Me Made May 2014: Travel Clothing for a Business Conference in San Francisco

My second trip in May was to San Francisco for a business training conference. What an amazing, transformative experience it was for me. 

Burlingame, CA: Unexpected Beauty at Each Turn

I had a little time before the conference started, so I chose to spend it discovering Burlingame, CA.  It felt more like a bedroom community / airport town with no good food or fun things to me, so I was unsure if I would find anything of value or fun.  Boy was I surprised.   Broadway in Burlingame is old and a little funky.  The buildings are small, lots of yummy restaurants, and the houses are quaint.  I love it!  

Bua Thong Kitchen is a quiet Thai place with the most amazing food and tea (floral, yet smooth) which is totally undervalued. Go visit. The service is fantastic and they gave me LOTS of veggies.  I am picky about my food and would not make a recommendation unless it was a place I'd frequent. If it was in my hometown, I'd be there regularly.

I took the time to wander around the city by foot. What lovely things you discover when you're free to stop and look around at leisure. I was totally captivated by all the plants.  San Fran area is an intriguing mix of Tropics & Desert & Pacific Northwest.  And the fragrance?! Divine. Total heaven wherever I went. 

Here are a few of the wonderful things I discovered around burlingame, CA.  Amazing churches (top left), Alleys and planters with benches for resting upon (top middle), Giant suculents (top right), Jade plants growing in front yards (middle left), Palm Trees (middle), the delicious scent of honeysuckle on the air (middle right), Ice Plants (bottom left), a Citrus of a sort with some delicious looking pink flowers (bottom middle), Jupiter's Beard in full bloom in MAY rather than August!!! (bottom right)

Conference Wear: Me Made

I discovered that my "me made" wardrobe would only get me so far on my trip.  Some of my frilly dresses and skirts were much too bulky to fit in my suitcase and still allow for multiple days of clothing. So I opted for the lightest, thinnest, easiest to pack pieces.  One of those pieces is Kwik Sew Cardigan K3693.  This is the 4th version of this cardigan I've made.  I've made 2 in a heavier weight knit that is a bit bulky and one in another nice ponti, but it pills. This navy ponti is perfectly light, warm enough, cool enough. Plus, it went with everything from jeans to capris and all my t-shirts.

• Cardigan Pattern: Kwik Sew K3693
  
• Cardigan Fabric: Ponti di Roma (unsure where I bought this)
  
• Dress: Anne Klein (must make some like this fabric it's so comfy!)
  
• Shoes: Chacos (my fav!)

The fun, wacky, "one day" wear piece I brought was my 2nd version of Katherine Tilton's zipper collar top.  I love the collar on this.  I love it so much that I play with different items to sandwich into the edge of the collar instead of zippers.  Last time, I made it with hand-pleated ribbons.  

This time, I wanted to use prairie points. SO fun! Kind of like dragon teeth. I designed the fabric and finished look so I could wear it while performing with my dragon puppet Pi (one arm black and "invisible the other like dragon skin).  I chose to hand-fold & press each and every prarie point because I was using scraps and they weren't long enough to achieve the "every third" look - purple, blue, green, repeat!  

Can I tell you how much fun it was? OH MY GOSH! I loved pressing those points. I thought it would be tedious, but it was like a game!  Such fun!

• Shirt Pattern: Vogue 8793 by Katherine Tilton
  
• Shirt Fabric: Black Ponti Di Roma (dunno where from), and Purple Pressed Velvet (Treasures of the Gypsy, Sew Expo)
  
• Jeans: Lane Bryant
  
• Shoes: Brooks or Chacos
  

San Francisco, CA: City Adventures Land Ho!

When the conference finished I had a wee bit of time before I had to head back.  Off to San Francisco I went with a couple of new Canadian friends (who were awesome tour guides I might add!).  I did not wear any "me made" this day, but I thought it would be great to point out what I chose to wear.  I chose things that would: 

1. Layer easily for warmth 
2. Fit in my backpack if it got hot (which it was supposed to be in the 80's
3. be super comfy
4. allow huge freedom of movement as I would be on foot all day

I chose the following clothes: 

• V-neck T-shirt: Ralph Lauren
• Fleece: Columbia
• Gortex Jacket: REI brand
• Jeans: Lane Bryant
• Shoes: Chacos

Here are a few observations about the items I wear over & over & chose for this trip also: 

• FLEECE: I have thought a lot about making a fleece (and have fabric in my stash). I like this one, but it feels very winter patterned. I would like something that is summery and cheerful for summer adventures.  
  
• T-SHIRTS: My T-shirts are wearing out. I need to make some. I have the fabric & now the moulage + a cool necklines craftsy class with Suzy Furrer and her Building Patterns book, plus the new Sewing Knits that Fit Craftsy Class.
• JACKET: I would like to make a Gortex jacket. The challenge intrigues me.
• JEANS: Jeans are definitely on my list, but capris might end up being first. I do have a custom drafted pattern from Kathy Ruddy + both of Sandra Betzina's Craftsy Classes on Pants. I will definitely add in Angela Wolf's Jeans class when I get there.

We rode the BART, took the trolley car, experienced the aquarium on Pier 39 (whoa!) which included sting ray, jelly fish, dory, octopi, sharks, a playful baby sting ray, and river otters.  We took a tour of the bay and went under the golden gate bridge (I make funny faces when I'm concentrating), and ended up in Ghiradelli Square for some chocolatey ice cream I found a way to eat sand spoon! YUM!  All in all a delicious day and most informative about my clothing choices vs. what I'm sewing.