Designer Imposters

Posted: 02/26/2011 | Author: | Filed under: "things I make", crafts, hobbies, Kara-line, Louisa, optimism, sewing, trailing spouse, triumph | 2 Comments
Remember Designer Imposters perfume? I was a big fan of whatever they called their version of Love’s Baby Soft, probably called Infant Bliss.  I’m still not sure why women thought smelling like small children who couldn’t yet wipe themselves was sexy. 
I’m feeling a little guilty about my latest sewing breakthrough: I re-created Kara-line’s Louisa, after months of stalling.  I’ve still got to attach the sleeves, but that shouldn’t be bad.  I took apart the muslin I’d been working on in my sewing classes (I stopped going on October) and spent 6 hours today cutting it out and putting it together (yay for vacation days!)  Here’s the pics:
J left for the day and I covered the house in sewing crap.
Don’t let anyone lie to you– sewing requires space or you’ll go crazy.

Dress almost done

Done!

I still feel bad about re-making someone else’s dress, but it was a really good way to get into sewing. Plus, I want to wear this dress 5 days a week, and there’s no way I could afford that many Portland-made dresses.  It’s ok if you’re not selling it, right?  If you like the Louisa dress, go check out the Kara-line website.  The dresses ain’t cheap, but you fill out a little survey of what you like about your body and your favorite colors and stuff, and they’ll send you a BOX OF DRESSES to choose from.  You have three days to prance around in front of mirrors and pick the one that suits you best.  I praise the designer.

Tomorrow I’ll finish up the sleeves, and then to Joann for more fabric. I will make another one.  By the time it’s warm enough to wear little dresses, I’ll be so fuckin’ cute you can’t look straight at me.

The scale of opportunity

Posted: 02/22/2011 | Author: | Filed under: "things I make", "traveling spouse", accomplishment, conflict, control, crafts, etsy, feminism, future, gender roles, identity, politics, power balance, rant, trailing spouse | 2 Comments

More blog-searching today (and somehow this is a productive day at work) and I found a “trailing spouse” blog, albeit an expat* one.  She doesn’t like the term trailing spouse either**, but her blog is endlessly positive:

As a trailing spouse, identity can be a tough thing (because if you’re like me, that last thing you want to be called is a “trailing spouse”). But if the career you had before isn’t going to work out abroad (or you lose yours via a layoff like me), maybe there’s something else you’d love to do and try. Maybe, in fact, this is your big opportunity for that something you used to put on hold. 

Chantal at One Big Yodel 

I don’t want my opportunity, a positive thing, tinged with the fact that I only have it because it’s the consolation prize for having no control***.  Here’s my internalized misogyny (it’s just popping up way too much this week) again, in that I can’t see my worth if I didn’t come to it myself, as if taking that opportunity is just backsliding into a dependent female role. I don’t, however, feel this way when it comes to education.  If J was working and I was going back to school or taking classes in whatever field I settle on, that feels ok. But if it’s to start an Etsy or make Halloween costumes (traditionally female pursuits) it’s not.  See what I did there?  Thanks world.  You’ve made me a woman-hater.

How do I cleanse my mind of these tendencies?  I feel fucked all-around.  And I haven’t even touched upon the stink of privilege in all this.

*I’m more interested in domestic relocation.
**Yeah, I changed my title again, because no one’s going to find this blog otherwise.
***I’m speaking for myself, not Chantal.  She has her shit together.

Make a damn shirt or something

Posted: 02/21/2011 | Author: | Filed under: "things I make", crafts, optimism, projects, sewing | 1 Comment

It was a weird doldrummy day (too much damn wind and no sun) so I spent too much time on the internet. By 9:30pm, I was jittery from too much sitting and told myself I needed to make something and NOW.  So I decided to get out the pieces of my Louisa dress (bought in ye olde Portland and being re-created so I can wear it 7 days a week) and see how far I had to go.  With all this crazy warm weather reminding me about Spring, I need to finish this pattern so I can make myself dresses.  When I got it out, I had an almost-finished dress missing ONE SLEEVE.  That’s just the muslin and I’ll have to cut it out and sew it together again with my fabric, but HOLY SHIT SO CLOSE.  Knowing I didn’t have the focus to start taking it apart tonight, I decided to just go grab a piece of fabric and sew some lines on it.

I made a shirt, or what is supposed to be a shirt.

And it fits kinda like a shirt, and kind of looks like one.  That is the shot of confidence I needed.  Tomorrow (after the soccer game, aaagggh) I’m going to re-start the dress project.  Be on the lookout for a finished product in the next few weeks!  And make fun of me and call me a quitter if you don’t.

I wish it were my job to build giant vegetables

Posted: 02/11/2011 | Author: | Filed under: "things I make", crafts, jobs, link love, wedding | 7 Comments

Remember that giant artichoke?  Well, there’s asparagus too.  I worked on these two objects for about a month I guess, but I haven’t been able to post their progress because I’m blog friends (and real friends) with the recipient: Heidi at Hands Occupied.  She knew I was making them, but I wanted the whole package to come as a surprise.  It was almost an even bigger surprise: it was delivered to the wrong house, but eventually made its way to its new home.

My lovely photographer friend took lots of pictures so I could someday begin a portfolio.  TONS of pictures after the jump.

Photos by Chris Clanton

And now for some progress shots!

My friends suggested I make an embroidered patch to put on the bottom of the asparagus that says, “Ceci n’est pas un penis”.  Yeah, laugh it up.

Here’s a poll, because I’m feeling overwhelmed with pipe dreams.  What should I do with my life?

a. Learn Arabic
b. Learn sign language
c. Both a and b
d. 3D fabric sculpture
e. Design parade floats and balloons
f. Become a bell specialist (campanologist)

Thrill me with your opinions!

Get out of the house and do something

Posted: 02/11/2011 | Author: | Filed under: "things I make", crafts, friends, optimism, snow | Leave a comment
Yeah, it’s like this.

Too many blank, white days have passed with nothing accomplished, so today I set out on foot to visit a friend. We walked a total of 5 miles today, shopped out some of her awesome felt goodies, and got some work done in her studio.  J decided to give me my Valentine’s gift early, on account of the snow day.  As soon as I saw the box, wrapped in paper from the local bookstore, I knew what it was and started jumping up and down.  A tiny box/book of softie patterns, perfect practice for making 3D fabric sculptures! The Softies Kit (I didn’t know what a softie was, but I guess it’s what I’ve been making) is adorable, with 15 patterns for cute things ranging from elephants to ham bones.

 
A side-by-side comparison shows that I am still practicing.

I sent off the artichoke and asparagus (I haven’t posted too much about them, because the bride-to-be they’re for reads this blog– could be reading and sniffling right now) on Thursday, and I got a call that they’ve arrived in Michigan!  Total relief– what kind of insurance can you get on handmade awesomeness?  They loved them, so mission accomplished.  I’ll do a post on the making of them soon.

Work has been cancelled for the 7th time in the past 3 weeks, so I’m in the middle of a 5-day weekend.  This is the mother of all get-out-of-jail-free cards of adulthood, so I’m making the most of it.  I’ve dove head-first into a mound of snow.  Drank a lot of Bailey’s.  Going to have beers and watch an improv show.  Made an elephant.  Written some blog posts.  Watched  LOT of Louis CK.  And frankly, thought a lot about things I’m good at and how I need to work really hard to hone my little talents so I can do something amazing with them.    But now I’m going to trounce around in the snow some more in my lovely plastic bag boots.

Snow Day #2

Posted: 02/03/2011 | Author: | Filed under: "things I make", "traveling spouse", blogs, hobbies, link love, moving, snow | Leave a comment
6 inches of snow? NO ONE driving on our road.

Too many projects going on, nothing getting done.
I went with friends to work out on Monday afternoon, and received a call that the whole university would be closed on Tuesday.  Magic.  Then I received a call on Tuesday for the Wednesday closing. More magic.  I have spent these two snow days (not ice days, fortunately) working on a puzzle and doing some light housework.
First puzzle since I was a kid. Strangely satisfying.
I told myself I’d spend these days (if they happened) doing really productive things, like starting on the next sewing project (large floor pillow).  Nope.  The snow is really nice, power isn’t going out from the very light ice and we’ve got enough good food to keep us happy.  It’s good getting to spend this much time with J.  Some free time is good for him.  So far, he’s made a batch of kombucha, biscuits and yogurt.  And not once talked about work.  He seems relaxed, and even started working on his food blog!
On Monday I got an email from Heidi at Hands Occupied asking if I might write some guest posts while she moves with her (future) husband in the summer. I am thrilled.  We’ve got some things in common in the “trailing spouse” department, so I’m really glad to be her sounding board, and vice versa, about identity/marriage/moving issues.  However, she’ll be very likely taking that step before me.
Heidi’s fiance is an excellent craft helper with their ribbon wall.
[UPDATE: we are closed for Thursday, too. As an adult, I don’t think I can ever hope for such luck again.]
Photo by Chris Clanton

J. finds an outlet!

Posted: 01/26/2011 | Author: | Filed under: "things I make", "traveling spouse", ABD, applications, feelings, food, friends, hobbies, rejections, relationships | 4 Comments
Cardamom-apple pancakes with rosewater syrup

Last month, J. and our good neighbor Tuna (also a grad student) decided to have food and movie nights with friends, where they competed with their culinary skills on a specific theme or food.   They want to do a blog, too, where they post pictures of the food and review the movies.  Last week (the second event) was a bread contest, and we watched The Holy Mountain (1973).  The bread (a simple whole wheat boule from J. and a rococo pesto loaf from Tuna) was absolutely delicious.  And the movie didn’t make anyone run screaming from the room.  Though it’s really just a snacks sort of event, everyone who has come has brought a dish, so it turns into a stone soup/Jesus and the loaves kind of thing.  So nice!

Pesto bread in foreground, J’s boule to the left, gulab at the top, and a green bean dish by a Turkish friend that tastes very much like you’d get it in the South!

Other than futzing with his bike, this is J’s only organized activity.  And as much as I complain about having to forcibly eject him from the house to go work sometimes, he really needs something that has nothing to do with work.  Both he and Tuna are haggard grad students, so they have that bond as well as friendship.  Though they call it a competition, there’s nothing like that going on.  No stress, no winners, no rules.  Just food and good times.

Gulab jamun- fried dough in syrup, from India

I made a batch of galub jamun from a packet, and made the syrup myself.  The dough was not the tastiest part about the dish, but I think the syrup turned out well.  So well, we used the leftovers the next day to pour on our pancakes (highly recommended recipe).

On a whim Monday, I checked the academic and public libraries for the towns J’s applied in, and actually found some openings.  They weren’t ideal, but I am confident that I can eventually turn a part time job into full-time once I prove myself. Economy be damned!*  To show I was being super positive (I’m still making up for my attitude from the past) I sent J an email with the links.  His response was that he wasn’t feeling very positive about his current applications because no one was responding to his last email.  It’s the beginning of the semester, so I think it’s just people being busy.  I hated to hear him sounding sad, and I really didn’t mean to exacerbate that with my email.  He’s one of the most responsible, level-headed people I know, so sometimes it’s hard to remember that he’s feeling uncertain and scared, too.

*Please don’t ruin my delusions.

Spotlight on Awesome: First Stitch on Etsy

Posted: 01/24/2011 | Author: | Filed under: "things I make", "traveling spouse", crafts, etsy, friends, sanity | Leave a comment

I’ve written about how easy it is to avoid making friends when you know you’re going to move, but jumping back in has so many more rewards than downsides.  The women I’ve met in the past six months have been integral to staying sane, and I like to think I’ve helped them, also.  Maybe it’s because we’re older, but there is such a show of emotion and affection between us, it is almost my reaction to be cynical and not take it as sincere.  I have friends that want hugs and say “I love you!”?  I realized how jaded I must be if I questioned the sincerity of truly sweet communication.  Hugs all around!

One lady, specifically, who has helped me in my crazy life, is my friend Anca.  She’s got a Masters in Fiber Arts, so you know I am taking advantage of her skills as much as I can.  She encourages me to make things, teaches me how to do them better, and is helping me add to my insane list of future projects.  Yesterday we took a trip to Joann Fabric and had to keep pulling each other back from the brink of Craft Addiction.  “Sculpey is 50% off! Let’s get 10 of ’em!” “But we don’t need it?” “But it’s half off!*!!!”  We did end up using the Sculpey, and I wish I had a picture of the little mushrooms she made. Adorable!

I do have pictures from her new Etsy site, First Stitch.

The felt balls are wonderful as decorative pieces, but I use mine as a fashionable pin-cushion as shown above.  She also makes small clutch purses:

I have the honor of seeing some of these first products come out at our weekly Craft Nights (makin’ therapy).  But Etsy is hard until you can get some traffic there.  I had an account for a little while (and actually sold a few little things) but it requires dedication to marketing yourself and getting some exposure.  Even though no one else seemed to be selling custom state bird egg bracelets, no one knew I made them so I didn’t sell any.  I did not succeed, but I can’t stand for these cute, well-made things not getting at least some pageviews.

*Sculpey and Premo are 50% until Sunday, I think. Get it done.http://www.etsy.com/listing/66061335/polka-dot-felt-ball-teal-and-yellow

Starts and Stops

Posted: 12/20/2010 | Author: | Filed under: "things I make", applications, bad news, birthday, crafts, family, fashion, history, moving, optimism, parties, photography, thesis, weekend | 2 Comments

Once again, I’m feeling the drag of J’s advisor halting progress.  What do you do when you can only get your advisor’s attention for 15 minutes a week and they won’t write your rec letters or even let you know they haven’t done them yet? J’s feeling pretty sheepish, as his (now) top choice asked for letters probably two weeks ago, and we’re still not sure she’s got them all.  He had to send her an email making sure she got them, because his letter writers won’t respond to his emails about whether or not they will/have written them.  Grrr.  But– it was the end of finals week last week, so I should have patience.  I just hate to see him get down about it.  Things got exciting for a few days and then shut down.

In other exciting news, our landlord has dropped another bomb on us.  In September, we had actual contact with him when our A/C went out and he casually told us he was thinking about using our home as leverage in a custody battle.  “I figured I’d let my wife live here rent-free, and her lease is up in June.”  Yeah, only slightly horrifying.  Renters’ Rights in Arkansas are pretty grim, so we had a huge garage sale and sold off maybe 1/3-1/2 of our belongings just in case he got even flakier and we got the boot.  The idea of moving and then having to move again in 6ish months was horrifying.  We decided to get lighter.

Before that  there was talk of him selling the house, which was OK since our neighbors were interested (and intent on keeping us as tenants).  That fell through when the divorce started and he never returned their calls (after they had already paid for home inspections).  J. says we’re probably good because nothing moves fast and the landlord is flaky, but I don’t want to count on someone being flaky in a way that is beneficial to me.

Talk is back on about him selling off his properties, and luckily the neighbors are thinking about trying to buy the house again.  I got mad at J. last week for seeming to be cavalier about our possible eviction, but he was just way too stressed/depressed by the rec letter quagmire.  Can we just get out really soon?

The current plan is finish the thesis in March, defend in April, all done by May.  And somewhere in there find a job.  I don’t know what I can do at this point but be optimistic.  This blog has helped that last bit dramatically.

In happy-go-lucky news, I had a kick-ass birthday party on Friday that made me forget about my birthday blues earlier in the week.  Here are some pictures, taken by my photographer friend:

My amazing sis-in-law

I love how I look like a tarty cherub in this shot.
Our bathroom has really good light, so eventually everyone came in for some group shots.

Detail of decorations

We forgot birthday candles, so Jonathan obliged with his lighter.

My sis and her new boyfriend. It was hard to find the cutest picture, because they are disgustingly wonderful together.

All in all, it was the best party I’ve ever had.  My sis-in-law and best friend helped me deck the house out in pink streamers and aqua Christmas balls and decorate a corner just for photos (seen above).   There was a glitch in the karaoke system (namely a microphone and amplification) but we remedied it with a hairbrush and really enthusiastic singing.   The rest of the night was taken up with Framboise floats and photo shoots and chocolate tort.  No one got sick. No one got sad. Everyone got hugs. Then everyone went home.

Professional photos! Always a great gift.

Posted: 12/15/2010 | Author: | Filed under: "things I make", art, crafts, friends, photography | Leave a comment

My best friend’s husband took really great photos of all the stuff I’ve made recently.  He says I was doing him a favor by giving him a reason to make a soft box, but this is awesome:

Tiny Park, Arkansas

I’ll post more later.

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