Secret place

June 30, 2012, 2:30 pm

≫ Next: Life in Port au Prince, two years on

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Someone ought to write a short story about where all the undelivered love letters go. The ones that are written with such beautiful, secret, unexpressed longing. The ones that can never be sent because the loved one is too far away or too unavailable. The ones that can never be delivered because the lover is afraid to let the precious feeling fly away, only to shatter something fragile or be judged harshly.

I think that would be a cosy place to spend a day.

---

Life in Port au Prince, two years on

July 3, 2012, 8:54 am

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≪ Previous: Secret place

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As you might have surmised from my posts last year, Haiti has not recovered well from the earthquake it suffered in January 2010. This year we did not get whisked from airport to airport and flown to Jacmel, on the coast. This time we went by road, so that we could see life in Haiti for ourselves.



Port au Prince itself is still a mess of huts and tents. Even before the earthquake, this was the poorest country in the Western hemisphere; it seems a cruel joke for Nature to have kicked this proud republic (and it *is* a proud republic, with a strong sense of self) while it was already down.



Piles of rubble still litter the streets...



...and although some aid has clearly arrived, there seem to be a huge proportion of the population who have simply had to get used to life on a campsite.



The rows of tents and makeshift shelters just go on....



... and on....



... and on...



... and on.



The basic civilised infrastructure that we take for granted is simply absent; rubbish piles up in the streams and rivers, adding to obvious hygiene and sanitation issues. Later in the week, after heavy rain, we saw a man sweeping his garbage into the flow of water that was running down the street in the absence of adequate drainage.



The people continue with their lives as best they can; I suppose they know little different from this.



Sixty percent are unemployed.



But they get on with it as best they can.



This is a taxi, known as a "Tap-Tap". You jump on, pay a few cents, and when you want to get off, you tap-tap the vehicle to stop the driver. They are all painted brightly with a huge and bizarre variety of religious, artistic or populist images, from portraits of footballers to the Playboy bunny. All of them feature loud religious phrases such as this one - "Glory to God!" - and we were told that considering the way the cabbies drive, if you were to try riding in one, you'd understand why the need for religious exclamation.

In the midst of all this squalor the tap-taps were colorful beacons. One struck me particularly, adorned liberally along its whole length with "TANT DE VIE ~ TANT D'ESPOIR".



"SO MUCH LIFE, SO MUCH HOPE." You've got to admire their optimism.

The final irony was made clear once again as we pulled away from the capital and began our drive over the mountains to Jacmel. Haiti is a country suffering such lack, but alongside the human problems, the beauty of nature there is so abundant.

Back at the Arts Centre

July 5, 2012, 9:33 am

≫ Next: Who lives in a house like this?

≪ Previous: Life in Port au Prince, two years on

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You remember the kids at the Art Creation Foundation for Children, right? The ones who just loved our cameras last year. It was an emotional experience to go back and see them again for another mad crowd photoshoot. How they've all grown!

Nothing is easy in Haiti. It is hard work to make our foundation a reality. We are strong and intact. We are a community of creative joyous children and youth, every day closer and closer to self sufficiency via the arts, strong support systems, inner strength, compassion, understanding of social justice, and belief in the reality of today and the future of tomorrow and beyond.

- from the ACFFC website

Here (right) you can see Yoga Lisa talking to Georges Metellus, the Centre's Executive Director.
Do you recognise Bebe, the little girl in the background above? My, she's a big, confident girl now! (Photo of Bebe and her big sister a year ago)

This year, I tried to get more names. They were difficult to understand and repeat, with the boys laughing as I failed to get it right. We tried spelling in French and I couldn't keep up; eventually we wrote them down. On the left above is Wencith, and on the right, Dieussauve. The latter means "God saves"; it seems to be common to name your children with religious phrases in Haiti, where children are considered a sacred blessing from God. It reminds me of the Native American practice of naming a child after the first thing you see when they are born.

They thought I was hilarious. "Ou pas compris," they wrote on a scrap of paper. I was still clueless; in French this is "Where not understand." It was a couple of days before I realised that in Haitian Creole, "ou" means not "where", but "you". *facepalm*

Who lives in a house like this?

July 10, 2012, 10:09 am

≫ Next: Donors: list of names for exhibit

≪ Previous: Back at the Arts Centre

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One of the most awesome things about our trip back to Haiti this year was that we weren't kept on such a short leash. The first time out, we were driven around and ushered in and out of places as if there were a clear and present threat around every corner. In 2012, however, there were more experienced people in charge, who were more aware of the reality of life in Haiti, and with their permission we were able to walk around fairly freely. Above you can see us all walking from the Arts Centre down into residential Jacmel.



Living conditions are basic, at best, as you can imagine. If you're lucky, you live in one of these huts (above). But you might be living in a home like the one you can see in the background of that photo. Here it is, close up:





Here are the family who, until recently, lived in that makeshift tent, and the good news is that the wooden building they're standing in front of is the new home that you paid for.



A sizeable (for Haiti) wooden hut with corrugated roof and a solid foundation of large buckets set into the earth, filled with concrete (below).



See how much you rock?

Donors: list of names for exhibit

July 12, 2012, 5:03 am

≫ Next: State of Harman Hay Publications

≪ Previous: Who lives in a house like this?

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Soon I will be displaying the Peacock Dress (such as it is so far) in public for the first time. I'd like to include a list of donors.

I have 225 full names, but there are 92 further LJ names whose real names I don't know (I know a few first names, but not surnames). If your LJ name appears in the following list and you'd prefer the list to use your real name, PM me your real name, OK?

0coruscater0 aggiebell alibaster alysun88 aminamithri apocalypticbob arystaelia asetneferankh aster_ivy auroradreamsuk autumnstar1 bat_cheva blithespirit cabbagemedley caligari calligrafiti catimenthe chandrakant chelleann77 cispontine cloakmaker cointeach corbaegirl crvcifix darth_teca dmwcarol dragoneyes19 drgntrainer elowenn2 elsebeth enigmania

faerierhona feather802 femetal ferox fiofiorina floatingshift greyhat hrhlaura imblebee innostrantsa itsazoefish jeannegrrl johannaelisabet kaesha_nikovana kaos_sparrow kit_thekittykat lady_fox ladyfeathers ladystrange5150 lhiannan1981 lirion lis_elfwench liten_sak lydianmode lylassandra mala_14 metalfatigue0 milkshakedream missmelissajane miz_anneliese molster

moltenmoon mre_awiwench mrs-warwick ms_gwyn muuranker nimoloth offbeatentrack paantha pinkchili psion67 purplefrog26 rabid_bookwyrm rapta ravynmaniac redheadwtattoos seekatesew silverblade_kun simplelyric slythwolf snowcoma soldiergrrrl squelchbaker strangesam tigerlofu trinnyt undycat uschi_sushi vashtiabukhalil wicked_luthy zcat_abroad

State of Harman Hay Publications

July 12, 2012, 8:21 am

≫ Next: More new houses

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Some of you have heard rumours and mutterings that exciting things are afoot... and I can now confirm that the online magazines Your Wardrobe Unlock'd and Foundations Revealed are both about to step up a notch as we upgrade our software and take the opportunity to install a whole new look on both sites. Those who have had a sneak peek have been impressed and excited about the fresh new look, and I'm proud to say that both sites will now, at last, have a new forum each. Do drop me a line at info at harmanhay dot com if you'd like to be a moderator - you'll have free access to whichever or both sites for as long as you do this for us.

But that's not all. There's something even bigger waiting in the wings. Curious about where we're going? What else do we have planned for later this year?

In late 2009 we launched Foundations Revealed, the Corsetmaker's Companion, to an overwhelmingly positive response. In fact, it has been so successful that its popularity now outstrips Your Wardrobe Unlock'd. It has a clear, defined focus on corsetmaking and a loyal audience.

Wardrobe, meanwhile, is missing that sense of focus, since it covers the entire history of costume in every application. We need to tighten it up, and in fact that isn't too difficult. 94% of all the articles, classes and tutorials we have ever published cover the period 1700-1920, and it's clear to regular subscribers that we have stayed pretty focussed on the 18th and 19th centuries.

This leaves out a huge swathe of costume history. It's impossible to cover the whole of the subject in one article a week, however long the site continues to operate, and we have sorely failed those readers (and would-be readers) whose primary interest falls prior to 1700.

And those who are interested in pre-18th century costume are not a small group.

So we are currently working on our THIRD online resource. Wardrobe will be openly defined as covering the construction of costume in detail from 1700-1920. The existing articles that don't fit in that time period will still be available to subscribers on that site, but we will be launching a new, pre-1700 resource later on this year to cater to a diverse and richly talented community, from ambitious Fairegoers to Kentwellies to SCA members, with whom Marion is very familiar indeed.

There's one thing you can help us with, while we begin putting it together. What on earth should the new site be called? Suggestions welcome!

More new houses

July 12, 2012, 8:54 am

≫ Next: [Peacock Dress] The Cunning Plan

≪ Previous: State of Harman Hay Publications

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This is a family we met on our walk further into Jacmel. The lady in the background is not necessarily a biological relative of these seven children; we heard that it has been common for adults simply to take children in during these difficult times. The child in the front of the photo is sporting a not-uncommon local fashion; at another site a child dressed like this particularly took a liking to Cinde, the new RA Director, earning the affectionate moniker "Johnny No-Pants". You see why we took a suitcase full of children's clothes.



That's their home.

To take you back a step, and give some context, here are some more shots of the walk through the town.



Later in the week, I missed the group and had to walk back down to the house you're about to see on my own. I didn't go unattended, however; two boys were instructed to show me the way, and I had my own little moment alone in Haiti with a six-year-old boy holding one of my hands and an eight-year-old holding the other. It was an emotional experience to feel fully connected to this very foreign, and yet so friendly place. I felt completely safe in this small, provincial town.



This is the local cemetary...



...and then we turned down a winding alley between higgledy-piggledy houses to find another smart new house that you bought.





Here's one of the residents. How happy she looks!



And here's what it looked like when we'd finished with it. We painted the whole thing, and Misha, Colin and Philip installed a drainage system that collects the rainwater from the roof and channels it into a barrel inside the house - you'll have seen pictures of that if you were subscribed to RA on Facebook while we were there.



There's more, however. kshandra commented on my post yesterday to ask whether they have this innovative and cheap lighting trick installed. I thought it was awesome and passed the link on to Philip, who agreed and re-posted it on FB with the comment, "Coming soon to our friends in Haiti." I love the Internet. :)

[Peacock Dress] The Cunning Plan

July 13, 2012, 5:16 am

≫ Next: LJ name or real name?

≪ Previous: More new houses

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It has now been two months since I last put a stitch in the Peacock Dress. My wrists are somewhat better, progress is slow but sure, and I am no longer wearing the braces all the time, although wearing them at night is a huge help.

I have accepted the fact that this is a group project, and the more I get used to the idea, the more I like it. Why should I get all the fun, and you be left spectating?

The Cunning Plan is this. In three weeks' time, I will be at Costume College.

• Saturday, 1:30pm: I'll give a lecture entitled 1902 Worth Peacock Dress Charity Project*.
• Sunday, 3:30pm: I'll lead a 1902 Worth Peacock Dress Embroidery class, in which you get to make your own feather** or just watch others do so.
• All the time, the dress itself, such as it is so far, will be on display in the Exhibit room. hsifeng has recruited a willing costume widower to build a frame just like mine, and rebecca817 has picked up two identical trestles for me, so the dress will look just like it does in my workroom. I could even sit down and sew a bit, if the spirit takes me.

All of this shameless self-promotion is designed to one end: recruiting willing victims volunteers to help with this enormous project. My intention is to find people in various cities who are willing to take on responsibility for a piece of the skirt, housing it, working on it and encouraging others in their area to join in too. I think it might be really cool to have a multi-centre project going, with the blog showing progress on pieces of the dress that are growing in a variety of cities across the world.

...IF there are some people out there who want to go on this adventure with me, and claim a share of the guts and the glory. ;)

The frame is not difficult to build, and the instructions for embroidering (also not difficult - it's just beading by numbers) will be on a dedicated website, which I'm working on now.

Yeah, I know, it's all work, work, work. I promise faithfully to have fun too.

Comments and suggestions are welcome - what do you think? What have I missed/forgotten/not thought of?

* I'm a late addition to the menu, so I'm not in the Registration book you might have had in the mail. I think there'll be a note in the packet you pick up at the hotel.

** This will be a unlimited-attendance demo with optional hands-on element. I'll bring embroidery kits at $25 each so you can make your own goldwork peacock feather, and if you want to take part you'll also need to bring

• Scissors suitable for metal threads
• Embroidery scissors and needles
• A cork (eg from a wine bottle)
• A pair of tweezers (preferably with a fine point)
• An embroidery hoop with clamp or stand so that you can work with two hands ($18 plus shipping at Lacis).

I hope to see you there!

---

LJ name or real name?

July 14, 2012, 3:18 am

≫ Next: Haiti/Peacock Dress Donor List

≪ Previous: [Peacock Dress] The Cunning Plan

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As you know, I'm creating a list of donors to the Haiti/Peacock Dress project for use when displaying it online or in person.

If your LJ name is on the list below (check again, I've added a couple), I only have your LJ name. Let me know your real name by PM, email or commenting if you want me to use that instead. If you appear below in bold, you have confirmed that you only want your LJ name used. If you do not contact me, I will assume that you only want your LJ name used.

If your name does NOT appear in the list below, I currently have your real name on the list. I may already have known it, or I may have tracked it down so that I could thank you by your real name, but either way, that is currently what will be on the donor list. If you would prefer your LJ name to be used instead, or just your first name perhaps (I already have a mysterious "Daisy" who has no LJ name), let me know. If you do not contact me, I will assume that you do not mind your real name appearing in a list of hundreds of names.

0coruscater0 aggiebell alibaster alysun88 aminamithri asetneferankh aster_ivy auroradreamsuk autumnstar1 bat_cheva blithespirit caligari calligrafiti catimenthe chandrakant chelleann77 cloakmaker creativcorsetry crvcifix darth_teca dmwcarol dragoneyes19 drgntrainer elowenn2 elsebeth enigmania

faerierhona feather802 femetal ferox fiofiorina floatingshift imblebee innostrantsa itsazoefish jeannegrrl johannaelisabet kaesha_nikovana kaos_sparrow kit_thekittykat lady_fox ladyfeathers ladystrange5150 lhiannan1981 lirion liten_sak lydianmode lylassandra metalfatigue0 milkshakedream missmelissajane molster

miz_anneliese moltenmoon mrs-warwick ms_gwyn muuranker nimoloth offbeatentrack paantha pinkchili psion67 purplefrog26 rapta ravynmaniac silverblade_kun simplelyric slythwolf soldiergrrrl squelchbaker tigerlofu trinnyt undycat uschi_sushi vashtiabukhalil wicked_luthy

Haiti/Peacock Dress Donor List

July 18, 2012, 1:41 am

≫ Next: Wrists... fixed!

≪ Previous: LJ name or real name?

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Here is the final, complete list of ALL real and LJ donor names as it will appear on the public list. Please check and let me know if you're not happy, for whatever reason, so that I can make any final changes before I hit "Print". Thank you!

Katherine Adrian Laura-Jane Airey Leigh Aldrich Ali-Christiana Lauren Allpress Q Anderson Approach Personnel Joanne Arnett Heather Ast Lisa Atwood Lynne Bacon Meguey Baker Elizabeth Baker Naomi Barnes Issica Baron Gina Barrett Naomi Bartle Carmen Beaudry Jessica Benger Beverly Bernhard Kirsten Berry Lucy Billany Amber Bingham Larissa Boiwka Jennette Boone Deborah Borlase Mona Boucher & daughter,   Élise Adèle Auld Gwyneth Brain Julia Bremble Gillian Brent Hillery Brewer Patricia Brimhall Andee Browne Lauren Bukata Sharon Bussey Karen Buurmans-Niemi Tina C Elizabeth Cadorette Chris Campbell Alison Campbell Meagan Carey Katherine Caron-Greig Becky Carter-Hitchin Kelly Cercone Anna Chapman Bess Chilver Alexandra Chuzo Suzi Clarke Francis Classe Christine F Cleaton Robin Coccagna Misty Cochran Kelly Cochran Davis Debbie Collington Brenna Cook Sam Coupland Cherylyn Crill-Hornsby Helen Dabill Daisy Janice Dallas Tatiana Danilova Hepziba de Vries Christina DeAngelo Loren Dearborn Emma Dobbs Hilary Donaldson Serena Dyer Melanie Dymond Harper Lindsey Eastman Karen Ehrlich Grace Erickson Bianca Esposito Catherine Ezell Elizabeth Fallon Sarah Feeney Martha Fletcher Lorri G Amanda Gannon Aylwen Gardiner-Garden Jenny Garside Noel Gieleghem Kerrigan Gilbert Lynnie Glass Antara Glover David Goldfinch Christa Gordon Tania Gruning Jenni Hampshire Rebecca Handcock Richard Harper Tracy Harris Hilary Hatch Anne Hawley Jonna Hayden Victoria Henige Elisabeth Hopkin Sarah Hosking Cynthia Howell Dr Kirsty Hutchison Austin J Austin Kris Jachens Christina Johnson Kimberley Joyce Kirstin Julian Gwen Kachelmyer

Alison Kannon Bianca Karlsen Lis Kester Sarah Keuper Coralie Kiloh Tab Kimpton Nannette King Marie Knight Alison Kondo Adrienne Kubiak Caroline La Porta Val LaBore Suzette Lalime Davidson Claudia Laughter Karen Lavoie Penny Le Besque Sue Lee Christy Lee Amanda Lerum Faulkner Elina Levkovskaya Elizabeth Licata Hannah Light J. Leia Lima Margaret Lion David Llewellyn Laura Loft Carolyn Loftis Regina Lutz Lone Madsen Meagn Maguire Rebecca Maiten Sabrina Mark Wendy Marques Susi Matthews Tonya Mayberry Willa McCafferty Deirdre McDaniel Sarah McEvoy Tricia McFarlane Melissa McGuire and Cat Robinson Nancy McKeown Marion McNealy Johanna McNicholl Anne-Marie McRoberts Kathleen Methot Bennie Meyers Colin Middleton Heather Mikhail Ninya Mikhaila Lesley Miller Jessica Mingus Kate Mior J D Monterroso Marlene Morris Jeanette Marie Murray Elizabeth Nelson Samantha Nelson Gini Newton Annet Nijmeijer Julia Nolan Janel Norris Nancy Nowlin Noelia Oblanca Arwen O'Connor Erin Odenweller Dorothy O'Hare Kerryn Olsen Louise O'Neill Judy Owen Noelle Paduan Beteena Paradise Gina Patterson Paula Pennanen Lynette Pinchess Izabela Pitcher Jett Pontier Heather Pritchett Nicholas Quayle Gerry Quinton Jane Ramsay Jude Reid June Rider Philippe Riga Charlene Roberts Rebecca Rowan Elaine Rowland Nicole Rudolph Stacy Ryall Jannean Sapp Joyce Scheeren Andrew Schroeder Caren Seaman Taylor Shelby Grace Slater Amelia Slavin Kimiko Small Yekatarina Sokol Heather Spurlock Veronica Stark Rachel Steinhorn Kat Stelzer Megan Stephens Anna Stevens Victoria Stewart Jessica Stone Anna Stonestrom Natasha Streit Lena Strid

Sandra Stuart Hanna Svensk Linda Taggart Emily Taggart Lindsay Tallman Sofia Tanberg Lorna Tate Laurie Tavan Lynne Taylor Jennifer Thompson Karen Tully Gail Tyrrell Laura Ulak Tielke Uvin Kendra Van Cleave Nele van den Ende Elisabeth Van Every Glynnis Vance Jan-Peter Vogt Katherine Wade Jalea Ward Robert Waters Adam & Rosy Watts Carly Weggeland Molly Weiss Joanna West Jenny-Rose White Leslie White Mette Wikkelsø G W Wilkins Liz & Jo Windley-Poole Georgia Winter Vanessa Wood Cherie Woodard Rachel Worboys Gayle Zive 0coruscater0 aggiebell alibaster alysun88 aminamithri asetneferankh aster_ivy auroradreamsuk bat_cheva blithespirit caligari calligrafiti catimenthe chandrakant chelleann77 cloakmaker crvcifix darth_teca dmwcarol drgntrainer elowenn2 elsebeth enigmania faerierhona feather802 femetal fiofiorina floatingshift grrr_arrrgg imblebee itsazoefish jeannegrrl johannaelisabet kaesha_nikovana kaos_sparrow kit_thekittykat lady_fox ladystrange5150 lhiannan1981 lirion liten_sak lydianmode lylassandra metalfatigue0 milkshakedream missmelissajane miz_anneliese molster moltenmoon muuranker naath nimoloth offbeatentrack paantha pinkchili psion67 purplefrog26 rapta ravynmaniac silverblade_kun simplelyric slythwolf soldiergrrrl squelchbaker tigerlofu uschi_sushi vashtiabukhalil wicked_luthy

Wrists... fixed!

July 26, 2012, 9:54 am

≫ Next: HELP!!

≪ Previous: Haiti/Peacock Dress Donor List

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I'm almost ready for Costume College. The lecture is written, the slideshow assembled, the embroidery kits are getting together, the fabric has arrived (or at least, the postcard telling me how much I owe Her Majesty for importing it has arrived). The embroidery frame is being made, the Peacock Dress 101 website is now live, and it's all having to happen in record time, because I'm spending two days a week in London getting treated by probably the world's best chiropractor.

Dr Mike Molter, who hails from San Jose, CA, but is in London for the summer, is a unique human being with methods all his own. I met him in Montreux last Spring at that health retreat, and he made me two inches taller in about thirty minutes flat with only the slightest, gentlest manipulations. He not only chiropracts (?) in his own special revolutionary way, but is highly intuitive and does all sorts of energy work too that's clearing some old emotional trash out of my system.

He told me that the problem in my wrists *was* a precursor to carpal tunnel syndrome, but that the problem doesn't originate there. The pain and the problem is in the wrists, but the cause is in my shoulders. It's not about what I have been doing with my hands... it's about the posture I have held whilst doing it. And with that, he promptly stretched out my upper back and healed it. Just like that. I have my strength back, and don't need the braces any more. Now, if I can learn to sit up straight when I work, I'll be all set.

Let Mike explain it himself, in the video below. I haven't seen the product he's promoting in this video (he's been working on getting the word out about his work for some time), but I have his DVD Change Your Posture, Change Your Life, I'm paying for personal treatment (lucky for me, he doesn't charge as much as he should) and I totally, absolutely rate this guy, hands down, so don't be put off by the fact that he's trying to pay his mortgage in this video...

HELP!!

July 27, 2012, 1:05 am

≫ Next: [Peacock Dress] Costume College report

≪ Previous: Wrists... fixed!

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Is anyone coming to Costume College from the LONG BEACH/FULLERTON area in LA who might be willing and able to pick up a 7'x2' embroidery frame on Thursday and bring it to the hotel? This is proving more difficult than expected...

[Peacock Dress] Costume College report

August 24, 2012, 8:15 am

≫ Next: State of the Peacock Dress

≪ Previous: HELP!!

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Contact lenses: not ideal when threading a needle (Photo by redheadwtattoos)

So you know by now that Costume College was a great success. I had more fun than ever, and got Important Stuff done too.

The frame that Charles Hensley made for me turned out great and rebecca817 brought some trestles for me, so the embroidery was set up in the Exhibit exactly as it is in my workroom, complete with all my tools on the same Chatsworth Attic Sale plate I use at home (right).

I even ensured a completed a little right there, so that the needle could be left threaded as if I'd just got up and walked away (I had!) The idea was to make visitors want to sit down and have a go...

Saturday lunchtime I gave my lecture, and there were so many questions and discussions that I didn't even quite finish it as planned.

ladykalessia was kind enough to record it for me so that I could watch it back and assess how I did, and I'm happy that I did pretty well and got across all I wanted to say.

I had people handing me their email addresses at the end and offering to take pieces of the dress on, so the objective was definitely achieved!

Then, on Sunday afternoon, I had about 25 people have a go at making a peacock feather. They all seemed to have fun, and I certainly got a lot out of it - I can see where the instructions need clarification now.

We brought the frame and the skirt piece I'm working on up to the classroom for display, so that students could take a look for reference purposes, and I was stunned to hear them say, towards the end of the class, "Aren't you going to work on it and let us watch?"

It was an emotional experience to sit down at the frame surrounded by people standing over me, watching and asking questions. It was the literal proof of the reality of my daily experience, in which I'm alone in my workroom with the feeling that many virtual spectators are watching over me and cheering me on.

It was a wonderful feeling. :)



Video by k_adrian - thank you Katherine!


Acknowledgements:

Thank you so much to everyone who made this possible. To everyone on the Costume College committee, particularly Heather, who shoehorned me in at a very late stage and went out of her way to promote my involvement; to Charlie and Maegan Hensley, who made the frame and brought it over to the hotel in plenty of time, including last-minute trips to Home Depot; to rebecca817, who brought two IKEA trestles up from San Diego and delivered them on Thursday in time for setting up; to ladykalessia, who videoed the lecture for me so that I could indulge in over-self-analysis afterwards; to mmcnealy and lbc42, who helped me cart the frame upstairs for the embroidery class, and then in Marion's case, up to my room afterwards; to Kris Jachens, for chauffeur services; to hsifeng, who found and recruited Charlie, helped me set up the frame on Thursday night, took the frame and trestles home for storage until the first team needs them, ferried me half the length of California, looked so freaking hot as Marlene Dietrich I just can't stand it, and who is my constant cheerleader and truest friend - I love you dearly, sweetie, and I could not do this without you; and to everyone who showed an interest, who cheered me on, who came to the lecture, the exhibit and the embroidery class and took part in this experience. Thank you all!

State of the Peacock Dress

August 24, 2012, 9:02 am

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More footage from the embroidery class at Costume College - thank you to k_adrian!

As you know, my objective in exhibiting the work in progress in LA, running a lecture and holding an embroidery class was to inspire and recruit helpers in teams that will each take on one of the eleven pieces of the skirt. I now have a number of offers from around the US and Europe.

If you want to take on a frame, comment below, then we need to assemble a team for you. Before you begin, I'd like to know that you have three or more people in the area to help - I don't want anyone left alone with one of these enormous skirt pieces; they're quite overwhelming if you're facing it alone. Ask me how I know. :) You can work on team-forming yourself, and I will help by posting here too and on FB.

If you would like to be on a team, let me know in the comments and we'll begin to form teams centred in a local area that's easy for you to get to. Here are the tentative and not-so tentative offers from potential hosts so far:

Team Seattle A number of people are interested (including Bobbie K, [Bad username: corsetrasewing"]), but no-one's come forward to host yet. Team Portland? Host: rabid_bookwyrm Team: chikaku_of_doom Team San Francisco Host: ren_wench (Berkeley) Team: Some offers from friends of Dorothy's and lecture attendees, ladykalessia, alysun88 k_adrian is also wanting to put a team together in the Monterey area Team Central California Host: sstormwatch Team: hsifeng, local embroiderer's guild? Team Los Angeles Host: Julia Team: b0dice_g0ddess, Team San Diego Host: rebecca817 Team Denver Host: clockfaerie Team: marchaunt,

Team Washington, DC Host: orlacarey Team Chicago? Host/team member: wicked_luthy Team Buffalo, NY Host: Joycelyn Team: rose_bertin, Team Atlanta Host: sewinggoddess Team Scotland delirium71 has ideas... squintywitch would like a bodice piece Team England Host: harmanhay Team: absintheskiss, heraldis, Izabela?, did you offer too, Gerry? Team Germany? Host: fatwetdog

At this stage I'll take as many offers as you want to make, and we'll see which twelve or thirteen teams come together the most successfully, quickly and effectively. So do speak up if you'd like to host. First off, we need to forms teams for all you Hosts. After that, I recommend that you arrange a regular time when you'll all get together and work on the dress. But first of all, you'll need to practise.


The first step
Each person who is interested in getting involved - whether host or team member - must do an embroidery kit first, making your own peacock feather. This will

• Give you an idea of what you're in for,
• Help you to ensure you really want to do this, and
• Give you a practice run before working on the "real thing"
• Give me a chance to give you some tips and hints before beginning work on the dress itself.

You can buy one below, shipping is included, and there's an option to add a bit to donate to next year's Haiti fund. The kits include all you'll need - goldwork materials, beetle wing, silk thread and fabrics - all you'll need are the tools such as needles, an embroidery hoop, and scissors suitable for metal threads.

ETA: These buttons should all work now.

Peacock Feather Embroidery Kit Only (shipping included)
Peacock Feather Embroidery Kit (shipping included) + £1 donation to Hope2Haiti project
Peacock Feather Embroidery Kit (shipping included) + £5 donation to Hope2Haiti project
Peacock Feather Embroidery Kit (shipping included) + £10 donation to Hope2Haiti project

There are still a limited number left of the kits I made for Costume College, each of which contains a bracelet made in Haiti (I brought back as many as I could carry!) So first come, first served on those.

And by the way, you are welcome to have a kit and make a feather, whether or not you plan to work on the dress yourself. I have decided to make shipping simple - it's included, wherever you are, and any and all pennies over and above that and the costs of materials will go straight to projects in Jacmel... more about those soon.

Why We Make

August 29, 2012, 11:37 am

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Marion posted this on one of our Facebook pages a little while ago, and I finally got to see the whole thing, and I LOVE it, and it explains to me why I am making the Peacock Dress, and probably explains and supports everything you make too.

Here's a wonderful talk on Why We Make Stuff. Enjoy.

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The cat's out of the bag

August 29, 2012, 11:52 am

≫ Next: Keep on pedalling

≪ Previous: Why We Make

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So it's time! The deed is done, everyone who needs to know first knows, and I'm ready to explain what it is I was blathering about a week or so ago.

Demi and I are no longer a couple. This happened about seven weeks ago, and we took that long to get used to the idea ourselves before we were ready to tell everyone else. Not that this is anybody else's business, of course, but it has wide implications that I do want to tell you about, so there it is.

Thank you to that very, very small group of you who helped me through this process at various times over the past year. In the end, the break has been relatively smooth and pain free, all things considered. It is an amicable parting, based on the realisation that we just want different things in life, very different things, and compromising about them involves such vast compromise that we were left holding each other back.

Demi is all about home and family and lots of pets. She is now able to pursue this - she's doing remarkably well, in fact, all around. She has a new kitten (pet no.3), and she is decorating her bedroom.

Meanwhile, you know I'm all about travel and adventure. Part of the reason I was so excited about my trip to California this time was that I was able to spend more time there, see a bit of the area, and spend time with friends. About ten years ago I had my heart set on living in New England, but since that time my friends and contacts there have dispersed and I don't feel the same connection there that I used to. Meanwhile, nowadays I have about half a million friends and acquaintances all over California, particularly in the Bay Area, and they have been assuring me how much I would love it there.

They showed me Muir Woods, the beach, the city, the TO DIE FOR vintage shopping (where they dressed me like a fricking Barbie doll, I loved it), Lacis for heaven's sake, the Gaultier exhibit currently happening at the De Young (I thought of you the entire time, Jenni)... We ate Thai and pizza and home cooking and biscuits and gravy... I met new friends and got to know existing friends better... I was treated like a queen. Anybody'd think they actually wanted me to fall in love with the place. So I obliged. And since I am no longer geographically tied to Nottingham, I plan to be back in the Bay Area in November for anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months (not sure yet, depends on money), and I am beginning work in earnest on that Green Card.

So as you can see, once I had the courage to close one door, another great big honking door opened! Thank you so much to everyone who made my trip this time so utterly awesome, particularly claughter713 and family, who invited me into their home and made me feel so welcome and so loved. I am incredibly excited for the future. A new chapter begins!

With claughter713 at Muir Beach

Muir Woods

Keep on pedalling

September 21, 2012, 9:22 am

≫ Next: [Peacock Dress] Back on track

≪ Previous: The cat's out of the bag

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It's the end of the summer, the end of all the major trips for the year when I'm only able to keep a light touch on anything work-related. Because of that I'm feeling a little snowed under. If you're waiting for an email from me, please be patient with me, I will be caught up soon.

A million exciting things are happening.

• The two existing websites are getting polished and fixed after the upgrade.
• Marion and I are working on site number three, which you'll get to see under construction for the first time next week.
• The Peacock Dress has a video documentary in production, a ten-minute short by k_adrian that explains it in sound and pictures and works to encourage people to get involved. It's awesome, and I'm really looking forward to showing you as soon as we hammer out the last details of image use.
• I'm sending out embroidery kits as fast as I can, trying to keep up with demand and ensure i've got enough bits to keep going.
• I'm thinking seriously for the first time about not only taking my business with me on a short trip, but the feasibility of becoming such a completely paperless office that I can actually live elsewhere for a full three months and still be in control.
• My accounts for 2011-12 are due by the end of the month. Gah, must get a bookkeeper. This is a pain.
• I have Super Awesome Plans for things I need to make in addition to the Peacock Dress. I really need to have something to wear to Costume College and the S&S Tour's visit to the Jane Austen Festival next year, and not just cheat by buying vintage and borrowing.

If I just keep pedalling, and ensure I do actually rest sometimes, I think I may be able to keep all the plates spinning!

[Peacock Dress] Back on track

October 9, 2012, 2:43 am

≫ Next: This is your T-4 days' warning

≪ Previous: Keep on pedalling

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This is the embroiderer's eye view through the magnifying glass. Elina finished the last feather for me during the summer, so the incomplete one you see here is what I did in the last couple of days of last week.



Here's how it's looking as a whole. Yes, I admit it. Finishing a single skirt panel will be an extraordinary achievement.



So far, my wrists are feeling pretty good. I am working for an hour at a time only, not two, and improving and constantly checking my posture as I go. In addition, I have the frame at an angle now, so I'm not bending over the way I was. It feels much more comfortable.

And since I know you like to see the back...



I had forgotten how much time I get to THINK when I'm working on this. It occurred to me on Friday once again how this is not, for me, about finishing the dress; it's not even about wearing it myself, although I do want to see it on a body and watch it move.

The dream is not this; the dream is still to work on it with historic house visitors watching, being able to answer questions about the dress and bring it to life for them. Not to raise my own profile - I would do it anonymously - but because I believe this dress is too special and too important to sit tarnishing in a glass case, presided over by people who know about its owner but know next to nothing about the dress itself. Fascinated visitors are walking away misinformed, with only the vaguest idea of how great an achievement it was, and so she sits there, holding onto all her secrets. There's so much more to tell.

Unfortunately, so far I am not achieving the level of interest that I hoped for with regard to getting help with the embroidery; a few kits have sold, and there are one or two people who are raring to go, but not a quantity that would suggest that there's huge momentum at play. I get it, it's a huge thing to take on. And furthermore, it has occurred to me that by trying to recruit individuals in a variety of locations, I am (as usual) doing this the hardest way I possibly could.

But I do have a potential Plan B, and I'm looking into that now.

This is your T-4 days' warning

October 26, 2012, 8:00 am

≫ Next: [Peacock Dress] Halfway... well, kind of...

≪ Previous: [Peacock Dress] Back on track

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132. A Volkswagen beetle covered completely in whipped cream with two smiling children standing beside it. (50 points)


Do you recall that I took part in a ridiculous scavenger hunt last year?

For one week, I was part of a team of ten, and a worldwide throng of 6000, engaged in producing some of the most inspiring, the most disturbing, and the most truly brilliant works of art the world has ever seen.



115. A pink feather boa hanging out of the window of the engine car of a moving, full-sized, steam-powered locomotive (67 points)


We broke a Guiness World Record with GISHWHES - the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen.... and next week, we're doing it all again.



149. A church choir singing "Eye of the Tiger"


Except this time, the organisers have made the fatal mistake of allowing hsifeng, claughter713, and myself to take part ON THE SAME TEAM.



62. A woman wearing a dress (and only the dress) made entirely from bacon. (43 points)


There will indeed be laughter, there will be tears, there will be food products as clothing, and you get to take part too. You know why? Because you can achieve the same immortality by association. Witness, if you will, the photograph at the top of this post, the very photograph that made the cover of the GISHWHES 2011 commemorative book, taken by sewinggoddess after answering my pleas right here on LJ. Here's another that also made it into the book, by rectangularcat:



108. Take a photo of either a cruel Canadian or a live passenger pigeon. (19 points)


I think we all know that as artists, costume makers, nutcases extraordinaire, we can absolutely *own* this puppy.

The 2012 item list of utter ridiculousness will be published on Tuesday morning. We will have until Sunday to show the Universe what awesomeness can issue from our collective noggins when suitably inspired. Polish your little black book, because you're going to need all the contacts you can get. You Have Been Warned.

This event is brought to you by the same twisted minds that made the Hope2Haiti project happen, which made the Peacock Dress happen. Resistance is futile. GISHWHES official website



81. A toilet plunger covered in real gold leaf. (33 points)

[Peacock Dress] Halfway... well, kind of...

October 26, 2012, 8:26 am

≫ Next: The GISHWHES Master List!

≪ Previous: This is your T-4 days' warning

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Another one finished, another one begun!

I'm on row 8, and at the edge of the fabric, at the bottom of this new row, there's a heavy pencil mark.



That's the halfway point between waist and hem on the centre front panel. It's taken just about a year to get there... one ONE side of this piece.



The feathers are growing so fast now that after this eighth row, there are only four more rows to go! But hold up.

Being a mathematician, I took some measurements and crunched some numbers. This panel is now 18% complete. I have taken approximately 124 hours to get to this point, in one- and two-hour bursts to save my fingers and neck. (124 hours is about how long it takes me to make an elaborate wedding dress, such as this one).

There are approximately 552½ hours to go on this piece. On my present schedule of one hour each weekday morning (8am-9am, if you were wondering), I will finish the centre front panel by Christmas 2014.

Plan B is proceeding apace. An extraordinary costume maker in Germany, who has a great relationship with a specialist hand embroidery company in India, has agreed to help. She has been aware of the Peacock Dress for some years, and she has congratulated me on my excellent taste. :D

I have to send, at my earliest convenience, a 20" square piece of the desired fabric and lots of hi-res images (hard copies), from which the Indian embroiderers (read: the guys who actually know what they're doing) will complete a sample and give me a quote. I will report back.

Her existing work with this company is truly extraordinary, and I have no doubt they can deliver. Cost is, of course, an issue, but any costume maker worth their salt will accept instalment payments on a big project. How many instalments may be a point to negotiate....

I always felt that this kind of Plan B would be a cop-out. I'd be cheating. But an interesting thing happened. As soon as I got that email and began considering what comes next, I found myself more squarely in Worth's shoes than ever before. Will this project survive the language barrier? How much will it cost? What will arrive on the boat/plane from India? Will I be able to work with it?

And after that, of course, take away the embroidery and this is still a great big honking project. Those panels of embroidery have got to fit together perfectly, and when they do, they aren't going to go under the sewing machine.

And apart from the dress itself, then there's the issue of what kind of underwear would be good enough to go under it...