faith … family … fashion
March 08 2010 0
“In times like these … you need to make happy clothes.”
psst! I’m in love with the golden dress that shows up at about 1:30. Yum!
“What is important from my point of view is that the woman knows that the power of her femininity today is more important then ever.”
Oscar de la Renta
I agree. Androgyny in fashion should be out lawed. I love the return to a more traditionally feminine look.
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February 23 2010 2
I’ve been working on a project I wanted to start when I was still a girl. There is a lot to do and learn so in moments of clarity, I’m eating away at it bit by bit. One sweet bite at a time. It’s good because it has helped me get on with my life.
As work on the project, I’ve spent the last couple months submerged in fashion. I’ve watched Project Runway, checked out armfuls of fashion books from the library, surfed the web and gone through more than a little paper capturing my ideas. I’ve got goodness going on – at least as far as I’m concerned.
In my fashion research travels I stumbled on WWD.com the other day. A shot from Carolina Herrera’s Fall 2010 Collection on the front page caught my eye. I noticed WWD had a highlight video of the collection on the runway with snippets of an interview with her.
The focus of her collection: very simple lines with one important detail. Yes! She’s speakin’ my language! Add relatively modest necklines, long skirts and hats and it’s a winner as far as I’m concerned. Excellent!
While I am not in love with every piece for various reasons, I do like them all. This is the first modern runway show ever that I have nothing but goodness to share. More please?
Did you look at any of the collections? And I’m curious, who are some of your favorite designers – modern or vintage? And why? I’ve turned up a couple that surprised me. How about design details? I’m completely in love with this style gathering! (Which I thought was called ruching, but now I’m not so sure. Oh well, more research.)
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February 21 2010 0
Earlier this week I woke up humming a tune. I always find it weird to wake up humming a tune when I know I haven’t heard the song in months or more than a couple times at most.
But then, everywhere I’ve turned in the last couple days, there was the song! I know I’ve heard it at least 6 times “coincidentally” – in the bizarrest places, like the grocery store. Mind you, before this week, I hadn’t heard it once in months. God’s messin’ with me.
But messin’ is good.
Messin’ means God is still there and pursuing me with his unfailing love.
During the last 20 months, there have been days that I’ve felt so far from God. Abandoned at times, actually. I thrashed at the whole Footsprints “God is carrying you” notion. Carrying me? Bah humbug, I haven’t moved an inch. God benched me and I’m sitting here in the dugout with a bad view of the umpire’s bee-hind. (And a really bad sports metaphor.)
I relate to Margaret Jensen when she shares her cancer journey in All God’s Children Got Robes. During the early days of recovery she questions God’s promise that “In my weakness, I am strong.” She felt weak, helpless and sadly lacking in the victorious promises of Scripture that she had memorized throughout her life. But what I’m remembering that she didn’t mention is…
I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
The song? Quite appropriate for this time in my life. Beautiful One by Tim Huges.
Why yes, yes He is beautiful.
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February 19 2010 6
Hello. Remember me? I used to blog about sewing and Christianity and frugal stuff that makes life better. You don’t remember? Really, I did. Honest. I have a whole blog archive to prove it – or I might not remember myself…
Since I’ve fallen off the face of the earth, again, I thought you might like to know a bit of what I’ve been up to before I get back to “regular” (which is like “normal” e’hem) posting.
October and November staggered along in a blur. We had wonderful visits with family and a trip to Washington D.C. for the Solar Decathlon and some Smithsonian-ing. We (I!!!) wanted to see the First Ladies’ Dress display at the Museum of American History, but the traffic was horrible and everyone was exhausted so we skipped it.
December was good to me. I got some projects caught up around the house. The guys were away for almost two weeks so with just Ariana and I, I found I focused better with less chaos and lots of sleep. It was terrific! Without any of the mental work of homeschooling, I felt like a million bucks. Then January hit and poof! So much for my return to awesomeness.
Stepping in to January was like driving into a brick wall at 90 miles an hour. December a year ago my neurologist told me he really felt that my brain injury was temporary. But. He went on to say that if it was still around at the 18 month mark, it would likely be permanent. January 2010 was 18 months since the accident. While I’ve had stretches of greats days and months of awful ones, my core symptoms have never disappeared.
I’m really glad God inspired me to read Margaret Jensen’s books in December. I desperately needed the reminder of how God works so I could cope with His plans for me and the future. While I struggled and thrashed spiritually, God was gracious to put a brain trauma survivor in my path. After 8 years with severe brain trauma, wacky neurologists, awful doctors and digging for answers, she got her memory back. She’s given me some terrific resources, survival tips and pointed me towards help.
February? zzzzzz zzzzzz I’ve slept most of the month – even when I was awake. Seriously. About 3 days ago my brain finally woke up and decided that it had lots of energy and vim and vigor again. It’s weird. I can’t describe it. My family just chalks it up to another day with Mom’s Missing Marble Moments in Brain Trauma Land. ( I could write comedy… if I could only remember the bizarre things that come out of my mouth.)
And there you go. Nothing exciting. How about you? Have you done anything notable in the last 5 months?
Have a terrific weekend!
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December 31 2009 6
On New Year’s Eve in 1999 I vividly remember making the motions of reading. It was about 10pm and I was wondering if the world was going to come to an end. And if everything was as bad at it was supposed to be, would things be back together enough to find a midwife to deliver Baby Number Three by the end of May? aaah!
Pregnant women obsess about the craziest things. You know, having someone competent to deliver the baby, running water and street riots. (We were living in the largest city in Northern New England at the time, so it wasn’t completely unfounded…) I know, I was completely irrational.
Needless to say, I didn’t party like it was 1999. Mostly I was freaking out (albeit internally) that the guys were trying to watch the ball drop on the Internet when we should have had the computers safely off and been in the basement with pillows over our heads. Or something. Radical. How about you?
So, does anybody else find the last ten years a blur or is it just me? I think I might be getting old. e’hem
Anyway, it’s that time again. Have you got your list? Until Tuesday, I actually forgot about making resolutions for the new year. Oh yeah. Oops. It’s bizarre what I do and don’t remember and when. After further consideration, here’s what I came up with:
Redefine normal. Yes, I know normal is only a setting on the washing machine. How about “reestablish a functional rhythm”? Notice I said functional? I miss functional. After a massive curriculum change, we pretty much have our groove back with homeschool. Now on to homekeeping, sociality and R&R besides napping from mental exhaustion. Next, the world! bwah ha haaa… Or something like that.
Put out an APB on the missing pieces of my brain. For 17+ months everyone has been telling me “this is temporary”. I’m beginning to make statements like “Define temporary. I’m not so sure our definitions match.” I go to the neurologist, again, next week. Should be endless fun to see where it goes from here.
Find a women’s Bible study or prayer group. I haven’t had a cozy group of girls since we left for Fargo – 7 year ago. While I’ve been in and out of small groups since and see one of My Girls almost weekly, it’s not the same. I miss it.
SEW! I haven’t done anything of consequence since August when I recreated Cinderella’s pink ball gown for a friend’s daughter. Poor Ana needs a new wardrobe. She shot up another 2 inches in the last year. I also found a local seamstress who will help me create slopers so I can do some sewing for myself. I just need to call her and schedule the appointment. And all my new birthday sewing books are sitting, lonely, on the shelf. I hear them sigh and call my name every time I walk past.
Other assorted stuff for the New Year that is likely to change and subject to mental status but begging to be done: paint my outdoor claw foot bathtub, finish the other 8 boxes in my 10 box project, finish painting in the house where I left off 3 years ago, paint the dining room china cabinet, master the other 2 books in my piano lesson course, find and eradicate the current infestation of flour moths (ugh!), finished painting the dresser I picked up on the side of the road 2 years ago and spend more time with extended family.
All in all, I’d just be happy to enjoy each day and know that whatever comes, God loves me no matter what. How about you?
Blessed and Happy New Year!!
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