Red Coat Restyled and Red Coat Art

I've been wanting a red coat

I've decided I collect coats.  When you collect something,

you can keep adding to your collection, right?

Especially if one can find a great bargain,

so I found a coat at a thrift store that had great

P O T E N T I A L

It was a soft wool in the shade of red I wanted.

The only problem was, it was not cute.

That is where the POTENTIAL came in.

I prefer sewing projects that are fast and not too involved.

This took longer than I'd planned, but it was fairly easy.

I opened the hem so I could get to the inside to make some seams and darts

to make the coat more fitted.  Then I took the belt and made cuffs and a back placket.

The buttons are from a vintage coat I had, and I bought 2 smaller ones

that matched quite well for the cuff, and added red lace

~ to make the sleeves longer and for cuteness factor ~

This photo is too pink, due to the sunshine, but what a great color!

And today, when I tried this vintage fur collar on it,

Va - va - voom!!!!

I wish my dress forms had heads.

I still need to sew the hem back in.  And wish I'd finished this while

it was still cold out!  Oh well, when next winter comes,

I will be in

R E D

While working on theses photos today

I was inspired to do a watercolor sketch

of a woman in a red coat and hat

with a vintage fur collar

She has just spotted a robin in a tree

and knows she will be shedding her warm coat soon!

I think Lady Mary of Downton would look

brilliant in this outfit, don't you?

~ Violet ~