Miscellany

Tea went well last night - I went through the chitosebon steps, did NOT know them, and said as much. And then Sensei checked that I knew how to properly serve tea, which I did, so that's all I'm going to do when I'm not helping in the mizu-ya. And that, I can deal with. I also haven't heard a peep about dressing people, which is another thing I am glad to cross off my list. [Added bonus - I'll hopefully get to see someone I haven't seen in ages that I adore at the ochakai.] It may be premature to say this, but I'm finding I have a new sense of hope when it comes to Tea lessons. (Yes, yes, it's only been a month since I decided to try this new 'no' tactic, but still...)

Wearing Loup Garou today (and too much makeup*), and while it's a nice, crisp evergreen scent, I feel a bit like I've got a men's cologne on me when I catch whiffs of it, as if I spent the night not-at-my-house and wore his shirt to work or something. (Which is rather amusing, in a Sex And The City sort of way, if only because it's such an alien lifestyle to my own.)

Hit the 50% mark on this massive project I have. I am halfway done. I have been working since last Tuesday on this. HALF. ARGH. 

Sewing class tonight - I may bring my latest Tea vest sketch and find out how do-able it is with only darts and gathering for shaping. I mean, it LOOKS do-able, at least. I also need to re-do the waist strap on the one I did Monday night, because it's Not Quite Right. 

*Apparently, there is an art to applying the mineral/powder foundations. I am learning, slowly, to put MUCH less than I think I need, after letting my daily moisturizer and undereye cream(s) have a good 5 minutes to dry. Otherwise, it's a sort of cake-y result where my chin doesn't match my neck because there's too much stuff on my skin. Hm. I do love the fact it's NOT a gloopy liquid foundation but still smoothes out the uneven color spots I have. So. Maybe being cornered by skinny hipster cosmetologists wasn't such a bad thing. :D I've also bothered to do some eyeshadow and mascara, and I've been getting loads of compliments on that and my much more appropriate-to-my-skin-tone purple hair. (Well, Garnier #366 Deep Burgundy Brown, but it really is just purple.)

Well, damn.

Apparently, the article I read got the time fuxxored on the eclipse - it's not 10pm-ish PACIFIC, it was apparently more like 10pm EASTERN or thereabouts, so I missed it because I was in class the whole time (6-9pm)

Dammit. I really wanted to see it, too.


Oh well.

I have discovered that iTunes has enka music. This makes me all kinds of ridonculously nerdy-happy. I have a strange luff for enka music, especially the female singers. I'm such a nerd.

On the bright side of the night, I learned the 'proper' way to do darts (versus tinkering on the sewing machine until it looks sort-of right) and updated the vest I had made Monday evening so it lays flat (albeit looks like ass with so many fix-it seams in place. Learning curve on these things...). I also drafted a basic pattern for something that fits more like a shirt than a badly-fitted shelf bra, and the mock-up (in a Barbie plus-size) seems to indicate that it will, indeed, work the way I intend it to, though I haven't yet done the math for seam allowances. But I'm getting there. On over the head, velcro at the sides, darts at top and bottom, and aside from a bit of seam finishing and the ever-present struggle with encased elastic, it should be pretty well functional. So that's a good sign. [Note to self: No gathers. They're a pain in the ass six ways from Sunday.]