To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.

Ok, finally! I think I'm ready to post one more epic catch-up blog! This is the third installment, and should catch you up on everything I've been sewing for the last two months. I'll try to present these chronologically:

Warning! This is going to be epic! Feel free to just scroll through and look at the pictures!

Thanksgiving Break I decided to get a head start on Christmas crafting, so I whipped out this (still unfinished) 1950s apron for a friend! Turns out, I made it too small, so I'm going to have to start from scratch on another. It also turns out that vintage apron patterns are as complicated/time consuming as dresses, so I'm going to have to find something a little more efficient.




Next, I made the dreadful mistake of making my New Years dress much too early, not accounting for the holiday pounds I was going to put on. The result is a very cute rust velvet dress that wouldn't come close to zipping on the designated day. It's from McCalls 5094, and was loosely inspired by the red velvet dress Judy Garland wore in "Meet Me In St Louis." I'm calling it the "Esther" after Judy's character.




I knew I had several fun parties coming up, so I spent the early days of December working on Xmas themed party clothes. This wool-blend houndstooth circle skirt in need of pressing was a personal design, based on the skirt (which you can't see in this picture) Vera Ellen wore opposite Danny Kaye in my favorite holiday movie ever, White Christmas!



I imagined my fancier Christmas party dress for weeks before I actually made it. Inspired by Rosemary Clooney's party dress in White Christmas, I searched for the right green velvet, and found the perfect pattern (Vintage Vogue 1084). It was all going so well....until I tried to construct the bodice....Clearly, I had chosen a pattern a little outside of my skill set, and, after sewing and ripping out seams three times, it became clear that this dress simply wasn't going to happen. I was crushed! But I'd spent too much on the store-bought fabric to simply trash it. So, I dug through my supplies and found a pattern that I could puzzle together with my already-cut-out pieces (Vogue 8615). The final result was not at all what I initially envisioned, but it worked, sort of. I don't know if I'll ever be completely happy with it.
However, while looking for stock photos of my inspiration pieces, I happened upon a blogger who shared my inspirations this year! Yay! here's some pics of the original inspiration dress, the back view, and me wearing the "Not so Betty" dress by the "fire" at a dinner party.











After New Year (for which I had to wear a sad thrifted dress, due to the above-mentioned Esther dress tragedy, I had another event to plan for: a friend's wedding! I was feeling bloated and terribly un-sexy after all my holiday eating, so I knew I wanted something flowy and forgiving. I chose Vogue 1102, and I'm pretty happy with it, though by the looks of these pics, I desperately need to shorten the hem dramatically! I was in a hurry, as I made the dress the day of the occasion, so I'll alter it soon. I'm calling it the "Holly" dress, because, though it in no way resembles the Breakfast at Tiffany's dress, that's what I watched while making it.





After all of that event-dress making, I was still finding myself doing battle with my closet every morning. I needed some dresses that I could easily wear to work and/or out for a casual Tuesday happy hour. So, I bought some cotton prints, and dug out some easy, comfortable looking patterns (Vintage Vogue 1171 - blue and Butterick 5315 - black) and got started. Unlike most of my creations, these don't have names yet because they were inspired by necessity, not by a childhood pop culture reference or old movie. I think they feel left out, though, so suggestions for names?



I've already worn this one twice, including out for a night with the girls for a bachelorette party! Here's me, rockin' the "Shopping Cart" dance....only one of the other ladies recognized it, but, as we were in a bar playing Jersey Shore on TV, I wasn't too surprised.



Whew! I think that catches you up! Sorry this was so huge! I guess I've had too much coffee! Mardi Gras season is upon us, so watch for costume updates in the next weeks! I'll try to keep up and keep further posts shorter!

Have a great Monday!

People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, they should be worried about what they eat between New Year and Christma

So, here's the second installment of my trio of New Year 2011 blogs, and this one is all about food!

Within literally a few hours of submitting final grades in December, I was cooking up a storm in preparation for the Christmas party season! This year, I expanded my Christmas candy repertoire, making my usual Peanut Butter Divinity (I use an old family recipe, but this one is really similar),



and adding Peppermint Bark and Kentucky Bourbon Balls!



During my stay with family over the holiday, my mom gave me the greatest gift ever! A cookbook she found while cleaning out the attic! It's the 1939 edition of Household Magazine's "Household Searchlight" cookbooks. I'm in love!



In addition to many somewhat humorous finger food recipes, and pointers for the diligent hostess, this book is a compendium of clever and useful recipes! I decided to jump right in by planning my first New Year's Day Brunch!


So, after twisting the night away to the Soul Rebels at Les Bons Temps, I woke up early and got busy!

"Eggs on a Savory Bed": This is a baked egg casserole, and the recipe seemed a little bland, so I added some garlic, cajun spices, and (of course) cheese!


Sour Cream Tarts with Merengue: Really tasty treats! They are primarily flavored with nutmeg and cloves, so they taste very seasonal and happy!


Brown Sugar Bread: A quickbread that's TOO easy and very tasty. I froze half of it, and it held up fabulously!


I also made hashbrowns, black eyed peas with a lucky penny, cheese grits, Japanese soba noodles (a must for a lucky new year), and of course mimosas and bloody marys!

After I recovered from New Years celebratin', I took a bit of a break from fanciful cooking as I prepared for a new semester teaching at Loyola. But last weekend, a friend invited us to a fab dinner party and asked if I could contribute dessert! Could I?

First, I candied some orange peels. I used this recipe, and was very happy with the result though they did not turn out very pretty.


I also did a perfect chocolate mousse, which I, sadly, didn't get a picture of before it was completely devoured! But I was amused by this highly unnecessary bit of cheap marketing on the bag of chocolate chips I used:


Whew! I'm totally blogged out for now...and hungry! I'll be back soon with my Christmas adventures in sewing! What sort of things have you been cooking up lately?

For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice.

Happy New Year, everyone!...


Yes, yes. I know it's a bit late, but 2011 started fast and hasn't slowed down yet. SO much has happened since the end of fall semester! To make up for lost time (and yet not bore you to tears with the most epic blog ever), I'm going to post 3 catch up blogs: one about my New Years "resolutions", one about my recent cooking endeavors, and one about my recent sewing projects!

For many years, I essentially scoffed at the whole tradition of making New Years resolutions. It seemed so counter-intuitive to me to make myself an unrealistic promise to improve my life; a promise which by design begins on a day when I'm destined to be horrifically hungover. However, I grew tired of having no particular liminal tradition associated with the passing of the years, so I began re-thinking my anti-resolution resolve.

Now, I choose to make a New Years "To Do List" instead of prohibiting myself from tasty foods, guilting myself into approximately 10 days of exercise, or denying myself experiences that, quite frankly, make my little life more enjoyable. My To Do list doesn't include any items that are realistically unattainable, in fact, many of them are quite small. They are simply things that I would like to see myself do over the next 12 months.

So, here goes!

2011: The Year of Exploration...and General Fun...

1. Explore Flexibility:

Stretch, mentally and physically, every day.

2. Explore Possibilities:

Discover a new place or experience in New Orleans at least once a month.

3. Explore Potential:

Continue only thrifting, refashioning, or making clothes and gifts. (This was the first dress I made after taking the Wardrobe Refashion pledge last January).

4. Explore Heritage:


Cook from vintage recipes, utilize snail mail more, and finish Omi's quilt


5. Explore Exciting-ness:

Become more interesting (Thanks, Bill!): I'm not sure how to go about this, but I'll try!

6. Explore Opportunities:

Sell something I made/Educate self more on selling my creations


My actual To Do list could be quite a bit longer; there are about a zillion other little things I want to do this year, and I keep writing them down. These are just the major trends on my agenda. That, and I didn't think I'd bore you with such gems as: Set the TV sleep timer if you're going to fall asleep to Law & Order reruns before 11pm, or Don't forget that whole "liquor before beer" thing next time...

So far, this "do this" technique has worked better for me than the usual "don't do that" method. If it works for you, I want to know your big plans for 2011!

Exit, pursued by a bear.

I've only got a few minutes before my next class, but I've been swearing to myself that I would blog more often, so, here goes!

I've had a sinister, nagging feeling all week that's left me mildly cranky most of the time. I've felt at odds with the world, and am realizing today that I've wasted half of the week feeling sorry for myself. I still have whining I could do, but instead I'm going to remind myself that there is no bear (metaphorical or otherwise) nipping at my heels...

I've started a few new sewing projects (I'll post pics when I'm done), and I've been cooking up a storm! There is not much more comforting than preparing (and, of course, eating) delicious seasonal foods when the weather starts changing.


Three Bean Chili


Coconut Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins


Crab and Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapenos


Lemon Cream Cheese Cake

Hmmmm, it does seem I was really into jalapenos and cream cheese this week, doesn't it!

Last weekend, B and I attended the annual Tulane Graduate Student Gala at Generations Hall in the Warehouse District. It was out of control, and besides the fact that they played some of the most atrocious music I've ever heard (lots of Miley Cyrus and horrific Journey and Bon Jovi remixes), there was a good time had by all!

Generations Hall


A few of the revelers

So, if you've had a cranky/sad/boring/aggravating week, just remember: Like I always say: At least you're not being mauled by a bear.

Enjoy your Wednesday, 17 November 2010, there won't ever be another one!

A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.

Whatever my mother told you about a childhood Just Jess running around in the snow in nothing but panties, chanting "I-like-the-cold-I-like-the-cold-I-like-the-cold"....wait, she didn't tell you? Well, winter is NOT for me. Give me steamy, sweaty, breeze-less summer days!

Last night was the first time this year I had to crawl out of my blanket cocoon to turn on the furnace. This morning was the first time my poor little bare feet had to brave the chilly floor (*note to self: find slippers*). Today was the first time I had to don not only a jacket, but a long sleeve blouse, to go to work. It is the first day I've had to feel that miserable ear ache that comes from walking in a cold wind.

I don't mind all of this, but I'm not exactly thrilled about it either. Fortunately, I live in a city with a relatively merciful winter season. And another bout of warmer temperatures is predicted for next week. But tonight will be the first night I'll have to lug around a coat at happy hour, and spend half my time peeling off/putting on layers of clothing. Ugh. When I'm out on a Friday night, the only things I want in my hands are a)a cocktail b)my cute little e-cigarette or c)my camera.

On the bright side, last weekend, the weather was magnificent! Halloween the high was 82 and the low was 65! And I was super happy with how our costumes turned out! (all from scratch except for my t-shirt and Bryan's shoes!)





All weekend I hung out with some of the coolest people you could know, and met some new folks in the process!







Though my epic Halloween weekend ended kind of badly (cab driver pulled over and threatened by cops, me = hit in the face by random Halloween reveler - LONG story), overall a good time was had by all! The only thing that could have made it better (besides possibly not being sucker-punched)was if my old Halloween-loving Oxford peeps had been here. I miss you all, so much!

I hope your Halloween was creepy and full of sweet treats! Now, onto surviving this chilly weekend! Have a great one and be safe!

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Since I cannot hope or promise to do much blogging over the next two weeks, I'll take this rare moment of free time (which actually coincides with internet access) to compose a little blog about the most wonderful time of the year....October!

Everyone who knows me at all knows that, if I could have it my way, I'd wear Halloween costumes every day and always drink cider, eat cinnamon-y foods, and, of course, watch gore- and ghoul-filled films. I can't believe my favorite month is already half over! My obsession with the carefree masquerade attitude that characterizes this time of year began at a young age, as evidenced in this photo, of my "I Dream of Jeanie" inspired Christmas attire:



I feel dreadfully behind on my October mischief-making, but I've managed to celebrate the most glorious month of the year in some little ways:

I've purchased all my fabrics and materials for mine and Bryan's costumes (ssshhhh! Still a secret!)But here's a hint about mine:



I'm making Cauldron Cupcakes with my students. Here's the link to a fun tutorial

I've watched many, many horror movies (but what else is new). One I recently revisited was Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers. Now I remember why I don't make this an annual tradition. It was lame, y'all, even with Donald Pleasance's much-anticipated revival of his Dr. Loomis persona. The supporting cast was pathetic, and since it was released in 1989, I was on peg-legged pants and hair scrunchy overload. It cannot hold a candle to the seriously underrated classic, Halloween 3: Season of the Witch. For that installment, the producers took an almost franchise-destroying strategy - eliminate Michael Myers all together and replace him with a villainous conspiracy plot and tag on a completely unrelated title. However, for hardcore fans like myself, this film is magic, particularly the annoyingly catchy commercial featured in the film. (PS - don't watch this clip if you are epileptic):



Tonight, after America's Next Top Model (Tyra Banks is kind of a Halloween freak show in her own right), I'll pull out a more appropriate Halloween classic, possibly Killer Klownz from Outer Space or maybe my all time favorite, Poltergeist. Speaking of, remember my killer Carol Ann costume from a couple of years ago?



Clearly, my construction skills have improved over the years. Last year's Marie Antoinette was my best effort yet. I'm not sure if I can beat it, honestly, but I'm going to give it the old college try!



I hope your holiday season is magical and spooky! If you don't hear from me before then, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to attempt

Just a quick post before I run home to do a little cleaning and a lot of sewing! I'm settling well into my new schedule and I'm finding a lot of inspiration and time for being creative, which was one of my main goals in moving to New Orleans! I do find myself falling into a blueish mood at times, but it's getting much better! Had two weekends in a row full of fabulous visitors and fun, so I'm glad for a low key time this weekend. I'm feeling crafty, ambitious, and optimistic!

Labor Day brought long-lost friends as well as Southern Decadence! Southern Decadence is basically Gay Mardi Gras...clearly I was on a mission. I had too much fun collecting beads at the Friday night parade (I got alot! I was the only hag on the block!) and heckling the protesters! Saturday I watched a live reading from the Proposition 8 hearings and cheered for every fab drag costume I saw before meeting up with old friends for some good convo and beer!



I can't really show pics from our Oxford Invasion weekend, as my friends might sue me. But let me just say, it was OFF DA HOOK!!! I can't believe what a good time we had!

And here's a quick peek at my newest creations.

I don't know what to call this one, but I liked the way it turned out. It's refashioned from some curtains. I was proud of my drafting on it, except for a wonky hem due to a stupid cutting error!!!! That stunning gal in the pic with me is one of the most fabulous people you'll ever meet! I'm so glad she could visit and accompany us to Saturday's Fleur de Tease burlesque version of the Wizard of Oz!



This a from-scratch, not a refashion, but I really haven't had the cash or energy to explore my thrifting opportunities yet. I'm calling this one the Caddie Woodlawn (this fabric was originally destined to be more Laura Ingalls inspired, but then I felt like pleating for some reason). I'm pretty much thrilled with it!



What you can't see is the A-line skirt, which is super flattering, but, unfortch, not amenable to the application of pockets. *shakes fist at the sky* The bodice is based on ElaineMay's "Coffee Date Dress" that I downloaded a while back on Burdastyle.

Last night I dove into my stash again to find this nautical print cotton sateen, and decided to do a little Grace-Kelly-on-a-yacht high-waisted, soft-pleated skirt. The pic is terrible, since my camera's dead and I'm using my webcam at work, but you get the idea.



And, of course, this one has pockets!

Now I'm off to do some cleaning and (hopefully) creating! I hope your weekend is smashing!!!