London Calling! Pink and Orange Blouse – Simplicity 8454

I just finished making another modified version of Simplicity 8454, this time using a Robert Kaufman fabric called London Calling Lawn Stem Pink.  It is a perfect summer-weight lawn cotton with just the right drape for this pattern.  I purchased this fabric at the Fabric Outlet in San Francisco.

This blouse has the same bodice as the gingham ruffled sleeve blouse that I made recently from the same pattern.

Isn’t this the perfect button for this fabric?  I bought a bunch of these buttons in different colors at a sewing shop in Bergerac, France last year.

Speaking of London, not only is the name of this fabric London Calling Stem Pink, I’ve also been thinking a lot about Kew Gardens, just east of London. I’ve recently taken up watercolor painting and I am obsessed with painting flowers.  I had no idea that I had a knack for drawing and painting.  I’m kicking myself that I didn’t know about this love when our family lived in London in the ’70s while my father, a mycologist, was working at Kew Gardens.

I’ve started painting the flowers that I see in our neighborhood on my daily walk. I made the rose below with Tombow brush pens at the same time that I was making this blouse. I used the pens because I didn’t yet have any watercolors. I was on a orange, pink and red binge!

I’ll be posting more of my watercolors on Instagram. You can follow me by clicking on the camera icon on this page.

This rose was on the same bush as the one above today. Isn’t it gorgeous?

Thank you so much for visiting my blog!  Merci et au revoir!