"Your Ouffed"

Okay so I could never be on Project Runway for many reasons. First because I wouldn't finish in time. I would be the person still sewing it onto the model. Another reason would be that they would portray me as a bi-polar alcoholic. One moment she's cracking people up and saying inappropriate things and the next minute I would be crying (well maybe then they would keep me on for a few episodes for the ratings) and then they would cut to me drinking out of my flask. Tim would be saying that drinking is not a good way to use my time and that I won't have a critical eye if I have beer goggles on....stop me now....

Anyway per my previous post the challenge was to take something you already own and make it into something new. I took this tunic top and this terrible skirt and made it into a dress. I had to submit it by 9 pm last Thursday. I made this dress pretty much the day before the deadline and the photo shoot took place two hours before the deadline. And the submission happened right at 9 pm. It was probably even past due. BIG FAIL!!!!!! "Your ouffed" as Heidi would say.

How did I make it you ask. Well I first cut most of the tunic off. Then I cut the the back of the tunic and the skirt in half. I then sewed the two together. Then I made the top so that you could see my back. I cut the skirt shorter and hemmed it and took that fabric and sewed two pieces across the back. I added an invisible zipper and a button in the back as well.

On Thursday after work I threw it on and went on "location" for the photo shoot. It took place down at the old Sutro Baths. Bert set up the shots and took the pictures. I liked using the props. It was pretty fun. Cold, windy, rainy, dangerous conditions... The life of a model is not what it is cracked up to be. :)

On burdastyle.com it's gotten over 200 views and someone favorited it.
(flask shot)

Life has been hectic. With work, a packed social life and dating I haven't had much time to myself. The Sally time I do have I am running, juicing and I have started writing my comedy routine. I still haven't seen last weeks Project Runway and will not see this week's either. That's how busy I am. San Francisco is where I am supposed to be and I will be here for a long time, but it sometimes gets overwhelming. There is too much to do and too many events.

I can't believe it's October and for me that means I need to start cracking on my Halloween costume. A post about that coming soon. This month I also want to start making a simple engagement party dress for my brother and his fiance's party. Some other projects I have in my head are a red dress for my 30th Birthday and a rehearsal dinner dress for my brother's wedding. I would make a dress for the wedding, but I am in the wedding party. Yay! Thanks Allison. I can't wait!

Not quite like Project Runway without Tim

Last night I watched Season 8 Episode 7 of Project Runway. I can't believe I have watched 8 seasons.

My favorite website burdastyle.com is having a Project Runway Remake Challenge and I have decided to enter. The first challenge on Project Runway this season was to take an item of clothing from another designer’s wardrobe and refashion it into a brand new garment.

(Winning design - She used a jacket to make this dress)

So for this contest the rules are to take an existing garment from your closet and turn it into something new! You are to re-purpose those old pieces into new functional, wearable garments while still utilizing as much of the original as possible.

I have a lot of clothes in my two closets that I could totally remake. I narrowed it down and I am going to use an old black skirt that I don't wear anymore and a tunic that I love, but never wear anymore. I have decided to put them together and make a dress. I will cut most the tunic off and just use the top. I will make the skirt smaller and shorter and attach the top to the bottom. Then I will cut both items down the back and add a long zipper. Hopefully this works. I will need Tim Gunn to hide in my closet and keep reminding me "To make it work!"

I have till September 30th to finish it.

Staghorn Fern Wall Mount

Your probably wondering what the heck a Staghorn Fern Wall Mount is? No it's not a new sexual position...

On Thursday evening I took the "Staghorn Fern Wall Mount" class at the Workshop. http://www.workshopsf.org/. This is where I played ping pong at a few times previously. I finally decided to take a class there. As you know, I know trees, but I don't know that much about plants. I have been wanting to start learning more about plants and gardening. So here's a start...

Staghorn Ferns (or Elkhorn Ferns) don't need soil to grow in, so they make a good medium for the wall. They also grow and look like antler's which is cool cause I don't hunt and instead of a deers dead antlers on the wall, I have a living thing that keeps on giving. :) The teachers provided the reclaimed wood and drift wood in which you use to put the Sphagnum Moss on and then the fern on top. The moss is like a sponge and holds the water in which the fern uses. I just have to take it off the wall once a week and water it. I think mine will look better once the antler's grow longer.

The couple that teach the class love plants. Check out their blog at http://www.faroutflora.com/.

You decide:
Antler's

or Fern's on your wall??????

My skirt got down to Motown

OLD

NEW

I finished remaking the skirt i mentioned in my previous post. I started it on Saturday and a few hours later I had an outfit for the night.

(Bare with me I'm not a model)

I bought the long ugly skirt at Community Thrift for $6. They give all of their proceeds to different charities in the Bay Area. I really loved the fabric and I thought the $6 was worth it. The fabric is a light twill.

First I cut the skirt open, so I had one piece of fabric. Then I took a basic a-line skirt pattern that I have and cut out the three pieces. I cut out the fabric so that I could keep the original hem at the bottom (less work for me). I took out the pleats, shortened it, added a longer zipper, and made a waist band. I added a button closure in the back. And whala, it went from frumpy to lovely in just a few hours. I love when I can make something to wear the day I need to wear it :)

I did wear it out that night (not just in my room) to Faisal's 30th B-day celebration. The skirt got down to a motown/soul dance party and held up.

Juice: My inspiration for the week among other random things

What's going on with me you ask?

Thanks for asking, let's see...do you have a minute?

I find myself heartbroken and single again. It was a tough couple of weeks there. Among all the advice a good friend told me that I am loyal. That has stuck with me. I have never been described in that way and it got me thinking. She's absolutely right and that is why I always get hurt. So I have been reassessing my life and looking at my strengths and faults. I have also been doing a lot of thinking how weird and un-understandable (is this a word?) humankind, relationships and society is. With every relationship I am learning more and more in what I want in a partner. I am very fortunate to have such wonderful and supportive friends and family in my life. I am back to myself again and have started dating. For now I am looking to lay low and to just have fun.

Onto more fun things:

Last weekend I went to Cafe Gratitude with a friend for a juice. I usually don't go for juice, but we both needed something healthy. Cafe Gratitude is a raw and totally hippie place, too hippie. Anyway I got the "I am worthy, Blood Tonic" juice. It had kale, beets, celery, apple, and ginger. It was gross, but good at the same time. 15 minutes later I was as happy as I have ever been and felt great. I took a cab home, which I seldom do. The cabbie said I was so happy and that he never met anyone with such a great personality and outlook. I can usually tell when guys are lying to me. He gave me a large discount on the fair and wanted to be friends with me. Kind've weird. It could have been the sunshine, hanging with Megan, just feeling better about life, but it could also have been the juice. So I went out and bought a juicer and a crap load of fruits/veggies and have been juicing since. For $13 I have been making zen choy, carrot, lemon, beet, apple, celery, and lemon juice. I have also have been running in Golden Gate Park almost everyday. It has been good for my mind, body and spirit. Even though that sounds cheesy, it's true.

Last week yahoo profiled the blog: http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/. It is amazing. She has decided to take 365 days and make 365 new items of clothing with $365 by using items she finds at flea markets, vintage stores and garage sales. They all turn out really cute.

The two sewing projects that I will work on this week have been inspired by: love, lack of love, being single, warm weather, juice, running, vintage, remaking clothes and feeling healthy. Wow that's a lot of inspiration.

I bought this skirt from Community Thrift last week. I love the fabric, but the skirt is ugly. I am going to make it a A-line skirt and take out the pleats. I will shorten it as well to show off my legs :)

The next project is pj's/lounge wear. I will make a bralette and some knickers with this Collete pattern. Oh la la...

Till next time...

Your not gonna find any bling here!

I promised my friend Molly that I would make her a pair of earrings before she left for Europe. Well she got back 2.5 months later and I still hadn't made them. So yesterday I made them and mailed them off along with two rings to make up for my procrastination.

The wood shape beads I got at an awesome bead store in Chico. http://www.stringbead.com/ I

recommend stopping in if you are ever in Chico.

Again I used buttons to make the rings.

As long as I was making jewelry, I ran with it and went crazy! I made a silly ring for Svetlana for her 35th B-day and I made myself:

a hair thing

Oh how I love hair things!

a necklace

I got this copper/painted charm from the Chico bead store. Someone made it in one of the classes that they offer and didn't want it so I added a chain and clasp. If planting trees wasn't enough now I can have one around my neck.

two pairs of earrings

I also got the metal beads on the left in Chico. I told you it was a unique bead store. The green leaves on the left are made out of plastic and are super light.

Now back to sewing...