And now back to our regularly scheduled sewing...

Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. - Abraham Lincoln

Whew! The spring semester is over, and all teachers and students are alive and accounted for! It has been the most whirlwind year (possibly ever in my entire life) so far, and I really can't complain because, barring some horrible illnesses and mild anxiety attacks, all the mayhem has been of the most positive variety.

The one thing that I do truly feel has suffered so far this year is my creativity. I've been so busy working and being social and working and being more (too?) social, that I haven't made ANYTHING in months! Once my final grade reports were submitted, it was time to remedy this problem!

First, I caught up on the epic pile of mending that had been sitting on my dryer for, no lie, a year. That done,  I moved on to my WIP pile. First up, a red plaid, princess-seamed, goth column dress I snagged at a thrift store ages ago. In general, I hate a column silhouette. I think unless you are 6'5" and weigh 85 pounds, it's just a super non-flattering look. So, I spent about 3 hours seam ripping 6 of the skirt seams out to just below the waist. Then I cut black godets to give the dress some much needed flare!

That was a LOT of seam ripping.

Unfortunately, I don't have an "after" photo for you yet, but as soon as I wear it, I will post one! Needless to say, the dress is much improved in my estimation and it was an important first project after a long crafting hiatus!

Next! Good friends T and Z needed matching seersucker shirts for an upcoming fundraising event! Sippin' in Seersucker is a super fun fete sponsored by the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. There's live music, craft cocktails, and gourmet snacks from several local restaurants. We went last year and it was a blast! T and Z got a hold of a really fun, fruity seersucker print! Here are the final products!

Z's flirty fruity safari top! She's actually going to wear it with a red belt.

T's fruit adventure shirt! The buttons are stylized watermelon!

As payment for the shirts, T and Z are generously taking us to the event with them! I won't have time to purchase/make a new dress, so I'll be sporting the same green seersucker dress I made last year. I'm normally dismal about costume repeats, but, since I've lost 25 pounds since last year's Sippin' I'm actually really excited to alter the dress and do a little before/after set up for you in my next post! I'll also make sure to post pics from the event and the fruity duo! Until next time!

When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too - Paulo Coelho

Almost 2 years ago, I stopped blogging.

I'm not certain why. A day or two went by, and then a week, when I hadn't blogged, and, after a while, it seemed unimportant.

A while later, I tried to start another blog, with a cheesy gimmick, thinking I could return to regular blogging in a quirky and clever way...but I didn't.

Now I'm back. I don't know why. Perhaps because I've had pneumonia and am suffering from cabin fever.

But I'm back. I don't know for how long. I'm not even going to try and catch you up on 2 years of amazingly adventurous living. I'm just going to offer the most important info to set the scene for my present existence.

1. Husband is almost done with school!....Well, the class/comprehensive exam part anyway...He still has to write a book, but what's the big deal? He's worked so hard and I'm SO excited for him to be in the home stretch, working on the research he feels so passionately about!

2. I'm 2 years smoke free! And wicked proud of it! I am still struggling to lose all the weight I gained after I quit, but I feel healthy and strong and I even work out 6 days a week now!

3. I'm full time at work and loving my job more every day!

Pull for the Pack!

4. I am still obsessed with crafting, sewing, and pursuing all things creative

I made a new vampire Marie Antoinette costume for me and the Lestat costume for Bryan, we ended up meeting a lot of like-minded folk at an amazing Studio 3 Halloween party!

5. I have re-found my life-long obsession with reading, so look for book reviews and updates on my book club, the Literary Lushes, in the future.

Current Obsession

6. I'm full-on paleo-living these days. I still love baking and candy-making, and I'm slowly teaching myself to merge my dietary needs with my friends desire for desserts!

Mmmmm, chocolate covered bacon...

7. I still live in New Orleans, the most excellent city in the world, by my humble estimation, so look for news of all my spring time adventures!

8. My goal for the summer is to get a tattoo of one of my cats. Rufus Jehoshaphat Sourbutts is the most excellent cat-puppy ever!

9. I am even more of an extreme nerd than you remember!

Already counting down until the next New Orleans Comic Con!

I'll try to post here as I create, experience, question, and transform my adventures!....that is, if I stick around this time!

So, here I am. Back. Hello, again, blogosphere! Now that I think about it, I've really missed you!