Projects & Preoccupations

Painting Lesson

2012-02-12T19:06:00.000-08:00

My goal for 2012 is "Make Every Day Unique," although two sub-goals are to focus on being at least a tiny bit creative each day and develop a more relaxed approach to creativity. I have been writing more lately and I'm just beginning to let go and not be so stymied by perfectionism. I would like to further develop that feeling in my writing and to extend it to sewing and other creative projects. 2010 was a great year for sewing and 2011 was a great year for writing and in 2012, I'd like to incorporate this and more into my daily routine!

A friend Kirsten is an artist. I knew this about her, but hadn't seen her work until last October's open studios weekend. I dropped by her studio for the first time and grilled her about her intention and process. Her work totally grabbed me. She is amazingly talented and I absolutely adore her work.

I was hoping she'd be willing to give me an introduction to oil paints, which on top of learning something new would give me another opportunity to learn about her creative process. Luckily for me, she was totally into it and we set a date.

Today was the day for my trip to Kirsten's studio to learn about oil paints.

Love this! Roll-up door on my walk to the studio.

Kirsten gave me a great introduction to oil painting. She started with a discussion about materials and safety. She gave me a run down of paints and quality and then described how to use and store linseed oil and turpenoid (or mineral turpentine).

She then introduced a basic starting process of mixing paints and the traditional underpainting technique.

She went on to show me how to use a towel dipped in turpenoid to wipe away strategically. She built up the beginnings of her latest piece. It was great to see the lines and a bit of color start to shape the object.

Then she set me loose. While making a few experimental paintings, or the beginnings of them, she showed me how to hold the brush in a more relaxed way and helped me have more fun with working the paint. She explained that applying the paint wasn't about stifling precision.

My first attempt was to identify shape and size with the underpainting and then build color over that. I painted circle/spirals as they are my favorite graphic element.

For my second attempt I wanted to add some color and dimension. This was on my own canvas, so I'll be able to let it dry and come back to it later to build up more color.

And we finished our session with how-to on clean up--the materials to use and technique.

Kirsten's intro, our great conversation, and my couple painting experiments has been a solid step toward being more relaxed and less up-tight about putting brush to canvas. Kirsten showed me that a painting builds and every brush stroke doesn't have to be perfection, nor should it.

Painting with oils has always loomed in the back of my mind; I've been curious, but intimidated. Oil paint is great! Yeah, you can't clean up with water and it's a bit toxic, so ventilation is good, but it was totally different than acrylic paint, which I know a bit. I can see how working with oil can become incredibly addicting.

Looking at her website again, I am amazed by her output. She is extremely dedicated and spends many hours working in her studio each week. She is a huge inspiration!

Taxidermy

2012-02-08T07:25:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things in life is Science Friday on NPR. They repurpose their Friday radio program in podcasts and also produce videos that are available on their website sciencefriday.com.

Flora Lichtman, Sci Fri's Multimedia Producer, has a truly enviable job of producing the media content for the show, mostly video and a blog. She produced the video below, about a subject dear to my heart--taxidermy. Last year, I read the book Still Live: Adventures in Taxidermy by Melissa Milgrom, which includes a great history of the art plus some interesting anecdotes about learning the craft from the best in the business.

Looking at the web page about the video I am reminded that I have to also read Jay Kirk's book Kingdom Under Glass that focuses on the life and work of taxidermist Carl Akeley. A cool film factoid is that Akeley designed and produced a new kind of field motion picture camera that was eventually used in Robert Flaherty's documentary Nanook of the North.

Make Every Day Unique

2012-02-07T22:06:00.000-08:00

I was invited by two wonderfully creative co-workers to a Tues hour writing club. Not being prepared I took the hour to think about plans for future creative endeavors. And I came up with my theme for 2012:

Make Every Day Unique

It got me thinking about what days have been unique so far in 2012...

In January, I took a a detour after a visit to Le Video and walked through the Botanical Gardens...

I saw 12 films at the Noir City film festival (took three days off work so I could go to the late shows). It was extra special this year as I earned my pass by writing for the festival program. It was an honor to be a part and see my name in the program!

And at the festival I met a childhood (and adulthood) idol, SF Chronicle and Creature Feature Host John Stanley. What an amazingly sweet and cool guy!!!!

John Stanley from the late 70s

His website lists his books and his documentary about the Czar of Noir, Eddie Muller!

In February, I ate some fabulous dessert made by the ravishing Michelle! It's a coconut cake, frosted with meringue (toasted via blow torch!), and topped with fruit. Good gosh! The yummie was to celebrate the lovely Aileen's b-day and she and her husband's new house/home. Yay!

And tonight I met the talented and super stylish Penny (of Lolly the squirrel fame - her blog is the best!) and her two friends for a lecture at the Conservatory of Flowers on Playland at the Beach. Specifically, author/historian James R. Smith talking about his book "San Francisco's Playland at the Beach: The Early Years 1914-1945."

It was so wonderfully eerie to walk through the Conservatory at night. I also had a great conversation with a woman who remembers the old California Academy of Sciences building, how we miss it!

Thoughts of 2011

2012-02-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

I have not logged my creative and mental activities for months and months. This morning I looked over a friend's recap of 2011, a short paragraph or two with a photo or two about each month, amazing. I bemoan the fact that time seems to be speeding by faster and faster, and one way to combat days bleeding into one another is to document.

I am gathering some ideas for my recap.

2011-11-19T16:50:00.000-08:00

I support Wikipedia!!!

For my many research projects, time and time again I've found invaluable information on Wikipedia, because it is a place where people obsessed with subjects can share the information they've collected. Hooray for open source information!

More 1st Paragraphs

2011-09-18T17:08:00.001-07:00

I really enjoyed the opportunity to type out the words of Ross Mcdonald, so I scanned my bookshelves again for another author. I have a soft spot for author Richard S. Prather and his detective Shell Scott.

Richard S. Prather in 1967, he looks so much like a Daniel Clowes' character!

I have no fewer than 15 paperbacks, most with fabulous covers—the element that first attracted me. These books are far more "pulpy" with an old-school obsession with the ladies, but charming none-the-less, with a silly sense of comedy and a dash of the absurd. Prather's first paragraphs are consistently pretty brief.

Upon typing them out it's clear that most of his books begin with a reference to a sexy dame to hook the reader. I assume this consistency enabled him to crank out 45 books in his career; all but six published in the 1950s and 60s.

*************

She looked hotter than a welder’s torch and much, much more interesting. – Case of the Vanishing Beauty, 1950

It’s a funny thing. If you were in the middle of the African veld and heard a couple of high notes from a hot trumpet, you’d undoubtedly think it was some animal sounding off. Or if there were a python hissing on one of the top floors of the Empire State Building, you’d probably think it was an office boy whistling through his teeth. – Everybody Had a Gun, 1951

She still had all her clothes on and was standing in the blue light from a baby spot when I came in, but I knew it wasn’t going to last because the way she was moving I could tell it was that kind of dance. I was glad it was that kind of dance. – Find This Woman, 1951

It was Bedlam, and Babel, and Baghdad galloping, and Lady Godiva in the middle naked as an artificial eye on a white-satin spread. And not a sign of a horse. – Bodies in Bedlam, 1951

The morgue in Los Angeles is downstairs in the Hall of Justice. It was seven o’clock at night, dark now, and Mr. Franklin stopped me when we reached the building’s entrance. “You go ahead,” he said. – Have Gat—Will Travel: 6 Shell Scott Stories, 1952-1956

I awoke in darkness, dull pain throbbing in my head, my side aching with each breath, and I lay quietly for a minute trying to remember where I was. A faint, slightly sickening odor of ether and disinfectants recalled the white-uniformed nurse, the too cheerful doctor. Now I remembered: Manning, Memorial Hospital in Seacliff. Room 48. Patient, me, Shell Scott, private detective, somewhat disabled. – Too Many Crooks, 1953

This was a party that Cholly Knickerbocker, in tomorrow’s Los Angeles Examiner, would describe as “a gathering of the Smart Set,” and if this was the Smart Set I was glad I belonged to the Stupid Set. – Strip for Murder, 1955 (tag line “Shell Scott invades a nudist camp”)

She had a seventy-eight-inch bust, forty-six-inch waist, and seventy-two-inch hips—measurements that were exactly right, I thought, for her height of eleven feet, four inches. – Take a Murder, Darling, 1958

He lay there in the silk-lined casket looking very waxy, but it was eight to five that he looked no more waxy than I. – Slab Happy, 1958

The Rand Brothers Mortuary was so beautiful it almost made you want to die. – Dig That Crazy Grave, 1961

She has eyes that sizzled and lips like flaming puckers, and a body flaunting the vital statistics you’d expect on a gal with such facial sizzle and smack, but she was not so bright she would give a dummy an inferiority complex. That was the kick in the pants—my pants, of course, since I was with her. – Dead Heat, 1963

They dug up Johnny Troy that day. – The Trojan Hearse, 1964

When I went through the front door of the Jazz Pad, Lilli Lorraine was singing in a voice filled with fever and the words hung in the smoky air like heat. – The Meandering Corpse, 1965

That say time will tell, and on Mrs. Gladys Jellicoe it had spilled everything. She was about fifty years old and quite well preserved: she looked like a mummy. Her eyes were the color of coffee with the grounds still in it, and her hair was the same interesting shade as her eyes; she had a face to unwind cuckoo clocks and a shape like an old girdle. – The Cheim Manuscript, 1969

I swung left into Mulberry Drive and headed back toward town, hoping Mayor Everson Fowler’s phone call to the local law had taken Sergeant Samuels and Officer Jonah off my tail for good. I was also hoping, with slight unease, that we’d been talking about the same people. – The Sweet Ride, 1972

Memoir Thoughts - "Bones, Blood & Butter"

2011-09-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

I've been reading chef Gabrielle Hamilton's "Bones, Blood & Butter" and thinking about memoirs.

What compels someone to bare all, identifying thoughts that are so personal, so at risk for judgement? I put down the book with a realization that I know more of her inner thoughts than perhaps 99% of the people I love. I know so much and feel an intimate bond based solely on this knowledge, despite the fact that thousands of other people have also had this experience and despite the fact that it's unlikely I'll ever meet Ms. Hamilton.

I suppose although she's shared these stories and thoughts, she still keeps me (and her many readers) at a distance by virtue of the way I received this information - a book. I didn't hear these thoughts from her directly and unlike sharing between friends, there is no shared experience between the two of us, but simply a one-way, indirect connection. So although I know more of her inner life than I do my best friends or family, there is not the intimate connection, only the illusion of one.

All that said, I love her descriptions at the beginning of the book about the big party her family hosted each year and the traditions they created - all the tasks for the lamb roast and prepping the house and yard and the menu...

I hope soon to visit NYC and Prune (her restaurant in the Lower East Side). I think it will be odd if I catch a glimpse of Gabrielle and realize she's a complete stranger.

Photos above borrowed from http://bloodbonesandbutter.net

Thoughts on Writing, the Return to Blog!

2011-08-26T22:49:00.001-07:00

I’ve been attending a writing group and consequently I’m playing around with a story I have no intention of finishing, but I like the tinkering. This had led to thoughts of first sentences.

What makes a good first sentence? How much significance must it contain: just a tidbit or should it be literally dripping with meaning? I was drawn to my bookcases in search of good first sentences. After opening a few books to their first page, I was thinking about comparing the first sentences of books by the same author. There are few authors who I’ve collected more than a book here and there, especially since my aggressive culling of my library two months ago, the idea was to concentrate on only those books I needed in my possession and to visit my library more. I am a member of an amazing private library in downtown San Francisco, the Mechanics Institute Library. Just the name makes me swoon.

After scanning a few shelves I found six volumes, more honestly, paperbacks of Ross Macdonald (aka Kenneth Millar), that prolific mystery writer.

Here are his first sentences:

The cab turned off U.S. 101 in the direction of the sea. – The Moving Target, 1949

If you didn’t look at her face she was less than thirty, quick-bodied and slim as a girl. – The Drowning Pool, 1950

I was dreaming about a hairless ape who lived in a cage by himself. – The Doomsters, 1958

The law offices of Wellesley and Sable were over a savings bank on the main street of Santa Teresa. – The Galton Case, 1959

Coming over the pass you can see the whole valley spread out below. – The Wycherly Woman, 1961

It was August, and it shouldn’t have been raining. – The Far Side of the Dollar, 1964

* * * * * * * * * * *

Maybe this exercise doesn’t give the author a chance for a thought-out first impression. Perhaps the first paragraph would more interesting. Francine Prose in her book “Reading Like a Writer” quotes Rex Stout and his character Nero Wolfe: “A clever man might successfully disguise every element of his style but one—the paragraphing. Diction and syntax may be determined and controlled by rational processes in full consciousness, but paragraphing—the decision whether to take short hops or long ones, and whether to hop in the middle of a thought or action or finish it first—that comes from instinct, from the depths of personality.”

* * * * * * * * * * *

The cab turned off U.S. 101 in the direction of the sea. The road looped round the base a brown hill into a canyon lined with scrub oak. – The Moving Target, 1949

If you didn’t look at her face she was less than thirty, quick-bodied and slim as a girl. Her clothing drew attention to the fact: a tailored sharkskin suit and high heels that tensed her nylon-shadowed calves. But there was a pull of worry around her eyes and drawing at her mouth. The eyes were deep blue, with a sort of double vision. They saw you clearly, took you in completely, and at the same time looked beyond you. They had years to look back on, and more things to see in the years than a girl’s eyes had. About thirty-five, I thought, and still in the running. – The Drowning Pool, 1950

I was dreaming about a hairless ape who lived in a cage by himself. His trouble was that people were always trying to get in. It kept the ape in a state of nervous tension. I came out of sleep sweating, aware that somebody was at the door. Not the front door, but the side door that opened into the garage. Crossing the cold kitchen linoleum in my bare feet, I saw the first dawn at the window over the sink. Whoever it was on the other side of the door was tapping now, quietly and persistently. I turned on the outside light, unlocked the door, and opened it. – The Doomsters, 1958

The law offices of Wellesley and Sable were over a savings bank on the main street of Santa Teresa. Their private elevator lifted you from a bare little lobby into an atmosphere of elegant simplicity. It created the impression that after years of struggle you were rising effortlessly to your natural level, one of the chosen. – The Galton Case, 1959

Coming over the pass you can see the whole valley spread out below. On a clear morning, when it lies broad and colored under a white sky, with the mountains standing far back on either side, you can imagine it’s the promised land. – The Wycherly Woman, 1961

It was August, and it shouldn’t have been raining. Perhaps rain was too strong a word for the drizzle that blurred the landscape and kept my windshield wipers going. I was driving south, about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. – The Far Side of the Dollar, 1964

Rereading, certainly the single first sentences are easier to absorb and consider what set-up they might intend. Although I think I prefer the meatiness of the first paragraph. Macdonald seems to be pretty consistent with a paragraph of 2-3 sentences, with just a hint of promise of what's to come.

It's an interesting exercise to type out these sentences and consider the structure. I tend to get caught up immediately in a story and have trouble paying attention to the writing. I think I'll stick with mystery/detective fiction with my next author...who will it be?

Trip to Central Europe! Prague, Vienna, Budapest, oh my!

2011-03-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

Well it's official, next month I'll be on my way to Prague, Vienna, and Budapest! Picture me doing my best Kermit the Frog impression - my arms flapping wildly around my head while I scream!!

My lovely traveling companion is intent on sampling the historic deserts and coffee of these three cities to refuel her passion for cooking and I'm excited about the natural history and medical museums, like the Naturhistorisches Museum and the Josephinum Medical Museum.

Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna

I think we both agree on our excitement to see antique stores, lots of art, and beautiful architecture!!!

In addition to learning a few words of Czech, German, and Hungarian, I've been doing a bit of reading. I read Rick Rodgers' wonderful and exhaustive book on the deserts and coffeehouses of central Europe: "Kaffeehaus: Exquisite Desserts from the Classic Cafes of Vienna, Budapest, and Prague." The top three on my list are in Vienna: Café Sacher, Demel (bakery and coffeehouse), and Café Central.

Café Sacher, photo from website blog.hotelclub.com

Demel Bakery, photo from website www.chocolate-fish.net

Photo from Christian Brandstatter's book Vienna 1900: Art, Life, & Culture.

Lithograph by Gustav Kalhammer "View of the Hofoperntheatre form Cafe Heinrichhof," 1912, from Christian Brandstatter's book Vienna 1900: Art, Life, & Culture.

I'm now reading Christian Brandstatter's book "Vienna 1900: Art, Life, & Culture." It's a great overview of Viennese culture: music, fashion, art, architecture, politics.

Some visual highlights from that book...

Gustav Klimt's Beethoven Frieze, 1902 - click image for larger version

Advertising postcard for the Secession building, 1898

Egon Schiele before his painting Begegnung (Encounter), 1914

I am so excited to visit the Secession building and see Gustav Klimt's Beethoven Frieze. I saw a beautiful reproduction of it at the Neue Gallerie's Klimt exhibition in 2008, in NYC. I was also able to see the Egon Schiele 2006 Neue Gallerie exhibition and now I will be able to see their work in their hometown!

Emilie Flöge in "Concert Dress" designed by Gustav Klimt, 1906

Emilie Flöge was the longtime companion of Gustav Klimt. She was a fashion designer and part owner of the Flöge Sisters salon, an important part of the Viennese fashion industry. The neck line of the dress above is so amazing. I'd love to sew some sort of collar thing as an homage. Hum...

Wiener Werkstatte, stairs leading to fabric dept. salesroom

I'm also looking forward to see the Wiener Werkstatte Museum. From 1903 to 1932, the Wiener Werkstatte was a workshop and a collection of craftsmen and artists working in almost every medium. The Architonic website says this:

At the turn of the century around the year 1900 the city of Vienna was, next to Paris, one of Europe’s leading cultural centres. This was due to the rise of the middle classes, who were in the process of emancipating themselves from the model provided by the aristocracy and were searching for ways in which they could express themselves individually in art, architecture and music. Against this background the members of the artists’ association ‘Secession’ and Vienna’s Kunstgewerbeschule, the college of arts and crafts, founded the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshop) in 1903. This became a brand in itself and developed into a company which marketed not just furniture and small articles of everyday use made of glass, ceramics, silver and metal, but also jewellery and clothing – in line with the spirit of art as a holistic concept.

And in Vienna we plan on seeing the opera. Faust or Tosca are the operas being performed when we're there. I'm leaning toward Faust.

Watercolor painting by Rudolf von Alt, "Grand Staircase of the Vienna Hofoper," 1873

Hofopern Theatre (Vienna State Opera House) from website www.thetravelen.com.

Interior of Hofopern Theatre (Vienna State Opera House) from website www.thetravelen.com.

So much to think about and research before I leave...oh and packing! My next step is to learn more about Budapest.

A Murder of Crows, an Unkindness of Ravens

2011-03-06T09:15:00.000-08:00

I was tucked into a leather chair enjoying my second cup of coffee of the morning and reading "Still Live: Adventures in Taxidermy" by Melissa Milgrom when she mentioned an "unkindness" of ravens. How have I gone this many years and not heard this term?!

Title: The Raven (Corvus Corax), Source: White, The Rev. Gilbert: “The Natural History of Selborne” (1879). Image provided by www.fromoldbooks.org.

Years ago, I'd learned of another fantastical name for a group of birds, a "murder" of crows, and upon discovering "unkindness" of course I rushed to my computer to learn of more bird group names.

Wikipedia has a page called "List of collective nouns for birds." A few of my favorites are "a seige of bitterns," a "watch of nightingales," a "parliament of owls," there are so many. I feel my life is one step closer to completeness now that I'm aware of this whim to name groups of birds with such fanciful names.

Returning to the book that started this line of query, "Still Life," there is a great review of the book with photos on one my favorite blogs, Morbid Anatomy.

Back to my book and now cold coffee...

Funny Dog in My Neighborhood

2011-03-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

Kickin' back...

Close-up!

Edwardian Ball 2011 Project

2011-03-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

For this year's Edwardian Ball I found a gorgeous vintage Victorian mourning dress with amazing lace at the fabulous La Rosa Vintage. Oran, the manager, really knows vintage wear and suggested I make a wine-colored underskirt and matching front bodice piece. What a great idea, as the dress is so black, it needs something to make it stand out.

I found some synthetic silk for $2.39 a yard at Discount Fabrics on Irving Street. The cost really took the pressure off as I've never sewn with light, silky fabric before. I could totally mess up and not lose much $ and I could always resort to wearing, under the dress, a long, black slip I already had.

Despite the synthetic fabric being incredibly static-y, it wasn't too bad to sew. The seams didn't pucker as much as I'd feared and despite the cheap cost, didn't look bad at all...yay!

I used historial pattern Butterick 3418.

It's a really easy pattern since I wasn't going to bother with a proper waistband (as it's a simple underskirt) or the embellishment suggested by the pattern.

Simple rolled hem

I am happy with the result and it showcases the lace so wonderfully.

I then moved on to making a simple piece that would go across the front of the dress. The dress already had a row of snaps on one underside of the bodice -- ah ha, originally there must have been a piece that was placed across the bodice. I made a rectangle with hems of four sides with snaps along the left and sewed it onto the dress on the right side.

I am super happy with the outfit and had so much fun at the event! Sadly it was a photo-light evening, only one photo of me the whole night (eek, I look so haughty) and you can't see much of the dress, but wow check out Patrick, he really went all out!!!

More Inspiration

2011-02-03T07:27:00.000-08:00

A designer I'd never heard of until now is Stéphane Rolland. He's had his own line since 2007 and has worked as a costume designer and for Balenciaga.

My very favorite of his Haute Couture Spring 2011 collection is this amazingly draped gown. I am so unknowledgeable about fabrics...looks like crepon, crinkle cotton, but this can't possibly be a simple cotton, but has to be a silk of some kind.

I love its Edwardian-like shape. I'm imagining it in a dark, but vibrant blue. Something to day dream about while I'm at work...

Today's Inspiration

2011-02-02T20:44:00.000-08:00

The creations of John Galliano for Christian Dior Couture Spring 2011 leave me weak in the knees. After a week of film noir at the Noir City Film Festival, I'm ready for some non-murderous beauty.

These are my favorite three in the collection. I love the strong dramatic look, subtle color, and clean lines and swoops.

Style.com tells me that this collection is "...Galliano's salute to René Gruau, the illustrator whose work for Christian Dior in the forties and fifties created the house's most iconic imagery..."

This one was not created for Dior, but, as the name suggests, for designer Marcel Rochas.

Happy that I have some days off at the end of the month and can work on my dress project...have to keep my inspiration high until then!!!

Can Hardly Wait for Noir City Festival!

2011-01-05T23:24:00.000-08:00

At a week long work trip/sales meeting and had a few minutes of free time to play around with cool animation application (for free)...

Bears Do Double Indemnity (oops, I switched the characters...not a match to the original...oops!!!)

So excited about this year's Noir City Festival!!!

The inspiration...

Santa's Needs a Smoke Now Then Too

2010-12-03T11:25:00.001-08:00

I imagine in this day-and-age Santa has kicked the habit and is no longer including Lucky Strikes in anyone's stocking.

Visual Creativity - Mariana Palova

2010-12-01T07:26:00.000-08:00

A bit of beautiful for Friday morning. Such a hard time getting started...is a second cup of coffee needed?...yawn!

[title not found], Mariana Palova, 2008

A piece from Mariana Palova's work appeared a couple days ago on my iGoogle home page and much of her work I adore...rich backgrounds, lovely intricate black lines depicting swirling hair or bare tree branches, dramatic costumes, what's not to love!

Mariana hails from Mexico and her biography says, "Mariana surrounds herself with an aura showing special devotion to the nature elements, analogies, the substitution, human monsters and the astrologic environment....[her work is] based on the beauty of human metamorphosis and the allure of imagination..."

She is incredibly prolific. In her scant 21 years, she's created a large body of work, 20 exhibitions, and about the same number of appearances in publications. I find anyone with an obvious passion and drive to wake up in the morning and create and create and create, so inspiring. I have no argument with our consumer culture, if there is a strong creative culture to counter-balance it. Who wants to go through life with the label "consumer"? How much better "creator" sounds. (Although not to forget another one of my favorites, "conservator," or "archivist.")

Surreal Mind, Mariana Palova, 2008

Love for Obscura Antiques

2010-11-19T07:35:00.001-08:00

I was doing my usual blog reading this morning and I found on the blog Haute Macabre a posting from Nov 7th about Obscura Antiques. Obscura now has a blog and, holy cow, a TV show, Oddities!!

I was introduced to Obscura and the owners Evan and Mike by friend Miss Erin. Every visit to NYC demanded a pilgrimage to the shop and a chance to chat with Evan and Mike and baby-talk with Evan's dog Yak.

Friday update...found a pic I took of Yak! It was impossible for me to take a pic of him in focus. How I adore that dog and his little fang and pokes out on one side!

Here's an image from their blog of the shop, at least one corner of it...

And a video from their Discovery Channel show Oddities...

My two beloved treasures from Obscura (actually the doughboy photo was a gift for my love G)...

Haven't figured out the species of the raccoon-like creature. It doesn't have the markings of the common raccoon (Procyon lotor) and seems too bulky to be any of the other eight species of the Procyonidae family. The facial markings and ears look at bit like a red panda, but not quite.

I need to find a animal biologist!

UPDATE: Thanks Molly! for the comment that this critter might be the famed tanuki (family: canidae, species: nyctereutes procyonoides)! Who knew they were real? I thought they were a bizarre myth!

The markings and basic color seems a pretty close match. It's difficult to identify the species based on the muzzle shape though as the taxidermy specimen could just be overstuffed in that area, obscuring the original shape. And probably too, the taxidermy's original coloring is pretty sun bleached. All that aside, I think until proven otherwise we have a strong case for this guy being a tanuki. Mystery solved! (for now...)

I Want This Dress - Edwardian Ball

2010-11-18T07:15:00.001-08:00

Marie Claire Nov '10 editorial

Oh I covet this dress. I need to figure out how to make this. It would be perfect for the Edwardian Ball in Jan. I am obviously drawn to fitted, full-length black and collar...

...but the one in the first photo is so flowy and gorgeous. I must get started this weekend! I have a garment construction class this Sat (and the following two Sat) and I hope they add to my skills so I can make this dress!!

OMG, Amy Sedaris!!!

2010-11-17T22:32:00.000-08:00

I am so smitten with Amy Sedaris!

I just got back from Palo Alto where I heard Amy speak and demo some crafts from her new book Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People. She is so amazingly funny, sweet, and energetic and holy cow she can talk fast. Anyone else would have taken 2 hours to say what she did in a little over an hour.

She was wearing an amazing blue, 50s-style dress that her costume designer-friend made for her - the same person who made all the costumes in her book. Update! I've been informed the costumer is Mary Adams, who has a new book coming out The Party Dress Book.

She said in the Q&A that her favorite craft in the book is the stars made from marshmallows and toothpicks covered in glitter.

She talked a bit too about her famous cheese balls and how with the expense of cheese these days, she only makes them by special request. I found this great video of Amy on the Paula's Home Cooking show making her cheese balls...very informative, get out your pen and paper for the recipe.

I am so inspired! I want to stay up and make something!! And thanks to Raven for coming with and driving!!

Holiday Cooking - Jello Fun

2010-11-16T07:11:00.000-08:00

Wow, how did two weeks go by with nary a thought to blogging...unacceptable!

Work has been exceedingly crazy in addition to a work trip to Ohio where I sadly saw little of the place, but had some great conversations with customers who teach science in higher education (them's some smart people!). So most of my head-space has been taken up with work and thoughts of the future and where I want to go with my career.

That said, I have had a bit of time to look through some vintage magazines I recently acquired, especially in light of the coming holidays! Holiday time is when my thoughts turn to cooking. A couple mags have some great recipes, and some vintage horrors, that I'll be posting over the coming weeks.

Today I'm thinking again on the subject of Jell-O. Wikipedia corrected my erroneous spelling of Jello, to the copyright-correct Jello-O. Prior to the Jello-O brand and in other locations it seems the name for gelatin desserts was jelly or perhaps jellies. I looked at some vintage molds online and so want to bring a fancy-looking dessert to Thanksgiving this year. Or maybe gross-out the family with some savory-type gelatin dessert...hum. Cooking project!

This ad is from the Dec 1, 1954 issue of Australian Home Journal. Yum...so easy! so good! so tempting!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2010-10-29T17:20:00.001-07:00

It's Halloween and sadly my creativity went on vacation this month...without me!

Although I'm staying in this weekend, I'm doing one of my very favorite things - watching horror movies, cozy at home with my significant other. Tonight we're watching Woman Who Came Back (1945). See some amazing photos from the film on the marvelous The Obscure Hollow blog (and a couple below).

And I found my favorite Halloween image this year on Thanatos.net @ LJ. It's cute and creepy, all at once!

Many thanks to Thanatos and The Obscure Hollow for providing my main Halloween (eye) candy this year!!!

Goreyfest! Oh I Wish I Could...

2010-10-22T12:40:00.000-07:00

Doesn't it look like a lovely event...oh, I fondly remember my visit to Gorey House...ah but for teleportation.

Some photos from that trip ~

Me with my dear friend Miss Erin, seeing some of the local sites.

Today's Inspiration

2010-10-14T07:36:00.001-07:00

Work has been kickin' my butt and so all other diversions have taken a back seat. Sadly this should continue for another month or so...and have to work on Sat! Ack!

But such are the times, one is happy for work that enables cocktails in the evening, cabs when you need them (when you can find them), and being able to pay that ever lovin' rent!

Enough of that and onto inspiration for today... in the form of Chanel's spring collection...sigh, many pieces I find so amazing...

The neckline is amazing and love the lacy goodness...

Love the delicacy of the skirt and quiet sexiness...

Now, to work... hi ho, hi ho...

Happy B-Day Mr. Henson!

2010-09-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

Friday is Beautiful!

2010-09-24T07:40:00.001-07:00

After seeing the amazing Fauxnique's show Faux Real last night, I'm thinking of glamour and self-invention.

So to set today's theme, Friday is Beautiful (oh boy is it! so glad this week is almost over!), posting an editorial from a 1950 edition of Beauty about how a bit of eye makeup can take lovely to glamorous!

Before

Applying glamour

Done...ready for anything!

Oops...now I have no time for glamour, I'm late for work!!!!

1938 WTF!

2010-09-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

Supply exceeds demand...hum....

Click on pic for slightly larger, easier to read version

Pattern Difficulties

2010-09-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

I hit a wall using Simplicity Pattern 4340, c. late 1950s I think.

I'm making the shorts from the pattern. I was breezing through the pattern when I got to the waistband. I got through the first sentence of step 11 in photo of instructions below, but then the trouble began.

Part 1 of pattern step 11: Sew right side of band to wrong side of shorts. You can see the visible part of the band, away from the shorts is marked W for wrong, meaning the right side of the band is toward the shorts, the right side of the shorts. And I've matched up the notches on the band and shorts. So far so good.

Part 2: Fold band in half lengthwise right sides together. I'm showing the inside of the fold where I marked with an R indicating right side.

Photo below shows fabric folded down - folded in half, right sides together, again so far so good. And I stitched ends of the waistband.

This next part shows how the waistband looks when the shorts are turned right side out (seeing right side or outside out, because you can no longer see dart seams), we are looking at the outside back, to try to correlate to illustration in instructions. It doesn't look like the illustration in step 11 of the pattern instructions, but not sure how I could have done anything differently. Hum.

At the end of the instructions to stitch the ends, it says to turn. I assume that means turn the waistband end out so the end shows the finished edge (can't see seam). Then instructions say to turn under seam allowance (5/8") on raw edge of band. Okay, so in photo below, you can see the edge of the turned under band comes just to the top of the raw top edge of the shorts. So now what do I do? Now the train has fully jumped the track and I'm stuck. If I pull the band edge down over the top edge seam allowance of shorts, the very end of the waistband is askew. Drat.

Gatsby Afternoon & Another Dress Completion!!

2010-09-14T07:36:00.001-07:00

I can't say enough about the Gatsby Afternoon event put on by the Art Deco Society of California. This year was particularly fun and relaxing with amazing food (thank you Teresa, Michelle, Oran, and Franz!!), lots of bubbly, great company and the bouncy ride over in Oran and Teresa's Baby Doll (oh dear now I can't remember the year, make and model - 1954 Ford?).

And...I finished the dress!

It's comfy and exactly what I wanted. I'm not in love with the sleeves (cotton fabric too stiff for the design) and I'm going to replace the matching buttons with a contrasting color, maybe black. The matching buttons were a nice idea, but act like camouflage...eight buttons trimming the belt tie and shoulders and you can't see a' one.

After I think nine Gatsbys I finally saw the inside of the estate! And I learned something new, that Linoleum is period, kudos to the smarty Michelle! Linoleum is brand name for flooring invented by Frederick Walton in 1865. So not only was the day intoxicating (champagne and socializing), but educational!!

Another highlight, see 1st photo below, I had the privilege to meet the fabulous Miss Solana of Vixen Vintage (far right, follow her blog it's so fun) and Julie of Fab Gabs on Etsy (middle with their escort David). Below that are cherished friends, cars, and the Dunsmuir estate.

I will post soon about the dress construction process and my thoughts on the pattern and changes I'll make next time, but now...photos...

Louise Brooks - Sat Eye Candy

2010-09-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

I think this might be the cutest photograph of Miss Louise Brooks ever! I wish I could give her a big hug.

Now I'm off to sew! (and more coffee!!!)

Heading Toward the Finish Line!

2010-09-09T07:09:00.001-07:00

It's Thurs (how did it get to be Thurs?!) and I am soooo close to being done with the dress. I have the sash-thing, sleeve and skirt hems, and buttons to attach and general finishing.

I am a bit concerned that the skirt will not hang as in the picture on the pattern cover.

The pattern illustration has a much shorter skirt, weird right?

I extended the skirt pattern piece to try and get the tea-length skirt of the cover illustration. But not being a pattern maker, I'm not sure my extension will hang around the lower leg correctly - the skirt may be too a-line....hum.

But none the less, it's almost done!! I will actually have made a dress from start to finish with matching purse in 5 weeks!!!! Woooooooo!

Close up showing the lovely bakelite buckle I found at La Rosa Vintage.

Oh look! It's La Rosa Vintage...I heart!!!!

Close up of lining. What else can I make with this fabric? I need ideas!!!

Beautiful Images Wednesday - Illeana Douglas as Pauline de Rothschild

2010-08-18T07:21:00.000-07:00

Last night I was looking through old magazines; flipping through a few trying to remember why I saved them. This New York Times Magazine from Fall 2000 was one I saved because of a beautiful piece about Pauline de Rothschild by Mitchell Owens with photographs of a fav actress I haven't seen in a movie for awhile, Illeana Douglas. She posed as Pauline in some amazing outfits and she's never looked better, more poised, more regal, more beautiful.

Photography by Brigitte Lacombe, styling by Barbara Turk

Mitchell writes, "My closets...burst with file boxes stuffed with love letters and diary entries, creased photographs and grubby engraved menu cards, newspaper clippings, and family reminiscences recorded on tape, even a scrap of silvery brocade from her bed. They are the building blocks of a biography still under construction, a story that beings in the bedroom of a rented flat in the 16th Arrondissement and ends in the lobby of a California hotel...."

"...Pauline de Rothschild was style personified. What she read, whom she loved and where she traveled...how she lived is still part of the vocabulary of stylish living." "She arranged her world like nobody else. She really was an artist, which is why people are interested in style are still mesmerized. It's all about individuality, which today is in short supply."

"...de Rothschild's unconventional mode of living remains the penultimate statement of life as a carefully considered work of art."

Pending Projects

2010-08-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

Sitting at my desk this morning, over coffee, toast, and blueberries, thinking about projects. I need to take stock.

Recent inspiration is an outfit from the Mui Mui Autumn-Winter 2010 collection.

Not a fan of the lower section, but the bodice would look amazing with a full skirt. I'd love to try to make the collar/neckline. But my next project is going to be a 1930s day dress. The plan is to complete it by September 12th for the Gatsby Picnic.

Pattern is #3007 1930s Button Dress from Decades of Style

Based on past experience, this completion date is a bit ambitious, although I have a few days off work this month and the design seems pretty straight forward plus I've found the fabric - yay!

Fabric found at Peapod Fabrics, San Francisco

Locating fabric I like is so difficult, plus I'm not good (yet) at visualizing the fabric and the design together, but I'm feeling pretty good about this fabric. As soon as the pattern arrives, I'll get to work! I. will. finish. on. time. (Don't mind me as I repeat my aspiration a few times...I will finish on time. I will finish on time...I'm good enough, good enough, good enough...)

Does anyone remember Al Franken's Stuart Smalley? (who doesn't have a Wikipedia page?!)

Food Cart Phenomenon

2010-07-30T07:07:00.000-07:00

Margaret of Nomad's Kitchen at Sansome and Greenwich, San Francisco

I am slow to catch on...the phenomenon has finally made its presence known to my brain. A coworker months ago recommended following the Creme Brulee Man on Twitter. What a great concept! He can be free to go where he pleases, can easily update his account via cell phone, and customers can find him.

The Creme Brulee Man at Dolores Park, SF (photo from Tamara Palmer's SFoodie blog on SFWeekly.com)

Since following the CBM, I've been hearing about this mobile food cart thing more and more.

I asked this same coworker, let's call her Molly (pssst...her real name is Molly), how long this foodie subculture has been thriving. She believes it is in large part due to Twitter, which came about in 2006 and enables the aforesaid customer hookup and exists in all big cities where people love to make food and can't afford or want to start a restaurant.

In comes the explanation of the above photo - Nomad's Kitchen. I was walking to get my usual boring sandwich and I ran into Margaret standing beside her super cute set-up of vintage bike, picnic basket of goodies, and menu sign. She was lovely to field all my questions and to provide an amazing Thai pulled pork sandwich...oh soooo good! She said her set up was a bike deli. She went on to say she loved cooking and preparing food, but couldn't afford a food truck let alone a restaurant. The bike business will hopefully enable her to save up for a food truck, but for now she's having a great time traveling to places, tweeting her location, and selling her food.

I walked back to work with my sandwich and getting to my desk, I knew I had to run back with my camera and get her pic. I found her on Twitter - http://twitter.com/NomadsKitchen - and am keeping a look out for when she's back in my neighborhood.

San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Part II

2010-07-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

A week has past since the visual/aural film experiences in the dark of the Castro Theatre. I am so thankful to have two amazing festivals here in San Francisco - the SF Silent Film Festival and Noir City. I don't want to get sidetracked though. I want to record my thoughts on Metropolis (Germany, 1927) and Häxan (Denmark/Sweden, 1922).

One more sidetrack, I made a correction just now to the Part I post. I was getting Man with a Movie Camera and Metropolis mixed up. I said MWMC was being re-released on DVD/Blu-Ray, but that's the new, complete version of Metropolis! The DVD of MWMC with the Alloy Orchestra score was released in 2002.

Like many people my first viewing of Metropolis was of the Georgio Moroder version on VHS. Although it pains myself and many a film aficionado to remember this version of the film because of the pop music soundtrack, I understand and applaud his work to introduce modern film audiences to silent film. Audiences, without the experience of watching wordless visuals and music, can benefit from the more obvious emotions of pop song lyrics to engage them and focus their attention. I was definitely in this camp of inexperienced silent viewers until I had more viewing practice. We're so used to the pairing of words and visuals in late 20th century media that it is a new skill to focus on the wordless. I say "wordless," but of course I mean no words heard aloud, as silent films do have silent text in the intertitles.

I venture a guess this title is from Lon Chaney's The Man Who Laughs (1928).

Back in, I believe, 1988, I saw Metropolis for the first time in a theater, at the Castro. While it was a revelation to see the film in a movie palace with live accompaniment, the score was horrific. The music competed with the film's pacing and broke up key sequences. During one key moment, when the main character Freder sees the deadly consequences of the class organization of their society, the orchestra began to tune their instruments for the next phase of their "score." It was terrible; I wished I could have turned them off as complete silence would have been better for the film than the jarring live score.

Fast forward to 2010 and the Alloy Orchestra. I couldn't help feeling an impending cloud over my head as the movie began; that my experience would be flawed, that I'd leave feeling disappointed. The sense of relief and excitement grew as each moment passed and the music was amazing. It so well supported the visuals and the emotions and the pacing. I simply can't gush enough about Alloy.

They worked so closely with the film that I was unable to tear my eyes away from the screen at any point and I was on the edge of my seat for 2 1/2 hours! It was easily one of the best film experiences ever.

It's already so late, and I have to get my day started, so thoughts of Häxan tomorrow. I can't leave without lingering a bit more on the astounding visuals in Metropolis (cinematography by Karl Freund, one noteworthy film he lit and shot is the lush and dark Dracula 1931).

San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Part I

2010-07-19T07:06:00.000-07:00

Another weekend of silent film! It was San Francisco Silent Film Festival's 15th year, yay festival!! It's a great time to surround yourself with some of the best aspects of the past: a solid excuse to pull out the 1920-30s outfits from the closet, gorge on movie after movie, and take in the beauty of the Castro Theatre.

Being Tuesday morning, my post-festival depression has lifted a bit and I can, with a clear head, contemplate all the fabulousness of the weekend.

Three films where the highlight of my weekend: Metropolis, Haxan, and Man with a Movie Camera. The music was a big part of the success of these films, so kudos to the evocative and drop-dead beautiful music for Haxan by the Matti Bye Ensemble from Sweden and the amazing, spectacular, dead-on, and sometimes overwhelming music for Metropolis and Man with a Movie Camera by the Alloy Orchestra.

The tireless and always smiling Margarita Landazuri, festival writer and program editor, said about Man with a Movie Camera, "It's like I'd never seen it before!" I felt the exactly same way. Dziga Vertov's documentary about a day in the life of a Russian city (actually shot in three cities: Moscow, Odessa, and Kiev) contained visuals that are engaging for what they show of little daily details of life in 1929: waking up in a typical apartment, getting ready in the morning, at the beauty salon, inner city transportation, leisure time, at work, lots and lots of visual information plus shots of the cinematographer at work. Then add the Alloy Orchestra to bring a sense of urgency and movement to all the shots of people doing and going and you have an experience that is simply amazing.

I loved the shots of the cameraman on a motorbike.

The topper - the film with the Alloy score is out on DVD! CORRECTION! I just realized that the version of the film seen at the festival is the brand new, full-length version with a slightly revised score to cover the additional footage. I understand this new version with the Alloy Orchestra is due out on DVD and Blu-Ray November 2010. Ack! What am I saying! I've confused Man with a Movie Camera with Metropolis!! It is Metropolis that is getting the new version released with the extra, complete footage!!

This DVD of the old version (not complete)

Completion! Love New Dress!!

2010-07-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

Happy dance!! New dress, new dress, la la la!!!

Clearly only dancing the happy dance in my head

So so excited! I finished my new dress in record time (2 months). I did little bits of the project here and there with a few long blocks of hours (wow, all the marking, the finishing of edges, the interfacing, the hems on sleeves and skirt, etc., etc....it's amazing to me how much time it all takes me).

The big challenge for me on this dress was setting and sewing the sleeves. I still don't completely understand how the easing is supposed to work with one edge so much longer than the other. The pattern explained how to gather the top half of the sleeves and then ease the edge of the sleeve in with the armhole. How you can have gathers, but are expected to not have folds in the final seam. Surprisingly, it didn't turned out too bad.

I had to open the seam up in two places and redo those sections. It was a bit rough, but once I pressed it thoroughly over my sloppy, make-shift tailor's ham (see figure 1 of a real ham...oh I've been working too much)...

Figure 1, image courtesy of BurdaStyle.com

...most of the folds and buckled fabric smoothed out like crazy freekin' magic! How, whaaa? I just found a great tutorial on how to make a tailor's ham on BurdaStyle.com... next project!

I just love the dress fabric. It is ~~broadcloth~~ barkcloth, but is only ever so slightly stiff and it is soft and comfy against the skin. It's vintage and I bought it from Urban Burp in the North Beach area of San Francisco. The owner Electra is really helpful and knowledgable -- great article on SFGate.

When I use this pattern the next time, I'll make the dart a little different, so the fit between the bust and waist is just a smidge tighter, but otherwise I am really happy with the fit, go pattern maker! Good old Simplicity 4298!

I did end up farming out the zipper work. I didn't want to get all cranky and sad, so I took it to the lovely lady down the street at Sherry Cleaners...she did an amazing job!! Despite her help, I have signed up for a zipper class at Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley. Their calendar of classes look great! The co-owner, Suzan, who called to confirm my registration was super nice (I answered the phone all mean and stern as I picked up the phone on a crowded bus and then thought it was a spam call...she was so understanding when I gushed my apology).

Hip hip hooray...completion!

San Francisco Silent Film Festival

2010-07-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

A glorious weekend of silent film presented at the beautiful Castro with great music and engaging and educational pre-show slideshow presentations. Metropolis (Germany, 1927) is already sold out! My slideshow is on Shanghai for the film A Spray of Plum Blossoms (China, 1931), although that program is 2pm on Friday, but I'll be there!

Although Louise Brooks is always breathtaking... oh Louise...

...I've already seen Diary of a Lost Girl (Germany, 1929) a couple times at the Castro, and so I have to admit though, I am really looking forward to seeing Haxan [English title: The Witches] at the Castro.

Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (Denmark/Sweden, 1922)

I watched it for the second time recently with friends and it is as interesting, serious, and totally bat-shit nutso as I remembered. It will be beyond, beyond to see it on the big screen with music by the Matti Bye Ensemble. It is a huge deal as the Ensemble is coming all the way from Sweden to play for this program!

A series of three amazing blog posts on The Obscure Hollow about this amazing film can be found here, here, and here with TONS and TONS of great photos.

Be still my beating heart!

After Work Desserts!

2010-07-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

What could be better after a long day then a glass of wine and desserts? Headed over to Range, an amazing restaurant in the Mission.

Photo courtesy of sweethardt

I wanted to bring my friend Erin to sample some of Michelle's amazing dessert artistry.

This is the desert I went there for and the one I didn't write down the menu listing, noooo! So as far as my sad foodie skills go, this is a light-as-a-feather coconut cake with regina peaches, and basil ice cream. All her desserts go easy on the sugar, so you can really taste the coconut flavor and the amazing peaches.

This one was, OMG! Peach leaf pot de crème with sour cherries and cocoa nib cookies. It was the creamiest, soft, with subtle flavor of peach, oh dear, oh dear.

We sat at the bar and watched the bartender making beautiful looking and smelling cocktails. He was super nice and answered our many questions, such as what animal product is used in wine making as we know there is wine known as vegan. Answer: egg whites in the clarifying process. Who knew? The bartender of course!! It was a lovely evening of conversation and decadence.

I Heart San Francisco

2010-07-05T15:29:00.000-07:00

After leaving work a smidge early Friday, I walked up the Filbert steps. As usual the gardens lining the stairs were verdant and the cottages cozy-looking, nestled in the hillside.

I usually turn on Montgomery, but having time, I walked up remaining steps to Coit Tower. The views of the bay, the old piers, the bridge combined with the architecture and the views the residents have, not to mention the achingly perfect warm weather made my heart flip. I had a rush of affection for San Francisco and a strong reminder of why I live here.

This home was thin and long, long side toward the bay. The lower floor has a spiral staircase and the upper floor, through the windows, I can only see sky, but can tell there must be an amazing view.

Inspiration and Zipper Anxiety!

2010-07-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

I am almost complete with view 2 of a pattern I've used before, Simplicity 4298.

View 2 far left in orange, view 1 to its right

I've made view 1 previously with satisfying results...

...after some alteration...too big across the back.

For view 2, I have left to set the sleeves and make a hem. I am confident about these two steps. It is the zipper...oh the zipper... I am so nervous. I have put in short zippers successfully, but never the 22". I have sent it out once before, which cost $15. This cost seems definitely equal to the avoidance of the stress of putting in this zipper, but part of me wants to get past this hurdle. I haven't made up my mind.

That aside though, I saw some beautiful inspiration today in Louis Vuitton's fall/winter collection. As always, beautiful photos at TLo's blog.

Drool, drool! I am going home tonight and finishing my project! Okay, maybe not the zipper, but at least I'll make up my mind to do it myself or farm out the work/headache.

Warm, Cold, Warm, Fog

2010-06-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

I have a cold, but nothing a fabulous hot toddy from Absinthe can't temporarily fix!

Had a lovely early evening with friends Erin and Moira - visiting from New Zealand! I learned that unlike Australia that has marsupials, New Zealand has no native mammals, except a couple of species of bats. Love the batties!

New Zealand's Long Tailed Bat

The weather has been cold in the mornings and evenings and lovely during the day. That means layers, layers! The fog was thick and beautiful last night and this morning...after warming up all day, the fog isn't so painful and can be better appreciated for its atmospheric beauty.

Fog last night, waiting for a bus.

Fog this morning, out my window.

Frankie the Dog!

2010-06-14T13:36:00.000-07:00

Frankie lives with his friends Anne and Greg. I went over to their place for drinks Sat night and was able to stay for hours and play with Frankie the dog! The reason this is so unusual is that since my infancy, I've been violently allergic to dogs - my lungs immediately start to react, making it difficult to breathe, and it continues to worsen hours after the exposure. My last visit to an emergency room was years ago, but that's because I avoid the animals. It's really all animals that send my lungs to a bad place, but dogs hit me particularly hard(as do bunnies). Until now...

Almost two days later, I can feel a twinge of oppressive heaviness, but nothing like it would be "normally". At a party about a month ago, I spent some time with a dog whose name I can't remember with about the same affect. I just assumed it was a special sort of dog. Then there was Frankie! Oh he's so sweet! Hanging out successfully with another dog confirms my allergies are tons and tons better. Doctors said there was a chance I'd grow out of it, but I didn't think I'd ever actually improve.

Because each exposure can actually do damage, I won't be getting a dog of course, but at least once in a while I can play with a dog, something I've never had a chance to do before. That and the sunshine is really making my week!!!!

Zombies On Broadway!! Must. See. This. Film!

2010-06-10T00:06:00.000-07:00

Just came across this film researching the films of Sheldon Leonard...OMG! This looks like a must see...I hope it's as "good" as it looks!!!

Mini Road Trip and Taxidermy

2010-06-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

Lovely evening to take a bumpy ride in the perfect car Baby Doll aka The Chief.

I only took this interior shot, but some interior!

We headed up north for dinner and music at Rancho Nicasio Restaurant. It was my first time and we found the space rough and charming. Despite or because of, the food was great and my martini was perfection.

Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys!

And plenty of taxidermy for the eye!

After a great evening of food, drink, and company, headed home...

Future Sewing Projects

2010-06-05T14:09:00.000-07:00

There are two patterns in my near future...

The top one, 7912, I'm using black faille silk and for the back and shoulders some really lovely lace.

I hope lace is a substantial enough fabric for this pattern and I hope I don't mangle the silk. For my first silk project, I bought the faille silk as it is a bit stiffer, it doesn't feel as delicate. My plan is to be really really slow and steady, no rushing!!

I don't know what fabric to use for the 9387 pattern. I was originally going to make it in this great black/grey/pink checkered fabric.

The squares are big enough I feel with some careful pinning of the pattern onto the fabric and pieces together, I could match up the fabric reasonably well. But once I took a good look at the pattern, the skirt is made up of eight separate pieces! There is no way in hell I'd be able to cut all that out and sew all those long seams and match up the fabric. So I have to find some other fabric. Hum...

Grey Day - Wanna Stay Home

2010-06-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

Oh how I want to stay home on this grey, foggy, blah day! Curl up with a book, an old movie, cup of tea, maybe some sewing... ahhhh. The idea is stuck in my head after reading similar sentiments in Miss Vintage Vixen's blog entry of May 26th (love her blog!).

I can't complain though...got a full night sleep and I think with one more cup of coffee, I'm ready for anything!

Today's Want

2010-05-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

Such an amazing dress, such an amazing neckline!

The fabulous vintage blog Couture Allure always has so much information about posted images:

"At the National University of Mexico, a black Taj silk cocktail sheath with a side-slashed neckline. Sold for $65.00 in 1960 (about $478.00 in today's dollar)...Luis Estevez was a genius at designing unusual necklines. In fact, he became known as the "Neckline King" in the trade.

To learn more about Luis Estevez, visit David Patrick Columbia's New York Social Diary post about Estevez, which includes a reprint of a biographical article from Santa Barbara magazine and lots more photos of gorgeous Estevez dresses.

All photos by William Ward for a multi-page advertisement that appeared in Harper's Bazaar, 1960."

Satisfaction with a Job...Done!

2010-04-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

Oh rapturous day! I've finished my blouse sewing project!!

I simply can't believe it's done and on a hanger in my closet...I'm beside myself with happiness!

Cutting out, marking, prepping each piece with darts, constructing, struggling with my brain to comprehend the instructions, pressing, pinking seams, buttonholes, buttons, hem, fixing boo-boos...I'm done! I don't know how people crank out pieces so fast...I'm soooo slow, but it's done!

I really passed a big hurdle with this project -- I didn't have the overwhelming sense of frustration that I usually do. This weekend, at each snag, I sat patiently (ok, maybe a few "ack!" exclamations, but no reverting to angry gutter-mouth) and thought it through or carefully talked it through out-loud with my boyfriend. There was at least two big "what?"s that I eventually made work even though I didn't do it elegantly as the pattern intended, but I just couldn't understand.

The process this weekend (the last 1/2 of the project) was actually enjoyable and obsessive from start to finish and not so frustrating I wanted to chuck it out the window. Hoooooray!!!!!!

The pattern cover:

Cuff challenge: I simply didn't understand the directions.

I'm sure the instructions followed to the letter results in a cleaner-looking cuff opening, but my strip-thing seems to be okay, even though the stay stitching peaks out a bit (hard to see in this photo).

Collar challenge: Again, I just flat-out don't understand part of the directions.

The top piece of the front extension...what the heck am I supposed to do? I "made it work" as Mr. Gunn says, and although there is an extra, somewhat unsightly seam, the busy-looking fabric saves the day!

Almost done...

Done! Back shot...

Shot showing bottom edge untucked...

And fabric detail...

My boss just approved me taking a personal day this Friday so I can start my next project!!! Sewing Friday!!!!!!

Want...beautiful...

2010-04-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

Giambattista Valli silk-velvet jacquard bolero with grosgrain-ribbon trim and matching sleeveless dress. Suzanne Couture Millinery cap with netting. Fred Leighton earrings. LaCrasia gloves.

Oh my goodness. I don't love this ensemble, I am in love with this ensemble. My heart aches for burgundy-colored silk velvet jacquard fabric.

Another thank you TLo's blog for posting this beautiful photo and for Sarah Jessica for wearing it so well.

Catch-Up Saturday!

2010-04-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

I have not documented my projects in a long while. My goal with this blog is to keep projects and progress alive in my head and keep me motivated and maybe I won't waste time playing mahjong solitaire. Not that wasting time is bad necessarily, but I do get so much more satisfaction out of completing projects...it's just the procrastination!

When Miz Margo left for the East Coast, I made her a little gifty - an embroidered spider hankie. I had such beginners luck with my first embroidery project - it came out just as I'd hoped.

My new sewing machine (yay) has a foot I'd never used before, to make rolled hems, so my hankies could have a prettier edge.

I also had a lovely and talented friend, Miss Ginger O'Shea, over to teach me a few sewing tips. I am not good with zippers and so she showed me how to put in an invisible zipper. And she showed me how to use my serger machine. I bought an old used Singer serger a long time ago and didn't know how to use it. It still doesn't work quite right. I bought a manual and can't find it! Searching...searching.

And finally, I've been scanning family photographs. A long overdue project to create a family archive. I got a new scanner that is much faster, so once I get all the photos I have into digital form, I'll gather those from my dad and sisters.

One of my favorite pics of my parents and sister Sue.

My parents look completely exhausted and probably are thinking of ditching the kids (my two sisters...just before my time) and having a nice cocktail away from children and Mickey Mouse. Such good memories of Disneyland!!

Now for another cup of coffee and a bit of work on my vintage blouse project.

2010-01-16T13:56:00.000-08:00

Incredibly important and amazing! More evidence that non-human primates (primate: monkey, ape, human) are serious tool users!! I remember in high school being asked in class about tool use.

I raised my hand to share what I had just learned from my idol Jane Goodall, who discovered apes creating and using tools (stripping a branch and using them to get ants out of an anthill). And about 24 years later learning this about the capuchin monkeys is astounding and kinda chokes me up!

Ahh, the New Year (2010!)

2010-01-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

I am going to write more and post more often. I am a bit overwhelmed by MySpace, Facebook, Flickr, email, blogging, reading blogs...whew! But no excuse!

I plan on posting once a week at least. I was inspired by a friend Ms. M who told me recently she's kept a diary for years and years and writes in it almost every day. What dedication!

She also told me she doesn't have a list of resolutions, but rather, frames each year in a theme. Her theme this year is "Glamour." So what is my theme for 2010? I have a number of sewing projects I want to complete, embroidery to do and learn, I want to do more creative writing, and put more time into friendships and family connections. So how to sum that up into a theme?

I think the closest I can come is "Creativity." I want to tap more into my creativity and try to work through my tendency toward lethargy. So wait, no, I think the theme is simply "Enjoy." Sometimes I get caught up in the "shoulds," as in "I should do this, I should do that." I've gotten better, but sometimes I treat life, cliche time, like a dress rehearsal instead of the real thing. I want to enjoy more moments, enjoy creative times, enjoy friendships and family.

These thoughts were made possible today by amazing coffee and my man's yummie egg-cheese-avocado-salsa breakfast thing.

Sewing Work

2009-12-08T07:17:00.000-08:00

No pictures as yet, but I've been patiently perfecting the new stitch I learned on my NEW sewing machine (my x-mas present to myself)...the rolled hem. It looks so lovely, oh I'm so smitten, but it's the corners, the corners...but I'm getting the hang of it with a bit of experimentation and practice.

I think I'll actually sew this winter! My new spaceheater works great and I don't feel like a suffering Bob Cratchit, bent over my work shivering. Yay!

Okay, off to work preparations!

Christmas Tree!!!

2009-12-01T00:13:00.000-08:00

Wow, two posts in one day. I am feeling the need to document. I had such an incredible lazy weekend that I'm all a-flutter. I must sleep!! But not until I rave about the joys of tree fakery.

No dirt, no bugs, no water threat to the hardwood floors, no drying tree posing a fire hazard (Yes, it happened to my mother when she was eight I believe - house 1/2 burnt down from a Christmas tree catching on fire. I've seen the photo evidence, although I don't remember exactly how it started). Granted, I think I need to walk around a tree farm (one is just two blocks away) to get the scent of the holidays, but I am so excited about the new tree. We normally don't put the tree up until later due to the drying tree hazard, but this year, up the day after Thanksgiving! We trimmed the tree, drank hot toddies, and listened to Christmas music - ah a lovely romantic evening...sigh.

Sewing Machine Tension All Kaflooie

2009-11-30T23:41:00.000-08:00

Oh dear. I think I messed up my already shaky sewing machine running all that elastic thread through it via the bobbin a few months ago. The machine was a lovely gift from my sweet man, although I think it's time has come - the sewing machine, not the man! He's a keeper, but I must find a new machine with which to sew.

~~Couldn't find any definitive "this is the best," "this is the worst" reviews, just tons of links to amazon reviews, which are all over the place.~~ Today I did find an article that is helpful http://stason.org/TULARC/crafts/textiles/3-What-s-The-Best-Brand-Of-Sewing-Machines-Or-Sergers.html I really want an old vintage Pfaff, although I want a machine I can use now. So my decision after much debate is to buy a new machine and then I'll have something to use while I look for the perfect vintage model.

I could possibly just keep fixing the tension (the biggest problem), my Singer sewing machine repair guy did show me how to fix the tension on my own - recording the how-to below to assist my memory.

1. Open slide plate/bobbin cover

2. Remove needle plate - just lift up and slide to the right.

3. Slide bobbin case holder off the edge of the bobbin case.

4. Lift out the bobbin case.

5. With a small standard screwdriver, tighten the two tension screws.

I've been told under normal circumstances, the tension should be set between 3-4, somewhere around there. Much more of less and something's wrong. I should see even stitches on either side. If you see the loops popping up on top, the tension is too high, loops popping up below, too loose. I think I've got that right...might be the other way around, I'll have to double-check.

Anyway, off to Apparel City Sewing Machines on Howard Street. Jumping in a Zipcar near work and heading over on my lunch hour one day this week.

Eye Candy, Wants

2009-10-30T07:14:00.000-07:00

Reading my blogs this morning, I came across some pretty that I want to remember...

Louboutin boots, 2009, image grabbed from http://projectrungay.blogspot.com/

Wow, those are truly some boots! How I would love to walk into a show with those on! They are probably twice my monthly rent!!

Jane Irwill sweaters from 1955, image grabbed from http://www.coutureallure.blogspot.com/

I want the green sweater and skirt. I love the collar and the skirt is perfection. Sweaters are usually shapeless on, but this one has such a pleasing fit.

Project Waiting...Waiting...

2009-09-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

I am deeply entrenched in my research project, but this pattern cover keeps staring at me!

I've got the pieces cut out and partially marked. Soon, soon...

Another Scorcher!

2009-09-21T07:14:00.000-07:00

Another day in the high 80s...what to wear?!

Exorcist Distraction

2009-09-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

I stepped into a neighborhood used bookstore looking for books to use for my SF Silent Film Fest research project. Although I didn't find the books I was hoping for, as usual, I found other stuff - bookstores are so dangerous. I would drown in a mountain of books if I let myself go. I can't be a "cat-lady" with my allergies, but I could be a "book-lady."

Walking up the stairs I noticed the arresting photo of Lee J. Cobb. Upon inspection, the photo was taken by Richard Avedon. I really have to get to the show at the MOMA before it closes - note to self!

Lee J. Cobb made me think of The Exorcist. This film has obsessed me for years; the idea of someone, a priest, who agonizes over the loss of his faith only to have it restored when confronted by what he comes to believe to be real evil.

While going through the film books, I was surprised to find a book I didn't know existed, The Story Behind the Exorcist by Peter Travers and Stephanie Reiff (1974).

I've read William Peter Blatty on the Exorcist: From Novel to Film (1972), which gives a lot of insight into the book and film development and background from the writer's perspective. The Story Behind... gives a lot more general background and tidbits like the four month search for a child actor up to the task of playing the possessed girl and the controversy that almost lead to the dreaded 'X' rating.

In August of 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that obscene content was not protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution and went on to define obscenity. The Wikipedia article "Miller v. California" states the three points in the definition:

* the average person, applying contemporary community standards (not national standards, as some prior tests required), must find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest
* the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct or excretory functions specifically defined by applicable state law
* and the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value

This ruling gave states more power to bring cases against what the community felt was "obscene." After the film's release in Dec. of 1973, a case was brought against film distributors in Boston siting the new obscenity ruling; the case sought to ban The Exorcist in Boston. Although the judge's ruling stated that "it does not meet the guidelines of obscenity as laid down by the United States Supreme Court" and the case was dismissed, the field was open for additional lawsuits. Soon after, the Division of Film and Broadcasting for the U.S. Catholic Conference rated the film A-IV, morally objectionable. They condemned the MPAA for giving the film a 'R' rating.

Finally, in Washington DC, community action achieved a success. On New Year's Day of 1974, the U.S. District Attorney's Office ruled to ban the film's ticket sales to anyone under 17 and warned theaters that arrests would be made for any violations of this ban.

Luckily for the film, produced by the author William Blatty, the 'R' rating stuck and The Exorcist became one of most talked-about films and biggest money maker in film history.

Okay now, enough distraction!!! I'm off to the library to do research for my festival project. I'm so easily sidetracked! And I want to sew too! My blouse project is languishing!!

Marmosets, Videos, & Sunday Lethargy

2009-07-19T15:13:00.000-07:00

Lazy Sunday wandering around the apartment, drinking tea, half-heartedly cleaning, and thoughts of what project to concentrate on today.

My mind turned to things that make me smile; it might jolt me out of my semi-hungover lethargy and I thought of a couple videos I have bookmarked just for this type of occasion.

Very silly

Cute

Endearing

I feel guilty laughing at this one... Spike Jonze short

SF Silent Film Fest & Thoughts of Film

2009-07-13T22:10:00.000-07:00

This last weekend the San Francisco Silent Film Festival was at the Castro Theatre. I've written program essays and pre-show slide presentations for the festival in a committee for about seven years. I took last year off to give myself time to learn to sew. For this year's festival, I just wrote and produced images for the pre-show presentation for the Chinese film "The Wild Rose" (1932). I am excited this year that the festival has begun to post the program essays on their website. The last essay I wrote for them is up: www.silentfilm.org/archive.html under Title, click on "Maciste" (Italy, 1915).

This year, my favorite film was "The Fall of the House of Usher" (1928). Silent film does surreal and fantastic better than any other genre of film. The film was accompanied by the incredibly impressive Stephen Horne. If you hear his name, see the film regardless. He is truly amazing: piano one hand, flute in the other, sound loops and odd noises, choral clips all woven into a perfect audio experience that supported and enhanced the film.

Also today I learned something that made me ponder film for the rest of the day. I hear from a work-friend that her nephew, now eight years old, has never once seen a movie. His parents have strong ideas on child rearing and want him to grow up without the influence of media.

My first thought was shock. How, what, eh? My second thought was how much fun, someday, someone will have sharing his first movie experience - start from the beginning with the Lumiere Bros. or something like The Matrix? It's true that children for hundred, nay, thousands of years lived without movies...

As I walked to my train after work I thought a lot about what you could gain from clearing your childhood schedule of movies and television; but also what you would lose. Stream of consciousness and the warm Summer weather brought to mind two wonderful summers of movie-watching. I must have been 10 and 11 and the year would have been approx. 1978-1979 (yeow, when did I get so old, ack!). I walked with friends or caught a ride to the San Carlos Theatre with a Summer movie pass in my hand. I can't say how much it cost, but I do remember it got you into the daily, afternoon double-feature including I think the entire catalog of Disney live-action kid movies like The Computer Who Wore Tennis Shoes, Escape to Witch Mountain, The Misadventures of Merlin Jones , The Shaggy D.A., The Parent Trap, plus classic adventure films like Jason and the Argonauts with effects and animation by the great Ray Harryhausen.

Jason fights the skeletons from "Jason and the Argonauts,"

creature animation by the legendary Harryhausen

Haley Mills and Hayley Mills in "The Parent Trap" (1961)

I remember sitting in the cool, dark theater in the height of a hot California Summer with my smuggled candy. Those afternoons in the dark shaped my obsessions and passions for fantastic stories (politicians who turn into dogs, skeletons fighting you at every turn, Kurt Russell becoming the smartest teenager in the world, child-witches who were really aliens from space driving around in a motor home) and well, sitting in the dark: the anticipation, the ritual of the curtains opening -- hearing the mechanical click and whirr in the hush of the dark silence, the rustle of popcorn bags. Despite all the benefits, I can't imagine losing out on this experience.

Vintage Pattern Project - Simplicity Pattern 4298

2009-07-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

This post is a bit of catch up and covers new work. I created a dress using Simplicity Pattern 4298, from 1962. I created a muslin first as this was my first dress project. I practiced the tough parts: the interfacing, skirt gathers, and putting together the bodice and the skirt. The skirt and bodice on the muslin version didn't match up, so I was really careful with working with the better fabric. I got great fabric from Peapod Fabrics on 18th Ave. at Irving in San Francisco.

The dress took me forever. I was petrified of doing something wrong and messing up the fabric, but finally, finally, I got it done except for the zipper.

I just couldn't get the damn thing in correctly. So wanting to stop the torture, I took the dress and zipper to my friendly neighborhood tailor/dry cleaning place, and they put the zipper in for $15. What a life saver! I thought I was going to have a melt down (I tried 5 times, I really tried).

Despite the pretty fabric and a pretty good job on the construction, the dress just looked, well, frumpy. So just last weekend, I got confident enough to try a bit of tailoring. I asked advice of a few friends, then experimented with the muslin version and came up with the solution to enlarge and extend the existing darts in the waist/back. It worked pretty great and with a much improved fit around the waist, it looks much more flattering I think. With that success, I had the confidence to try my first belt. It came out alright, it wasn't hard at all, except the end point of the belt (that goes through the buckle).

The directions here are so fabulously vague. Step 1, turn fabric over pointed end as shown, baste. Then voila! Somehow, through some mysterious steps, you get the perfect end point of the last illustration. Amazing!

So, I folded over, as per the directions....
And then what? I fold it back over and do what with all the extra fabric and how do I shape it into that perfect arrow shape. Sigh.So then I just tried something different. I realize now that part of sewing is the confidence to play around and not follow the directions word-for-word. For some reason that's really hard for me...but getting easier. I then tried to find a good vintage plastic belt buckle. I went to the fabric store in my area and then to my favorite vintage store La Rosa Vintage, but alas they didn't have exactly what I wanted (but I bought a couple gorgeous buckles for future use). Then I went to the thrift store and bought an ugly belt for $2.49; it had a pretty good shaped metal buckle. I was hoping I could figure out how to cover it. For some reason the belt buckle kits that come in two pieces, add fabric and snap the pieces together, no longer exists anywhere. I searched a long time on the web. Anyway, I tried a bunch of different methods and finally hit on a plan.

After much trial and error, I got it!! Hooray!!!!!

The untailored version, sans belt...

Then a bit of tailoring and a belt...

And the final product!! Oh, why do I have to go to work?! I want to start a new project!!!! Ack!

Project - Mendocino Sundress, Part 2

2009-07-04T14:16:00.000-07:00

In my first post on this project, I forgot to mention, I first created a muslin version of the dress.

I originally hated the idea of doing everything twice, but as I'm just learning, having a test version is great. The pressure's off to be perfect and I can just play around with the pattern and experiment when I'm learning things like shirring for the first time.

For this sundress pattern, on the muslin version, I put the pockets in the wrong way and my shirring was really uneven. I practiced keeping the fabric stretched out while I'm sewing and played around with the spacing of the shirred rows.

Cutting out the dress and sewing it together was pretty straight forward. The shirring took a little practice, but was so much easier than I thought it would be.

Shirring:

As Heather mentions in her directions, wind the bobbin loosely with the elastic thread and sew on the right side of the fabric (so the elastic in the bobbin is sewn onto the wrong site of the dress). She also mentions wetting the fabric or washing for the shirring to really bunch together. My fabric is light, so the rows bunched up immediately.

I also recommend you also do a test to check the tension and very important, keep the fabric stretched-out as you sew. The elastic needs to be sewn over stretched-out fabric, not bunched up fabric. Also very important, the spacing of the rows. Don't miss Heather's direction about sewing the next row of shirring using the previous row as a guide, so the rows are evenly spaced (see photo below - line up right side of foot with previous row).

When you start, have at least six inches of elastic and top thread free so you have enough length to tie them off - to anchor the start of the shirring. The elastic thread is under a lot of tension when you stretch out the fabric, so you'll pull out the beginning stitches.

Soon after starting, I stopped and to tie off the starting threads hanging off. My method is to take the top thread, thread it through a needle, and push it through to the wrong side of the fabric. Then the elastic/bottom and the top threads are now both on the wrong/bottom side and you can knot them together, creating a strong anchor.

You just sew in one continuous circle, like a spiral, down the length of the dress. When I sewed all the way around the bodice, back to my starting place (one of the side seams), without letting up the needle, I steered the row down and started another - moving in a spiral pattern, down the bodice of the dress. I had to stop every 4-5 inches to stretch out the fabric. Carefully pull the section of fabric being sewn taut. I say careful as the elastic can break if it gets caught in a bunch and you pull too hard. It is pretty strong though and it only broke on me a couple times.

I you see it happen, stop and tie-off both ends of the broken section as mentioned above. You might have to pull out enough stitches to have enough thread to tie-off. If you don't tie these off, the tension of the elastic will pull out even more stitches.

I sewed 21 rows of shirring, tied-off the end, checked and fixed broken sections, and voila, all done.

The Straps:

I followed Heather's directions (now that I know the benefits of reading directions :). To draw out straight cutting lines, I used my straight edge and drew along the edge of it to make two straight cutting lines.

The Hem:

The final part was the hem. The front hem rides up higher than the back due to the fabric over the bust, so the hem will need to be thicker in the back. I pinned the hem to be even with the floor and the back hem at the very back needed to be taken up an extra inch. Note this inch was just at the very back, and sloped down from there toward the side seams.

I'm really happy with the finished product, my second dress project, and I plan to make a little matching zipper purse. As the placing of the straps ended up begin different on the back vs. the front, I created a little embroidered label out of muslin (which got frayed in the wash - so next time all make a stronger rectangular border). This was a really great, easy project. I learned a bunch. Thank you Heather Ross!!! I can't forget to order some of her fabric...just need the right project... http://www.heatherrossdesigns.com/.

This Picture Makes Me Happy

2009-07-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

Seriously, Garance Doré has such a lovely fashion and photography blog. And this picture makes me literally swoon!

Could I possibly get away with these adorable ears?

I clutch my heart.

Project: Mendocino Sundress, Part 1

2009-07-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

My latest sewing project is Heather Ross's pattern for a really cute sundress. My friend Miss Fae sent me the link to the pattern (thank you Miss Fae!!).

The Pattern & Directions:

I downloaded the pattern and directions (in PDF format), printed the pattern out on nine sheets of tabloid paper, and then laid out the sheets and taped them together. Acrobat calculates how to print the pattern over multiple sheets; you choose the amount of overlap.

I’d really recommend reading the directions. Obvious? Yes, but even though I’m a beginner and really need all the instructions I can get, I am sometimes impatient.

I have to admit, I kept wondering how the one piece of fabric was going to fit me, especially with the shirring. It wasn't until I started measuring out how to enlarge the pattern when I realized I needed to cut out two piece sets (dress front and back and four pocket pieces – two for front and two for back), duh!

I cut out the pattern with kitchen scissors as I didn't want to cut the regular paper with my rotary fabric cutter. I can’t say enough about a big self-healing cutting board and a rotary cutter (lovely gift from my special man). I am terrified of the rotary cutter and it would cut right through your fingers if you’re not careful, so I treat it with the utmost respect. I think there is a safer version that I should buy.

The Fabric:

I realized the fabric was critical for this dress to fit my style. I was lucky to find this vintage-style Hawaiian print, cotton fabric at Discount Fabrics (on Irving Street between 24th and 25th Ave. in San Francisco). The nice woman helping me said she used this fabric to make a shirt for her husband and went on to say she threw it in the wash and dryer and it looked great.

Mission Statement

2009-06-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

This is blog for me (and for viewing by a few friends) to track my progress on projects plus a place to capture random thoughts and things that interest me.

I have a tendency to start things, but not finish them, or think of fun ideas, and never see them through. Things I want to accomplish in 2009:

1. Get sewing tutoring to improve my techniques (finishing, tailoring).

2. Complete vintage pattern dress in b/w striped fabric.

3. Complete vintage pattern pants in black cotton.

4. Complete vintage pattern dress for Gatsby Picnic (Sept) OR sew something for the Edwardian Ball (Oct).

5. DONE. Alter dress I made (tan with red roses) so it fits better in the waist.

6. Write a complete first draft of my little Christmas play.

7. Make a silly short film with friends.

8. Write more: write Miss Fae at least 2x month and send thank you notes within two weeks (no waiting a year).

9. Read Marieb Anatomy & Physiology book (to be better informed at work and in general). Currently through chapter two.

10. Login to Shelfari 1x weekly and keep book list up to date.

I'm sure I've forgotten something, but these are the main things. I need to renew my focus on life outside of work and better enjoy my time here on earth. Woody Allen is quoted as saying "You can live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be a hundred. " Somethin' to consider anyway. :)