Keeping Mum

Today I was thinking about designing a garden called "Bodies in the Garden" where two types of ground cover are used; the background is a lighter colored groundcover and there are darker patches in the shapes of bodies scattered around as if bodies buried in the garden caused the plants to grow a slightly richer green color -- I got the idea from digging around in the corner of my backyard where the soil is absolute crap. I kept thinking to myself "What would I do if I found a skull in the crappy soil?It's the perfect place to bury a body: crappy, rocky, sandy soil, who the hell would try to plant a real garden back here?" So if I did find a body, would I call 911 first? Or would I try to blackmail the landlord into giving me the house and land in return for keeping mum about what is obviously that mother of his whom he claims lives back east somewhere? (Great title for the story "Keeping Mum.") When I told my friend Linda about this possible storyline she said "Oh, get real, you'd just end up out there with his mom, buried in all that crappy soil..."

Budding authors abound

Here's the group of budding authors who gave readings at the University Bookstore close to UW last Wednesday evening... all of us relieved that the evening went extremely well. In my case, the audience laughed where I had hoped they would laugh during the chapter I read. Surprisingly, the audience stayed to the last reading!

Not quite ready for public consumption...

So tomorrow night I have to give reading of my novel-in-progress at the University Bookstore. Well, I'm not even close to being ready to do so - the story is still such a mish mash of ideas that don't make any cohesive sense yet. I am just biding my time in my current writing class - only two more classes to go and then maybe I'll have the time to get back to writing. I had taken the Popular Fiction certificate program at the U-dub to learn more about how one goes about writing a novel and the first year served me well, but the second year has been a waste of time - except for the social aspect of meeting so many other budding novelists in class, most of whom I admire.

Mad Hatters' Hats

Speaking of strange hats, I found this pattern on Lynn McMaster's website and had to get it pronto. I am mad for anything vaguely Regency and love love love Mad Hatter Hats. The picture on the pattern shows a lovely one made of Milan straw; I'm not sure I have the patience for winding all that straw in a circle then sewing it down...think I'll make mine of dupioni silk from the costume cave.
I have about 10 yards of a freaky-cool purple and green leopard spotted silk velvet I got from a guy in Pakistan and I have it in my mind to create a pelisse-coat with a Napoleon collar from this wondrous fabric; what event I'd wear it to, I've no idea.

I am the Eggman, We are the Eggmen...I am the Walrus

I often come across many designer patterns whilst rummaging through second hand stores and was instantly enamored of this pattern cover of a Vogue Couturier Design by Fabiani. The dress looks delightful enough, but the hat gives new meaning to the term egghead. What was Fabby thinking? Or was he? The model looks a trifle confused by it all. I turned the pattern over to find the following comments:

ALBERTO FABIANI (Fah-bee-ahny) - Italy's master tailor, creates wonderfully
flattering suits, distinguished coats and exquisite evening gowns...can
claim many fashion firsts.

Well no wonder! It's a fashion first! It's also a fashion last. My brain is starting to hurt! Maybe I need a big brain wave neutralizer helmet! Say....didn't I see one on a Fabiani pattern somewhere? Hmmmm....

30's Coat

Here are some preliminary snaps of that 30's Parisienne coat from Decades of Style.
The collar looks great here ( it's the stretch velvet one; I haven't had time to sew in the new Persian lamb velvet one) but it looks droopy when worn. I like how the strange little pintucks in the sleeves came out; they cause the sleeves to bell out in a very pretty way. I'll fix the collar and take some snaps of my friend JoAnn wearing it...

Waylaid by Marcus

Well, I have been freaky crazy busy this past week at work and have had little time to do anything.
The other night my friend Marcus showed up with a costume in need of fixing:
He had washed his wool sweater dress and it had shrunk (Doh!) So could I help him fix it? I suggested adding faux fur trim to the hemline and sleeves, or leopard velvet or a boa, but he wasn't convinced so I dragged him over to JoAnn Fabrics and picked out a lovely flowery rayon for a flounce and sleeves.

Doesn't he look fantabulous? It's for a character he portrays who is (I believe) an elderly Chanteuse who sings risque songs. Marcus is an incredible singer and needs to get famous for it soon!

Decades of Time 1931 Parisienne Coat

So a few weeks ago I thought I would embark upon making this little number out of stretch velvet:
http://www.decadesofstyle.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=22

I mean, come on, if stretch velvet like we have today had been around in the 30's, everyone would have been using it! So I bought several yeards of the yummiest gold and black stretch velvet and made a size 22 coat, pictures to come as soon as I replace the battery in my digital camera.

The size 22 was a tad bit wide bodied for my taste nad a little short. Also, I should have made the collar out of something heavier than black stretch velvet since it sort of flops around, drooping instead of draping nicely.

I found a yard and a half of that persian lamb black velvet at JoAnn's last weekend and since I had a 50 percent off coupon...halleluyah! Hopefully there's enough for the second coat I am going to make - I'm giving the first one to a friend - gold is not one of my colors...

MCD - symptom of or solution to stress?

Driving in to work this morning, I came to the conclusion I have Multiple Creativity Disorder, which is somewhat akin to Multiple Personality Disorder, in that I have a slew of different arts that I switch back and forth from: Sewing, Calligraphy, Watercolor, Marbling, Knitting, Macrame, Jewelry Making, and Writing.