Sneak Peak of the Week

Hey Hey!  I am sorry about being MIA for a while.  I guess it hasn't been that long, but my absence was longer than planned. 

I just haven't been motivated.  I have been groggy, bored, uninspired.  I have been depressed about not knowing how to sew.  I have been longing for things that I know I just can't have right now.  I basically sort of chose to start dreaming and then get mad at myself for not being able to make each little dream come true.  Let me tell you, I am one Crazy Dreamer! 

In one dream, I imagined that I went to NYC back when I was 18 after being offered a modelling career.  I left the modelling gig to start my own fashion line and lived the life the fast, rich, and well-dressed.  I was actually offered a career, but when they asked me to lose 20 pounds even though I'd only gained about 7, I knew I couldn't spend my life being poked and prodded and having my self worth summed up by some fat meanie whose career description is: Make skinny, young women feel terrible about themselves in the name of fashion.

My real obsession lies in fashion photography!  I love-love all the photos...and hey, the clothes aren't too bad either!!!

Like this ad from Jean Paul Gaultier

All of that would be awesome, but I wouldn't have The Hubs or my Little Darling.  And I think it goes without saying that a life without my family isn't worth living!

The other dream that I keep dreaming has to do with sewing. I keep dreaming that I make  myself these wonderful clothes inspired by Alexander McQueen and Burberry Prorsum and by artists like Lady Gaga, Boy George, and B.E.P.  Only something more "wearable" than their stage get-ups!

Alexander McQueen Spring 2011

You can't tell me that if someone gave you a pair of these for your birthday that you wouldn't just DIE!  I know I would!!!

Burberry Prorsum Resort 2011

The other dream that I keep dreaming is that I become a well-known published author and I get offers to turn my books into films.  But I am a demanding and stingy woman, so I demand to be on-set for all productions, as I refuse to have my books distorted into ridiculous Hollywood hubbalub full of great-looking actors who are a) quite obviously starving and b) have no real talent!

Anyway, being stuck in my dream world has had me forgetting about the Real World.  My World consists of planning a home school fall semester for my four year old.  My World consists of planning healthy, predominantly vegetarian menus for my family.  My World consists of more cleaning and tossing on some yoga pants and flip flops for play time than actually getting dressed and "going out".  My World consists of working with youth that, if they had it their way on most days, would skin me alive and stuff me with an apple before roasting me on an open fire.  My World consists of working on crochet projects using familiar stitches and familiar patterns because I haven't grown the balls or patience to try something out of the box.  My World is really, really small.

But then, yesterday, something awesome happened.  I was reminded of something important:

The Hubs and our Little Darling in a creek looking for frogs and crawdads at Bernheim forest

My World is actually pretty awesome and full of meaning.  I just needed that special family time out hiking at a local forest to remember it.  It's the small things that really matter to me.  And the dreams of living it big and rich and famous...well, I think I enjoy them so much because they are just dreams.  I am happy to wake up to My World every day, with The Hubs wrapped around me and my Little Darling jumping in the bed to say, "Good Morning, Mommy and Daddy.  I wub you boff".

And with that said/realized, I made an effort last night to put 3 of the last 5 rows on my Mega Granny Blanket -- you just have to see it!!!!  .... Tomorrow!  Hahahahaha!  I'm mean, I know.  And I was also motivated to post this sneak peak that I planned to post about 6 days ago:

I usually don't bother with doing anything that has rows because I get discouraged and bored.  Something tells me I need to grow the hell up!  Afterall, I finished a MEGA GRANNY SQUARE, didn't I?  So I am putting my Big Girl Panties on and I am going to work out this baby blanket.  I am sooooooo far from being done, but I rather enjoy the process.  I am using 100% cotton yarn that I have LOADS of, but never use.  I am also using 3 different stitches-- single, half-double, double and popcorn stitches. 

**As for the designing... I am just going to go back to my high school ways:  sketching out my personal ideas and making mood boards.  Get ready for some posts from my fashion sketch book!
**As for modelling... I am still almost 6 feet tall, but I am also now 28 and I weigh 184 pounds, and unless I can lose 8 years and 70 pounds by tomorrow morning, I think I will have to let that one go!  **As for my sewing... I am taking classes starting the end of this month (WOO-HOO!  No more fear and no more excuses!) 
**As for writing.... I hate to write.  I'll be honest.  But I have plans for a graphic novel, so stay tuned for sketches of my character line-up, since I am going back to my fine arts roots these days.  Did you know that about me?  I am actually more of a studio artist, rather than a crafter?  I paint and draw...which explains my frustrations with crafty things such as sewing and crochet.
**And finally... As for Crochet... I have a shit-wad of patterns and ideas and sketches and you-name-its that I am about to embark upon.  I am so tired of being unmotivated because I am too afraid to Get Motivated.  I'll never truly know what I am capable of if I keep making excuses and keep letting my fear of failure rule my decisions.

Life in Fear is No Life at All.

High Fashion...Right?

Ok, so I am all about fashion.  I will admit that I always choose comfort over something that looks amazing.  I also must admit that I have "collections" of awesome things that I will never wear: shoes, clothes, jewelry.  Just because I love fashion...interesting things.

And because I have always been into fashion, since I was about 11 or so, I have always been into high fashion magazines.  Man, I would rip out all the pages and put the trends together in these Lisa Frank folders.  I would draw and sketch and try to predict trends on my own.  I applied (and was accepted) into a bunch of art schools because I was sure that the fashion industry was for me.  Needless to say, that is not the path that I pursued.  I am happy with my life now, and I am happy that I chose this life instead of life in the fast lane. 

But then I saw something amazing!!!  No, really, I am not being dramatic at all.  I have to be honest, I always dream and think about all the "what-ifs".  But I guess I don't really have to dream anymore.

Check this out...

Sorry about the wrinkled paper.  I ripped this out of the July 2011 of ELLE magazine.... I had to do it on the low... I was waiting on my gynecologist.  When I heard her coming, I ripped out the page and shoved it into my purse.  I just had to take it right then and there.  I was so excited.  I admit, I am a loser and I hate being dishonest.  So for everyone who is worried I stole this page and ran out of my gynecologist office..... I didn't  I pulled it out and showed it to her and asked if I could leave with the ripped page.  She told me it didn't matter to her whether I took the whole magazine.  I didn't want to do that.  Who knows what other woman might come in and leave with a pap smear and a new take on fashion :)

So  JUST LOOK!!!!!!  This "High Fashion" ensemble is totally all about this skirt.... and this skirt is a what??  GRANNY SQUAAAAARE!!!!  Ok, I might be a little over-excited.  But this is where I am coming from.....  We, crochet lovers, make all grannies ALL the time!  It's so simple!

But seriously....This is what took my breath away:

This little skirt ... is $1300!!!!  Wh-what?!  Crazy, right.  This is a skirt by Christopher Kane by Johnstons of Elgin.  I rushed to tell The Hubs about it.  I was like, "Babe, I have one of those in my closet!" 

Remember this?

Well, almost...  I am pretty positive that the designer one was made of all silk cashmere... Hell, for $1300, it better have some gold & silver threading woven into the yarn.  Anyway, I googled and searched all over to find more details about the skirt, but I couldn't. 

The point here is that Something as small and simple as a granny square can still totally work in a the world of overly-sophisticated, overly priced High Fashion. I love this!

It reminds me that....
Anything is Possible!  Never Forget the Simple Things in Life!....

And of course, my new objective is to make one toooooo!

Shopping Spree

Today has totally been one of those days.  My mind has been scattered.  I am completely and utterly unmotivated and uninspired.  Typically, when I get into one of these funks, I can still pick up my latest crochet project and put a few rows/rounds on it.  I haven't even felt like doing any of that today.  I know, right.  It goes against the laws of creative nature, or something.

So I decided that, since I can't do this in real life, I am going to go shopping.... well, sorta :)

And since it is coming up on the Fall 2011 season, I figured, why not get a head start?

Like, this beautiful coat by Jason Wu

Jason Wu Genuine Ostrich Feather Dégradé Coat $4,595

And then, since I am wearing something fancy on the outside, I should probably put on something classy on the inside and head on out to a fancy place to eat.... alone.  Just a little "me time" to decompress at a nice restaurant with great wine...

I could wear this

Ports 1961 Pleated Jacquard Dress $1,850

With these

Brian Atwood Swarovski Crystal Embellished Silk Pump $4,970

And let's not forget these accessories!

Bracelet:  Pamela Love Fall 2011 Collection

Bag:  VBH Fall 2011 Collection 

Ring: Flutter Fall 2011 Collection

Earrings:  Kimberly McDonald Fall 2011 Collection

I am not really big on accessories at all.... but I guess it wouldn't hurt to also add....

This ring from Kimberly McDonald Fall 2011 Collection....

and...

These necklaces from Flutter Fall 2011 Collection ... which I am sure I can't wear at the same time, but why not?  This is a fantasy, right :)














Well, I don't know about you, but I always feel better after I go shopping.   There is no way in a fiery hell that I would be able to spend $50,000 on an ensemble and some dinner... But a girl can dream right?  I always think like this: 

Dream BIG or Go Home!