My Bedroom

I've been collecting small frames with details such as cutouts, carvings or odd shapes for many years now. I painted them all gloss black and printed out some of my favourite paintings. I tinted small areas of each one with acrylics. Some of the artists  - Frida Kahalo, Gottfried Helnwein, Disney's Haunted Mansion, Miguel Calderon, Caesareo Ruiz, Mark Ryden, Camille Rose Garcia, Gustav Adolf Mossa, Thomas Eakins, Edward Killingworth Johnson, Jose Guadalupe Posada, William Adolphe Bouguereau etc... and I am always adding! I got the late sixties headboard at the Sally Ann for $2!

Outfit Post - High Waist Skirt

I'm wearing a high waist polished cotton skirt from Sears, purchased at a thrift store in Fresno. The shirt is from K-Mart a few years ago. I bought two when they went on clearance. My shoes are from Ross.

Objects To Covet

1. Three Strap Mary Jane
2. Bow Print Dress
3. Alexander McQueen Skull Clutch
4. Winter Coat
5. Antique Yellow Gold Moonstone Spider Brooch
6. Gilded Skulls Pumps

Outfit Post - Skull Sweater

I just received my new skull sweater in the mail from ModCloth! I've been looking for a sweater like this for 5 years or more. All the ones I could find were either too small or too big. The tie neck shirt I made, from stretch rayon and Halloween organza from JoAnns. Most people never notice the dots on the sleeve and tie are skulls. The skirt is from Rue 21, but bought at a consignment store. I like the skirt so much I made a copy of it from a silk dress from Goodwill that was $1.29. The most awesome thing was - my boss loved my sweater and I can wear it to work!

Tag Blankie & Felt Shoes

According to Lotta from Simple Sewing For Baby, babies like to suck on clothing labels. Who knew? I hope she's right, because I made this "tag blankie" for the upcoming little one. It's just a square with ribbon loops sticking out. The felt shoes are made from pre-printed felt I found at JoAnns, it made me think of a Tim Burton movie. The soles are bright green as well. I dyed several onesies black last night, only they came out a dark gray instead. Still, it's better than having every onesie bright white.

Skeleton Burrito/Snuggler

I finished this the other night. It's a burrito/swaddler hybrid thingy made from skeleton cotton and super soft Ultracuddle. Beware Ultracuddle! It has the look of fleece, but the unholy mess of fur. I cut the fabric out in front of the fireplace and my boyfriend wanted to know if our cat had drug something in and shredded it. Anyway, it'll be nice for baby, who is due New Year's Eve. The pattern is from Simple Sewing For Baby. The pattern was ok, nothing to write home about.

Goth/Punk Diaper Covers

Two diaper covers made with McCalls Pattern 6108. Super easy patten, I'm making bibs from the same pattern as well. The greens match much more in person. Since I still don't know the sex of the baby, I've decided to stick with black, white and lime green. For the most part. Perhaps a bit of red. Or gray. Maybe I should separate them into "collections", then I wouldn't feel bad about things not matching.

Creepy Paintings Of Children

Some prints around my house have been giving me ideas for baby clothes, especially Ray Caesar. If only I could find that baby carriage!

Ballet Twins by Sandra Yagi , Beloved - Ray Caesar, ? - Gottfried Helnwein, The Shining -Kathie Olivas

A Visit To the Mariposa Cemetery

 If you are in Northern California, perhaps on a visit to Yosemite, I urge you to visit the Mariposa Cemetery. Its right off of the main drag, behind the Catholic church. They have a little pamphlet for 50¢ that gives you a wonderful tour of the tombstones.

Left - Augustus L. Castor Occupation Tin Shop owner on Main St., Mariposa 1860s.
Right - Bridget McGreer - Bridget married Robert McGreer on March 27th, 1864 when she was only 16. Seven and a half months after the wedding she died of typhoid fever on November 13th, 1864 along with her unborn baby. Note the tiny tombstone in front of hers.

Left - Etta Grosjean - Miss DeMoss married Davis Grosjean on March 10, 1900. On October 20th, 1900 she died in child birth at the untimely age of 17. Reminds me of the poem:

16 years a maiden,

One short year a wife,

6 hours a mother

And now I've lost my life.

Right - Bernard Hillen, a native of Ireland. Has my favourite dedication - Requiescat in pace.

Some Inspiriation For Sewing

1. Crocheted Baby Shoes   2. 667 Onesie  3. Skull Onesie  4. Cherry Skulls Bow Peep Dress  5. Pirate Dress

Decent Goth Baby Clothes Are Hard To Find

My friend is pregnant and she, like me, abhors pastels and cutesy crap. We both love baby animals, just not Osh Kosh versions with big heads and glitter everywhere. Searching in stores and online for goth or punk baby clothes has proved fruitless, for the most part, the only things available are printed onesies. So, I have decided to make a complete goth/punk trousseau for her.

First off are booties, since I don't know whether it will be a boy or girl. The love/hate booties I made first and are form Simplicity Pattern 2900, which is a re-issue of a 1950's pattern I also own. These booties are so easy, you barely need to know how to sew!  I smoothed out the scalloped edges and embroidered a line instead.

This pair of booties are made form some Halloween cotton I've been hoarding for years. The pattern is from Handmade Beginnings and was awful to work with. Overcomplicated, mislabeled and just plain stupid. My librarian is making the same pair for her granddaughter and is quite lost.  I am bringing her this pair to give her a visual reference. You can make these booties in half the time if you ignore all instructions!