{My Sewing Creation}

As a door prize at one of the Rotary Club's District Conferences (April 2, 1995 at Jekyll Island, GA), I won 3 yards of woolen fabric... So out came the Burda patterns and I did sew this two piece suit. Completely lined in silk (from Britex Fabrics) with Japanese thread, and buttons, all from Britex Fabrics Notions done on October 28, same year and it turned out like this: 

This double breasted camel wool suit jacket has a lapel and welt pockets with a double flap.

Pencil skirt with slit in the back is above the knee.

Six buttons in the front of the longer styled jacket. 

That always covers your 'derrière' in a more flattering way. Another good detail that most high end labels implement. Every inch of fabric counts and those that offer cheaper versions, literally do cut corners at the expense of making us look less flattering.

Slit in skirt.

Six buttons on the sleeves...

The antique gold lapel watch you can see in detail at the very end...

Yes, complete with welt pockets and a double flap. That made this tricky construction even more of a challenge. Sure, I did study Fashion and Design but nevertheless, things don't come together easy. 

You can however make use of Mariette's Back to Basics 'Consulting Services:' YOUR OWN CLOTHES, ONLY BETTER! Or Learn from Mariette: A Stitch in Time Wardrobe Care 

Color, style, proportion, fit and more! Sure I can help you restyle your existing wardrobe to create a fresh, new look that’s right for you. For that I will peruse your existing wardrobe and suggest ways to alter selected garments for a better, more flattering fit. I will also provide personal shopping advice, giving tips on shopping with thrift and quality in mind.

• Detail of the welt pockets with double flap as well as the sleeve slit with buttons.

• Showing the skirt slit again.

1. Lifted up my sweater enough so you could see the invisible zip and the way the waistband is done, with hook closure on the inside. 

• Invisible zips are a true sign of any upscale garment and years ago I did master this technique.

• Detail of welt pocket with double flap.

• Double flap lifted up and you can see the pocket entrance.
• Real functional pockets are another tell-tale sign of better quality garments.

• Fully lined in pure silk from Britex Fabrics. You will find the hyperlink in the above text.
• Any quality garment will be completely lined, as those are the tell-tale signs for the better work.
• The cheaper brands will use a synthetic lining, partial lining or no lining at all.

This is my antique gold lapel watch with initial M on its pin.

Photos are taken on Sunday, January 29, after Church... with a headache as those were the days we were still unsure about my brother Harry's condition. He has been doing better and the fever, that came with his pneumonia after the double surgery, got knocked down. I only rely on information from a far distance and I stopped my daily calling. 

All your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated!

Related articles:
{Angels engraved on lucky calendar coin of 1969} | previous post by me

{My Batik Creations} | previous post by me

{Our Camellia Nuccio's Gem & Christmas Angel Gift} | previous post by me

{Today 39 years ago I lived in Panningen, Netherlands}

Today it is exactly 39 years ago that I started living in Panningen, in the Dutch province of Limburg. How fast time goes by! There I lived 5+ years and went each day to work by car in Horst, some 20 km or 13 miles north of Panningen. Together with my 1st cousin Thea from the blog Crea by Thea I attended the Scheidegger course where we learned how to type blind with the 10-finger system. Years later, I did find Thea back on Blogger; incredibly small world! You can read Thea's story about it Ik vond mijn nichtje.... By the way, you can click in the heart ♥  below the 1st photo: Brigitte.de Crea by Thea for helping Thea get a German Brigitte (magazine) Award. Just showing you some images from my Panningen era...

This is with my pure bred Dachshund Mauzie on the River Meuse in Kessel, Limburg. 

Mauzie was the daughter of a Dutch male Dachshund Champion.

Mauzie immigrated later with me to Georgia/USA and enjoyed 2 more years as American Dachshund.

Underneath this post there is another link, where you can find out more about Mauzie.

Mauzie on the River Meuse; she was crazy about water. During the weekends we always took her for a long walk in the area.

Mauzie with some crocus flowers. Photo by my brother; Martin Van den Munckhof 

With Mauzie on the patio of the home in Panningen. 

Cousin Thea and I, actually lived only 150 meters (or 164 yards) distance from each other! 

The brown, cropped sweater in linen bouclé had an ajoure lace v-neck and was at that time my favorite. 

Bought in Bonn, Germany where we went shopping often as my late husband's Mom was from Germany.

From Kessel Castle overlooking the River Meuse.

I'm wearing here a Salzburger Dirndl with Roses from Trachten Stüberl in Bad Münstereifel

Roses have been my favorite as long as I can remember...

My Mauzie traveled the world, here she is in Bad Münstereifel, Germany with me.

The story about World Animal Day reveals more about Mauzie my Dachshund.

Related links:

IK VOND MIJN NICHTJE....... (creabythea.blogspot.com)

{World Animal Day started in 1931 in Florence, Italy} previous post by me

{I've been TAGGED by High Heeled Life}

On February 5, I got TAGGED by Celia from High Heeled Life. Due to my birthday on February 6, I was not able to respond right away. But here it is:

Quick Blogger TAG

1. Who tagged you?

Dear friend Celia from Celia M. High Heeled Life & Resilientista did tag me. She has been such a ROLE MODEL for all of us bloggers. Fluffing back from the stage she's been, to where she's now, is quite an inspiration to ALL of us! Read her story: My Story... It all starts somewhere.

2. What is the main idea of your blog?

Reaching out to the world in plain Mariette's Back to Basics writing about Life Style. Nothing borrowed, nothing copied, but from the heart and by my own experience. Sharing Our Home & Garden, use of lace and linens, heirloom antique, working with fresh flowers, baking, making chocolates and healthy sweets (being diabetes type 2 myself), tea & coffee, sewing, crocheting, knitting, embroidery etc. etc.

3. What are your top 3 places to shop?

Neiman Marcus Last Call; TJ Maxx and Internet.

4. If you got $ 500 what would you spend it on?

Humane Society, Animal Shelter for food and treatment.

5. Flats or heels?

Never flats as that gives me not my best posture but neither such HIGH heels as from the latest years. Those are too much in my opinion, besides it doesn't go well with my long legs as I am not intending to market them.

 6. Favorite colors (be specific!)?

Changed this to plural as the question otherwise becomes impossible.

For interior I go for white, not the harsh grayish whites but creamy and soft whites.

Furniture is a mixture of white and French oak with leather for that cozy warm 'nest' feeling.

Clothes... well I have lots of blacks but also soft colors. Let me put it different: red is NOT my color but for the rest it all depends on my mood for the day, as I do love change and the unexpected. Nothing boring in my/our lives!

7. Favorite blogger of the moment and why?

This again is not a fair question as it definitely should be plural! But I certainly do admire the lady and friend who passed it on to me. Don't want to put the ball back in her court though.

So next I do admire Johanna from Silber+Rosen (Silver+Roses), because of her genuine writing talent and composing the most unique settings with beautiful personal china, silver and linens. Even using her own plants and citrus trees for blending it all in.

She never is a copy cat, off some leading or trendy posts (as many do!).

Talking about 'cat', she produces a fabulous post about the lucky feline Wiski, that shares his life with her. Anyone loving animals gets my admiration! 

Johanna maintains a steady style of her own and is not easily taken off from her practical and beautiful way of styling.

A very rare combination that only is found in a limited number of ladies.

Besides, she does not use too many words and keeps the length of each post just perfect.

More of us should adhere to that example.

8. One of the goals you have for your blog?

Showing other ladies, especially the younger ones, that graceful styling doesn't need to be done the way big catalogs or magazines prompt us to follow. Just by using common sense, like the French Grand-Mère's old fashioned good and simple advice, we can blend items that have become heirlooms and were loved by the women in our lives.

Hoping to instill some appreciation for certain heirlooms.

If possible, creating some more with our own hands.

Finding happiness in the little things of daily life is far more important than following others like a hype; which seldom fills that void for happiness. 

Being content is one of life's secret to happiness.

9. when did you start blogging?

Right before I became paralyzed... end of 2009 on November 23.

10. Who do you tag?

(At least 5 people: include names and links!)

Johanna from Silber+Rosen (Silver+Roses)

Angela from Angela Lace

Amreen from Fashion (blog no longer exists...)

Elizabeth and Gary from Home is Where the Heart is

Mieke from Gebreide Sjaals (Knitted Shawls)

Hope you enjoy visiting these ladies with quite a range of different things to offer.

For the 5 people that I have TAGGED, feel free to participate. It is no MUST as we all understand that it is a lot of work... AMEN!