My Uncle told me once there were 3 rules for a great opera:

I was just gifted with a big bag of sweet chestnuts that a friend of a friend harvested from their tree. With visions of marron glacé in my head I set about shelling the windfall only to discover they are at least 60% infested with chestnut weevils. I'm trying to decide if it's worth trying to go through the rest of the bag to salvage what I can...chestnuts this fresh are pretty much non-existent in local grocery stores. SO BUMMED.

jenthompson makes a good point for us non-costume college folks - instead of feeling envious over not attending, I'll make a stab at some actual content for a change. Since she also just posted some Harry Potter related awesomeness, I thought I'd write about an annual event my sister and I organize with our group of friends. Each year we pick a theme, decorate, create a special menu, the works.

Last year we set up a potions lab with instructions for three "signature potions." Each ingredient was decanted into containers (we had been saving and sterilizing bottles and jars for months) labeled with potion ingredient names. Each guest was invited to mix their own potion, but no one knew what type of drink they'd end up with. Along with cocktails, we set up cheese fondue and broth fondue "cauldrons." After all the work we'd done on potion ingredients cutting up fruit, veggies, and bread was wonderfully low-effort. For dessert, we served Thai iced tea topped with a chai spice infused culinary fog and cupcakes.

We had so much fun we didn't take pictures - which I didn't notice until the day after during cleanup! This year's party is going to be a small affair, but the food will be good, and hopefully I'll remember to pull out my camera.

I've been feeling inspired by koshka_the_cat's recent posts about muffs. While I love the idea of Spoonflower samples, I felt like I could do things more frugally with supplies I already had on hand...so after doing an experiment today, I thought I'd toss this idea out for anyone who feels like a DIY project.



Materials:
Freezer Paper
Fabric (I used some silk habotai from dharmatrading.com)
an Ink Jet printer
Standard Ironing equipment

Method:

I tore a strip of fabric about 8.5 by 11 inches long, and tore a piece of freezer paper about the same size. I used my iron on the dry setting and ironed the plastic side of the paper to the fabric until they were fused. Then I trimmed my fabric/paper to exactly 8.5 by 11 to fit in my printer.

I did a quick Internet search for a picture I wanted to use, did some resizing, and sent my freezer papered fabric through my ink jet printer. After a couple false tries, I found that changing my printer settings to high quality photo printing on glossy paper got the best results. Without the glossy paper setting, the printer wouldn't grab my fabric, but I'm guessing if I used a less slippery fabric a regular paper setting could work.

I don't know how the ink will stand up to water, but I'm thinking a good heat set with an iron, or setting with vinegar might be a good thing.

To the Mount Vernon 18th C. Market Faire? I'm on the fence about going this weekend and I'm wondering if it's worth the hour+ car ride.

I know some folks on my f-list are hardcore tv show fans, so I'm asking for a little help. I just finished a season of tv and am experiencing the worst post-season depression I've felt since the end of Harry Potter (books, not movies). Any suggestions for distracting myself?

I recently agreed to help one of my students with a costume for her school play. We're using a Big 3 pattern, and she's bigger than the biggest size on the pattern.... I know how to do the usual slash and spread method, but it occurs to me I've never enlarged a princess seamed bodice before. Is it just business as usual, or is there something I need to be on the lookout for to keep the seams from getting weird? My current plan is to just enlarge to the largest of her measurements, and take in everywhere else like I would for a non-princess seamed pattern.

Any comments or advice would be greatly apprecitated!!!

I can't commit to posting these every day of the month, but I'm feeling particularly buoyant today:

1. I was just informed I won a silent auction for some vintage Hobbit prints at my thrift store. Yay for creative gift giving!
2. My little sis just texted to say the film project I've been helping her with got a "guaranteed A" from her professor...the project's not even finished yet, and it's not due for another week; he was looking at her rough cut.
3. Making a video of my 4-year-old nephew singing Silent Night on my iPad. The fact that it was so easy makes me feel so much better after wrestling with the decision to buy it.

Your job is now your Time Lord name. The last digit of your phone
number is the current regeneration you are in. The nearest clothing item
to your right is now the most notable item in your current wardrobe.
The last person you texted is your current companion. Your favorite word
is now your catchphrase.


I can't resist this one...

I am The (Voice) Instructor, 2nd regeneration. My notable wardrobe item is a raincoat with orange lining, my little sister is my companion. While I don't have a favorite word, perse, I have a tendency to call students for their lesson by saying "Entrer, mes amis." Yes, it's plural. I'll pretend it's just quirky.

http://youtu.be/wE1tUYJpACc

GAH!!!!!!!

I am on a serious new-supply fast while I take some inventory of my craft/fabric stash. I'd like to do some millinery, but realized I have no buckram. I DO however, have a TON of really light weight crinoline. I bought it when I was doing some ribbon flower work, and would use the crinoline as a backing to mount groups of flowers on.

Has anyone tried fusing/quilting with rows of stitching/gluing/general layering of this type of material for hat making successfully?

For the sake of being completely clear - the crinoline I have is like a super light-weight buckram, it has a pretty open weave and seems to have been stiffened with some sort of starch/paste. It's not rigid like buckram, but it's definitely stiff. It is not tulle, and it's definitely woven.