Tumblr

Quick, shameless plug for my other bloggy escapade.  Sonya and I are playing with keeping a Tumblr because we keep finding things which inspire both of us and have too many to share.  

Find us at Pretty Pretty Man Girl

Crafting Tuesday

Seems I find things on Tuesdays.  Today I had coffee with Sonya and her husband Aaron who is recovering from a stroke only a month ago.  It's astounding to watch the progress he has made.  It makes me smile as I watch him stiffly walk about, cane in hand, knowing how marvellous that simple function must be.  I paused today to be grateful for a fully functioning body.  I can move my arms, legs, and have no trouble talking.  I look forward to celebrating with Aaron on his accomplishments and spending time with that wonderful family.

After coffee, I strolled down Broadway to the Value Village on 11th.  I really shouldn't tell anyone this, because the amount of crafting loot that can be found there is rather staggering.  Patterns for $0.69!  Goodwill charges $1!  But I mustn't hoard the wealth of supplies. 

I found some fabric.  This purple plaid was only $2 and came with what I assume to be it's original tags. I think I'll steam them off for safe-keeping.  It's currently destined to become a skirt!

This sweet miniature rocking chair came home with me too.  I couldn't pass it up.  Something about the red colour, and the woven seat bottom just spoke to me.  Besides, my dollies need a place to sit, right?  Right.  I quite thought so myself.

Along with the purple, I found a red fabric that appears to be taffeta perhaps.  It drapes like silk and is super yummy.  Despite having several large holes in it, I am content to use it and wear it to pieces.  Also coming home is a scrap of green leaf print that perhaps used to be a curtain.  It might be enough for a blouse, perhaps with some accent fabric to stretch it.

I finished my o w l s sweater today as well, so stay tuned for a photo shoot for that.   So far my summer is plugging along in a wonderful fashion!  I'm so excited to begin manipulating all the patterns I have found recently.  Until next time, keep crafting!

Love,

Anna

Goodies

Um.  I may have gone shopping...a huge handful of knitting needles as well as a STACK, something on the order of at least 12 or more, sewing patterns.  The best part?  They're ALL uncut.  UNCUT!  It's rather unprecedented.  On Tuesday Sonya and I are off to Capitol Hill Goodwill as part of our Artist Dates and will scour it within an inch of it's awesome life.

Other wonderful things have come to live with my little family.  One of which is a scarlet taffeta sofa purchased from a school chum and now well loved.  Even the Monster Babies approve.

Bunky: "Do you think it's big enough for us, Teeny?" 

Teeny: "...0 - o.......whoa....it's huge" 

I'm not sure how old it is, but it's certainly been around for a bit.  It's in need of repairs here and there.  I'm thinking of patching it with scraps of velvet or something plush and yummy to keep with the bohemian theme.  Also, I'm never, ever getting rid of this amazing piece of furniture.  I love it just that muchly. ^_^

Crafty Goodness!

I've been busy!

First up is this ruffle bustle skirt I whipped up from a fab tutorial over at The Noble Hare.  Super simple and very satisfying.  I plan on adding a little more length to this though, at 18" it's darling, but I worry that my knickers may show should I bend over too far!

Next up is my o w l s sweater designed by Kate Davies of the blog needled.  It's such a quick knit that I've knit this version three times!  Heehee.  First two incarnations had minor tweaking that needed to be done.  It's frogged again and back on the needles hopefully for the last time.  However now that the weather has turned sunny it may be a little while before I actually pick this up and knit on it.  It's knit in Malabrigo which is a kettle dyed squishy-soft merino wool.  I picked it up as a reward to myself for finishing my first year at Cornish.  after forking over $80 this sweater better come out perfect! ;)

I have a few other things in progress, a brides maid dress for a friend, starting to tweak my Sabriel costume, and dreaming up ideas for Steamcon in October!  So stay tuned.

Cheers,
Anna

Mother's Tea 2011

Mother's Tea was amazing!  Just as butterfly-inducing as any onstage performance, only I got to spend the day with classmates and friends.  For all the design changes that my outfit underwent, I'm very happy with the final product and presentation.  We're already thinking up ideas for next year!

Mother's Tea #1

For Mother's Tea I'm making a corset (fingers tightly crossed) out of yummy red silk with a black lace overlay.  This is the first mock-up of the corset pattern.  I've got the second one drafted up and it's patiently waiting for me to snip it out of muslin.  Alas I have other finals to attend to.

Under the corset is going a draped-front bustle business made out of a red velvet suit my Mum thrifted for me aeons ago (2004?) and it's finally finding a happy life in this outfit.  Nothing's been cut, mostly because I can't bear to ruin that delicious (and difficult to match) fabric, so if it becomes something else later it's ready to go.  I'm using crinoline (REALLY stiff tulle) to pouf out the back bustle part and make everything else fluffy.  There will be SO much fluffy going on it's kind of crazy.

More pictures forthcoming, so stay tuned!

It's been a while...

Last Saturday my darling Sonya and I stayed up until 2 am dying my hair a vibrant shade of purple.  I got home and rinsed it out and tinted the rest of me purple!  Live and learn I guess.  Never use Special Effects hair colour! :)  Spring break was spent being sick with what ever the darling boy had, some variety of chest cold complete with fever, phlegm, and hacking cough.  For the first time in five days I've made a cup of coffee and am off to work.  Probably shouldn't, but I need to make some cashy money.

Mother's Tea is the next big project we have coming up at Cornish.  We design, make/alter/find a costume and present it at the end of the semester.  I'm going as some form of a Steampunk inspired Can-Can girl!  It's going to be SUCH fun!  So stay tuned for the updates as to it's progress.

The Queens of The Night

1770's Queen of the Night

Children's Production Queen of the Night

Bowie Inspired/Music Video Queen of the Night

(my personal favourite)

Always winter...

There has been knitting, there has been painting, writing, drinking and school.  This endless school feels the same way to me as this part of Winter seems to other people.  Endless...

I just want the Spring.  I really want Summer.  I want shorts, sandals, soft cotton on hot days.  No school and endless sewing projects just for fun!  So I muddle along, knitting always close at hand.  Never enough pictures though.  I need to sew some buttons onto a baby ensemble I've made for a friend.   Nate's socks are terribly neglected, and I have a yummy plum coloured capelet clicking away.  Knitting does wonders for getting through Physics class!  For now, I leave you with one of my Queens.  We're rendering costumes for Mozart's Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute.  One from 1770's, one from a children's production, and one from a modern Music video.  I'll have pictures soon, as I'm rather pleased with how they all turned out.

Shadowing at the Seattle Repertory

I was so chuffed to be able to sit in the tech booth at the Seattle Repertory Theatre last night with my Stage Manager instructor.  It was like be in heaven!  It also solidified my desire to intern with them over the summer if I can.

Spring 2011

I've been drafting sewing patterns with my darling Ashe.

And rendering an advertisement by way of practice for more elaborate renderings.  We have The Queen of The Night from Mozart's The Magic Flute up next.

Night Market

I love walking through the Pike Place Market after it's closed.  The daylight hours are over and now it's my time of day.  I'm just starting work as the night life comes out to play.  I wander down the empty aisles, wondering what it was like 100 years ago.  Much the same, I suppose but with better outfits.

Etsy Love - An Outfit

Featured Sellers:
Madama Robe
Railway Street
Made With Love By Hannah
Vera Vague

Project 365

A little reluctantly, I went and joined a photo project thinking it would be a neat way to explore my world and take a few more interesting pictures, even if it's just my little point and shoot.  It's been a little difficult to remember to take pictures, but it has been interesting so far.  I am looking around with my photographer's eye,  figuring out the best angle, most interesting light, etc.  It's been a hoot so far.

It's not a lot to write home about, but it's kinda cute so far.  It's forcing me to take pictures, even just aimlessly without a schtick, and record.  I suppose once I get into school they'll be project related, but for now they're just kinda neat all grouped together.

1. 009/365, 2. 008/365, 3. 007/365, 4. 006/365  Scorpion Liquor, 5. 005/365, 6. 004/365, 7. 003/365

Status Quo

Finals ended with a party of sorts in the Scene Shop.  I got all gussied up because it was a party, right?  And you never get dirty at a party. . . yeah, sure.  I will always come out of that shop with sawdust on some part of me.  I have learned that now.  

Christmas Day was spent with my side of the family, which was very nice.  I haven't seen the cousins in a while and it was good to get all caught up.  We played Monopoly.

Played with parakeets, this is Cobalt and she loved to be up high.

 She would also make sure your glasses fit correctly.

And had napping snuggle piles.  Time with Family is good.

The week after Christmas was spent with Nate's family in Spokane.  It was quieter than most times we've been there, but nonetheless, restful and good to get to know his side of the family better.  I spent most of my time with his darling Grammy, and am now a pie baking buddy.

I have two more weeks off from school and then it's right back into the melee that is Cornish.  I love it, though.  So I haven't died or anything.  I've just been catching up on my sleep.

Knitting update to follow!  I've been busy!

Cheers,

~A

Finals - Day One

I am SO looking forward to spending time playing rather than doing schoolwork.  It's become such a chore that I'm not looking forward to next semester, but isn't that how it always is?

The Finals!

It feels like a really long time since I was writing in here last, and things have just been busy.  After Midterms came Thanksgiving, and after that are Finals, and then Christmas, so it's just been non-stop crazy.  Good crazy though.  My drawing class met for the last instructional period on Thursday, hence the paintings.  Sketches really, but you get the idea.  Finally is my little fireplace inspired by the film, Howl's Moving Castle.  I finished all of the construction, and just have to glue a tiny bit together on Tuesday and it will be finished!  I am so very excited about it.  My lighting savvy friends have given me a wee LED and are going to help me get Calcifer all lit up for presentation next Thursday.  More pictures are forthcoming.