I was called "little snot" today, and not in an affectionate way.
FACT: Our library has free internet, regardless of whether you have a library card or not.
FACT: The library loses money from this practice.
FACT: You can print for the low low cost of 10 cents a page.
FACT: The print preview button is conveniently located next to the print button.
I hate so much about the way patrons feel entitled to receive compensation for their errors. They seem to believe that as long as they have their money then it's not their problem. Well today I was reluctant to refund a patron's money after she didn't bother to do a preview of her print job, and the edge of her page was cut off. If I'd been smart I would have offered to refund 20% of her money since that's about what the printer cut off. As it was, I gave her her 30 pathetic cents (the whole time thinking, "How does it feel to steal from the LIBRARY?"), and I was rewarded for my tightfistedness with a nasty attitude and nasty comments. Weirdly, it was more upsetting than last week when a patron exposed himself.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Swimsuit Season
I'm pretty set on sewing myself a bathing suit (or three) this year. I'm leaning towards vintage patterns because they seem to have more interesting details.
The variations in this 1970s patterns are so cute, and I like that the pattern includes one-piece and two-piece suits.
Or there's this mod striped suit.
This McCall pattern is definitely more modern, but I think the halter top has a vintage feel. I could turn it into a pretty sweet one-piece. At $8 this is the pattern I'm sort of leaning towards.
And this pattern is more impractical. I love the ruching on the sides, but I know it will make the suit heavy in the water. But couldn't you just see it in navy with red trim? Lots of vintage bathing suit patterns tend to include a coat pattern as well, counterintuitive though it may be.
The variations in this 1970s patterns are so cute, and I like that the pattern includes one-piece and two-piece suits.
Or there's this mod striped suit.
This McCall pattern is definitely more modern, but I think the halter top has a vintage feel. I could turn it into a pretty sweet one-piece. At $8 this is the pattern I'm sort of leaning towards.
And this pattern is more impractical. I love the ruching on the sides, but I know it will make the suit heavy in the water. But couldn't you just see it in navy with red trim? Lots of vintage bathing suit patterns tend to include a coat pattern as well, counterintuitive though it may be.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Books Books Books!
I finished reading three books this weekend, and they are about as different as can be.
Edie: An American Biography by Jean Stein
I had recently read The Philosophy of Andy Warhol and found it so interesting. It's basically his musings on life, but he occasionally says some profound things. Edie's biography is written through interviews with "those who knew her," and it is heavy on the family history. I thought at first the style the author chose was making the book tiresome, but I remember reading a Truman Capote biography also told through interviews with his friends and acquaintances and it was quite fascinating.
Nevertheless, I was glad to discover that, unlike the way Edie is portrayed in the 2006 film Factory Girl, her life did not begin and end with Andy Warhol.
The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs
One man's quest to live, as literally as possible, by the rules outlined in the Bible. Apart from his personal journey, Jacobs travels to interact with different religions groups including the Amish, snake-handlers, and even makes a pilgrimage to Israel to meet his ex-uncle, ex-cult leader Gil. Jacobs observations are often funny, sometimes poignant, and certainly made me consider my own beliefs.
Vampire Hunter D Volume 1 by Hideyuki Kikuchi
When I was a little kid, my favorite super hero was Spiderman hands-down. None of this goody-goody Superman or psychotic Batman, Spiderman brought the snark. I had the ski mask and the colors-forms, I believe I once even got my mother to make a Spiderman piñata. Of course this all change when Spiderman was brought to the big screen by Tobey Maguire. Dream killer much? Anyway, Vampire Hunter D is my new favorite super hero. He lives in a post-apocalyptic world where vampires are considered "Nobility." He himself is a dhampir--half human half vampire--who hunts vampires. Apart from being awesomely stoic and unimpressed with his opponents D is host to an irreverent, but extraordinarily helpful symbiont which resides in his left hand. Now the Vampire Hunter D series isn't exactly inventing the wheel here, but they are enjoyable to read and the anime films are fabulously rendered.
Edie: An American Biography by Jean Stein
I had recently read The Philosophy of Andy Warhol and found it so interesting. It's basically his musings on life, but he occasionally says some profound things. Edie's biography is written through interviews with "those who knew her," and it is heavy on the family history. I thought at first the style the author chose was making the book tiresome, but I remember reading a Truman Capote biography also told through interviews with his friends and acquaintances and it was quite fascinating.Nevertheless, I was glad to discover that, unlike the way Edie is portrayed in the 2006 film Factory Girl, her life did not begin and end with Andy Warhol.
One man's quest to live, as literally as possible, by the rules outlined in the Bible. Apart from his personal journey, Jacobs travels to interact with different religions groups including the Amish, snake-handlers, and even makes a pilgrimage to Israel to meet his ex-uncle, ex-cult leader Gil. Jacobs observations are often funny, sometimes poignant, and certainly made me consider my own beliefs.
When I was a little kid, my favorite super hero was Spiderman hands-down. None of this goody-goody Superman or psychotic Batman, Spiderman brought the snark. I had the ski mask and the colors-forms, I believe I once even got my mother to make a Spiderman piñata. Of course this all change when Spiderman was brought to the big screen by Tobey Maguire. Dream killer much? Anyway, Vampire Hunter D is my new favorite super hero. He lives in a post-apocalyptic world where vampires are considered "Nobility." He himself is a dhampir--half human half vampire--who hunts vampires. Apart from being awesomely stoic and unimpressed with his opponents D is host to an irreverent, but extraordinarily helpful symbiont which resides in his left hand. Now the Vampire Hunter D series isn't exactly inventing the wheel here, but they are enjoyable to read and the anime films are fabulously rendered.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Burda WOF Bow-tie Blouse
Loads of people at Pattern Review have made this blouse, but no one seems to want to use the bow-tie. I, however, love a bow (I was actually kind of sad that Burda didn't include the pattern for this blouse) so heck yeah I was going to make it, no matter how twee it looks.
The Burda directions for this shirt were extra-cryptic for some reason. First, there was that hidden placket for the button-holes (which I was too lazy to do...) and then there was the mysterious "tab." I realized the tab had something to do with making the bow since it attached to the collar band. My theory is that the tab wraps around the ties and buttons to the top collar button to form the center of the bow-tie...the thing is I still have two buttons leftover, and it's always a bad sign when you end up with extra parts. Regardless, I think my bow is quite adequate so these are the steps I took to create it.
Step 1.
Wrap the tie around the neck, tie a knot and cross the tails over to form the beginning of a bow.
Step 2.
The tab is made with a buttonhole on each end (Burda is fairly clear about that). Button one end of the tab to the collar.
Step 3.
Wrap the other end of the tab around the center of the bow and underneath the knot. Button it to the collar button as well.
The tab will make a ring enclosing the knot and bow ties. Three layers are buttoned onto the collar button: collar, one end of tab (bow sandwiched in between), and other end of tab.
The Burda directions for this shirt were extra-cryptic for some reason. First, there was that hidden placket for the button-holes (which I was too lazy to do...) and then there was the mysterious "tab." I realized the tab had something to do with making the bow since it attached to the collar band. My theory is that the tab wraps around the ties and buttons to the top collar button to form the center of the bow-tie...the thing is I still have two buttons leftover, and it's always a bad sign when you end up with extra parts. Regardless, I think my bow is quite adequate so these are the steps I took to create it.
Step 1.Wrap the tie around the neck, tie a knot and cross the tails over to form the beginning of a bow.
Step 2.The tab is made with a buttonhole on each end (Burda is fairly clear about that). Button one end of the tab to the collar.
Step 3.Wrap the other end of the tab around the center of the bow and underneath the knot. Button it to the collar button as well.
The tab will make a ring enclosing the knot and bow ties. Three layers are buttoned onto the collar button: collar, one end of tab (bow sandwiched in between), and other end of tab.And Voilà a bow is made!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Burda Easy Fashion Spring 2008
There hasn't been much buzz about the latest issue of Easy Fashion, so I thought I'd start some. First, I absolutely love this jacket:
The top stitching, the pockets, the contrast trim, even the color is perfection. I'll admit the blue version is quite fetching as well. I'm always tempted to pair a jacket and skirt together--in my mind--to make a suit, but then I wonder: would I really wear them together? It just seems a bit precious. I've a hankering to make Sidonie Variation 2 in tan though to go with the jacket.
The one thing I don't really like about Easy Fashion is the downloadable pattern. I don't mind that Burda makes the pattern available to everyone, but I wish they'd include it in the magazine as well so I wouldn't have to download it. Despite my principles, I kind of like the tunic/dress featured on the cover. I'm stymied by these sack dress things though, I always want to belt them, but doesn't that defeat the point? Shouldn't you just make a dress with waist shaping if that's what you like? Plus it falls in that fine line between too long tunic and too short dress.
I sort of want to make these pants
They remind me of the pants that Tom on Project Catwalk kept sewing
This picture doesn't really do them justice.
The judges thought they were the most unflattering things, like a diaper, and basically promised him if he ever did that design again they would "send him packing" (in the words of Kelly Osbourne). Now the Burda pants aren't quite that noxious, and I would make them just because it's an unusual (and somewhat jodhpurs-esque ) silhouette.
The top stitching, the pockets, the contrast trim, even the color is perfection. I'll admit the blue version is quite fetching as well. I'm always tempted to pair a jacket and skirt together--in my mind--to make a suit, but then I wonder: would I really wear them together? It just seems a bit precious. I've a hankering to make Sidonie Variation 2 in tan though to go with the jacket.The one thing I don't really like about Easy Fashion is the downloadable pattern. I don't mind that Burda makes the pattern available to everyone, but I wish they'd include it in the magazine as well so I wouldn't have to download it. Despite my principles, I kind of like the tunic/dress featured on the cover. I'm stymied by these sack dress things though, I always want to belt them, but doesn't that defeat the point? Shouldn't you just make a dress with waist shaping if that's what you like? Plus it falls in that fine line between too long tunic and too short dress.
I sort of want to make these pants
They remind me of the pants that Tom on Project Catwalk kept sewing
This picture doesn't really do them justice.
The judges thought they were the most unflattering things, like a diaper, and basically promised him if he ever did that design again they would "send him packing" (in the words of Kelly Osbourne). Now the Burda pants aren't quite that noxious, and I would make them just because it's an unusual (and somewhat jodhpurs-esque ) silhouette.
Week 2
blouse: Burdastyle Leg-of-Mutton Knit Topskirt: $7 @ local consignment shop
brown fishnets: Target
pumps: ebayed, maxstudio
This skirt brings out the strongest emotions in people. They either think it's the most fabulous thing or that it's dreadfully tacky. There is no brand name, only fabric contents (100% cotton trim 100% silk) and the rather cryptic "made in India." I often think of the poor Indian woman/man/child forced to do these appliqués, I image it was not much fun. I once dated a guy who asked me to sew denim patches onto his jeans--mind you he wanted them to totally cover his jeans from waist to toe. Apparently his mother had performed such a task in the past...there really is nothing like a mother's love I think because sewing patches on those pants was really the most awful experience I've ever had putting needle to cloth. Pinning the patches in place (and pinning my hand repeatedly), jamming my machine, struggling to sew patches on halfway up the leg and other difficult locations---this I why I abruptly lost interest in doing appliqué.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
I wish I were more punk rock
Believe it or not, this is me back in "the day." Pretty hardcore, no? These days patrons look upon me in shock when I say I know about the band Pink Floyd. They believe my knowledge of heavy metal to be so limited that they must spell out "Nikki Sixx." Sadly, my spelling and/or my knowledge of bestsellers is so poor that typing the name of the latest Sue Grafton novel gives me pause.
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