It's Here, It's Here, That Shocking Time of Year

Shocking as in, I can't believe that it's already May! It's May, it's May, the month of yes-you-may! The time for every frivolous whim, proper or "im!" Does anyone else like that musical? My dad introduced me to it when I was young, and while it's not my favorite musical, it does make me feel awfully nostalgic to remember my dad trying to inspire us with the ideals of Camelot.

Anyway, here is my list of interesting reading from last month, not all of it sewing-related:

• I'm sure everyone has already seen Tilly's analysis of the real cost of sewing, but here it is again anyway. I don't think it's very true of me, mostly because I cut a lot of corners when it comes to fabric choice. I mostly sew with thrifted sheets, and even when I make clothes from "real" fabric, it's from the discounted bin and is less than $3/yd more often than not. I also use the really thin, worn down sheets as my lining fabric, so that also saves money. Lastly, my patterns are always bought on sale at Joann's or thrifted; rarely do I use a pattern that costs more than a dollar. That said, I think my spendthrift ways do limit me in terms of what I can sew; I have yet to find a gorgeous silk or sturdy denim in thrift stores or the sale section of a fabric store. 
• Sue at Sewin' Steady posted about the odd embarrassment that comes with talking about one's me-made clothing. Personally, I get weirded out (but in the best way possible!) when people I am only good acquaintances with talk about how they read my blog. Sometimes I forget that my audience isn't just other sewists (who presumably have something to gain by reading my prattlings about fit and sewing techniques) and my closest friends (who don't sew, but read my blog out of pity because they don't live in TCOCC and want to hear about my life). I also get concerned when people find out I sew and then they ask if everything I'm wearing is made by me. If that's you, and you're reading this, I don't make screenprinted tees and jeans.
• Trena the Slapdash Sewist posted about the pricing on wedding (and RTW) dresses and concluded that non-sewists don't understand how much work it is to sew clothing. Having looked at the prices of lace and silk myself, I agree with her analysis. And I'm embarrassed by the fact that a mere two years ago (right before I started sewing seriously), I was outraged at having to pay $400 for alterations to my wedding dress. Now, I look at the lace appliques and the several layers of skirt (and with some experience sewing with chiffon and silk, and knowing how freaking annoying it is to take apart and alter a well-made garment) and think that my alterations lady really gave me a very fair price. It's akin to random solicitors who see my Star Wars dress and ask if I can make one for them for $30.
• In a similar vein, this older article on Etsy about the history of the cheap dress was also fascinating, especially as I toy with the idea of opening an Etsy shop. And even as a sewist who values (and makes) well-made, custom-fitted articles that will stand the test of time, I'm still tempted to go crazy at the sale racks at Forever 21 and H&M. When my sister and mom come home with adorable nautical-striped acrylic sweaters, my resolve to buy only five items of RTW clothing this year is severely tested. 
• Not sewing-related, but still close to my heart: a blogger for Tor posted about the lack of diversity in D&D characters. I myself play a purple-eyed, silver-haired eladrin, but I definitely noticed his points when I flipped through my manuals. If there were Asian-ish characters, I don't know that I would play them (for fear of dragon lady/geisha association baggage), but it would be nice to have the option to reject them, you know?
• Dressed in Time posted a brief catalog of odd-but-beautiful implements of yesteryear. I am totally going to be on the lookout for asparagus spoons now when I go thrifting!
• In case you need some cute in your life: this video of a kitten drinking milk has the best noises ever recorded in the history of the world. If I didn't have a vocal cat myself, I wouldn't have believed it possible. And then there's this book of art depicting life for Darth Vader and Luke had the former not been an absentee parent. I love the references to lines from the movies!
• Lier of Ikatbag had the chance to meet a legendary weaver, and graciously shared her experience with teh interwebs. I am always so impressed by people who are absolute masters (mistresses?) of their craft; I know I don't have that kind of dedication at all! I am more the type to try dabbling in everything (jack of all trades, master of none is totally me) and end up with half-assed attempts at all sorts of crafts. I did actually try tapestry weaving for a quarter when I was in college, and managed to produce this sad sampler:

At one time I entertained the idea of wearing this as a bizarre sort of scarf; now I just keep it in a drawer.

I don't remember what any of the terms are anymore, but I do remember that it was really tricky to keep the tension?
width? looseness of the weave? more or less even. The bit at the right was my very first section,
where I obviously had no idea what I was doing and made everything way too tight. 

Eventually I lost interest and returned my rented table loom, but I have so much respect for people who do this for a living! I also can't even imagine cutting into fabric you wove. Have any of you ever tried weaving? Are you multi-craft dabblers, like I am, or do you just have one or two crafts that you strive to perfect?