bee creative

Wardrobe Refashion Pledge

I have this insane urge to run out and buy a new pair of jeans because for the next six months I make this pledge: I Deborah Gorr pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 6 months.  I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of  my contract.  I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thrifyness brings! Signed  Deborah Gorr

And I really should add, clothing rescued from the jaws of Lola.  Good thing I love her.  I also do have a huge stash of material, yarn, or clothing that I just couldn't bear to throw away because something useful might be done with it and it just has a teeny-tiny stain on it that I need to do something with and this challenge is the perfect way to get productive.  And then there is the political/environmental aspect that is really important to me too.  And, oh well, the buses aren't running anymore so I can't make that last dash to whatever store is still open.

Inspire Me Thursday-Wishes

Here's a response to the prompt at Inspire Me Thursday. Double click on the image to make it bigger if you are interested.

Sunday Scribblings-In the Kitchen

Fifteen minutes of thoughts on the theme “In the Kitchen:”

The kitchen, the food that is created there, is a powerful part of my family culture and my identity. I think this may be true for a lot of us. I think of the kitchen as a place where care is given for our families and for our selves, the food that we need to continue our existence. More than that, the food that we can create to nurture. I’m thinking of the idea of making chicken soup to make someone sick feel better. Comfort food. I’m thinking of Like Water for Chocolate (one of my favorite movies/books). It’s a place to express our love and respect for others.

The kitchen is a place that ties me to my extended family. I’m thinking of the traditional meals of our family: polenta, gnocci, cheesecake for special occasions, and fish. Oh, and waffles on Sunday morning. When I cook these foods I’m tied to the history of my family.

I think it’s also a place to be creative. My favorite way to cook is to think of a food item that I want to eat and then think, “What do I have that will go well with this?” “How do I want to cook this?” And then I start dumping things together and see what I get. I read a lot of cookbooks, but rarely follow the directions completely. I have a lot of fun.

One last thought, I have a lot of special kitchens in my life. Some of my best memories are of my mom and one of my grandmothers making jam on a cook stove on the back of a boat. Of fish that my mother cooked on the boat at 11 PM that had been caught that day. Of cooking with my other grandmother in her home. Of meals prepared in my dorm room during college.

And now I think I’ll go make waffles.

A response to a prompt from Sunday Scribblings

Inspiration? I am inspired by the color of the sky when I look up through the trees or the contrast of one flower with another as I walk through the garden. As I glimpse out the window of the bus and see the shapes of the houses we drive by and the numerous ways people create their gardens and nests. Inspiration comes as I walk along the sidewalk and see the way the cracks run, or the way the colors in the cement have aged. Then there is the way a daffodil pops up in the middle of a field. I am inspired when I look over the valley and see the way the fog weaves it’s way around the hills or when I look across the bay and see the shades of blue and green and grey in the water. I am inspired by my yarn basket, my fabric stash, the displays in windows, the energy in a café, the history of an antique store, and by the pictures in magazines. The way one piece of pottery on my kitchen shelf contrasts with another piece. I am inspired by passages in books and by the generosity of others in sharing their ideas. I believe that inspiration comes from how we look at the world around us, how we experience our daily existence, and in seeing the potential of both our past and in new beginnings.

skirting the issue

I have been experimenting with making a skirt out of a pair of jeans. My first three attempts (oops) didn't turn out very well and I was left with a very short top peice of a pair of jeans. I couldn't help but think something might still be done with them. I also had a skirt that I had decided was too full and too long. I recut the skirt and resewed the side seams so that it was narrower and then gathered the top slightly to fit the bottom of the jeans. After sewing them together I had a new skirt that fits much better and I didn't have to fuss with making a waistband or inserting a zipper. It looks best with a top that is long enough to hit the plaid part of the skirt and is really comfy. I am going to do this again.

I did finally find directions for making a jean skirt that made sense to me. The directions I liked are at savvyseams . I'm going to try making another skirt as soon as I decide I am ready to use a pair of my jeans for the project.

I'm not sure why my photo is sideways and haven't figured out how to fix it. Sorry if it is confusing.

First project

The very first sock I've ever made! The yarn is from my mother's stash. Now I just have to hope that the second sock fits too, that they don't unravel, and that the puppy doesn't get them....

March 11, 2007

Spring seems like a good time to start new adventures. One of mine is to live more lightly in this world by using my stash of yarns, materials, whatnots and whimsies to create the things I want in my life. I also have a stash of ideas from magazines and books to try out. Knowing that I am more accountable when I make a commintment, I want to try some challenges and document what I am doing. So here it goes, busy as a bee....