not dead

Geez it's been way too long.  I'm not going to actually do the math because that'll end up disappointing, so, it's been way too long. 

Needless to say there has been a lot going on, but I'm working my way into getting back on here regularly.  I have more ideas than I can ever keep track of but also a few projects that are findings away from being finished and some fresh new fabric that already knows what it wants to be.  Pleats and open backs will be happening as well as an update on the random giant chicken sculpture that parked in front of me at Battlecat one day.  The biggest interference right now is the amazing weather we've been having lately, which usually results in me giving into the need to refresh my vitamin D stores after the crazy winter we had.  But, I am determined and neither lovely weather nor moving (again...) are(is?) going to stop me from creating. 

I don't know where this picture is from, but yeah, that. 

oh, and this


"My personal philosophy is not to undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible." So said Taurus-born Edwin Land, the man who invented the Polaroid camera. I have a feeling these might be useful words for you to live by between your birthday in 2014 and your birthday in 2015. In the coming 12 months, you will have the potential of homing in on a dream that will fuel your passions for years. It may seem to be nearly impossible, but that's exactly what will excite you about it so much -- and keep you going for as long as it takes to actually accomplish.
http://freewillastrology.com/horoscopes/taurus.html

Exactly what I needed to hear given my nearly impossible dreams of late.

mata ne ya'll

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~myfm~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was some random 90's song but I don't know the name and thankfully it's moved on to ...once again... Paramore  with Ain't It Fun

and with that...I'm going to bed.

Mid week whatever ~

Hey!  Finally something.  I''m all done moving and being sick and I'm ready to get this thing going again!  To be fair I've also been thoroughly enjoying the weather.  If you were here you would completely understand and forgive me for my extended absence.  I'm not sorry : 0 )

I did mention that I had an exciting project as well and that is finished and worn and I am excitedly awaiting some pictures to share.

I'm also currently working on some exciting things for myself and my sweet girl.  This month will be about just whatever I end up making because that's where I'm choosing to be this month : )

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freewillastrology

beautiful delirium? Yes please and thank you. 

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Here's to all the strong tender ladies out there.  Don't ever put yourself away.  It's what makes the world tolerable.

pinterest and stuff

Like I need another reason to love this place.  But here it is.  Reason 42 I effin love this place ~

Yes.....I took another picture in another bathroom.  Moving on. 

 I had the pleasure of going to this place again recently. Slow food right quick they say.  Well, it's yummy and I personally don't mind if that means it takes a little longer (which it doesn't really).  Thanks Homegrown for being part of a lovely evening. 

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myfm ~ I am pretty sure I've mentioned this one before, but it's lovely and also what's randomly escaping from my mouth today much to the assumed chagrin of the people sitting next to me at BattleCat.
anyway, enjoy ~ Emmylou - First Aid Kit

Stuff.

Well, hi.

You don't have a library card??? 

Hells no.
Seriously, just walk away.

pin silliness : D

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oooo but this one too since it's a month for dresses and all ~

True story.

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A slightly late this week shoutout from the freewill peoples, for no other reason that than it amuses me~

"There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm," wrote the novelist Willa Cather. According to my reading of the astrological omens, Taurus, you're in a phase of your cycle when storm-learning isn't your priority. The educational experiences you need most will unfold when you're exploring the mysteries of peace and serenity. In fact, I suspect that the deeper you relax, the more likely it is that you will attract life-changing teachings -- lessons that can transform your life for the better and fuel you for a long time. 

freewillastrology

hmmm.

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Reason 42 I effin love this place.  The "spontaneous community art program" has brightened my day once again.

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And now for something actually sewing related.  I am moving (yays!) and can't stop to make dresses (terrible) but here is a little something at least.  The being said please bear with me I need to get some things done including an exciting new project for a beautiful friend of mine (and yes there will be pictures it's gonna be awesome!) before I continue with a few more dresses and some exciting new goodies for next month.

Probably two years ago I was at a store moving sale and they had this roll of god awful upholstery fabric.  Just sitting there on the roll by itself it really looked terrible, but I work with kids and saw potential.  I asked and they were nice enough to donate it. *yays

The room I spend most of my time in at work is half covered by windows, like in this picture but times three.  I gravitate towards sunshine usually but the room is south facing and everyone would end up blinded for two hours or so every morning. 

They didn't end up as anything 'special' but with a little bit of green on the bottom it kind of looks like we have stained glass windows across the room with the sun coming up behind them. I may have found the only suitable use for this mess of colors, and I think they turned out pretty amazing. 

The point is - don't knock a piece of fabric/book/car/house/person by your initial reaction to what you can see.  It's much more fulfilling to see the potential in everything around you than to shut it out because it doesn't fit some culturally made description of what pretty/smart/respectful/classy/insert your own personal favorite adjective here is.  There is something beautiful in damn near everything if you're grounded enough to be open to the possibilities.

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myfm ~ Been in my head for a few days but it's catchy and I like it.  Safe and Sound from Capitol City

The Rainbow Spinny Dress

I've had a lot going on this week.  I can't believe I haven't posted anything in a whole week.  Bear with me.  Lots of stuffs goin on for the next month or so but I'll be around  : )

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So...one day I go back to the newly opened Joann's in my area to get more of what I had gotten the week before (amazingly soft and light cotton/silk blend).  When I got in and there wasn't any, I was for once content to leave with nothing. *gasp*  However, my sweet little lady had another idea.  As usual, she comments on a fabric in each aisle:  Wow, this is beautiful - or - Look at this one mom!   But this time, she happens upon this cotton fabric with a black background and randomly shaped and colored flowers. 

"Ooooooo mooooom this one is sooooooo beauuutifuuulllll!"  Well, it's alright,  I think to myself.  I convince her to walk with me and she just stops and says,

"But mom, we didn't pick up that beautiful fabric!  It's just sitting there and someone else might pick it up and then it will be gone and there wouldn't be any more and it was sooo beauuutifulll."

She's really starting to get upset.  She's never been so attached to a piece of fabric before - so we go to look at it and she tells me what a nice spinny dress it would make and of course we end up going to get a yard and a half cut.  It ended up being $6 something for all of it instead of $15 so I can't really complain.  I know how it is to be hopelessly enamored with a piece of fabric, and who am I to deny the beginning of my sweet girl's love of fabricy things.

I sat down with a ridiculously small amount of minutes left in the day and an idea, and somehow I managed to make it work in a few hours, with no pattern or little person to try it on (did I mention I should have been sleeping?) but I ended up with something that was really pretty great.

After ranting about it to anyone who would listen for a week or so she finally had her magical spinny rainbow dress and loves it. 

Don't let the angelic sleeping girl picture fool you, it's all a big scam.  Seconds later......

 

I took a picture of her more recently in it but I can't find it right now.  Maybe (or not) I will get it updated later.  It would be helpful to see what she actually looks like standing up in it...

 

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Because I didn't get to it earlier this week, and because it made me laugh, here it is for this week

 

 

freewillastrology

Am I willing to put up with more crap.  That is the ultimate question isn't it.  Don't see how I really have a choice.  Bring it on.

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Funny pin this week

stuff I would do

 

Totally would do this.  Which would probably be followed up with a somewhat heated discussion about why it couldn't possibly be incorrect as it very literally followed the directions.  Which I would win whether it got a passing grade or not. Because it's awesome.

 

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~myfm~

So very much music going on this week.  But this one I have heard a few times and it is so very lovely ~ See Beneath Your Beautiful

I can't wait until my sweet girl starts randomly singing this one : )

 

 

light spotty dress for my girl

This was kind of a spontaneous endeavor that kind of worked out I guess.  I don't love love the dress but kiddo does so I guess that's all that counts. 

So, I got this dress at the bins,

 

and then I came home and put it on this zombie.  (but it's okay mom, zombies don't exist in this world)

 

A slightly better view of the thing ~

 

 

It looked pretty straight forward so I just got started.  Seriously, I just laid out some fabric and cut it a bit.  Nothing particularly creative but really it is an easy dress to make.  Lots of gathering but easy.  I added an extra line of....gather???...because I thought it would look better and it does.  Other than that, here's a dress.

 

 

A two hand heart rating is not too shabby.

 

 

That's about it.  I think my zombie girl has recovered.

 

 

 

 

myfm ~ Pokey Lafarge again.  And again...good lord that man knows how to play a harmonica.  And again - I mean come on - he breaks out a kazoo in a good way...yes, apparently it's possible.   I got to see their s.p.e.c.t.a.c.u.l.a.r. show last night at the Grey Eagle and it was amazing.  And now it's got my girl dancing around the room.  Good times.

mid week randomness

Well, hello Wednesday.

Our Wednesday began at BattleCat Coffee Bar.  Pretty spiffy way to start a day.  I didn't make it there Sunday because I had to work ridiculously early for a Sunday and I was missing it so we made a not quick at all stop there.  Sweet girl becomes instant friends with anyone within 20 feet of the place and we end up chatting with some pretty nifty people.   

 

 

 

This however, is random story time.  Domo-kun and rabbit (he is holding his two arms out to hug Domo-kun and only has one leg because the other was crushed or something...) get together and hug and Domo accidentally bites rabbit on the head and something about a baseball game and pink blueberries and rocks. I have quite the little improv master.

 

Anyway, there actually are pink lemonade blueberries here.  Sweet girl made friends with the woman that designed and installed the beautiful new outside and she ended up showing her these awesome plants. 

 

They are quite tasty.  I wish a had a bunch I bet they would make beautiful jam. At my forever house perhaps : )

 

We (kiddo and I) also got to talking about clothes.  I asked her to draw me a picture of the dress she wants me to make for her.  Well...

 

 

Not octopi.  Although I can't see how she wouldn't like a dress covered in octopi.  Those are lovely flowers and three ginormous buttons.  I told her we may have to compromise on the buttons part but I think I can make it work : )

 

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Who says vandalism is only for uneducated vagrants?  I'm going to call it a free educational community art program : D  Can't rely on public schools to keep up on both grammar and(or?) art these days now can we.

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favorite pin right this second

 

Makenzie's Junk Drawer

because cake. and cash. and frikkin cake. Also, because I could totally see a number of people I know and love, including myself, doing this very thing.  because cake.  man...I'm totally going to have to make a cake and find a tree to eat it under now...

 

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freewillastrology

Love it.  Of course I had to go look up that song.  Catchy little tune.  Piss in the wind I will not.



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myfm ~ Don't know how anything else could be stuck in my head after hearing that song.  But wait!  Pokey Lafarge takes over.  I got to see/hear him for the first time at MerleFest this year and I get to see him and his people again on Friday!  There is an article in the local paper this week about the guy ~ I like the way he thinks...

“People think, with me, that it’s a dress-up contest or a history project,” says dapper roots musician (and former, albeit briefly, Asheville resident) Pokey LaFarge. “I just choose to look nice. When I dress nice I feel good and hopefully that passes on to other people.”

mhmm. that.



Quick fix ~ Dress from Ashley

I sadly don't have a before picture for this one.  When I get an idea I usually just jump in and forget the world for a little while.

A dear friend of mine sent me this dress but it was way too big when I got it.  That isn't usually enough to stop me from throwing something out so I went to work at it. It was actually pretty simple and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I got it done.  The bottom was this weird short in the front longer in the back deal which I'm not usually fond of so I just cut that off.  Because it's a knit I didn't have to worry about making a new edge which is another reason knits are awesome.  The top was just way to big.  Even tied it probably would have fallen off (not a lot going on in that area if you know what I mean). 

So, I took out the seam between the top and the skirt.  Originally the top two pieces met in the middle, so I brought them in and overlapped them - better shape and a little more coverage.  The bottom half I just folded over and then sewed it all together again. 

I really love this dress now.  It's comfy and flowy and great for summer.  Thanks Ashley : )

 

oh yeah, and I made a headband with the bit I cut off of the bottom.  Because that's just what I do. 

 

 

 

myfm ~ Krewella, Alive . This video is so hot.  Can't exactly put my finger on the why, but, hotness.  Cmere Ashley. I have an ugly shirt and a new knife, you can help me make something awesome.  Colorado can live without you for a few weeks.