Update

So after a long phone call to Mood Monday, I got my order straightened out. They've been having problems with their email system, and I should expect my order by the end of this week.

I ordered red and black herringbone wool for my suit (finally getting around to that...), peridot silk for the lining and a matching blouse (probably a pussy bow cause I want one), and a blush silk to make myself a new slip. I still need to purchase thread (which I'll do when it arrives) and hair canvas but that I can do at my local store. Boy am I happy that Y and I spent this semester working on a tailored jacket for her pattern drafting class. I feel much more confident in my ability to do this. As to whether or not I'll make A's suit... probably not. I would like to, but I still don't have a working pattern that I feel confident in and I lost a lot of steam. Maybe when my MassArt kids go on break and my concerts are over I'll find the time? But then I only have a week. And mysteriously there are other things I could do with that week. Like clean my house. Start teaching baby oboe how to make reeds.

In other news, my crocheted turban has up and disappeared. I last saw it on the night of strike for Earnest (so... 11/21). I was going to wear it that night, and then haven't seen it since. So I'm trying to decide if I want to make it again. I really liked it, but that sounds like effort.

I want to buy the wool to replace my zip up lace up jacket since it's falling apart in every direction and it's such a great coat. Maybe I'll actually finish my fur lined one this year too? It's not been cold enough to need it so far.

Mood

I have spent $200 on fabric at Mood. To be fair, it hasn't cleared my bank and won't til tomorrow. But I do not have a copy of my bill NOR any sense of when it will ship. I'm incredibly nervous and upset that I don't have this in my email somewhere. And I've checked spam.

Cozy 20s Velvet Gowns?!

So while browsing Etsy, I came across a bunch of gorgeous 20s and 30s velvet dresses, and I'd like to recreate at least one of them.

Number One's description is:

Dress Features: - icy sage green velvet
- 3/4 length sleeves with snaps at cuffs
- v-neck with puckering at bust
- slight drop waist seam
- loose fitting belt
- snaps on side
- wearable for a few sizes depending on preferred fit

(Found on Etsy here)

Number Two's Description is:

A FABULOUS 1920'S BROWN VELVET FLAPPER DRESS..Pictures don't do this any justice, it is breathtaking in person. AMAZING LACE RUNNING DOWN THE SLEEVES AND ON THE V OF THE BODICE. I think someone added snaps on the lace as to be able to fold up the cuffs, I would remove them....but I will leave that to the buyer....Nice Metal detailing on the belt... Great Piece to wear for the Holidays, or a vintage wedding....

(Found on Etsy here)

Number Three's description is:

Midnight silhouette of an Art Deco dream.

Material - midnight black, silk velvet, cream colored lace, Mother of Pearl clasp buckle.

Design - This beautifully designed dresses made it's way through time from the very late 1920's. It features a built in silk and intricately woven lace camisole, which is then covered by a silk velvet caplet. The caplet is sewn to the front of the dress, where a hidden weight, so popular at the time, was used to create a draping effect at the neckline and in the back it is attached only at the neckline allowing it to hang and flow away from the body. The skirt of the dress is form fitted at the waist, with arched panels built into the sides to give flair tot he skirt. The dress also has a lovely like material belt with a carved mother of pearl clasp buckle and side snaps.

(Found on Etsy here.)

Number Four's description is:

Vintage 1930s deep burgundy silk velvet dress. Shirred shoulders natural cotton lace collar and trim around sleeves. Gathered at waist with side metal snap closure and removable buckle belt.

(Found on Etsy here.)

Number Five's description is:

Vintage 1930s black silk velvet cocktail dress! Ruched panel at bust and velvet belt at waist. This dress is figure flattering and so luxuriously soft! Perfect for a special occasion! Zipper at back of neck and at side.

(Found on Etsy here.)

Sigh

I love my studio teacher dearly, don't get me wrong, but he should not have agreed to cover my mentor's class while on sabbatical. My studio teacher rarely, if ever, teaches full classrooms, and he is having so many problems with a) the workload of grading b) the language used in the textbook, not being a native speaker c) differences in notational systems between his usage and what is being taught d) some personality problems with students.

I am helping him grade. I am fielding one or two phone calls DAILY about this class. They should have just fucking asked ME to teach this course, for all that I don't have the degree. And I know my studio prof could use the money. He just doesn't need the stress load.

He had 18 attacks yesterday. Attacks of what? He said it's never been that many or that bad. At one point, while at the park with his grandson, he almost lost consciousness. He's going to either finish this course or die. ... I suppose I should stop bitching and be more supportive, since his health is in such a fragile state right now. It's just hard because I know I could teach this class and teach it well. ... And I know my prof feels they are underpaying him for the amount of work he's having to do. He didn't say the number, but he thought it really loudly in comparison with the salary of a tenured faculty member, as opposed to his lowly adjunct status.

Best Card Ever

I received a card from my grandmother's best friend from high school, congratulating myself on my upcoming nuptials. My grandparents met on a double date, a BLIND date, with this woman, Joann, and her then-boyfriend, Harold. Harold passed away this last year, and I wound up never getting around to sending a letter, for which I've continually felt terrible about. In my letter back, I talked about that and what I miss about Harold, and that my partner and I will visit her the next time we're in the area.

Anyhow, here is the letter:

9-14-15
Dear [Dea],
My original thought was to send you one of those hearts and flowers cards wishing you a life full of joys and happiness.
But both of us know life is not like that, you've matured enough (and seen enough) to know there is more to marriage than that. It's a challenge and a willingness to change from "me" to "use" and it takes time!
Time and the strength to see past arguments and bad times but it's all a season of growth and well [worth] working for!
I wish you and your fiance a love strong enough and the wisdom to be partners through life together.
I'm sorry I was not able to attend your party, it seems that after the long winter we had, everybody has been eager to go-go-go and do things (of course at this age you want to "go" as long as you are able!).
The problem is reservations have to be made, and paid for, weeks in advance so unfortunately we are unable to change our minds to do other things we would enjoy even more!
Affenctionately,
Jo Ann

My sister and I grew up visiting with Harold and Jo Ann every time we would visit Grandma and Grandpa. Jo Ann, Grandma, my sister and I would visit the dollar store and spend $10 on anything we wanted (I usually got little knicknacks and figurines), we would go back to Harold and Jo Ann's house and play cards, or dominoes, and we would usually go out to eat. And watch Grandpa and Harold play the game of "who gets the pleasure of paying for dinner?" It is one of my favorite games to watch. People trying to pull their wallets out at lightning speed, trying to "bribe" the waitstaff, it's always fun.

Jo Ann and Harold had two sons, I believe, and their grandchildren lived on the west coast. So they rarely go the chance to do grandparent-y things. Harold fixed up old cars. We went for a ride in a Model T once when I was a kid. It was freezing cold, and they only had isinglass for windows, which is similar to vinyl.
I can still see the layout of their perfectly maintained house and garden. Jo Ann used an expanding hat rack in her kitchen to store her every day mugs. I remember that I bought one of them at the dollar store on one of our visits because I thought that was the best idea ever. Completely forgetting the fact that I was in elementary school and didn't have a kitchen with mugs that needed a home.

I love these people very much, and I appreciate the card more than anything else I've ever received. I appreciate the lack of bullshit, and the acknowledgement of such. I appreciate the love inherent in its words. Thank you, Jo Ann.

Boredom

I feel like I have crafting burnout. I had been super excited to start the Black Cardigan, but I haven't even bought the yarn. I am halfway finished with the last panel of my vintage undies, but can't find the energy for it. I keep looking on Ravelry for things, and just not liking any of them. Gods this sucks. And I should be costuming but I keep not getting around to it.

Finished Turban

I finished the crocheted turban from 1915 that I'd been working on. I keep wandering around the house with my head all wrapped in cozy yarn. :-P My partner says it looks like a bonnet more than what he thinks of as a turban and that my clothing doesn't match.

Lots of pics!



And here's the ravelry post. I had initially started crocheting this with white Cream 'n Sugar yarn, got 60% of the way complete, and realized that it made too stiff of a fabric and that I needed to use something else. So I pulled out more of that neverending cream stashyarn (wool/cashmere blend I think, frogged from a HUGE Abercrombie men's sweater from Goodwill) and unhappily put it together. It took a lot longer to go the second time through :-P But complete it is, minus some weaving in of ends.

It's fairly comfortable, although it doesn't like going over my hair when it's up in a clip. But it stays put, and goes on easily. And it's LIGHT on my head, though it feels nice and cozy.