Recurring Kind

This painting was featured on this year's spring edition of my university's literary journal. It is called "Recurring Kind." Last summer I had these really awful recurring dreams about someone, and I discovered that if I painted sometime during the day I would not dream that night. So I painted a lot of little watercolors, and this is my favorite one.

Fashion vs. Function.

I'm not going to lie to you. I don't understand much about fashion. I'm sure that's quite obvious. I read fashion blogs, I research a bit online. I love looking at editorials. They're lovely, I know. But what I don't understand is where the line is drawn between fashion and function. When does it cease to be clothing and become only art? How cutting-edge can your clothing be before it verges on inappropriate? And by inappropriate I do not mean too sexy/revealing. I'm talking about the feeling we all get when an event is coming up and we look in our closets and say "What the hell am I going to wear?!"

If I'm going to be spending more than $50 on an article of clothing, I want it to be versatile in the extreme. I want it to be appropriate for more than one situation. I want to be able to wear it more than once. I want my clothing to be attractive and fashionable, of course, but I also want it to be functional and, more than anything, comfortable. I want my clothes to fit. I want my clothes to be long enough, short enough, to hit me in all the right spots and make me look good. I want a bit of stretch, because I am not a mannequin, I am a living moving human being.

So here's my point. I like to sew. I like to create my own designs and patterns. I like to look at fashion blogs for inspiration. But in the end, I am not creating art.

I am creating clothing.

Spring Green

I made this pale green dress out of a semi-sheer floral printed fabric. Because the material is so thin, it's a great dress for spring and summer weather! I was too lazy (and cheap) to double up the fabric on the skirt, but that's what slips are for! For the skirt I used a circle pattern with an elastic waistband. The upper portion was of my own design. The waistband is made of a white stretch knit fabric and is held on the side by hooks and eyes.

Strike a pose

Alex and I

My facial expression is oh so very lovely.

Ladies!

Left to right: Alex, Maureen, Hillary, Me, Elaine.

The three on the left are sisters. Would you ever have guessed that?

Awesome door that's way up off the ground. Who could pass up a photo opportunity like that?

Montello Clock!

Dress: Tailor Thrash, Sweater: Thrift store, Shoes: Keds, Sunnies: Forever 21, Pearls and brooches: Flea market

Photo Credit: Hillary and Pamela

There wasn't a whole lot to do when we visited Montello, Wisconsin, but taking pictures is always a lot of fun! And the weather was so lovely, so we all decided to wear skirts. I'd wear a skirt any day of the week if it weren't for bad weather. Spring, where are you??

I Just Want My Summer Back

These pictures are from the very beginning of last summer, hence why I am so alabaster white. I made this outfit for about ten dollars or so. The top is made from a stretchy knit fabric, and it is not attached to the skirt so I can wear it with jeans or other skirts. I made up my own pattern for it. The bottom is just a basic cheap calico print, and the band around the middle is solid red quilter's fabric to match the polka dots. There is a 7" red zipper on the side. I followed a simple pattern for the skirt. This was also the first time I ever tried pockets, and since I didn't follow a pattern for them it was pretty difficult. But they are very useful to have! It's hard to see in the first picture, but I've got my phone safely tucked away in one of them.

Trying to stand in the shade with my best friend Alex

(Oh jeez Meg, where does your shirt end and your skin begin? You're so pale it just all blends together!)

I have nothing against being pale, really. My boyfriend thinks it's lovely, but when the sun shines on me it does get a bit blinding, doesn't it? Do people still like to lay out during the summer next to the pool? Is anyone looking forward to that?

Shoes: Keds, Sunnies: Forever 21

This last picture is of me dancing with my friend's 4 year old daughter in a very goofy fashion. I really let my hair down, quite literally (bad joke bad joke). I might have been sipping a bit too much from my bright pink cup...

I know these pictures aren't very good, but maybe later I will post better ones with a tutorial, if anyone is interested. Just let me know!

And The Ripped Ones Say Goodbye

I am so excited for warm weather! I was never much of a winter person. Here are a few outfits inspired by my favorite sunny day shirt from H&M.

Shorts: Vintage, Shoes: Keds, Belt: Target

Skirt: H&M, Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Corduroy Jacket: Vintage, Jeans: Levi, Belt: Target, Shoes: Danskin

Fun fact, I used to be a dancer. I had to quit when I went away to college about three years ago. I took the taps off these shoes with a screwdriver and now I can wear them all the time!

These Shadows Take Care of Us

For my first post, I figured I'd just keep it simple. I'm hoping to use this blog to display things I have created in order to possibly inspire anyone who happens along my page. I like to sew, paint, and write, and I'm not very good at showing off things I make, so hopefully this page will give me a bit more confidence.

"I Asked You Sincerely"

Watercolor

By Meg