The first professional one I've gotten since 2004 when the woman who cut my hair made me look like Rhinestone-denim jacket-wearing Reba McEntire from the 1990s. That's what I get for going to "The Hair Port." I've never paid so much for a hair cut, but I got a free beer (score!), I can go in within the next few days and get it tweaked for free, I get free bang trims, and the salon is in my neighborhood.

In other news, I got promoted to Research Assistant II at work, got a 5% raise, and a bonus! I was beyond shocked. During my yearly review the partners said some very nice things and I'm really lucky to have such a great job.

I've been knitting again and made a-tad-bit-too-big cream color version of this knitted headband with some scrap yarn I had: http://blog.a-common-thread.com/2009/10/knit-pattern-moss-stitch-bow-headband.html

I also knitted a huge gray cowl in a seed stitch that I love!

School started this week and I cannot wait for it to be over.

On a hand carved Victorian wall bracket! We went to our first live auction today and there was a bit of a bidding war but I got it!





Ever since I bought our 1850s desk I've been hell bent on buying more mid-19th century furniture and this is a nice addition to our growing collection.

Just saw Young Victoria and the costuming was beautiful! The fit of the dresses was perfect! The fabrics were luxurious! I'm in love with Prince Albert! Now I'm inspired to start sewing again!

The knitted jacket is so out of my league right now, so I found another project to practice the brioche stitch:


I've been working looong days at work this week. I got to work an hour early yesterday and stayed until 9:30 at night. No sleeping in this weekend either since it is free breakfast at IKEA Saturday and Sunday, plus the antique fair is this Sunday as well. Too much to do and to little time!

I've been mucking my way through the directions for an 1850s knitted jacket pattern that I came across last week. I still can't figure out if I need to use 4-thread wool and work in double knitting or 8-ply wool in plain knitting.

I've been practicing the different stitches it calls for and I'm almost to the brioche stitch, which I've never attempted before. Thankfully, I found some wonderful tutorials on Youtube to answer most of my stitch questions. I also discovered that the knitting technique I was taught is a variation of sorts, but I've since taken up the English version. I understand the merits of knitting Continental style, but I drop way too many stitches and my tension is all over the place!

I just got this sweet-ass 1850s desk for a steal! Oh, yeah, and Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins was there when I bought it.

Ian and his buddies hung out with Ryan Gosling (The Notebook, Lars and the Real Girl) yesterday and through the night.

Pear Cider + Rum and Cider + Kevin + Charles + A dreamy Prince Albert + Intentionally bad male cross dresser = Good times!



Ian, Heather, and I.



This picture doesn't do Prince Albert justice. He was gorgeous!

Ian and I are going with some friends this year, but I feel like everything I have is "played out." I'm thinking about wearing my brown silk taffeta dress, but putting some bows down the front of the bodice, as seen in some 1850s images.
Here's a bad example,


The dress has short sleeves and is more of a dinner dress, but I want to wear something fancy and not just my usual bubble print dress. I also want to make a belt to jazz it up a bit. I bought a small gold buckle a little while back, but haven't made a belt to use it with yet.

I also wanted to get a pretty drastic haircut (maybe above the shoulders?), but that has been put off until after the Faire. I have enough trouble as is with doing my hair at the length it is now, I doubt I'd be able to conjure up any hair magic with the new haircut. That, or I just wear my bonnet the whole time, but then, which bonnet?! I have a white bonnet that I love, but it's not very "London in winter" like the event proposes.

Decisions, decisions. . .

The Kyoto Fashion book (the hardbound 700+ page version) is on sale at Barnes & Noble for $19.98. I might be the only person without this book, but just wanted to let everyone know about it. I'm getting my copy for Christmas!

search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp