Up with the sun.
Coffee warm and delicious.
Thinking about the day ahead. Remembering the day behind.
This bag came back from Somerset Studios last week. I had sent it in to be considered for Haute Handbags and it was bumped and then finally sent back- long months of thinking it would be published. It was like seeing an old friend. I will probably put it in the Etsy shop, but not today. Today I have a sewing job to do and then tomorrow I spin to be ready for a workshop that I am taking this coming weekend with Jacey Boggs of Insubordinknit.
Every year my Knit & Bitch Group (from Picasso Moon) goes on a retreat to Anna Maria Island. We rent this huge house and spend several nights and days knitting, cooking, talking, playing mahjong and spinning. Last year was when we learned to spin- some of us, anyway, and as you know, my life hasn't been the same since!
Yesterday I dyed some roving with Jacquard dyes and it was quite a learning experience. I enjoyed it- but what a lot of work! I don't have any photos- it's still drying. Today I need to get busy sewing.But, I wanted to share a few things that I have been working on since I last posted.

This is a Fairy Princess Gown I made from a size 8 Jessica McClintock gown. I cut and burned and painted and stitched and glued and am still not finished! It will get more lace and tulle and silk added to the ragged hem and then I plan to make wings and a crown.
I have had the dress for a long while and spent a lot of time thinking about how the fairy dress would be. Imagining a fairy seamstress sewing a gown for her Princess using bits of things found in the forest and treasured hand tatted lace and sacred glass buttons and beads is pretty easy for me. As I was working on it my husband came through the room and said two things to me- first he said I was going to burn the house down (the dress was actually smoldering and I saw the glow of ashes burning and had to pat it quickly to put it out!!!) and then he said the nicest thing- he asked why I didn't just make fairy gowns for a living? What a compliment! I would love to live in a gypsy wagon and roam from Ren Faire to Ren Faire selling my gowns and wings and crowns. He said he would sell "things on a stick"- food items- like steak, possum, raccoon and squirrel. Local and organic. yum. He is so funny.

Last week I was so busy- I used a photo from Jacey's blog to create a book cover and used my new book binder to make spinning notebooks for the chicks who are taking her workshop. I don't want to spoil the surprise but Deb has some niiiiice swag bags for those chicks and I think everyone is going to have an awesome time!

Making anything x24 is certainly a big job and it took me about 12 hours to make these notebooks but they will be great to use as journals for our weekend. I am bringing some glue and some pens and pencils to try to write in mine while we are there- between bites of Belgian waffles and spinning art yarns! I will take the camera and try to get some pics. It should be a blast and I know it will be over all too soon.
Did I ever show you the beach bunny I made?

Simple and sweet from a Martha Stewart pattern- I used felted sweaters to make him nice and soft. It was one of those projects I dropped everything and had to go make! I am doing mermaids and mermen and boats next week and will have pictures to share from the retreat. I wish there were more hours to each day- I really do!
anyway- have a lovely day and I hope to be back soon with some good stuff to share.
Thanks for stopping by!
xo,
Calamity Kim