Vrana, May 2020

For a forth year husband and I are visiting the Vrana Gardens in the spring. We were there at the end of March, when the park was just coming to life - too early, we were and the end of April - when all the magnolias, lilacs, carobs and sakuras were in blossom and the gardens were arranged with tulips - probably the best time to visit, last year we came at the beginning of May and this year - at the end. Late in spring the meadows and the trees are at their peak, green and fresh, but most of the iconic trees have overblown. Still, there were enough flowers, trees and bushes in bloom for us to enjoy immensely our 8 km walk through the park. This time we crossed it long and wide and even managed to find alleys we hadn't passed through before.

Bailen Top In Brown

I had a small amount of remnant georgette from my mother's Rhapsody and I made another Bailen top. This one is cut on the straight and not on the bias and it does make a big difference in the way it fits me. Still, I love the colors and it was lovely to have a light top under my leather jacket on a day of very uncertain weather.

I decided to make two pairs of straps this time to add some interest to the back. However, obviously I'll have to find a less visible bra, as this one is peaking under the top :(

More about our walk - in my next post.

Zoo Top

A new simple top I made for Gaby. The pattern is Kirsten Kimono Tee by Maria Denmark and it is a free pdf pattern of a very simple sleeveless boat neck tee for knits with negative ease at the bust and loose at the hips. I was looking for a plain pattern for a top, preferably without darts or other cuts into the fabric, but still with a flattering feminine shape and this tee pattern fit the bill exactly. And when I saw  Alisa Shay's video and her tops from wovens, made with this pattern, I knew what to do with my precious piece of very light and fun viscose. I came upon it as a fabric remnant at my favourite fabric shop, only 60 cm and I knew it would make a perfect fun summer top.

Because the pattern is made for knits, I had to cut a bigger size to make it from woven fabric. Gaby is an XS, so I measured a woven top that fits her well and decided to cut size S, graded to size L at the hips. Thus it fits her with little ease at the bust and the waist and gives her flattering ease at the hips.

I made the seams french seams, as usual, the hems are narrow hems and the neck is finished with a bias tape from the same fabric. I cut the boat neck wide enough to fit though her head, so I didn't need any additional openings at the back. If I make this pattern again, I might try a more narrow neckline with a keyhole opening at the back, just for fun.

I am very, very happy with this simple top and I am quite tempted to make one for myself, just looking for the right fabric. As the pattern has little shaping, I think it is best made with viscose or other drapy materials, otherwise it would sit a bit boxy.

Before and after - Gaby had a haircut yesterday, just before we took these pictures. Her long hair was gorgeous, but she was getting tired of it, especially in the hot.

Golo Burdo 2020

Saturday we visited a new to us place - Golo Burdo mountain and the natural preserve Ostritza. I was enchanted and I can't wait to return there! The place was like a garden, so beautiful, fresh, green and full of flowers. 10 km up and down hills, along forest and meadow trails.
Few words and plenty of photos:

On peak Ostritza, with the Southern slopes of Vitosha in the background