Sempstress

I just couldn’t resist. Ok, I didn’t even try. I mean, really, I feel like someone had to, and I happened to have all the stuff, so…. Yeah. That totally  just happened.  Is this a shameless over-application of technology? Probably. Am I a great big nerd? Yep.  It’s cool. Sometimes a girl just has to get her geek on. Read the rest of this entry »

My beautiful girl-cat passed on just after 5am on December 9, 2012. She was 18 1/2 years old. Some day, I might tell you more about that. But that day will be when I can remember it for the beauty of her last hours and tell you about some of the funny things she used to do (instead of tearing up and going all soppy over it). It will be when I’m feeling centered enough to face the possibility of feedback from Those With Firm Opinions(tm) and The Well Meaning(tm). Right now, I’m focussed on the obvious: I have been a crazy cat lady for literally half my life. I am out of cats. That makes me … just crazy? I’m thinking I might need a slightly updated self-definition.  Read the rest of this entry »

So here’s the sitch: I want this thing. This thing right up here at the top. Anybody know how I get it off the rest of the CRT? (For those with actual clues in the electronics department, panic ye not: indeed, it has been discharged and de-vacuumed.) Read the rest of this entry »

So close, Apple, so very very close to the dream of me blogging WITH F’ING CAPTIONS from my iPad. I managed to upload this, but the swiping process was annoying. IOS 6 let’s me upload images from the browser, but getting them in to the post seems stupidly annoying. Seriously. I have to pinch the screen just right from the description field? I hate to complain, but you were *so* *close*…. Read the rest of this entry »

I was busy being gainfully employed packing up costume storage at the college a few weeks ago, and I found a marvelous old pair of paned slops. They were old enough that the satin behind the panshatter well past thread-bare (more just threads), which was awesome because it let me see what was underneath. This isn’tnecessarily the period way to construct slops, but it’s a beautiful way. Here’s what I saw… Read the rest of this entry »

The DuPage County Historical Museum is currently hosting an exhibit of 17th/early 18th century French clothing until September 9th. All items are from the private collection of Donna Finnegan and her Antiques business. It is … amazing. Awe inspiring. There are two sets of stays. There are dresses. There are complete men’s suits. There are the most fantastic embroidered stomachers right there, under glass, which is good if you drool like i do. I have studied this stuff for over a decade, and I have never just been in a room full of it. (The perils of living in midwestern suburbia, I suppose….) I found out after the fact that I was not to take pictures, ahem, so I cannot post them here. Suffice it to say, what’s on her website does not at all do this exhibit justice. Her private collection was like being inside a few pages of Fashion. I have never before in my life gone into a free exhibit and emptied the contents of my wallet into the donation bowl on the way out. That’s right, people – it’s a free exhibit. If you love costume history, and you are within driving distance of Wheaton, IL, you should come see this.

I worked wardrobe for a dance show over the weekend. I brought my trusty-not-so-rusty spindle with me, because I promised another woman I’d show her how to spin. So, imagine my surprise when it turned out that the tour manager for the show was also an avid spinner… Read the rest of this entry »

So I says to my class, after lecture, “Let’s play a game!” There was almost a response…. “I need six classic movies.” It took a little second, but we got there. “Ok, now I need six kinds of monster!” Oh, wow, turns out my class is way more excited about monsters than movies. *laugh* So, two lists and two random numbers later, I handed out stacks of small croquis and happily announced, “Your design inspiration is It’s a Wonderful Life with Vampires! As many designs as you can in ten minutes – if you get stuck on one, put it to the side and move on. Go!”
So, what would you do with that one? ;) Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s the thing: this site relies on research. Sometimes I quote or show pictures of copy written materials. If I can’t show you, dear reader, the occasional bit of research, then what? You just have to take my word on it?

The current version of the SOPA bill allows websites to be censored and cut off from Paypal based solely on accusation rather than burden of proof. I object. (And, quite frankly, I’m getting a little sick of entire industries realizing that their business model hasn’t kept up with current trends and demanding legislative protection. Adapt, gosh darn it! Give up the gills, come down from the trees, and update your business plans.)

Thank you.

I didn’t mean to. I really, really didn’t. I have nothing against Girl Scouts (now that I’m out of grade school). I think it’s kind of adorable when they actually go door-to-door selling their little cookies – way better than sending a parent in to the office/theater/classroom with a sign-up sheet. And when I could still eat their fiendishly addictive little delights, I did, often with wild abandon….

Read the rest of this entry »