When real things happen to imaginary people

Today was busy. In addition to brunch with fabulous people, today was the big supply run for Mourning Market items. Blick art supplies, two thrift stores, Marshall's, Michael's ... I'm sure I'm forgetting somewhere.

Anyhoodle, I now have 8 pairs of blanks to make Cranky!Bloomers!! I have teacups to paint! I have books to make roses from! But it was a lot of running around, and now I am going to fall over. And watch episodes of True Blood with the Infamous BlueJay and Heather, because that's how we decompress around here.

The thrifting Powers That Be withheld their favor today. Okay, sure, I found a pair of pinstriped PVC trousers from Lip Service, and two tea cups with heart-shaped saucers, but did I find an ivory wedding dress at a reasonable price? Oh no, I did not. If I had realized LAST WEEKEND that I needed one, I probably would have found one. Hmmph.

I wonder if I can sweet-talk maiaarts or my Dad into running to St. Vinnie's tomorrow? Is it worth it? Or should I just bite the bullet and make a long, vaguely Victorian-ish skirt from the bits and bobs of ivory fabric I have around. Questions, questions.

You people with your "pix or it didn't happen!" Sheesh. Anyway, I will take a photo of the rest of the Goodwill loot later on - I have to start getting ready to go hit some more thrift stores with maiaarts' hubby. Thrift Store Powers That Be, I beseech you to help me find good stuff!

But here are the Fluevogs. UK size 3, so a US size 5, I think?

The Value Village in Edmonds (21558 Highway 99), as of today, had a bunch of interesting black cotton blouses (that were not quite Victorian-ish enough for me, but would be perfect for dressier corpgoth wear), some cute lace dresses (very 30s looking), and a vintage parasol with a black canopy in perfect condition. Yes, I passed over the parasol, because I realized my parasol collection is ... well, I don't really need another, and if I DO decide I need a new parasol in my life, I'm saving my pennies and buying the Signature Bella in b&w.

Now, back to writing and chores. (One of which is now "stain removal on the vintage pink & white satin, giant poof skirted 80s prom dress".) That will be transformed into a lovely ruffled skirt for me, oh yes.

I just got done dismantling a dark purple cotton velveteen duvet cover, which I purchased a few months ago at the Goodwill outlet for under $15. Next I need to pin and cut out pattern pieces. Then there's a dye bath, and eventually it will become a black velvety, ruffly skirt. Yes, I make skirts from duvet covers and sheets. Thrift stores are wonderful.

Yesterday, I went for a couple of walks, had delicious ice cream with a shot of espresso over it, browsed a local thrift store* but escaped without purchasing any clothing, and started taking photos of the clothing I'm planning on selling**.

Today involves coloring my hair, seeing caliban1227 for a little bit, hanging out with BlueJay this evening, WORKING ON THE NEXT GOTHIC CHARM SCHOOL POST NO REALLY I MEAN IT, and job hunting. Man, I am so sick of job hunting. Part of today's job hunt is going to include contacting Volt; while I'd rather find something full-time, I would not say no to a contract position.


I must finish my tea, and then walk away from teh interwebs so I can go apply hair dye. No applying hair dye near the laptop, no. A bad idea, that.

*Attention Seattle-area steampunk ladies: the Crown Hill Value Village has a bunch of jackets, waistcoats, and boots that would work for steampunk, all in colors I won't wear. (As in, not black or pink.)


**I spent an hour and a half taking photos and writing down measurements, and there's still a large-ish pile waiting to be photographed. To say nothing of the shoes. And YES, I am going to be selling the bat shoes.

It started out being a little dubious; I was supposed to meet up with weaselmom for brunch and then a day of thrifting. However, weaselmom suffered a catastrophe on Saturday evening, (send good thoughts her way, gang, because she needs 'em!), so Plans Obviously Changed.

stroppy_baggage was not thrilled with the idea of taking me thrift shopping, but he knew I had my little black & pink heart set on it, so off we went. The Crown Hill VV didn't turn up much (a dress that I need to change the neckline on, a couple of sewing patterns), and was filled with grouchy people. This did not Bode Well. Undaunted, we headed to the giant Goodwill downtown, where I found black-with-pink-piping satin pjs; a black velvet dressing gown; and a very cute (and brand new!) Victorian-esque cotton velvet jacket (from the Gap's brief flirtation with Victorian Gothic last fall; none of the ones I tried on fit properly at the time, but now? A size 12 fits, and beautifully).

That was not the best thing we found there, tho'. No, that honor goes to stroppy_baggage, who wandered off into the toy section, and came back out holding a bear, which I promptly snatched out of his hands with a squeak of "Murphy!" You see, he had managed to find a bear that is an EXACT twin to one of my oldest stuffed animals. Way back in 1979, I asked Santa for a Gund bear. Santa, being a very nice guy, gave me one. Murphy the bear went just about everywhere with me for a couple of years. (And yes, those of you who can do math: I was 11, and felt no qualms about carrying around a stuffed bear. Have I introduced you to clovisdvlbunny? Well, then.) Murphy (and his cousin Gunderson, who joined the family at Christmas in 1980), have been with me ever since. For a while, they stayed upstairs and guarded my altar, but then decided they wanted to hang out on the couch with the tribe of stuffed monsters.

The bear that stroppy_baggage found looks exactly like Murphy did, when Murphy was brand-new. This bear obviously had lived in someones collection since 1979 (the date on the tag), never being held, never being carted around by an eccentric child, never having vampire stories read to it in the middle of the night ... you get the idea.

His name is Dearby. He is currently sitting on the couch with Murphy, Gunderson, and the tribe of fuzzy monsters. He had an exciting afternoon of being taken to B&O Espresso for strawberry tart and going shopping at Pretty Parlor (where I found a new pink fluffy petticoat). For the record, I still have no qualms about wandering around while carrying a stuffed bear.

(Oh, and as a final treat to the day, stroppy_baggage gave me pink roses. I am not kidding when I say it was a Very Good Day, and I hope it is the template for how this coming week will go.)