the lady in green

I just recently attended a four-day seminar held by draping extraordinaire and long-time fashion instructor Sandra Ericson in Napa Valley, focused on the techniques of Madeleine Vionnet. While having a general idea of Vionnet’s talent, I had no idea what a genius she was! Some of her concepts begin with such simple shapes that it’s actually quite difficult to wrap your head around. I enjoyed the challenge of considering form before thinking about the body, eliminating built-in structure and difficult closures, and letting the fabric do its magic, especially on the bias. I definitely recommend contacting Sandy if you are interested in taking a similar course!

St. Helena is a cute stop in wine country - pretty small to spend more than a few hours, but in proximity to gorgeous scenery and an abundance of wineries.