Wow, it’s been so long since I blogged that the interface of WordPress has changed.

When did that happen?

Well it’s been since August that I shared anything.  Oopps!  Sometimes life gets a little too busy and I drop the ball.  Here is a little montage of what has been going on.  It goes from Party Dress to Christmas.

A party dress for playing!

But that is just the beginning-  I have been sewing (and cooking!?!) up a storm these last few months.  Some of the other sewing includes but is not limited to:

A party dress for playing!

embroidering gifts… until the machine broke!

Again working the machine in the Christmas spirit

Etsy holiday gifts 2011

Etsy Holiday Gifts 2011

New skirt for my etsy shop.

The only cooking that I managed to photograph.

I have also been marinating on some ideas for a line of clothing and/or soft furnishing 100% re-purposed for the thrift store.  I have found some AMAZING textiles at some of my favorite “digs” here in Seattle like the Dearborn Goodwill or its sister store the Goodwill Outlet (if you are a Germ-a-phobe this place is not for you).  I guess I just don’t know if people would be as excited about reclaimed leather/ linen/ cotton as I am.

And I have been cooking, here are some recipes I have used over the last couple of months:

• Italian Focaccia This was so awesome there were no leftovers!
• Black Bean Burger I liked this recipe but I want to find something closer to beef (yeah, I know longshot!)
• Grilled Pears and sausage- So good I wished I doubled the recipe.
• Crunchy Crackers- A little to crunchy- my jaw hurt:(
• Artichoke Dip-  This is like crack so watch out (consider yourself warned and just double the recipe!)

There are other things that I heard about so created my own version like the fennel and sausage Quiche:

The only cooking that I managed to photograph.

We have also been doing a fair amount of juicing over the last month and we also might commit to a juice fast for the New Year… although I really don’t know if we can do that… I mean I am a meat and potatoes girl.  I know it will be good to clear out the system but it is going to be kind of torturous.  My husband suggested it at the beginning of this month and I logically pushed it back noting that Christmas would be hard and that the New Year is great for gimmicks like that.

Also I did finish the bridesmaid dresses I talked about rolling out but I don’t have photography of any of it yet and the wedding dress is in mock-up form so I did not completely drop the ball on that idea.  It’s a slow build!

Party Dress Fever.

So… I was at work when I first discovered the book Party Dress by Mary Adams.  I lay down my credit card and took it home that day.  I loved reading about her experiences as an Oregon girl to being a dress maker in New York and then her process is astounding simple and clean and yet so sticky sweet and full of color saturation that I really just started making dresses… and now I cannot stop.  Every page is sooo inspiring.  It started with this skirt (recently sold to a girl in Ireland):

Then I started this quilted leather/wool/ silk strapless dress which is essentially done, just needs some hems and hand stitching)!

Then I got into the silk taffeta stuff which posted here in my last post.

NOW… it turns out that Mary Adams will be in Seattle at Nancy’s Sewing Basket (where i work)  for a book signing November 5th!  And to really get into the mood ALL of the employees are working on there own party dresses that will be on display during our annual sale in September and then we are going to wear them for the book signing in November.  It will be kinda of fun too because customers will be guessing whose dress belonged to which employee!  So I cannot divulge to much but I will tell you Analysis Paralysis has now sunk in completely for some of us because it is hard to decide!

Summer Separates…. An impromtu clothing line.

I rolled out some clothing on my ETSY site this last week.  I ‘ve got an “in” with a beautiful line of silk taffeta that has been fun to flirt with and these fabrics definitely tickle my feminine fancy because some dresses are next!  The current collection of separates I just put up mixes this silk taffeta (washed to soften) with hand dye linen and lace tank tops for super comfortable and easy to put on pieces that have a summer boho feel.   All of the skirts have fantastic wide elastic waistbands  are lined in rayon.  All of the pieces are washable.  Not bad pictures for being in my basement.  Also…  I have been asked to do a fashion show here in Georgetown, Seattle, USA.  I will let you know if I participate.  Sometimes these things are not what they seem and that is why I am still on the fence.

Making Fascinators

I have been straight up sewing like a storm!!!!  Now I need to finish sewing and finish taking pictures of it all to 1) sell it on my etsy site and 2) Show all of you what I have been doing.  But here is a sneak peak because I can’t resist.

It all start with fascinators… I can’t stop making them.  And then in order to take the pictures (in my head) of them I want to make crazy party clothing to go with all of the fascinators.  So I am working on a mini bridal collection of some mix and match separates, a couple “bridesmaid”/party dresses and, of course a simple silk wedding dress.  Yeah, it’s ambitious…. but all of the separates (washed silk taffeta skirts and hand- dyed linen tank tops) are done and the bridesmaid samples are partially done.  That just leaves the wedding dress.

Once it is all done I am going to put my huband in his three piece, voluteer my friends for the wedding party and take some mock wedding picture of the whole shibang .  Yeah, no, not ambitious at all.

OK so I did take some pictures of the fascinators kind of to scout out the a location for my bridal shoot, and kind of spontaneously because my friend Taz, talented photographer had time to work with me.

Coyote Central inspired by Nick Cave exhibit at The Seattle Art Museum

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I have been teaching kids (girls) ages 9-13 how to sew and design for a really excellent Non-profit organization called Coyote Central since last October.  I have to say- I have been having lots of fun.  I really did not think that I was the teaching type… or even had anything to say about sewing to children but well- I guess I learned something.  My regular class is called Design Sew and Embellish- and through the school year it is on Saturday morning (all the better for keeping me honest:) but during the summer the class is more like a one week intensive , and it is pretty much full as of now.

Also since October Coyote and I have been talking about and organizing a special workshop in conjunction with (and funded by) the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) for the Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth exhibit that closed this last weekend.  I know, I know… my timing is impeccable.   We held the 2 day/10hr.  workshop for 8 child artist in mid April and  debuted the creations at Community Night on May 5th at the SAM.  These kids were champions not even wanting to break for lunch!!  The Jackets were then displayed at the SAM for the rest of the exhibit and then they will be put in a brand-spanking-new Coyote Central Gallery space!!

Thanks to Chris Barnett for the beautiful Picture of the process and the parade!

More from the theater front….

So this is a new (ancient) play that I am designing for Open Circle Theater here in Seattle.  The story of Ajax is a Greek war tragedy written by Sophecles .  This is an adaptation by a local thespian/writer, Todd van der Ark.  It is a weave of modern and classical text and symbols- like modern desert fatigues mixed with  knife fighting.  One of the things that the director is spotlighting is PTSD syndrome and I think that it is interesting to see that this disease was also a problem in the ancient Greek society.

I also did the graphic design of this post card and the poster for the show!!

Twilight Zone 2011

Fear for your lives!!

The play I am designing costumes for, “The Twilight Zone”, opens next Thursday Night.  If you are in the Seattle area you should definitely come check it out.  The show run March 18-April 16, 2011- Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm.  This years episodes are as folllows:

The Obsolete Man

Time Enough at Last

The Mosters are due on Maple Street

 

Don’t be shy…You are sure to see aliens and have nightmares!!

WOW…. has it really been since November?

So obviously I have been ignoring this here blog.  Soooo Sorry!

Here is what has been taking precedence:

http://www.coyotecentral.org/

I have been teaching a design, sew and embellish class for middle school students.  We have been doing lots of sewinging.  I will also be having a workshop for “Nick Cave inspired” art in conjunction with an exhibit of his work at the SAM called “Meet Me at the Center of the Earth”.  I am really excited about this and have become quite a fan of Nick Caves work and those of you who know me can probably see why:

I will keep you posted on how our own Soundsuit inspired art goes.  One of these days I will actually take pictures of my class and how much fun we have for you as well!!

I have also been sewing:

I made this dress by quilting recycled leather,  recycled wool and silk for the bodice with silk organza skirt.  There is a fully boned corset inside and a heavy exposed zipper down the back.

I am also costuming a play for Theater Schmeater here in Seattle.  It is The Twilight Zone 2011.  I am really getting my Mad Men fix off of this one.  It opens on March 18th and it is sure to be a fun time!!  We are doing three episodes:

The Obsolete Man

Time Enough At Last

The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

And it is going to be done pretty much to that late ’50s early ’60 feel even for Obsolete Man which is set in the future.

Stay Tuned!!

SteamCon 2010- I am not a convention virgin any longer

So before we get to SteamCon, mom wants  to see Halloween Pictures.  So drum roll please:

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So this last weekend I attended SteamCon 2010 a convention for Victorian Science Fiction and all things that revolve around this concept from clothing to l.a.r.p. ing* and all thing between.  I went to model in a fashion show for the afternoon tea party, for Tamara Lily and Marie Cooley .  Here is my analysis:

1. us geeks are freaks. 2. really awesome costumes. 3. geeks know how to party… all night long (I think, I went to bed).  4. REALLY AWESOME COSTUMES!

This is what I made for my self to wear. The jacket is an actual Edwardian jacket I just hand stitch some steampunk trinkets to.

Here is AnamoAng the Victorian Cyborg's cheast plate. All recycle leather.

I was in the fashion show both days so did not have a huge amount of time to run around but the Art Exhibit was cool and Mercantile gave me tons of ideas a churnin’.

Here is the reel from the fashion show on FLICKR.

*live action roll play

Halloween 2010- going to be awesome!

I am almost done with the Halloween costumes for this year and I am SUPER excited.  This year is right up there with my bumble bee costume,  my sea creature costume and, well, tweedle dee and dum from last year.  It is my husbands costume that has been my mind bender, but I think I figured it out now… stay tuned.