Learning to Ask

Jess W. in one of my zipper front corsets.

I've always had this notion that one isn't meant to brag about themselves, nor ask for help. No one ever really told me not to ask for help, and people always say, "let me know if you need anything" but for some reason I've always had a notion that I shouldn't ask for things. 

Last year I decided to step out of my comfort zone, put myself out there, and ask for things. The biggest thing that I have learned from this experiment in asking for things is that while yes, there is a chance that you won't get what you ask for, if you don't ask then it is a sure then. Another thing that I have learned is that I often get much more than what I asked, or even had in mind. 

So, surround yourself with wonderful, supportive, and positive people, and don't be afraid to ask.

Wow am I a neglectful blogger!

While I may have a wonderful sense of creativity, I have never been good at writing things down.

It's been nearly a year since I last visited this blog, and in that year a lot has changed. I will spare you all the boring details, and just say that I have ventured into a new and scary world of living for my art. 

I have also begun teaching classes. This new venture combines a lot of my passions. 

So if you are in the Cincinnati, or Northern Kentucky area, come check me out!

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Dementia is a Bitch

It all started with my uncle posting this picture with the comment, "sounds like something my dad would do." I smiled and felt reminiscent because, yeah it sounds just like Grandpa, but I wasn't prepared for my next thought, "I miss him"

You see, while Grandpa is physically with us, he has dementia and is not always mentally with us. 

When you have a relative with dementia, it feels like a form of death. The person you know and love disappears. They're body is still there, but you watch as their personality changes, everything that makes that person who they are in your mind, leaves. It's not Grandpa's face or figure I'll remember always, it's him choosing to play with the kids rather than have coffee with the adults, and building swings in the back yard, or the smart ass quibs he always had right at the tip of his tongue. Over the years, those things have slipped away. 

I can't help but feel sometimes like he has already died. I'm not sure if that will make it easier or harder to handle when he is gone, but there it is. 

Things I Did For Me

As I mentioned in my last post, 2013 was a year that I did a lot of things for myself. I bought a sewing/embroidery machine that cost the same as 1/2 a year's worth of rent for example. But one of the things I had the most fun with, and has been the most empowering has been the workshops with Cin City Burlesque. 

Well, for the first show I also forked out the extra cash and took advantage of a pre-show photo shoot. This was done by Jess W. Photography. The package included hair and make-up which was done by one of the lovely Cin City Burly Gals. Jess is an amazingly beautiful person with personality to match. I had so much fun chatting and giggling with these ladies before the show. 

If you ever have a chance to work with her I'd suggest that you do. The experience was everything I could have dreamed and more. You can find Jess here and get all the news from Cin City Burlesque here. 

Happy first Friday everyone! Should be back to sewing blogs soon!

New Year, No Regrets

Well, I started this blog with the intent to have a post once a week...that didn't go so well, looking back I can see that I struggled to make a post once a week. I look at the start of my poet shirt walk through and tend to kick myself for not taking more pictures when I make one of these shirts. The fact is, I've neglected my regular costume making about the same time as I started those posts. 

I could blame it on holiday madness, or the ending on the college semester, or being overwhelmed at the "bill paying job" but really those are only a small part of what I've put ahead of my sewing. 

As the year has slowly been coming to an end, I found myself doing more stuff for me, and only me. I had the stuff that I had to do, but in my free time I did the stuff that I wanted to do.  This is kind of a new thing for me. I fill my life with pressure from outside my control and with in, but for the past 3 months, I've been taking care of me. 

This did include completing my second workshop with Cin-City Burlesque. If you are in the area, I highly recommend these workshops, along with the fitness class that they do. This is a lovely bunch of ladies, all shapes and sizes, and full of positivity and love. The way these ladies empower themselves and encourage each other and all that they come into contact with is just inspirational. This is on my list to continue to participate in for 2014. 

So, I didn't make the deans list this year. So I skipped the summer term. So, I didn't make all of the costumes that I dreamed of, or finished the gifts I wanted to. So, I didn't get a promotion at work that was hinted to me. So my apartment looks like it is an overpriced storage unit. All of that doesn't really matter because I'm finishing the year the way I want to...with no regrets. I took care of me this year, and that's more important than anything else that I could have accomplished. 

Inspiration

I am currently enrolled into a burlesque workshop. This is my second workshop and I am loving every minute of my experience. One of the things that these workshops really play up to is my love for costumes. Neither of these workshops have required very intense costuming, but I can not help but let my mind play. 

So as the performance part of this workshop draws closer, I am scrambling to decide on my pieces. I have some ideas of some things I might make, and back ups in case they don't work or I run out of time. Either way, I think this is going to result in some fabulous creations. Perhaps almost as good as my sheep costume for Celtic days. 

Be careful what ideas you arm a Sewing Wench with. 

"Baaah"