Current Mood : Overjoyed !
Ah, glorious Friday ! We're at the usual 'first of the month' broke, but otherwise, all's fine. Took stock of the freezer last night when I couldn't find what I'd planned for dinner, and we're in good shape for a while. Need to use up some stuff, too.
Beloved Hubby and Dearest Son went to bed early last night, but I had a mild case of insomnia. Probably due to the inhaler - I was much tighter than usual yesterday, since it's humid. Rain off-and-on forecast for tomorrow and Saturday. So, with too much energy to sleep, I finally started to clean off the sewing desk.
Yes, I sewed yesterday without putting a single notion or tool or doll away, although I know I said I was gonna clean it beforehand. And it really needed cleaning, I just went around things to get it done. Let me know if you're surprised. Returned pins to the tray, got the ribbons back in bags then back in their storage tote, shuffled things around a bit in the cubby tray of the white cabinet I bought last year, pulled out the chair to find two pins imbedded in the carpet, picked up a few dozen threads while I was down there, stored books and fabrics and thread spools. It's still cluttery over there, but it's neater than it was !
Sometimes I think I need to have a certain level of messiness to be creative. That if it's all too clean, I won't want to mess things up by actually making anything. So, with that in mind, when I started yawning, I bagged it for the day, only being about 3/4 finished.
A small confession : the waistband on the skirt I made Clawdeen yesterday is a scrap of grosgrain black ribbon left over from Tabitha's obi. It was lying there on my desk, completely unaware that I forgot to cut out a waistband...at least it got used up ! Ribbon makes great waistbands.
But then, the day went totally great - Tabitha got her package ! And she loved it ! So I got to rip into the one she sent me. Wow. So many goodies ! It'd take three photos to capture it all, and that's without putting any of the fabulous outfits on a doll ! I now have green UltraSuede, some real sheepskin (lol, 20 years after getting my degree, I finally get a sheepskin !), packets of the tiniest grommets/eyelets I've ever seen, five luscious fat quarters, Hello Kitty ribbon, stretchy sequins, some adorable green ribbon, several sets of beautiful doll-sized jewelry, hair bows and tiny make-up props, a set of six wine glasses, a wide decorated leather belt - called a cincher - that goes beautifully with the gold skirt and teal tunic she hand-sewed, a gorgeous brown vest and pants combo, and not only a gorgeous burgundy gown that put Cleo and Clawdeen into one of their most serious couture fights yet, but also the pattern, so I can make those two clothes-horses more !
So much beauty ! I played with it all for as long as I could, but it wasn't long before school was out and Dearest Son's guest was over. At least I'd done what housework I was gonna do early. Simply moved all my new treats to my desk and played with them there for a while. Wow. Tabitha, you really know how to put together a swap package - I just wish I had more time to play and take photos. Beloved Hubby was intrigued by the vial of Muse essential oil from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - it was unbroken, but still lent a bit of sensory stimulation to the whole package. Gonna display it with the dress forms, in hopes of luring a full-time Muse to my tiny lil' sewing station !
With Cleo and Clawdeen in full battle-array over the burgundy gown - I only managed to break it up by promising them both a 'Who Wore It Best ?' style photo-shoot tomorrow - no one noticed Lagoona snaking the tunic and skirt away, then coming back for the purse, or Ghoulia going for the brown long vest and matching pants. When they weren't offering color commentary on the gown fight, DracuLaura and Frankie were wrapping themselves in fabrics (I'd already hidden the UltraSuede and sheepskin away, or I'd have had no rest tonight until I sewed them something from each !) and admiring them and each other. I'd already promised the photo shoots, because Cleo and Clawdeen were down to hissing at each other, so I had to tell Frankie and DLaura I'd sew for them soon as possible. DLaura wants a kimono of her own - she's never had one - from some classic purple with white 'bridges and buildings' Asian-style print fabric, while Frankie hasn't yet made up her mind, but whatever I make for her needs to come from some lovely lavender floral-print material.
(sigh) This is what inevitably happens when you give monsters or girls - especially monster girls ! - space in your mind...
I had so much fun opening my package, and rejoicing in all the wonderfulness inside. But I think knowing that Tabitha liked what I sent was a great joy, too. I thought it was funny that we both sent each other some UltraSuede - I sent her two grey pieces, one embroidered with the MH 'shield' logo, as sort of a DIY project. It was gonna be one of my zipper bags, but I realized that there was probably a dozen things Tabitha could do with the logo, and since she has the skills to back it up, why not let her decide ? We both also packaged darn near all our stuff in sandwich bags inside the packages ! Well, it keeps related items together, there's less likelihood of something tiny escaping, and in case of rain, stuff's protected. But it was still funny that we both did that.
I'm still overwhelmed - by Tabitha's art and generosity. And patience ! Thank you - I love it all ! I'm sorry that I'm not using a better photo today, promise to get some fantastic ones up soon as possible !
Now, if Dearest and his guest would just settle down, I might get to sleep before Saturday morning...
