Just wanted to let you know that my friend and fellow Frayed Edge, Kathy Daniels, has started a blog! Every time I see her work I think, gee…why didn’t I think of that? And how does *she* think of that? Her style is SO different from mine, and I totally love everything she makes…it is Kathy, and so wonderful. Visit her at Studio in the Woods. And yes, she always smiles like that!

More about this later!

Deb R aka Red Shoe Ramblings wrote to compliment me on the vest I’m wearing in the picture in the last entry. Thank you! I thought others might like to know that the vest is my “Frayed Edges” vest. The Frayed Edges began last January as a mini-group with Deborah Boshert, Kathy Daniels, Kate Cutko and me; recently Deborah met Hannah Beattie, another kindred spirit, and it looks like (yeah!) we’ll be growing by one, even as Deborah becomes a long-distance FE off in Dallas.

About the vest….. The first time we got together, Deborah gave us some cloth “beads” she had made. Then Kate went to the southwest, and brought home a fat quarter of the green gingko fabric for each of us. Then Kathy took an on-line QU dyeing class, and shared bits of her fabric with us…the entire color run. So I made the vest! I adapted a pattern from Making Your Own Japanese Clothing…measured out size, drew some lines on it, and used just about every square centimeter of the green and 90-95 percent of the hand-dyeds! And I totally love my vest, and especially that I am literally wrapped in my friends handiwork .

Well…it seems my computer snarking of the morning is to continue into the *next* part of the day…sigh! I spent THREE hours just trying to crop 10 photos and burn them to a CD. Snarl. I hate leaving for the day and coming home to find out the kids have managed to re-name the CD burner / drive and delete 80 percent of my bookmarks in Firefox –BIG snarl! On to happier things:

Had a fun day yesterday with Kate, Deborah, Hannah and others from Art Quilts Maine. Alas, Kathy was having a bout with the tummy flu. I’m sure we all would have preferred her well and with us! After the AQM sit and sew day (in which Kate rode to the rescue after our first venue went kablooey and got us space at the Bowdoinham library!), Kate, Deborah, Hannah and I went to celebrate Deborah’s birthday at…where else….Starbucks!

Kate, at our last Frayed Edges get together, had told us about scoring a rusted-shut-tin at the recycling center, with an intriguing rattle. Inside she had found keys! OLD keys. Well….some of them turned into her gift for Deborah, which reads You hold the KEY:

I ran out of time (as usual), was feeling very un-imaginative, and decided to splurge and buy a gift instead of making one. Since this is likely Deborah’s last b-day in Maine for a loooonnngggg time, since she’s moving to Dallas (booo hooooo again!) in a month (less actually), I got her my favorite “Maine” gift, a loon chowdah (please note Maine spelling…pronounced as written) mug. Which is also good for posies from the garden, since I suspect there will not be so many days conducive to soup and chowder and stew in Dallas as here in Maine! My conclusion for the day: I don’t look as heavy as I did six months ago, but I gotta do something about my hair!

Disclaimer….if you haven’t watched your tape of Project Runway this week, skip this post!

Now….the bad first:

Oh my goodness….. WHAT was Santino thinking? She looked like a rooster! Totally not skate-able unless you’re in a barnyard skit for the Ice Follies…and a folly it was!

Not surprised to see Emmett go, though. His designing for women was un-inspired. I kept wondering why he tried out for this show anyway? Andrae has talent, but his garment looked like a sack. And those little feather things looked like either fishing lures or something that fell of a stripper’s pasties! EEEK!

Daniel V’s plum thing was too tight, even on the skinny model, and the pulls in the fabric were distinctly not flattering. The design had potential, but the execution was lacking.

Nick had an interesting idea in the ruching, but it looked like he took one bodice for the left boob, another bodice for the right boob, part of one skirt for one side, and part of another for the other side, in fabrics that didn’t go together in terms of color. I liked the ruching idea, and I liked the way he paired the sheer and the not-sheer fabrics in the skirt, but the color seems “off”…..

Now for the good:

I loved the idea of Chloe’s blue silk bias ruffles, but didn’t like the neck line. If she had done the same idea, but in a crossover top that created an illusion of a waist, then it would have been awesome…I kept thinking of how the ruffles would look fluttering as the skater swirls around the ice…totally cool!

I really liked Kara’s number….the one long sleeve was gorgeous, the embellishments on the dress were well done, and I thought the fringe could work, though a fluttery skirt, maybe a longer tea-length / ballet style sheer would have worked better for the style of the rest of the garment.

I kept wondering why none of the designers asked what music Sasha Cohen would skate to….I’ve always thought the skate costume designers, at least at that ethereal height of skill (i.e. the skaters) worked the design to a particular piece of music and set of choreography. If Sasha were skating to a 20’s style piece, the flapper fringe on Kara’s dress would have worked perfectly. Anyway….

Zulema: I was really surprised. The outfit was classy, the pleating in the skirt was fantastic, and not something I remember seeing in skating competitions. The scrolling stuff on the bodice was well done, but I think it would have been better if there had been just a touch more coverage over the bust—not a lot more, just a little more. Many of the skaters are pretty flat-chested, and adding a bit of curve to the line, and bit more of the embellishment there, would have created an illusion of a rounder bustline, which would have been nice. Looking at the dress again, I think the top line is good, but the straight lines of the bust coverage could have come a little farther down to create more of a cup look.

Of course, the judges didn’t ask me, so Phhhht! And what ARE we going to do when it’s over.

Now….who do we thing ought to make it to the final three, and who do we think actually will make it to the final three?

Those who ought to get there:

Nick
Chloe
?? Maybe Daniel V?

Originally, I had Kara instead of Daniel, but I just surfed into Project Runway and looked at what Daniel V, Kara and Zulema have done, and Daniel’s designs are definitely better…..

Who will get there:

My crystal ball is decidedly murky, but
Nick
Chloe
Maybe Zulema, since she’s abrasive?

Tell me what you think? And now that I’ve written my dish, I get to go read everyone else’s!

Wasting Time on Saturday

Bold what is true about you:

APPEARANCE

I am shorter than 5’4.
I am taller than 5’11”.
I have many scars.
I tan easily.
I don’t shave my legs.
I wish my hair was a different color.

I have a tattoo, or more.
I am self-conscious about my appearance.
I have/had braces.
I wear glasses just to read.
I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
I’ve been told I’m attractive by a complete stranger.
I have/had more than 2 piercings.
I have/had piercings in places besides my ears.
I have freckles.

FAMILY/HOME LIFE

I’ve sworn at my parents.
I’ve run away from home.
I’ve been kicked out of the house.
My biological parents are together.
I have a sibling less than one year old.
I want to have kids someday.
I have children.
I’ve lost a child.

SCHOOL/WORK
I’m in school.
I have a job.
I’ve fallen asleep at work/school.
I almost always do my homework.
I’ve missed a week or more of school.
I’ve been on the Honor Roll within the last 2 years (of school)
I failed more than 1 class last year.
I’ve stolen something from my job . (if pens and binder clips count)
I’ve been fired.
I’ve skipped school.

EMBARRASSMENT

I’ve slipped out a “lol” in a spoken conversation.
Disney movies still make me cry.
I’ve peed from laughing.
I’ve snorted while laughing.
I’ve laughed so hard I’ve cried.
I’ve glued my hand to something.
I’ve laughed till some kind of beverage came out of my nose.
I’ve had my pants rip in public.

HEALTH

I was born with a disease/impairment.
I’ve gotten stitches.
I’ve broken a bone.
I’ve had my tonsils removed.
I’ve sat in a doctor’s office with a friend.
I’ve had my wisdom teeth removed.
I’ve had serious surgery.
I’ve had chicken pox.
My vision is better than 20/20.

TRAVELING

I’ve driven over 200 miles in one day.
I’ve been on a plane.
I’ve been to Canada.
I’ve been to Mexico.
I’ve been to Niagara Falls.
I’ve been to Japan
I’ve been down under.
I’ve Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
I’ve been to Europe.
I’ve been to Africa.
I’ve been to Hell.

EXPERIENCES

I’ve gotten lost in my city.
I’ve seen a shooting star.
I’ve wished on a shooting star.
I’ve seen a meteor shower.
I’ve gone out in public in my pajamas.
I’ve pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
I’ve kicked a guy where it hurts.
I’ve been to a casino.
I’ve been skydiving.
I’ve gone skinny dipping.
I’ve played spin the bottle.
I’ve drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
I’ve crashed a car.

I’ve been skiing.
I’ve been in a play.
I’ve met someone in person from the internet.
I’ve caught a snowflake on my tongue.
I’ve seen the Northern Lights.
I’ve sat on a roof top at night.
I’ve played chicken.
I’ve played a prank on someone.
I’ve ridden in a taxi.
I’ve seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I’ve eaten Sushi.
I’ve been snowboarding.

SEXUALITY

I’ve had a crush on more than one person.
I’ve had a crush on someone of the same sex.
I’ve kissed someone of the same sex.
I’ve had a crush on a teacher.
I am a cuddler.
I love to flirt.
I’ve been kissed in the rain.
I’ve hugged a stranger.
I’ve kissed a stranger.

HONESTY/CRIME

I am a terrible liar.
I’ve done something I promised someone else I wouldn’t.
I’ve done something I promised myself I wouldn’t.
I’ve snuck out of my house.
I have lied to my parents about where I am.
I am keeping a secret from the world.
I’ve cheated while playing a game.
I’ve cheated on a test.
I’ve run a red light.
I’ve been suspended from school.

I’ve been in a fist fight

I’ve witnessed a crime

I’ve been arrested

I’ve shoplifted

DEATH & DYING

I’m afraid of dying.
I’ve fantasized about my own death.
I hate funerals.
I’ve seen someone dying.
Someone close to me has attempted suicide.
Someone close to me has commited suicide.
I’ve planned my own suicide.–In the past–Don’t worry, I’m not suicidal now.
I’ve written a eulogy for myself.

MATERIALISM

I own over 5 rap CDs.
I own an iPod or MP3 player.
I have an unhealthy obsession with anime/manga.
I own multiple designer purses, costing over $100 a piece.

I own something from Hot Topic.
I own something from Pac Sun.
I collect comic books.
I own something from The Gap.
I own something I got on e-bay.
I own something from Abercrombie.

POLITICAL/SOCIAL ATTITUDES

In general, I don’t like people.
I’m a feminist.
I’m very outgoing.
I listen to political music
I’m Democratic
I’m Republican.
I’m liberal.
I don’t like Bush because he is dumb.
I don’t like Bush with my own reasons to back it up.
I am for Bush.
I’m religious.

RANDOM

I’ve stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant.
I open up to others easily. (if I trust them)
I watch the news.
I don’t kill bugs.
I hate hearing songs that sacrifice meaning for the sake of being able to rhyme.
I curse regularly.
I sing in the shower.
I am a morning person.
I paid for my cell phone ring tone.
I’m a snob about grammar.
I am a sports fanatic.
I twirl my hair.
I have “x”s in my screen name.
I love being neat.
I’ve had Spam.
I’ve copied more than 30 CDs in a day.
I bake well.
My favorite color is blue.
I would wear pajamas to school.
I like Martha Stewart.
I know how to shoot a gun.
I am in love with love.
I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
I laugh at my own jokes.
I eat fast food weekly.
I am online 24/7, even as an away message.
I’ve not turned anything in and still got an A in a certain class.

I can’t sleep if there is a spider in the room.
I am really ticklish.
I love white chocolate.
I bite my nails.
I play video games.
I’m good at remembering faces.
I’m good at remembering names.
I’m good at remembering dates.
I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.
My answers are totally honest.

Blame it on Gabrielle…saw this on her blog!