"dirt bag" mattresses

We left mattresses on the mountain.  Which means that we do not have any mattresses for one bed and for camping.  

I found some organic cotton batting online for futons and there was a nice sale on clearance at Joann's.  Which means I am making "dirt bag" mattresses.  "Dirt bag" comes from 180 Degrees South.  It means you go do what you want to do after earning enough to pay for it.  That is sometimes how our camping has been lately, especially after we go the new old suburban.  Actually, that has been how all our camping has been.  Even when we have Small Mister with us.  

I keep thinking the next travel trailer we buy I will actually build.  But we have been enjoying camping out of the back of the suburban a lot.  We will see.

more silk

I made another silk dress.  This is the $200 a yard fabric I got for $15 a yard.  It is not bad but I am thinking that I should have made something with a more fitted bodice and full skirt with petticoats underneath.  It is just so stiff it does not lie quite right.  I may take this apart and do just that.  I have enough fabric to do that.  

Life is throwing some interesting curves.  I am being proactive about healing injuries.  I may need to sleep more!  And one of the writers who have come through for my Beloved and his knives are starting to look at the stuff I do.  There are no expectations at all but it is interesting.  I am also waiting on supplies.  They will get here.

refurbishing

I pulled six skirts out of my closet this weekend.  For one reason or another, I had stopped wearing them.  I was really wanting a black skirt to wear with my new silk shirt I had made but my black wool skirts were no longer comfortable to wear.  Not comfortable for a couple of reasons, but the main reason is that I changed where I wear my skirts.  I used to like really high waists, but between soft yoga/skating clothes and refurbishing another skirt that has become my favorite work skirt, that has changed.  Also, these wool skirts felt long enough at one point but then they started to feel to short. Yes, right above my ankles felt too short.  You may laugh.

I cut an inch and a half off the waist band.  Faced it and tacked the facing down.  The skirts now sit where I like them and because they sit so much lower, they are longer.  I did not have to go to the store for either fabric or clothes so I think this is even a bigger when then just not putting out any money.  I like them so much better now that I was thinking that I really need to find some white shirts that fit me well.  That is a struggle.  My shoulders are much too broad for most women shirts.  Maybe I should go to the men's department.

I have a linen skirt I am thinking about playing with too.  The lining binds my stride.  But I will not know if that is enough until I do some more refurbishing.  If does make me smile.

a silk shirt

I had a friend show up at work with a shirt I really liked.  She spoiled herself at Christmas and tried a new style.  I thought it was a success.  

She let me borrow it so i could take the pattern from it.  The original shirt was about $200 and in velvet.  Lovely, but a little heavy for home.  A little more expensive that I like to pay for ready made since I can sew unless it is something extra special.  I have a cashmere Ralph Lauren dress like that.  Fell in love with the picture.  Love wearing it even more.  Again, a bit warm for home.

I decided to make it in a sky blue silk shantung with sparkly buttons.  

I like it for a first pass.  Now I have to find something to wear on the bottom since I do not wear leggings for anything but skating anymore.  And I do not own a pair of skinny jeans like my sister.  I was thinking a skirt.  Much more me.  To bad it the skirt is not ready for my very long day tomorrow.  Hopefully, there will be time to blog.  I may not get home until MUCH too late!

fabric from Natchez

This was me preparing a salad to have with friends yesterday.  We went over to there house and had dinner.  There was much conversation and laughter and we all stayed up much too late.  It was nice to have it there because of their lovely red head little one.  

Notice those two knives in the picture?  They are both seconds so they reside in my kitchen.  My Beloved and I got into discussions about how they work, what is good, what is bad, and what my Beloved is going to design next.  It is part of my cooking anymore.  I help with the knife design.

I said I would post pictures of the fabrics I bought in Natchez, though I did think that would be yesterday.

This is a lovely embroidered silk.  I am going to make a dress of it.  Because there was a large cut out, I got three yards for the price of four.  Better yet, the price I paid was a tenth of the original price so I am very pleased.  I am going to make one of the chemise dresses I have been making recently (and in the past).

I do not remember what this was made of but it is light and shimmery.  I bought six yards for $5  a yard.  I have a few ideas but I also have a feeling it may be difficult to work with.  I will have to find out.

This is an organza with a pale gold stripe.  I bought four yards but it is 127 inches wide.  I do believe it was $6.50 a yard.  Again, I have ideas but it may be difficult.  But then some of the most interesting things in life are difficult.

And this is the picture of the grey dress on me.  Because Miss D asked.  I find it is very hard to get someone to take pictures of me modeling what I make.  Maybe someday I will actually get pictures of the Small Mister in all the pants I made him.