text:
On book tour and a bit squishy here in Seattle so will try to be concise.  As Andrew Knowlton comments on his post, we all tasted the food. I pretty much agree with his assessment.  Donatella I’m sure would too.  Where I differed with my fellow judges was the degree by which Besh bettered Symon.  I would say Besh edged Symon whereas Donatella and Andrew felt he beat Symon by a wide margin.

We were taking into account the entire course of the competition with our decision.  We offered our overview of the competition to the iron chefs  Had you been able to see the entire discussion, you’d have heard, after our overview, Alton’s asking me if I had decided.  I told him no, because I hadn’t.  It was too close.  I wanted to hear what the judges said.  Had they overwhelmingly praised Besh and said his dishes were definitively better than Symon’s, I was prepared to give my vote to Besh.  What’s fair is fair.  I certainly couldn’t simply give it to Symon because he’s from Cleveland—I know it’s only a TV show, but I just couldn’t do it.  Again, I was prepared to vote for Besh if the iron chefs persuaded me that Besh far outshined Symon (as Donatella and Andrew believed, and frankly, as I thought they might, given that they seemed to clearly favor Besh in their comments on the food as we heard them during the tasting).  But they did not.  And so I voted for Symon.

While I think that my being from Cleveland and knowing Symon well was, if anything, a detriment during the competition, can I say that it was a detriment here?  No, clearly it was not.  In an even contest—and I can’t imagine two chefs who are more evenly matched in technical skill and culinary imagination—if they had been even in every single respect, I’d then have given my vote to Symon.  I would have no other choice.  As it happened, I chose the person I thought would make the best iron chef given what I saw and tasted throughout the entire competition.

What was interesting to me was how pissed Donatella was.  Andrew was as well, but he didn’t seem to take it personally.  Donatella accused me off camera of knowing Besh beat Symon and casting my vote for Symon anyway.  I think she’s a woman who’s used to getting her way.  That’s just a guess.  She furthermore accused me of being the swing vote, which I wasn’t (had it been 3-3, nto 4-2, it would have gone to the Chairman/FN execs to make the call).  Then she had it out with Flay and Cora, both of whom defended their vote.

So there it is.  Know what you should do now?  Next time you’re in Cleveland or Louisiana you need to go to their restaurants and taste the real work of these excellent chef-restaurateurs.

262 Wonderful responses to “Next Iron Chef: Final Comment”

  • keith

    Bonni- BK has presented a well thought-out, informed argument. So yes, it’s completely predicatble that she would have something to do with the legal profession.

  • Erek

    I just thought I should point out that if you believed Besh “edged” Symon out in the finale then you should have voted for Besh, not Symon. It should have gone to the chairman or Food Network executives to make the decision, because you should have voted for who you thought won. The fact that you didn’t vote for Besh, and yet mentioned you believed he won, shows favoritism. Bias. Whatever you would like to call it. It means you swung the competition in favor of some guy you knew, wrote a book on, and live in the same city as. Congratulations, you have lost a heaping portion of my respect.

    The last episode was billed as a “winner takes all”. That means the previous episodes hold no weight. You can’t have a winner takes all if the previous tests were taken into account. Maybe it was just Food Network using a little false advertising in some vain attempt to get people interested in their televised mockery of two incredible chefs. I am not the least bit surprised that Batali is leaving after viewing this trash.

  • Mal

    I wonder if only Besh would have been named the winner in Paris, what difference would that had made? Ruhlman stated on his blog he thought Besh won that challenge, and it seemed as though Donatella thought so too. Most postings indicate that Symon won 4 challenges before going into kitchen stadium but I only count 3 (simplicity, resourcefullness, and pressure). And “simplicity” was judged by fellow contestants, not the judges. Lastly, being able to make a delicious dessert using catfish, no butter or sugar sounds very impressive to me…

  • basab

    I thought Ruhlman was a judge himself. If it was necessary to rely on what the ICs had to say in order to make a decision then he should NOT be a judge in the first place. I thought Besh was far superior. Also I think Morimoto thought it was close and would have almost voted for Besh. What made him change his mind was the other 2 ICs voting for Symon and also he didnt want to get blamed at later for being biased due to the fact that Besh made him a sword fish dessert. Such a shame. Bunch of stupid judges and such a pathetic coverage.

  • Iris

    To Nancy Misra—

    Well said! I could not agree with you more!

    I have shared those sentiments with the Food Network, but I’m sure it really doesn’t matter in the long run.

    Bye, Food Network and Iron Chef America. The honeymoon is over.

    Thank goodness for Bourdain on the Travel Channel.

  • pappy

    Wow. Judging from the amount of posts generated here, and the level of emotion put into them, I would say that FN knew just what they were doing when they put together this series.

    My response to some of the posts/accusations I’ve read here:

    1) The Food Network fixed the contest because Michael Symon is a CIA graduate and FN has advertising and marketing deals with CIA — Besh and Symon are BOTH graduates of CIA, so CIA had no skin in this game. In fact the school has been doing PR for a week stating that the next IC would be a CIA grad regardless.

    2) Ruhlman threw the game for his homeboy — Ruhlman likes and respects Symon, and has made no secret about that. All things being equal I personally think Ruhlman would give it to Symon. But there is a HUGE difference being that and the accusations made by some here that Ruhlman knowingly screwed Besh and torched his own reputation on national TV just to help out a buddy. Ruhlman has a growing literary career, not to mention a family. I don’t see him putting both at risk for a TV show on the Food Network. Setting aside the insult to his integrity, does anyone here really think the man is that dim? Quite frankly, considering the performance of the chefs on this show and throughout the series, what I found odd was that Donatella, and to a lesser degree Andrew, were so intent on Besh winning.

    3) Food Network put the fix in for Symon because they prefer his “bad boy” persona — I don’t really know Symon, I’ve only met him once or twice and he could probably hit me with his car and wouldn’t know who I was. BUT, something I’ve heard for years is that anyone who knows Mike knows that he is not a “bad boy”. On the contrary, he is consistently regarded as one of the nicest guys you’ll meet. The shaved head and black outfit gives him that “look”, I know, but in this case you can’t judge the book by its cover.

    As for FN thinking Symon would be better on TV, well Symon probably WILL be better on TV. I think even the people who preferred Besh would admit to that. Well maybe not the person who posted that Besh was “the most charismatic chef I have every seen on the Food Network”, which I’m sorry, is just weird. But again, this insinuates that Flay, Cora and Morimoto are all FN stooges who threw Besh under the bus because FN executives preferred Symon. Personally I find that ridiculous.

    4) This is just another indication that Food Network has gone downhill — Well in my own opinion the Food Network is going somewhat downhill these days, but certainly not because of this show. Do I personally think that Molto Mario is a better food show that anything Rachel Ray will do? Duh – that goes without saying doesn’t it? But the bottom line is that Rachel Ray is BY FAR the more popular personality of the two. These are TV shows, and what works on TV is fundamentally different than what works in a restaurant. Doesn’t that go without saying?

    Success on TV is about popularity, and TV executives forget that at their own peril. The Food Network is striving to be popular, because that is how money is made. If Rachel Ray’s frozen TV dinners and Paula Dean’s pretend talk shows draw more viewers than Batali and Bourdain then guess what we’re going to get more of?

    You’ve heard the expression “in a democracy the people get the government they deserve”? Well, the same goes for TV.

  • Iris

    In response to a previous post stating that Symon is more “interesting” on TV than Besh….not as “bland”……

    John Besh prepared a SWORDFISH DESSERT on the spur of the moment.

    It doesn’t get much more “interesting” than that.

  • mitch

    Maybe Donatella should worry more about why her pricey DB & D restaurant is just so freakin’ average! Though not with the blue-haired set, I guess.

  • Karen

    Re: The discussion (or, you know, carping) about the Food Network appealing to the great unwashed…

    I would imagine that Food Network has determined that their viewership is comprised of many more working moms & dads who need to get a meal on the table after a full day on the job, shuffling the kids to lessons and practice and taking the dog for a walk. In that instance, a 30 Minute Meal or Semi Homemade wins out over the swordfish collar and lamb’s tongue.

    It also occurs to me that F.N. may be shifting their focus as the Fine Living Channel pops up on more cable systems. Molto Mario is a new series there, Mark McEwan and Jill Davie have shows there and even Kevin Brauch. Perhaps F.N. has decided go after the (just plain) cooks marketshare and let Fine Living feature haute cuisine. Frankly, I can’t recall the last time I put tripe on my shopping list.

    Gotta go feed the dog….

  • The Food Yenta

    I do hope my travels take me to Cleveland. There’s nothing I hate more than going to a new city and ordering lousy room service in my hotel. I simply won’t do it. I will gladly check out the best it has to offer!

    Hey, I live in New Jersey (home of refineries, NYC’s trash, and other things with skunky reputations), so I am not in a position to criticize. I think Cleveland definitely benefits by this win–whether the competition was fixed or not.

  • ktdid747

    THANKS FoodYenta… guess I get a little bit defensive of my beloved hometown.. ;)–I shouldn’t have taken it so darn seriously, it was just one of those days..LOL.. (and, sure, it has both it’s good and bad)…we’re so used to hearing all the jokes and the bad it’s VERY nice to hear something positive coming out of here for a change!

    in any case, I thought they were both good and either I would have been happy with (it was just nice to see a homeboy win)

    By all means, make a visit sometime!.. LOTS to see and do here! 🙂

  • ktdid747

    >>It’s not the rigging, it’s the amateurish cover-up.<< oh puhleeeeeease!... (it just goes on and on and on..).. it's a new site redesign (the other chef's pictures that were on the About page are not on there either!...but, honestly, with all the flack, I would've removed the picture on there also..sheeeesh already!'s Ruhlman's website, he can do what he wants with it). Lordy, it's just entertainment and TV, people, it's not the end of the world, move on with it!'s not some big conspiracy-how ridiculous. if Besh would have won and our boy Symon didn't, I sure wouldn't have been bit##in' up a storm for days afterwards on this blog about the "unfairness of it all" or whatever...either deserved to win. Some people lose (and, really, Besh didn't lose, he's going to get great exposure from the show), some people win.. that's life...ya gotta learn to go with the flow and not get so freakin' angry over every little thing that, really, in the big picture of things, are not important!!! (:P ---if you don't like it, don't watch it! (but don't ruin it for everyone else who wants to watch it!)

  • Brad

    I’m disappointed to see how discussion here has devolved into rude, whiny, entrenched conspiracy-theory slinging … mostly (but not entirely) by people with little in the way of their own accomplishments.

    It’s a sad reality that so many people feel obliged to denigrate their betters in order to make themselves feel a little less inconsequential in their daily lives.

    My advice is to spend less time idly sucking at the glass teat (TV) as life passes you buy, and go do something worthwhile and creative and benefical to your fellow man.

    Go do what MR does, and challenge yourself to learn/explore new skills, write a book, make a difference … that way you dont have to be one of the faceless pack of nobodies who nip at the ankles and blogs of their betters.

    Go forth and excel, and stop whining. If you’re lucky, and talented, perhaps someday you’ll be worthy of mention in the same sentence as the people and trendsetters you’re carping about.

    I’m done with this already overwhipped dead horse. No need to reply.

  • pappy

    Although I’m one of the people who are more interested in the “lamb’s tongue” approach to the Food Network, I think Karen’s comments are all spot on. I don’t think that there’s any question that Rachel Ray’s food is much closer to what most people might attempt to put on the family dinner table. Same goes for Sandra. It’s not where my interest lies, but it’s pretty clear that I am no longer the typical FN viewer.

    I also think your comment about Fine Living was very insightful. I think that niche channels like FN often start out catering to specialists, but if they get popular they then need to change direction somewhat to keep the current viewership happy. That change then opens up more niche possibilities, and I think we are seeing that with past chefs/shows from the FN moving to the Travel Channel, Fine Living and PBS.

    It would have been nice if FN tried to keep some of these shows/chefs as well. I like to think that there was room in the kitchens of FN for everyone. But, apparently not.

    As for Rachel Ray it’s easy to make fun of her, but it needs to be remembered that the FN didn’t pick Rachel as their star, the viewers did. Those of us who don’t dig the Ray have this thing called a remote control.

    I will say that when it comes to FN I find myself using that remote more and more often, which is sad. But – that’s why I pay all that money to Comcast every month: lots of channels!

  • thefrog

    “Posted by: dagoo7 | November 13, 2007 at 03:14 PM”

    Uhmmm… you posted a response stating a response to me, however nothing you said seemed like you were responding to a word I said. Just wanted to point that out because I really don’t want to be confused with who I think you may be confusing me with.

    You do realize that the “Posted by/Date” stamp comes AFTER the comment, right?

  • thefrog

    To dagoo7

    Sorry, just scrolled down a bit more and see that you may have figured it out now. But I still want to go on record as NOT being the person attributed to that comment.

  • Karen

    I think the ‘lamb’s tongue’ programs (geez, what a visual that is!) are great. I’ve learned a great deal from them and modified some of the ideas to fit our lifestyle. Love Alton Brown — he’s the science teacher I wish I had — and I’ve tidied up some sloppy procedures and shortcuts due to his how-to and here’s why approach.

    I’ve only tried one F.N. recipe (tart tatin), but have been inspired by others. We have consciously tried to get out of some dining ruts we had fallen into. That’s a good thing!

    Rachael, Giada, Emeril, Ina, Sandra, Paula, etc. provide value to some percentage of F.N.’s viewership or they wouldn’t be on the air. While I don’t personally find Ace of Cakes or 2 Dudes interesting, someone else may. For me, Iron Chef America and other competition shows on F.N. are fascinating to watch. To others? Not so much.

    My suggestion to F.N. would be to stop playing repeats through the night and offer fresh programming. There are more people who have recording ability out there than not. If I want to record Wolfgang Puck at 4:00 a.m., I’ll do that. I have no idea if ad revenue is still determined during set/peak hours, that might be a determining factor for the endless reruns and infomercials. The current line-up might be too expensive for F.N. to expand their programming.

    Regardless of what road F.N. decides to take, there are about 9 million channels out there. Something for everyone.

  • Christie

    Well now that I’ve had a chance to re-watch the show and digest everything…

    I’m not sure what to think. I thought the FN wanted Besh to win, but apparently I was wrong.

    I wanted Symon and I’m glad he won, but something doesn’t sit right about that whole last episode. I have several issues with it, but so much has already been said that I don’t feel the need to go into everything *again*.

    I will say, however, that I’ve had it with The Food Network. I’m tired of their questionable practices on competition shows like The Next Food Network Star and now The Next Iron Chef. I’m also tired of their promoting “celebrities” like Rachael, Guy, etc. Why can’t they do shows more like the PBS show, America’s Test Kitchen? My guess is that they’re more interested in appealing to the average viewer sitting on the couch munching on fast food than the actual home cook who’s interested in learning something. I find I can watch an episode of America’s Test Kitchen over and over again and pick up something new each time, but I can’t do that with ANY Food Network show.

    That said, I’ll continue to tune into Iron Chef to cheer on Symon, Morimoto and Batali (if he’s still on). Otherwise, you can find me in the kitchen practicing the new techniques I’ve learned on America’s Test Kitchen and in Ruhlman’s (and other chefs’) books.

  • james morris

    I am not going to watch Iron Chef anymore-the fun is gone- now that I believe it is rigged.

  • james morris

    I am not going to watch Iron Chef anymore-the fun is gone- now that I believe it is rigged.

  • james morris

    I am not going to watch Iron Chef anymore-the fun is gone- now that I believe it is rigged.

  • james morris

    I am not going to watch Iron Chef anymore-the fun is gone- now that I believe it is rigged.

  • DJK

    If the final competition was rigged, shouldn’t we have seen a Battle Walleye?

    Or was the swordfish merely The Nefarious Food Network’s attempt–futile, of course–at distraction? Oh, if it wasn’t for you meddling kids…

  • Frances Davey

    I love Ace of Cakes because of the people. There is something about Baltimore – that entire crew is like an Anne Tyler novel come to life.

  • Ms.Anthrope

    Actually, after reading some of the comments, I am more convinced than ever that Oliver Stone has something to do with this whole thing.

  • AC

    Thanks, Michael, for your candor. The Donatella comment probably could have been softened, but I can’t very well praise your candor then dis your delivery, can I?
    Anyway, even though it was “just a TV show,” your comments show that you took your judging position seriously. I generally don’t like reality programming, but I was sufficiently impressed with the professionalism of the contestants in the first show to continue watching. I distinctly remember Symons saying (ironically, during the episode in which the contestants were admonished by Alton about being too nice to each other) that he wanted to win on the merits of his cooking, not by sabotage or wishing the downfall of his competitors. Despite (or maybe because of) the quality of the contestants and the seriousness of the judging, Food Network got what they wanted – a very good chef with a great TV personality. It seemed that with the two finalists, they really couldn’t lose that one.
    I was sorry to see the melee that your comments section turned into, but this is the usual consequence of the intersection of reality TV and the internet. I’m sure it will settle back down once the subjects return to your more typical literary/food intersection.
    Have a great time on your book tour and I look forward to reading more!

  • Skawt

    I know Ruhlman asked people to at least try to be civil to each other, but when there are accusations of a “cover-up” because the site redesign no longer has Symon on the about page, I’m beginning to think that PEOPLE SHOULD STOP HAVING SEX WITH THEIR COUSINS.

    Some people seriously need to put the crack pipe down, drill a hole in their heads and let the stupid out.

  • Rachael

    “I thought the FN wanted Besh to win, but apparently I was wrong.”

    I don’t think you’re wrong in the slightest. I think FN definitely really, really wanted Besh to win.

    …which is why I’m so darn sure Ruhlman wasn’t up to no good or that the show was rigged. If you want to blame someone for getting Symon over a favored contestant then yeah, I think you can easily point the finger at FN- had they left it between the original judges, you would have gotten a verdict you felt more comfortable with. But they chose to include people who had not been around for prior challenges and had only the dishes at the last competition by which to judge. I think it was a fine decision to make but it certainly “cost” Besh the competition, though arguably Besh just didn’t pull out all the stops anyway.

  • Wally

    Hmm. Not surpising that Donatella got so pissy with the results. She seemed horny for Besh throughout the whole competition.

  • Corey Haim & Eggs

    Great post!

    I agree – no more Jerry Lee Lewis-ing around these or any other parts!

    Great blog you have there, skawt.

  • Corey Haim & Eggs

    @ skawt:

    “I know Ruhlman asked people to at least try to be civil to each other, but when there are accusations of a “cover-up” because the site redesign no longer has Symon on the about page….”

    If anything, perhaps it was taken down because, well, it’s better for people to know that Symon earned his own stripes, and not vis-a-vis Ruhlman et. al.

    A cool photo replacement, would be, Ripert eating off of a flat-knife: the dude is such a badass!

  • Christie

    Rachael: I understand your point. 🙂 Just to be clear, I *did* want Symon to win, but after watching the final episode AND reading Ruhlman’s and Knowlton’s blogs, I was left scratching my head. I’m thrilled for Symon but sad for Besh. I do believe overall it was very, very close (the entire comptetition taken as a whole) and a case could be made for either Symon or Besh winning.

    Karen & Pappy: Excellent insights/posts about the Food Network! You both hit the nail on the head. I agree, I don’t like the direction they’re going, but then I’m not their typical viewer. (At least not anymore.)

  • John Sinclair

    Saw it again. Still annoying.

    The usual scoring method was eliminated. Okay. But then nothing was put in its place? And we never heard any IC say, “Symon’s food was better than Besh’s.” Not one.

    Nor did we get to see that the regular judges tasted and evaluated the dishes, too, AND that they unanimously agreed that Besh won the day (even Ruhlman gave him the edge there–if not the huge margin Donatella and Andrew did).

    No comments about Symon being best. No vote tally. Not letting the audience know that the regular judges DID taste the final meals.

    So…No criteria from anyone to tell us clearly why Symon won and Besh lost.

    FN Sucks.

  • Bwana

    The thing that keeps coming back to me is:

    1. How Ruhlman in his “reach” book described how Cat Cora was all about the “branding”, and seemingly not so much about the cooking.

    2. How in the finale as televised Cora kept praising Symon’s food as “Iron Chef” type dish-with lots of adjectives like daring, aggressive, and not as much about the flavor…as if even on a show to select the next IC she was more interested in branding than in the food.

  • Frances Davey

    Was Cat Cora even mentioned in The Reach of a Chef? I finished the book last week and don’t recall. And I have to ask again, why would Dorothy Hamilton bother featuring her on Chef’s Story (notable alumni including the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Daniel Boulud) if she was such a talentless hack?

  • Auralais

    I saw Anthony Bourdain at a booksigning tonight in Santa Cruz, and someone asked him what he thought about the NIC outcome. He said he’s been travelling to tape upcoming episodes of No Rez, and hadn’t seen any episodes after it got down to Symon/Besh/Cosentino/Sanchez. He asked who had won the competition and when the audience told him Symon, he did that “Yes!” move where you raise your fist and then pull it back towards your body. But then he said he thought all 4 of those guys were great chefs. Someone asked him about Ruhlman and Knowlton, and he riffed on the hair again: “It was like watching Charlie’s Angels up there at the judging booth.”

    So I guess we’ll have to wait for his guest blog commentary till he gets around to watching repeats.

    Oh, AND he was awesome. Hilarious, engaging, snarky and even sexier in person than on TV.

  • OTownFoodie

    Honestly, I believe Symon won because FN wanted him to win. If you’ve been keeping up with FN (like it or not), you know that FN’s current target audience is college age males. To that end, putting Michael Symon on IC clearly achieves that goal. Of all the NIC competitors, he has the most appeal to young men.

    Now ask yourself, isn’t it odd that the majority of the season-long judges voted for John Besh yet the current ICs voted for Michael Symon? I don’t think so. I think they all voted for Michael Symon because that’s what FN told them to do.

  • Frances Davey

    “Was Cat Cora even mentioned in The Reach of a Chef? I finished the book last week and don’t recall.”

    I went back and found where she was highlighted. I’ve been reading so many different things lately that I forget where I’ve read what. I don’t see where his description of her exploits disqualifies her as an authority on what makes a good Iron Chef though.

  • resolvablenebulae

    Well, it’s November 18th and I am commenting again about Next Iron Chef. Pathetic? Perhaps. Obsessive? Perhaps. Avoiding a great deal of other work that needs doing? Most definitely.
    In any case, I watched the Besh vs Batali episode yesterday (see above) and heard Besh say, when asked with whom he wanted to compete, something like “I want to compete against the BEST chef in America and that means Mario Batali” (I’m paraphrasing). But if I were one of the other Iron Chefs I’d be vaguely offended, frankly. And Batali wasn’t part of the judging – he’s obviously leaving the Iron Chef team – so there must be some alienation happening there.
    I wouldn’t be surprised if the remaining Iron Chef gang, such as they are, just wanted to work with Symon because they got along better with him. I was really rooting for Besh but Symon obviously seems to have a lot of talent; I’d like to try his Greek restaurant in NY – etc etc.

    There’s my diplomatic resolution. I feel better now, and watching Alton’s informative bird-brining episode isn’t as plagued with cognitive dissonance. (That “Food Network’s bitch” comment was pretty hilarious though.)
    Well, Happy Thanksgiving, fellow psychos. (Particularly you folks who spent 6 paragraphs telling everyone else to “lighten up” and “get a life.” You guys are funny.)
    Perhaps I’ll go ahead and purchase Ruhlman’s book now…
    Hmm, that WAS a clever marketing scheme!

  • Chance (Is I Am Or I Know Your Boss)

    Speaking firsthand (having eaten at all the NYC establishments of the ICAs – those who have them, that is) and IMNSHO, Batali was – and still is – the best chef on ICA, and one of the Top 5 in the US.

    If Besh feels Batali is the best, he’s likely better qualified to make such a call, even if it’s subjective.

    For the Flay-floggers, he may be as charming as a dull copper penny, but that man can cook, and I like how he subverts his FCI training with his SXSW approach and aesthetic: it’s like telling the establishment of cuisine, “écheveau vous infiniment pour me permettre dedans à votre école à cuire,” and, yeah, I can do that, but check this out.”

    I like that Flay has made cuisine accesible to all, and just another co-opted, exclusionary, elitist flagship in the Ivory Tower’s Armada.

    Some may wince at what he does, and I can empathize, but the best food is peasant food – elevated or otherwise – and since that is the case, it’s important to rememeber that in general, as well as that, indigenous cultures could give a flying fuck about cuisine or cooking becoming an academic discipline.

  • Chance (Is I Am Or I Know Your Boss)

    “I like that Flay has made cuisine accesible to all, and just another co-opted, exclusionary, elitist flagship in the Ivory Tower’s Armada.”

    Fuck, wish there was a way to edit a post without having to repost, but, above, I meant to write:

    “I like that Flay has made cuisine accesible to all, and *NOT* just another….”

    Keyword is NOT.

  • Chance (Is I Am Or I Know Your Boss)

    I don’t know what I can remember, really, Frances.

    However, I will say… Susan Spicer would be very cool to have on ICA.

    Sure, we all know that TV in general is ratings and advertisment driven, but the vehicle doesn’t have to stall, so to speak.

    There should be room for different personalities — I consider that level of diversity to be as important as any other (gender, race etc.) provided it is based on ability and talent, and not on PC-concerns.

    On that note, I watched what I believed was the first or inaugural episode, of ICA, and I’ll cut Symon some slack regarding his so-called “personality made for TV” that he, and not Besh, supposedly has: at least, according to many here who believe Symon was more charismatic etc.

    Sometimes it (charisma) is a given, sometimes it’s all about context, often it’s subjective, at best. And it wasn’t evident last night.

    If the selection of ICs is about ratings and selling advertising, then, ICA is not about food, but revenues and crass commercialism.

    That does not piss me off – we live in a capitalist society, so we deal with it, no matter what. What pisses me off, is, how that is parsed according to one’s personal preferences — on one hand, there’s the camp that will conveniently excuse the commercial greed, if it’s the cook or chef they prefer.

    On the other hand, others will condemn the commercialism, if, and only if, it’s not the cook or chef they prefer.

    Again, for me, I don’t care about the commercialism – although, I do believe there is a tasteful and tasteless approach to ratings and revenue. Rather, I care about the type of cook or chef on such a show, and is said culinary ace can elevate the quality and language of food, while also making both accessible and inclusive: there’s nothing worse than someone who is genuinely curious, shying away due to not knowing enough, or being self-conscious of such a lack of knowledge on a particular subject.

    Because, each time such a person does shy away, that’s one less person, who, not only wanted to take a chance to be involved in the process, but one less person who will now likely never partake, due to the exclusivity, and the boxing out that comes with such claiming of territory.

    To me, finding that person who fits the above description, is infinitely more important than continuing to cater to the same pretentious, elitist “foodies,” who stake their cool on having discovered sweetbreads and porkbellies — and who think that being a part of a melting pot society is, visiting Chinatown and Koreatown – when countless, unheralded and unknown folks have been doing so as a WAY OF LIFE, well, there’s just something really wrong in and of itself, right there and then.

    To put this another way, I do not know how many people FN is truly educating about cuisine (high, low, middle brow, whatever) or about how Food Fast is nto synonymous w/ Fast Food.

    I only know that, those — chefs, tv personalities, and every day consumers of “other” food — often do not attempt to teach others, but instead, belittle them for what they do not know: again, as if dining on offal is a guarantee of inclusion in some gold-gilded dome which houses a pantheon of nose-to-tail eaters.

    Flay may be abrasive (he’s great with kids), but he does teach as they televise. Ditto Batali. But I don’t see folks like Cora, Morimoto et. al. having that same gift or reach. I hope that Symon, as he gets comfy, will also prove to be a natural when it comes to combining culinary wizardry with pedagogy.

    PS: Is there a good Food-related board or list, where many here are found there, and one can post about different topics? Thanks in advance.

  • Chance (Is I Am Or I Know Your Boss)

    Thank you very much – appreciated, and hope to “see” you and other folks here, over there.

    I just didn’t want to be rude to Ruhlman and fellow readers here, but this blog is so good that, you want to get tangentially on topic, so to speak 😉 and thanks to all who patiently put up with and off topic diversion (of angels!)

  • Claudia

    I wonder if Besh meant to say that the best chef in America COOKING ON IC is Batali? Wouldn’t you kind of think that the best chef in America is Thomas Keller?

    Oooh, BTW – did anyone notice that there were only 3 IC blown-up portraits up behind the chefs last night – Flay, Cora and Symon? Or were Batali’s and Morimoto’s off to the side somewhere?

  • mary-cry

    this doesn’t have to do with final – but you remember when aaron sanchez commented that someone took all the lemongrass ? well no one’s dish seemed to have lemongrass as a component what-so-ever.

    i really loved the series and the chefs (which made it all worthwhile). the producers, the editing, the whole not talking about the end result (.ie. food) so much – sucked. it could have made this way better. ( who the f is donatella anyway – )

    btw, ruhlman i respect somewhat the whole clear soup thing but really i think it’s too late and we have to accept coined fancy food terms that aren’t really always accurate. thomas keller does it. everyone does it. it’s just food. make it sound good or don’t, but let it always taste good.

  • chef jw

    Claudia, there is no way that you can just throw out any name for best chef in America. Personally, my opinion is that while what Thomas Keller does is very refined there are a lot more interesting chef’s who put more personality into their food (some of which cooked under Keller for a long time).

    There is strong evidence that Batali is making a clean break with FN period. He will be missed, but I can’t blame him really.

    Also, to comment on Chance’s last post – I sympathize but also think that in whatever professional world you enter you always have to deal with pretentions and insecurity. Those that cannot overcome their insecurities will not have the strength to endure a lot of life’s challenges. It’s up to the individual to possess a confidence to embrace that which you do not know and be greatful for any opportunity to learn and to always really believe in yourself. There will always be challenges…. let’s just have fun with it.

  • resolvablenebulae

    @chance –
    I agree wholeheartedly that it was Besh’s prerogative to judge who he thought was the best chef on ICA, I merely suggested that such a declaration may have piqued the others ever-so-slightly…although this is sheer speculation.
    The fact is, youre right, it’s all smoke and mirrors! Who knows what’s really going on behind the scenes! Perhaps someone can disabuse me of this but I’m beginning to think that the chairman is just – an actor! That he doesn’t really have a rich uncle! That it wasn’t really he who made up all those Herculean tests in the first place!
    My theory is that it’s all Alton Brown. He pretends just be just an outside observer, an innocent nerd just helping things run smoothly, but I’m convinced that he’s behind every decision the Food Network makes.
    In fact I think he may be getting advice from Dick Cheney. I thought I saw Cheney behind Jeffrey Steingarten during Battle Blue Foot Chicken. In fact I think Steingarten may BE Cheney in disguise! Think about it!
    Don’t get me wrong, I love Jeffrey Steingarten. But I’m pretty sure he doesn’t love me.
    And neither does Cheney. See?
    Hmm…I think it may be time to take a break from this thread and get started on the thanksgiving prep.

  • Frances Davey

    @ resolvablenebulae (before you take a break):

    This bears repeating because it may be the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time:
    Alton Brown (official title, but we know better) – An Innocent Nerd Just Helping Things Run Smoothly.

  • Claudia

    Chef JW:

    It has been my contention for a while that, despite his protests to the contrary, Batali WAS going to make a clean break with FN. I just wanted to see if anyone had noticed a Batali blow-up photo on the set that I might have missed. The fact that it is missing – as Batali himself was, from the final judging – lends some credence to the NY Post report that he was “outta there” November 18. (Yes, even though he taped 2 final battles yet to be aired.)

    Ooooo, Cheney as Steingarten – now THERE’S a conspiracy theory for you, Nebulae! Had to laugh – time for both of us to get back to our TG prep (!)

  • Chance (Is I Am Or I Know Your Boss)

    @chef jw:

    “Also, to comment on Chance’s last post – I sympathize but also think that in whatever professional world you enter you always have to deal with pretentions and insecurity. Those that cannot overcome their insecurities will not have the strength to endure a lot of life’s challenges. It’s up to the individual to possess a confidence to embrace that which you do not know and be greatful for any opportunity to learn and to always really believe in yourself. There will always be challenges…. let’s just have fun with it.”

    WORD to the nth, chef jw: thank you for that, there above. I reckon your drift to be true –although, I simultaneously find, a continuous (or a continuum of the) oneway vanilla my-way- or-the-highway in culinary discourse.

    However, as you stated in so many words, there is a lesson to be learned in every moment.

    Regarding those who cannot overcome their insecurities, sometimes — oftentimes — it’s not as simple as that. Particularly when it comes to marginalization and co-optation: for those who think neither/nor occurs in cuisine, think again, please.

    But we move on — we have to — or one remains mired in the bog of [name a] pathology.

    Happy Thanksgiving (to all, and to all a good night.

  • Chance (Is I Am Or I Know Your Boss)

    “My theory is that it’s all Alton Brown. He pretends just be just an outside observer, an innocent nerd just helping things run smoothly, but I’m convinced that he’s behind every decision the Food Network makes.”

    Hehe… interesting theory (and he’s great at it, too.)

    “In fact I think he may be getting advice from Dick Cheney. I thought I saw Cheney behind Jeffrey Steingarten during Battle Blue Foot Chicken. In fact I think Steingarten may BE Cheney in disguise! Think about it!
    Don’t get me wrong, I love Jeffrey Steingarten. But I’m pretty sure he doesn’t love me.”

    Hahaha — this is TOO funny — love the comparison between the two. I dig JS, too (IMO, he should have been one of the judges on NICA). I think JS loves JS 😉

    “And neither does Cheney. See? ”

    Oh, just cook with the flag waving, and it’ll all be good again!

    “Hmm…I think it may be time to take a break from this thread and get started on the thanksgiving prep.”

    Same here.

    But, it’s not turkey, but roast duck and roast pork (along with some trad. sides).

    On the next NICA, how about Susan Spicer, John Besh, Marcus Sammuelson, David Cheng (I don’t know if he’d buy in to it, though) and Ming Tsai, Lydia Shire, and Gabrielle Hamilton, going at it for the Top Prize?

  • tyronebcookin

    I watched all the Next Iron Chef epsiodes back to back (my dad recorded them on DVD for me) and even if you want argue the skill or education level of these two, Besh and Symon…I would say that with the advantage of having watched them all in row, nonstop, like a marathon…even if everything came out even –

    Michael still has the best charisma, character, and personality (for Iron Chef TV presence) to keep it interesting and ‘festive’ during that one hour crunch, while putting out quality food.

    He WAS the entertaining factor ‘cliche’, quotes & comedy mouth throughout the episodes except for John’s star moment/episode with “I got a bad feeling…”.

    *On a side note I have to wonder what would/could have been if Morou could get past his ‘everything separate on one plate’ fetish, or if Aaron could have got away from Latino flavors and ‘puppy dog’ faces (more smiles on camera unless they left them all on the cutting room floor)…but alas, we shall not know.

    But interestingly enough none of my prior personal thoughts changed much at all even after watching them back to back.

  • Tom

    I love your books and find you to be a most articulate commentator and judge. Regardless, I have some dissatisfaction with the FN and yourself in how the NIC competition wrapped up.

    Either Symon or Besh would have been excellent selections for the NIC. I still am displeased that the Finale show was advertised (extensively) as a “Winner-take-all”. If so, the choice should have been made exclusively based upon the food prepared during the finale. Past records would not have counted. Counting the votes of judges who did not eat the food prepared during the finale was, in my oopinion, inappropriate.

    As far as your impartiality regarding Symon, you may have been as fair as humanly possible. Regardless there is a appearance of conflict of interest as you have a financial stake in his success, i.e. how many copies of a “Soul of a Chef” have been sold so that IC fans can read about Symon. The historic reference of Caesar’s wife comes to mind where (paraphrasing) it isn’t good enough to be impartial but you also need to appear impartial. Frankly, the only way you could have accomplished that would have been to recuse yourself from voting in the final.

  • Rajesh

    I felt throughout the competition that besh outshined everyone.Besh even had the personality for good television. As I recollect Besh had beaten Bobby Flay hands down in the Iron Chef battle. What I presume is that Cora and Flay cast their vote for Simon because he would not be that challenging to them in the food network organization whereas Besh has the right ingredients for becoming a food network star. Case in point, Symon never took off. He was dull in the season he was in charge of Dinner Impossible. The food network had to give the show back to chef Irvine.
    In a nutshell, Flay and Cora voted for Symon as they felt that Besh would have overshadowed them in the Food network.


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RuneScape Wiki

Blood altar teleport

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Blood altar teleport detail

A Blood altar teleport is a type of Magic tablet that teleports the player directly outside the blood altar when it is broken.

It can be bought from Wizard Elriss in the Runecrafting Guild for 45 Runecrafting guild tokens (requiring 50 Runecrafting), or ten of them from Wizard Rinsit for 2,000 Runespan points. Additionally, the player may only break the Blood Altar teleport if they have completed the Legacy of Seergaze quest. If a player uses a blood altar teleport with Morytania legs 3 or 4 there is a 50% chance that the item will not be used up while teleporting.

This teleport may also be useful for teleporting to mutated bloodveld.

Blood Altar location

The location of the blood altar teleport.

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Kastor Headlines Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans

Denna Kastor is still going strong at 40 years old. Photo: www.photorun.net

The 40-year-old will be gunning for an American Masters record this weekend.

NEW ORLEANS – One of the biggest stars in all of running, Deena Kastor, will compete in her first race of 2014 on Feb. 2 at the 5th annual Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans Marathon & 1/2 Marathon. The U.S. record holder for the marathon and half-marathon will race in Louisiana’s largest city for the first time since her collegiate career at the University of Arkansas, where she was a four-time SEC Champion and an eight-time All-American.

“I look forward to opening my 2014 racing season with my running friends at Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans,” said Kastor, who is the only American woman to ever break 2:20 in the marathon. “New Orleans is one of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series’ premier events and I simply have to check this off my list. The course is fast and the atmosphere will be electric, so naturally it feels like a great way to set the tone for the year ahead.”

Kastor owns the two fastest half marathon performances by an American, a 1:07:34 at Berlin in 2006 and a 1:07:53 at Philadelphia in 2005. No other American woman has broken 1:08 on a record standard course. She also has the two fastest marathons by an American — a 2:19:36 at London in 2006 and a 2:21:16 at London in 2003.

A 25‐time U.S. champion, Kastor also holds American records for 8K, 12K, 10 miles and 20K, along with numerous other distinctions. She was the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in the marathon. She was the U.S. 10K and 15K champion four times each. She won the 2005 Chicago Marathon. She won the Carlsbad 5000 in 2002, setting a then world’s best of 14:54, which still stands as the American record. She is a two-time world cross country silver medalist, and she was the 2001 U.S. marathon champion with the then fastest American debut (2:26:58).

RELATED: Kastor Finishes Ninth In Worlds Marathon

“There has never been a faster smile in the sport than Deena,” said Tracy Sundlun, SVP and co-founder of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. “One of the highlights of my career as an event organizer is that Deena Kastor has competed in and won more of our races than any of runner in history, setting three U.S. records and one world record at our events. She is one of the greatest runners in history and she may very well set an American Masters record this weekend. I hope the New Orleans community doesn’t miss this opportunity to watch one of the best there ever was.”

The current U.S. masters record for the half-marathon is 1:11:50, which was set in 2006 by Colleen De Reuck on the historically fast Philadelphia course. The New Orleans course is certainly as flat as Philadelphia and its history of record road performances puts the masters mark in jeopardy. The women’s event record is an exceptionally fast time of 1:07:36 set by New Zealand’s Kim Smith in 2011.

The race begins at 7 a.m. local time in downtown New Orleans on Poydras Street. With a fast course that starts below sea level, the route traverses beautiful St. Charles Avenue, running out and back before touring the historic French Quarter, Esplanade Avenue and iconic City Park. The event finishes on Roosevelt Mall behind the New Orleans Museum of Art, where the Marc Broussard & Rebirth Brass Band will headline the post-race party.

Recent Stories


text:
Farm Scale AD Biogas Production

Rural futures lead the consultancy team which included CNG Services, specialists in biogas to grid and SKM Enviros.

The purpose of this report was to investigate the economic feasibility of different models of farm based AD development within the Cheshire and Warrington area. Given that farms in the study area are predominantly engaged in livestock enterprises, the study focused on AD models in which the primary input material was animal waste with potential secondary feed stocks being derived from off farm energy crops.

The financial modelling was based on three farm models of biogas supply:

  • 150 head dairy unit and 30% energy crop
  • A cluster of three 150 head dairy units and 30% energy crop
  • 300 head dairy unit and 30% energy crop

The modelling shows that capital costs are a major factor in farm AD viability. The larger the gas volume produced the more energy market options are available. If technology reduces in cost the viability of the various scenarios improves significantly.

The technology review within the study identified a number of new entrants to the AD market that are specifically targeting the livestock sector. This equipment is significantly cheaper than the more traditional AD systems available. As yet most of the new micro AD systems are not fully market tested but they do show that the technology is beginning to meet the market demand. The report concludes that within the next few years capital costs will reduce to the point where significant returns can be achieved.

In summary if capital costs of micro AD systems continue to fall, financial viability of slurry based AD is achievable for the typical Cheshire and Warrington dairy unit. In certain situations there will also be the potential for gas to grid opportunities but this will be reliant on significant reductions in capital costs of equipment and large numbers of cattle being located close to a centralised AD and BtG plant.

Cattle Waste Distribution by District
Cattle Waste Distribution by District

Reaseheath College

Rural Futures - providing rural business support via, project planning and management, advising on RDPE and other grants, feasibility studies, business plans and planning advice. Specialists in public sector rural regeneration programme management, delivery, monitoring and evaluation to provide sustainable economic and environmental development including Entry Level (ELS), Upland Entry Level (UELS), Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) and Woodland Grant Schemes (WGS). . Experience in renewable energy, local food production, farm and rural business diversification, and community resource and social enterprise projects. Portfolio includes projects in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Gtr. Manchester and throughout the North West and the UK.


text:
October 3 2001 RussCon Report

Game Results
Meta Party Game Results
Evening's Soundtrack
21 of us played 16 games.
RussCon Mailing List Subscription Info
RussCon Report Archives
Previous Report
Next Report
RussCon Info
Russ Zone
Ko Fight Club
Check out my webcomics.
Comicollage: daily ongoing comic jam with 7 artists and no planning ahead! There's a russ strip every Tuesday.

The Clandestine concert was good, and I was pleased they had the new live CD available, complete with my favorite previously unrecorded work (Bluebonnets Across the Border/Leslie's March).

Some of us talked about the upcoming October 31 RussCon, the first time Halloween has coincided with a RussCon! Strange to imagine that neighborhood kids might actually come trick-or-treating to my houseful of boardgamers! There will probably be a special Meta Game! Plan your costumes now...

Game Results

Can'tStop4Carly 3 Matt 1 JeffF -1 BobK -3
Venture2Brad 1 JimG -1
DieGlucksritter6Jeffles 5 JP 1 Steve 1 RussW 1 Clayton -3 Marty -5
Carcassonne4JP 2 RussW 2 Jeffles -1 Clayton -3
Tichu2( JeffF Matt ) 1 ( Carly Whindy ) -1
ShowManager4Daniel 3 Dan 1 Fred -1 BobK -3
Tichu2( Whindy Fred ) 1 ( Daniel Dan ) -1
Istanbul4Marty 3 PJ 1 Allen -1 Fina -3
BattleLine2JimG 1 Brad -1
Tichu2( JeffF Matt ) 1 ( JimG Carly ) -1
TitanArena4RussW 3 Dan 1 Jeffles -1 Ben -3
Tightrope5Ben 4 Jeffles 2 RussW 0 Dan -2 Marty -4
StarfarersOfCatan4William 3 Whindy 1 BobK -1 Daniel -3
Samarkand4PJ 3 JP 1 Fina -1 Allen -3
Exxtra6JimG 5 JP 3 Carly 0 Ben 0 Dan -3 Matt -5
Tichu2( Matt JP ) 1 ( Carly JeffF ) -1

carcassonneAfter tying with JP last week in Stephensons Rocket, I seem to have become stuck to him as we tied in Carcassonne and DieGlucksritter as well. Carcassonne is of course a great game; Glucksritter I wasn't so sure about. It was somewhat fun but felt awfully random, especially with 6 players.

Istanbul is a boardgame by Allen and PJ which they've been testing at RussCon lately, but didn't start recording results till now.

Tightrope is one of the many Knizia classics which doesn't get played as much as it should. I hadn't played it in probably a year, or so it feels anyway. Likewise Titan the Arena hadn't been played in a while, which is a pity since it led to unusually funny and stupid silly banter. Yo, word up to Dan the Monsta Slaya!

I won a Bluff game which I think William came in 2nd in, and I forget what else happened; it had Fina, and maybe Ben... my loss since I was lame and didn't record it.

Meta Party Game Results

Dan was the Meta Devil. However, there are hushed rumors that he was supplied the answer to the Bare Naked Ladies quiz by JeffF, just like the Charles Van Doren scandal (as documented in the excellent 1994 film Quiz Show), so Dan surrendered his Meta Devilhood and the placed the crown of command on JeffF's brow. Or maybe it's like Cyrano de Bergerac secretly supplying the right words to his friend Christian. OK, I'm babbling. Anyway, Jeff decided to run a game of Werewolf (as featured in the January 17 Links).

Roughly a dozen people played, and it was quite wacky fun and a good change of pace meta game that was a specific event for 15 minutes in the evening. Jeffles was the first villager slain, followed by Carly who was our village seer, alas. Several more villagers died, but we managed to realize that JP and Fred were both being awfully enthusiastic in nominating others to be lynched, and so we lynched them -- they turned out indeed to be the werewolves, and the village was saved! A random drawing from among the victorious villagers determined that next week's Meta Devil is... Dan! Isn't it ironic, don't you think? A little too ironic. And yeah, I really do think.

Evening's Soundtrack

cMaria Callas & Giuseppe Di Stefano, Italian Opera Duets
Clandestine, The Ale is Dear
Comet, Chandelier Musings
The Cranberries, Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Can't We?
The Crow, Original Motion Picture Score

See the theme?

Rank ratings:
 1.0000 William (1)
 0.6667 PJ (2)
 0.5000 JimG (4)
 0.4706 JP (5)
 0.4000 RussW (4)
 0.3333 Jeffles (4)
 0.2000 Steve (1)
 0.2000 Whindy (3)
 0.0833 Ben (3)
 0.0000 Brad (2)
 0.0000 Carly (5)
 0.0000 Fred (2)
 0.0000 JeffF (4)
-0.0909 Matt (5)
-0.1429 Daniel (3)
-0.2500 Dan (5)
-0.5000 Marty (3)
-0.6667 Allen (2)
-0.6667 Fina (2)
-0.7500 Clayton (2)
-0.7778 BobK (3)
New Win ratings:
 1.0000 William (1)
 0.5000 JimG (4)
 0.3333 PJ (2)
 0.2000 RussW (4)
 0.1667 Ben (3)
 0.1429 Daniel (3)
 0.0909 Matt (5)
 0.0833 Marty (3)
 0.0667 Jeffles (4)
 0.0000 Brad (2)
 0.0000 Fred (2)
 0.0000 JP (5)
 0.0000 JeffF (4)
-0.0909 Carly (5)
-0.2000 Steve (1)
-0.2000 Whindy (3)
-0.3125 Dan (5)
-0.3333 Allen (2)
-0.3333 BobK (3)
-0.3333 Fina (2)
-0.3750 Clayton (2)
The Bluff game didn't get recorded and I don't remember the order of the lower ranked players, so officially William pulled a Brady Maneuver. (I can hear his plaintive wails now, like sweet music.) JimG is the Devil and gets to stake out the dining table! PJ is Vice-Devil. Then JP, then me. Brad and JeffF both win the rare and coveted Extra Average Award.

Sympathy For The Devil: Tory Bezazian was a veteran Scientologist who loved going after church critics. Until she met the darkest detractor of all.

Man finds human penis in bottle of fruit punch.

All Of Yesterday's Tomorrows, an Alternate History Site.

this goes out to all the monsta slayaz
peace out


text:
So how has that worked?

Glad you asked, internal dialogue that always seems to know just what to inquire for maximum effect.

Sales of my books increased by a factor of four in January, from my most popular month ever – December. Given that I have been at this for a whopping nine months, that would kind of make sense. December, everybody on the planet got Kindles for Xmas, and needed content for them. Ergo, more books would sell.

BREAKING NEWS: Fantastic guest blog at The Veil War on the writing of The Voynich Cypher.

MORE BREAKING NEWS: Interview, book review of The Delphi Chronicle, Book 1, and a short story. Must read! With author Kathleen Patel.

UPDATE: Monday, 3-12. Interview with Digital Ink Spot on Amazon promos, process & thoughts.

UPDATE: New interview just posted with Eden Baylee. It’s a fun one.

I also released a slew of books in December – Night of the Assassin, King of Swords, and The Delphi Chronicle trilogy. Night and Book 1 of Delphi were and are free, so I increased my available paid titles by two that month, bringing it to a total of seven possible paid titles to buy. I don’t count the first book of Zero Sum, because that was free as well, nor do I count the individual books in the trilogies, as nearly everyone who buys, buys the bundles.

If all things were equal, I would have expected an organic growth of 20-25% from the new titles, which is about what I saw from November to December. All very predictable.

In mid-January, I enrolled my first book in KDP Select, and ran a couple of days free. The Geronimo Breach saw 12K downloads in its two free days, and then sales took off like a rocket for 5 or 6 days, eventually dropping back to a sustainable rate that was above December’s run rate, but nothing like what the post-free week was like. That got me looking at other authors’ experiences, and sure enough, the post-free phenomenon was being discussed, although it was still largely too new to rate.

I then ran a few more titles free, for a day here and there, and lo and behold, saw the same effect. This resulted in a reproducible sales boost, and appeared to have pulled my other titles along with it. I finished January giddy, with four times December’s bucks in my pocket.

February, for the first two weeks, sales were down 30% from January. Other authors indicated that was a well-understood effect of readers digesting all the books they’d downloaded. Made sense, but still not a lot of fun to see. In the final two weeks, I ran Geronimo free for one day, and Zero Sum free for two, and Geronimo saw 10K in one day, and Zero Sum saw about 20K on two days of downloads, hitting number 5 for free downloads. Post free, sales took off like a scared rabbit again, and I finished February at the same sales level as January, which is to say back at four times December sales, but income was up 25%, at five times December’s sales, due to a higher ASP after the artificially low promotional pricing I’d tried on a few titles in Jan. I figured it would be down 20%, so that was a pleasant surprise.

March, Zero Sum has been continuing its run from the free days the end of February, performing well and holding in the 500 paid range now 8 days post promo, which is unexpected but nice. But here’s the amazing part about the KDP promotions: by March 10 I will have sold more or less as many books as I did all of Feb. Obviously, that portends good things. If sales stay on track the rest of the month, I can expect a double to tripling over the course of the March, or roughly eight to twelve times December sales.

That’s an eye-opening number. Extrapolating, if March comes in as it’s shaping up, from that point on with no sales growth at all (even though I’ll be adding a slew of new titles this year), I will sell well over 100K books in 2012. Needless to say, if that happens, I’ll be one of the very very very few indie authors making a significant living from my passion. That’s amazing for two reasons. First, up until Amazon created its revolution in self-publishing, it would have been impossible. Utterly, completely impossible. A pipe dream. Second, it’s astounding because I will be a failure by traditional publishing standards.

Failing has never felt so good.

If I have 12 paid titles out by the end of 2012, and I’m selling 100K books, I’m only moving 9K books per year, per title, mas o menos. That’s a disaster by traditional published standards. And yet obviously, by living in Mexico self-publishing standards, it’s a home run. The numbers assume that none of my books really hit in any way big. In fact, these numbers might. My new one, launching on March 17, The Voynich Cypher, could blow things wide open. It’s that kind of a book. Mainstream, accessible, my take on a Dan Brown/Raiders of the Lost Ark style adventure/thriller. If it gets traction, it could be a big book. Early readers are enthusiastic, so I’ve got high hopes for it, but even if it sort of of putters along flat, I’m still in the mix to hit my 2012 numbers. Again, this all assumes that none of my books really get discovered, or in any way hit the mainstream.

I attribute my success to date, such as it is, to two things. First, to writing a heartfelt blog about a beloved & perhaps misunderstood public figure and comparing him to my dad, and having it go viral. Okay, maybe not so much that. Seriously, it’s because of being fortunate enough to have delivered a reasonable product to those brave or stupid enough to try my offerings, and building slow recognition organically. And second, it’s because the KDP Select program has created a venue whereby indie authors can displace the big name brand authors, and get a small slice of awareness from an audience they previously would have had no chance of reaching. The first takes 15 hour days, 7 days a week, for 10 months. The second took KDP deciding to offer “free” as a perk for joining the Select program.

I owe Amazon deep and sincere gratitude, and hope they crush the bones of their competitors to jelly and dance in the still-warm blood of their adversaries as they rule the book world. At least, for another year or two, it would be nice. My game plan is to have twenty titles out by the end of 2013, all selling for between $2.99 and $6.99. If Amazon’s KDP program stays in place and their algorithms don’t change, I and a whole group of writers who had no real shot at making a decent living suddenly have become viable. Perhaps Indie will become the new slush pile – but one that pays well. Or perhaps there won’t be any more slush piles, and the phones will go unanswered in NY sometime soon.

On a related topic, my UK sales are now trending at 10% of my US sales, so the UK is having more of an effect than I would have expected. Given that I have done exactly zero marketing beyond twitter and a lackadaisical Facebook presence, that also portends good things. Although I will say that I have been participating in Melissa Foster’s World Literary Cafe, and the visibility from that group’s efforts have likely played a role in my sales. I recommend them highly, for those looking to participate in a good organization.

Loans have also increased, and as of today, for March 8, I have 450 borrows. As I said in a prior blog, on titles at my price point at least some of those are displacing sales at a considerably higher net rate, but the overall positive of being in the KDP program is outweighing that negative. Hard to bitch over the cost of doing business on that one.

That’s where we are as of today. Whether sales continue apace, or dirt dive, is unknowable from this point on, but I’ll keep everyone updated. It’s been a fascinating experiment so far. I’ll post an end of year summary in December, and maybe a mid-year one in July – really, the first full year of being in this game. Beyond that, thank you to my readers, and good luck to all the authors following this blog. It can be done. It’s just not easy. Nothing is.

UPDATE: As of March 10, midnight, I have sold 3015 books this month and had 540 borrows. A little slower than I’d hoped, but the last few days were laggards. Still, difficult to whine too much. I’ll save that for the end of the month when I’ve crashed and burned…

  1. Thu 08th Mar 2012 at 3:14 am

    This is exciting to hear. I’m halfway through Night of the assassin.

    My nephew is getting ready to publish his first book, The Magic Quest. It’s for kids, so I’m anxious to see how it sells.

  2. Napoleon
    Thu 08th Mar 2012 at 6:14 pm

    I’m not an author (unless you count ransom notes) but I found the post to be pretty interesting.

    I never thought that I would buy a book from a former Colchester United player.
    I assume that you are the Russell Blake on Wikipedia?

    Syria is trending right now. “Just like President Assad , Dad saw mass murder as the solution to most of life’s problems.”

    • Russell Blake  –  Thu 08th Mar 2012 at 7:02 pm

      Nope. Not he.

      And I have skillfully avoided mass murder as the solution to most of my problems. Although sometimes I understand it…

      • Napoleon  –  Thu 08th Mar 2012 at 8:18 pm

        A shame. I would have liked to have known if there were any similarities between lower league soccer in the 1950’s and Mexican drug wars.
        You must be the furniture design company from South East London?

        I think that the Voynich Cypher is already on Amazon in the UK?

        • Russell Blake  –  Thu 08th Mar 2012 at 9:13 pm

          It is in the UK. But it doesn’t officially launch until the 17. And I swore that my furniture design days are behind me a while ago, and I shan’t go back.

  3. Thu 08th Mar 2012 at 7:06 pm

    Great information. You’ve convinced me to join the KDP program. As the first promotion, would you recommend running 3 days free?

    • Russell Blake  –  Thu 08th Mar 2012 at 9:11 pm

      I’d just do two. The third buys you nothing I can think of.

      • Russell Blake  –  Sat 10th Mar 2012 at 1:32 pm

        Since posting this blog I’ve gotten a lot of e-mails from authors asking the same questions. So to simplify my life, here are some answers.

        First, free days are not a substitute for building a platform and an identity. With roughly 24,000 books going free every day, your odds still suck. To counter that, you need to create a presence that is memorable, provides value, and is consistent with who you are. Blogging is one way. Twitter is another. Facebook still another. Joining groups like World Literary Cafe still another. The point is that you’re still a needle in a haystack, so you need some mechanism to stand out. If you put your book up for free, and saw 300 downloads and 5 post-free sales, it’s because either nobody knows of you and your book, or you didn’t promote the free day. You have to do everything possible to do both. More the first than the second, in truth – if you list your book with the myriad sites devoted to free books, that will largely take care of the latter. The first is the problem.

        As an example, when I started doing this last June, I devoted four hours a day to social media – twitter, facebook, blogging, posting to forums. Every day, seven days a week. I also was writing 12 hours a day. If you do that math, that leaves little time for anything but sleeping and eating – both of which I manage pretty well, thank you very much. After six months of this, I started to see traction. That’s after releasing 7 titles. And never missing a day. And blogging regularly. Some would say they can’t manage hours like that. I agree, it’s insane. But it was also my plan for differentiating myself – I would be the hardest working author I’ve ever heard of, and the most prolific. That was one of my differentiators. You will need your own. I don’t know what it will be. If you don’t know, start thinking. Buying some get rich quick book that advises you how to be successful isn’t a substitute for innovation, and at worst will waste your time and money.

        I still devote three hours a day to social media, and write ten hours a day. I now get to take Sundays off. And three weeks in March, although I’m going to cheat and plot out my next one – just a little flow chart is all.

        But the point is that if you calculate the number of hours I’ve devoted to this, it’s over 4000 hours in nine months. That’s two years’ worth of full time job hours crammed into 9 months. Then again, I feel like I am coming from behind, so I need to make up for lost time. But to put it into perspective, any success I’m briefly entertaining is the result of 2 year’s worth of hours working full time at this. That puts the numbers into context, I think. Don’t get me wrong – they are still eye-popping results, for which I’m grateful, but it’s not quite as stellar if you calculate it by the hour. Hopefully that will come, in time. Right now, I probably could have made more money by the hour selling Chicklets on the beach. And had a tan.

        If you’re not willing or able to pull these kinds of hours, it’s not the end of the world, but recognize there are people out there who can and will, and you are in the same pond as they are – assuming equivalent talent and craft. So your differentiator, if it isn’t going to be sheer hard work, better be damned good.

        My point is that free is not a substitute for hard work, a good book, and a good social media presence. It’s another tool. That’s all.

        • Kathy Lynn Hall  –  Sun 11th Mar 2012 at 6:21 pm

          Russell – I have long recognized both your talent and your hard work. You are also one of the smartest marketers out there. You deserve all this and I’m very happy it’s working for you. What I learned here is that I haven’t done enough to build my platform nor have I been prolific enough. Back to the drawing board. Thanks.

          • Russell Blake  –  Sun 11th Mar 2012 at 6:33 pm

            I think we’re all learning, fumbling through this adventure, the blind leading the blind. I think building the platform is critical, and while being prolific is nice, quality will out in the end. I think two books a year could yield similar results, but slower. Having said that, the effort to create a brand is identical. Readers like to buy safe brands. That’s why they’ll pay $14 for a marginal effort from a recognized name as opposed to trying something that has been reviewed as brilliant by an indie. Part of our job is to get them familiar enough with our brand to where they are willing to give it a try. That’s a tough leap to make, and I’d say I’m just at the beginning of this journey, not even out of the first inning yet.

            Thanks for the kind words on my work. You’ve been one of my strongest supporters. I hope your latest venture is doing well, and recommend you keep writing, every day. What else can you do?

  4. Sat 10th Mar 2012 at 12:11 pm

    This is fabulous! You’re playing the market and the system and doing it VERY WELL. I’m copying this blog and will chart my marketing of my e-books sales the same way and with the same logic. Thank you so much!

    • Russell Blake  –  Sat 10th Mar 2012 at 12:33 pm

      As with all things, mileage may vary.

  5. Sun 11th Mar 2012 at 8:29 am

    Excellent advice and observations. The universe rewards passion and hard work. Enjoy your Sundays off in sunny Mexico.

  6. andy holloman
    Wed 14th Mar 2012 at 12:15 pm

    way cool amigo, wonderful to see and know someone that is turning the work into cash…. and always grateful fo the info share, write on bro!

    • Russell Blake  –  Wed 14th Mar 2012 at 12:40 pm

      I figure that the more folks that see that it’s possible, the more encouraging it is that they can do it too. Having said that, we both know nothing is ever easy. I think the best thing you can do is write more books. I am finishing up my sequel to King of Swords, and am going to take a few weeks off, then get into plotting for my next one. Goal is to have 4 books written by June. I’ll make it, I think. It’s like fishing. More lines in the water, more chance of getting a strike.

  7. Wed 14th Mar 2012 at 12:46 pm

    fascinating post, I saw this from a tweet, btw. So you are staying strictly with Amazon for your books, not going into other venues at all?

  8. Thu 15th Mar 2012 at 1:23 am

    Oh, I so want to get more books out there! It just takes time, and I don’t want to be one of those authors that just throws out books just to have books out there – I want to be known for quality. Yet, I want a piece of this juicy pie! Knowing my luck, by the time I get some books out on sale the fad will be over and writers will be earning dirt again. Plus I am terrible at numbers and planning so I doubt I’m going to be able to plan my promotions and that like you have. Ah well, first thing is first, finish more books! Thanks for your information, entertaining, it is.

    • Russell Blake  –  Thu 15th Mar 2012 at 1:34 am

      I think you have to write at the pace you write. No point in generating dross. It won’t help you to have substandard pap under your name. Having said that, I think I’ve been helped by being prolific as well as having nothing to do with my time but write. Still, the free thing is merely a ticket into the race, nothing more. You still need a winning horse(s).

      • Matthew Rowe  –  Fri 16th Mar 2012 at 2:47 am

        You are very lucky to have all the time to write! If this revolution had happened 5 years ago when I was unemployed and writing a lot I might be in the same place as you, but now I have to work a full time job and struggle to squeeze writing into my day… stupid world. I’m always ahead of my time!

        • Russell Blake  –  Fri 16th Mar 2012 at 3:14 am

          Perhaps. But if it had happened five years ago, I too would have been writing full time, just to see. So in the end, it’s angels on the head of a pin. There is only what is, and what will be, not what could have been. That, and I think one really good book trumps five average ones. So quantity isn’t necessarily key.

  9. Thu 15th Mar 2012 at 8:14 pm

    I am so excited to follow this path myself. I’m amazed at how many of my new favorite authors are from my Indie list, and buying and sharing their books feels like being ahead of the curve and imparting knowledge to others. this has been incrfedibly informative, I’ll pass it on!

  10. Mon 02nd Apr 2012 at 4:43 pm

    You are a inspiration Russell, thanks for twitter following me and the great shares on your KDP experience…I hope to one day get there :0) 9months and counting…a great experience!

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text:
Friday, June 12, 2015

Over The Moon

Shop Amazon for Over The Moon
When everyday life things make me feel as if I may fall (or jump) over the edge of my world, it takes but a tidbit of sunshine to leave me feeling over the moon.

Now, I am one who believes that much-needed sunshine for my spirit can always be found no matter my life circumstances, no matter the darkness — IF I but open up my senses to see its light. And you can bet that when my life seems out of balance, I am learning that when I am more mindful of the moment I can better see what needs seeing.

For instance... Today I was feeling a bit off-kilter, for no special reason. I paused my fingers on the keyboard, turned and looked through the pass-thru from my work area to the living room. There my dog Valentino was lounging on his sofa, head raised off his pillow — looking back at me!

My dog Valentino looking back at me.

One look from Valentino sent me over the moon with warm emotion. I snapped a picture of my handsome fellow, gave him a petting and a snuggle, then back to my desktop computer I went with a smile in my spirit.

It takes but a small thing to change someone's emotional state. Your loving look, your smile, or the sound of your voice might surely be the sunshine that takes them from over the edge to over the moon.

Today, I am feeling over the moon!

My article topic for today begins with the letter "O" for feeling over the moon.

Each week we share emotions from A to Z in the ABC Challenge. Hop along with us!

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an Associate of Amazon and may earn income based on purchases made through links in this article.

Get the InLinkz code for your article.


text:
Once you choose hope, anything is possible.

Tuesday, 27 April 2010

SWAP photos sent in

SWAP photos sent in ready for the big reveal in a couple of weeks.
Part of me enjoyed dressing up in the outfits and trying combos and part of me just wanted to be done with it.

No photos here yet as it would be spoiling things, but I will post them once they are up on the Flickr site.

I did two collections this time
Amber glow and Botanical garden. I have shown hanger shots of everything on the blog but not of everything being worn.

I'm going away for a bit hence sending the photos in now, but will carry on with the 'Newspaper Collection' when I get back.

Sunday, 25 April 2010

Wardrobe in a Weekend

SewingPlum has a very interesting article on how a Wardrobe in a weekend could be adapted for different body shapes.

It refers to an article on Sew Inspirational about a 6 piece wardrobe made in a weekend. I have to agree that all those floaty layers with not much shaping are not massively flattering to most body shapes.
The example wardrobe has two sleeves tops, a pair of trousers, a skirt and two floaty overshirt/jacket type thingies.

If I was going to do something like this (and you never know I might, as I am sufficiently addicted to wardrobe and speed sewing) mine would have to be something more like.

Cap sleeve knit top from Simplicity 4699.
This is super simple, a front and back, cleverly shaped to give a boat neck and little cap sleeves

Cowl neck knit top from HotPatterns 1089.
This could be worn alone or with the boat neck from the first top showing under the cowl.

Simplicity 2603 cardi wrap.
Can be worn over either of the previous tops, and can be tied in many different variations.

Straight skirt with invisible zip from Simplicity 9825.
Simple and neat can be worn with all the tops.

Burda trousers of some sort, probably my current favourites with side pockets and a back zip.

This is only 5 pieces, but I think that's probably all even I could manage in a weekend, so I could probably allow myself to buy a matching cardigan, though the belted cardi from Simplicity 6735 is very wearable.

In fact the whole wardrobe from 6735 is very wearable and on a serger could be really quite quick to sew.

I'm not sure when I might have such a weekend, but if I did get one..... perhaps I'd give the above a go!

Wardrobe Sewing

As may be apparent I am pretty much a wardrobe sewer. I was already interested in the concept of a mix and match wardrobe, right back to when I read in Mary Spillane's 'The Complete Style Guide' in 1991 a little section at the back on Wardrobe Planning for Your Season (The US version of this was called 'Color Me Beautiful, Looking Your Best', and is more easily obtained). Then later I cam across SWAP (sewing with a plan) on RustyBobbin's home page at the time, and then moved on to trying to sew wardrobes myself.

I am now completely a wardrobe sewer though on my own terms. I love all the wardrobing books, but am never going to own a knee length sleeveless shift dress in classic black despite their recommendations because its not my style nor flattering to my body shape.

What I like about wardrobe sewing is the sheer practicality of having clothes which were chosen to work together. I always loved the store displays in the department stores showing all the pieces of a particular collection worn in different combinations on 3 mannequins but quite apart from the cost of buying all those pieces at once, the hem lengths, jacket length, combinations of colours and some styles just didn't work for me.
So when I am wardrobe sewing I am doing my own version of one of those department store collections, only in this one all the colours suit me, all the hems are at the right length and all the styles I have chosen. I suppose it the long winded version of being my own personal shopper.

I know some people sew outfits, and that's great if that is what works for them. What I like about the capsules/wardrobes approach is beause the pieces mix and match my outfit is not thwarted by the fact that one item from an outfit is in the laudry waiting for enough items needing the same cycle, or special spot treatment. It doesn't matter becuase I have other bottoms or tops that would do instead.

Joy asked 'I would love to get a glimpse inside your closet! Do you find that you really wear outfits as they have been planned in wardrobes, or do you end of mixing up the assorted pieces?'
Thank you for the complement Joy :-)
I do mix the pieces up a bit between the capsules. My 'Inspired by the Sea' Collection in Navy and Teal overlaps well with last year's SWAP in Brown and Turquoise. But not at all with others. I must admit I generally avoid making something belong explicitly to a collection by having contrast buttonholes or something. For instance the recent waistcoat and top for the Newspaper collection, will work with the red pieces when I sew them, but I have deliberately left off any red accents (buttons/buttonholes/topstitching in red) as I could still wear those pieces with lime or teal from other collections if I wanted to.
I will make the black jeans in the collection with red top stitching though as I have other black jeans with turquoise or orange accents which I can wear with other colours.

I've found that I now have a basic set of colours I use over and over, so after a few seasons the colours start to repeat themselves. This definitely helps with getting dressed. I also have a wide range of fun necklaces and handbags in the various key colours so I can pull outfits together.

I also buy RTW pieces and mix those in as well. These are in the same colours as well. I tend to buy plain tshirts and dark pants, the occasional pantsuit, and RTW jackets. I'm not great at sewing jackets that fit, so RTW lets me be dressed without having to sew every item. I don't see that as cheating in any way. My goal is not to have an entirely homemade wardrobe, but to have one that's completely ME and works for my lifestyle.

I'm still working on that goal but its getting closer all the time :-)

No photos and rain

I still have not done my photos for the two SWAPs. I kept thinking I would do them in the garden, but after two weeks of lovely weather, the weather just changed and is now in a rainy pattern for the next couple of weeks.
So I suppose I'll just need to do them inside afterall.
I know it is helpful for people to see the garments actually being worn.
Today I am having trouble doing anything very useful which is a shame and have even descended to wearing comfort clothes - drawstring knit pants, tee and very soft waterfall cardi with flipflops - perhaps that's half the problem!

Saturday, 24 April 2010

I'm going to buy these sandals. They were comfy but have a little more style than the usual comfort sandals.
There are more elegant sandals out there, but my knees are not that great and comfort is important to me.
I tried them on today and would have bought them, but the queue was long and my time was short so I left them and will go back another day to buy them.

P.S. I went back and bought the sandals.

Newpaper Collection

Its the newspaper Collection, becuase it black and white and re(a)d all over!
A very old joke I know, and getting a little more ironic these days.

Friday, 23 April 2010

Black and white tee shirt

Here's a little tee shirt I sewed this evening from NewLook 6436 (OOP).
Its made from leftovers from a previous top. I am pleased with how it came out though and it fits nicely and will be good for summer.

Thursday, 22 April 2010

Buttons added

I came to add the buttons to the buttonholes today and realised I had for some unknown reason in fact made 8 buttonholes instead of the 7 I had thought I had done.
Its done now so I'll go with it, but I prefer usually to have odd numbers of buttons becuase I think it is more aesthetically pleasing.
The mistake design opportunity came from measuring the space - finding it was 21 centimetres, splitting this into 7 and putting buttonholes every 3 cm. This of course results in 8 buttonholes instead of 7.

Anyway here is the resulting garment (hanger shot only).

Sunday, 18 April 2010

Charcoal and white stripe waistcoat

Charcoal and white stripe waistcoat in progress.

Still needs buttons and buttonholes and the side seams of the lining hand stitching closed.
However I am very pleased with it.

There will also be matching trousers with pockets and back zip, which are cut out but not sewn up yet.

The fabric is interesting becuase as well as the black grey and white in the weave of the fabric, there is also a copper thread which just add a bit of a glint.

Changes this time include. Tuck out of front neckline, slight addition at hip at bottom of the sides and little lined patch pockets just large enough for a blackberry.

Saturday, 17 April 2010

Next wardrobe

I have pulled the fabric out for my next wardrobe. Its going to be in black, red and off white
I am planning 5 knit tops, 5 pairs of trousers, 1 dress and a jacket.

Tops, all knit
- black and white floral print
- black and white stripe
- red and white fan print
- white/black/red floral print
- ivory with black print

Dress, knit
- red/black/ivory print
leftovers as another knit top.

Trousers, all wovens
- charcoal linen
- black denim with red top stitching
- black pinstripe
- black with white stripe
- charcoal with white variegated stripes

after this it gets more vague. I have some black satin lining so can make leftovers from the pants into waistcoats. We'll see might be too much to have 4 waistcoats to go with the formal trousers
I also have some heavier black fabric and some red linen either of which might be a jacket or coat
and leftovers of some other fabrics in the same colours which could perhaps be more tops
red fan print knit (different red than the other one, so could not go together)
black and white print knit
both of these could have parts in plain black knit to make a whole top.

Photos and coming plans

I do need to take photos of the items in both SWAPs as to date I have only done hanger shots.
Somehow this is a very hard thing for me. The faff of changing and taking the photos with the tripod and timer and so on, and then trimming the pics and stitching them together and uploading them.

I have a couple of other things I want to do, one is now the weather is warmer to have a wardrobe tidy and swap out the heaviest winter things and bring in the summer stuff. In May we are going away on holiday and I will want some summer things for that, though the more casual pieces.

I am also really looking forward to my black/red/ivory wardrobe but should not get started on that really until the SWAP photos are all done. Maybe though I will have a fabric tidy, put away the unused brown fabric from Amber Glow and pull out all the matching fabrics for the black/red/ivory wardrobe. This as yet does not have a name, though I think could be inspired by the name of a nice red lipstick which could be worn with it.
Red for me is a very happy colour, and I feel confident and bold in it.

I suppose it could be the 'Newspaper Collection', becuase its black and white and red all over! (a very old joke from when I was a child).

Friday, 16 April 2010

What I wore today

I was working from home but wanted to wear this outfit so I could take photos.
From the feel on my skin I can tell you this fabric is wool or wool mix, and is obviously a men's suiting. as you can see. But a high quality light weight one. I made good use of the 2.6 metre length I had, getting trousers, skirt and waistcoat fronts from it.
I like the waistcoat though the fit needs a little more refinement to fit perfectly. But waistcoat and trousers gives a long line which I like whilst allowing the top underneath to be something more fun.

Going forwards I might make a few of these trousers + waistcoat combinations and then throw a purchased plain jacket over the top. There is almost always enough fabric left from cutting the trousers out to cut waistcoat fronts.

I like having the pockets in the trousers, though I'd like to change the angle slightly and perhaps make the pocket deeper. I could also add little pockets to the waistcoat.

This would be a TNT work combo for me and very practical I think as its relatively smart and means I can wear sensible shoes to walk from the station, or when my knees hurt.

The pieces

New look 6735 Knit Top
New Look 6958 Waistcoat
Burda Magazine 02-10-102
Vogue 1265 Skirt

Wearing 'Coffee break'

Wearing the Coffee Break Mini Wardrobe

Sunday, 11 April 2010

RuthieK's Coffee break

RuthieK's Coffee break

New Look 6735 Knit Top

New Look 6735 Knit Top

Burda Magazine Feb 2010 #102

Here are the trousers I made from February Burda magazine.

SWAP 2010 #1 - Stripe Trousers

I am part way through a new Burda magazine trouser pattern, and am nearly at the point where I can see what the fit is like. This is in the same stripe fabric as the little waistcoat and the 15 button skirt, though I have sewed them in the reverse order than I cut them out.
I wanted to branch into a different style to get pockets, as I have felt a desperate need for pockets recently.

Looking at the trousers I get the feeling that the waist is going to be huge especially at the back but that the thigh/butt (my fuller areas) are going to be fine.

I also on a whim pulled out some black knit with a brown and cream print (which was a gift from YorkshireLass after I petted it in her stash cupboard) and quite fancy it as a knit top with a cream neckband. We'll have to see if that one pans out. Its a strong print so I think will need to have a simple pattern, something like New Look 6735.

Saturday, 10 April 2010

Amber Glow - nearly there

Here's an updated slide for the Amber Glow Collection.
I only really need one more bottom and this can then be declared finished.
That's probably a good thing as I shall be away with work again and often only get to sew at the weekends.

Buttoned skirt completed

Today I sewed on the 15 buttons levelled the bottom of the skirt and machine hemmed it.

Friday, 9 April 2010

Amber Glow: striped waistcoat

Here's the striped waistcoat I finished last weekend but did not manage to photograph.
It has a plain black satin back and lining and a black satin ribbon tie at the back.

Wednesday, 7 April 2010

Sorry no photos, have been working a  lot.
Also have not sewn any buttons on the skirt.
Away with work tomorrow as well, may have some progress on Friday

Monday, 5 April 2010

Skirt with 15 buttonholes

I came back to the skirt today and tried a few fixes. I removed the front pleats and made them into slim darts instead. I folded the front bands in half and top stitched them down, and I added an extra piece onto the waistband/facing type thing and sewed it on, top stitched and stitched the facing in place and then made 15 machine buttonholes on the left placket. I think I'll save sewing on the corresponding buttons until I am sitting in a hotel room tomorrow evening (away overnight with work). Ironically the waistband is now slightly loose, but I think I will resolve that by running some wide elastic through the back facing as though it were a casing, just to snug things in a little.
I still need to add a 2" hem which I think I might just stitch in place by machine, without even doing a blind hem. As the facing and plackets have a lot of top stitching already I think it would be in keeping to have a top stitched hem as well. In fact I may do two rows of stitching, one 1/4" from the edge and the other 2" from the edge. That should give a nice weighty hem.
I have been debating whether all the buttons should be operational, or if the ones in the centre should have the buttonholes left un-slit and the buttons sewn through both layers. If I have all the buttons working I think I would hand stitch the plackets together at the back to avoid any possible wardrobe malfunctions.

Slow progress

This morning I was all fired up. I took my freshly laundered black fabric with fine tan stripes and decided I wanted to have trousers, skirt and if any leftovers a little fitted waistcoat (vest).
I started by tracing off the trousers from Burda magazine Feb 2010 #102. I laid this onto the fabric and had to have the legs one below the other.

I then cut the skirt out alongside the trousers, and finally waistcoat fronts from the remainders. The waistcoat was too short last time, but I had kept the finished garment. I tried it on and determined where my waist came, and added 2 inches at the lengthen lines. I then cut the back and lining from black poly lining fabric.
Then I did all the interfacing for all three garments.
At this point I then started sewing up the waistcoat becuase it appealed to me, and I have to say I am pleased with the outcome. The waistcoat is completed and works really well with the animal print knit top and brown skirt. Instead of the back fabric belt, which I thought would be too heavy on the light weight lining, I used a short length of ribbon which is a femine touch on a slightly masculine garment.

Next I moved onto the skirt adding darts, pleats etc, only to discover when I came to sew it together that I have cut one of the fronts back to front - so I turned it upside down and now there is a notch missing at the hem.
I then wrapped the pieces of the skirt around me, and I now have serious doubts that it will fit me.
So I've stopped and shall go off to bed and see what inspiration strikes in the morning.
I may be able to gain enough from narrow side seams and folding the front bands in half rather than all the way back to the fabric. I plan to use more but smaller buttons than the original as theirs is a bit of a joke with five HUGE buttons as the closure.
Anyway if it doesn't work out I can always recut it in my favourite skirt pattern and have a zip instead of buttons.

SIGH. Oh well tomorrow is another day and the waistcoat is cute.

Saturday, 3 April 2010

Amber glow - plans

I called Jenni tonight and she has been very helpful to bounce ideas off. And I now have a way forward with some more pieces for the Amber Glow.
I have some black poly/viscose light weight suiting fabric which I plan to make into a pair of pants and a long skirt. The skirt is from a old Vogue pattern I bought today for 50p on a market stall.

The fabric is black herringbone with fine brown stripes running through it and will be comfortable to wear as the weather gets warmer, it also plays very well with the animal print knit top and cardiwrap already made. I can imagine the trousers and skirt in this fabric and how and where I would wear them which is always a very good sign I think.

The fabric is in the washing machine getting prewashed as I cannot bear it if it were to shrink after being sewn up, so I shall go and thread the machines ready, get out a zipper, choose buttons, check over the pattern pieces etc.

Friday, 2 April 2010

Chocolate faux suede skirt completed

Here's another piece for the 'Amber Glow' Collection, a chocolate brown faux suede skirt with a flounce at the hem.
The flounce comes from another pattern and is morphed on to my favourite straight skirt pattern.

Jaycott's order arrived

Here are my various goodies from Jaycott's. The light weight charcoal interfacing is great in skirt and trouser waistbands when they are a dark colour. And I have a replacement invisible zipper foot - which I use regularly, plus all kinds of handy little tools which should make sewing easier.