I had intended to write the story of Thailand much sooner, but since getting back I've jumped headfirst back into things here, and have been too caught up in the present to revisit the recent past with much focus. I'm a little bit more excited about what's going on right now than I am about recent travels. I've been working on my third commission for Ashley, which is a blue sundress that should be finished sometime this week. I've been keeping a sewing notebook this past year and feel like I'm really starting to figure out some techniques and principles that are making sewing a lot quicker and easier for me, with more finished looking results. Starting in July, I'm also going to be taking some sewing classes at a studio in Portland, which should be immensely helpful in moving towards more streamlined work. I've also started to document my recent projects, and I've just downloaded/purchased everything necessary to build myself a website. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I'll have a site up with a gallery of my work and contact information. In the mean time, here are a couple of the shots that we did "professionally" that should wind up on the website, and a couple of quick shots of what I'm working on now.
| Despite years of being dolled up and then photographed by our grandparents, Sarah and I still needed a little liquid courage to go be all model-y out in public. This is how our afternoon started. |
| Tan skirt made for Sarah |
| Gray skirt made for me |
I made this "infinity dress" for Sarah last year to wear to the wedding she catered back in Pennsylvania. It can be tied about a million different ways... one to match each of Sarah's funny faces.
Thai fisherman's style skirt
| This is a dress I'm just about finished making for myself... just need to hem it and it will be all finished! |
| Ashley's almost finished dress. In addition to the hem, it will also get a halter strap before it's done. |
As you can see from the sun in the photos, Spring is intermittently here. Seth, Sarah, and I bought a bunch of plant starts this past weekend at the farmer's market and just finished potting them today. So now on the front steps we have (from bottom to top) a dwarf tomato plant, cilantro/coriander, mint, alpine strawberries (think the size of those puny little wild yard strawberries but the flavor of a real strawberry), and a big mix of salad greens!
Sarah and Seth went clamming this morning with our friend David and brought back a huge bag full of clams and mussels. Right now they're in the fridge sticking their weird tongues out at us, but tonight we'll be cooking up a huge pot of clam chowder.
So, food is bountiful right now, even though the weather isn't exactly getting "summery" any time soon. It's nice to be back anyway, though I'm anxiously awaiting mid-July when Oregon's belated summer seems to actually show its face. I'm feeling a little antsy stuck inside most of the time, but at least its giving me lots of time to get things done. I promise that I will delve back into the narrative of Thailand sometime soon. Sometimes you just have to blog in the present.
