I know, I know....

Bad Sarah.

No blog posts in quite a while, and Google Reader says I have 91 blogs to read! Shame on me!

But I have been spending some awesome times with Mom and my younger brother... and I was in the Christmas Eve service at church, which seems to be becoming a bit of a tradition...

On the crafting front, I have an awesome skirt in progress for a cousin... She got the pieces in a box for Christmas and before I did a 5 or 6-tiered gathered skirt, I wanted to know she'd like the colors.

I also have some other presents up my sleeve... more on them later.

Right now I have to go wash up after helping my mom in the calf barn feeding her 4-legged babies... She takes care of the milk cow's calves so that they can drink milk replacer and we can drink their milk. I bottle-fed 3 today, and did buckets and watered lots...

Pictures soon! Food now....

I am enjoying my family and crafting LOTS... Pictures to come, so sorry I have neglected you guys but family first. We are playing Taboo and I am typing between turns, but this is a REALLY fun game. Here we are earlier. Even the littlest ones.

Done!!!!

I am interrupting my regularly-scheduled posting to inform you, dear reader, that I am DONE!!!

As in no more, that is all.... And I am oh-so-happy about it. And pulling out the sewing machine while I stay with Boy's family for a weekend or so and making a frenzy of Christmas presents and reclaiming some awesome garments.

So post with pictures to come. For now imagine me doing a giant happy dance in my pajamas because I slept WAY in after not sleeping for 40 hours... In my defense, I was up by noon...

Family Traditions

Nicki, over at Mimi's Room, posted about Christmas traditions today, and challenged her readers to do the same. So I did. And now I wanna hear about yours. Write a whole post if you like, but here's my challenge: Comment on this post with your favorite element of your family tradition, pretty please...

Every Christmas, there are certain things we as a family get together to do... In my extended family on my mom's side, we draw names from a hat, and have a Secret Santa... More often than not that side of the family ALL gathers for Thanksgiving, and so we have Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. It's quite a feat to get everyone together, as my mom is the youngest of 5, and there are 17 grandchildren and 3 great-grands... The catch is that half of the grandkids are grown. I am in the middle and 20... And it is an adventure to get us all together and feed us all out of one kitchen... Thank goodness for double ovens.
This is just grandchildren and great-grandchildren... There were 7 adults and a few friends too... One family was missing last year. And everyone in this picture went to the movies after dinner and we saw Enchanted.
The adults cleaned up and hung out while all of us were gone, minus the baby I am holding... btw, not mine. Her proud daddy is standing right next to me... And the third great-grand was born about a month after this was taken.

We do have one really awesome tradition on a smaller scale... In my family, we put Jesus in the manger on Christmas Eve after a candlelight service, and we get to open one present each... Then we put on PJs, wait up for Santa, and have latkes and Pancakes Christmas morning.

my attempt at a tutiorial

As it is finals week, the last thing I want to do is learn something. But if you scrapbook, this might help you as much as it helped me! This page needed some help so I made a kind of woven paper to fill up spaces in my cousin's graduation... Pen just wouldn't cut it. I used a rotary cutter to make strips no smaller than 1/8 of an inch, and no larger than 3/8, and this AMAZING glue roller-ball pen... We're talking amazing. I wove the paper like we wove placemats for grade school... Over under over under! It was a bit tedious, but the impact is nice. The open weave in Naval Academy colors is exactly what this page needed.
Glue keeps pieces together after cuts.

SWAPping has a purpose.

I havn't done much at all to follow along in SWAP land. If I am being honest, I didn't think about how it could have purpose other than adding some cute stuff to my wardrobe and teaching me things.

Then I realized I have a lot of clothing, thanks in no small part to pictures if my closet, and this article but I didn't have many good staple pieces that I would feel comforable wearing all of the time and being the woman in the airport with the tiny bag.

So now my SWAP has more of a purpose at the moment... I am going to make the pieces I need to coordinate and travel well and fill in gaps in my wardrobe. The bottoms don't all have to go with each other, and if the tops don't go with every bottom it won't be the end of the world. I'm not an official entrant because I'm playing with some of the rules to meet my needs, and I may not make all of the pieces. Just what time and money allow. My jacket is going to be red, so that won't be a big deal to pair with black or brown.

• I will use black and grey in bottoms with my browns
• I will make a black skirt on the casual side that still has structure
  
• I'll make a brown dress that won't wrinkle all to hell and that I can wear dressed up and down
• I'll make attempts to make tops, but won't stress over them. It'll be okay

Okay, off to think some more... maybe find some inspiration. I really need to study though. A storyboard will have to come later.

Small Spaces....

Lots of STUFF to put in them!!!

I, as y'all have doubtless figured out, am a college student. And as such, I have learned that you have to squeeze everything you can out of your closet space...

My closet is about 3 feet wide, and goes floor to ceiling. The bar to hang things on has a shelf, but is on the low side...

And I know, I know, I should probably get rid of some of those clothes to make everything fit.... But I went through after I saw just how crowded things look in the pictures, and really, the only things I don't wear in all of that are the ones that are too big because what they say about someone who sews for themselves getting to stuff for themselves is SO true.

Some key things...

-Tap nails will hold scarves and have them ready to go
matching hangers are your friends.... BUT not if they are all wires... I am rid of all wire hangers! It was an accomplishment, trust me. The stick-ums with the Command stuff by 3M are also VERY friendly to all kinds of paint finishes. I put them in every graduation/housewarming present I give to people living in space that isn't permanently theirs. That's what's holding purses and stuff.

-A shoe rack is also your friend... and the best ones aren't always meant for shoes. It keeps all 10 pairs that are my favorites handy, and the rest go in an inexpensive bin on the floor. These organizers come in different widths, and it is SOOO worth it to buy the canvas ones for a few extra dollars. The one in the photo has held up through LOTS... 5 moves.

-A system that I follow EVERY time I put things away. Even if it looks crowded, I know where everything is, and what I have. My clothes are mostly organized by type of clothing: light jackets/blazers, then long-sleeve shirts, then medium-sleeves, then sleeveless, then skirts, skirt suits, pants, pant suits, formalwear, and winter-weight coats.

-A separate place for sweaters and sweatshirts. They are in bins, taking care of vertical space! Using the space above the rack where everything hangs is crucial. My closet was a mess before I got those bins. If my sweaters were on hangers, they would take up space AND get deformed! Sweaters are sorted by sleeve length and hoodies are on top. That vertical space also holds emergency supplies like a first aid kit and my asthma stuff. Laundry supplies also have a home. So do extra hangers.

Okay. That was this week's small space. There are a few to do... But it's finals week, so everything is SUCH a mess!

I am about to go work on Christmas presents but I wanted to share this with you first...

There's a great giveaway going on at Momma MC...
Check it out!

Milestone!

Sometime Thursday, my little number of times people have seen this page count hit 1000!

I feel like that might just be a beginner's blog milestone...

And another possible milestone... I might start a mini series of posts... About making small spaces do big things... I live in a dorm room so I have kinda mastered the art in some ways. I have too much stuff and it has to fit somehow... I was thinking about that while putting my clothes away. Wouldn't that be fun??

But I have a crafty post, a theater post, and a camera with legs before that'll happen.

Happy weekend!

I am an idiot.

That is all. Just felt the need to share my complete and total stupidity with y'all out there in blogland.
Now I have class and a paper due 5 hours before I thought it was. bah.

Craft Addict Christmas!!!

Mary at Confesssions of a Craft Addict is giving away this amazing package to any of you in the lower 48 who are all-around crafters.... check it out and hope I win!

yay! Picture time!

It fits.
On my body.
Whew!

Not gonna lie, there are fitting problems... like those ripples on the bodice. I don't think that's just because I used a relatively cheap muslin, so boo...
The dress is as fitted as I want for it to be, meaning it is not too tight or too loose. And that's on the first shot at drafting, so I am pretty pleased with myself. But there are things I need to fix on the muslin...

• those ripples! urgh...
• A lining. The pictures you see are unlined. I will have to take the dress apart for a lining pattern, so yeah....
• room for cups maybe? The back means no conventional bra, strapless or otherwise, so I am trying to decide if I want to mess with an unconventional one... Right now I am leaning towards no. If I already had one I'd do it...
• the straps

See anything else?

Thanksgiving pictures

I drove 12 hours one-way to spend Thanksgiving with my Grandma! It was amazing... The stories alone, about my aunt and uncle and dad, my grandparents growing up, would have been well worth the trip. We've talked about doing it on the other side of the family, but I thought about it again tonight. We need to record these stories. I don't know if any of you out there are tech savvy, but I can't help but think it would be an amazing thing to sit down with wedding pictures or baby pictures or no pictures and just tell stories... pass the voices and the experiences on to generations to come.

I had a white Thanksgiving...
I slept in. I went shopping for scrapbooking supplies, and pajamas, and I slept in. I spent time chilling out with my grandma, and scrapbpooked and cooked and ate and talked and just enjoyed it. I also got to see my aunt Dalene and Uncle Gerry, and look at all of Aunt Dalene's scrapbooks... She has quite a few! Hers are pretty! Okay. Off to the study place. But I will leave you with a teaser: Pictures now exist of me in the muslin of the red dress! You'll just have to come back and see.

mind block...

I hate those. Don't you hate those? This one needs to end SOON! I have to finish this before 1:20!

Had to vent. Real post about Thanksgiving tonight. With Pictures.

December?

It has felt something like winter here for quite some time, but for some reason I still thought of December as being in the distant future... Wintery weather has been going on all around, and snow started a while back... But snow means playtime in my head. One of my favorite songs around this time of year is by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra, and it's called Winter Weather, and I love it. I do. But I assocoate it with snow, not December...

I had to write 12/1/2008 on a paper today.... and I am going to take a moment to protest. It's not allowed to be December yet. Because December means the end of the term. And the end of the term means the end of the year. And the end of the year means Christmas... And I'm not ready for Christmas yet. The boyfriend was talking about how he has half of his Christmas shopping done... grr... He has finished with me, and I've barely started on him. (On that note, if anyone knows where to find sweater knit that is indestructable, let me know.)
The end of the year also means this year has flown by... holy cow... So much to do before the end of the year. That list...
Okay, now for me to quit with the psyching myself out and go find sources for a rocking presentation...

Home again home again

And off to Homeworkland after my boyfriend feeds me... there is a serious rumbly in my tumbly.

I will leave y'all with a promise of pictures to come tomorrow.... AFTER I write my giant presentation. And the thought that Mapquest can't possibly predict an accurate travel time.

Has it really been a month?

Really?

A month ago I decided to start this blog... and I think, because it was right before NaBloPoMo, I've succeeded in becoming something of a blogger. But I've only been at this for a month... I want to know what y'all think!

So, in the spirit of the Liberal Arts education I am recieving, and the peer critiques I write on papers, I want some suggestions...

Please comment on this post with one good thing and one bad thing... but the catch is, as my professors require me to offer a way to fix what's wrong, I'd like ideas from you to fix what's wrong.

Adventure time...

... into the world of Black Friday shopping.

Yesterday, after a full thanksgiving dinner for two, Grandma and I decided to have a little Black Friday trip to Ace Hardware for Amaryllis bulbs and a new scrapbooking store, if they were open. We will be looking for some fun double-sided 8.5-by-11 inch paper for the cutest little card I have ever seen that is made with just folds. Grandma stamps and makes cards, but doesn't really scrapbook... She's more than happy to indulge me though... She actually bought me my first scrapbook and all the stuff to go with it!

The drive up was L-O-N-G! Apparently I am prone to being stuck in traffic, and not supposed to have to drive thru Detroit! I will have a much easier trip back knowing that one. I made it, safe and sound, after 12 hours... one of which was me getting lost once off of the interstate! Grandma says finding it in daylight will make the trip home easier.

I'm off to enjoy our venture!

Happy Day!

I know not all who read celebrate thanksgiving, but I'm gonna say it anyway.... Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This is a favorite day of mine because it's a chance to really pause and be thankful, and spend it with family... however you define it. This year I've been fortunate enough to have multiple thanksgivings... one with my "family" here on campus, one with Disciples on Campus, and today, one with my grandmother. Thanks is expressed at all three, and so is taking that time out to be with those who you care about and love. While I'll miss the big, boistrous thanksgiving at home with my maternal grandmother, her 17 grandchildren and their parents, I get to take a day with my dad's mom, as her only granddaughter. I'm writing this ahead of time, but I know I'll be thankful for the chance to spend time with such an awesome woman.

Hope you take time to be thankful today!

The List...

When this is posted, I will be somewhere between Kentucky and Michigan, but I did want to make sure there was something for every day of November... I have made it this far, not giving up now! I'll more than likely check comments, but will be spending much less time than usual online until I get back to school. But remember me today... first big drive ever!

Okay, got the challenge from C at Fuzzy Sheep Crafts. She is challenging everyone who reads to make THE list... you know, the ultimate crafty to-do that we should all keep running but don't want to because it seems like such a daunting task.
We are supposed to cross off as applicable, with the idea being to have a good chunk done by Christmas... I am giving myself to January 4, when school starts again to do it all, simply because I know me, and with finals little to no progress will have been made.

edit: The goal, for me at least, will be to make a big dent, not to finish everything on the list... wow, I wouldn't sleep if that were the case... And because I can't figure out how to strikethrough, "done" things will be in blue.



Sewing:

Fix-its
-hem 4+ pairs of pants(more?)
-do something w/ buttonholes on peacoat
-take in waists on 4+ pr pants, sew back pockets shut and cut out on some
-take in black cocktail dress

Making/Finishing
-red dress for formal in Jan.
-SWAP pieces (need to decide if I really have the time/resources to follow along...)
-sweater-knit dress
-chocolate dress
-Hello Sailor pants
-chocolate cord skirt
-tan linen skirt... need to find fun way to dress it up, it's a plain jane thing right now... maybe some kickpleats in a contrast w/ matching contrast waistband?
-red pants
-tops for Swap? I have sketches and I'd draft patterns or find them... no clue yet.
-silvery-gold Dupioni dress for formal in April
-blue herringbone purse
-curtain fix
-draft pullover pattern
-messenger bag
-2 laundry bags for grads to fill with:
-fleece blankets
-a book about college
-notepad, envelopes, stamps
-smaller bags: tote for the girl, messenger for the boy

Pad and adjust dressform from Salvation Army... In really good shape just a bit small! Will be SO nice for hems and things...

Scrapbooking:
-Order pictures for evets this year
-organize paper stash-- figure that one out...
-Pages!
-update table of contents
-2-pg spread of childhood... need to see if pics to fill gaps exist! (started)
-Finish camp 05
-Finish Decathlon
-Finish Epworth 06
-Finish grad/prom 06
-camp 06
-last summer, look back
-Freshman year:
-Sorority fun times
-Friends and craziness, Rocky Horror
-Family
-Summer
-Nessie's wedding
-Sophomore Year
-Internship staff and fun times
-sorority fun times... family tree w/littles!
-Friends
-Tgiving/Christmas w/ family
-fun times
-Summer... first sermon!
-Junior Year
-Sorority fun times
-Friends
-Visit w.Grandma

Knitting:
Learn to purl

I'm all alone

So, it turns out I'll be all alone on the 8-hour drive tomorrow... sigh.

I am prepared though!

iPod hands-free setup
Awesome playlist with singalong music
.... so I got the tunes

homemade choconilla rice krispy treats
trail mix
oranges
water
Diet Coke
.... so I got the snacks

boyfriend's car with oil change completed
good mapquest directions will be supplemented by Grandma this afternoon
.... so I got the wheels

warm peacoat
sweaters
rainboots which will serve as snowboots
warm pjs
.... so I got the clothes

Am I forgetting anything crucial for my first car trip alone?

finished!

My scarf is done, although now I wish it were about a foot longer... I dunno. I will think about it and decide later... And there will be pictures later too!

My little brother will be here sometime tonight or tomorrow... We are driving 8 hours to Michigan to see my Grandma for Thanksgiving! She hasn't seen us in 2 years, because the drive from home is 18 hours, and plane tickets havn't been an option. She's really really really excited, and I am too, and the little brother will be once he gets past the idea of riding a greyhound bus. That scarf is going to be quite handy... the temp there won't get above 36 according to the weatherman.

Pink Carnation

An AMAZING book.

Go read it. Now. I just finished it, after getting WAY sucked in. Which means I don't have a ton of time to write, as I have homework...

But I will tell all of you I am within 1 foot of finishing my scarf...

Books!

Okay, so Gwen, over at After the Dress passed on a bookworm meme to me, and the rules were that you pick up the closest book to you and open it to page 56 and write out the fifth sentence and a few after that. I love books. This is right up my alley... but I DID cheat, because the books right next to me were all textbooks, and I picked up the closest fun book.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation is by Lauren Willig, and I just started it so I am kinda hoping nothing exciting happens on page 56:

A betrothed, perhaps? "You should count yourself lucky, my lord, At least it's not sheep."
"No, they just always behave like them."
Their shared laughter rolled softly through the dim room.

... And I stopped there. If I had kept going, I would have gotten sucked in, and that's my gym book... meaning I only read it when I go work out.... It's my version of "me" time... I don't take my cell phone, just my iPod and a book, and I ride the bike and read. It's a good thing for me, especially right now. So I am gonna go work out so that I can read!

But first I have to pass on the challenge:
Margeaux at The Mux Stops Here
CBear at Fuzzy Sheep Crafts
Nicki at Mimi's Room
Fiona at The Winking Frog
Enith at Handmade Sisters

ps... ladies disregard this if you don't like these... I know most of you played the last one!

Twilight...

Go see it... It may not be exactly like the books, and it'll never be as good as my imagination, but go. see. this. movie.

I know what I am doing for Christmas presents!!!

Recycling fabric... Between my job getting rid of a lot and a friend cleaning out her closet, I will be set to do handmade things for many friends. And it won't cost me much, because I'm recycling pieces and giving them new life!
It's a good thing this is all happening now... I still have time to make things!

On a completely separate note, thank you all SO much for your comments... It's so nice to know someone really reads this. And your advice has been invaluable. I have done a lot of sewing, but drafting and designing is still new to me and you all have given me SO much good advice!

Mini Thanksgiving

On the Menu: what went wrong

• Turkey Breast didn't count thaw time, so it took way way way longer
  
• Mashed potatoes and gravy nada
  
• stuffing guesstimated, again, took not enough time, possibly too much liquid
  
• green bean casserole how do you manage to screw that up?
  
• cranberry sauce I forgotted it
  
• bread/rolls umm... yeah, fogot this too... It'll be toast and croutons before too long.
  
• cheesecake squares never made it to squares, still in my fridge
  

Yeah, so a turkey breast takes a long time to cook... sitting and waiting and smelling it is not the funnest way to pass the time either... Now it is in the process of becoming turkey and dumplings. I don't know why I had no brain for this today... Probably my current state of running on fumes. I promise, I can cook. Tomorrow's post will be about the dinnerthat was right that I made almost a week ago.

Pictures- A little later than the wee small hours

Yeah... I went to bed...

But here it is. The mannequin, whose name is Esmerelda, is not my size anywhere, but she totally did an amazing job as a stand-in. The wrinkles are filled in on me, for the most part. I actually have to add a bit thru the ribs and bust because I underestimated.

The dress falls around mid-calf, if not a little above it, and I'll be adding at least an inch to the bottom of everything when I cut it out.

Okay, the back.



Only one side has the flap that will be done in an accent fabric you havn't seen yet... But it will be symmetric, I promise. The back detail is making me think more and more about putting the zipper in the side, especially after reading a set of posts about side zippers on Pins and Needles.

The skirt is pretty fun too... it has 8 godets, one at each seam... They are each twelve inches at the bottom, so I'm pretty excited about that.... I'd still have a full circle in the skirt if I took 2 out, so this will definately be a fun dress to twirl in.

Which may or may not clarify my lining questions... I am pretty sure I am going to line, but do I need to do a lining with 8 gores or would a circle work?

If I did a circle for the bottom, attatching a petticoat ruffle would be a snap... I could do something fun in a contrast, or even mix colors of tuelle, add to the swish of Taffeta...

Okay. Really, that paper is not gonna write itself! Thanks for all of the advice so far! I can't wait to hear what your reccomendations are.

The Dress...

You know, writing the title like that makes it seem like I am talking about my wedding gown... which, if I still blog in a few years, you'll hear plenty about, as I think I'll make it... But I am 20 years old, and the BF and I have only been dating for around 7 months.
but I am talking about my red dress. Due to NaBloPoMo, I do need to go ahead and post before I outline yet another paper... and I forgot to bring my camera and cord with me to the study lounge. So pictures will come somewhere in the wee small hours of the AM.
Still debating on a few things, and I would love advice from the more experienced garment makers out there, so pretty please feel free to comment! I know pictures will help immensely with you being able to answer, but I figured I'd go ahead and ask.

Do I need lining and bones?
Do I need to move the zipper to the side seam?
What do you think of a petticoat?

On a last note, I am SO thrilled I found my copy of Bridal Couture by Susan Khalje... While the styles may be a bit dated, these are still good techniques. And it's good things to know for any cocktail attire, not just wedding gowns...

Okay, really leaving this time!

Initiates! And mental progress...

Our sorority had initiation today for our most recent pledge class! I am SO excited for them... And the portability of my scarf-in progress means it went with me to a conference last night, and it is now well over 4 times the length of my hand from finger to wrist.... when I left it was only 3! The students all had fun, and we had an amazing discussion about call and ministry last night. They came from all over the USA, many from further south, and got to see snow on cars and in the air this morning... It didn't stick and had melted by the time we got out of church, but it was there! The ones from Georgia, Alabama and Florida were like 5-year olds, as excited as can be.

Kay, well I am off to unwrinkle my dress and think some about boning and lining it, thus putting in a petticoat, vs. not boning and facing, thus letting the dress drape to my shape... And if I should move the zipper... I read a blog called Pins and Needles that is making me think more about the polished look that lining and boning and including a petticoat would give... and showing techniques that make me wanna try!

portable crafts

Things that I can carry around and work on while sitting and carrying on a conversation or really doing nothing at all are really nice... I am pretty taken with knitting right now. It's fun in the car, I can do it while hanging out with friends, and because it's me they don't find it strange.

A friend was taking photos for a photography class and needed models... He was capturing personalitites, and had me, though I was ready to put my knitting down, keep going because I am just... me.
At rehearsals for many shows, I'll start making purses, some covered in appliqes, and call them rehearsal purses... It's something to occupy my hands whle I watch a show or sit in a car or do something else that is mundane and allows me to fit these little moments of craftiness into everydau life, a way to get away and connect with a creative side I do my best to nurture and develop.
Right now I am helping to facilitate at a conference for high school students in our denomination who are considering vocational ministry as a career, and while they are talking to people who have done it, I am going to knit. There may be papers to write, but knitting is it for me today... until later anyway. Right now I'm too sleepy.

Oh, and the Chanticleers.... AMAZING. Go see them if you ever get the chance. Birthday dinner went well, but I am going to write about it WITH recipes.

time and performing arts

Time always seems to run out. I feel like I was complaining about a paper yesterday, and today I am SO pumped because I am going to see the Chanticleers tonight with my boyfriend for his birthday... gotta love Grammy award winning a Capella music... and my school giving people tickets... Thank goodness for the performing arts. The entire reason I sew as well as I do today. Right now a cup of coffee and my Greek are calling me... I have a test in an hour. Studying didn't happen last night because I was watching a performance of the Importance of Being Earnest we had to drive for an hour to get to... sigh. Must...study...
Dress cutting out MIGHT happen this weekend...At least pictures of the muslin. Cross your fingers that I get the time!

You play too!

Copy, paste and play along!

1. Where is your cell phone? In my pocket
2. Your significant other? The birthday boy today... wonderful everyday
3. Your hair? curly and auburn
4. Your daughter? someday
5. Your son? someday
6. Your favorite thing? learning and experimenting and loving and growing
7. Your dream last night?don't remember
8. Your favorite drink? Ale 7
9. Your goal? be me in the best way I can
10. The room you’re in? a computer lab at school
11. Your church? DOC! One at home and one here, both are a big "extended family" to me
12. Your fear? not knowing
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? done with school but not done learning
14. Where were you last night?at school... in rehearsal and at a Bible study
15. What you’re not? anywhere near perfect
16. Muffins? choclate chip cappuchino
17. One of your wish list items? scrapbook organizers and barstools
18. Where you grew up? all over the US of A
19. The last thing you did? ate a quick lunch
20. What are you wearing? brown trouser pants, a white lace tank top with a red overshirt, and brown mary janes
21. Your TV? Brothers and Sisters
22. Your pets? none
23. Your computer? HP laptop... love her! Her name is Stella.
24. Your life? can't complain
25. Your mood? decent, excited to go cook
26. Missing someone? my family
27. Your car? a saab as old as me
28. Something you’re not wearing? makeup
29. Favorite store? Old Navy for clothes
30. Your summer? bliss
31. Like(love) someone? the family God gave me biologically and the one God gave me through camraderie
32. Your favorite color? green
33. Last time you laughed? last night
34. Last time you cried? Sunday
35. Who will repost this? We'll see!

exciting things

YAY!!!

I just had the first reading of my scene with my actors... I am directing the first scene of Barefoot in the Park for a final project in an Intro to directing scene, and we read through it with the two main charachters and I'm really excited! It's going to be super super fun and awesome and I am a happy camper.

In other news, my lovely boyfriend donated an entire trashbag of ribbon to the costume shop, on the condition that I get to pick first!! A lady who ran a flower shop some years back wanted to get rid of it, so he brought it up to the shop.... I have already picked out a few things, so pictures soon... There are a few things that will be Christmas presents though, so those pictures will come later.... but Enith's blog made me realize I should get off my tush and start thinking about these things!

And I am hoping to find time to alter and rip out the muslin, and will have pictures of me in it (maybe) this time Monday!

Srapbook explosion!

That would be my supplies... Totally choosing to explode, and doing a pretty good job... I mean I guess it helps that they kind don't get too tamed... But I decuded to pull them and my scrapbook out. My grandma got me the scrapbook I am still using and working in today when I was in high school and I like to think I've done it justice, outside of the fact that I am 2 years behind in the whole scrapbook. Catchup, I'm hoping, will happen a little before Thanksgiving when I see her... But she'll know her gift was used!

The dress is feeling a little neglected, but I am fixing the things that are wrong with the muslin this week, and then cutting and figuring out the facings. So I'll , of course, let you know how it goes.

Pay it forward

I am gonna pay it forward... I love the ideas behind things like this. If you(yes you) are one of the first three to comment on this post, I will, in the next 365 days, send you a crafty wonderful something.

What's the catch you ask? Well.... There is one... You have to have a blog and be willing to do the same thing for three other people. That's just how it works. You can thank my Sew Craft Blog group buddy, Cody, who is at Death By Denim.

Ready set go!

question

The paper is calling, and so, in response, I am gonna be short this morning... But I think I am gonna start asking a question on Mondays... Please feel free to reply!What always makes you feel better about the craziness that is life? How do you deal with all of the things the world throws at you? How did you do it at 20?



I know college is crazy and life even more so, but sometimes the whole-I'm-20-years-old-and-I-need-to-figure-my-life-out-thing is gonna happen, and I am GOING to have to deal with it, but it just seems like a lot right now and I am pulling my hair out, but I'll be back Tuesday night or Wednesday... when this paper is done and I have some of my sanity back.



Thanks for listening... I know this is usually about anachronistic things that shouldn't be instead of hard questions as old as time.... Back Wednesday with better things to say and hopefully some kick-butt things to say about projects.

A dress, a play, and a paper.

So my Muslin is complete! All of the pieces are together, and I slipped it on for a first fitting, and you know what I forgot? My camera. But it'll be okay, y'all will see it soon enough. Right now you can see my poppy red taffeta... It is lightweight and I think it'll drape beautifully for the dress.... Oh I am so excited... The skirt is a circle and then some, and I really can't wait to spin and spin and spin! Good thing since December 5 is getting close...

In other news, we closed our production of the Crucible last night, after 5 out of 6 performances being SOLD OUT!!! It was SO cool. The cast did an amazing job with it, the costumes were very effective, and I think everyone was punch-proud, even if they were ready for it to be over.

And now off to write a paper. And think about how I'll make it through the rest of this semester... sigh...

Mom's favorites

These are 2 favorites that get eaten quite a bit at home, and that we make so much we don't use recipies for... Sorry for my poor approximations... If I had access to a kitchen I'd make these with measurements before posting!

Pot Roast

A favorite... we get the cut for one that will feeod our extended family more often than not because it'll stay good and warm in a crockpot... I like the 2-3 lb variety myself, but bigger or smaller works depending on the size of your crockpot and your family.
Brown the roast with oil, salt, and pepper on all sides and then put it in a crockpot. Cover with water and add an envelope of French Onion Soup mix. Let cook overnight on low. About 4 hours before you would like to eat, add potatoes(cubed in 1-2 inch pieces), baby carrots, and 1/2 of a chopped onion. We use a potato for every person and at least one for the pot, and a handful of carrots for every 2 people.
Delicious with little to no effort!

Biscuits and Gravy

Preheat the oven for your favorite biscuits(I confess, I use the ones in the freezer section by White Lily)

Brown one pound of breakfast sausage in a skillet the same way you would ground beef,seasoning with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders to taste. Drain it well, put your biscuits in the oven, and turn your heat setting to low. Put enough milk in the pan to coat the sausage, and if you are feeding a larger group, to colver it. In a coffee or measuring cup, combine another cup of milk with one or two tablespoons of flour, and mix with a fork, getting out as many lumps as possible. When the milk in the pan begins to simmer, add the mixture, using your fork to catch lumps. The milk and flour will thicken, if you're lucky, at about the time your biscuits are golden brown. If it's too thick for your taste, you can always add more milk, or half milk and half water.


On another note completely, I just now figured out how to moderate my comments, so they'll appear more quickly from here on out. I WILL get the hang of this!

Thanks Mom!

I grew up on a lot of one-casserole dish/pot foods that I didn't realize were so amazingly good and homey that it's not even funny.... If we hadn't walked down the frozen food isles to pick up vegetables or the occasional pizza and ice cream for treats, I wouldn't have known instant dinners existed. Many of my friends are amazed I can cook, and that I never had instant potatoes or the like growing up....
I didn't know how big of a deal it was until I was kinda an adult myself, and making time for things like cooking... and encountering those who didn't ever have sit-down dinners and homemade meals. So this post goes out to mom, and moms and dads everywhere who do the same kind of things for their families, even though life is crazy. You mamas probably already know these "recipes" but I am going to post them tomorrow just the same.

knitting

My first-ever knitting project is making progress... It's over 2 feet long! I kind of layered it over my lap to make a prettier picture, so you can't really see the length, but you can't see my foibles either so it's a compromise. I carry it around lots so I can knit when I have time, and as the meetings I go to are mostly informal, my knitting is permissable.

I'm hoping to have the scarf done by the time it gets cold so that I can wear it... I decided not to give it away because it has SO much stuff wrong with it... and that scarf and I have learned together... So I am all for keeping it to myself and giving the next few away. If I pick up knitting again... I'll probably have my hands full sewing the SWAP!

SWAP fabrics!

You know what those are? Virtual swatches... of my first three swap fabrics. I have decided to do a palatte of browns, blues, and grays. From Left to right, they are a linen-esque fabric for an a-line skirt, the blue herringbone for a handbag with appiques, possibly trim on some other pieces, and a chocolatey brown courderoy that looks oddly red in this picture.... I've also got some things picked out in fabric.com, so more to come!

Sew Craft Blog!!!

I stumbled on this site a while ago, and I'm now a member!!!


Isn't it exciting??? My group Blogroll is up, and I'm kinda excited to know that people other than me are reading this. Welcome ladies!

a BIG descision and a little one

So our nation is in the midst of making a BIG descision, and I made a comparitively small descision... to participate in the SWAP 2009. I'm doing the Stitcher's Guild shopper's SWAP

SWAP Plan:

• 4 bottoms...shorts, skirts, jeans, pants, or kilts
• 6 tops... tshirts, blouses, or camisoles
• 1 jacket - a tailored blazer, jeans-style jacket or sweater will do, as long as it looks right with everything else.
• I'm planning to add a dress
• I'm also going to add a bag because it fits with the theme.

The theme is a week in your real life... I am a student, and very much excited about the idea of making clothing for my life as a student... It's amazing. I'm not doing the official swap because
So now I am onto it! I will be looking at patterns, and fabric.com will be getting some GREAT business from me!

YAY!!!

Some pictures!!!

First of all.... I hope you GO VOTE!!!

And second... Pictures of the dress muslin.
I know, I know, it's incredibly wrinkled... That's because I transport it back and forth between my dorm room and the sewing shop to work on it. I think you generally get the idea though.... Progress is being made! It's cut out and stitched together partially.... I am SOO glad I can see a difference... It's VERY close to a first fitting so I'm getting excited!

On the left is a picture of the pieces of the original dress... Sadly I didn't think to take one before I took it apart... I didn't know I would be blogging all of this! But I was glad to give new life to an old piece. It makes me happy to think that I can recycle the material in this dress to make something new but old... It was a really cool thought and it gave purpose to something that might not have one otherwise. I'm going to leave you with some more pictures later when I can make them behave, but now it's off to homework!

Tomorrow will change history.

We elect the next President of the United States tomorrow, and, as someone who has oficially voted, if by absentee, for the first time, I am in awe of the process by which this entire thing is happening, and how much deoends on which box people around the nation fill in tomorrow... It's an awe-inspiring thing to think about, and I am proud to say I am a part of that choice.

The politics surrounding elections can be unfortunate when it comes down to the gritty, mudslinging side of it, but to be able to make a CHOICE is one we should all feel priveleged to make. So make up your mind if you havn't... and if you need help visit Glassbooth.
See which candidate believes the same things you do.

NEW URL!!!

So I figured absofrigginlutely wasn't very friendly, and was very random.... and you can now find me at ...
http://www.anachronismsarah.blogspot.com

Which i guess you know if you are here. I don't know how this works and if you can still get here from absofrigginlutely... you can't. Oh boy. Good thing nobody really reads this yet.

long days

I love theatre, but sometimes..... Sigh. spending 6 and a half hours there is a lot in one day.

A little more about the awesome dress... I finished the muslin today, minus the facings... and lost my camera so I can't show you the wonderfulness that it is so far...

Off to clean my room and do homework, and try not to be distracted by all of the awesome sewing blogs I am encountering! I had no idea there were so many out there... I joined the forum at Sew, Mama, Sew and I love it! Discovering all of the sewing bloggers out there has been nifty.

A new project

Yesterday, I cut out pieces for the pattern of a dress I am making based on a late 1950's, early 1960's piece that was absolutely falling apart, and about 2 inches shy of fitting me in both waist and bust.
I decided to pay homage to this vintage wonderfullness by taking the dress and making it my own... I am adding gores at every seam and shaping the back and front to be more unique. I am pretty excited about taking something peachy and sweet and making it racy and red.

I took some awesome pictures, and then, being myself, left them... but it's NaBloPoMo so I'll get em up soon.

The start of a beautiful thing...

2 years ago, I attempted to, from scratch, design and create a dress... And I took the time to look at patterns, I f=did sketches in class and while I needed to be doing other things, and I talked to my mom about it, and even scanned a sketch to send to her... I was so proud, to think I could design and make something at the age of 18.

The back of the dress was to be low... very low. And I was excited to find fabric to make it, after debating over many color combinations... Pinks and browns, maybe with lace appliques at the back? Or I could finish the dress way before the event I was going to wear it to and do embroidery to hide the joining between the two fabrics.


Needless to say, I had BIG ideas. I made a ton of sketches... I found the perfect fabrics, and even made a necklace to match... I thought I had all the time in the world to finish the dress before the Panhellenic Presentation Ball, and didn't take into consideration that I was a costume tech in a show called Earthrock of Argos, and still getting used to a college schedule. It got pretty close to even being able to finish, much less embroider.... We were hemming like mad backstage the night of the show, and embroidrey? HA! I was lucky to have the dress done. But I learned a lot. And it was the start of the whole concept of making my own dresses and having the guts to try and try again, with and without patterns.

In the past two years, I have designed tons of dresses, and made a few of those designs realities... and I'm thinking experience could make this dress with its princess seams and strange edges a whole new thing... What do you think? Should I try it?

make me a blogger

kay.
So National Blog Posting Month... NaBloPoMo as I have heard it called... Starts in, oh, 3 days, and I'm thinking I might try it and make a blogger out of myself yet. I dunno.

Life is absolutely insane, so I think my goal might not be every day... maybe every other day. And I think that my first posts will be designs. I make dresses and am it the process of putting together a portfolio, so dresses are where I'll start. Not that I know of anyone who will actually read this...

I didn't think I'd do it.

... But I did.
I am starting a blog, simply to try to track thoughts and keep track of things in a new and different way. I don't know what it will be about or if I will really do it, but it could be fun. We'll see.
I think I might just be curious as to see what this thing looks like, and how it works out.