A Little Imagination and a Pile of Junk

it's a fluke, but its a dress

I made the dress! Actually, I'm finishing up my second one; I only have to add the straps. I can see many more of these dresses in my future. This will probably be pretty much all you'll see me in this Summer. It couldn't be more perfect. It might even make me hate these horrendous South Texas Summers just a little bit less. It's that good.

 

I did have a bit of a problem with the shirring/smocking, though. The instructions were easy enough. I even got some additional help from the video and this great tutorial, but for some reason, the elastic thread just didn't want to shrink up for me.

This was the best I could get after Heather Ross' recommended steaming plus a good soaking in hot water and a high heat dry. I'm pretty sure I did everything right. I didn't wind my bobbin too tight, used a longer stitch length, tension seemed fine, I even tried two different kinds of elastic thread, but all I ended up with was a little texture at the top and not much real stretch at all. Here is the underside. Any clues where I went wrong?

Shockingly, it worked out fine for this pattern because I also had a little trouble with my local print shop and they only managed to print the pattern somewhere around the size it should actually print at. Yeah. It was a total fluke that the whole dress wasn't a complete disaster--which is what usually happens to me. But happily, this time, it ended up fitting me perfectly with the little bit of stretch I managed to get from my elastic thread. My problem now is that I'd like to make a few more dresses for friends--they are that easy!--one who is considerably smaller than I am so I really need to make this shirring/smocking thing work somehow. Plus, just learning this simple sewing technique has opened up a whole new world to me for clothes making. So many ideas--if only I could get it to work--Agh! I did happen upon a commenter who mentioned having tried the dress on her new Brother sewing machine--which is what I have--and it completely failed. Then she tried it again on her old Singer and it worked beautifully. This does not bode well for me. Any ideas on making this work??

my new house, seriously

This week I've been struggling daily with sinus headaches and a general sleepiness and lack of motivation that has left me taking long naps and wandering the house aimlessly when awake. Somehow I've managed to come up with enough strength to keep up my art journal, though. And besides the overflow of inspiration I brought home from Portland, I really, really want to make one of these and a few of these, once this headache goes away. I've started working on this dress and have another fabric for dress #2 washed and waiting in the wings. I figure headache or not, I can manage to sit in front of the sewing machine for at least a little while if the project isn't too complicated. Straight lines are good.

I mentioned that I had one more group of photos I wanted to share from Portland. These are from one of the highlights of our trip: a visit to the coolest store ever, Cargo. I had never heard of it before, but one look and I was madly in love. I took tons of pictures because this is what I want my house to look like someday, inside and out. Can you see it?

 

Even from down the street, you can tell this one is going to be good.

 

Remember this picture. I've got my own version of something like this coming soon--eek!

 

 

I know this one is blurry--it kills me!--but I had to include it. Look. I mean, look!

 

 

 

 

Are you inspired, yet? Me, too!! 

And, by the way, I've added a couple of new garlands to my Etsy shop if you are so colorfully inclined. I've tried to make these inexpensively so everyone can have one. Or two. Because, really, after seeing these pictures, don't you think everyone should have at least a few garlands hanging around?? Me, too!!

 

 

proof of life

Just a few more photos of my borderland. Looking back through these photos, it is the contrast between the mostly grey landscape (concrete, dirt, wire) and the lively color that reminds you of the life that still exists in this crumbling city.

  

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration is everywhere, even at home. But a fresh perspective might be necessary to see it. I'm sending a few of my favorite Mexico photos to be printed for my art journal. Looking at them on the screen is great, but I can't wait to have them in my hand. How about joining me in documenting the unspoken beauty around you. What have you forgotten to notice lately?

beauty among ruins

*As a kind of follow up to the Portland vacation montages, I thought I'd offer a contrasting picture of home. What a contrast! I have one more group of Portland pictures to share after this. I just can't resist. When you see them you'll be glad I didn't. Promise.

 

You will never see the Texas-Mexico border on any list of the Top Ten Places to Live in the US. It is not a pretty place. It is hot and dirty. Poverty abounds.

 

This weekend, my friend Shannon and I spent the day in Matamoros, Mexico. Shopping, eating, taking pictures like tourists. But we live here. She lives in a small village just outside the city; I live just over the border in what we call the USA. Culturally, there’s not much difference. We just have more money on our side. We were almost run over more than once by irritated drivers as we stood in the middle of the street trying to get the perfect shot. (I’m sure they were wondering, What in the world are those silly white girls taking pictures of?? An old rotten door?) Most visitors here are appalled by the stark landscape, the relentless heat, the desperation. And it should appall you. It should rip your heart out and drive you to action to think how the average person lives here in the US compared to how the average person lives 5 miles away across the border. But I say there is beauty to be found. If you only have the eyes to see.

 

Here’s a little glimpse we gathered for you, really for us, and for our inspiration. But I thought you might like to be inspired too. But don’t be fooled. There is beauty here, no doubt, among the crumbling ruins, but truly it is inconsequential. The true beauty lies in the people. We’ll work on gathering that perspective a little later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

more journal pages

 

 

 

 

 

Besides easing me back into journaling (I hadn't picked up a journal in months!), the trip to Portland left me so inspired to make make make. I'm slowly trying to tackle my large list one thing at a time, without getting overwhelmed. Hopefully this weekend will leave some time and energy for creating. More garlands, papercuts, new skirts, and paper lanterns are competing with sleep and endless games of Spider Solitaire. Let's hope productivity wins.

a girl and her journal

In Portland, every free moment was an opportunity for journaling. I carried my journal and a few necessary supplies with me at all times.

 

Inspiration was everywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the perfect gift

You can't go on a fabulous vacation without a new journal. My goodness, no. I attempted to add some new pages to another travel journal but then my bff--who knows me best--suprised me with a journal she made herself. Just for me. Have you ever made or had someone you love make you a journal? You should. Everyone should.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't it amazing?? And so perfect for me! Next time I'll show you what I've done with it so far. I have to admit, it was a little difficult making those first marks in this already-perfect-in-my-mind-journal. But I knew she'd kill me if I kept it as a little shrine to her memory and didn't actually use the thing. Friends are great motivators.

saturday market is...

Operating since 1974 the Portland Saturday Market is the largest continually operating outdoor arts and crafts market in the nation. Centered in Portland’s historic Old Town the Market is one of the most popular shopping destinations for local handcrafted goods. --from the Saturday Market website

 

~ For interesting photo ops:

  

 

~ For a wierd guy making balloon animals.

~ For tie-dye. (No artisan market is complete without it.)

 

~ And for dreaming.

 

I wish I had taken more pictures of the actual booths--so many talented people and soooo many beautiful things!--but I was too busy digging out money and pleading with my husband for just one more thing.