Last Weekend

I'm going to be far far away from a computer this weekend, so I thought I'd share some random pictures (and a video) from last weekend. I went to a ska show one night, then the next day went to a free concert at the park, and the next, snackin on cherries, you know just chillin out, enjoying having survived the rapture and all. :)

 (http://www.myspace.com/kkckska)

 A lipstick for every occasion...

 

:)

No. 13 A Little More Sunshine

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations...

...I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them,

   

...and try to follow where they lead."

 -Louisa May Alcott-

(Dress-Converse for Target, Belt and Handbag-Thrifted, Shoes-Payless, saved pair 13)

Only She Who Attempts the Absurd Can Achieve the Impossible

 I've gotten a little OCD this week. In fact, instead of sleeping in and doing nothing like normal people do on their summer breaks... I've been nonstop cleaning. So much so, in fact, that I've had friends on facebook tell me to shutup already with my cleaning posts because it seems like that's all I do. Lol. (Also, please go check out THIS blog post, I read it on one of my few cleaning breaks and I thought it was CRAZY that it was exactly what I was doing too.)

For me, cleaning is something I do when I need to get my mind focused. It helps so much to go through all of my stuff and think, "Yea, I don't need this anymore, throwing it away.." or "Oh my gosh, I could use this for this other thing!" (that usually happens when I'm cleaning my crafts cubby. Yes I'm 19 and still use the word "cubby." Shutup. lol)

Lately a lot of things have been going on in my life that I cannot control, and I feel like that's when I start to really get antsy and uncomfortable, and want to change things up, whether it be in rearranging my room, or reorganizing my closet or vanity, it's just something I need to do because it's something that I can control. I know I've talked about this on my blog before, but I feel like this week has been really different. It's almost as if every little thing I've ever said to myself came rushing at me now that I have free time: "Oh I need to dust my keyboard," "I should sort these loose beads, I'll need them when I embroider that dress," "Ugh I wish these cloth ribbons were organized so I could find everything faster!"

To me it was almost a challenge, "Alrighty Trish, You've got 3 weeks until summer school, how much are you reeeally going to get done? READY, SET, GO!" And well, I went. This is alot of what I did, along with cleaning out my closet, computer, sewing pile and organizing a LOT of stuff for donation (mostly books), along with my already long list of household chores:

*Cleaned off and reorganized the top of my dresser where I keep all my special trinkets:

 *Took everything off of my desk and hung it up on this little shelf for easier access and more desk space:

(That Doritos can is full of receipts lol, and I want to paint my room that second purple swatch from the top VERY VERY soon)

*My vanity is always clean and organized, it just needed to be wiped down, I spill loose powders all the time...:

 *The top two drawers where a total mess though, so I organized those:

 *My biggest feat was my craft cubby. I couldn't even slightly open it without thinks falling out and I could never find ANYTHING. But I got it done without too much headache, plus I found a couple patterns I forgot I had and now I'm really excited to start some new projects,

 (That baby wipe container has a bunch of old lipstick tubes/compacts that I want to customize, I'm really excited to start that project too)

 *This is where my OCD got SUPER insane. I sorted my bead collection. I used my mini tea set to sort. Ha.

 It took FOREVER

 I ran out of little containers so I made paper ones.

I told you, insane...

...but I finished!!

While I know it may seem that I'm being totally insane and uptight about needing a super-clean, organized room, I promise that's not why I did it. I just needed to go a little crazy and physically throw everything I owned in a pile and say, "This is everything in my life, and if I can't find a place for it, it goes." I think we should all do that every once in a while, and not just with our stuff, but with everything in our lives.

 I know there's alot of beauty in chaos and disorganization. Rock concerts where you go totally crazy in a mosh pit, random outings with friends that turn into crazy adventures, and even the emotional chaos that comes from falling in love. The chaos is like a huge wave, turning everything topsy turvy, washing away the old while bringing us the new. I know the beauty in that. That's why I wanted to get all of this out of the way, so it wouldn't keep nagging at my tired mind. Now that I've finished, I feel so much more comfortable knowing I've gotten rid of so much clutter and nonessential trivial things. For now, I'm not trying to make anymore waves. I've craved for too long the ability to just be able to float. Now I'm just enjoying the stillness.

No.12 Ocean Fairy-Tails

(shirt and shorts-thrifted, shoes-Kmart)

 Ok so this pic is only here because it has white and navy stripes and red shoes, (of which I really needed to save because I love them, #12!!) and because it has a semi-nautical feel which bring me to the real topic of this post:

I'm addicted to anything that relates to the Ocean.

 I've mentioned already that I looove mermaids, so when I heard the new Harujuku Lovers perfume came in this mermaid bottle, I knew I was going to buy it, even if I hated the smell of the perfume. (I actually love it, to me it smells really fresh, kinda like what clean clothes would smell like if they were hung up on a line on a pier. Because we all know what that smells like right? :P )

 I had a picture of this octopus bangle in my fashion folder for YEARS, but never knew where to buy it. Then my sister spotted the ring at the mall and recognized it, and bought it for me for Christmas. Then a little while later I saw the bangle at Hot Topic (of all places, Hot Topic?)

 No love for nautical accessories is complete without an anchor and seashells. (I made the seashell necklace myself btw)

 Another homemade seashell necklace, and a shell I really want to make into a necklace, but I'm afraid it might stab me :/ lol. This thrifted coin necklace isn't a traditional nautical piece but I always like to imagine it was made out of pirate treasure that got naturally sanded smooth by the ocean tide...
(lol as I typed that I'm like, wow I sound like such a weirdo)

I love things things that aren't even nautical but remind me of the ocean itself, which is probably why I keep buying mermaidy-teal and oceany-blue things and then end up NEVER using them (ie, teal cream eye liner, teal loose glitter) but I really love when I do buy those things and I end up using them all the time (the perfume, OPI for Sephora's Just a Fairy-Tail)

Even now I have a small bit of savings toward my "sailboat fund," which is just a jar I keep change in that I keep adding to, little by little, in the hopes that, once I get older and move back to the coast, I'll have enough to buy myself a sailboat and spend hours and hours floating away on it, just trying to find the edge of the earth...

10 is the Lamest Number

Anybody remember this post? Where I was sooo motivated and absulutely positive thinking that I'd have soooo much stuff sewed and finished over spring break and everyone would oooo and aaah over my accomplishments!?!?
Yea well turns out I did actually go places and have responsibilities over spring break and this is all that I got finished:

1. Took in XL sweater/blouse. (I love the color and sleeve length, will probably save until it gets warmer)
2. Took in Tshirt. (I HATE oversized T's, I prefer fitted.)
3. Made a random headband out of extra material from this skirt. (When I'm bored I always make headbands, and yet I never wear them. Seriously, never.)
4. Had an old Dr. Seuss TShirt I loved but it always fit weird, so now it's a beach tote.
5. Hem came loose from my favorite Marilyn TShirt, fixed it.
6. Took in my Penguin TShirt
7. Took in My Wizard of Oz TShirt
8. Had to fix the sweetheart neckline on this dress
9. Took in this striped blouse
10. Took in this XL Beatles TShirt:

I was really surprised to see how little I had done in a full week's time, I mean, I sewed other things, almost finished another dress, but because I didn't finish it it doesn't really count... This was mostly my, "get the easy stuff out of the way so you can focus on awesome stuff" sewing week.
Maybe I'm being hard on myself. I've been really hard on myself all week to be honest with you. I have lots of feelings of guilt lately. At first I was guilty because Buddy had died and I couldn't help him. Then I was miserable, and felt guilty because I wanted the grieving proces to end, I didn't want to feel so awful. Then I felt guilty for being able to go to school and do my finals, basically felt guilty for being able to focus on anything besides him. It's been almost a week now and I feel guilty for those moments where I forget that he's gone. I feel guilty for being able to enjoy things.

I feel guilty that it took his death for me to appreciate what I have, and even more guilty that Penny only has me to sleep next to now.
I know I should stop feeling this way. Feeling guilty won't bring him back, or make missing him any easier.
I should just be happy that I got to be the proud owner of such a wonderful dog for so many years.

I watched "My Dog Skip" last night.
I always loved it as a kid because it's set in the 40's and all the outfits are so cute.

(screencaps by me)

But that's not why I watched it last night.


When Buddy was dying and I was sitting with him, all I could say to him was "Please don't die." In that moment I remembered the movie that I hadn't seen in years. The part where Skip is sick and Willie pleads with him not to die, and he lives. I wanted Buddy to live. I wanted him to pick his head up and keep on going.

When my dad and I were burying him out by the tree in our backyard, a different part of the movie popped in my head. *SPOILER ALERT*

The part that ends the movie, when Willie goes off to college and finds out that Skip died. The quote so beautiful I couldn't help but find comfort in it, astounded that I had remembered it after so many years.

"I recieved a trans-atlantic call one day.

"Skip died", Daddy said.

He and my mama wrapped him in my baseball jacket.

They buried him out under the elm tree, they said.

That wasn't totally true.

For he really lay buried in my heart."

Some Lyrics

"Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry...

...and I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky...

...I'm gonna sit right here until I die."

-Johnny Cash-

Lately I can only appreciate beautiful lyrics if they're as depressing as I am.
I hope the old Trish comes back soon.
As of right now shes off somewhere far away...
...trying to drown her sorrows in a Big River.

A Much Needed Hiatus

I've been blogging alot lately, thanks to the shoe challenge and a bunch of new followers, but due to an unfortunate event, I have to take a break for a little bit. You see, this past sunday my family lost our dog of almost 14 years, Buddy (the black little photo-bomber in this post.)

Even though he was really old, he was still really healthy, so for him to get sick on saturday and die sunday, it was just too sudden. I honestly can't imagine going along, writing posts about shoes and makeup and outfits when I'm in this state of mind. I'll try and post as soon as I can, but I know it'll be a while.

I just wanted to write a quick post to tell you all to go out and appreciate everyone you love, human, dog, cat, fish, turtle, whatever. Don't take any of them for granted.
You never know how long they'll be around.

The Dad Dress

Last Saturday I spent my entire day locked in my room. Like a mad scientist I was intent on not leaving it until I created new life from something that had long been past. I realized how much of my time is spent starting something new, and how little time was spent actually finishing what I had started. I could blame lack of focus and constant new inspiration, but the truth lies in my insecurity. "What if, when I finish, I've spent so much time working on something that'll in the end, be not as impressive as I'd hoped?"

Saturday completely squashed those thoughts. I turned a part of my past into something I can carry into my future proudly, and I am currently riding that high like a wave that I hope will flow into my other projects like a tide washing over a sandy beach.

I have never been more proud to show you what I accomplished in 24 hours.

This was my dad's old work shirt. (Retired because he lost so much weight and now has no need for a 3X work uniform shirt)

 yes, the collar is now my waist belt.

 Once I got the top done, the bottom just had to be pleated and sewed on. I apologize for the pictures, it had been a long day and my camera battery was dying.

 (The buttons in this pic make it look like it's too tight but

I was standing in an awkward position so it was pulling a bit)

My dad was proud.

My dad's coworkers (who have the same uniform shirt) and their wives were amazed.

I was excited.

This is what I made.

With my own two hands, in one day.

The rush is intoxicating.