It's been so long,

I can't believe it's been years since I've posted.  SHAME ON ME!

I really enjoyed sharing my crafts, adventures and inspiration.  Please check back soon for some posts and pics of some of my recent projects.

Here's an old pic of my furbabies and their varied sizes.

Evening craft project

So this evening I decided to change up a cup from my vanity tray.

Yup, it's old and ugly but it held my bits and bobs for nail designs and such.  But tonight, I used

and

 And got this

Funky and fun.  Now to give it a day or so to dry.  And yes all I did was dribble polish onto the water and then dip the cup in...messy but fun.

Stop 1

So stop one is leading me to 2 areas, 1 has a bit of controversy about it and the second looks interesting.  

From First Stop I’m heading North West about 1.5 hours to one of the locations identified as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.  For those of you not familiar with it, it’s what it sounds like.  This link takes you to the Wiki page  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_garbage_patch  

Now where the controversy comes in is the fact that since it’s not always locatable, because it moves and because it’s never been found by satellite that it’s not as big as thought.  No matter if it is real or not, we as a society should be working to save Earth and the creatures on it.  So please cut those soda can plastic holders up, dispose of your trash correctly and above all recycle first.

Back to First Stop and back toward the nearest landmass, Guadalupe Island. 

For those of my followers that are fans of Shark week, I’m sure Guadalupe Island is known to you.  It has been a seal sanctuary since 1975, drawing the sharks.  The weather year round has a median temp of around 65 degrees F and has attracted many groups to study the biosphere reserve that the Mexican Government has set up.  But really unless you are a scientist studying seal or shark habits or just a lover of either this area really is stark. 

And the next stop is…Lake Eyre in South Australia. 

Traveling Virutally step 1

So recently I've wanted to get out and travel but my bank book says "Nope!".  So while watching a BBC special Explore Borneo, I realized that I could turn a boring evening, day, weeks, months and years virtually traveling the world. 

This is a twofold plus.  Not that expensive (just my power bill and my internet bill that I have anyway) and I'm learning something, not just sitting here clicking mindlessly on the next page or puzzle. 

That being typed.  My goal is to share with my followers my virtual worldwide traveling via here on the Eclectic Dame.  I'm going to use Google Earth to randomly pick my first location, kinda in a the way kids did with spinning the globe and where our finger landed we had to figure out where that was. 

so the first stop is...the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  Ok so maybe I should spin again...or not.  I'll keep you updated on where I end up going and if anyone has a suggestion, please let me know, I'd love to 'visit' your corner of the Earth.

Check back in a few days and I'll share what I learn about the First Stop.

Cutting down

I've been remiss in my duties Ladies and Gents.  This Dame has been on a hiatus for entirely too long.  I've started my evening projects again.  Tonight it was to take a shirt of mine that was a XXXL and I turned it into an XL.  I'm sorry for the poor lighting and well, the smartalec tongue in the second pic.  Neither picture really convays the shear size difference that was done. But enough...here's the pics. 

Before 

After

I did this project after watching a video tutorial.  I kinda wish I had rewatched it right before doing this as I see where I made a few mistakes.  Overall, I plan on doing this a few more times as I continue to loose weight.  If you'd like to cut down some of your shirts folks, check out this tutorial.

Tutorial - Resize a shirt

Thanks folks for not flaking out on me and check back soon.  Lots more posts to follow...I promise!

A small project

A fairy contacted me and my sister recently and asked if we knew of anywhere she might be able to move to.  Being the kind people Michelle and I are, we decided that not only could we help find her a new location but even help build her a new place to live.  I bought a few things today for this fairy, I hope she'll like the before and after of these. 

The fence doesn't show very well but after I worked with a bit of paint, well it looks a bit like reclaimed wood. 

It doesn't look like a lot but keep your eyes pealed over the next few weeks as Michelle and I continue to work on the home and where the fairy ends up living.

Mea Culpa

Oh my have I been amiss.  This Dame fell off her posting habit and needs to take it back up.  I promised pictures of the new place and the cat and haven't been able to get either done.  The pictures of the apt will have to wait as I've been working on some pictures for the walls and well to tell the truth there are still boxes in the corner of the living room.  Other than Big Dave my newest love is my fast growing kitten Purrlin.  Most of you that are following me know how nuts I am for my furball. 

He'll be 10 months old in just a few days and already tops out at 14 lbs.  I think he is mostly fur but his PURRsonality is even bigger.  

I have been working on a multiple piece painting for over my couch that I do a bit here and there on.  I've dyed some clothing, but I've been getting my geek on and crocheting a Yoda stocking cap for Big Dave.  I should finish this post and go stitch the last bits together and take a pic of it.  Overall, please know that I've not completely given up on The Eclectic Dame, she's just been really busy.

Just a quick update

I just wanted to pop in and say that no I've not stopped my love of eclectic things but my schooling has taken front seat, with Big Dave a close second, work taking it's normal toll and then the addition of a 3 lb furball (who's growing fast and pushing 5 lbs already) that we named Purrlin is fast moving up the list.  To top all that we moved this month!  Pics of the cat and the new place will be coming along with how I'm decorating everything.  Please be patient folks, this dame is running as fast as she can.  :)

Great place to see hair styles from the 50's

I've spent the last few hours watching "What's My Line".  Some of the ladies dresses and hairstyles are divine. Dorothy Kilgallen

Arlene Francis

Weren't these two ladies LOVEY!?!

Homework to do but there's patterns on my desk

I so should be working on homework right this minute but I have to take some time out to share.  This weekend my local Joann Fabrics is having a Simplicity patterns sale with some AMAZING deals.  I decided to go ahead and get a few patterns I've been wanting. 

I have no clue when I will have time to make any of these lovelies but I couldn't' pass up the deal I got.  Before I can make any of those I do need to get this one made first. 

I have a beautiful fabric and trim for it.  The buttons I will have to see which ones in my large box I will end up using.

Happy sewing!

Blooper reels...of Classic Hollywood!

I was told to go watch a video on Roflrazzi this evening.  10 full minutes of some of the biggest stars from yesteryear "ruining celluloid" because they forgot their lines or in a few cases due to other issues.  S,o me being one that loves a good laugh, and knowing that those actors and actresses are just as foible as the rest of us, is poetic and I had to share.  Hopefully the original posters (owners?) won't have an issue with me linking them.

http://celebs.icanhascheezburger.com/2012/01/18/funny-celebrity-pictures-classic-hollywood-reactions/

So after watching this bit, I had to see if there was any more out there...and yes there is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R2O4ZLb12E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UidH5KHkBRI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOGbd_jETEI&feature=related

I decided to do links so no one could accuse me of stealing...too much of that going around and with the whole SOPA and PIPA going on, well, I just felt it was wiser to go this route. 

Stay warm my friends and until next time, "Nuts!  What was my line again?"

Love the classics

Last night I watched 'Ziegfield Girl' with Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr, James Stewart, Lana Turner and more.  The outfits were wonderful, the hairstyles...how fun. 

Tonight I'm watching 'On an Island with You' with Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalban, Jimmy Durante and cast.  Again the outfits, the music were just dreamy.

Addicted to Dancing with the Stars

I admit it I'm addicted.  Tonight I watched a wonderful bit.  J.R dancing with Karina to "Jump Jive and Wail"  I LOVED IT!!!  I have to agree that it was more Lindy hop but as we'll never see the Lindy on DWTS I don't care!  IT WAS A 10 FOR ME!!!  I love when they put fun bouncing numbers in (with twists of rockabilly) instead of taking slow dances and doubling the tempo. 
Anyone else out there a DWTS addict?

Busy month

This has been a very busy month.  I decided at the last minute that I am going back to school after taking 15 yrs off.  I've been very lax at posting as my interests are eclectic at best.  Reading has been taking up a lot of time.  I'm on book 5 of the Game of Throne series, A Dance with Dragons.  Each of George Martin's books is longer then the last and what an author.  If you've caught the HBO series of Game of Thrones, pick up the book, there are whole sections that they took word for word.  I'll try and post more soon, hopefully with a few hair pics (that is as soon as I get it cut again).

Take care of you and don't give up on me, I'll be back soon! 

Button, button whos got the button?

My family is having my grandparents estate auction this weekend.  I went down last weekend and helped move a loom my grandfather redid from an antique loom (that was beyond it's last leg).  It's in the sale, I kinda wish it wasn't but oh well.

Mom took me in the house and her and I went through Grandma's fabric and a few other things.  I took her box of buttons, thus this post.  I started looking at them this evening and sorting them.  I need to do some research on Bakelite buttons, I think I may have a few.  One tip I learned from her box of buttons.  Any time you are throwing something out that is worn through, cut those buttons off first.  I have a HUGE pile that I'm needing to cut the fabric off.

So far I've been sorting for over an hour, and wow.  WOW.  If your Grandparents are around, give them a hug (then offer to help clean out a closet!)

It's been a busy month

So sorry for the lack of posts lately.  I've just been going like a bee on speed.  I finally got my hair cut.  I'll have to get some pics later this week after I have time to do it for a photo shoot.  While out shopping today I found a shirt dress at JC Penny.  One problem, the women's sizes were off, I think I'm going to just sew myself one.  I think I'll be doing a wrap dress too.  Pictures will be coming, until then, stay out of the heat and love someone!

Rebirth, The Eye of Chaos!

I finished it.  Only took me 15+ yrs to do it.  A high school boyfriend put his idiot fingers into wet paint.  I fixed the finger streaks he rubbed in it, and added a few touches.  It's amazing how much an artist grows over the yrs.
I gotta share!!!

2 GREAT tips from my Grandmother via Mom

So I have to share these tips for the sewing bee in all of us.  My grandmother past away last summer and family have slowly and surely been cleaning out Grammie's house.  My mom was telling me about her sewing room and the items Grammie had tucked away.  One thing was the homemade dress form aka the body dummy.  Grammie's was a paper mache form that she had someone help her make and then she attached it to a wooden tree. (I so need to get a pic of it!)  I mean these days everyone is on a budget, and who has $150 to $300 for a body dummy.  I have no idea when Grammie made it but she still kept it around, and I assume used it.

The second tip Grammie via Mom shared was felt.  I don't mean the 8.5X11 sheet size either. Grammie has copied her favorite patterns onto the BIG felt and with a permanent marker marked down the bits of instructions, which pattern it was ect.  Those have lasted years vs the maybe if your lucky 5 times tissue patterns.  If you find one you love I highly recommend getting some of the big felt and making yourself your master copy.   So those are my helpful tips for a bit.  I'll try and get pics to share soon

Gotta share!!!

I stumbled a site the other day (stumble-upon evil or blessing?)of the history of fashion.  WOW.  If you have time I highly recommend checking it out!
http://www.fashion-era.com/

I just don't know what I want to look at first!

Another snood...

Well I've finished another snood.  I'm getting more creative and more confident in my crocheting. 

The next snood I'm doing is this one in red...

If you want the crochet instructions click this link  http://www.knitting-crochet.com/crochet/persno.html

If anyone has any great instructions for crochet or knitting that you want to share let me know!
Karoline