Moving Day!

Well folks, I've finally decided on a name for my blog:  Toribird's Song.

"Victoria's Blog of Undetermined Wonder" was meant to be a placeholder of sorts until I came up with a name I really liked.  And I recently thought of one.  Tori is a nickname for Victoria, which strangely a lot of people don't understand, and I've liked the nickname much better since learning it means "bird" in Japanese.  And I'm a singer, so it all makes sense in my head!

So please update your links to my new page.

See you there!

Tony Awards Party Necklace

I've been making jewelry out of the guitar strings that the guys break during the show.  We are planning to sell them for charity in the Fall, so at the moment I'm just trying to make a whole bunch.  

But just before the Tony Awards, I was presented with a broken piano string.   I wasn't so sure what to make out of it.  Those things are huge!  Since the man who broke it, Levi Kreis, was nominated for a Tony for his performance, I decided I should make something out of it to wear the night of the awards.  So I formed it into a circle, and wrapped some broken guitar strings around it for decoration, and wore it as a necklace.  The pictures didn't come out so amazing, but I got tons of compliments on it that night. Here's one with the hubby...

And a closeup...

And I think it was good karma!  Congrats Levi!

Tony Awards Clock

Each of the musicals nominated for Best New Musical in 2010 were asked to decorate a clock for display on the red carpet, and eventually for auction.  The clocks themselves were furnished by one of the sponsors of the Tony Awards, Audemars Piguet.  One of my cast mates and I took on the responsibility of creating it.  Thanks for the help, Chris!

It included some broken guitar strings...

And I put my soldering skills to work.

My 6-Year-Old Self

While browsing in Barnes and Noble yesterday, I came across a book called Carefree Clothes for Girls.  I was struck with the desire, not only to dress some little girls, but to dress like this myself!  I just love the idea of clothes that can be well worn, washed without too much thought, and possibly splattered with paint or dirt from the dog park.  I'd love to make some clothes for myself with these principles behind them.  Cute, loose, comfortable, fresh, wrinkled, unfinished edges that get better with age.

I am constantly trying to redefine my style.  I'm attracted to so many different eras and styles that I get a bit overwhelmed sometimes.  I'd like to find some sort of fusion between comfort and style, glamourous and casual, all within the confines of functionality.  I love the clothes of these little girls, but when I dress like this, I feel childish in a way.  Like if I ran into some important person in my business they would think I'm not capable of handling responsibility or something.  Of course, like all women, I'd also like to feel sexy, and sometimes baggy clothes don't really do that.  So, how can I reconcile all these things?  Maybe just wearing a different style every day!  The closest I've come to combining glamour and casual comfort is this JCrew spread from the holidays a couple of years ago...

Maybe the key is to wear whatever I want, and throw on some red lipstick and sparkly earrings.  I can manage that!  Do you all have any tips that help you define your style?

Blood Red Dress

Hello blog world!  I have been meaning to write another post for weeks now, but things have been so crazy around here! 

Today I was working on my first vintage pattern, Advance 9270 (the middle look)...

...in this blood red polyester wool, which I found on deep clearance.  I decided to make a wearable muslin out of it to try the pattern out, before making it in a more expensive fabric.  I decided to line the bodice with this great Amy Butler cotton...

and as I was making my first cut with my rotary cutter I sliced my toe, clean through the nail.  Gross.  It just goes to show ya, those things are sharp!  And shedding a little blood for the blood red dress seems appropriate I guess.

Anyway, I was sitting here propping my foot up on my sewing machine, and I figured, hey, now's a good time to catch up on all those blog posts I've been dreaming up.  So here's a quick tutorial of my favorite way to mark darts.

First, lay something straight on your dart line (here I've used a notebook, but you could be smarter than I and use a ruler).

Second, fold your pattern back and draw along your straight edge with chalk.

To mark the dart on the back (or if the fabric is folded), fold the fabric back and use the same straight edge to mark the fabric.

Repeat on the other side of the dart.  As you sew, you have a perfect guide.

I hope that wasn't too ghetto for you all.  It's my first tutorial!  I came across this technique online somewhere, but naturally I can't seem to find it now.  So these mediocre iPhone photos will have to do.

Well, thanks for putting up with me today.   Happy (and safe) sewing!