A few things that have been keeping me busy

   Since  the end of last school year, I have been doing one show or another in succession - and sometimes concurrently - so I have been a bit busy, distracted, incommunicado - you choose.  here are s few shots of some of my work since last May.
   The following are shots from Chenango River Theatre's production of Almost Maine, for which I designed the costumes.

Halloween a little late

   Par for the way life is running these days, I am about a week behind in posting the Halloween costumes.  Hubby has better ones but they are lock in his Ipod in his pocket at this moment.  Younger son was a peregrine falcon - or a  reasonable facsimile thereof.

My daughter was WINTER.  It was a "stitch it together t-tunic - throw on a few snowflakes and slap some blue and silver make up on under a tinsel wig, last minute, She forgot to plan ahead" type costume.  As she walked out the door to go to the parade (required marching band assignment) she said,  "I think I'll plan better next year."  Some lessons must be learned not taught!



PS For the 52 Project the falcon  finished off the weird fuzzy fabric that looked like the falcon's pin feathers as well as a bunch of black felt for the feathers.

A bee report

Saw this and thought it worth sharing.  Bees and pesticides.  Just a bit of info about the things we are doing to ourselves via our agricultural practices.

Seasons end

   Really - we are ending all sorts of seasons around here!   Yesterday was the last race of my son's Cross Country season - he ran his personal best time.  Only the States are left, but just one guy from his team qualified for that.
   Tonight is the Women's Varsity Swim Team  banquet.  My daughter still has State qualifiers to swim in  - or perhaps it is the All Conference meet - I get confused!
   We have ended autumn rather abruptly.  Two days ago we got a strong dusting of snow, and last night an inch or two.  There are still leaves on the trees, so I am glad we did not get the 8 inches some of my students had said we were in for!
     Lest you think the 52 Project has ended just because I am in tech, fear not.  With the Halloween tomorrow, I have been taking a bus man's holiday each evening and making a peregrine falcon costume for my youngest son.  In doing so I have used up a couple yards of black felt, as well as a big chunk of  a hairy knit fabric, which I had bought because I loved the texture. I had intended to make a sweater-y jacket for myself, but when I got it home I realized I did not really need to wear something that made me look like a mutt from the pound!  Photos when I get batteries for the camera!

My World, and Welcome To It!

   When we are in tech week for shows, all bets are off - laundry gets washed and dried, but piles up in the baskets.  The  dishes get done, but usually not right away.  The rug is not vacuumed.  This is just the way it is when you leave first thing in the morning and don't get home for more than half an hour before you leave again and  return around midnight.  Welcome to life in a double theatre-artist home.
   Do not ask me what our excuse is this week...   Tech does not start for another week and yet the house is a wreck.  We have consumed take out food and pizza this week, and had the great time saving "breakfast for dinner" option. Do not go in the laundry room, you may not come out.  The possibility of a clean clothing avalanche is very real!
    It has been a trickier week as we navigate the kids' schedules with the addition of our daughter's dress rehearsals for the high school play.  Can you say Insanity?  I can.
    Last night, to top things off, my husband opened the refrigerator  to get something and this happened.

It is black cherry yogurt... on the ceiling.  As he opened the door, the container fell and must have hit the floor squarely on the container bottom.  The foil lid burst, and a geyser of pink flew up to decorate the unsullied white above.   He started to curse.  I started to laugh.  After all, when you have pink goo threatening to drip on your husband's head, what else should you do?  Aside from hand him a wet towel, of course.

Fall and 52

   This morning was gorgeous - sunny, breezy, and then this afternoon it all changed.  It is raw and rainy and windy in earnest.  The perfect day for making cookies and sewing.  I finished another pair of pj's for my youngest - he is sorely in need of them after growing several inches over the past year.  These go back to his perennial favorite pattern choice; a jumpsuit style but with no feet, nor any elastics at the ankles or wrists.  And of course, in a dinosaur fabric.

so solemn

Better than a Lacoste alligator in his opinion!

      So I have week 2 of the 52 project taken care of - although I see some fabric donations in the offing soon, as I have the  right fabric for my show sitting in a bin in my  basement.

Week # 1 of The 52 Project

 


   Well, I never said they had to be beautiful... I whipped up a pair of pajama pants for my son tonight. They are flannel and very soft - and extra baggy.  Of course, the rise is cut so he can wear them around his waist, but he only wears pants just above his hips, so the seat bags a bit - but, "Done is Good!"
    The score is now pj drawer: +1, basement bins: - 1 and counting.  I have cut another pair of pajamas - this set is a full sleeper, but with no feet - my son's feet are always hot at night.  He also prefers I not put elastic at the  cuff or ankles so he can push the legs and sleeves up if he gets warm. If I can keep this up, I may actually use fabrics in the season they were intended for!  What a concept!
   Bon nuit, mes amis.