New Beginnings for 2012

This has been a hard few months,since the new year I have had to deal with a hurried move as well as health issues as a result from the packing and "excavating" involved. Where I live now is a far-sight better than any place I've lived at over the years,but while the rent is cheaper the cost to move here was substantial.Here is what happened as I saw it: In January, a letter to "Occupant" was sent to me and Katy my roomie. 

The name was not familiar to us but we contacted landlord about this; did not hear back. Aside from the name and content being a bit unsettling, the discrepancy between address on letter and the cancellation on the envelope had us thinking fraud.The next letter arrived to "Occupant" in February:

Following that was a letter from the property management co.and,honestly, I still wouldn't take this thing seriously and still think fraud:

Finally,hear from landlord and had him put in writing what he told us,that property owner was his mother Marion and that this was not her doing but manipulations by sister. While this was going on Katy opened up an account with me as joint-signee for us to put out rent in while all this was going on with Frank's blessing. I had also established contact with the property management co.basically to not dodge them but at the same time figure out if they were legit or not.When we did not send the rent in, I was given a notice of termination-as I had contacted them and not Katy she was left off the notice ( she was moving to Nebraska anyway). A few more letters showed up,interesting was the attorney letter:

This is pretty choice,as noticed by the dates,there is a period of time where the attorney should have known about the property management co. So,why is he telling me to send money to an address where the owner is still sending mail from California??? This information made already waving red flags flap furiously.Even contacting the attorney about this didn't help,when he did reply he corrected his information that yes,Marion did retain these people. By this time my notice was 1/2 way through and I had until May 9 through the 12th to be out. The new rental agreement that had to be filled out made getting a roomie out of the question,too many stipulation "fees" and etc. to make living here attractive.Soooo...looks like I am joining Katy in leaving here. In my case,I had no place to go and too much to bring with.

I had been amazed by how much stuff that had been left behind by other tenants; the landlord did not do yearly inspections and I believe cared even less about the standards. "I'll fix it when you move out" had been a regular answer, and as it turned out most people apparently never told him when things went wrong. In other words, a lot of stuff there was falling apart for years and allowed to "go fallow" allowing mold and rodentia to infest.It also means I will be either getting rid or pitching a lot of stuff before I go.

Between yard sale and allowing scavengers in addition to extenuating circumstances that I will elaborate on I am 85% to 90% lighter in stuff.Dear god,what have I done I sometimes think,but in the final analysis that was the only course that made sense;even if I did have a place to stay there would be the issue of all that stuff.As things turned out,I ended up getting a text from a very good friend who opened up her basement to me.The location to buses and the affordability were additional perks to a great setup,so I immediately agreed.

So,the extenuating circumstances were that I felt the need to be out before Katy so I upped my date from May 9th to April 25th. Busting my ass to pack,put on sale and not make myself any sicker from exposure to pollutants in the house in addition to continuing frustration with what was happening around me motivated me further into "leaving it all behind" and leave before Katy's departure date.Bedding and other cloth items needed replacement and I needed a blanket my last night and since bed was already out of the house I needed comforting,too, as I was on the verge of falling apart. I saw this at work and knew my salvation:

This was made by a dear coworker and I had to have it with me my final night and first night in new digs. I have other items by her on my shelves to inspire my creativity should it flag.It also provided much needed "arms" when I did eventually crack.Thankfully my meltdown lasted briefly,and I had other strong arms to hold me when I wasn't in my new location; when I think about the people I can count on in my life it makes the stuff I left behind less significant.

I am still going through totes and boxes,shaking my head a bit at what came with instead of what could've been instead. I am living in a much better place with a cool people, a cemetery a few blocks away and a couple of chickens in the back yard. Feeling truly lucky,I am :)

Projects, past and present

Things have been a bit hectic here,between landlord legal issues with family members and the usual health ups-and-downs;I have managed to do some pretty fun stuff and have more on the horizon before I start the gardening map ( going to use buckets this year on the driveway,more sun and heat there for tomatoes). I had thought to show the process pictures,but that can be saved for another time-I'm just thrilled that I have been knocking through my fabric stash and decluttering the sewing room in bits and pieces.

These are flags created for an investiture ceremony for The Order of the Green Cross (http://www.orderofthegreencross.com/ )  I look forward to seeing how the banners are used in future photos.

This is the beginnings of a waistcoat from Bridal dept. fabric in a gold tone I usually do not wear. I like the reverse side,but will eventually line the inside with a moire-textured black and have the sleeves in a georgette or similar drapey black, full enough to puff and gather.I am trying to be more brave in color choices,so I hope to have a picture of me in this soon.

I have been wanting a Janome for some time,there will be a time when the current machine, a New Home Memorycraft, will cease to work because of the old-fashioned fuses. This will be staying upstairs and hooked into a better outlet, I'm taking no chances with this one ;)

I was at an event last night for the Frank Reade Book Tour (http://www.bigredhair.com/frankreade/tour.html) I have a "passport" with two punches on it,next Wednesday is the last one and I hope to be able to get to it even though I am scheduled to work until fairly late--prizes are involved,and not only are they cool people they have fun stuff!

Off to work,tomorrow I will be getting an opportunity to take a dip in a flotation tank and from there full speed ahead *laughs* It is good to make a habit of making every day memorable,I forget sometimes to do this but I am glad for the chances to do so. Looking forward,Alanna

Refitting memorabilia and sentimental artifacts

Halloween,my favorite time of year and yet one I haven't gone too all out for because I am either sick or working these days.Because of that cramp in my lifestyle, I allowed it to kneecap my creativity for costuming for the event. Not this year,irregardless of whether I can get to a party or not I will make my killer Halloween costume; this one demonstrated by the action figure.

I have always wanted to make this but put it off because of the amount of wool it would take to make the riding coat, in addition to the cost of the pattern itself. I battle with my budget,my paycheck balances,and my student loans and I go through enough Chap Stick being on the phone putting off the inevitable that I get burned out and won' t want to anything for another day--until,that is,fall comes around and my favorite time of year kicks off. Then I get resentful that I can't do anything for whatever reason that comes up.But with that,comes inspiration.

Once upon a time I liked to go to the occasional festival or renaissance faire,and one of the first purchases I make was a wool cloak with a capelet.When I got this, it was around Beltane or May 1st thereabouts, and it was my workhorse in the travel wardrobe; the heavy black coating felt with the red lining kept me warm and comfortable under the stars and in tents. The cloak make it out to a number of festivals before I hung it up pretty much for good a few years ago. I would always look at it and relive the fond memories that were created when I had it with me. An opportunity last year for a pirate Easter weekend brought it out again, here it is:

The cloak reaches the floor,the felt hat had it's band removed that weekend so I could wear it in relative comfort (too bad the band couldn't be saved)and it held up even when it snowed outside Easter morning.A great event,then back in the box it went until now.

I think I have reached a point that I am no longer afraid of gutting my faire garb for stuff like a Halloween costume,my attachments to my clothes now seem ridiculous in hindsight since I had my fun and there is no reason to keep a souvenir if the item's going to be burdensome.That is a liberating feeling, and that frees me up to take advantage what I have on hand without second-guessing my decisions. If I do,oops in small letters and not the insane font size and characters.

Right now the lining is off of the cloak and the capelet, the hood is now off, and I put together a multi-layered capelet to fluff up the neck a bit

2011,finally

I subscribe to blogs but rarely write, so much happens that is fluid-like that the thoughts and emotions go away like volatiles from snow roses. When I am better organized, I hope to have an easier way to post rather than try to reassemble after the fact.Suffice to say, this year is off to a good start: the countdown towards a smaller household ends on the 19th,a trip to Seattle for the Steampunk Exhibition Ball and a run through the EMP,and with luck a trip to Toronto in May. In the meantime, a bunch of creating is keeping me in inspiration and going for better. Below is a fine example:





This was to initially be a collar for a dress, but the more I played with it the more things revealed as possibilities. A coworker pointed out that it would make a great fishtail trim on a skirt, an off-to-the-side cocktail hat, a beautiful rosette for a vase, and all from a gorgeous piece of feather trim I was given by my hero/ role model from work. This woman has helped me see my capability in making beautiful things, more than I could ever believe myself doing--maybe it is because I find the process of value I can't appreciate my final results ( that will change. By the time of the Ball, I will have more to post`and share.