The Professor's Homework: Sewing Projects

My current to-do list in the sewing room.

I freakin' LOVE The Professor's latest homework assignment of On the Cutting Table. As she says:  "Show your crafting / art / sewing / knitting / crochet works in progress and the projects that you want to tackle in the next few months. What's on your cutting table? What's in your knitting basket? Did you just buy four new skeins of yarn for that shawl you've been meaning to make? Is there a canvas in the corner of your room just begging for some paint? Show us what you've been up to and what you are planning."

Except I can't tell you what I'm working on. Not the stuff right now because it's SEEKRIT!!!

But here's some hints...

The local costumer's guild is having a Game of Thrones themed event at a winery that has a perfect recreation of a 14th-century castle. A bunch of friends and I are going, obviously, and some of us are making specific characters from the TV show (or book, though admittedly, I read the first book and hated it, but I love the show). Other friends are making "inspired by" costumes.

My planned costume is of a TV show character. A main character. And I can't tell you any more because I want to show up at the event and make people say "wow!"

I can say it's a very popular character, and almost all the materials are from my fabric stash, so the costume won't be perfectly screen-accurate, but it should be recognizable.

In the meantime, take a look around my sewing room -- I totally reorganized and painted it over the summer. And I have a post on my costume blog about a longer-term project for this summer where I want to recreate a gown worn by Charlotte Bronte. I've only started the research, not the sewing for that one yet.

What creative stuff are you working on these days?

Do You Give a F*ck?

I'm not usually big on Buzzfeed stories, but damn, this one is worth reading. They retell the entire Harry Potter series with Hermione as the main character, fighting The Patriarchy. She is The Girl Who Literally Gives No F*cks. It's pretty damn brilliant.

On a slightly related tangent, equally worth reading is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson.  This post is more broad (it's not a feminist rant like the Buzzfeed one), but it has practical applications in everyone's life. The essence is that you only have a limited amount of f*cks to give over your lifetime, so you must spend them with care. Don't waste them on little, unimportant crap.

What do you give a f*ck about? What have you stopped giving a f*ck about?

What I'm wearing: Burgundy corduroy jacket, Kohl's | Black & white damask knit top, Ralph Lauren | Black crochet trumpet skirt, Coldwater Creek | Black corset-style elastic belt, Torrid | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Burgundy suede pumps, Soffit | Black & rhinestone necklace, random accessory store | Rhinestone skull earrings, gift from Sarah

One thing I give a f*ck about is FrockFlicks.com, because we're having a ton of fun writing about historical costume movies. #SnarkWeek is still happening on the blog, Facebook, and Twitter! Check it out :)

Bonus Crock Pot Recipe

I hate to cook. But I need to eat. And my husband doesn't really know how to cook. So unfortunately, if I want more than (unhealthy, expensive) takeout dinners or (boring) Lean Cuisine frozen meals, sometimes I have to force myself to cook.

One thing I've found that helps, particularly with my busy schedule, is ye olde slow-cooker, aka a Crock Pot. I got a giant, oversized one free when a friend was moving, and since I'm just cooking for my hubbi and I, these slow-cooker meals make a LOT of food. I like to figure out recipes that I can tweak for a couple meals that aren't exactly the same thing over and over again with the leftovers.

Thus was born this recipe that I got published on Offbeat Home recently The Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken That Makes Three Dinners. Take a look, try it out, and let me know what you think!

What I'm wearing:
Black knit military jacket, Macy's
Black & pink stripe top, Ralph Lauren
Black knit skirt, Target
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black & pink flats, ShoeMetro.com
Pink filigree earrings, Etsy


Pssst: #SnarkWeek continues over on FrockFlicks.com, Facebook, and Twitter! Join me there :)

Something Different

This was a special-occasion outfit, so more gothic than average or every day. Sometimes, it's just required. I wore a mix of things I've made and purchased with a little vintage vibe.

I've been a little absent from blogging here because I've been working very hard over on FrockFlicks.com, where we're starting #SnarkWeek today. If you've ever watched a historical costume movie and wondered WTF are they wearing, come on over and check out a whole week of non-stop snarky fun! We're also on Facebook and Twitter.

What I'm wearing:
Nightmare Before Christmas themed mini top hat, bought in Disneyland | Black lace jacket, Macy's | Black T-shirt, Old Navy | Black & white spiderweb skirt, made by me | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black heeled granny boots, Aerosoles | Black lace choker, bought at Convergence | Dangly faux-jet earrings, random accessory store | Black lipstick, Make Up For Ever

Do you enjoy costume dramas on TV or the big screen?

Friday Five: Heaven and Hell

Would you sell your soul to the devil and what for?
A job that lets me work from home two days per week and has a decent measure of creativity.

Who do you think will be the first five people you meet in heaven?
My father, my three grandparents who are no longer living, and my childhood dog (where I to believe in heaven and die today).

Is life more fair to some then others?
Yes. In some ways, both in general ways (like, the ice cream runs out right as you walk up to the truck) and in ways the create privilege (racial, gender, class).

Do you think some people are just born unhappy?
Yes, but I also believe in chemical imbalances.

If you could have a magical power, what would it be?
Smite people with lasers from my eyes.






Questions culled from The Friday Five on LiveJournal.

What I'm wearing: Black & grey stripe sweater, Target | Black trousers, Target | Black skull scarf, gift from my husband | Skull earrings, random accessory store | Black boots, Aerosoles

When to Shop, When to Purge

I cross-post my daily outfit blogs to Facebook, where my circle of friends and acquaintances sometimes comment there. A while ago, someone asked, "How often do you shop and how often do you purge the closet?" I gave a quick answer there, but I figured that since that's a very appropriate question for CorpGoth, why not move it over here.

My shopping goes in fits and spurts. I'll buy a ton of stuff for a few months and then buy nothing for a while. I tend to buy new clothes and shoes when something changes and makes me need new things or notice holes in my wardrobe. For example, when my commute changed and I needed more flat shoes for a longer walk from public transportation, I started hunting for appropriate shoes. If I realize I haven't worn button-down shirts but I'm always wearing cardigans, I stop buying button-down shirts and buy a bunch of cardigans. When I have time on my hands, I'll spend more time thrift-shopping, and you never quite know what you'll find there.

As for when I purge, that's a little more predictable. About once a year but on no particular schedule, I spontaneously feel a compulsion to clean out my closet and dressers. I can be fairly ruthless -- anything I haven't worn in a year (other than special-occasion items) is subject to serious review. I try stuff on, I check for needed repairs, I consider if it goes with other stuff in my wardrobe. If I can't justify keeping it, the item goes into the donation pile.

This annual purge may inspire a shopping trip if I throw out things I like because they don't fit or uncover things I haven't worn and love but don't have many of. Not totally likely but it has happened,

How about you -- how often do you shop for clothes and purge your wardrobe?

What I'm wearing: Black and grey stripe sweater, Target | Black skirt, NY & Co. | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Black boots, Clark's | Silver skull necklace, random accessory store