot of jokes about how crabby Myla was...

Myla's mother -- my niece Kelcy -- wants you to know that MYLA GOT OVER IT. And I should have reported this sooner. Myla has turned into one of the sweetest, happiest babies you will ever see...Her personality is starting to blossom -- and she loves to SMILE...and even GIGGLE...

I am telling you -- this little girl has the sweetest disposition I've ever seen. She lights up when you start to talk to her -- and her sparkly dark eyes follow your every word.

Here's the LATEST little video of our darling sweet girl....



I have sooo enjoyed being able to stop in any time I need a newborn baby hug...but her parents are moving to the family to their own place now.

That's okay...I can drive and I HAVE MY OWN CAR!!

Rita's JACKET count

On Monday, September 26, Carrie took these pictures of me saying goodbye to some of my favorite jackets...

Yes, I know I have WAAAAY too many of 'em...

and Yes, it is time to CLEAN OUT MY CLOSETS...but I really am going to miss this fabulous yellow number...I am begging Carrie to let me keep this one...

This particular little "collection" is mostly the summer jackets which were put away LAST FALL -- and if I haven't worn any of them all summer -- I'm thinking maybe they can ALL GO...

But this portable closet is full of the really special jackets -- like the silk roses-all-over-it jacket. I never did get down to a size 14 -- but I still think I might cut the flowers off to use in another project...

Thank you for playing my guessing game. Jan and Bonne made guesses...so did Carol and Heidi, Joan and Sandy, Linda, Linda K., Kim, Mary, Sylvia, Laura, Meghan, Kara, Carolyn, Lynn, Josie, Barb, Gretchen, Rhonda, Deena, Kelcy, Brenda, Amy, Nicole...well -- just about everybody I know took a stab at it.

Carrie did the official "count".....Are you ready?

What was your guess?

Here it is......Drumroll....

As of Monday, September 26, 2011 -- I owned 128 jackets.

Yes, my name is Rita.

And I am a jacket hoarder...

Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, Chantilly

It was a huge pleasure for me to be working in the Schmetz Needle booth at the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Chantilly, Virginia. They invited me to teach my two favorite classes, "Life Is Not A Dress Size" -- and "Gift Ideas That Are Faster Than A Speeding Bullet and Cheaper Than Dirt".

On the first day of the show -- I bumped into Stan and Marlene Ingraham, the owners of the Original Sewing & Quilt Expos. Here's a little video interview...



If you did NOT get a chance to attend the Chantilly show -- you still have time to make your plans for the Kansas City show in two weeks...

Click on this link to find out about the Kansas City show..!! October 13, 14, & 15...SEE YOU THERE!!

First Class!!

I fly often enough to tell you that IT ISN'T FUN ANYMORE...

As a matter of fact -- the "economy" section is getting tighter all the time. I'd say the seats are about 15" wide nowadays -- with so little legroom, Matt Roloff would be uncomfortable. On my recent trip to Chantilly, Virginia -- I was on a VERY BIG AIRPLANE...a Boeing 767. OMGG...

The cattle car section had three seats in the middle -- and two on each side. It was completely packed....every seat was filled...

As we were "boarding" the plane -- we all got to walk through the First Class section. Which, was, quite simply -- AMAZING. The seats all have their own configuration of a lounge recliner, individual television, etc. It's like your own little living room/dining room/family room combo -- complete with a private wait staff.

As the crew was making their "announcements" prior to the flight -- they said, "first class passengers must also buckle their shoulder strap"....and I'm thinking -- THEY HAVE A SHOULDER STRAP??

So then -- THESE are the people we really want to save, eh? I'm telling you -- these seats are SWEET....So, as I was getting off the plane, I thought I'd take a few pictures of the big roomy First Class section...

And, then, one of the flight attendants -- the only one who still has a sense of humor -- offered to take my picture -- SITTING IN ONE OF THE JET SET first class loungers...

Please note -- she even gave me an EMPTY WINE GLASS..!!

Oh, yes -- I am green with envy....

Project Runway

The most fun thing for me this week was that I watched this episode in a lovely hotel room in Chantilly, Virginia, with my friend Rhonda -- who usually does NOT watch Project Runway. (I also made her watch Dance Moms -- so you can appreciate her level of suffering...)

The challenge was to create a "hip new" 70's look that could be sold on Piperline.com. They had $100 for their usual mad dash through Mood -- and Anya lost her money. So, Anthony Ryan gave her the $11.50 he had left -- and other than that, she had to use muslin or depend on the scraps from the other designers...

And she WON THE CHALLENGE when she came up with THIS. The orange top of the first look is the muslin she dyed. I loved the way Anya stuck with the challenge...and she was on her way to some pretty nifty pleating in the back of the top when Tim announced the twist -- a "second look" along with a second shopping trip to Mood. (Lucky break for Anya?) Although -- her jumpsuit was way-too-big-for-the-model -- the judges loved it.



The biggest surprise of this episode was that Kimberly was SAFE!! Really, judges?? With a top that was held together by an obvious safety pin? It was shocking to me that she was riding the middle of the pack...

And Nina is sooo hard on Laura -- I don't get it. She actually rolls her eyes when they're talking about Laura's garments -- which were WAY BETTER than what Kimberly did this week.

Oh -- for no particular reason -- the judges also decided to "produce" one of Bert's outfits -- the beige dress. Wha?? Does that mean he is also the winner? That seemed very random to me -- and I didn't really understand why they did that.

But -- obviously -- Viktor was robbed. He is the only one who put up two complete looks -- with intricate details and spot-0n design elements. Viktor knows what he is doing and he very calmly designs his way around the competition every single week...managing his time, making good choices, and staying true to his own aesthetic AND whatever the challenge is. Viktor's garments go down the runway FINISHED -- spot-on -- with buttons AND hems...

At the end of the day -- poor Anthony Ryan went home. Which was deserved...more or less. If I was a judge -- I would've sent Joshua home just for all the whining he did about "NOT UNDERSTANDING the 70's". Like since he wasn't alive then -- they shouldn't expect him to take inspiration from that decade.

Get a grip, son...

MOSTLY -- I'm excited about the Chris March show that starts tomorrow...!! He was one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITES...and I can hardly wait.

You are Kind...and Smart....and Important

During their Labor Day visit -- I realized Lillian has already developed her own sense of style. She carefully selected a green robe with a monkey applique on the pocket, a purple plastic purse for her little pony collection -- and a pair of white moon boots that sparkle when she walks in them...(it was 90 degrees outside)...

Once she decided on her look -- she didn't want to change clothes...EVER AGAIN...
She loves books...Sophie is never far from her side...we giggled a lot...and played...

At some point -- she came into my "puzzle room" to see what I was doing. Please note my necklace. Emily and Lilly were shopping and she picked it out for me. Lilly worried very time I wasn't wearing it....

After watching the wonderful movie -- The Help -- I have decided that every time I hold a child in my lap, I'm going to say the words, "You are kind....you are smart...you are important..."

You never know when the words you say will be remembered by a child...and I want those words to be what Lillian remembers...

You are kind, you are smart, you are important...

Thanks, Kathryn Stockett and Aibileen....(and Linda --)