One Down, Over A Dozen To Go!

Last Friday was opening night of our first show of the season, "Putting It Together". It was also my first show as the theatre's staff cutter/draper. I'm really happy with the work I did for this show (tangible & otherwise). I made a killer red dress (I think there's one in almost every show in the history of the world). It's red. It's super quality silk. The actor totally rocked it. That's always nice.

Now to breath for 1 second. We load the next show out next week. I've got Sewing Circle, Sew What, 3 craft shows & 3 photo shoots to prepare for. Wait, when did I get to breath?

Life's Busy

So I started back to work this week. So far so good. I was out of work for about 2 1/2 months and it's really nice to get back to a routine (and a paycheck).

Before returning to work I starting beating myself up that I didn't get more accomplished. I did alot but I also "wasted" alot of time in which I could have been doing something enriching or productive. Why does that time spent always seems to burn into my memory. I started asking myself, "What could you have done or gotten accomplished to not feel this way?" The honest answer to myself was, "Nothing". I have come to realize about myself that I feel as though I am never productive enough. That's so sad! I need balance in that area of my life.

I got Lucky Zelda up & over 100 items this summer (and maintained the over 100 items while making 20 sales in the process). I built a dress for a friend, 2 shirts for myself & did many alterations for another friend. That's alot of stuff. But that's not 2 1/2 months worth of stuff. I could have been riding my bike for exercise. I could have been visiting more friends & family. I could have been cooking more meals & cleaning the house. I could have gotten the shop to 150 items. I could of, I could of, I could of... sigh.

While I may sound defeated I do feel rested. So that's good. While I may sound as though I feel I wasted alot of time I do feel like I used it well. Not the most productively. But well. So that's good. I need to have that be as okay in my unconscious mind as in my conscious mind.

Neglectful

It has been pointed out to me by a couple of friends that I haven't blogged in a while. Holy cow! May was my last post! That's horrible! Though there's been much goin' on I guess I have felt like I'd be being redundant in blogging since I've started using the black-hole-of-motivation known as Facebook. But one of the the things me no like-y about FB is there doesn't seem to be a place for writing posts. All the more reason I should not have neglected my blog. So with the probability of being redundant, here's what's been going on.

I've been off from SCR since the last week of May. I'll be starting up there again on August 10th. While I love being off & doing whatever I please, I do tend to miss the routine of a work week (paychecks make it nicer too).

I've been doing tons of sewing with my almost 2 1/2 months off. I've done lots of alterations for a friend from Bible study. I've built a bridesmaid's dress for another friend and I've built up Lucky Zelda to over 100 items.

June was Lucky Zelda's best month in it's 2 year history with 10 sales. That was awesome and very encouraging. Sometimes I'll go a long time without selling something that I've made & the little negative voice starts to hiss "why bother?". Because I enjoy it that's why. So shut up little pitiful voice!

The last bit of June & 1st couple days saw Kaisara & I on a road trip. We stayed in Monterrey for a couple nights. Rode our bikes over 20 miles, went to the aquarium & ate some delicious BBQ. We stayed at a lovely little B & B that we won't be returning to due to after hearing a conversation the manager was having on the phone. Horrifying. That really put a dent on what had been such a nice stay until then. After Monterrey, we headed further north to Ashland, Oregon with a dual purpose: finally see a show at the famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival and to visit several friends that now work up there. Ashland is beautiful, the show was great and catching up with old friends was soooo nice. From there we headed south to the Sacramento area to stay a few days with my Uncle Jack & Aunt Debbie (Mom & Dad's BFF's from high school). It was so great to see them & my cousins. It'd been shamefully too long since we'd seen them & we don't plan on that being the case next time.

My Dad & I were planning on road tripping cross country on his motorcycle but that has since been postponed. Maybe next summer.

Kaisara & Daryl have been officially hired at our church, Arbor Christian Fellowship as co-worship leaders. They've been playing together for over 12 years and they just keep getting better and better.

July 12th Kaisara & I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary making that 20 years together. We even still like each other.

Other than some walks with Zelda (including our maiden voyage to the dog beach), that's pretty much it. Though I'm sure I've left something out.

Wearing Jesus

I've been in the best Bible study for years now. Our teacher, Marci, is amazing. I've learned so much from her and her passion to teach God's word within culture & context. I'm sad we're almost done for the season. Sigh...

We've been studying the writings of Paul. He's been very difficult. The "Pharisee of Pharisees" has been hard to understand. I'm glad I've stuck with it though.

This season, we've been in Romans. This week was, I think, I'm first real "Ah-ha" of the season. Not that I haven't learned anything because I have. But this week was neat. I thought I'd share it with you. Whomever you are.

We were at the end of chapter 13 of Romans. In verse 14 it says to "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ...". As Marci often does she asked us a "Reflect" question: "What do you think Paul was saying when he told the believer to, "Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ"? At first I was going to rush right by it. I never know what Paul means. He's Paul. He's difficult to get. Then I worried, "I don't know, I just make costumes." But I reflected a little longer. I'm glad I did. Here's what I wrote & shared with my small group:

"Clothes are a way to reflect & communicate who you are to yourself & to others. Especially in those (Biblical) times, you are what you wear."

Other people in my group had great answers too. Me being a costumer, I was the only one who went to actual clothes. That made us smile. But a group member told Marci, the gist of what I said & after class, she wanted to hear exactly what I said. She liked it too. On my drive home I kept reflecting (I guess I liked that people liked what I said).

As I drove I was reflecting on my answer. I needed to get my thoughts in a row. I decided to write Marci an email further explaining my thoughts. Again, I thought I'd share it with you too. Here it is:

I was reflecting more about my "reflection" for question #14 on my drive home from tonight's study. I was considering it even more in the world I work, the theatre. I guess I came to my answer to your question not only by worrying to myself "I can't answer that. I just make costumes." But by then reflecting on what a costume and clothes do.

A costume not only tells the audience who an actor is playing (that's, I guess, a given). But it (the costume) has told and continues to tell the actor how to portray their character. How to become that character. An actor recently told our shop, "I'm so glad when the costume does all the work." He saw his costume as a direction of how to stand, sit, walk. His costume dictated to him how he could interact & move around his fellow actors and even set pieces. A costume can prevent an actor from doing some things they thought may be good for the character and then give them insights into other ways of becoming their character that they hadn't thought of prior to their costume fitting.

I guess when I read Paul's message to "clothe yourself in Christ" I'm considering what Christ is and how do I clothe myself with him. How do I wear Jesus? And why? I was reminded of your teaching that a disciple's goal is to become their rabbi. By clothing myself in Jesus I am training myself to become my Rabbi as an actor does a character. I am making a statement to myself of how to live. How to treat myself & others. How I behave, and how I move throughout this life among my cast mates and set pieces. As with an actor, it's a continual process that continues far past fittings, rehearsals and opening night. It continues throughout the run of the show and doesn't end until the final curtain of the final show and they no longer need that costume. They then move to the next role in their life.

To the audience a costume is an immediate communicator of who that actor has become. Only of course if it's a good one. A poorly designed and/or poorly worn costume doesn't communicate very clearly. My cast mates and audience members should know by the "clothes" I wear that I am a disciple of my Jesus. They should know instantly that I am different from the other characters in the play and be drawn to that difference and want to discuss that difference after the show over coffee with one another.

This of course is not to belittle the practice of one's Christian life to the level of putting on a play. The clothing oneself in Jesus, of course, needs to be genuine of heart and a life changing deed. Not a deed that we take off when the crowds are gone & the spotlight is off. But this was the analogy (is that the right word?) that spoke to me.

Thanks for letting me indulge what may be a narcissistic post.

Selling our Wares

This Saturday, April 25th my friend Bronwen & I are participating in San Gabriel's 20th annual Grapevine Festival & Car Show which is an awesome craft show and this is the 2nd year they've added a classic car show. In the past it's been a 3-day event seeing 10,000 people walking through. This year the event is only one day but we're hoping all of those 10,000 still show up. If you're in the area or are ready for a road trip, please stop by to see us.

We're also participating in a show in May 17th. Our goal is to sell ALL of our inventory this weekend so we'll be freaking out (on a pile of cash) to get more inventory ready for May's show.

Should you choose to swing by Google this address for directions: 620 W. Santa Anita, San Gabriel, CA.

Having A Great Time

My mom today said something that made me happy. She was told that many people in their mid-thirties aren't happy since their not in their twenties any more & life is really responsible and such. Not that I'm in my mid-thirties (after all, I'm only 34) but it still made me smile. No, I'm not in my twenties. So what. Sure they were fun but so is this. I'm having a great time. Despite a bulging C7 disk & buzzing legs, I'm having a great time. I've got work doing something I absolutely love, a super cute swing dance partner who finds me amazing (& me him), a funny dog that thinks I'm the center of the universe & last-but-not-least a growing relationship with my Creator. An amazing family and group of friends (those are really one in the same aren't they) that loves me for me and that loves to laugh helps to make my life awesome even in the ever approaching mid-thirties. People in their 30's are sad? I'm sad that they're not (or don't realize) that they're as blessed as me. BRING ON 35! I'm gonna ROCK IT!

Rug Cutters

Kaisara & I have 1 more week in our Lindy Hop class. We're having a blast. It has really paid off. We've gotten sooo much better. Kaisara's a better lead & much to his relief, I'm a better follow (I was pretty awfull in the following a lead catagory). We still crack ourselves up, but won't that always be the case? We try not to be too disruptive & even our instructors giggle at us. We'll have to check out the finances but we wanna take the next series. I think we're ready to actually dance a little outside of class (I'm sure spectators will laugh almost as much as we will).