Denim Obsession

I have been meaning to write this post for quite sometime now; thinking of denim, and composing bits in my head. Having just re-read Zero History, I feel prepared to write it, perhaps thoroughly. Unfortunately, and probably not in the tone of William Gibson, which is how I hear it in my head.

Fan image ( I think) of Gabriel Hounds logo from Zero History

The content of Zero History is the entire sum of my knowledge of Japanese denim. I feel that I know the theory, though not the reality of the thing. I think that I understand a bit of the obsession which  seems to underlie so many things Japanese. The continuous search for the "perfect" pair of jeans (aka: the perfect pair for me) and not just the perfect pair, but several pairs, and readily available please; is a task in which I know that I am not alone. The perfect pair being NOT stretch (no spandex please, not even that stupid 1%,) NOT skinny (this looks good on exactly 2% of the population,) NOT distressed ( I am so sick of faux patination in lieu of quality.) Low waist. 501 Originals with the rise about 3 inches lower? Jean styles being the trend besotted things that they are, finding even a single pair that matches this description is approximately hopeless, and increasingly frustrating.

I can't help but feel that such a thing is available to those much more on the bleeding edge of coolness than I shall ever be. Perhaps those who live in cities like London and Tokyo, and who frequent high quality denim bars.

So, in my exhaustive (ing) search online, in desperation I typed in "custom jeans." I found this.   I live in fear that this new discovery will somehow disappear, and that I will be relegated to chasing my dream again. I suffer from a sort of desperate desire to order enough pairs to last my lifetime.

My new favorite jeans.

My first pair of custom jeans was based on measurements cobbled together by repeatedly pulling on my favorite ripped jeans and measuring, and laying them out, and measuring again. They are a thing of beauty. They are a lightweight 10 oz denim, very soft, and deep dyed: the least expensive (They start at $40) jeans on makeyourownjeans.com (click Custom Jeans - FIX measurements.) The sit low on my waist, and fall just short of hitting the floor when I wear flat shoes. I wear them constantly.

When I had worn and washed my first pair enough to have a good grasp on the fit, I ordered my second pair. They are an inch smaller in the waist, as the waist band tends to stretch with wear, and an inch or so longer in length for wearing with heels. The fit is great. I wasn't happy with the wash ( I think that I chose the light blue scrape wash) it arrived a very 90's sort of sky blue.

 I panicked for a few minutes and then over dyed them using this tutorial with this result. Much more acceptable.

Until I master the cosmopolitan and/or cash factor required for secret label japanese denim, I will revel in my own perfect-for-me denim, and work my way up to a custom classic trench coat.

2011 Embroidery

Here is the extent of my Christmas crafting. A bit of embroidery. These were really my first embroidery projects, and I was pretty pleased with how they turned out. The samplers are from this pattern by Alicia Paulson. She makes lovely patterns which include very detailed instructions including a really wonderful tutorial on framing your needlework.

I altered the color schemes form the original to coordinate with their new homes. The first is mostly rose shades and blues, and the second is in brighter cherries, coral, and greens to match an old-fashioned afghan that lays at the foot of my parents bed.

You should be able to click on each to see them larger.

These next little embroideries were inspired by something I found on pinterest, and made for a couple I happen to like a lot. I know that they are available on etsy.com if you are not inspired to make your own.

Cheers!

Dress Makeover or A Tim Burton Love Story

After:

In a practically unprecedented display of social participation, my husband and I went a Halloween party on Saturday. In anticipation of this event, I set about altering an old wedding gown to be more Burtonesque. Also to fit. 

It was meant to be black, but polyester does not take dye terribly well. I also extended the straps with black velvet, and added some vintage lace to the front to compensate. The back became lace-up corset style, with the help of some metal toggle loops found in the beading section, and painstakingly stitched up the back (24 in all.) 

Before:

We won't be discussing how beautifully this dress fit me when I first wore it. I was twenty, so it doesn't count.

Evening Light

Today we:

Painted.

Cleaned.

Chopped.

Decorated.

Tonight, if someone has an extra glass of wine, she might not feel guilty at all.

Stripey Bag Share

For whatever reason, I have found myself not in the mood to share lately. It could be the lack of light we have been having around here or the past several months. It could be the thing where set Martha standards of gargantuan proportions for myself and fail to hire the crew of minions to do things for me. Whatever. Today I feel a bit lighter, and so to celebrate, I am sharing this stripey crocheted bag with you. It is no particular pattern, and is not a bag yet, but rather and large stripy loop with 5 balls of cotton yarn dangling from it. You may remember them from this. Or not. The colors, and the sunshine, and the green grass are happy, are they not?