College Library & "Do" Decisions

The first half of this blog is way fast. I have decided on my new "do". See the photo. Gwen Stephani in her Marilyn style, but mine will be red. Now if I could just borrow her face & figure... :))








This Saturday morning, I woke early-ish at 8:00. During the school year, Saturday will be the only day I can sleep that late, so it allowed me to cast my thoughts ahead to the fall. Anyone who's been watching the weather of late knows that Ohio had a terribly hot July. So autumnal dreaming feels like relief.

Adding to my back-to-school thoughts was the slate grey sky and much cooler temperature this morning. That had me lacing up my sneakers to finally get in some real exercise. The recent heat indexes in excess of 105, 80% humidity and asthma just don't go together.

The hubster surprised me by wanting to tag along. My objective: The Jerome Library- I needed to re-activate my college ID for use as a library card. We shared a pleasant walk at a good pace to campus, and were happy to find that at least one wall of construction fence, which has been cordening off the library like Alcatraz, making it virtually inaccessible, has been moved. We had very little trouble making our way to the entrance.

This was completely unlike my experience just two days ago. That is when I was out walking from a commuter parking lot on the north side of campus (in the 105 heat, et al.) for over a half hour- unable to find a way past the maze of chain link to get into the place. Hating to admit defeat, I asked a landscape crew of students if they knew a way in. They did not, but did send me halfway around campus again before I determined it.

So today, we got there unscathed. We were a half hour early- the place wasn't yet open- so we sat on a nearby bench and enjoyed the cooler temperature, speculating on the purposes of the handful of students who kept arriving and trying the doors before they opened, and just being together. It was lovely. Once we could get in, I was told it would be easy to activate the ID. It isn't so easy when your Student ID number is so old that they can't find you in the system. So, I had to fill out a form that allowed them to enter me as a new student. Funny.

We were able to cut across campus much faster when we left and overall it made for a nice long stretch of the legs- which mine sorely needed.

How did you spend your Saturday morning?

Audrey Hepburn, Contact Lenses & Back To School Clothes... Oh My!

In another life, I was a costume designer. That was before the world fell apart and I spent months getting surgeries, and the last two years recovering.

If any of my old clients or colleagues happen by here: You all have my most sincere apology for dropping off the face of the earth without notice. I hope the work I did for you was fondly thought of. Please know that I have nothing but kindness in my memories, and sorrow & guilt for having to end a budding career, but it was for the best. In the end, illness made me stop, because nothing else would have.

Anyhoo- I was a costume designer for theater and film. In the "real world" I have never attempted to do more than make an odd piece of clothing for myself or some costumes for my daughter. Others have suggested I try to do a "collection", but it seemed pretentious, even for me. As my thoughts turn to walking back onto a college campus in the fall, I keep seeing myself dressed-- differently. Since I have no money, the only way this can happen is for me to rummage through what's left of my fabric remnants, buy a few notions (zippers & buttons), and make the clothes myself.

The nexus of this decision was a design for a black cotton skirt. I was in a mall last week (not to buy anything, but I had to be there). It's been a long time since I've been in a mall. I was walking behind a tiny woman who was wearing a skirt that was, to my mind, a work of art. It was made of a cotton fabric, printed with an abstract stained glass design. The thing that got me thinking was the hemline. It was a standard straight skirt, but the hem was covered in binding. It made the artistry of the skirt pop, giving a 'frame' to the print. And, it got me thinking...

I have this bolt of black cotton in the garage. There's a lot of it, at least five yards. I also have a few packages of wide seam binding. What if I made a 1950's inspired skirt: narrow with maybe some wide tuck pleating at the waist, falling into a bell just below the knee? I could add some heft to the bottom by binding the hem edge... And voila! The first piece of my own personal "Back To School" collection was designed.

Hot on its heels was an idea to convert my daughter's two A-line tanks into something "legal" for school. I am going to embellish them with ribbon-work embroidery and then tack them on to some inexpensive short sleeve tee shirts. This way, the few bucks I spent this summer will have life through the fall and into next spring at least. And, it will lend some much needed style to a child who thinks a sloppy over-sized tee shirt, sweatpants and flip-flips is fashion. She has requested I make her an updated version of a "feed sack dress" circa 1935. I have the cambric to do it. What can I say? She loved Kit Kitteredge.

The rest of this "collection" is yet to be born into completeness. I have somewhat hazy visions of Audrey Hepburn's turtleneck and boatneck tops, skinny black pants, full and pencil skirts, cardigans, colorful heels and ballet flats... Some I am capable of making. Others, I will shop thrift and clearance for. If I meet with success, I may post some photos here.

The other tipping point of this style change is that after three looonnnggg years, I will finally have contact lenses again in the fall! I've worn contacts for nearly 30 years, so it has been killing me to walk around in glasses. I have been scrimping & saving pennies for this. Crazy, you may think, but I feel as though part of my personality has gone missing. I am not a glasses girl, unless it works style-wise, and most of the time it does not.

The last item of what I can see here is becoming a major make-over for me is a new hairstyle. I've known for some years now that I am in a rut with my hair. The same style for damned near 20 years. I think along with the rest of the "new me", I will try a slightly darker color and a whole new 'do'. Any suggestions on cut are welcome. Just know I won't go short again- I look like my mom when my hair is short. I love her, but I don't want to look like her. :)