Yes, I actually HAVE done something lately! In fact, that's why it's been so quiet around here.
I got a commision (hi, JRC!) to make a series of 50 embroidered and sewn fabric sleeves for a limited-edition 7" record. (Yes, I said record.) I converted the Five Three Dial Tone logo to PES format myself, for use with my Sofia. Then embroidered and sewed all 50 in some of the most garish and ridiculous fabrics imaginable. The selections were JRC's doing. Also the glow-in-the-dark embroidery thread was all JRC.
They turned out well, considering I did the embroidery without stabilizer (to keep costs down). The sleeves are not lined, but all seams are contained in French seams.
I hear the release party went well, and that the records were "flying off the shelf." I couldn't make the party myself because I was committed to the big Steampunk Expo that same night. Yes, I made something to wear to that, too... which I'll try to get photos of sometime. The only pics I have so far include me, and are just too... weird to share.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Friday, May 07, 2010
Rain Lamp follow up.
After I took a pipe cleaner to its nooks and crannies, the rain lamp was really working like a champ. In order to share the joy with a friend, I took a quick iPhone video (what? iPhone video? oh that's right, I keep forgetting the 3GS does VIDEO!). And now, I'm sharing it with the rest of the world.
Don't let my voice startle you. Yes, that's me. More or less; I was still getting over a little bit of a cold at the time. Plus being silly. (I do love that pig lamp.)
Don't let my voice startle you. Yes, that's me. More or less; I was still getting over a little bit of a cold at the time. Plus being silly. (I do love that pig lamp.)
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Here's that rain lamp.
I promised in this post that I'd post pictures of the "rain" (oil) lamp once I got it set up. Well, here it is!
Shortly after I brought it home, I took the whole thing apart and cleaned up 30 years worth of... gunge. Then I put it back together and was SO excited when I switched it on and it worked. I left it on the kitchen counter overnight, in a deep tray, just in case. When I got home the next night, the tray was full of oil. D'oh! Upon examination I realized it's because I put too much oil in and the level was above the screw holes holding the reservoir to the base. Had to disassemble it AGAIN, which annoyed me to no end, and clean it up even more, because... oil everywhere. But now, she is beeyooootiful.
What's interesting about this one is that it is not a swag lamp, like I'm accustomed to seeing. Even the table-top versions don't usually have an upper light and shade. In fact, I can't find ANY information about this model. I mean, I know it's a Johnson Industries model, and the original stickers are still under the canopy. But I don't see any renditions of THIS model online anywhere. How is that POSSIBLE??
I got it at an estate sale a few weeks ago, and was actually considering modding it to take that top part OFF. I've wanted a swag-style rain lamp for a while, to be hung next to my door so visitors can immediately see how much class I've got. Exactly how much. But after some reading, I'm starting to think this lamp is especially collectible. Which isn't what I'm in it for, it's never what I'm in it for. Now that I've got it set up in my front room with the pig lamp -- PIG LAMP! -- I'm kinda digging the height the shade gives it. It runs great, but the oil isn't flowing as I'd like, so I may need to clean up a couple of the holes again.
Shortly after I brought it home, I took the whole thing apart and cleaned up 30 years worth of... gunge. Then I put it back together and was SO excited when I switched it on and it worked. I left it on the kitchen counter overnight, in a deep tray, just in case. When I got home the next night, the tray was full of oil. D'oh! Upon examination I realized it's because I put too much oil in and the level was above the screw holes holding the reservoir to the base. Had to disassemble it AGAIN, which annoyed me to no end, and clean it up even more, because... oil everywhere. But now, she is beeyooootiful.
What's interesting about this one is that it is not a swag lamp, like I'm accustomed to seeing. Even the table-top versions don't usually have an upper light and shade. In fact, I can't find ANY information about this model. I mean, I know it's a Johnson Industries model, and the original stickers are still under the canopy. But I don't see any renditions of THIS model online anywhere. How is that POSSIBLE??
I got it at an estate sale a few weeks ago, and was actually considering modding it to take that top part OFF. I've wanted a swag-style rain lamp for a while, to be hung next to my door so visitors can immediately see how much class I've got. Exactly how much. But after some reading, I'm starting to think this lamp is especially collectible. Which isn't what I'm in it for, it's never what I'm in it for. Now that I've got it set up in my front room with the pig lamp -- PIG LAMP! -- I'm kinda digging the height the shade gives it. It runs great, but the oil isn't flowing as I'd like, so I may need to clean up a couple of the holes again.
Friday, March 26, 2010
An irrelevant aside.
I've been sick for the past few days in the weirdest way. I woke up 7am Wednesday morning stuffy, scratchy and sore, after having awoken many times during the night for funtimes coughing fits. I stumbled into the bathroom where I always have a bottle of Nyquil waiting for me -- yes, RED is the only way to be! -- to find about half a shot left. Dammit. Called off work and went back to sleep.
I'm one of those people who doesn't use an alarm clock. I didn't think that was all that unusual -- when I wake up, I just naturally know what time it is. I knew something was up when I re-awoke on Wednesday with no idea what time it was. I tested myself, lying there in bed trying to take a stab at it before looking at the clock. It could have been 9am. It could have been noon. It could have been 4pm for all I could tell. Turns out, it was about 1.30pm.
I rolled off the edge of my bed (it's a low bed) and directly into another coughing fit. I made it as far as the living room after a couple of tries, into the loving arms of my sofa and awaiting kitty, where after about a half hour, I fell asleep again. I woke up after another couple of hours, thought about getting something to eat, realized I had nothing in the house and standing upright made my chest/lungs really mad at me, so had a glass of water aaaaaand... back to sleep. Repeat that 3 or 4 times and that was my whole day Wednesday.
Thursday, I woke at the usual time, feeling... somewhat rebounded. Made it in to work and everything. You know what's really great? When you go to work and people stop in their tracks and say, "Ooooh, how are you feeling?" Feeling like I should have stayed home, I'm thinking. By and large, I felt *okay*, I just had the occasional coughing spat that made me really light-headed. Aside from that, I'm pretty sure I did my job and all... or maybe I was too dizzy to realize how much I was screwing up.
The best thing about making it to work on Thursday, though, was that I was able to also make it to the drug store. If they sold Nyquil by the drum... Got my hit, crashed out hard while trying desperately to watch "Project Runway." Dreamed about ostrich-propelled vehicles.
Friday morning, I figured I'd be good because, well, I made it out of the house Thursday after all! But I definitely did not... feel... right. For one thing, I'd slept on my back all night, flat on my back, and I was pretty sure I had not moved once in 8 hours. When I did move, I realized why that had probably been the case. Ugh. Everything sore, everything coughy. But the best part was when I groaned to myself. It was, like... subsonic. Have you seen the stories about this whole "secret language" of elephants, where they can ultra-low-rumble to each other over distances of miles? I'm pretty sure there's a bull elephant in Kenya who is wondering why he keeps hearing his name. Made me laugh. Which, of course, launched a coughing fit.
I called off work again, if for no other reason than just to have a record of me as a cartoon villain. Took another shot, flopped back over, direct to zzzzzs. And again, awoke thinking, what, noon? One? Ten am it was. No voice at all, probably forced out by the softballs taking up all that space in my throat. Took a nice warm shower and thought, okay, I've got the whole day here, I should at least be able to get something done around the place. I re-cleaned my oil lamp -- there's a post coming about that, honest -- and did a load of dishes. That was EXHAUSTING. Back to sleep. Woke up, had some popcorn chicken, aaaaaand... back to sleep. This is the weirdest "cold" or whatever it is that I've ever had. I mean, even the CAT is like, "Really? Sleeping again? I mean, I'm all for a good nap now and then, but are you EVER going to get off the couch?"
It's Friday night now, and I am just plain confused. At one point, I woke up on the sofa thinking it was the middle of the night, only to find the room bathed in sunlight. I'm as awake right now, at nearly midnight, as I've been in several days. I can't really tell whether I'm hungry (I hope not, because I've long since made it through all the chicken) or if I should take some more of the red stuff and corpse out for another 10 or 16 hours.
Well, since the very process of writing this launched me into another coughing fit, I'm going to go with... zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I'm one of those people who doesn't use an alarm clock. I didn't think that was all that unusual -- when I wake up, I just naturally know what time it is. I knew something was up when I re-awoke on Wednesday with no idea what time it was. I tested myself, lying there in bed trying to take a stab at it before looking at the clock. It could have been 9am. It could have been noon. It could have been 4pm for all I could tell. Turns out, it was about 1.30pm.
I rolled off the edge of my bed (it's a low bed) and directly into another coughing fit. I made it as far as the living room after a couple of tries, into the loving arms of my sofa and awaiting kitty, where after about a half hour, I fell asleep again. I woke up after another couple of hours, thought about getting something to eat, realized I had nothing in the house and standing upright made my chest/lungs really mad at me, so had a glass of water aaaaaand... back to sleep. Repeat that 3 or 4 times and that was my whole day Wednesday.
Thursday, I woke at the usual time, feeling... somewhat rebounded. Made it in to work and everything. You know what's really great? When you go to work and people stop in their tracks and say, "Ooooh, how are you feeling?" Feeling like I should have stayed home, I'm thinking. By and large, I felt *okay*, I just had the occasional coughing spat that made me really light-headed. Aside from that, I'm pretty sure I did my job and all... or maybe I was too dizzy to realize how much I was screwing up.
The best thing about making it to work on Thursday, though, was that I was able to also make it to the drug store. If they sold Nyquil by the drum... Got my hit, crashed out hard while trying desperately to watch "Project Runway." Dreamed about ostrich-propelled vehicles.
Friday morning, I figured I'd be good because, well, I made it out of the house Thursday after all! But I definitely did not... feel... right. For one thing, I'd slept on my back all night, flat on my back, and I was pretty sure I had not moved once in 8 hours. When I did move, I realized why that had probably been the case. Ugh. Everything sore, everything coughy. But the best part was when I groaned to myself. It was, like... subsonic. Have you seen the stories about this whole "secret language" of elephants, where they can ultra-low-rumble to each other over distances of miles? I'm pretty sure there's a bull elephant in Kenya who is wondering why he keeps hearing his name. Made me laugh. Which, of course, launched a coughing fit.
I called off work again, if for no other reason than just to have a record of me as a cartoon villain. Took another shot, flopped back over, direct to zzzzzs. And again, awoke thinking, what, noon? One? Ten am it was. No voice at all, probably forced out by the softballs taking up all that space in my throat. Took a nice warm shower and thought, okay, I've got the whole day here, I should at least be able to get something done around the place. I re-cleaned my oil lamp -- there's a post coming about that, honest -- and did a load of dishes. That was EXHAUSTING. Back to sleep. Woke up, had some popcorn chicken, aaaaaand... back to sleep. This is the weirdest "cold" or whatever it is that I've ever had. I mean, even the CAT is like, "Really? Sleeping again? I mean, I'm all for a good nap now and then, but are you EVER going to get off the couch?"
It's Friday night now, and I am just plain confused. At one point, I woke up on the sofa thinking it was the middle of the night, only to find the room bathed in sunlight. I'm as awake right now, at nearly midnight, as I've been in several days. I can't really tell whether I'm hungry (I hope not, because I've long since made it through all the chicken) or if I should take some more of the red stuff and corpse out for another 10 or 16 hours.
Well, since the very process of writing this launched me into another coughing fit, I'm going to go with... zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
We now return...
Sorry about that. Glitch in the system. Eddies in the space-time continuum.
To make up for it, please to enjoy some random funny.
To make up for it, please to enjoy some random funny.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Ties still available!
There are still some ties available at my etsy store BrocadeLion.etsy.com. I'll let y'all know if I make a few Valentine Specials. Meantime, check these out.
Monday, February 01, 2010
But I'm still fond of you... oh-ho-ho...
Sooooo much to learn with the embroidery software, but I have learned a bit so far. This is the (original design, Smiths lyrics) embroidered detail on my crafting apron/toolbelt, which I've been meaning to make for, oh, decades, and finally got around to this weekend.
I would claim that I'll take better pictures to post some time, but I doubt I will -- I'll be too busy wearing the thing. Also, I'd post a tutorial if anyone asked.
I just realized how massively lazy this post makes me sound. Blame the fact that the climate control at my office is killing me ded -- it was, like, 50°F in here when I got here, and about 85°F now.*
*What? I NEVER exaggerate.
I would claim that I'll take better pictures to post some time, but I doubt I will -- I'll be too busy wearing the thing. Also, I'd post a tutorial if anyone asked.
I just realized how massively lazy this post makes me sound. Blame the fact that the climate control at my office is killing me ded -- it was, like, 50°F in here when I got here, and about 85°F now.*
*What? I NEVER exaggerate.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
More adventures in resale.
The rare Mac/Value Village (er WORLD, whatever) crossover kill. "Speaker" indeed.
I just happen to have an original pair of Apple Pro speakers on my decrepit, but beloved, G4. One of only two speaker sets to my knowledge that will work with this thing.
I spotted the iSub from across the room, but really just because it looks like a jellyfish. Cleaned the dog hair and dead spiders out if it, plugged it in, and it is a GO.
$7.
I just happen to have an original pair of Apple Pro speakers on my decrepit, but beloved, G4. One of only two speaker sets to my knowledge that will work with this thing.
I spotted the iSub from across the room, but really just because it looks like a jellyfish. Cleaned the dog hair and dead spiders out if it, plugged it in, and it is a GO.
$7.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
There be ties here!
I've spent the past few weeks (months?) working with that bonus embroidery machine of mine -- Rudy? might be called Rudy -- working toward making this little announcement.
I've listed my first batch of custom-embroidered (which really just means I done did it myself) vintage ties on my dormant etsy site. Go check 'em out!
BrocadeLion.etsy.com
I've listed my first batch of custom-embroidered (which really just means I done did it myself) vintage ties on my dormant etsy site. Go check 'em out!
BrocadeLion.etsy.com
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Craftster BEST OF 2009
Dig it.
My flamin' vinyl applique dress made it into the Craftster Best of 2009 listing.
My flamin' vinyl applique dress made it into the Craftster Best of 2009 listing.
I'm a Craftster Best of 2009 Winner!
P.S. Oh yeah, my first Skulls-n-Roses dress was a Craftster Best of 2007 winner as well. I guess 2008 was a slow year for me...
Monday, December 28, 2009
Snowy Monday Morning Interlude
I was sitting on the sofa, ironically uploading pictures from my camera, when this youngster strolled past the windows. I stopped the upload, quietly opened my front door, and even after looking directly at me, the two fawns continued to hang around. They were shortly joined by two more fawns and a doe. None of them cared that I stood there taking photos and video.
Almost worth getting snowed in...
Almost worth getting snowed in...
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Viva la Value Village
Friday, December 25, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Custom Embroidery!
Got a chance to do a little work with some custom embroidery software over the past week or two, to generate PES patterns for my still-unnamed Baby Lock Sofia. No submissions? Really?
My best, most successful result so far. It's my MCB "logo." ;)
My best, most successful result so far. It's my MCB "logo." ;)
Friday, December 11, 2009
Cross-Promotion: Cinematic Titanic is coming to Detroit!
I posted about this over on motorcityblog, but I'm a giant nerd, so I want to post about it here, too.
Cinematic Titanic has been doing live shows for a while now, and they'll finally be coming to the Detroit area this February. Exciting! I'm not even being sarcastic!
Just got word yesterday that I'll be covering the gig for MCB, so I'm definitely going (and we'll probably be giving away some tickets when the date gets closer). It's going to be a huge treat to meet the guys, particularly Joel Hodgson and Trace Beaulieu. But especially Joel. I admit it, I'm a Joel girl at heart.
And it'll be nice to be in a room that can appreciate my Dr Clayton Forrester t-shirt. For once.
Cinematic Titanic has been doing live shows for a while now, and they'll finally be coming to the Detroit area this February. Exciting! I'm not even being sarcastic!
Just got word yesterday that I'll be covering the gig for MCB, so I'm definitely going (and we'll probably be giving away some tickets when the date gets closer). It's going to be a huge treat to meet the guys, particularly Joel Hodgson and Trace Beaulieu. But especially Joel. I admit it, I'm a Joel girl at heart.
And it'll be nice to be in a room that can appreciate my Dr Clayton Forrester t-shirt. For once.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
New additions!
First of all, there's this.
This is -- incredibly -- the fifth real animal skull I've put on display in my living room. It is the first, however, that came from my yard. (Though the second that I've cleaned myself -- bone only! I didn't skin anything.)
The lower jaw was still near the skull, all teeth intact, but the jaw broke in half when I retrieved it. It's a bit of a funny story, actually. My friend John was over, and when we were walking to my car, he said, "There's a pretty cool skull behind your garage."
I said, "Oh, I should check that out! ...pause... What were you doing behind my garage?"
"I knew you were going to say exactly that!" Let's just say he had his boy-type reasons for being back there.
Went back behind the garage, where I think I've never been in the time I've lived here, and there it was, sitting in a pile of leaves, almost entirely clean. From another skull I have, I recognized it as a raccoon; looking at the teeth, I'm guessing this guy died of old age. I cleaned it up with peroxide, although I haven't taken the next step of gluing the lower jaw together and then gluing and sealing the teeth. It will join the others at that point. When it's ready, I'll take another picture of this one next to the other raccoon I have -- it makes an interesting comparison.
But! I'm too excited about this right now to mess around with bones! Check it out.
I've been waiting to post about this. Early in the summer, I entered a t-shirt reconstruction contest online. The grand prize was a computerized embroidery machine, the Baby Lock Sofia. I posted photos of my three-tee hoodie and then waited. The winners were to be voted on by visitors to the site over a several-week period. Every time I checked in, there were more and more entries, and it really looked like I was falling pretty far behind.
Then a couple of weeks ago, I got email from a representative from the parent company of Baby Lock congratulating me and asking for my shipping address! I was so surprised, I was literally in disbelief. I had a thought for a moment that it was someone trying to scam an address out of me... but I checked the contest site, and sure enough, there was my project, front and center. I won!
This is kick-ace for two reasons. First of all, I've wanted a full-bore embroidery machine for the past couple of years. The problem is they're expensive and I couldn't justify the cost. (Plus, there are so many options, I'd need a machine embroidery mentor just to decide on a model.) Second, and maybe even more significantly, this wasn't a random drawing. I won this machine because people voted on something I made. Forgive me for using a somewhat abused word, but it was seriously validating.
Ain't it a beaut? I told pretty much everyone I know about it that day, but didn't want to say anything here until I had the machine in hand. (So so cynical.) It arrived yesterday, and it's killing me that I can't set it up completely and spend the next several days elbow-deep in machine embroidery. There's going to be a serious learning curve involved. Not to mention I have to find a good place for it! I'm considering making the radical move of displacing my (ancient) desktop computer and putting the embroidery machine in its place, in my work studio. This would be the first time in my adult life that I didn't have a major desktop computer set up.
Man. When did I become such a giant craft/sewing dweeb anyway?
Well, wherever it's going to live it's going to need a new name. I mean, "Sofia"? As if. Going to need something much more suitable to join its new brethren, Nigel (the Husqvarna workhorse) and Roland (the Jaguar serger).
But right now? I've gotta finish my ballgown. Pictures of that are to come...
This is -- incredibly -- the fifth real animal skull I've put on display in my living room. It is the first, however, that came from my yard. (Though the second that I've cleaned myself -- bone only! I didn't skin anything.)
The lower jaw was still near the skull, all teeth intact, but the jaw broke in half when I retrieved it. It's a bit of a funny story, actually. My friend John was over, and when we were walking to my car, he said, "There's a pretty cool skull behind your garage."
I said, "Oh, I should check that out! ...pause... What were you doing behind my garage?"
"I knew you were going to say exactly that!" Let's just say he had his boy-type reasons for being back there.
Went back behind the garage, where I think I've never been in the time I've lived here, and there it was, sitting in a pile of leaves, almost entirely clean. From another skull I have, I recognized it as a raccoon; looking at the teeth, I'm guessing this guy died of old age. I cleaned it up with peroxide, although I haven't taken the next step of gluing the lower jaw together and then gluing and sealing the teeth. It will join the others at that point. When it's ready, I'll take another picture of this one next to the other raccoon I have -- it makes an interesting comparison.
But! I'm too excited about this right now to mess around with bones! Check it out.
I've been waiting to post about this. Early in the summer, I entered a t-shirt reconstruction contest online. The grand prize was a computerized embroidery machine, the Baby Lock Sofia. I posted photos of my three-tee hoodie and then waited. The winners were to be voted on by visitors to the site over a several-week period. Every time I checked in, there were more and more entries, and it really looked like I was falling pretty far behind.
Then a couple of weeks ago, I got email from a representative from the parent company of Baby Lock congratulating me and asking for my shipping address! I was so surprised, I was literally in disbelief. I had a thought for a moment that it was someone trying to scam an address out of me... but I checked the contest site, and sure enough, there was my project, front and center. I won!
This is kick-ace for two reasons. First of all, I've wanted a full-bore embroidery machine for the past couple of years. The problem is they're expensive and I couldn't justify the cost. (Plus, there are so many options, I'd need a machine embroidery mentor just to decide on a model.) Second, and maybe even more significantly, this wasn't a random drawing. I won this machine because people voted on something I made. Forgive me for using a somewhat abused word, but it was seriously validating.
Ain't it a beaut? I told pretty much everyone I know about it that day, but didn't want to say anything here until I had the machine in hand. (So so cynical.) It arrived yesterday, and it's killing me that I can't set it up completely and spend the next several days elbow-deep in machine embroidery. There's going to be a serious learning curve involved. Not to mention I have to find a good place for it! I'm considering making the radical move of displacing my (ancient) desktop computer and putting the embroidery machine in its place, in my work studio. This would be the first time in my adult life that I didn't have a major desktop computer set up.
Man. When did I become such a giant craft/sewing dweeb anyway?
Well, wherever it's going to live it's going to need a new name. I mean, "Sofia"? As if. Going to need something much more suitable to join its new brethren, Nigel (the Husqvarna workhorse) and Roland (the Jaguar serger).
But right now? I've gotta finish my ballgown. Pictures of that are to come...
Friday, October 23, 2009
A side note: Motorcityblog.net
I've never mentioned this before here, and now seems as good a time as ever. I am a sometime-contributor, frequent-collaborator at one of the most trafficked entertainment blogs in Detroit. You can find us all here:
And my branded posts in particular here:
And my branded posts in particular here:
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Ambivalence of Halloween
Halloween provokes the very definition of mixed feelings in me.
On the one hand, I love it. Fall is my favorite time of year, and for the past several, I've taken Halloween-week off from work. It's a great time for a road trip, and there are always wonderfully macabre and hoakishly paranormal shenanigans to be found. As Halloween becomes a more legit/adult holiday -- by which I mean selling opportunity -- the gewgaws and thingamajigs and other decorative trappings have improved greatly, which turns out to be important for someone whose primary decorating scheme seems to be "skulls." It's also the time of year I buy all my socks. (Yes, all of my socks feature bats or black cats or dancing skeletons. It's true.)
On the other hand, I hate it. Halloween is for stitchers/crafters/skull aficionados what New Year's Eve is to serious drinkers: Amateur night. Everyone figures that because I sew, I'm going to have this awesome costume idea/execution that I've been working on since June. "Ooh, you're so creative... and you do all that sewing... What are you going to be? This'll be great!" That's a lot of pressure! And why do I have to BE anything?
I'm not so crazy about the idea that I need to come up with something particularly funny or punny or topical or gruesome. How about if I just make something cool? Or pretty? Or elaborate? A big period costume? Well, if I do THAT, then I really do have to go all out, being slightly compulsive (oh come on, it's another trait stitchers tend to share -- that and pack-rattitude). And I've never really done that sort of big project. Plus, the kinds of places I'd go, the parties I'd attend, aren't exactly the... elaborate sorts of affairs.
Except maybe this year.
I'm considering a formal, masks-mandatory masquerade for devil's night. And that means... formal. Not just formal, but dark -- in attitude -- formal. Well. Let's see what we can do about that.
This is the "costume" I'm considering.
And this is the color.
But with black accents and other nasty details (to be expanded upon later). I ordered both fuchsia sateen and twill -- 10 yards of each! -- from Fabric.com yesterday; I'll decide which one I want to use once they arrive. It's a fairly large project for me-of-the-instant-gratification, so send me some encouragement, or at least wish me luck.
On the one hand, I love it. Fall is my favorite time of year, and for the past several, I've taken Halloween-week off from work. It's a great time for a road trip, and there are always wonderfully macabre and hoakishly paranormal shenanigans to be found. As Halloween becomes a more legit/adult holiday -- by which I mean selling opportunity -- the gewgaws and thingamajigs and other decorative trappings have improved greatly, which turns out to be important for someone whose primary decorating scheme seems to be "skulls." It's also the time of year I buy all my socks. (Yes, all of my socks feature bats or black cats or dancing skeletons. It's true.)
On the other hand, I hate it. Halloween is for stitchers/crafters/skull aficionados what New Year's Eve is to serious drinkers: Amateur night. Everyone figures that because I sew, I'm going to have this awesome costume idea/execution that I've been working on since June. "Ooh, you're so creative... and you do all that sewing... What are you going to be? This'll be great!" That's a lot of pressure! And why do I have to BE anything?
I'm not so crazy about the idea that I need to come up with something particularly funny or punny or topical or gruesome. How about if I just make something cool? Or pretty? Or elaborate? A big period costume? Well, if I do THAT, then I really do have to go all out, being slightly compulsive (oh come on, it's another trait stitchers tend to share -- that and pack-rattitude). And I've never really done that sort of big project. Plus, the kinds of places I'd go, the parties I'd attend, aren't exactly the... elaborate sorts of affairs.
Except maybe this year.
I'm considering a formal, masks-mandatory masquerade for devil's night. And that means... formal. Not just formal, but dark -- in attitude -- formal. Well. Let's see what we can do about that.
This is the "costume" I'm considering.
And this is the color.
But with black accents and other nasty details (to be expanded upon later). I ordered both fuchsia sateen and twill -- 10 yards of each! -- from Fabric.com yesterday; I'll decide which one I want to use once they arrive. It's a fairly large project for me-of-the-instant-gratification, so send me some encouragement, or at least wish me luck.
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