Victoria Day is the traditional beginning of summer in Canada and although the weather was anything but summer like this weekend I decided it was a great opportunity to launch my new ship jacket. The inspiration for this jacket was a famous ship from Nova Scotia , the bluenose . You can read about my connection to Nova Scotia in an earlier post . Okay, picture me standing on the dock with a large bottle of the very best champagne , the band is playing and then with a huge smash , the sounds of broken glass and wasted liquid my boat is christened, The Bluenose Ghost. 
This is a very inexpensive white linen jacket that I stripped of buttons , shortened the sleeves and removed the epaulets ( never liked these things) . I drew an outline of the ship on the linen, and then started cutting and sewing the ship and its sails using only vintage fabrics from my stash. The only new fabric in this is some small pieces of felt. I added vintage trim, lace, ric rac and buttons. Vintage buttons, how I love thee!!!. The last step and the one that takes the longest is to embroider all the details of the masts and ropes , waves in the water , etc. The last time I did a boat I did the embroidery before the applique an most of it was lost under the sails. Here are some close up shots . It is hard for me to pick a favorite sail but I will tell you which one is the most special . It is the larger blue sail on the left side of the ship. If you look very closely on it you will see that the center of it is a different fabric from the outer portion. This came from a very old vintage sheet I found at a rummage sale ( yes, under a table) . It was so old an soft I was going to buy it no matter what condition it was in. It felt like your favorite denim jeans that you have worn for a million days and they are so soft an thread bare that they feel like they are a part of you. When I got it home, washed it and was folding it I noticed that it had circles of different fabrics in it. Some wonderful person had patched its holes in a very beautiful unique way with tiny little handsewn stitches. The patches are like little works of textile art. I am thinking of framing a few of them and I was very happy to include one in this jacket of mine. Here is a close up, see if you can spot it.
Inside the jacket I printed onto yellow vintage seam binding the name of the jacket, Bluenose Ghosts and I also printed a line from one of my favorite songs from damien rice . The line is "cold, cold water surrounds me now" . My youngest daughter did a modern dance solo to this song this year and every time I saw her dance it I had tears in my eyes because it was so beautiful and moving.
And for a little comic relief I added a little embroidered ghost with you guessed it a blue nose to the interface .
I am looking forward to warm weather and wearing this jacket to my favorite beaches this summer. I am sure you will be seeing more of it soon. Have a wonderful start to your week.
This is delightful in every way. I'm sure you will get a lot of comments when you wear it!
Posted by: Lorie M. | May 19, 2008 at 02:13 PM
The embroidery and vintage fabric applique on this jacket left me breathless--it is by far my favorite "ship jacket"!
Posted by: squirrel momma | May 19, 2008 at 03:21 PM
WOW! I love how you took a mass-produced textile and gave it a story and a history that have personal and national relevance for you. I've gotten an education just reading about your jacket, and I can get lost looking at all the beautiful details. It's hard to pinpoint a favorite detail--but I love the patched sheet, the flying fish, and of course your gorgeous vintage buttons. This is a real treasure.
Posted by: Patricia | May 19, 2008 at 03:25 PM
This is stunning. I could look at it for hours.
Fab to have found you (via Syko). Will drop in again. :0)
Posted by: Lindsey (ethel & edna) | May 19, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Wow
This is absolutely amazing.
I found you via Syko, and I can't wait to peruse the rest of your blog!
Chrissie
Posted by: Chrissie Grace | May 19, 2008 at 05:28 PM
it turned out beautifully. i can't wait to see you wearing it!
Posted by: rebekah | May 19, 2008 at 08:27 PM
Wow, that jacket is just amazing! I love all the super cool detail work you added to it. Very very nice job! Wear it well. :-)
Posted by: Hettie | May 19, 2008 at 11:46 PM
oh margie!! looks so beautiful! Love all the details on the jacket, looks so unique and funky!
:) margarida
Posted by: ei! kumpel | May 20, 2008 at 03:49 AM
I've said it before , I'll say it again - you could sell these on ETSY!
Posted by: mary | May 20, 2008 at 06:17 AM
I love your whimsical creations! All the vintage flourishes and colors - a work of art!
Posted by: Sonya | May 20, 2008 at 06:47 PM
love this - it's the most wonderful thing I've seen for a while
found you vis syko too and will be back
enjoy your jacket - I'm sure you will!
Posted by: annieb | May 21, 2008 at 05:10 AM
Wow, your jacket is beautiful... I have never seen anything like that before! Amazing... truly :o) I bet you got loads of compliments on it when you wore it out!!
Posted by: Linnea | May 21, 2008 at 04:16 PM
This is awesome! I really love the twisted ric rac on the sail! =)
Posted by: knittinandnoodlin | May 22, 2008 at 05:45 AM
Holy S*&#! That is amazing! Congratulations.
Posted by: MyaStone | May 22, 2008 at 08:08 AM
This looks great! Love the appliqué and wish I could find some of that Tube fabric.
Happy Victoria Day!
Posted by: Feed Dog | May 22, 2008 at 05:27 PM
This is amazing! SO beautiful and love the colors and patterns mix you did.
And how did you print the vintage seam binding?
Posted by: celia | May 23, 2008 at 03:30 AM
Wow Margie!! What can I say??? Everything about this jacket is BEAUTIFUL!!!! You did such an amazing job. This jacket is like an illustrated book that you enjoy from the beginning to the end!!! congratulations!!!!
eLSITA :)
Posted by: Elsita :) | May 24, 2008 at 06:54 PM
The blog article very surprised to me! Your writing is good. In this I learned a lot! Thank you!
Posted by: Rerto Jordans | June 23, 2010 at 09:14 PM
Hey very nice blog!!
Posted by: Chelsea | September 15, 2010 at 01:59 PM