by J.English on December 30, 2009
Many people have been feeling the financial pinch this season, myself included. We had many grand ideas of how we should spend our New Years. In the end we all decided we would feel less stress by staying close to home. It will be just as magical if not more so and we will be sharing instead of spending.
Missy and I love to throw parties. Sometimes we make advanced plans that we don’t follow, most of the time we scramble up something awesome the day before. Seeing as this is the day before it’s definitely scramble time.
The Setting:
We have a 4 bed room house, 10-12 guests including hosts, 4 kiddies to tend to and lots of random items to attempt to decorate and create a theme with. We want to make it magical. I also want Missy and Chris to feel like they aren’t just having another low key dinner party.
Supplies:
1. Everyone’s bringing food or wine
2. Lots of random left over booze
3. Missy’s craft room (crafting and herb central, this will be a big help)
4. Lots of luck
We still need a theme. It will help us transform the space. We are thinking 50’s pot luck and martini party, or Mad Hatter’s style with fancy treats and hidden treasures.
I will keep you posted on our progress. If anyone has ideas please share!
by J.English on December 18, 2009
1st Model Call
It has begun. I have thrown myself into another world-wind adventure. I will be creating new fashions for my clothing line Raw Culture, to be shown at the closing event for the Hygienic Art Gallery’s annual No Judge, No Jury show.
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by J.English on December 5, 2009
by J.English on November 9, 2009
Making my Red Riding Hood costume
I am a self taught clothing and graphics designer. I definitely would not call myself a seamstress. I just love to create things. A couple years ago a friend of mine taught me how to thread a sewing machine and encouraged me to experiment. From that moment it became an addiction. The feeling of accomplishment is nice but for me it’s more about making it work (wouldn’t Tim Gunn agree). Figuring out how a piece will come together is like a massage for my brain. Yes, sometimes you have to go inside out and upside down to put a garment together. Though I love the puzzle, there are many tried and true tricks of the trade that make life easier. These tricks are hard to stumble on but there are plenty of resources to learn from these days.
One of the sites I like is Burdastyle. Here you can find all sorts of how to’s, patterns and project ideas. So dust off your sewing machine and play.
Oh! if you find a resource you love or a project you’d like to share leave a comment so we can all benefit.
by J.English on November 9, 2009
Halloween is my favorite holiday to spend in New York City. The rain only added to the experience. The beauty of living in Connecticut is we are very close to Boston and New York. We can easily get out of our day to day and experience the Big City. Ed and I drove down to New Haven and took Metro North into Grand Central Station (round trip ticket $30). Taking the train means no stressful traffic, good quality chill time and no worries about finding parking. Believe me, you do not want to get towed in NYC. Plus having a couple drinks is way more fun when no one has to drive.
Arriving at Grand Central Station
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by J.English on October 30, 2009
The cost of everything seems to be going up these days. There was a time when it was much more cost effective to make something for yourself instead of buying it. Now all the fabric chains we used to turn to for their variety and great deals are falling short. The variety is just not there and the prices are through the roof.
Thankfully my hope has recently been restored. Affordable fabrics is a remnant fabric store. All fabric is priced at $1.99 a yard. Yes, it can be hit or miss. Remnant stores get what they get. There is no constant stock items. Yet every time I have gone there I have found what I needed without breaking the bank. The sense of achievement when you create something new is wonderful. When you step out wearing a totally unique piece you made or give your apartment a face lift with new curtains there is nothing like it. For all of those out there like me who need instant gratification there is no need to wait for your next pay check. Awesome!
Most towns have at least one of these stores tucked away somewhere.
If you know of one where you live please comment and let us know. We all need to spread the fabric love.
-Affordable fabrics is on route 32 in Montville, CT.
by M.Cokas on October 28, 2009
Jessie & Missy Picnik at Night
If you are looking for a way to have a few minutes of instantly gratifying, creative fun, you’ve gotta check out Picnik. Picnik is a free web-based picture editor and a whole lot more! It’s less about the technical perfection of a photograph and more about child-like doodling and urban graffiti for your pictures. With tons of tools that you won’t find packaged together anywhere else, Picnik can turn an ordinary photo extraordinary! So, go ahead, skip on over to picnik.com and have yourself a working lunch.
