I'm Back, and Merry Christmas!

Oh it's been so long!

I have certainly been busy, but that's no excuse.  Now that the holidays are over, all the Christmas presents are finished, and the family is gone, I have some time to reflect and get back in gear.

I have a bit of a cold today, so I have set aside all the projects I've been planning and parked myself in front of the computer with water and vitamin C.  I've been wanting to find more vintage/fashion inspired blogs, so I set about finding some.

Some of my favorites are:
Casey's Elegant Musings 
The Freelancer's Fashionblog
Q's Daydream Vintage

I have a long list of projects that I would ultimately like to feature on my blog, but I am sorely behind.  And the list just keeps getting longer!  One trip to Joann Fabrics and I suddenly have 6 new projects.  Most of them are for fun, or projects around the house, so now that I have finished making everyone's Christmas presents and gotten my Etsy orders taken care of, I don't feel quite so selfish working on some of these things.

I did manage to make a fantastic green wool skirt (Burda 8155, thank you Gertie) for myself just in time for Thanksgiving.  I also wore it on Christmas Eve...

Here is a snapshot (a bit wrinkley around the middle, ah well).

Isn't this the classic Christmas Portrait?  We look so festive!  Isn't my husband a fox?

I hope you all had a fabulous holiday!

Past Projects: Back Injury

I made this collage in the Summer of 2007, when I tore a disc in my back.  The doctor gave me Prednisone, which turned me into a crazy person.  I barely slept for almost 2 weeks, and kept all my friends and family members on the phone for hours at a time talking nonsense.

Luckily there was a Hobby Lobby (the greatest craft/fabric store EVER, and I mean, seriously) less than a mile away.  I could barely walk, yet I was so freaking bored out of my mind I dragged myself over there (in a car, yes) at least once a day and hobbled around finding random crafts.  And this store is as big as WalMart.

For this piece I printed out quotes and images that inspired me during this trying time, and some reminders to embrace the moment so I could relax and heal.

My soldering work is a bit shoddy, but I chock that up to the drugs, as they made me restless and impatient.

It now hangs at my desk as a reminder to take care of my back, and my body.  And to sit up straight.

I should hurry up and make a lot of money so I can buy a franchise of Hobby Lobby for New York City.  If you live near one of these wondrous establishments, please frequent the store so they stay in business!

I Want a Pencil Skirt!

This gorgeous lipstick red pencil skirt is from my favorite blogger, Gertie.  She has yet again inspired me.

I've been dreaming of making this pattern since the moment I saw it, and finally made the decision to make it.  So I ordered the pattern, Burda 8155, from Etsy and I can't wait till it arrives!

I set off to Mood fabric store yesterday to browse and drool over the amazing array of fabrics.  As many of you know, this is where the Project Runway designers shop.  It's three floors of bliss.

Not only did I find the perfect lipstick red wool to make this fabulous skirt, but I fell in love with two other wools.  Since I was in pencil skirt mode, I immediately thought of these two woven wools in the same pattern, and love the idea.

The colors are a bit different than the picture really captures.  The yellow is so warm and buttery with cream and orange flecks.  The orange is just the perfect shade of orange, without being too Halloween.

Now keep in mind that I at this point have no idea if this pattern will even look good on me in a muslin, let alone the 3 other versions I have in mind.

But that butter yellow keeps whispering my name.

Last night however, I thought to myself, "Do I really want to drape my butt in butter yellow?  How good will that REALLY look?"

Since I am the Queen of Justification, with a capital Q, I figure it's only around $25.  I could spend that much at a bar in a night and still have a terrible time.  So why not?

I'm going to try the pattern in a material I already own and make any adjustments, then dive into the red one first.  If that works out, maybe the frivolous yellow pencil skirt.

But wouldn't it look just dreamy with a creamy chiffon blouse?  No one else would have one!  I would be a walking ray of sunshine.  I keep thinking of that Chanel suit in Pepto Bismol pink.  If Chanel can do a pastel skirt, then why can't I?  (Yikes!)

I'd certainly be in some good company.

  

And a quick Google search reveals....I wouldn't be the first...

I want it!  And the beige knit top....fantastic!  (squeal!)

Coincidentally just after leaving the fabric store I brushed past a hurried Chrisitan Siriano, Project Runway winner.  Not wanting to bother him, I sent him a silent "Fierce!" and went on my way.

Past Projects: 3rd Grade, 1957 Necklace

I thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the larger projects I've done.  So I created the "Past Projects" segment, and here we are.

This necklace features the kids from my moms third grade class...Hamilton School, Mary Hammer, Principal, Grade 3 - Mrs. Carey (pictured row 1, 3rd from Left).

My mom is in the first row, 2nd from Left.

I made this a few years ago.  Thought it would be a fun way to remember childhood friends.  It took forever, but it was fun!

What I Did This Weekend

Since our house has been visited by the Swine Flu, we have spent quite a bit of time at home.

We're all feeling much better, thank you.

Between mandatory mealtimes and 13 hours of sleep a night, I personally spent a lot of time online, specifically on Etsy, one of my favorite sites.  I like to check up on my favorite sellers to see what new amazing items they have in their shops.

One of my favorite sellers is theblackapple.  She is a painter who sells prints of her work.  I have been admiring her work since the first time I looked around on Etsy.  I am attracted to her work because it's similar to the paintings I used to do.

But I think theblackapple has taken this idea to a much more sophisticated level than I had.  I haven't done any painting in a long while, but looking over her work I was inspired to go back to it.

Hence my weekend activities.  :)

The Full, Gathered Skirt

After obsessively reading Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing (see my previous post), I was inspired to pull out the ol' sewing machine and make something.  I wasn't sure what to make, so I perused my extensive fabric collection, which is far too large for my New York apartment.  This black and cream cotton sateen jumped out at me, saying "Make me into The Full, Gathered Skirt!"  So I did.

For those of you who haven't read Gertie's blog, this is a skirt from a 1952 Vogue pattern.  Vogue states, "A gathered skirt is just about the most useful skirt you could have . . . it's becoming . . . it mixes with all your blouses and sweaters." 


Gertie posted the pattern here, so people like me could make one too.  I had to alter the pattern a bit, since the fabric was an odd shape from an old project gone awry.  I decided on one full front panel, and two in the back with the zipper (bright teal!) up the center.  I added pockets, cuz I happen to like pockets on a skirt.  I didn't have an invisible zipper, so I used a centered zipper with this tutorial, and tabbed the waistband with a hook and eye closure.


It turned out...cute, but not nearly as cute as I thought it would be.  It's not exactly, um, flattering.  I mean, I have enough chichones (a.k.a. love handles) as it is.  Though it looks better with a jacket.

I think the fabric may be too heavy for it to stand out with 1950s volume, like Gertie's.  Of course, she used taffeta, which is stiffer than my drapery fabric.  Guess I'll have to make another one in silk taffeta.  Darn!

The other option is to put a crinoline under it.  Now, after wearing a crinoline for 10 months in The Marvelous Wonderettes, I know both the fun and annoyance of crinolines.  The last thing I want to do is wear a crinoline while walking down the streets of New York.  Too fussy.  And costumey, if that's a word.

But again it all comes back to Gertie.  She has a post about modern crinolines, which are smaller and easier to deal with.  They even sell them at Anthropologie!

 I might be able to handle one of those.  Especially in lemon yellow!  So cute!

What do you think?  Dare I wear a crinoline in everyday life?

Grateful for Gertie

This is my first post. I've never written a blog before, nor followed one. In fact, I've often questioned why people even have blogs at all. I never understood what people had to say that was important enough to say it to the world. Though perhaps I have no room to talk, since I'm a performer and make my living shouting things to the world.

But about a week ago I came across a fantastic blog called Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing and my mind has changed. Gertie set a goal to become a better seamstress by following the 1952 publication "Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing." I was instantly hooked and spent hours over the next few days pouring over all her posts. Not only does she have great wit and humor, she's talking about something I'm actually interested in! Sewing! I found myself drawn into her world, and so grateful to her for sharing it.

Well, sewing is one of my many crafts. I am lucky enough to be working in an artistic profession that I love, and on top of that I sew, make jewelry, take & edit photographs, and write music. I feel like I barely have time to think. My time is also usurped by my husband, 2 cats, and a very spoiled Irish Setter, Layla. I feel like I have more ideas in my head than time to execute them.

When I came across Gertie's blog, I realized why people write them, because I realized why people read them. I found a group of people talking about their craft. Why they love it, why they hate it. A place to take problems and questions and get answers and support. A place to post your projects, boast about them, cry about them, remember why we crafty people do what we do. I found people going through what I've gone through.

How can I say this?

I WANT TO GO TO THERE!!!

Since I do so many random things, I expect this will be a slightly random blog. But I think all creative things can relate to each other. Especially all the emotions we go through while creating. Sometimes I want to throw my sewing machine across the room, just as I sometimes want to throw my soldering iron across the room. There's a connection there.

I don't expect anyone to read this crazy thing. I certainly don't claim to know what I'm doing with this here blog, but I'm gonna have fun posting.

Oh, and Mom, since you're probably the only one reading this anyway, "I want to go to there" is an actual quote from 30 Rock, the TV show. Not just bad grammar. :)