State of Project Minima: End of Year Three

~ painting by Gritty Jane  ~

Yes, end of May 2014 was the last quarter of the 3rd year for Project Minima.   My, my, etc.  So let's see what's been going on, shall we?

During this past Spring Quarter (March through May) I did a major reworking of my studio space, discovered the Chicago Sewcialists and met up with them at the Textile Discount Outlet, made 4 dresses, 2 pair of stockings/ tights, 1 slip and a raincoat.  Okay then, not bad, not bad at all.  You can see 'em on my Clothes for Spring page (or go to the posts during that time period).

Oh, I also bought shoes on e-bay, as well as some patterns and occasionally some cloth.

What seems the biggest adventure at this moment is my tablecloth house dresses.  I've made two during this quarter from donated pieces and just love them.  More are on their way...

The State of Project Minima: Year 3, Qtr. 3

A rite of passage, these last three months.  Only now have I realized I did all hand sewing during this time.  hmmm.  ahhh.  yes.  That's nice, just for 3 months - starting and then stopping without conscious thought - as my Mom slipped away. 

~ painting by Vilhelm Hammershoi ~

But right before this hand-sewing marathon...I received the blessings of the Traveling Yellow Skirt in the mail. You can read/ see all about this amazing week-long adventure starting with this post:  The Day the Yellow Skirt Came To Call.  I cannot express what a difference the TYS made in my life and my mom's at that time.

Meanwhile I'm a Calendar Girl

~ January 2014 ~

Yep, Susan finished her calendar with 12 pages of her watercolor paintings featuring yours truly in full ensemble.

January is titled Chicago Connection and places the infamous Yellow Traveling Skirt amongst Chicago landmarks such as (left to right) the Tower formerly called Sears, the Hancock Center, the Bean (see reflection of me in yellow skirt!), the Picasso, the face water fountain (with my younger face), the CTA el train, and Lake Michigan (which I am apparently walking on!)

The Yellow Skirt Waves Bye-Bye

While on the last day, the lady bids adieu to her spirited companion - the Yellow Skirt - with a spot of hot chai amongst friends.

Cheers!

Ahh, and here they are now.

The motley crew

Some extra tidbits to notice besides her tie-dyed rainbow t-shirt with added sequins and refashioned teal suede with satin lapel jacket, are the lady's shoes and jewelry.

Elfin boots from e-bay

and necklace made from old earrings

Snow not only arrived for the first time this season, but continued to accumulate as the ladies made their departure from the cafe.   Thus, making the perfect photo op on the final day of Pao's yellow skirtness.

Flashing the Yellow Skirt on a snowy street corner

And finally, we find the lady at her doorstep, looking for keys...

Dear Reader, do you see Vix's sign?!!

Ah well, now we see Pao sitting on the porch.  Perhaps she's waiting for the door to open?

~ this too will pass ~

I'm sure it will all work out fine.

I'm going to be joining the Visibles at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style.
So come on over!

Acknowledgements:

Take Your Yellow Skirt to School Day

And so it was on this day, the Lady wore the Yellow Skirt to one of our City Colleges, wherein she facilitates a painting group for picture-makers in the making. 

Of interest to our historians, is the more subdued look Pao achieved by layering a black chiffon slip over the Yellow Skirt.

~ Pao poses amidst the student storage area  ~

It seems one of the group wore his St. Nicholas cap and a spontaneous re-enactment commenced that children of Pao-land recognize with glee.

Hee Hee Hee

Another treat, dear Reader, is a portrait of the picture-maker, painting the picture, after taking the picture of our lady posing for the picture for our Pao Calendar 2014.

Susan, painting and Pao, posing

Susan will send the painting group our calendars before the end of the month!

detail of Pao and the Yellow Skirt by Susan

and Le boots

...the last day cometh soon...

The Yellow Skirt at Sunrise...and Mom

Here in Pao-land, the elders gather together during their transitional phase at a place called Sunrise.  It is settled in the middle of town, amongst all the liveliness a thriving metropolis has to offer.  It was there, then, the lady and her Yellow Skirt went to visit her one and only mother.

The Lady Accompanied by Her True Love at Sunrise

The great hall was festooned with the ancient symbols of a life celebrated whilst dying.  A tree cut down in its prime and ornamented.  Nature uprooted, brought indoors and be-ribboned along with tiny specks of colors twinkling day and night.

This is the scene our picture-makers reproduce most often, wherein the lady presents the Circle of Life to her Mother.

The Giving of the Wreath from Daughter to Mother

In actuality the Lady's Mother had made this Circle of Life her very self years ago, although she no longer remembers the fact. 

Check out those matching yellow socks!

The Lady's mother introduced Pao as her daughter to all those around her, and told everyone the story of the Yellow Skirt.  She was said to be very happy and repeated herself endlessly.  Afterward, Pao placed the Circle of Life on the front of her mother's door along with a photograph of this picture.  All who saw it smiled.


and yes, there's still more to come...

oh, and a gratuitous boot shot

...and I linked up with Sacramento's Share in Style Christmas here

and Sheila's Shoe Shine (a year later)!

The Yellow Skirt Visits the Hair Dresser

There is some discrepancy between our picture-makers and our word-writers about the order of happenings once the Yellow Skirt came to Pao-land.  Be that as it may, questioning whether the cow came before the milk is age-old and better left to rocket scientists.

Here is our lady dressing for the hair dresser.  Notice the spy glass she uses to get an objective view of herself.  This is an unofficial depiction of Pao and the Yellow Skirt in a more private moment.  The public, of course, just love it.

 The YTS, tie-dyed golden elephant dress & lipstick boots w/ roses

Titled 'Apres le Haircut at the Salon, Duet, with the Lady's Hairdresser of 30 Years'

a small metal paper fastener clips the Yellow Skirt (now dress) to form soft folds

And the Yellow Dress is Revealed along with the Fabulosity of an Excellent Cut of Hair

Not to mention, the Lipstick Ankle Boots rehabbed with Tiny Roses

...ah yes dear Reader, more is yet to come...

Later That Same Day...

...the Yellow Skirt found herself in the midst of a revolution.  And she was quite thrilled about it, really.

~ whistling whist she worked ~

For this very eve was a gathering of the Sewing Rebellion, held at the newest rebel's home this month.

All Pao had to do was add an under layer to her ensemble and she was ready to venture forth into that cold, cold world.

same as it ever was...with added pink T & tights + switch to golden boots

It was here, Pao made a sweet nothing/ little something to companion the Skirt on her travels to other lands.

It's a bracelet!

And the YTS was officially initiated into the club of renegade seamsters:

Plain as Day

still to be continued...

How the Yellow Skirt Woke Her Up

Truth be told, pao-land had been floundering twixt day and night, night and day.  Speculation arose that the lady's daily activities often went missing.  All things seemed quiet, brooding... And here, dear Reader, is where we now say the story began:  How the Yellow Skirt Saved the Nick in Her Time.

Some may find it surprising that the first thing our Pao did upon receiving such a gift,  - it is said by those who would surely know such things -  was to put it away in a drawer, its energy whelming all around it.  There it generated good medicine, until the lady was able to think thoughts along the same wave length, ideas of unique positivity, creativity, and community.   Our chant goes like this:

Pao gradually opened her eyes

and her heart

and her closet

to the here and now possibilities

The Day the Yellow Skirt Came to Call

You Are Welcome

The miracle hit pao land in the nick of time.  It was rumored she'd dropped out of the blogdom for the last month or two. 

Yes, it happened suddenly, out of the blue.  A package was found on her door step wrapped with angels and a cat.

 all the way from the land of Sue @  A Colorful Canvas

Well, I can tell you for a fact, dear Reader, that pao has found beyond any doubt: wearing a yellow skirt a day, keeps the blues at bay.  Yes, it does.  And so the story goes...

Pao decided she really needed an extraordinary dose of magical yellow skirted goodness these days, and as one thought led to another thought, over some time, she had an idea that felt just right for her.  Whatever could that be, you might wonder?

to be continued...

The State of Project Minima: Year 3, 2nd Qtr.

Time flies.  And so do I, in circles, orbiting around my Mom's downward spiral, now in hospice.  sigh.

painting by Irene Ferguson

Everything is okay, as well as can be, all things considered.  yeah.  

I've been sewing this quarter anyway, although not picture-taking.  yet.  

And I've just heard I'm next in line for the Traveling Yellow Skirt!  

How cool is that?!  

Just what the doctor ordered to get me out of the blues 

and into sunshine yellow blogospheric fashion is serious sistah blissness.   

Can I get it together to do stats...?  I don't have anything posted that I made this quarter so it's not so easy to do...hmmm.   

Ed. note:  I've just posted all the items made in Fall Quarter on the Clothes for Fall page.