Day 238: Science Centre

 

Today we went to the Telus Spark Science Centre. It was good fun, with lots of interactive activities and different science. Lots of creativity!

One of the exhibits was How To Make A Monster, and there were a few stations set up. One of them was drawing a monster. I drew a unicorn with a Rob Zombie-esque head.

There was a table with a infrared camera. We made pawprints of heat on the table. That was neat!

Finally, we drew our own constellations. Naturally, I made a cosmic fox. 

The museum is pretty neat. A lot of stimuli, which is cool, but when one is ready for a nap... Still fun, though! Also very interesting. There was an exhibit on prosthetic limbs and facial prosthesis, which was really interesting. We also listened to a talk about a company which is making decorative covers for prosthetic legs. The covers they made are beautiful, and the idea is wonderful. All in all, a good day!

Day 237: Exhaustion, yet again.

I had a busy day at work. Now, after getting absolutely covered in bug bites and walking into a door and a model T Ford Roadster, I am ready to sleep. I bought a book from Urban Outfitters which is full of old anatomy plates and images, so I was tempted to try to draw some of the bizarre imagery. Alas, when I pulled out my pencils and started drawing, my head started being a bit painful, so I decided that it was time to go to bed. So now I will say adieu, until tomorrow. My fiancee and I are thinking Telus World of Science tomorrow... so there's bound to be exciting samples of creativity from that! Now, to sleep.

Day 236: Busy day

Today was a busy, busy day at work. Lots and lots of jobs, and the day flew by. A good day, really. Because of this, the only the creative thing that I did was draw in my sketchbook and read The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson. That novel is quite good, and I'm really enjoying it. Still, it's really bizarre to read something that takes place in San Juan while standing in the heat of summer. Definitely makes it easier to  immerse oneself into the novel. 

Day 235: Dead City Radio

Okay, watch out. I am actually and genuinely pleased with something that I drew. Now, that might sound odd, because of the number of times that I post about drawings. The reality is, I tend to be only okay with the drawings that I do. Mostly because I don't put that much work into them. I'm even less pleased when I draw from reference. However... A rarity! Today, I am pleased with something that I drew. 

Today on my other blog I posted about my male influences, particularly those who influence how I dress or want to dress. Going along with that, this drawing is actually what got me writing the other post. I was listening to Rob Zombie, and decided to draw... 

This!

This drawing is based off a still from Dead City Radio, one of Rob Zombie's newer music videos. I absolutely adore the song, and the music video captures my attention altogether. I also really love how Rob Zombie dresses in the video. I want to dress like that. However, I can't do that right now, so I decided to draw him instead. Here is the still:

One hand is too small, but I actually don't mind. The style in which I drew it pleases me, and makes me think of Ralph Steadman. Maybe listening to old interviews and recordings of Hunter S. Thompson influenced me? 

Day 234: Attempting sewing

Sometimes I remember why I shouldn't follow patterns to a tee. It doesn't work out for me.

I decided that I should practice sewing again, so that when I get to make dresses it will be perfect. However, it's brought a couple of things to my attention. First, I am  not good at following instructions. Apparently I should only ever take parts from patterns that I need and then make my own. That usually goes a bit better for me. Secondly, I think that my sewing machine has issues with poly-cotton. Which... isn't good... but I need practice, and who wants to spend lots of money on good fabric when they're just practicing and trying out patterns? Not I, friends. Not. I.

Cheap fabric. And my sewing machine is having issues.

And then I learned that the pattern is supposed to be made with stretch fabric. Oops. Thus, I am just going to borrow the general shape and pattern. And maybe make something successful.

In other news, roughly one half of my stuff is packed. I don't officially move out for another month. Can you tell that I'm ready to move out? I'm just getting so sick of this apartment. To make matters worse, the more time I spend away, the more I dislike the apartment. I don't like the way it smells, I don't like the lack of space, I don't like the whiny cat. Ugh. Ah well. I'll only really be in the apartment for two weekends this coming month. For one weekend I will be in Saskatchewan (hooray! So excited!!) and I'm planning to be mostly moved out and maybe even gone the last weekend of July. Instead of being out during the middle of the week. That doesn't make sense to me... and I don't have time for that! Still, it's kind of lonely being without my treasures and dead things. The last things to leave my apartment will be my last couple of dishes, blankets, some clothes, and my doctor's bag and my fox pelt. Incidentally, both things that my fiancee has given me as gifts. No wonder they're comforting items. Even with those two things around and present, it just feels weird to be in my bedroom. The walls are bare, my mannequin heads are bare-headed, and I have boxes stacked upon boxes of things that I won't be needing or using for the next month. I've even packed up all of my tea cups except for one. I'm going to stop rambling on about my packing and moving. It's just an odd combination of emotions. Mostly anxious. Being in this apartment makes me anxious. I just don't feel like I belong here any more. 

Day 233: Packing up my life

I don't really have anything to show for today. I made a casserole, which was good (except that the recipe was weird, so I ended up with three servings instead of six. Still tasty. I just wish that cook books wouldn't use ounces or packages'). Most excitingly, I started packing up and got some of my things moved to my future home. It's depressing, though. All of my most interesting things are slowly being packed up, and are being put in boxes to be shoved away into a closet until I can unpack them and start a new chapter of my life with my soon-to-be husband in our new home. It's just so sad to see my skulls and  pelts and bits of lace and framed pictures and books and... well... everything be packed up. 

I don't like packing. I don't like moving.

Still, the more time I spend away from my current apartment, the more I dislike it when I return. So, it's ultimately a good thing that I'll be moving out in a month and six days. Officially. All my stuff will be out before then. I really can't wait. 

Day 232: Productive

Busy day. Lots got done. Nothing to really speak of. But I drew my fiancee while he was played the Facebook game Candy Crush Saga. Which I refuse to play. Still, good time to draw my soon to be spouse.

Day 231: Movies and doodles

Again with the webcam photography. Not a fan, personally, but it works. At least there are photos of what I did today. I drew a few things in my sketchy book, and I'm quite pleased. I can draw weird looking horses now! I am pleased. 

My fiancee and I watched a few movies today. First, we went and saw World War Z, which is possibly one of the better zombie movies I've seen. I absolutely love the book, and the movie was amazing. Now, they are not related in any way, other than the title. And the fact that both are about zombies. Apparently Max Brooks, who wrote the book (seriously. Even if you don't like zombies-based, check it out) wasn't a fan because of the fast zombies. I'll admit that fast zombies aren't really fair. They also don't make a lot of sense. However, similar to films like 28 Days Later, Zombieland, and the remake of Dawn of the Dead, fast zombies are more terrifying to watch and it does make for a more entertaining film. Nothing says panic like 'If I was in that apocalypse, there is no way that I would survive. Oh no... I'm so out of shape... maybe I should start running.' At least with The Walking Dead I feel like I have a chance of survival. Any ways, World War Z. Excellent.

Then we watched Dead Man (a Jim Jarmusch film starring Johnny Depp, and has an excellent representation of the Old West, particularly in the vein of the Native Americans), and The Blair Witch Project (classic 90s horror film. That is a creepy film and definitely important in horror movie history. Definitely iconic, in the least). Dead Man inspired the drawings that I did today. And Blair Witch Project is just going to continue to creep me out for a few days. Possibly inspire some ideas.

Day 230: During a flood

This is so bizarre and surreal. As mentioned, Calgary is in a state of emergency, due to major flooding. It continues to be in that state. However, if you are nowhere near a flood zone, life continues as normal. It has been sunny, and dry, just a little bit of mud and a splash of water here and there. And yet, the knowledge of disaster is there. 

Because of the lack of ability to post pictures about things I make, it is making blogging inconvenient. Now, I feel odd in saying the word 'inconvenient' when people and businesses are losing a great deal of their livelihood. It's so odd how much your own life can go on when the reality is far worse just miles down the road. My life is made slightly different, in the fact that I'm in a different house (by just a weird series of events that led to me staying at my fiancee's and becoming stranded... but it worked out because at least I'm not going to have any kind of separation anxiety or feel a weird type of cabin fever), and I can't actually do anything creative (other than draw or cook). We made an amazing breakfast this morning, and we went for a long walk. We played Mortal Kombat, watched movies, and played with his roommate's cat. We are still able to drive to businesses in the North of Calgary, and do practically whatever we want. Life is just... different. I might not be able to return to work until mid next week. My fiancee's training is postponed. All the while, we check the news to see what roads are open and what the situation is. Photos and videos of meter deep water gushing through streets allows us to have some sort of idea of what's going on, and yet there is a tremendous disconnect. Even though it's just a few kilometers away, it may as well be on the other side of the world, for how much we are truly aware of. We haven't been to any flood zones (mostly because 1) it's not really an intelligent choice and 2) there are emergency personnel trying to do their jobs and right the city again... and they do not need tourists stumbling around the city, trying to catch a glimpse of watery destruction). It's so close, and yet so far away. I constantly wonder if it's even really happening. Of course it is... but it's just so distant.

Though I have not been personally affected (other than my workplace being flooded- though apparently the building is okay. Just the parking lot is flooded), I would like to commemorate the city of Calgary for responding so quickly. The way that the situation has been handled is admirable, and truly shows what an upstanding city we live in. With help from the United States and from Edmonton, the city was able to evacuate families and individuals, get dangerous areas clear, and relocate everyone to safe locations. It feels like the city will be right again in no time. The community has really pulled together, and it makes one feel proud to be part of this city, especially in the time of disaster. I hope that anyone who has been affected by the flood will have their lives righted again. I hope that families and friends will be reunited soon, and that life will return as normal in Calgary. The damage will be visible for some time, but our city has proven that they can pull through anything. 

And thus, even though I can't do my blog as normal... I'm thankful to be with my fiancee, and that everyone I know is safe.

Day 229: Zebra!

Camping is not going to happen this weekend. It's still on, but we decided to not go. The city of Calgary is in a state of emergency, due to flooding. Due to this, we thought that it might be better to not go. We could, but now that we accepted not going, it's difficult to get excited again. So, we'll go camping, but not this weekend. 

I drew a classy zebra. It's one of the best drawings I've done for a while. Unfortunately, I couldn't post a decent photograph because my fiancee's computer currently refuses to open my SD memory card. Thus, I had to take a photograph of my drawing... using the computer's webcam. It works, but not perfect. 

Day 228: Embroidered Pants

My computer is not wanting to read my camera memory card, so I couldn't post photos, and the photo also didn't show details very well. Poor lighting. Basically, I recently received some trousers that I'd ordered from Historical Emporium. These lovely men's Ferndale Striped Trousers. They fit me quite well, albeit a little bit odd. As they are men's pants and men's pants tend to fit differently because of understandable physical reasons. Still, they are perfect for Coyote, and they look really cool. I have started embroidering on the inside of the trousers. The embroidery has different significance regarding the personal history of Coyote. So far so good!

Tomorrow I will be off to Drumheller for a camping trip. This is assuming that we are able to leave the city and weather permits. Calgary is under all kinds of flood warnings, because of the amount of rain and the rising of the Bow and Elbow rivers. Not very pretty. I'm glad that my apartment is high enough up and far enough from the rivers that flooding shouldn't affect me. I just hope that the weather permits to let us go camping and dinosaur hunting! Adventuring is needed. I just love camping! And this is camping with steampunkery! 

Day 227: Late night, painful headache

I'm going to make this brief, because of nowhere, my head is killing me. I was going to draw something quickly, but nope. Instead I played a quick round of steampunk dress-up (I'm preparing for a steampunk camping trip... EEE! This weekend!), and now I have a painful headache. I took painkillers, but I think that this is a sign that I should be in bed. On the bright side, I have awesome men's pants now. 19th century style that fit quite well, and fit the personality of Coyote to a tee. I will be her this weekend. Which basically means being covered in dead animals, leather, and men's clothing. Dressing up is creative, right?

Day 226: Let them make cake stands

Something might have to be added to the top. That, or it will be left open and decorations or something can be put in the tea cup. Either way... Four down, four more to go! We might have to make more afterwards... errather after this, before the wedding... But so far so good! And I adore how they look so far!

In other news...

Objective met!

I am now the proud owner of a pair of Hunter S. Thompson -esque sunglasses. $15 from an army surplus store. Awesomeness in a box. Army Surplus stores are all types of fun. Now I can truly drive around in a paranoid fashion exclaiming "We can't stop here..."

Two Fear and Loathing references in two days. Let's see if I can go three for three tomorrow.

Day 225: Mosquito Bites

After seeing Man of Steel (A-MAE-ZING!), a mosquito bit me on the face. Right next to my right eye. This displeased me, and it became swollen to gargantuan proportions (okay... that's a bit of an exaggeration... but it was at least one centimeter in diameter). I responded with the above. I drew it on PhotoShop. I am not very good at PhotoShop and PhotoShop and I are not friends. 

But see? Get it? I am (yet again!) referencing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. But with pun-tacular action. For your entertainment, of course.

Day 224: You're not going to believe this...

I actually did make things today. I made a mock bow tie (my sewing machine doesn't like the combination of poly-cotton and sewing needles... which is odd. Or maybe it's just because it's on a small scale). I learned that I need interfacing to make the bow ties. Not a problem. But goodness... I have an iron now... And it's great! Crisp fabric and nice edges. Though... I don't have an ironing board/table. So my "ironing board" is a small 1'x2' hand towel on a bit of table. Not very convenient when I need to iron huge amounts of fabric. But still.... I made a bow tie.

I just forgot to photograph it and I'm lazy and I was in a rush to get to croquet.

Why yes. I play croquet now. And it's a cruel, heartless, sport. Though polite.

Day 223: Well...

Hey, remember yesterday, when I promised all kinds of exciting art and creations? Ha. Jokes. Kidding. Didn't happen. I started cutting a pattern for some leather, but then I decided that I ought to fulfill my responsibilities and get wedding invitations done. So... that's what I did. While watching Oddities. For over three hours. So, productivity? Definitely. But for privacy reasons I have nothing to show for all of my efforts. Though I will say this- I am fantastic at faux calligraphy. I'm developing quite a skill of it. Which is always a delight. Always good. Hem hem hem. But now I am beyond exhausted. I shall now fall asleep on top of a couple of books, and listen to the scratching and chewing of my mice.

Oh! Something I learned today. In some countries, there is a fairy tale of something similar to a tooth fairy, but instead of a fairy, it is a mouse. The mouse comes in and takes the teeth, and leaves a gift under the pillow. Basically the tooth fairy... but it's a mouse. Which is just so fanciful. After all, what on earth would a mouse do with teeth? A fairy, I can see. Fairies are often fickle and dangerous, and I can see them using teeth for all kinds of things. But mice... Why would mice want the teeth of human children?

Day 222: Art postponed on account of... Magic!

I've been leading far too exciting of a life recently, all without much sleep. This evening I went to a great magic show, with my fiancee (of course). He did a documentary on the magic show A Brush With Death, so he is now within that crowd. Which is fantastic, of course. Really, though, regardless we would go to their shows. Lots of fun, blood, dark humour, and ghosts. A great show, and I recommend it to anyone.

Erm... Anyone over the age of 18, I would say.

Any ways, late night yet again, with another day of work tomorrow. But just wait! Tomorrow evening and Sunday will be filled with lots and lots of exciting things. I just need rest first. Ugh... what a long week. What a long, and very weird, week.

Day 221: I was going to make art...

I was going to make art, but instead I saw Iron Man Three (awesome! Enjoyed it immensely). I was going to make art, but then I had a panic attack and ended up resolving all of my roommate issues. Ultimately a blessing. Though panic attacks are terrible. I really don't recommend them to any one. My nerves have been shot for two days, and I've been on the verge of a panic attack. Finally, I snapped. Still, because my roommate heard my hyperventilating, she was concerned, and while I was calming myself down, we discussed the disagreements we've been having, and got everything sorted out. Long story short... Texting is the devil and it's just better to talk things out so that things are not taken the wrong way. So much weight has been lifted, and I no longer feel like I need to run away or make a mad dash away from the apartment. Things are much better now. Even if I'm exhausted and tear stained. I'm just so happy that I don't have as much depression or anxiety, thanks to my fiancee (and best and closest friend) being in the same city, and I don't feel alone. He also knows me well enough to keep me fed, let me get rest, and give me company when I need it. He's my saving grace in so many situations. In other news, I finally have a better phone plan, so that I means I can also call my parents when I need to talk to them, and I don't have to worry about running up my phone bill. I miss talking to my parents, especially my mum. She is a smart lady, with so many wonderful ideas and fantastic thoughts and she's just so good to talk to. I can't wait to go home in July!

And this brings us to the drawing. As aforementioned, I saw Iron Man Three. And... sometimes I draw things without any reference. Thusly... derpy and poorly drawn Iron Man. Worst drawings of superheroes! I enjoyed that movie. Now I definitely need to see The Avengers. 

Day 220: All wrapped up and nowhere to go

I drew a lovely picture on behalf of myself and my fiancee, to welcome his newest nephew into the world. I even coloured it nicely and framed it. Naturally, I forgot to photograph it before wrapping it up in a fancy manner. It probably wouldn't be a tragedy to unwrap it... but that feels morally wrong. Especially since  I did such a nice job. At least, in my opinion I did. I will say one thing. The drawing is of an elephant in a fez. That is all.

Day 219: Mad Hatter!

 

Today I received a marvelous package. There is sat, inside the entry way to my apartment when I arrived home from work. A delightful surprise! My friend who has been in Quebec for the past while (month or two months? An extended period of time) sent me a huge hat box full of vintage hats. They are beautiful! And some of them actually fit me! Which is amazing, as I have a large head. She gifted me with so so so many fantastic hats, and said that if I want, I can rework them, decorate them, or do whatever I like. I have a great many vintage hats, and I'm thinking about hanging them all on a wall. They're such works of art. I just love hats. And hats with netting? Yes, please.

Also, during my lunch, I drew this sketch/doodle. I promised my fiancee that I would draw him something. Just because. He didn't ask me. I just wanted to draw something for him. I've been enjoying utilizing more line work with pen, and drawing girls with weird woodsy-fairy-tale-inspired-wonderment surrounding them. At the moment, I feel like I'm being taunted by The Big Bad Wolf. Everything I've been drawing has whispers of that creature, even if it is not remotely obvious to anyone. But the wolf is there... Lurking in the back of my mind, and sneaking behind the lines of each drawing I do.

Day 218: Lazy Monday

A bit of a doodle while watching The Devil's Carnival. I've been wanting to watch this movie for ages, and finally! It was on American Netflix! Apparently it's the first in a series about a carnival-esque version of Hell where everything is mad and overwhelming and loud and colourful and musical and... well, a carnival. It's made by the same people who made Repo! The Genetic Opera, which is one of my favourite musicals yet. I was pleased with watching it. Finally! I have seen it. And thusly, I drew the above. I'm quite pleased with the line work, especially in the hairy furs. I might try to draw more like this. I'm also toying with the idea of attempting to learn and use water colour. I think that it could aid in the livening up drawings that I do.

Day 217: Rabbit

Productivity! This is a rabbit head that I spent a while making. It is made out of air-dry clay, paint, and mod-podge. I am going to be making this into a 19th century style marionette of the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. At least, I'm going to try! 

Today, I also stamped even more invites, and mod-podged some painted plates (to seal them and make them a little more food safe). I did all of this while I watched Dirty Dancing for the first time. I do love 1980s movies involving love stories. Particularly ones with wonderful montages. Making things and watching a movie are a nice way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.

In other news, I made fantastic pizza crust. I'm getting quite good at making bread, if I might say so myself!

Day 216: Day called on account of breaks

I didn't have time to do anything today. The breaks in our car are wearing down, so we took our car to my fiancee's car savvy friend and his father, and we were going to go to Canadian Tire to get the parts this evening. I wasn't too thrilled, because I just wanted to spend a quiet evening watching a movie. I'm a bit drained from work and not having any quiet weekends at my house. I haven't actually slept in or spent a day reading in bed or just at home for.... Well, a long time. I was coaxed along by the promise of Peter's Drive-In, so I went along. Though it was cold and I'd spent the day at work being cold and I was tired and I'm tired now. So much for any creativity. Blerg. Bed time. 

Day 215: Ouroboros and Anchor

Look! Productivity! Today was great. Work (which is okay. Some days are boring, but at least my presentations/tours are getting better!... Albeit longer... I'm starting to push towards going overtime...), and then I went and stocked up on real groceries (I bought a HUGE bag of flour for $10 on sale. Y'know the biggest size you can get? Yeah. Those. I also stocked up on meat and veg and good fruit), and then I cooked myself dinner. After that, I moved into making things! In this case, stamps for wedding things. I'm so terribly pleased with them. 

The stamp is a design that my fiancee and I came up with. It's a combination of an ouroboros (infinite snake or snake eating its tail) and an anchor. The ouroboros symbolizes immortality and eternal life, and in the Victorian era the snake eating its own tail was a symbol of eternal love. Queen Victoria's wedding ring was a snake eating its tail. The anchor is a symbol of hope and stability. The anchor is one of my favourite symbols because of nautical tattoo culture. The anchor is always seen with someone's name (i.e. 'Mom' or one's sweetheart) because the anchor symbolizes stability, and therefore with the name it symbolizes that that person is the stability in your life. Thus, both symbols are important in our commitment to marry. Stability and eternity. 

In other news, I really like having a clean work space again. Well, the table is only "clean", but at least it's bare and I can actually use it again. Also, in other,  other, news... I like marionettes!

This is a pattern that I made for work. Or a detail of it. I made a few, all modeled after the same shape and design. However, I like it so much that I am stealing it from myself and I'm going to use the pattern for my own purposes. In general, I want to try making marionettes.

I basically decided that I should go one of two directions with my life. One, become a master marionette maker and revert marionettes towards their 19th century appeal and use for adult entertainment (both in comedy and keeping viewers up-to-date with recent events). Alternatively, there is direction two, which would be to open a shop which is half oddities/antique/weird art shop and half museum. My fiancee suggested that I just blend the two directions and make one of the greatest things ever. I really do like the idea of having a shop. An actual tactile shop that will have the occasional events and shows and attract the most curious array of individuals. 

Day 214: PHEW

Lo and behold, on the other side of this stack of paper, there is the complete list of who is invited to our celebration of matrimony. My fiancee and I finally finalized our invites, and we will be mailing out invites within the next week or so. It's odd, though. I am perfectly okay with the idea of hundreds of people coming and going to a tea party, but the idea of the same number being at our ceremony disturbs me. Well, not disturb. But my mind doesn't like wrapping itself around it.

And for the record, we are not inviting hundreds of people.

Now, a few people may be itching to know if they are on the paper. Naturally, I can't show the paper, because of security and safety and (above all) privacy. Still, it was an accomplishment, and it was nice to get down. My fiancee then left to go home, and tonight and tomorrow he will be printing out the invites. Productivity wheels are turning!

Now, for good balance...

These are four pages of notes that I took today. Well... technically only three of these pages are from today. Nonetheless. Content includes history, mounties, Blackfoot, tid-bits, the odd doodle, and so on. If you manage to read it, you might learn something. Who knows.

TOMORROW. I will actually be making something phenomenal. Or at least something that requires a little more work. Though, any one who thinks that making a wedding invite list isn't work... Yikes. Especially when you're trying to keep your numbers down. Thank goodness our wedding is on a week day. It's not that I don't want people to come... it's just that I get anxious in large groups. Still... So glad to be done the list! And better yet, the relationship of myself and my fiancee is yet to be destroyed! It's continuing to be strong, despite the stress that I sometimes get. Good thing that he's one person who prevents my anxiety attacks. 

Day 213: Well, this is embarrassing

Well, I posted my blog entry for today...

On the wrong blog.

But instead of re-writing it, I will post the link here: Best Intentions.

I even got the day number wrong. Silly me. Yes, yes. I do think that it is time for bed.

Day 212: Dog humour

Sometimes I get bored, and then I draw. Then I realize how much I'm influenced by Ralph Steadman's book about dogs. Including the bits about....

Day 211: Sew much fabric madness

Finally! I bought all of the fabric for the wedding. I bought the fabric for everyone's bow ties, my bridesmaid's dress, and my dress. I found everything, and the colours are perfect. Now I begin the process of making dresses, and bow ties. I'm so excited! I will be making Edwardian style dresses, and they're going to be absolutely bee-yoo-tee-full. Also, my drawing skills will likely be a lot stronger when I'm done.

Also, in other news, I got eight patterns for ninety-nine cents each. They were damaged or old or something. Nothing wrong with them, and hey! I will always buy new patterns for cheap. Such included some waistcoat patterns, Wizard of Oz patterns (for Dorothy's dress, Glinda's dress and hat, and Wicked Witch's dress, cape and hat), some hat patterns, 1940s style clothing patterns, men's overcoat (Sherlock Holmes style), and a few others that I can't recall. Nonetheless... good to have around, and I do want to get better at sewing. I tend to not follow patterns 100%, but do the basics and majority of the important construction. Then I just make my own spin, so that my clothing is always different. I also combine patterns.

Though... I just realized that I didn't buy invisible zippers.

Oops.

Day 210: Steampunkery and antiquing

I had the best intentions of taking a photo of my marvelous steampunk outfit and make up. Naturally, I forgot. Some friends and I went to the Military Museums for their summer skirmish. It was raining all day, and we almost got stuck in mud. The museum had free admission, and it was great to look around for a bit. Later, we went to an antique market, and I found a gem. A mortician's table! This one is specifically a wake table (photo above. Please excuse the mess and the fact that the table doesn't quite fit properly in my bedroom). The table folds up and can be carried by a handle. The table would have been taken to the home of the deceased (or their family, rather) and the deceased would be laid on the table, and everyone would pay their respects. Later the body would be prepared, a funeral would be held, and eventually be buried. I've been wanting a mortician table for ages... and this one is a beauty. I got it for a good price (it was originally $100 more than what I paid. I wouldn't have paid the price marked, but the price I paid was fair). I'm thinking that the table is from the 1930s. It's quite solid, and I think that it will make a nice work table. That probably sounds morbid and odd.. but ultimately, it is a table. It just happens to fold up and have a point where it lifts up for the head. It's also had a more interesting history than some tables. 

Day 209: I came, I saw, I napped

After one of my busiest days at work yet... Exhaustion. My fiancee picked me up from work. We ate some food. Then I took a two hour nap. And I'm still exhausted. Don't worry. There will be plenty to talk about tomorrow. But for now... Too tired to do anything. I even thought about making a corset. And yet... Nope.