Great British Sewing Bee, Season Two, Episode Two

So, here it is, folks, although I think it's going up on YouTube in a day or two as well. I'm using the GorillaVid link as it starts playing without download or registration.

Great British Sewing Bee, Episode Two, Season Two

During the pleated skirt challenge, I was surprised to see nobody formed the pleats first, then cut the skirt to make sure it was the right size overall. So at least two of the contestants ended up with perfect pleats but skirts too small for the mannequins.
Are we starting to root for Heather? Or Tamara?
This episode was for me, as I'm the big pyjama sewer around here, with about eight pairs to my credit using an OOP Vogue for Men. But piping? No way! And what's the result? A lot of cotton remnants going into my quilted duvet cover, which is taking foreverrrrrrrr.

I am sewing, I promise you!

XX Happy Viewing!

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I mean, you don't take your sewing machine to bed, do you?

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Great British Sewing Bee Season 2 Episode 1

For those of us outside the UK and unable to avail ourselves of the BBC IPlayer, it was a couple of days' wait, but I finally found a link that is offering up Episode 1 of Season 2 without a barrage of registration faff.

Great British Sewing Bee Season 2, Episode 1

This competition is broader with ten contestants and a little smoother and more professional in presentation and tone. Claudia is a little less coy, and I liked the challenges. The silk lingerie competition was a tad uncomfortable—all those judges sticking their fingers down models' bare bosoms to see how the cups clung—but truly, Julie's gown was a beaut. No spoiler alerts, but it's a good 'watch' while stitching.

The Great British Sewing Bee Season 2

You would think that as we all are going to watch it they'd tell you when, right? It's February 18 at 8pm, UK time. Can't wait!

Revisiting Yves St. Laurent's favorite getaway

A weekend in Marrakech is the kind of thing that sounds glamorous . . . and frankly feels like it. The sight of the snow-covered Atlas mountains against an azure blue sky took my breath away during the plane's descent and within half an hour, I was plunged into the narrow alleyways of the ancient souk, heading to a restored riad to meet old friends. Easyjet and a reasonable room rate made it very doable.
Suffice to say, we ate well, laughed a lot, and basked in the winter desert sun on rooftop terraces.

One of the highlights of this quickie getaway was a visit to the Majorelle Gardens or Jardins Majorelle, purchased and restored by Yves St. Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé, complete with a bijoux museum to Berber jewelry and traditional dress style now run by the YSL Foundation. Notice below, the exhibition of the Berber costumes and then what YSL did with those tropes in his own collections.
This brought me back to the heady days when Vogue Designer Patterns featured the Big Designers, e.g. Ralph Lauren, Nina Ricci, Valentino, Calvin Klein and Yves St. Laurent. Of the Greats, only Donna Karan and Anne Klein perseveres with Vogue and as far as I'm concerned, the others are what cricketeers call, 'the second 11.' (To discuss..?)
Some of YSL's greatest collections were inspired by his childhood in North Africa and he was lavish with color and panache.
I write this as a tribute to him to make up for my disappointment in the new movie tribute.