Takin' it Black

Yesterday I was going through my trillions of computer music files (ok, it's really only thousands) trying to see which artist would kick off my day of "sewing with sounds." Many times I'll initially have internet radio playing in the background then switch over to music, but throughout the week I'd had my fill of politics, economic woes, domestic and international social chaos, injustices, and down right foolery. The other station which deals more with spirituality, metaphysics, and health was doing replays, and I'd heard all the shows 2-3 times already. So instead I went straight for the music.

First it was Lizz Wright's Dreaming Wide Awake
Then Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters(Thanks Dindi ;-)

After feeling all mellowed out and chill, it hit me that it had been a while since I'd listened to Skye. I'm not sure if y'all are familiar with her, but she was first brought to my attention in November '06 when she opened the show at a local Ziggy Marley concert. Her voice sounded so good to me. Nice and soothing. Well, at least from what I could here of it over the drunken shouts for Ziggy to come out :-/. Matter of fact, it was a nice contrast to all the hoopla that was going in the place, and that might be what pulled me in initially. I got a chance to meet and talk to her after the show, and she's as personable and sweet as she sound and looks. For your listening and viewing pleasure (or maybe displeasure if it's not your kind of music):

What's Wrong With Me
Love Show (which you might recall from a Nivea lotion commercial and an episode of Grey's Anatomy ...a show I've never watched, but I like that clip)
Jamaica Days (Interview +live acoustic)
Powerful
Say Amen
Stop Complaining (somebody else's video)
She's also got a website and myspace page with more tunes.

On the subject of getting back to stuff that I hadn't visited in a while, last week my attention was drawn to the fact that black hasn't really found its way into my recent creations.
Every since I made those colorful garments to wear to the wedding of 2 good friends, I've been on this color trip. (Attallah, I'm blaming this on you!) In the past it was so unlike me to use as much color as you've been using lately, but I love it and can't seem to get enough at the present moment. However, just to take it black:

I've been meaning to make more full, comfy dresses like this. I like to have garments that can serve doubly as maternity gear considering that women do become pregnant. (Julie from Hawaii I thought of you when making this. Yaaay for baby! :-D)

Edited to say that the red and lace pattern on the above dress is actually my own patchwork.

I layered 3 different types of fabric--lace, floral print, and dotted-- to get it to look how I wanted and sewed it over the black. Cause y'all know using scraps is my thing. :-D

A more...I guess...sophisticated version of the usual.

And just to clear it up, I photograph these as dresses cause it seems to me like they're easier seen this way. However, they are meant to be worn as tops. It's just that when I photograph them with any of my pants on, the results are less than desirable. If you're bold enough to wear it out with nothing on bottom, go right ahead. Just be cautious when you go to bend over or sit down or do any other activity that involves movement, ha!

As you can see I'm having a ball with my "hair flowers". They're the bomb, right?? (*sarcasm*) But I do know of 2 places where you can get the real deal: PamperingBeki.etsy.com
and OdodoOriginals.etsy.com. I'm just an amateur hair-flower-maker. They're the pros. :-)



Be well everyone.
peace ooouuuuuuut!!