Nutty

[clevermanka]

We'll start with a fortune (link thanks to stuology that seems very appropriate for hanging with the whores:

Your Fortune Is

Man who stand on street corner with hands in pockets, not feeling crazy, feeling nuts.

The Wacky Fortune Cookie Generator

Two people on my friends list were in serious car crashes in the past 24 hours. Both walked away from them. They're very lucky and I'm very grateful. Take care, girls.

Yesterday I stayed home from work to finish up on the costume for Middle Eastern Weekend. This has been my worst costuming experience to date. Tons of little mistakes, a few big ones, and an overarching sense of dissatisfaction has plagued this get-up from day one. To track:

First attempt to cut belt resulted in something that looked like a jester hat. Or a window valance.

Second belt design went swimmingly until I realized (after attaching all the shisha mirrors) that I'd cut it unevenly and had to snip off a total of three inches from the five pieces to make them somewhat even. They still aren't exact but oh well.

Necessary solution to fix the now-too-short belt meant that I couldn't use cowries as the hinges between belt components, as planned.

Ran out of red fabric so I didn't have enough for harem pants to match the sleeves of the vest.

After washing and cutting the gold fabric for the skirt, I found not only did I not have enough for a circle-and-a-half skirt (I was a full half-circle short), the addition of the red godets in the gold fabric looked like a jester costume. Flashback to first belt. Augh!

Tons of various "dammit sewed the wrong sides together" and "out of bobbin thread AGAIN" moments. Tons. Seriously, tons.

But in a miraculous turn of events, the bra looks fantastic. I had no major issues with it, and it was the quickest covered bra I've ever done. Probably only about 2 hours, all told. I'm squooshing my 32DD boobs into a 38C (padded) cup so damn. They look good, kids.

I also had no problems putting the harem pants together (that would've been just too much to bear). I did a sexy variation of harem pants where the outside is slit from hip to ankle so if you're lucky you can catch a little flash of leg on my turns.

I resolved the skirt issue by leaving the front of the skirt open (rather like the skirts the gypsy boys are wearing, only ankle-length and fuller) and putting in godets made out of the same fabric as the skirt. It looks pretty cool and shows off the pants. It also echoes the way the belt fastens in front.

Around 11:00 p.m. I called it a night. I figure I put in about 12 hours of sewing yesterday on this fucking costume. It damn well better look good when it's done, that's all I can say. I still have about three or four more hours of work on the costume itself, and then I need to re-string my beaded necklaces b/c I don't want to wear the metal necklaces if it's cold and rainy this weekend (brrr).

Because I still had hours to go on the costume, I didn't get to go to a party last night that I very much wanted to attend. Boo, hiss. I was really really disappointed. To make up for it, I will do a special performance at closing gate for angelbedwell. I'm not scheduled to do closing gate that day, but for you, sweetie, I will be out there with bells on. *hug*

New icon thanks to mesniu, or rather, a friend of mesniu. He thought it looked like me. I rather agree.

Huh. Thought for sure I had some other stuff to prattle about. I guess not.

OH! Yes, I wanted to say: Buh-bye, Mr. DeLay! Enjoy your little trip! I hope you go down in flames, asshole, and take at least a few of your buddies with you. Fucker.

Comments

[tessagratton.livejournal.com]

Can't wait to see the costume. I have your bin by the front door with cloak and coat in it. However, due to a party being held in KC Sat night that Natalie and I might want to attend perhaps we should drive seperately? :( You'd be welcome, of course... but it would probably be easiest for us to sleep over at my mom's or something instead of driving all the f-cking way back to lawrence....

Tess

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

No problem on driving separately. Sounds like both days, if you're staying in KC on Saturday night...right?

I'll come get the bin from you tonight. After 6 ok?

Hope your day gets better, btw...

[tessagratton.livejournal.com]

Sure, I'll be here. Natalie works until 8 or so. But come on over! And yes, it probably will work best to drive seperately both days. I'll talk to Natalie.

[emeder.livejournal.com]

That really is a neat picture. And it *does* look like you. How cool! Is it Persian?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Minoan, actually. I'm using this icon so you can compare. =D

[emeder.livejournal.com]

That's too cool! Both are great for your icons. I really need to get at least one myself. There are so few *good* pics of me out there, though. I'm totally not photogenic.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Well, you know the icon doesn't *have* to be of you. My default icon is Chernobyl Red from an old comic book. Check out my assortment (http://www.livejournal.com/allpics.bml?user=chernobylred) (and feel free to pull any of the non-representational ones if you like).

[angelbedwell.livejournal.com]

I cannot wait to see the new costume :)

I will do a special performance at closing gate for angelbedwell *melt*

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see it either--FINISHED! =D

[jmstrange.livejournal.com]

My wife was in an auto accident last night. She suffered less damage than the other vehicle/passenger. But still, she was quite shaken.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Wow. It was a bad day for driving, I guess. I'm glad to hear she's ok.

[mesniu.livejournal.com]

I notice that I rarely look at usernames anymore. I generally look at the icon to see who posts what. When I saw this post, I thought it was originally from the woman who had the icon originally. The post didn't really seem in line with what she had posted about earlier today, so I was a bit confused until I actually LOOKED at the username.

Silly silly me...

I think it's the eye, and the hair a bit.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Not the schnozz? That's where I noticed the similarity.

[pointoforigin.livejournal.com]

Totally sympathize with your sewing woes! My sisters and I used to sew lots of things--but I for one never had the expertise you clearly demonstrate. You're only having trouble because you're such an artist. If you were making jumpers and miniskirts (our typical products of yesteryear) you could probably crank out dozens per hour.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to make some jumpers and miniskirts, actually. Gonna get started on a winter wardrobe, as well as some shirts for a friend, as soon as RenFest is over.