wednesday wisdom.

(The Dowager Countess is my homegirl.)

ps. Season 3 Downton Abbey, you are dead to me.

You hear me? Dead.

A Week in Review

I seem to have disappeared for a week, huh?  Sorry!

The short story is, my brain is mush.  The long story is... somewhere on about December 14, I read a book that gutted me. Seriously. It was such a whining, ranting couple of days for me afterwards, that Kristine posted this pin in my honor.

Granted, she was ridiculing me publicly, but my legs are still longer, so I still win. If anyone's keeping score. (She is. The legs ALWAYS win. Booyah!)

Anywho.

Dec. 14: I read a book, was gutted and scarred for life, and in some really insane twist of fate I was struck silly by the most brilliant fiction idea ever.

Ok, so it probably wasn't brilliant.  It was totally self-serving and simple. It was still niggling in my head, poking at me to Just outline it, baby.  You know you want to. One little outline never hurt anyone...

You may or may not know this, but I've been working on a novel for the better part of six years.  (Technically, I've been working on twelve novels for the better part of twelve years, but who's counting).

Last year I refused to allow myself to work on ANYTHING ELSE until Novel A's first draft was finished.  The Stephen King rules of writing or whatever.  ANYTHING ELSE are known as evil plot bunnies in fiction-writing vernacular.  Personally, I call them book sluts. 

Dec. 15: I caved and started writing the simple, sweet story to patch up my heart, broken over the piece of emotionally manipulative trash I read the day before. (If you're still following my logic, yes. I'm a slut.)

The Past 3 Weeks : I wrote almost every day. It was easy. It was freeing.  It consumed most of my waking hours at home and some of my dreaming hours too.  What was intended to be a 10-15K word short story blossomed into a novella by two weeks time.  And I wasn't nearly done yet.

The Past 3 Days:  People. I have written a novel-length piece of fiction. I wrote 25,000 words in the past nine days. I have honestly lost my mind, because this puppy is never intended for publication anywhere. For one thing, it's too personal and for another, it's not that great, and for the most important other, it's a little scandalous.

(No I'm not giving you any juicy details.  Bite me, Kristine.)

I always thought this type of writing was a waste of time. 

I've had the biggest smile on my face for the past week because it has SO NOT BEEN A WASTE OF MY TIME.

Other tidbits from my life...

* I walked 5 miles this weekend but I skipped my hike today because of The Importance of Napping On Holidays.
* I ate four Chips Ahoy cookies this afternoon. They weren't as good as I remember.
* I forgot to have supper three days this week because WRITING.
* I haven't turned my sewing machine on in over a month. Mojo, why hath thou forsaken me?
* My sister is getting married next month and I need a dress.  Pattern suggestions? (afternoon wedding, conservatory, I don't think I'm in it. If I am no one's told me, so just a "guest" dress. I may have to play photographer. Bah.)
* I interviewed with a charity this weekend for a volunteer position, and it went really well. I was not nearly as dorky as my previous interviews. This is going in the "c'est la vie" column of my life, because I literally can't be anything other than what I was. Hopefully they get that.

I hope you all are hanging out in sewing blog land, having a bang up time and making loads of beautiful garments for me to peruse and slobber over.  I'm hopeful in another week I'll be back in the swing of things and maybe sewing, or blogging, or doing something that's not totally absorbed in this piece of fiction that totally stole my heart.

But, of course, then comes EDITING. (Not really. I'm not going to spend a buttload of time editing something that isn't going to be submitted anywhere.)

(famous last words)
 
PS...DOWNTON ABBEY.  PEOPLE. DOWNTON ABBEY IS BACK!!!  Shhhh. I'm still an episode behind. Don't spoil me.  But definitely expect fashion recaps later this week. Probs.

On the First Day of Christmas: Castiel

So it's not the first of December.  And it doesn't fit the song.  Or ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas.  Unless I continue to 21. 

"21 Chocolate Covered Cherries..."

I may actually do this.  It could be a new tradition.  A post a day at Christmastime!  ANYWHO.  This weekend, in spite of my very best intentions, I got NO sewing done.  (Tissue bodice admiring, yes).  That doesn't mean the weekend was totally wasted!  For example, yesterday I made another ornament for my tree.

May I present to you, Castiel, Angel of the Lord:

Since it's quite probable you have absolutely no idea who that is...Castiel is the angel on the tv show Supernatural.  His besties are Dean and Sam:

Dean and Sam need to be little clothespin ornaments too. Yes?

If you look to the right of Castiel on my tree, you might recognize those two... It's Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Complete with sideburns.  *swoon*

Or do you prefer Colin Firth? (Who doesn't?? No really.  I'm curious.  Who prefers the remake over the BBC Pride and Prejudice?  Anyone?)

Before Dean and Sam, I must, MUST, make Mary and Matthew:

*Swoon* again.

These are my favorite ornaments to put up every year.  I have 8 now, including little Castiel.  I used the templates from the Martha Stewart website.  There's also a video clip of the Christmas special segment where she and a coworker made the little ornaments.  One of my very favorite episodes of Martha Stewart; I still have it recorded on VHS!

I also made my Christmas cards this weekend and sent those off to the photo lab.  I love to send Christmas cards, even though I rarely get any in return. WHY don't people send cards anymore?  It's such a sweet little cheery envelope in my mailbox in December. 

You know what we should do??  We should have a bloggy Christmas card exchange.  Quick! Somebody make a yahoo group and we can all enter our mailing addresses and swap cards.  Let's do it! 

And now it's Monday again.  SIIGHHH.

Downton Abbey: Vtg Inspiration

Unexpected Snow Day today! Perfect opportunity to scour the interwebs for a good shot of this beautiful blouse that Mary wore last night:

 

I'm sure she's worn it before, but last night I got a good look at the shaped lace insertion at the shoulder, with teeny tiny tucks.  And that asymmetrical front!  Wow.  I love her eyelet-edged cami peeking through too. 

 

This one has had a good run so far in the series too.  It's pretty no matter how many times I see it. I really love the lace...is that filet lace?

 

 And all of the pulled-thread work that must have taken ages.  Beautiful.

 

Lu & I are really going to miss this show after next week!

the week in review...

Well... First I watched the entire first season of Downton Abbey.  How have I been missing this all this time??  PEOPLE.  You're supposed to CLUE ME IN.

I love Mary.  I loved to hate her at first...then I got to know her better and now she's my favorite.  I can't wait to see Season 2!  More on their fabulous fashions after I've had a chance to collect images of my faves.

Then I watched some Project Runway All Stars.

Kenley

Mondo

Michael

Austin

Yup, I broke my PR abstinence because so many of my favorites are there... Mondo, Michael, Sweet P, Kenley, Austin, Jerrell.  You know, I always loved April before, but I dislike her immensely in the 2 episodes of this All Star season.

Then I rewatched this season's episodes of Fringe because...  Peter and the gang return tonight!

Oh dear, how I've missed you.

It's the weekend!  I hope to do something productive this weekend.  Including working on a dress I've had in my head for a while, maybe one of these:

Butterick 5600

Butterick 5598

I've also been wanting to make some jewelry.  And I haven't written on my novel-in-progress in a few weeks.  The characters are starting to have conversations in my head throughout the day, which usually means they need to be taken for a spin.

That all sounds pretty ambitious though, so we'll see.  I'll be sure and keep you posted!