wicked good halloween

 

I think the best halloween costumes are a mix of what you have, a few thrift store basics and some signature pieces, made, bought or borrowed that really sell the character.  It helps to have a dress up box, random fabric and cardboard around.

Franklin had his heart set on being Snow White and we were lucky to have a friend with a Disney dress just his size to borrow. I made the guys each one item: the cartoonishly proportioned dwarf belt and snow white's hair bow. For my wicked self I made a cardboard crown and modified a turtleneck. My cape is a wrap skirt from our dress up box and the flaming heart mirror usually hangs on our wall.

For the record, this was our first family costume. We put extra effort into it because we actually attended a wedding on Halloween. I have had costume fails through the years and Franklin flatly refused to wear the first costumes I made for us when he was younger. So don't get hung up on comparisons if you didn't coordinate fairytale magic with your crew this year. As Franklin reminded me, it's really just about the M&Ms.

mixing business and pleasure in edison

This weekend we took a quick little family adventure in the first warming sun of almost spring. We drove the gorgeous curves of Chuckanut drive, stopping for a picnic on our way to restock my favorite store. The Lucky Dumpster in Edison is now flush with a fresh batch of hats, pins, stuffed animals and vests. (If you can find your way to edison, you really don't need any other address.)

We browsed the amazing collection of handmade objects, banged on Jessie's drum set in the painting studio, and clowned around in the sun. Working with old friends, the super talented James Reisen and Jessica Bonin, makes doing business a true pleasure.

Franklin always comes home with a fist full of vintage plastic from the treasure chest.We have a whole drawer at home called the Lucky Dumpster Drawer because it is so full of muppet babies and sesame street figurines and a whole fisher price circus train.

Steeb picked up a sewn nudie piece by the lovely Jessica Bonin that Frank and I are recreating here.(click her name to find the original art.wink, wink, nudge nudge.)

Edison's magic attracts art lovers, tulip peepers, birders, foodies and bikers along with the people who actually live and work in the Skagit Valley. The Lucky D is open friday, saturday and sunday 12-4pm until they decide to be open 11-5pm with the warmer weather.

What treasures have you found in edison?

Stumptown with kiddos

We were in Portland for the weekend. Last week before we left I had planned to do some super fun write up about all the hip, eco friendly, design we would experience in the city. You've probably seen blog posts like I was envisioning: gorgeous photos of interesting food, cool yards about to burst into spring, bicycles, tattoos, cute dresses, stationary shops, murals and endless coffee.And although we ate some great Barbeque at Russell Street and had a fabulous time at the Kennedy School soaking pool, I didn't photograph any of it. I just enjoyed being with my family. We were on an economical  visit with two three year olds in our crew, so mostly we stayed at our friends' home.

But as you can see, I was inspired by our experience in the city.  

These kids played tough all weekend, usually in some combination of pajamas and batman t shirts.Luckily our hosts had two of these shirts each with a detachable cape.

Back at home today, Franklin had to hang out in the studio with me. We pulled out his own thrift store t shirt and my new snap setter.

 

I used snaps instead of velcro simply because I want to try my new snaps. But also, when the kids played rough, the velcro capes would come off too easily. And the texture of the velcro tab on the shirt irritated Franklin when he was cape-less. He hasn't played around in the shirt yet, so I don't know if it was a better choice or just a different choice.

I love the way the symbol looks in reverse applique. Practicing this technique I use as moth and squirrel keeps the project interesting for me. I also love that this technique allowed me to use all cotton (just tshirt scraps) for the cape. I hate the texture of most kids' costumes and was glad to make something comfy and breathable not slippery polyester.

 

I left all the edges unfinished on the cape. They will roll with time but keep it a super quick project.

Steeb bought this little record player at the Lucky Dumpster years ago and we just started letting Franklin play with it at the studio. He has 3 Bible stories and a handful of scratchy Disney records with books. The Bible stories sound like David Sedaris is reading them; which either makes them more awful or fabulous, I'm not sure. Franklin still needs help with the switches and the records are short but it buys me about 5 minutes at a time to work. And once he gets the difference between 45rpm and 33 1/3rpm, we'll be set up for some serious studio sessions.

Advanced style

spent a little time sketching from Ari Seth Cohen's amazing book(&blog!) Advanced Style yesterday. Franklin helped me color the dames, he went right for the purple before I was even finished with the first turban. The women featured have such style and grace and it certainly isn't about the latest trends. It's a personal expression brought forth from a lifetime of collecting well made clothing and accessories.

don't count your chicken vests until they're hemmed.

I am feeling the inspiration and creativity that can blossom in the face of a deadline. Two weeks until the Urban Craft Uprising and I am having all kinds of design breakthroughs. Like these two chicken vests waiting to have their openings finished by hand.

This video does cuss and swagger alot, but it is so fabulous. Macklemore &Ryan Lewis are getting some excellent coverage right now for their song Same LOve in support of gay marriage and equality, but dang, this is the song I did my dance break to at the studio.

this one isn't a drawing, but I just love the way this darn turned out. It looks a bit like those fancy new bar code smart phone things, but in neon lemon and grey. I really love darning sweaters and socks to prolong their usefulness, add some character and infuse the fabric with extra love. I almost never get socks at thrift stores, but when you go through the trouble of mending a once new sock, I think it counts as thrifty style.
If you are interested in a January mending class at my studio, be sure to get yourself on the mailing list.

'zine librarian style

 

I bought this necklace and earrings from the lucky dumpster about a month ago and have been patiently waiting for september to wear them.  Since I haven't been in school for so long, to say back to school style is a little silly. But I definitely like the school/librarian vibe, so I dub this style the 'zine librarian.

 James made the jewelry from old wooden rulers. Style is about breaking the rules of fashion and wearing what you love.

 For the rest of the look, it's the autumn version of stripes and florals I have been loving this summer. I bought the shirt from goodwill a while ago. Knee socks from H&M the first time I went there in New York City, probably about 6 years ago or was it 10? Boots are Simple brand, I love them.
And the skirt was my big personal crafty project this summer. It's lightweight fabric from Steeb's grandma's stash of fabric. I folded it selvedge edge to edge.  Then I used elastic thread in my bobbin case and stitched about a dozen rows around the top. This makes the faux smocking and is all the shaping. Then I added a patch pocket and stitched up the side. Super simple.