Pitchin' Woo

and more Dollhouse murders

another clip.....cannot wait.  

via www.fausseparisienne.com

"Of Dolls and Murder" with narrator John Waters

There is something amazing here. A documentary on recreations of murder scenes by the use of dollhouses. Then to make it more amazing it's narrated by John Waters. I don't think I even need to mention why that is amazing.

Must stop using the adjective "amazing".

 

The Words of Tim Gunn

One of the things that makes Project Runway for me, other than sewing of course, is Tim Gunn's fantastic vocabulary.

Examples:

mitigating

circuitous

Sturm und Drang

faux bois

scuttlebutt

Hearing him speak is like a soft wave cleansing my mind of all the Spanglish and text speak that makes up my life of teaching English Lit to ESL students.

But nothing....nothing will ever top the shock and, for some reason, delight of hearing Tim say,

"Jackie Kennedy would not have cameltoe."

 

Oh Tim......

 

 

 

 

Not a Loser Anymore, Like the Last Time and The Time Before

I love the sewing and vintage blog community.  I should add a blog roll, I know Iknow.

I try to comment on several a day, even if the jealousy is hard to get through. Many blogs do giveaways in order to promote their blog and thank their blog community. Sometimes you must become their follower or repost their giveaway, often it's just commenting on the blog or answering a question that enters you to win some pretty amazing gifts.

Vintage Vixen, the owner of the Etsy store Fab Gabs has been running a great series of giveaways, each themed with a specific time era. I...yes me, Stella, won the 1940's giveaway. When I saw my name I didn't really beleive it, I mean I cannot be the only Stella out there in sewing blog land. But it was....and look at the goodies I'll be receiving!!!

Today there is a great 1950's giveaway you should totally check out.

 

It feels good to be a winner. I already have my 50$ gift certificate spent in my head, let's hope the things I want don't get snatched up before I get my chance, so as to my choices on that I'm keeping mum. So have you ever won through one of these giveaways?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Self-Stitched September...the Beginning

Tomorrow starts So Zo's Self Stitched September and I'm hardly prepared. My pledge is to wear something self-made every day. Since moving to Colombia and being sewing machinless for two years I don't have 30 days of complete outfits,  but I'm hoping that this motivates me to get back to daily sewing, even if it's only 3 seams.

Last night, while watching the Emmys, I cut out the fabric for a fullskirted dress with a shirred scoop neck and raglan sleeves.

I'm making it from this pink and white striped seersucker I bought from the amazingly cool Crissy when she had  the major task of unloading a stuffed  house.

We'll see how this works out. It's been ages since I've tried to sew up something full-skirted. It's not particularly flattering on me, but I just can't resist.

 

Wadder Weekend

Exams were done and grades were in. I handed in my stapler and three-hole punch (this is actually a long nasty story, serious three hole punch nastiness). Then I was ready to start sewing proper. I'd been making runs to the fabric store regularly with the assistance of my lovely boyfriend/translator Andres. I was stocked and read to go. I made a skirt, too bulky....fail. I made a dress, too sheer and low-cut....fail. I made another skirt, too gappy....fail. I made a striped pink dress, too tight.....fail.

I had two sorta successes....at least successful enough to pack without any assurance that I will actually wear them. One pair of long shorts from Burda and a patternless skirt. If I wear them I'll take pictures.

Until then I will review the Burda Pattern that I used.

Cropped Trousers

 

First of all the instructions are complete crap. At one part it starts talking about the front skirt panel. Really I'm making a skirt now am I. So if you need to follow instructions I'd definitely bypass the pattern. Plus don't bother buying the trouser version of these pants. I am pretty certain this is the same pattern, but with the addendum of "add elastic at the cuff". They were too long on me to even be pants. But I'm 5'5" and wear a size 8, which are always long on me.....stumpy legs.

Anyhow I'm going to try to get a pic of these up here soon. Traveling right now makes it difficult. I don't think the priest and Hasidic Jew sitting in the airport lounge with me would appreciate a homemade fashion show.

 

Remembrances of Dresses Past : Vintage Dresses Loved and Lost. Part 1

Years ago the vast majority of my closet was vintage. Working in a thrift store before the entire vintage mania had many perks. Three years ago I did something I never ever thought I would do... sell every stitch of my vintage wardrobe. It paid for 3 months in Paris. As you know from my estomago post on my other blog I lost 87 lbs. None of my vintage fits anymore and I absolutely refuse to have plus size vintage to be taken in. Unfortunately I sold them on ebay and the woman who bought them sent me an email about how big they were on her and how she had to have them all taken in. This was quite a slap in the face as I let her pay much later than the normal time period and commiserated with her on her weight woes. And here I get the "dude you are so much fatter than me" email. Ughhh yeah, ok maybe I'm a little bitter and overly sensitive. Anyhow this dress was one of my favorite and now it's been unwittingly downsized. 

This dress was my "go-to" dress for nearly every occasion. Highlights include: Green Bay Rockin' 50's Fest 2002, Numerous Viva Las Vegas and High Noon at the Buddy Holly Festival in Lubbock Tx. I'm going to try to round-up some pictures of me actually in the dress.

I miss this dress and I wish it a good life, even if it was horribly violated to become thinner.

 

 

The American Look : Mid-century Modern Design

One of the things I love most about mid-century modern design is the fact that all your objects in the home were designed to not only be functional but innovative in design, especially when looking at new shapes.

Since I move frequently I have a policy, if it isn't functional I don't collect it. I never buy something just because it will do. I think it's common these days to buy something thinking that later you'll buy the item that "fits". Although I don't always succeed I try to be conscious of the disposable attitude. But I find here in Colombia I will buy things I would NEVER allow into my home in the states. I do this knowing that I won't be bringing it back to the states and I'll be selling it here. There is no problem finding buyers for second hand goods here as they are rare because they generally get passed through families.It's easier to part with things when they are hideous...hence all my laminate fake wood furniture here. If I can put it together myself it must be disposable.

Yay for the everyday object!

BTW...I'm pretty sure that's not just tomato juice in that Tupperware pitcher.

When I visualize future happiness it looks like this

The Stuffed Chicken Geek Video

So I finally got around to showing the prop chicken I made for the Senior Play here. One of my lovely Juniors volunteered to demonstrate.