Caught In A Web

Nerve-racking, but there's just no avoiding it. Caught in a web of research, and anxiously scanning for typos, and nervously re-reading the submission requirements, and compiling spreadsheets of dream makers, because it has to be done-- query letters must be sent out.

And like, sure, what's the worst thing that could happen? Form rejection letters neatly filing into my inbox confirming that perhaps my letter was crap, that maybe I did miss a typo or two, or that when they got to the word count they lost interest instantly. If such a thing-- indeed the most likely outcome of all-- should occur, I still have a story I love. I will get to keep my book to myself for a little while longer. Would that be so very terrible? No. 

Then of course I could get a request for a full, who knows, and then get to be extremely nervous over having missed typos in a much longer length of text. Eeeek! 

And so many people keep saying to me 'why don't you just self publish?' or the like, and the answer is still 'no'. I believe in traditional publishing. I believe agents and editors make books better. Large creative endeavors are improved by some collaboration. Directors get accolades for wonderful films, but hundreds of people make them possible. Even with notes from my wonderful beta readers this last year, the book has improved. It's better already for having received those notes and my making a few changes. Besides, imagine someone believing in your work enough to want to help you make it even better, help make it the best it can be, and help you get it in front of other people who will love it too? I'm not giving up on that chance before I've even made a go at it!

So if I go missing for a bit, as always-- I'm just tied to my desk. As we know it's where I love to be most. Though the only way out of reading endless articles of conflicting advice about finding a literary agent and submission guidelines (and 'dire mistakes killing your query', and the dreaded 'it's not your query it's the book' death sentence) for me seems to be getting sucked into Attack on Titan again (re-watching before diving into season 3). Hey, whatever works. In this horror filled world we live in, a horror filled distraction sometimes fits the bill. 

I hope you all have a fun Halloween. Mine is going to plenty scary-- both before and after I work up the courage to hit send. 

Skirt & Bolero: Made by me
Top: Old Navy
Fishnets: TJ Maxx
Shoes: Royal Vintage Shoes
Petticoat: Malco Modes
Hat, Gloves, & Clutch: Vintage

Sunday Spotlight: Halloween Round-Up

I'm sure many of you have been busy celebrating Halloween all weekend, but I have been spending the lead up to all hallows eve sewing of course! What else ;) Still, working with sequin spider web tulle and black cotton sateen isn't such a bad way to spend a weekend. Since I am so busy this year, I thought I'd gather up some of my own Halloween posts from the past few years and a few other links for you all to peruse while you wait for the clock to officially click over to the 31st.

Halloween Worthy Editorials (2015)

Halloween Party Tips (2014)

Photos from my visit to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in England! Post #1 & #2

Costumes From Your Closet: Vol. 1   Vol. 2   Vol. 3

From the rest of the internets:

~ Subdued and Gorgeous Halloween decorations from Corinne at Stuck With Pins. 

~ Super cute Halloween colored outfit from Rebecca at The Clothes Horse.

~ Dark and Stylish Halloween decor from Apartment Therapy.

~ Super cute and very well done fall lookbook video from Rachel (of racheldarling_ on instagram).

~ The album I have on repeat this weekend, Dead Man's Bones. Perfectly spooky for this time of year <3

I hope all of you had a most wonderfully spooky and spectacular Halloween weekend! I'm off to edit some fun photos for tomorrow's outfit post ;)

Spinning in a Web

Velvet spider webs on a black taffeta ground, how was I supposed to resist this fabric? Not even the fact that it is a stiff polyester or acetate of some kind could deter me, I had to make something from this glorious novelty textile! Joann's festive collection this year was really quite good, go snatch up whatever is left (I'm sure it's on sale by now too!).

Of course another circle skirt won out, I do love a circle skirt these days. Even if they do take hours to hem; this one and its fall leaf cotton cousin from earlier this week took me half a day just to finish the hems! Still, it is always worth the effort once I slip this skirt style over a petticoat and get to twirl around for a bit feeling like a princess. I paired the finished skirt with an emerald green sweater to match the sparkling green eyes of my spindly rhinestone spider brooch. Topped off with my trusty black velvet hat, I was ready to stomp around the local castle (okay, its not a real castle but it does the job) before heading out to run errands. And yes people do look at me funny when I push my cart around Target dressed like this, but it doesn't matter when I feel like a spider queen.

I am all kinds of busy this week and all I really want to do is sleep in! I'm dreaming of the weekend, though I still will have a bunch to get done then on the sewing front, at least I can have a lazy morning (or two) ;). I hope you are all having a wonderfully spooky week as we draw closer to Halloween!

Sweater: Forever 21
Skirt: Made by me
Shoes: Modcloth
Hat, Jewelry, & Handbag: Vintage

Costumes From Your Closet: Vol. 3

All Hallows Eve approaches, and I know you all like to prepare a costume in advance right? Even if Halloween is on a Monday this year, bummer! Last year I did two posts about quick retro costumes you could probably pull at least 50%-ish of from an average retro/vintage gal's closet, and well-- I'm back again this year with 5 more ideas! (Last year's posts here and here).

Frenchy

Got some pink 50's clothes? Add a pink or strawberry blond (or any of her other hair colors in the film!) curly wig, and a pink ladies jacket too if you are dedicated :) I used to really love Grease when I was a kid, and when I watched it for the first time as an adult I was scandalized at how dirty it was having never realized of course in my naive youth! Still, Grease was probably my earliest exposure to 1950's style and I still love the stylized mid-century design. Any of the pink ladies are excellent options for Halloween, and it would be a super great group costume for a troupe of friends!

Agent Peggy Carter

I selfishly left Peggy off of my lists last year because, well, I was Peggy last year! I'll probably go as Peggy again this year too actually, she's one of my favorite characters after all. If you have got any 1940s suiting or separates you can totally put the agent Carter look together with ease. A button down blouse in silk with either a dark colored skirt or high waisted trousers work well too if you don't want to go for the full suit look. I made some fake SSR file folders and picked up a cheap plastic pistol for my costume last year and had tons of fun posing as Peggy!

Gaby Teller

I really loved the recent The Man From Uncle film as I found the style totally captivating! (The soundtrack is amazing too btw, give it a listen!) Gaby Teller is a total babe and I really wish the film had done better so we could have gotten squeals. If you've got a mod dress and some white accessories you could easily pull together a Gaby costume, just add one of those cute opposing agents and some secret spy gadgets :)

Early Aviatrix 

You can't go wrong pulling style inspiration from some pioneering women of the past, so why not go as an early aviatrix this Halloween? Plus a nice leather jacket will keep you warm even if you are only flying from pub to pub on a Halloween crawl. As it is already quite chilly by Halloween here in Colorado, I always try and keep comfort in mind while brainstorming costumes! I realize many of us don't have jodhpurs hanging in the closet, but just think of how a costume would be a great excuse to finally get a hold of a pair. The goggles are readily found in costume shops or online and you're good to go!

So what are you all going as for Halloween this year? I'll be at work during the day so I'll probably just wear my Peggy dress for fun and handing out candy in the evening. I don't care if I am an "adult" now, I still love dressing up, so much so that I could never resign such fun to only one day a year ;)

Chantilly Mourning

A dear professor of mine at university was kind enough to pass a few items of historic clothing from her collection to mine after she had done a big cleaning of her sewing room. One of the items she gave me was this absolutely tissue thin and very delicate Victorian Chantilly lace mourning shawl. It is undoubtedly gorgeous, but touching it is like handling a dried spider's web it is so fragile and old. Most of the time I keep it safely away, but I allowed it this one outing in honor of Halloween.

Some of you may remember this Tudor inspired dress from last winter. I still love these crazy Borgia's (as in the TV show) inspired sleeves! I do want to redo the hem of this dress eventually and eek out a little more length. This time I paired it with some jewelry made with fun gothic charms from the craft store and a vintage belt I found thrifting years ago. The sheer tights I have on are my favorite black back-seam's (from Hanes, I get mine on Amazon) and sadly I got attacked by a thistle-ish prickly plant while taking these photos and had little barbed seed pods stuck all over the stockings down the back of my legs! Pulling those off was fun I assure you! I suppose I will need to order a few more pairs before winter descends again!

I have discovered a new way to curl my hair, not that the method itself is at all new, but it is done by winding slightly twisted sections around the curling iron with the barrel clamp closed. I know this is not a revolutionary technique, but for some reason I had never done it that way before and I am quite pleased with the results. I am trying to make it to the new year before cutting my hair again and this more Game of Thrones wave style of curling is helping me to like having my hair long again!

I hope everyone is having a lovely week leading up to Halloween, I'll be back in the sewing room again today as I try and finish the orange l'anglaise!

Dress: Made by me
Belt: Vintage
Shoes: Target
Tights: Amazon
Necklace and Earrings: Made by me
Ring: Etsy (here)