How funny is it that "chartreuse" would come up???

Just read this in a list of games that are being sold in a Haiti relief effort:

"Shaolin Squirrels : Nuts of Fury"

Snort!!!

Just finished the tome version. All the books in one hefty paperback. I still enjoyed it!

Of the two heavy fabrics that I purchased downtown, one of them is actually 100% natural fiber. I just burned it. It burned slowly (tight weave), with no wacky smells, and gave a very fine ash with fine charcoal along the leading edge of the flame. At least the vendor was right about one of them. The velvet has some poly in it. He tried to convince me that it was 100% cotton, but now I think that he was just ignorant rather than deceitful.

ETA: a small swatch is now in the wash to see how it fares there. I won't make the same mistake that I did with my taffeta...

Sorry about no cut, I created the list as a word doc, and LJ won't let me cut and paste it into a cut.

Fashion-Era.com

The Aesthetic Dress Movement Fashion History of Aesthetics

http://www.fashion-era.com/aesthetics.htm#Aesthetic%20Dress

 

The Costumer’s Manifesto: http://www.costumes.org/Classes/fashiondress/dress_reformblip.htm

 

To purchase or for inspiration:

http://www.rossetticouture.com/preraph.html

http://www.verymerryseamstress.com/waterhouse.htm

http://www.twinrosesdesigns.com/Womens%20Clothing%20for%20Sale.html (scroll down on this one)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/fashionnews/5888032/Get-the-look-Pre-Raphaelite-style.html?image=7

 

Blogs:

http://thebeautifulnecessity.blogspot.com/2008/07/another-pre-raphaelite-dress-source.html

http://thebeautifulnecessity.blogspot.com/2008/07/more-aesthetic-dresses.html

http://mlleviolet.livejournal.com/12211.html

 

an article (no pics, alas)

http://www.glily.com/preraphs.htm

 

Images

http://www.twinrosesdesigns.com/Womens%20Clothing%20for%20Sale.html (nice dress on the left a little way down)

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/90284869/Stone (see all 5 images)

An Aesthetic dress: http://into-thefray.com/blog/2009/04/06/aesthetic-movement/

V&A http://www.vam.ac.uk/images/image/59332-popup.html

V&A http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/features/round/19th_century_women/liberty_gown/index.html

V&A http://www.vam.ac.uk/images/image/59532-popup.html

V&A http://www.vam.ac.uk/images/image/59550-popup.html

V&A http://www.vam.ac.uk/images/image/59545-popup.html (men’s ensemble a la Oscar Wilde)

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=199574

http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/cgi-bin/res.pl?keyword=Aesthetic+Dress&offset=0

http://cafe.joins.com/cafe/CafeFolderList.asp?cid=artforum&list_id=247347

http://www.costumes.org/history/20thcent/1900s/boehn/BerlinSingingAcademy.JPG

http://www.dhub.org/object/170528,dress

http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/museumcollections/collections/storydetail.php?irn=913&master=455

Went downtown for taffeta today and indulged some in other fabrics as well. Now my big question is: medieval or artistic reform??

The first is a mostly cotton velveteen, the colors are much richer than the pic shows, and the motif is about 8 inches across. I have 6 yards:

This one is a more traditional brocade weave, also cotton. The motif is about the size of my hand:

I also picked up a small piece of lace for the sleeves of my regency, 10 yds of cotton voile for my chemise dress(finally!!), and 5 yds of really pale, peachy linen in handkerchief weight to make a chemise to go under whatever I make from the two heavier fabrics. I'm leaning heavily towards the medieval silhouette for both, even though the patterns are more artistic reform, mostly because I would wear them around the house and make them front lacing, so nursing would be easy in them, and they would be super comfy. Not to mention that these patterns are a little reminiscent of the patterns that Kinuko Craft paints in her lady's costumes. Artistic reform would be super comfy too, but I don't know enough about the form to alter it for nursing.

Here's before application of brush:

After much brushing, but with no styling:

It was very vavoomy, but some of my hair was still a little damp, so the curls came out within a short time. The bangs, though, lasted 'till morning, and only my shower conquered them.

Driving about 3 hours today, so thought I'd test some soft curlers for fun. Here's my not-so-chic curler head, complete with a vintage "Port of Osaka" tourist scarf. Nerdy but fun, and no time to rotate my pics:

Chocolate chip, cranberry, and pecan cookies have all four food groups, so that means that I can eat them for breakfast! Not to mention that it's Christmas Eve, when calories don't count ;)

Are finally in the oven. I've taken the same stick of butter out of the fridge many times in the last week, only to put it back. Betty Crocker calls them "Galaxy Cookies" but they are essentially stuffed shortbread. I used chocolate covered almonds, french truffles, chocolate covered pomegranate jellies, and chocolate covered cherries as the fillings.

Om nom nom....

This poem was in my email in-box. Even though my link points you to it on Snopes, it's worth a read and a moment of reflection. And then read the blurb about it. It's an interesting thing, how things get circulated on Das Intarwebz

Gran Marnier + Trader Joe's Drinking Chocolate.

Om nom nom

Sometimes it comes in handy to be a wanna be gadgeteer! This little ornament would have gone to the trash, but for my trusty E6000. It's one of those "Made in India" things, and is essentially foam stuffed between the decorative fabric, all glued into place. I would not want to try to put a needle through it! For anyone not familiar with it, E6000 is an industrial strength epoxy that I use mostly for jewelry, but is rated to hold down washers and nuts in engines!

I hoped that I wouldn't find anything this obvious in the Martha Stewart Dove Promises, but, my hopes were dashed:

"String lights between the trees in your yard" -Martha Stewart

I just finished the sleeve cuffs on this, and except for a sash, a closure in the back, and a good pressing, it's ready to wear! I was making it for a Victorian picnic on Sunday, but the weather is looking grim. Rats. We'll have to see.

Last night I received a box from Amazon that included the new Kinuko Craft calendar for 2010 and the Christmas album by Cherish the Ladies, which is Celt-Irish. I sat on the couch and poured over the amazing fantasy art in the calendar while listening to the CD. All I would have needed to complete the girly picture was a unicorn t-shirt and a couple of candles.

I just purchased a flat of Fuji apples at Costco. They are beautiful, unblemished, and juicy, but even they can't compete with Honeycrisp, Pinky Lady, Cameo, or Jazz apples. The newer apple varieties are sooo much better than our old standbys. Pink Lady and Honeycrisp are my faves, followed closely by Cameo and Jazz, or any other "new" apple.

Hi all!

My family is selling an antique Steinway player piano. It was built sometime in the 20's (probably), has an art case that is in perfect condition, and a Duo Art playing mechanism. It is a medium grand. For pictures, go here. There isn't a "distance" shot of this, as these photos were taken for an appraiser. We also have rolls for the piano and the original manual. It's located in Van Nuys, CA right now and would need to be picked up by professional movers, installed, and then tuned and maintenanced. It is in working order, just needs the routine maintenance done (tuning, cleaning, etc.)

If you, or someone you know, might be interested, please send them my way.

Here's proof that there really are seasons in California. You just have to know where to look!

LJ cut's aren't working for some reason, so here are the pics!


Yes, this is just a couple of trees, but we were in the Sacramento area, and all along the freeways, the American River, and Old Town Sac, there were loads of wonderful trees in shades of amber, yellow, red, maroon. It was gorgeous.

I gathered some and ironed them between waxed paper. Now they are in my windows. A little reminder of our Thanksgiving travels:


I hope everyone here in the US had a lovely Thanksgiving!