Christmas Gift

I've started my gifts for this year with an embroidered applique hoodie for my goddaughter, Gia. I have five more to go. Thankfully, most of the gifts are handwork so I can work on them on the train, at night in front of the tv, etc.

I started the applique for this piece as a demo for a craft show in June. My group had a table there and I needed something to work on. I also used it as a demo for an embroidery class I taught for teens in July at one of our local library.

The design is from a 1972 McCall's Needlework magazine. It was originally a center embroidery for a hippie wedding gown. I bought the hoodie at a Labor Day clearance sale from Daffy's- $5.00!!

I'm also doing a lot of sewing for myself. The $$ that I didn't spend on buying new clothes has been spent on patterns, fabric, and supplies. I also bought, the same day as the hoddie score, a beautiful lightweight wool in a brown and blue paisley (dress coming soon!) and some leather scraps which I'd like to turn into barrettes and pins (inspired by a Miu Miu pin that I refrained from buying from Buffalo Exchange).

Halters!

I wish I had more time to post this week but work is out of control! I finished two halters this past week. The green is a simple halter from a vintage pattern I just bought. I had to add a shelf bra for extra support. The blue halter is from the "Happy Hooker" crochet book. I'm just excited that it turned out! It's my third attempt at a crochet project.

I hope to be able to post more later this week. Wardrobe Refashion has me thinking a lot about the concept of sustainability and how feasible it is in today's world. Plus I got some new patterns and fabrics over the weekend that I'd like to share.

Hobo bag

So here's my first project for Wardrobe Refashion- a simple unlined hobo bag which took me under 40 minutes to make from start to finish. Totally indulging in my need for immediate gratification. Also, I just needed a new bag. My other bag (another hobo bag, which I'm ashamed to say how much I paid for it) is starting to get kind of skuzzy.

I love damask prints and I scavenged this fabric from a donation from a family friend. Their grandmother passed away last summer and I was given her entire sewing room, which included 8 packing boxes and 1 steamer trunk of fabric, patterns, and notions. Almost all of the fabric was double-knit poly but I wound up donating most of it to a local theater group that builds giant, outdoor puppets.

I've been sitting on this fabric for over a year now. I knew that I wanted to make a bag with it but I wasn't sure which kind. It's a lightweight canvas. Hobo sack was perfect! I almost don't want to use it because it's so clean and pretty.

Wardrobe Refashion!

To celebrate recent new transitions, (new job, new home), I've decided to join the upcoming 2 month group of Wardrobe Refashion. In the last couple of years, my sewing has dwindled to the occasional client job, gifts for friends, or formal dresses (because I could never afford to buy the outfits I really like!). Given that only 4 years ago, I made about 50% of my clothes (much different life), I've been feeling kind of like a slacker.

My new house is beautiful! I have a brand-new sewing space and lots of inspiration these days! I figured it was high time to get back into things. Plus, I've fallen into some really bad habits of just buying clothes for the sake of buying and having something new. The only way I can break this is if I put myself on a clothes-buying embargo, hence Wardrobe Refashion.

The project is pretty genius. Basically, you make a commitment of 2, 4, or 6 months not to buy anything new (some exceptions- shoes, underwear/socks, and some work or formal clothes). You then must also spend some time each week either making something new (sew, knit, weave, etc...) or refashioning some existing piece from your closet. You get a "get out of jail free" card for the times that you just HAVE to buy something but otherwise, you are expected to stick with it for the length of your contract.

Should be very interesting... I am already quite aware of some of my more base reasons for constant buying- 1. I'm bored and got $$ to burn, 2. I'm unhappy with the way that I look, 3. It's on sale. I'm curious to see what other ones might pop up.

I'm starting with the 2 month and if all goes well, I'll go for the 4 month next. Stay tuned.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Chinese Salted Plums Are My New Licorice.

I love salted plums! I tried my first one at a zen workshop I attend this past summer. A number of the Chinese members were passing around a giant bag of the plums after lunch and they piqued my curiosity. I asked if I could try one and they handed me a grey, powdery ball. Visually, they are totally unappealing. They look like something that fell behind the radiator and dried out, mummy-like.

I asked how to eat them and was told that you can do this a number of ways. Most people just suck on them until the flesh falls off and then you can either discard or save the pit. But you can also do things like create drinks flavored somewhat like original gatorade or add them to beer to kill a bitter aftertaste.

There are hundreds of varities. I like the ones that have a good balance of salt, sweet, and sour. Even though they are preserved, they can become stale. Be careful not to eat those or in my case give them out to your sister-in-law's super polite boyfriend.

Hypochondria

I've had hypochondria since I was very little. It's no big surprise, I was a pretty sick kid. I had very invasive surgery when I was four and each year until I was 14, I would have multiple, recurring infections. I stopped believing that my body was capable of healing itself. I viewed my body as either a hassle or as a threat. I became completely obsessed with disease and health.

My parents didn't know how to handle it. My mom has told me a story when I was 6 or 7, I asked the doctor if the medicine he was about to give me would poison me. At some point they just gave up trying to convince me that I wasn't going to die of- cancer, toxic shock, lockjaw, rabies.... My mom was confounded when my self-diagnosed case of scarlet fever turned out to be the real thing!

This body/health paranoia has been very hard for me to overcome. Fact is we are all truly at risk for health problems, even life-threatening ones. Hypervigilance isn't going to keep you living forever, disease-free. How you approach life is as every bit as important as your immunity. If I were to spend my time obsessing over how NOT to get sick my chances of an unhealthy life are greater.

Changing my mentality on this issue is by taking very small steps. The last two times I started to obsess (breast cancer and premature menopause) I stopped myself and asked myself what was behind the anxiety.

I also recognized that with the breast cancer scare I was picking up on the increased media and advertisements. It was October- Breast Cancer Awareness month. Understanding where I am personally and looking around to see if there are any outside triggers is very effective. Also, I went to the doctors and had my levels checked for premature menopause. I didn't allow myself to think about it or research it ad naseum until the results came back.

By understanding that what life does is to provide you with a series of choices and not insurmountable obstacles, I am beginning to let go of my fears.