Bobbins, Pedals, and Feet

So, after about a month of noodling around and generally not knowing what to do with my free time (I'm not used to free time!) I bought a sewing machine. I must say, it's pretty awesome...it can do a bajillion stitches, it threads itself, and I get to throw around nifty words like "bobbin". No, my purchase was not a result of nesting urges (as one friend suggested), but rather my reaction to the fabulous, but unaffordable, clothes at Anthropologie, a store I love.

As I admired the embroidered skirts and bright dresses, I began to imagine myself making and designing these things myself. So I ordered a sewing machine and began looking for fabric. I finally found this craft store called Craftorama that sells a lot of bright, hip, cotton fabrics. I bought a couple of yards, took some measurements (I kept asking Chris, "Is my waist here or here?"), and drafted a pattern. I must say, the skirt turned out pretty great apart from some threads out of place and a few uneven stitches, but that's only noticeable if you look closely.

The sewing machine allows me to be self-sufficient, thrifty, and creative. I've really gotten into fabrics and fabric design. Because of my search for fabric, I've discovered designers like Lotta Jansdotter and Anna Maria Horner (who designed the fabric I'm using for my skirt). I want to do some designing myself and perhaps learn to do some screen printing or something to transfer the designs onto fabric and then use the fabric to design and make my own clothes.

Oh, one more thing, I've totally gotten into looking at these street fashion sites. There are photos from cities all over the world of people wearing unique, funky outfits, often that they design and make themselves! I love that fashion can be both creative and functional. Anyway, these are some of my favorite sites to check out:

http://www.hoyfashion.co.uk/
http://facehunter.blogspot.com/
http://streetpeeper.com/

~Ann Marie

Quick Summary of Events since May

1) Ann Marie moved to Austin!!
2) we moved all our stuff (including the piano, washer, and dryer...whew!) into our happy new apartment
3) Chris almost backed over some guy with the Uhaul
4) we ate some dim sum
5) Ann Marie learned how to use the bus
6) the fabulous Shena took us to the San Antonio Zoo where we saw some awesome hippos, flamingos, and monkeys and got pooped on by some birds
7) checked out the eco fair and farmer's market
8) we considered getting a turtle together but decided we weren't ready for that type of commitment
9) we made some play-doh things
10) Chris got pneumonia
11) while waiting for the bus one day, Ann Marie saw a man clad in nothing but a white thong and a giant red backpack walking his bike down the drag (main street at UT)
12) we saw "Hot Fuzz" at the Alamo Drafthouse
13) we went on a 4 billion mile walk along the Colorado River and checked out the capital (Ann Marie was feeling cooped up because of several rainy days in a row
14) enjoyed yummy food at the Thai Kitchen, Chuy's, Madame Mam's, Whole Foods, Which Wich,
15) Chris got a solar backpack
16) Ann Marie began her quest for a realistic hobby
17) went shopping at lots of funky, Austin stores
18) Chris invented the shoulder dance

~Chris and Ann Marie