Does anybody read this?

I don't really need to write this for MY reference and it doesn't pay to put a myspace blog about it since none of those girls sew. I didn't cut out the skirt yesterday, tho' I came THIS close. I consulted the Ren Forum of sewing helpers. I just don't feel convinced of this floral pattern is okay and I don't like the Florentine bodice. I WANT THE VENETIAN FRONT LACE LONG POINTY KIND. and if that means I have to find new fabric then so be it.
Here's an idea:
If I do get this job, I'll have money to buy new material. I can use the present material for a 1800's dress and start work now on the Venetian bodice using the other two fabrics I bought for sleeves and underskirt. Then when I have the money, I will buy a fabric that is solid or complimentary to the bodice.
I can hear you, haven't you ever bought a shirt before because you liked it and then never were able to find pants to match the color afterward? Yes, I have. and yet I'm willing to do this. I have to
DO something.
of course the other thought is:
When ever I have problem and feel the need to do. Be.
This moment is all I have. I am present in this moment and THIS is my inner purpose. To live THIS moment to the fullest. What does this mean?
It means there is NO URGENCY. No thing needs to be done. I am doing what needs to be done, right now. Breathe deep. Exhale.
My daughter is coming in two days. I can't begin a project at all right now. I will use this time to clean my sewing room where she will sleep. The solution will appear when I am ready.
No worries.
Maybe I did need to write this for myself. hahahahaa

Floral Pattern Problem Solved

I'll be from Florence, the City of Flowers-who's famous textile manufacturer's were making floral patterns on silk and wool!!!!
I didn't note where i read that. I have been up since 2:30am. At 3:30 I turned on computer and started reading about skirt construction. I still haven't cut the skirt.
Now it's 5:12 am on Wednesday. I have a coffee date at 10:30 and the daycare might call me today for the third interview. I fingerprinted yesterday. Looks like I'm in the running for this job. But back to sewing. FORGET VENICE. I'm going to be from Florence. Now to go cut the skirt.

Q: rectangles or gores(which I learned are trapizoids-smaller at the top and bigger at the bottom.)

Getting started to begin to become ready to make a gown

I have a crimson and gold floral fabric 55" wide from the curtain department at JoAnn's. I am cutting the skirt out tonight, come hell or high water. I have found a skirt pattern and instructions at
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~rowen/renbk/rendressbook.html#anchor1170845

I don't remember where I got skirt instructions last time. I have a pattern from Simplicity #4488.
I am going to use this skirt pattern as well. Tie the two together somehow. I lost the Simplicity directions. I probably got so fed up with the confusing steps that I burned them.

Sugar Easter Eggs

This is my first attempt at Sugar Easter Eggs. I have always wanted to try it. My supplies,

one small plastic egg mold(smaller than LeGGs, bigger than the kind you buy in dozens). Maybe duck sized.
4 teaspoons water, 2 cups white sugar
ribbon, beads, tiny figurines, grass
wood glue, Elmer's glue
assorted tools

I packed the sugar into each side of the egg, set it flat side down on newsprint, lifted off the mold, and let it air dry several hours, about 3. When the outside was hard, dry and the inside was still soft, I scrapped out the insides. I cut a hole in the small end for the viewing hole.
I glued stuff inside the large end close the outside edge. I glued the small/large ends together. I glued ribbon, beads around seams and made a stand from cardboard tube covered with fabric.
Things I will do differently next time:
-make sure I have enough ingredients to make frosting, they look awful without it.
-use white glue or hotglue, wood glue dries yellow.
-use paste food color, the liquid looks cheap. mix it well with the sugar before pressing in mold.
-buy a larger mold for this purpose. My was meant to be snapped together. They didn't fit well end to end.
_long handle tweezers would be helpful.

I had fun. They are very durable. I did crack one tho, handling it.

Meditation 101

Some people thing meditation is a private thing. I am not one of those people.
I went to church tonight for a class in meditation for beginners. I think I stated before that I used to do some yoga and meditation in the '70's and a few unsuccessful times since then, but last January was my first REAL lesson in meditation at the Amma Center in A2.
At church tonight Linda, our pastor, had us recite the Lord's Prayer in our heads while sitting in chairs in the dark , quiet sanctuary. She said it would keep our minds occupied. When we tired of reciting, we would sit in the silence of being until the mind again wandered in thought at which time we would begin reciting in our heads again. This continued for half an hour. I missed the first two lessons and tonight she was encouraging people to use a mantra instead of reciting a prayer. She said a mantra can be called upon during the day at need. It would become a symbol of bringing the attention away from thought into being. Away from ego, into presence.
I wasn't ready for a mantra, but asked her if Namaste was appropriate. She said it was.

I sat up straight, felt myself rest into the chair. Breathed in/out, relaxed hands and feet. Began reciting Lord's prayer. For a few times I said it straight. I use the Catholic 'tresspasses' instead of the Unity 'debts'. Then I said, 'suffer us not to be led into temptation, and deliver us from EGO.' Then I said the 12 STEPS, then 'I have made you Polestar of my life', chant. Then I visualized a shiny star at each Chackra Center.
Suddenly, my attention shifted. I felt my hands laying in my lap. I felt very alert. I panicked and my throat tightened. I had to cough, but not in this quiet stillnes. I could see a water fountain(or bubbler) not 10 steps away. I couldn't sit there and get over it. It just wasn't going to stop quietly. I got up, got the drink, took my necklace off and started over.
Was that my inner being? Who the hell knows.

Hand made eyelets/photos/my old sewing machine

I am sewing 6 eyelets down each side of the back of this tabbed english corset. I stopped at the waist and didn't put eyelets on the tabs.
i reinforced them by sewing washers on the outside of the corset. the binding is aready on and it's too difficult to underdo it to slip a washer on the inside. This will be fine.
So far I have no straps.
I had Paul help lace me into it, using one spiral lace. It's too short. I suppose it could be a little tighter. I'll leave it as is. When I make the bodice, I'll cut it taller, bone it a little and hope for the best.

My sewing machine is in the shop. She said the bobbin case is rusted. Almost $200 to fix it. I have decided to pick it up unfixed. PAUL will attempt to take it apart, sand the rust off and put it back together. I wonder if it will be useable when he's through. I need a clean smooth surface to sew fabric on.
It sat unused in the Kawkawlin basement for years. I have used it extensively since 1990. I've had it for 30 years. It was a wedding present from Paul.

I've oiled and cleaned it since 1990 and it's run very well until the belt broke. Paul 'made some modifications' and he also rewired the foot petal. It heats up quickly and hums loudly. I unplug the foot petal while sewing. I think I wrote aobut this before.
Here is a quick story of how WE fixed the machine.
Paul took the bobbin case downstairs to sand it. He took out a tiny screw and dropped it. His work area was filled with wood shavings and dirt/debris. We never found it. He took a screw out of his reading glasses, dropped it, found it, tryed it in the bobbin case. It didn't fit. We had a devil of a time putting the screw back in the glasses. It has a spring in the stems. We went to the grocery store in town and bought an eyeglass repair kit. He tried another screw, it fit, he filed off the excess. This was a tiny project and he didn't have magnifyer or any of the proper tools. STill, he did it. Then we set to work adjusting the tension. It's sewing a little better but the tension won't stay adjusted. I'm sure I'm going to be buying a new sewing machine before long.