May 27, 2013 6

The Dresses

By in crochet, making stuff is good

As per request, the dresses. I apologize for the Instagramification of it all, but I’m 100% iPad these days and can’t be bothered to pay for the good photoshop app. I do not have a picture of #1 because it was a test run.

The pattern is called The Staple Dress, and it’s designed by April Rhodes. She’s amazing and awesome. I’ve fiddled it a bit to fit me better, I have a long torso and stubby legs, so I dropped the pockets 1 1/2″. I also just sew around, I’m not terribly great with patterns or instructions so I just sewed for armpit to hem, around the pockets, all in one swoop. I also did a blind hem on these three because its challenging and looks great.

#2 Made in a Libert Lifestyle print, the fabric washes up really nicely. It’s a little lighter than normal quilting cotton. I love this one, it’s classic and pretty. It has bright red print (also Liberty) pockets and neck/sleeve binding. I cut the neckline down an inch+ from the shoulder seams so my giant noggin would fit through better. I wear a size M, I’m almost 5’10″ and weigh 150lbs.

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#3 Made in a feather print by Martha Negley. I made this one short, it’s just a top, because I only had so much fabric and I was having the itch to cut and sew. I like it, but no pockets.

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#4 Made in a lovely Japanese style fish print. I got this fabric at a quilt store here in Toronto that I’d never been to before but the owner knew who I was, which made me laugh and feel at ease. I was just about to leave empty handed-I really wanted a yellow or pink staple-when I saw this print and went for it. The pockets and binding are a different colourway of the feather print, in mustard, because fish and feathers are poetic together. I LOVE this dress. The awesome part is that I started work on it quite early in the day and accidentally cut two fronts!! Ack! I made it work, though, just cut the front (front?) about an inch down and cut an extra long binding and it all worked out beautifully. Clearly a simple, perfect, pattern that works for my limited garment making skills!

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Thank you April for making me think I can sew garments!

May 17, 2013 11

Sewing day

By in clothes, making stuff is good

So I finally got glasses. I had a pair years ago, picked while drunk and lost while drunk. They’d never been replaced because they were so expensive I thought all glasses were out of my financial reaches. So I asked for them for my birthday because reading was getting to be stupid.

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That’s me, today.

I’m working on a dress for myself. It’s an easy pattern, the staple dress by April Rhodes who we met at camp, fell in love with, and I was tempted to kidnap her and take her home with me. Lord knows she is small enough. Anyway, my first one will be done soon.

I guess this was more about glasses than sewing.

May 12, 2013 11

Bad Endings

By in friends, love

This is all I’m going to write about the last 2 months.

A long time ago, 6 years, when I first got back together with Shannon, a lot of people weren’t terribly thrilled. My best friend at the time was particularly unhappy about it, she had been around during the first break up and she knew, deep down, that my relationship with Shannon would “end badly”. She said that out loud to my face. Such hurtful words that had haunted me since I heard them.

And how right she was, what a bad ending. Possibly the worst ending? I’m sure she’s proud, she sure told me.

She wins.

Anyway. It’s been really awful. I miss Shannon all the time, I miss his humour and love and stories about rockets and his smells. I miss his beard and his homoerotic tattoo. I miss finding beard hairs everywhere. I miss him constantly encouraging me to work hard, follow my dreams, and be strong. We are at the 8 week mark and I’m starting to heal but it ain’t easy. The apartment we shared is still full of art and all kinds of business that is just a constant reminder of him, day in, day out.

The good news is that I won’t be here forever. I’m no longer tied to this area because it’s close to the pharmacy that has his medicine. I’m no longer tied to this city because it’s where his doctors are. I can go anywhere, I can do anything, it’s a big, wide open world and it’s all mine. I don’t want to be the Yoko Ono to his John Lennon and I know that he wouldn’t have wanted that for me either.

Mostly I want to thank all the kind, generous, thoughtful, people out there. I have received so many beautiful emails, phone calls and visits from old friends and new, strangers, fans, family, artists and bodymod practitioners. And all the money donated to my paypal has gone into a trust fund for Ari, every penny. Her post secondary education is definitely covered savings are looking good. In my dreams she goes into science, researching genetic diseases, and finds a cure for all myopathies. Of course she can do whatever makes her happy, she is a Larratt, she will be successful at anything she tries. And she will be loved by everyone that comes near her, she’s a wonderful girl.

The list of individuals I need to thank publicly goes like this (and if I missed you, I apologize, my brain is still flying at half mast): mum, dad, Megan, Kathy, Devon, Ashleigh, Libs, Michelle, Saira, Michael, Kiran, Corrie, Ryan, Molly, Ryan, Amber, Marty, Ashley, Scott, Shane, Jovanka, Marc, Nicole, Gillian, Jill, Badur, Clive, Kerrick, J.J., Sheri, Jana, Jason, Chris, Dave, Therasa, Gillian, Julia, Stephanie1, Stephanie2, Abbie, Anna, Terri-Lyn, Joe, Danny, Jim, Trudy, Richard, Jill, Holly, Collen, V. The love and support, the groceries and drinks, the open ears and advice that you guys have given me is hugely appreciated. I love you all.

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March 16, 2013 49

Thank you

By in love, Uncategorized

I will write more when the shit has been cleared from the fan but I really wanted to let everyone know that you’re being heard. I have read every kind email and message and I promise to reply to each one when things calm down a little. And an especially big thank you for all the financial donations, it makes the future a little less daunting.

Be kind to each other, hug more, laugh more, take the time to visit a friend or relative that has fallen off your radar. Spread love around and stay strong.

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January 2, 2013 9

It’s still Wednesday

By in friends, love, work

I was sent this picture today and thought I should share it because we look so adorable in it. Me and my employer, Therasa. I’ve worked for her for more than 5 years now and most days feel like I am the third sister she never had (and realistically would probably hate me if I were, haha!). She is kind and funny and is a great distraction from days when my real life is getting me down.

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It’s pretty obvious I adore her.

I’ll post a picture of my haircut as soon as a decent picture of me is taken (this one is about 2 months old).

December 18, 2012 4

More about the new space

By in Art!, daily grind, work

Here are a couple more pictures that I posted on Instagram but probably need a more permanent home.

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My sewing area. I finally did a little Xmas sewing a couple days ago, that felt good.

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This is the other window, it’s in the middle of the south facing wall, between the previous window I posted and my sewing area.

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Nail art, across from the couch. I want it moved to the right another foot but that can wait.

I actually did a bunch of work on the space today, hung a ton of paintings and art, stashed what isn’t going to be displayed up in the loft, sorted out a pile of boxes, and organized storage. I also did a mountain of laundry, all folded and put away, went grocery shopping, made dinner, and swept. I spend a LOT of time sweeping here, the concrete floor is crumbling in spots and there is dust all the time. And the kitty litter is in the bathroom so that’s always a mess. It’s coming together and we are getting used to the noises and temperatures of a new home.

Tomorrow we are going to see The Hobbit.

December 13, 2012 3

Moving on

By in a good day, daily grind, love

Shannon and I moved on December 1. We actually traded spaces with a cooperative circus school, we went from about 3,500 square feet to about 1,000 square feet and the transition has been difficult and cathartic. We got rid of mountains of stuff, not only ours but furniture from the woman who had our old space before us. We hadn’t gotten rid of it because there was so much room, why bother? Our books got pared down from about 12 full cases to less than 3. We also sold and gave away lots of tools and art, art supplies and clothing.

Our new space is wonderful, full of natural light and I sure do like that. Still lots of room for suspensions There are issues that are taking time to get used to, the radiators are crazy loud and there is no escaping them, for instance. Our new bathroom only has a shower stall and I find it hard to navigate. There is very little in terms of storage and after years of unlimited space, that’s a funny one to suck up. I’ll also be using a laundromat for the first time in 4 years, I hope I survive.

Anyway. It was the worst move ever, in so many ways. I’m eternally grateful to our friends that helped out, especially Dave and his room mate, and Badur who always comes through. I’m also relieved that Shannon survived it all, I’d had my doubts leading up to the day but he seems so be in such better spirits lately, that’s encouraging.

When I’m feeling a little more settled, maybe in January, I’ll have an open house and invite everyone over.

Windows-good.

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October 10, 2012 8

Anxiety

By in hmmmm, making stuff is good, seriously?

My best friend and I have opened an etsy shop. We had been talking about collaborating for a long time and finally came up with a name, a logo, and stock. For some reason, however, I find myself completely unable to actually put my baby quilts in the shop. I have no real excuse for this, I’m sure it’s making my friend angry, but I just…can’t do it. In an ideal world all I would have to do is make the quilts and maybe take the pictures, and someone else would write a clever description, decide on a price, upload it all to etsy, field any and all questions, and deal with the post office. It sounds so stupid, in my head, out loud, and especially written down.

It takes me back to when I was in school and didn’t do homework or projects. Or practice music, or try at all at gymnastics. The only thing I’ve ever done that made me feel proud and brave was running the 100m sprint in grade 7, I came in first place. That is the first and last time I can remember feeling confident.

I promise, none of this is intentional, I hate it more than anyone who I’ve pissed off, I assure you. I just really, really, don’t want people looking at me, judging me, thinking about me. Maybe that makes no sense, especially with writing a blog that’s named after me, but there it is.

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You should buy the magic zigzag pillows, all of them, they are seriously fucking amazing.

September 28, 2012 3

Old dog, new tricks

By in making stuff is good

There’s this old footstool here, it’s incredibly ugly but a decent shape, so I’ve decided to recover it. Re cover. Which is it? I got some very awesome fabric and what I’m doing is called free motion quilting. You drop your feed dogs (the little teeth on your sewing machine that keep things flowing) and just sorta slide things around. I’m new to this, it seems that there is a bit of practice requires, but so far I’m very happy with the results. Not perfect but I’m digging the scribbled look.

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I was trying to go around the edges, haha. I’ll update footstool status as I get more finished.

September 20, 2012 7

Because no one asked

By in Art!, crochet, making stuff is good

I picked up 3 fat quarters of the new Heather Ross fabric, Nursery Versery, at The Workroom yesterday. Heather Ross is possibly my very best fabric designer and every time I look at the back of my green quilt I wish I’d saved some of her Far Far Away 2 line. Then I remember that it probably would have wasted it anyway and I’m glad there’s a big chunk to look at every night. Last night I looked around online and found some patchwork bath mats and I thought, hey, I could do that.

Then I thought, hey, I could do that with one fat quarter. Ok, two. The fq I used is one of the cheater prints, fakey patchwork. I cut that into 5″ squares, 12 of them. Then I dug through my scrap stash and pulled out various solids and prints and I very nearly used some vintage sheet squares from Ari’s Traveller quilt (the yellow and blue is from that, the light purple from my sister’s hst quilt!), then I dug through my pink pile and found this special circle print that Libs gave me and it seemed perfect. I used an old yellow towel for the back. The mats I found online didn’t use binding but I’m a weirdo that likes binding so I pieced together some yellows from my log cabin and voila!

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The binding is pretty brutal so if you’re ever visiting, don’t look too closely. I was going to use this opportunity to try out some free motion quilting but it’s so daunting I just went with white thread in the ditch and then straight lines of blue, pink, green, and orange.

So, who wants one? These might wind up on etsy.

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