Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Returning from Seattle in Time for Prom

For Promaballoona, that is! In case you missed it, I guest-posted today over in Kalkatroona about my second-awkwardest date ever.* And for those of you eagerly waiting to see my curtain prom dress, don't hold your breath because I've still got the hem left to do.

My camera died before we even got on the plane, so these are all iPhone snaps.

In the meantime, I'm back from Seattle and missing its aggressive greenery greatly. Aggressive is the only way to describe it -- I felt like I was being visually assaulted by all the emerald-colored foliage -- but oh, it was so, so beautiful. I think if I didn't live in California, I'd be happy to live in Seattle. All of that tasty food, the walk-or-bike-whenever-you-possibly-can culture (or at least, that was the vibe I got in Capitol Hill, which is where we stayed), and the enormous thrifting potential. Seriously, I could have come home with a whole suitcase of sheets and vintage sewing patterns; it was only with great restraint (and imagining the look on my husband's face) that I managed to come home with only two sewing books, a few patterns, and a vintage buttonhook for my Astorias.

In case you can't tell, it's so green in Seattle that it's not enough for there to be trees everywhere -- no, moss needs to grow on the tree branches, too, just to maximize greenness. It looks like adorable fuzzy green caterpillars are enveloping the tree.

Since this was my first time visiting Seattle, we did the normal tourist things, like going to the Pike Place Market, Queen Anne Hill, Space Needle, and biking around Fremont and Ballard. And since I didn't get a chance to do Me Made May this year, I opted for a Me Made Seattle Trip. Good thing I've been working on more practical, wearable pieces lately!

Day 1: My nautical shorts and a quick tee made from the leftovers of the coral stripe dress, at a random quilt shop.

I know the iPhone picture doesn't do justice to this quilt, but it was AMAZING. It almost makes me want to take up quilting.

I've always loved topographical maps, and this one is fantastic.
Day 2: My raglan sleeve top, appropriately floral in the Volunteer Park Conservatory.

Riding a camel at the Asian Art Museum. They had an absolutely gorgeous display of Central Asian hand-woven, historical ikat fabrics and robes, but no pictures were allowed inside.
Day 3: Floral dolman sleeve top, at the Dale Chihuly's Seattle Center Gardens and Glass.

It was, as Nikki put it, was "everything you'd ever want in a Dale Chihuly museum." I've done some lampworking myself in college, so seeing glass done at this scale was breathtaking. Seriously, go see it if you get a chance. 

The Space Needle, as seen from the bottom through the greenhouse-y thing.
We went to Prospect Park at the top of Queen Anne Hill to take in the view. The Space Needle looks so tiny!
Day 4: Light turquoise dolman sleeve sweatshirt, which you can barely see, for biking around. This is our only picture that day, at Gasworks Park. On Day 5, I wore my Fake Renfrew to go to the airport (not pictured).

After last year's Me Made June in England and France, it was fun doing another, shorter, me-made vacation, having since shored up some of the gaps in my wardrobe. And if you don't recognize the dolman-sleeved tops, it's because I haven't blogged them yet...but that's because I'm working on another free, printable pattern! Maybe even multi-sized!

*My hands-down, awkwardest date ever was with a physics teacher (are you sensing a theme here?). He took me on a hike of Mount Diablo, and at the top asked me to be his girlfriend. I was totally caught off-guard, awkwardly stammered out a no and some vague reasons, and then we had the whole hike back down to make stilted small talk...

18 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you had a good time in Seattle! I love Seattle so mich and it makes me so happy when people visit and love it too. I live in Capitol hill too, it's such a great neighborhood for eating and walks. Glad you got to experience it! And awesome job with your me-made vacation outfits :)

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    1. Oh, Seattle was such a lovely place...you're so lucky to live there! I loved Capitol Hill and how adorable all the houses and shops and restaurants are.

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  2. V excited about the possibility of a multi-sized pattern!! And Seattle looks great, I love the photos of the glasswork.

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    1. I'm excited, but also concerned about my pattern grading! Thankfully, it's a fairly simple pattern.

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  3. Even with an iPhone, you got some great photos! and you look great in your outfits!

    Your high school dating stories are what I imagine my dating life would have been like had I tried to date in high school. (Apparently, little 5'3" me was too "intimidating" to ask out on a date according to a guy who told my best friend.) As it turned out, my husband & I were actually engaged before we went on an official first date, lol! I guess I'm too Vulcan or something.

    Oooh glasswork - especially Chihuly glass! When it cools off a little here in Texas, my husband and I plan to go to see the Chihuly exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum. =)

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    1. I am continually amazed at the iPhone's ability to take pretty decent pictures.

      That was my only date in high school (the physics teacher was when I was also a teacher), although I found out later that a good guy friend wanted to ask me to prom but was too scared. We can't be that intimidating, can we? ;)

      Oh, do go see it! His works are so beautiful!

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  4. Great pics! I especially like the one towards the bottom with all those little drink umbrellas or whatever they are....

    It sounds like an awesome trip, and you had some awesome clothes to wear for it. :-)

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    1. I think they were meant to be flowers...they're all made of glass and quite large, to boot!

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  5. i just... physics teacher? i had so many seattle questions for you... and now my mind is blown...

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    1. Haha, I was a teacher then, so it wasn't some sketchy teacher-student thing!

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  6. I live in Seattle and I'm a beginning sewer myself. Would you consider listing some of the places you found good pattern and fabric deals? I would love to know where to go besides my local sewing shop in Queen Anne which is not cheap.

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    1. I found a bunch of patterns at the Value Village in Capitol Hill, downstairs by the bed/bath section. That said, they're mostly 80s/90s, with a fair selection of 60s/70s thrown in. I like the latter eras, so that's fine with me, but don't expect to find too much of a modern selection. At only $0.39 each, though, one can't really complain. I also like sewing with vintage/thrifted sheets instead of new fabric (more eco-friendly!), so the fact that they had racks and racks of sheets was like Christmas for me. If you're looking for new or specific fabric (e.g. knits, or all-natural fiber content), I can't help you, as I don't know the area. If you're talking about Nancy's Sewing Basket in Queen Anne, my goodness, that is a pricey but gorgeous shop!

      There were also more pricey vintage patterns ($1 each) at the Fremont Flea Market and at random vintage stores in Capitol Hill. Hope that helps!

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  7. I'm also a chemistry teacher, and have been stalking reading your blog for a while (found via Oona, via Tanit-Isis, via Selfish). You were here for the good weather! I'm having problems finding fabrics on the Eastside, and I'm not as advanced as you, but maybe I'll get there someday. Next time, take a tour at Theo Chocolate!

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    1. I was surprised every morning by how nice it was! I do hope to visit Seattle again, so I'll put Theo Chocolate on the list of things to do.

      I'm such a n00b, I don't even know what/where the Eastside is!

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    2. Theo is my favorite, although there are several chocolatiers that do tours/tastings.

      Eastside is everything east of the Sound, over the bridges. It's kinda a whole different world of suburbia away from the city.

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  8. Glad you had a fun trip! That is impressively, aggressively green. And yes, that quilt is astonishing.

    Can't wait to see about the new shirts. :)

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  9. Oh, Seattle is beautiful! And it looks like you had a great time with your friends. I love all of your outfits - comfy and classy! Very well done, and I'm excited to see your official posts on all of the new goodies you were wearing!

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  10. We had our wedding at the Seattle Asian Art Museum - in fact, I have several pictures of my husband and his groomsman sitting on that camel! We had the ceremony downstairs in a theater-type room and then we had the galleries open for our guests (it was after-hours). It was amazing! Good to see you had fun!

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