Weekend Blues

Well, not really a blue weekend, per se, but all of Sunday was lost to being ill, so I feel a little robbed of my full weekend potential, you know?

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Saturday brought the local Farmer’s Market, where I picked up this week’s CSA offering. This is the first year we’ve participated in a CSA (having wanted to for years, but never having made the deadline for signing up before).  Absolutely loving it!  The first tomatoes of the season were part of the offering this week–along with eggplant, cucumbers, zucchini, green bell peppers, carrots and potatoes!  Big Summer Stew coming up for tonight’s meal.  Nom!

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Worked on some sequining & beading for one of the bustiers that will be part of the upcoming shoot.  In retrospect, I’m not sure how well SEQUINS will show up in a photograph, but….well, it’s done now, lol.

Then Sunday rolled around, and I was in bed battling a severe headache and body pains until around 1pm.  It was awful.  Once I managed to drag myself out of the bedroom, onto the couch (still in pj’s and with half the headache hanging on), the Husband and I binge-watched the entire season of “The Devil is a Part-timer!” on Netflix–and loved it!

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Here’s to the week starting, my head not trying to kill me, and a productive week ahead!  Happy Monday!

This Week

Weekly wrap-up:

I’ve been working on orders as well as items for the upcoming photo shoots–still SO excited!!

Husband has been out of town, which allows me to stock up on junk food get a lot more sewing done, since I am able to sew into the evening hours–I don’t really cook when it’s just me.

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While I work, I’ve been listening to “The Tudors: The Complete Story of England’s Most Notorious Dynasty” by G.J. Meyer, and I have to say–I’m loving it!  I love history, and have always loved reading about any of the Tudors, but sometimes the books can be, let’s just say, a wee bit dry.  Not the case here–it’s so interesting, and I’m even learning things I’ve not encountered in other books!  Really worth it, if you’re a history nerd like me.

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Have a fabulous weekend!

Inspiration and a Sale

My sister is coming into town next month, and we plan to (finally) get to do some photo shoots together–which is awesome and exciting and has been keeping me full of MILLIONS of ideas (at all hours of the day and night)!  She is a new photographer, focusing so far on wedding, maternity, engagement, family and senior photography.  With a big sis like me, you KNOW she has to gets to try her hand at the world of fashion/costume/editorial photography!

I have a few shoots that I’ve been planning in my head for months and those are finally getting to the “make it happen” stage.  I’ve been gathering ideas, writing (too many) lists, losing said lists, writing NEW lists, cutting out, imagining, re-imagining, drawing and just generally being a crazy pants.

Inspiration for a couple of the shoots–I feel like both are departures for me, being that neither focuses too much on costume-costumes (it’s a thing in my head).  I’m so excited for these!!!

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*Images gathered via Pinterest–I do not own or claim ownership of ANY of these.  By the time I found them, no artist names were associated, so if you see your work please contact me with info so that I can properly credit you.  I love Pinterest, but it makes it entirely too easy for someone’s hard work to get out there on the net with no link back to the creator.

Also–I’m feeling the need for a bit of a clear out and have been adding new items to the shops Clearance section–and I’ve put EVERYTHING in that section at 50% off original price!

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Success!

Print Tank

Print Tank

The new shoot was a full success!

Oversize Crop Top

Oversize Crop Top

I mean, I know I’m the one saying it, so maybe take that with a grain of salt.

Kimono Jacket

Kimono Jacket

But, I think the new look really makes the items pop in the listings.

Oversize Crop Top

Oversize Crop Top

What do you think?

Babydoll Tunic

Babydoll Tunic

I already have the next shoot scheduled, and hope to have the majority of the shop switched over to the new style within the next few months.

Swing Tank

Swing Tank

I commented to G the other day that the only things I have to talk about–indeed, the only things I think about–are all work-related.

Oversize Crop Top

Oversize Crop Top

I must be a true bore.

Babydoll Tunic

Babydoll Tunic

I need to get out into the garden this weekend!

Go fishing! (we totally got our fishing licenses this past weekend–both of us love fishing, but have never fished down here!  G grew up fishing in the Bahamas, and I grew up fishing in MN.  So, it’s a new adventure)

Maybe then I’ll have more to discuss…and be a tad more interesting. 😉

Spring!

Vintage Handkerchief Skirt

Vintage Handkerchief Skirt

I’ve been working on new Spring and Summer things for the shop lately–neglecting the blog, neglecting the yard, neglecting the garden.  *sigh*

Linen Tunic Dress

Linen Tunic Dress

Just sewing, sewing, sewing, SEWING!

Chiffon Swing Tank

Chiffon Swing Tank

Also re-working (or attempting to re-work) the photography for my etsy shop.

Floral Tunic Dress

Floral Tunic Dress

While I love the editorial photography, the lighting, the mood, the setting…..it’s not as cohesive as I’d like it to be.

Gauze Gypsy Dress

Gauze Gypsy Dress

So, I decided to try a new style.

Giraffe Tunic Dress

Giraffe Tunic Dress

Went out with the lovely Nancy Jane a couple of weeks ago and snapped a bunch of new photos with new things, as well as old.

Kimono Jacket

Kimono Jacket

While I love them……they’re still not right.

Floral Babydoll Tunic

Floral Babydoll Tunic

And so, today, we’re trying this again.

Print Swing Tank

Print Swing Tank

But in the wee little photo studio I have set up this time.

Yellow Sundress

Yellow Sundress

Going for more simple.  Less distraction from the clothing.

Butterfly Tunic Dress

Butterfly Tunic Dress

But I think I’m going to miss the backgrounds.

Polka Dot Sundress

Polka Dot Sundress

Trying to get your business the way you want it is a never-ending process, it seems.

Pinstripe Babydoll Tunic

Pinstripe Babydoll Tunic

But worth it.

Linen Sundress

Linen Sundress

Happy Almost-Weekend to you!

Another Wednesday Morning

Wow, halfway through the week already.

Once again time for my favorite Pinterest finds!

But first–GUESS WHAT!  I’m on instagram!  FINALLY. 

You can pop over and find me there much more regularly than here or even facebook–I’m loving it! 

 

Find me here

On to the Pinterest Finds!

Xiao Wen Ju photographed by Tim Walker for Vogue, September 2012

Xiao Wen Ju photographed by Tim Walker for Vogue, September 2012

Jean Paul Gaultier.

Jean Paul Gaultier.

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model: Anna S. make-up, styling, hair, photographer: Alina Mirek

model: Anna S.
make-up, styling, hair, photographer: Alina Mirek

Pebblestack Pendant-"Heart Cairn"- by Binks Edmonds

Pebblestack Pendant-“Heart Cairn”- by Binks Edmonds

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Valentino

Valentino

Photographed by Tim Walker

Photographed by Tim Walker

And, I’ll just put this right here, too.  I have no words, I think many of us are still rather shattered, and I can only wish peace for his family and the ultimate quiet of those inner demons for him.

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A Dark Alice Kind of Week

So happy to welcome Friday this week.

The hubby has been out of town all week, leaving me to fend for myself amongst the kitties.  He’ll be back today. 🙂

Luckily, I had made a big pot of Chana Masala that fed me in the evenings, lots of veggies for salad lunches, many orders to sew up, and a whole stack of audio books to listen to.

Also:  A whole new season of “Mind of a Chef” on Netflix.

I have an upcoming order for a Wednesday Addams dress, and the client and I were ironing out the final design for it.  Of course, I had about a million ideas, ranging from the very traditional to the more “out there”:

Wednesday Addams possibilities

Wednesday Addams possibilities

Wednesday Addams Possibilities

Wednesday Addams Possibilities

I had two back-to-back Dark Alice orders, which ended up taking up the whole week, after Monday was spent cutting and most of Tuesday was spent visiting family and running errands.

Alternate Dark Alice, featuring a lower neckline

Alternate Dark Alice, featuring a lower neckline

The orders shouldn’t have taken quite as long as they did.  To be fair, the first order went smoothly.  But the second one.  The second one wasn’t cooperating, resulting in me have to entirely re-work (and re-cut) the bodice.  It just wasn’t laying correctly, and there was no other option.

This isn't the exact dress that I made, but its the same design....and I can't access the picture I took of the one this week

This isn’t the exact dress that I made, but its the same design….and I can’t access the picture I took of the one this week

So, I’m running a day behind at this point. 

Lucky for me, I was running way ahead of schedule before the set-back. 😉

Today I’ll be sewing up one last order that’s cut, and cutting a few more that are waiting.

Did you watch Project Runway this week? 

Loved the concept this week, but rather disappointed with the end results.  I had a really hard time picking a top 3, mainly because so much that walked that runway was dark and, honestly, kind of dull.  Not really a lot of new ideas. 

Which is sad, considering this is probably going to be one of the few challenges this season where they could have thought outside the box.

My top 3:

Samantha

Samantha

A bit basic, too reminiscent of the 90s, and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GET RID OF THAT BACKPACK, but I liked the jacket and cowl neck here.  I hate those shoes something fierce.  Are those REALLY back?  Because there are, like, 5 pairs of them on the Aldo wall this season.

Emily

Emily

This was really cool, loved it with the jacket–but I wish she’d made the jacket in some other material.  It felt too…..snuggie.  Like, I’d be wearing that fabric sitting on the couch in my pj’s.  But, the jumpsuit was really cool–and I’m a gal that HATES a jumpsuit with a fierce passion normally.

Sandhya

Sandhya

I know this is weird, and I know a lot of people are going to hate it, but I think, of all the offerings, this one fit the challenge the best, and is something NEW.  It definitely appeals to the costumer in me, and maybe that’s why I like it so much.  I still love Sandhya–while they definitely gave her the whiny-edit last week, I still think she’s the one to watch this season.  She’s the only one, so far, to really show that she has something to SAY.  She really thinks about her designs, and what she wants them to be saying, and I really respond to that.

I can’t stop staring at the models toes, hanging off those shoes, and it’s FREAKING ME OUT.

I hate toes, and I hate women who wear sandals too-small for them.  GO UP A SIZE, LADIES.  There’s no shame in it.

Gahhh, toes.  *shudder*

Okay, they’re out of my direct line of sight now. 

Listening to this week:

"The Seven Dials Mystery"--Agatha Christie

“The Seven Dials Mystery”–Agatha Christie

I’m a Christie-addict.  I go through the collection and start all over.  I just don’t get tired of listening to them.

"'Salem's Lot"--Stephen King

“‘Salem’s Lot”–Stephen King

I read this back in…..high school?  Junior high?  I was a huge King fan (and Anne Rice).  I’ve been listening to a lot of the books I read back then, and it’s fun to remember the stories, but to understand them on a whole different level now.

"White Fire"--Preston & Child

“White Fire”–Preston & Child

I really enjoyed this, but I spent half the book yelling at the main character because she was SO. DAMN. STUPID.

I don’t think it’s a good thing that I was vehemently hoping she’d bite it before the end.

Well, that’ was my week–hope yours was good, and I’ll see you Monday!

This Week

It’s raining and dreary and I’ve gotten my errands done for the day. 

Sewing a new bustle on my 1946 machine

Sewing a new bustle on my 1946 machine

A mug of coffee (or two), a quick post, and then it’s off to the studio to get to work!

Some of the fabrics I've been playing with

Some of the fabrics I’ve been playing with

I’ve cut a lot out this week, and sewn up a few things.

A soft little floral number--totally not the normal style of print I use, but something about it called out to me at the Fabric Store the other day!

A soft little floral number–totally not the normal style of print I use, but something about it called out to me at the Fabric Store the other day!

I should have photographed more….but…..I’m lazy, and it’s raining!

A bustle, about to get some grommets

A bustle, about to get some grommets

I guess that means a photo-shoot with my dress form this weekend.

We got a little portable record player last weekend, and I've been loving it!

We got a little portable record player last weekend, and I’ve been loving it!

As mentioned, I ran some errands today (which, sadly, is a Big Thing, as I rarely leave the house these days–unless it’s to the Post or the Fabric Store).  I snuck in a trip to the thrift store–which is one of my favorite places.

This gigantic wall hanging came home with me today--it's a batik image on fabric that has been mounted and framed.  I'd been admiring it for awhile, and bought it spur-of-the-moment today.  I love it!

This gigantic wall hanging came home with me today–it’s a batik image on fabric that has been mounted and framed. I’d been admiring it for awhile, and bought it spur-of-the-moment today. I love it!

I snagged some great stuff–tons of records, patterns, pictures….

The garden is in full swing, and I planted a few new things this past weekend–and they’re already popping up!

We’ll be canning this weekend–the first time for Hubby, so should be a good time! 

Hope you have a beautiful weekend–what are your plans?