Spring Update: A time for renewal

  It's sunny spring, and I'm back. After a prolonged period of being ill, and a surgery, I return! I have recently completed a tutorial for you, all it requires now are some photographs. I look forward to sharing this with you and breathing life back into this blog. 

   As for my future plans... I intend on sewing through my fabric stash this summer. It's a very large project to tackle but I am excited to do so. Space in my home is limited, and I want more clothing and less fabric! That means even more tutorials to come. My coat will be included in this process as I don't want it left unfinished. I want my bins empty for the fall. This also means I will be doing some much needed spring cleaning, as I really need to get rid of old clothes. I'd like to take this moment to remind everyone that sustainable fashion is very important, and that by re-purposing or donating old clothing you are making very positive decisions! Never throw a garment away as it can have a negative impact on the environment. Salvage the hardware and materials or donate your garments to charity. 

   It's also important to reconsider throwing out your scrap material. DO NOT DO THIS ANY LONGER! I am trying to correct my own bad habit (do as I say, not as I do >.< ). Certain materials that end up in landfills can decompose in the worst way, we really ought to avoid this. I'm sure you're wondering, "what's the alternative?" There are two ways I can think of. The first would be to find a textile or fabric recycling facility; these plants exist all over, some take specifically garments so do your research and contact them about taking scrap fabric. Some facilities will break fibres down to make them into new fabrics.  Another option would be to donate your scrap fabric to crafters, and fibre quilters/artists. These guys LOVE scrap fabric. If you've never seen fibre art before I urge you to check it out, it's awesome. It might even be something you want to try out. I've begun to collect my scrap material in zip bags so that they're organized individually. A few months from now, when I have accumulated a lot of scrap fabric, I will donate it to whomever can make use of it! We can make a difference X) so let's commit to it and make sure textiles don't end up in landfills!

I look forward to sharing more alternative fashion with you. 
All the best,
LMP

In Memoriam

Ah, broken is the golden bowl! the spirit flown forever!
Let the bell toll! -a saintly soul floats on the Stygian river
- And, Guy De Vere, hast thou no tear?-weep now or never more!
See! on yon drear and rigid bier low lies thy love, Lenore!
Come! let the burial rite be read -the funeral song be sung!
- An anthem for the queenliest dead that ever died so young
- A dirge for her, the doubly dead in that she died so young.

-Excerpt from the poem "Lenore" by Edgar Allan Poe

   One year has passed since the death of my beloved friend, and I grieve as if it were yesterday. There is an emptiness within me, a feeling that I can only describe as displacement. It's as though my friend was a city, once bustling with life and an admirable culture, then overtaken by disaster and stripped to nothingness. Nothing remains but a skeleton; a shadow of the past. 

   The memories are all that I have these days, and I struggle to keep them alive. The hardest part is having memories that only we shared, and that without her I have little to stimulate or engage those thoughts; as a result they slip into the depths of my mind, perhaps never to be recollected again. I regret not keeping a diary, or taking more photographs. I regret throwing away drawings and notes.  Most of all, I regret not apologizing to her when I had the chance. Sadly, there is nothing to be done about regrets. Now I try to take inspiration from her actions; from her strength and vitality; from her superior sense of humor and attitude. I try to be more like her, because she was a wonderful person.

   Life is far too short to hold grudges and not be honest with one another. Each moment should be cherished and well utilized. Each person loved should be made well aware that they are.  

News

   In order to reduce clutter, all newsworthy items and project updates have been allocated to a separate page. Click here or select the News tab within the navigation bar. 

Off the chain.

     Clearly this post is about chains, given the title, and you might wonder why I've selected this as today's topic. Well, it just so happens on a previous outing that I purchased a few yards of chain. It was on super sale and I just couldn't resist it! The problem; I don't know what to do with it. It would seem that the most common use for chains in Goth fashion occur in designs for corsets, pants and jackets. Some uncommon approaches are embellishments on boleros, skirts, and accessories. I don't know which is more appealing. I'm not terribly fond of having chains on my pants because I used to get caught on park benches and stair railings, which would result in ripping my pants apart or destroying the chain completely. I don't mind having chains as an embellishment, but I'm not sure how much is too much, or too little; I don't want my garments looking cheesy.

What are your thoughts on chains? Do you have any inspirational photos you'd like to share with me?

DIY Punk Pants

Photo by Wings of Grey - Flickr

    Today I wanted to tackle pants, a wardrobe staple for many of us. It's easy to find skinny pants in this day and age, they are everywhere. You can get them in a wide variety of colours and prints. The problem is though, is that they're too damn available. Everybody wears them, and in the alternative fashion scene you strive to stand out, not fit in. It's hard to do so when you're all wearing black skinnies. You don't want to look like the kid next door, you want to be an individual. I have good news! You can do that. I've completed an inspirational tutorial suggesting how you can dress up McCall's 6173 skinny pants and tights pattern. Before I get into that though, I'd like to address my non-sewers with tips for repurposing old pants.

    Let's say you've had a pair of pants kickin around for about five years time, you've grown tired of the look, but can't bring yourself to get rid of them because they're so comfortable. You can easily turn those pants into something new and fashionable. Here are some suggestions you might find helpful.

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