What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: A Life at Sea is the Life for Me

Top:  Saint James
Skirt:  Comme des Garcons
Shoes:  La Canadienne

Story Publication

I'm quite happy to announce that my story, The Circles In Which We Travel, has been published by Joyland.  Please check it out.

Crafting Toward Spring

The weather is still bitingly cold, and the longer days just make it seem that much colder.  It's hard not to think that the weather will be more temperate when it's light at 7:30pm.  But it's just a ruse.  It's still winter.

But I was ready to sew last weekend.  Inspired in part by SouleMama's recent sewing flurry, I set off to our studio.  Initially I'd planned on making the Lisette skirt to go with the top I already made (in my Instagram), but of course, I didn't have a couple of things.  So I decided to take some fabric I'd bought at Value Village and make a Wiksten tank.  I have to say, I really like it.

Not to be immodest, but I do think I did a great job with the pocket placement.  (This image also gives you a close-up of the kind of odd juxtaposition of farm animals and architectural details.)

And bonus!  It fits perfectly!

Can spring really be that far away?

Craft & Fashion: Two Great Things that Go Great Together

Ah, an amazing utilization of craft technique in a fashion application.  Perhaps I'll be doing a lot of English Paper Piecing this summer...

Jasper Conran dress

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: A Crossbreed

Feel like a cross between Pippi Longstocking & a schoolmarm?

Jumper:  Cabbages & Roses
Turtleneck:  Three Dots
Tights:  Falke
Boots:  Blundstone

What I Wore to Teach Today: Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner

Dress/Jumper:  DKNY Vogue Pattern, made by me
Shirt:  Moschino (thrifted)
Tights:  (not nearly as blue as photographed) Hue
Boots:  Old Gringo

Working Around Baggage Fees

If you've read some of my other travel-related posts, you know I get my crank on about certain things, especially draconian baggage limits and fees (see posts involving Air Berlin).  However, here's a little tip for those of you who still like to check their bags but don't want to pay the fee.  On both my flights, which, of course, were overbooked and totally full, they begged people to surrender their roller bags to be checked, free of charge, to their final destination.  On one airline, Alaska Air, they even let those who volunteered board before the regular steerage class.

Yes, it's still carry-on size, but I bet you could bring a slightly larger one (you've seen the corporate types do it) and gamble on the opportunity to be a good citizen and gate check your bag.

There is an exception to the beauty of ridding yourself of your luggage this way, don't do it if you're flying into Toronto Pearson.  I'd rather fight for my overhead space than grow old waiting for the baggage to show up on the carousel.  There's only so much I can put up with.

What A Long Strange Trip It's Been

Yikes!  I was away for two weeks, and it feels like I've been away for months.  I actually wept when the ladyfriend met me at the airport today with flowers.  I think it was a combination of gratitude, exhaustion, and sheer happiness at being home.

You've heard of flowers in the attic.  These are flowers in the shower...to protect them from kitties when we're not around.

I feel like I've been here, there, and everywhere, and I have to say, I might be just a little the worse for wear for it.  But it was worth it.

Some highlights -

I met the Idiosyncratic Fashionistas at Coterie where I was working (and wearing) the Kedem Sasson booth.  Oh my god!  Fashion inspirations!  And they were soooo nice.  There's a photo of me on their blog post about Coterie!  Excitement is flying from my fingertips!

I indulged my fetish and got the Trapeze dress pattern and fabric.  My mother and I went to Mood Fabrics - famed fabric store of Project Runway.  I didn't have my camera with me, but the place is incredible and the staff was really helpful.  It looks just like it does on TV - bolts and bolts of fabrics on floor to ceiling shelving.  It was probably good that we got there with only 20 or so minutes to spare.  But that was all we needed!

Pattern purchased at Purl Soho

Can you see the light blue line running through?  It's going to be awesome!

I also did an unexpected reading at the Women’s / Trans’ Poetry Jam & Open Mike night at Bluestockings Bookstore at the behest of my friend H.D. Artemis who was reading poetry that evening.  I got there late, just as my friend was reading.  Despite being called up right after her (a bit discombobulated) and finding my pages a tad out of order, the reading went well.  I need to do things like that more often.