Just My Imagination

For some reason I got up this morning and thought I heard on the radio that this was Sophia Loren's 70th birthday. I have been thinking about this all day. That makes her 9 years older than me. How could that possibly be? I just now remembered to look it up. She was born in 1934 making her 15 years older than me. Well, that is better. .... Still, when you think about it, 15 years. The older you get, the shorter a span of years seems to be. Am I right?

I am sitting here in my chair soaking my feet in a beautiful lavender soap water. It has been a very very busy few days. I made 11 noren curtains for the sushi restaurants. This project had to get done. I have had it a month.

Then last week, Julie presented me with her latest project. Only this one was not for the store. It was for her husband who is a drummer in Las Vegas. He landed a really prestigious part as Ringo Star in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. his outfit is very specific. All four of their outfits were very specific and individualized to their personalities. What we had seen in the internet was very "constume-y", cheap. He was looking for the real thing. She asked me for my help because of my experience. So, we began. She networked across the country to bring in just the perfect pink satin, the perfect trims, everything. What we couldn't get in the store, we depended on the vast collection of vendors that she had connections with. Everyone pulled through for her. What it says is that she is such a lovely person, that people are willing to bend over backwards to help her.

Hey, Monday and Tuesday I got up at 9:30 in the morning to get to the store to work on this project. That really says a lot about her. She created the shell. All the gold work. I created all the inner mechanics of the outfit. I made the pants, that is the only satin I touched other than installing the sleeves which she was more comfortable with my doing. OK.

The linings had to be detachable for cleaning. We chose bamboo fabric for this because it wicks moisture away from the body and it cools the body too. A good fabric and easy to work with. Snaps and hooks and buttons everywhere. This was all my installation. Underarm shields. I designed those specific. Lots of them, adding colored stitching to indicate front and back. Same with the boxer shorts that went into the pants.

Trims applied and removed because they didn't work. Julie did all of this. Waiting for the perfect one to come to the front.

At 4 o'clock, when it was done, it was absolutely perfect. Of course, no time to take pictures. Wrap it up and off to the airport. Pictures will come. It was fabulous.

While applying the last details, we were able to talk a bit about how wonderful it was to get to work together. We do that well. We supported each other, carried each other, understood what each other thought. We work very very well together. It was a total pleasure. As I was packing up to come home, I found a little card she left me, telling me how happy she was to know me. I know what she meant. I feel the same with her.

It was a great experience.

I go back into work today, Wednesday facing another deadline. I have just today to finish a shirt/coat for one of our vendors who will be attending "Quilt Market" this weekend. And because of my surgery, I have only today to finish it. Again, no pressure there.

This I can photo. The fabric is Robert Kaufman and has not been released yet. And it is going to be cute. You know, I could wear such a thing. I should just be daring. But I'm not. I am locked into what I wear and that is it.

Denise gave me a shirt she didn't want anymore becuase it was old and I opened the side seams a bit. But the shirt fits really well. I am just so used to wearing everything so baggy.

I am thinking of making changes this winter. I am getting a new mouth. So why not a new body!!

Falling Stars

I don't know what it means, but in the past two weeks I have seen six falling stars. Or are they called shooting stars. No matter. There they have been. How I love this time of year when the cool air sets in and I take out my sweaters and coats. I wrap myself in my shawl at night. I have turned on my heat finally but only for a short while, just to take the chill out of the air.

The leaves are beginning to fall. There is not the change of colors like in New England. But I think that is only because I am not surrounded by trees like I was back there.

I have created a new blanket edge for fleece which I will present to the store tomorrow for a demonstration and display. I'll have to write directions for a free hand out for the customers. It has a braided edge. It is just a tiny sample and I'll post pictures of a full size blanket if they approve of it. I might make a couple for Christmas presents this year. It is quite stunning. Much nicer than a fringed edge. Of course there is nothing like a blanket stitched edge. It is just different.

Work on my teeth is finally set. I have been to my dentist for a set of three impressions. Next Thursday he will be pulling all of the teeth out. The dentures will be finished and ready to set in. It's pretty exciting. Finally I will have my full smile back, my full expressions back. Due to medications, and a lack of saliva, my beautiful teeth have completely deteriorated. Sad. Now,my self-consciousness will disappear. It will be great. Worth the pain.

I know I have a lot of pictures to record here. Although I have been absent for months, I have been producing quite a few spectacular pieces. Summer is always difficult for me. I am not a summer person and usually isolate in these months. I hope to be back now. I just have to bring my camera to work with me.

My current project is in helping to make a Ringo Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart's Club Band costume for a production in Las Vegas. Julie is making the piece for her husband who is a drummer. It is quite a serious affair. What we have seen on the internet is either quite cheap or very expensive, and so we are constructing it ourselves to make something authentic. I know at some point I will be getting pictures. I am not actually doing the work. I am advising and will probably be involved in some of the inner mechanics. We have just a week to make this. Of course. I will keep you all posted on its progress. So far, my experience has been valuable. That is nice.

I also created a new soup. I call it my

Lemon Leaf soup.

2 Tb olive oil
1 onion, chopped large
2 Med potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 C veg or chicken broth
1 Lb baby spinach leaves, cleaned
1 bunch of parsely chopped
1/2 cabbage, chopped
1 bunch kale, spines removed, cleaned and chopped
1 bok choy, cut up
1 small squash, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 lemons, the peel grated, and the juice extracted

Heat oil in large pot and cook onions until translucent. Begin to add all the other ingredients with the broth. Add water if needed, but not too much.

When all ingredients are cooked and squash is tender, partly blend with an emulsion blender or put part of the soup in your blender. You want part of the soup to be whole and part of it to be thick and smooth. I also added some small cubed ham to this but you don't have to.

Salt and pepper to taste.

It really is a refreshing soup with the lemon in it. And all the green leaves are so good for you.

I hope to be making more entries.

See you all soon.