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 ( Read more... )

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% ( Read more... )

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:

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Here's before application of brush:

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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:


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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 ( Read more... )

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 ( Read more... )