Shimmying through life with needles and thread…
I’m really really busy right now working on something special. 
So despite a backlog of posts I want to make, I probably won’t be making any for then next week or so (except for the way overdue indigo post, and the violet post. Those I promise to make time for, just to finish up the series!)
But when I return, I hope to have a surprise for everyone. And a giveaway to celebrate it! Hopefully I’ll be back completely next Monday. But I can’t promise.
I do dance!
With wardrobe malfunctions! Everyone goes through something similar at some time in their life, I think. As Mom would have said, “builds character!”
Note: All pictures in this post are courtesy of Megan H. Freeman.
In my case it was a misunderstanding of the logistics of my current weight loss — I’ve lost 2 inches in my hips over the past few months and nothing around my waist. This takes my nice hourglass figure – the curves of which served to hold up my skirt – and turn it into a cylinder – not conducive to skirts staying up.
Note to self (and other dancers) if you are in the process of losing weight, do NOT trust even a full dress rehearsal — pin – pin- pin your costume. It will be the part you’re least worried about that will snap. Keep a professional attitude, smile, turn, wave and leave gracefully if necessary.
Oops. See how low that skirt is falling?(So are the pants!)
New Comedy Schtick!
No, I didn’t lose my costume onstage – if in doubt, turn hitching it up into a comedy schtick! But apparently it was closer than I thought it was! And yes, I was wearing underwear, but luckily it didn’t come to people seeing it.
So there!
Costuming malfunctions I’ve seen over the years include everything from the loss of a false ponytail to my skirt, to broken bra straps, to a ballerina who lost the entire bodice of her tutu in the middle of a backbend — that recovery took grace under pressure and has been my gold standard for continuing over the years. If she can handle that, I can handle almost anything. So there!
I fell in love with Opus Teutonicum, or “German Work” back when I was active in the SCA.
Generally worked in white on white linen, I love the way the various filling stitches show up against the lightweight ground.
I don’t have permission or any personal photos – while I love the style it’s actually one of the few I’ve never tried to do on my own.
If you’re interested in seeing it, though, I highly recommend the following sites. Good photos, including close-ups and good information about trying it.
Opus Teutonicum on Historical Needlework Resources
I am still building the turquoise bedlah – really I am!
But I got a reprieve as far as time goes because my troupe was asked to perform a specific routine at the show at the end of February. With everything that’s gone on in my life since Thanksgiving, I can’t say I’m sorry about that!
However, I was also included in the lineup as a solo act, which meant making sure my costume worked – I really don’ t like how my gold bedlah fits over the hips, so I chose a red bra I made a while back and a hip scarf. This is a great idea. But I have a caveat for those of you thinking about making one of these – OK, a couple of caveats.
The Bra in question.
That second point is hard-learned for me. I put this read and black tribaret bra together in a hurry two years ago – and this year I went back and re-stitched all the fringe with a metal-core thread. I’ve only worn it once and already the threads in the fringes were breaking.
Doing this would have been much easier to do before it was stitched down to the bra in rows. Keeping the thread from wrapping around the other rows of fringe is a huge production! Ah well, learn something with every project! (And every performance… that story to come…) With this bra I thought I was also going to learn to pad the cups: but I ran out of time. I’ve shrunk since I’ve made it, though, so I ended up stuffing them the old fashioned way – with socks.
I mentioned in a previous post that I thought one of the reasons we don’t experiment more is the perception of not wanting to waste time — we’re looking for the quick and foolproof.
My mother's wedding portrait
We are all very busy these days – I know I’m busy-er than my mother was – I remember her taking up major craft projects in porcelain and oil painting when I was in elementary school — she went back to work because she was bored. These days I think she’d be diving into the internet to make money from her art, and joining the bellydance troupe…
I work a day job. I teach dance, and I try to design as well as blog and stitch. Sometimes I think the day job gets in the way of my real calling — but hey, it’s still writing! But it does cut into the stitching and dancing time.
What I’ve learned is that I need to pace myself. I get up early enough that I can sit and take a few stitches before I leave in the morning. And I do my chores as soon as I get home so I can wind down in the evening with my stitching/designing and my husband. Like a magazine writer, I blog ahead of time (which is why my weather discussions may be a little off of the actual weather by a few days), taking five minutes here and there to scribble down an idea. Then weekends are for catching up on everything — including sleep! I don’t know how I’d manage if I had kids, too… and yet…
In this busy world, how do you find the time for the things you love?