Viva Las Vegas
Well, I’ve fallen behind this week, so today I am taking the easy route ;). The newsletter I was planning for is going to take a little more time than I had, so my saving grace was a 85 minute musical (nicely fitting into the “casino series” theme) and a project I could make in a few hours. Sometimes these quickies do a good job reviving me too, with a little easy accomplishment!
I had never seen an Elvis movie until this one, and I’m not sure what I was expecting heading into it, but I really liked it! I think my expectations were low, having the feeling that Hollywood wasn’t really his place to shine, and not knowing that much about him or having seen much footage. I know he was known for his dancing, but it surprised me how good he was in these classic musical dance numbers. His character, Lucky, is a race car driver getting ready for the Grand Prix, gambling to get enough money for a new motor. He sticks around in Vegas to get to know a gal, Ann-Margret as Rusty, and earn back his lost winnings. They usher you through this romance plot at breakneck speed, with the big leaps in feeling happening over song and dance, which were definitely the best parts.
It had been quite a while since I last made a tote bag… I think maybe since my first year of sewing! Knowing it would be relatively quick and easy I just winged it, adding details as I went, a little improvisational sewing. The only real plan I had was to make it boxy, with a flat bottom of the perfect size to fit my usual lunch tupperware. Hearts are really having a moment with me (I don’t mean to keep choosing them with this series!!), and that was the first detail I added, cutting away that shape and using reverse applique technique to show a window of red behind it. I added top stitching and black ribbon details, finished it up, and zooming out it really reminds me of Elvis’ waiter uniform, my favorite look of the movie!
What this movie really inspired me to do though was DANCE. I recognized one of the scenes, because it was used in one of the funnest documentaries I have ever seen, Twist, 1992, which documents the silly dance crazes of the 60s. Time to Nitty Gritty—
Love that tote! And the heart detail. I’m glad I no longer have to pack a lunch, but if I did, I would want one- with a shamrock detail. ❤️☘️