hawt ...new frocks that beat the heat

~Even though it was like 98 and windy as hell we had a wonderful day at the market Saturday.
We have our sights set on marketing next week as well! The market is filled to capacity with fresh veggies right now...I know its hot but you cannot beat the selection and with Barton Creek you can trust when they say local they really mean it! All central Texas All the time! Plus if you get there early you can beat the heat!

I am making these wrap belts that are reversible and made from re-purposed fabrics...I was selling them only with dresses but just started making them to sell individually. They are fun and cute with so many things!I also made the new pattern for a scoop neck knit dress(pictured up top).
I made me one in black too and I wore it everyday this weekend! so comfy and flattering! This black is still available. There will also be a pink and taupe one for nest week.I hope to borrow a camera this week to at least post more informative photos

This is my beautiful sis modeling her custom orchid dress and another belle and burger frock she just had to have!(thanks sis)

wet in texas

no market today sorry ...just too wet for my summer frocks. BUT; YAY !!!!!it rained in central Texas!!!
So I spent my Free saturday morning, in my kitchen, makin' bacon....listening to the Carter Family and peering at my rain spattered window .


~Pine with me won't you?

Inspiration; the pollinators

~The practice and importance of pollination fascinates me and feels me with awe. It was just a coincidence really that I have made so many humming birds( my sis loves them ...so I made some).
What I really want is to get into the nitty gritty pollinators( the humming birds are the Marilyn of the pollinators);a whole series celebrating all the not so glamorous pollinators. Did you know mosquitoes pollinate? So these are some inspirations I have been pouring over. I am especially intrigued with the flies as pollinators. Yesterday I took burger to his favorite local museum ; The Texas Memorial Museum and we were both very into the "Hawaiian Flies: Song and Dance Success" exhibit; I found myself particularly taken with their intsy wings. I am going to go sew now and see what happens.....


P.S. belle and burger will be at the Farmers Market this Saturday May 21 unless it is a total washout(not likely)

P.S.S. Young Blood Gallery and Boutique in Atlanta will be carrying belle and burger soon( probably by June!!!)

southern comfort

~I am heading to my native Atlanta for a long weekend! I fancy myself quite the peach and I am long overdo a Georgia trip. This will be the first time I have traveled away from burger, so I am feeling both excited and anxious. It is still spring there and It may even rain! (central texas drought talkin')I am certain to be inspired by all the lovely GIANT magnolias blooming ...cannot wait to make some appliques

~I am bringing with a bunch of dresses and other bits so if you are are in or around Hotlanta and want to have a peek let me know.(bellesouthgirl At yahoo dot com)...I Will oblige
here are a few samples I will have with me....sorry for the mobile pix
~I leave you with a song from one of my favorite bands from my Georgia high school days...

forever

~It seems I have not posted in moons....in the interim I have been sick as a kitten, sewing like a banshee(making lots of custom frills), obsessed with this TV show (oh Mr. Draper) and discovering that MY camera is BROKE!! So I will share a few photos(pre-broken camera) of my lately customs and others...and just dip my foot in the pool.

This lovely lady
pictured above wearing this pegagcorn dress....
here she is seen in the palms sporting another belle and burger frock
I made this custom Orchid dress for a Georgia peach in Tennessee...

This humming bird in the bluebonnets was requested and repeated for another client.I made several new frocks that sold very quickly at the market before I could take took adequate photos.One was a sketch for some nautical theme custom work I am dreaming up.
The other was this dream in pine needles dress....love it!
~I also have been appliqueing quite a few skirts. This custom one I made for a dear friend's birthday. There was much discussion on what was being portrayed in the image.... I think burger and I decided it was the beach with the sun reflecting in the ocean...


~I also appliqued some apples on a this summer sheet skirt(still available size small)~ belle and burger will be at the Farmers Market this weekend ...hope to see y'all there

lavender my love; A recipe post

~So my man makes crazy good ( and simple) salad dressings. Since Burger and I grew a tiny patch of baby greens, we have been on a salads everyday, till the greens burn up, routine. This routine makes crazy good salad dressings a must!In addition to our baby greens, we also planted a lovely and prolific lavender plant. Lavender is one of my favorite herbs...but my imagination is limited with it in our kitchen( working on that). I love it in tea and it is in my favorite macaron but those items are not made from my plant in my kitchen. However my new favorite salad dressing is made from my very own plant. Kg concocted this recipe that he is making it in my kitchen. I asked him if he wouldn't mind, sharing the recipe with all y'all. His basic proportions are derived from the joy of cooking's french dressing or vinaigrette sauce.

lavender vinaigrette with sherry vinegar

1 tbs shallot or onion
1 tsp prepared french mustard (Dijon is good, but a I use coarse ground one, most often)
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 tbs honey
1 tbs fresh lavender
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil


1 . add all ingredients EXCEPT OIL in med. mason jar w/ a lid (160z or so....this amount won't fill it all the way but it's what we have the most of and gives you plenty of room to shake)

2. put the lid on and shake vigorously

3. add the oil a 1/4 cup at a time re-lid and shake each time until it looks smooth and emulsified

4. you can add to your favorite salad mix and enjoy now, however it gets better if you let it sit in the fridge for awhile or a week....( it's best at the end of the jar )

garden harvesting apron...

~I love this apron I just finished. It is my pattern drafted from my favorite vintage apron. all the fabric is vintage and scraps(treasured vintage). I had this sweet vintage toaster cozy( and no toaster) that I turned into a double gathering pocket for sorting your veggies from the garden ! The collar was made from part of a sham that had one small rip in the eyelet so I made the Apple as a sort of non-removable broochIt was one of those inspired late-nite moments where the scrap pile starts to make its own designs. ...

belle and burger will be at the market tomorrow April 16Th and will have this treasure with me...for sale
see y'all there hopefully!
....update~ sold apron but added much better photos...Really loved this one especially sac-like double pocket