Zora Jane

Inspiration

2009-03-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

I know, my five days a week plan is getting behind already. I promise to try harder. So for today one of my favorite things to look at on Flickr. I have a few vintage Vogue magazines in my collection and I'll admit that I like to look through Vogue on the newsstand but I have never seen anything like this. It makes me want to make a entirely new wardrobe of full skirts and silky dresses. It's a never-ending supply of inspiration.

Still Lives in the Garden Shed

2009-03-10T14:38:00.000-07:00

1. Like Lazarus, resurrected. 2. Spades 3. Hexagonal Hives 4. By the door, rusting

Even though the woods are bare, Sunday felt like spring. The ground is waking and if you listen you can hear it make tiny popping noises. Like Rice Krispies under you feet. Since one of my March goals is to take more photos I decided to seek inspiration. And it came in the form of the garden shed. Here is the little space on the edge of the field were the little mouse lives inside the wood pile, tomato cages wait for June, wheelbarrows lie on eager elbows and tools hang on rusty nails. There are the bottles I found in the trash pile by the stone walls and the wasp hives just cleared from the ceiling that will soon be part of my collection. So before those tools make their way into the garden and before the space is cleared for summer and the One Stone Collective show, I decided to play still and wait for the popping of spring.

In Like a Lion

2009-03-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

My roommate began making lists in January. Lists of her goals for the month. And when each month is done she has crossed off several things. Not always everything. I decided this was a good idea. And because I am me, have to make it look pretty (well except for the forth line) so out came the typewriter and the catalogs. I think that it's a way to trick myself into actually doing some of the things on the list.

If you click on the photo it will enlarge so you can read them.

But here's a recap.

1. Make gym schedule and go 5x/week.

2. Write Zora Jane entries 5x/week. (see it IS working.)

3. Take more photos, both digital and film.

4. Look into summer courses at FIT

5. Take pictures of Art Dresses.

6. Go to local knitting group.

7. Finish one knitting project. (lots get started not many get completed.)

8. Work on sails for OSC.

9. Make myself one summer dress.

10. Make one thing for someone else.

11. Write at least 3 letters. Send them.

12. Call family more often.

So I will check back when the month is over to see what goals have been reached and to come up with some new ones for April.

Not Just Any Dress

2009-03-08T09:36:00.000-07:00

What I have been working on for the past month...

In a corner, on the form

To the side to catch the light

Blue rouching before the booths

Through a viewfinder from below.

It's been a long few months, full of inspiration, frustration, coughs, and sighs. And this it what I have to show for it. Becca's wedding dress. The wedding was beautiful. It was held in an old mill outside Toronto. The ceremony took place outside in the snow. Afterwards, there was ice skating and bonfires, friends and strangers, cold hands and warm cider. And me, hand sewing right up to the ceremony.

And now on to other projects. The One Stone Collective will have it's first show in June and I have lots to get done. The first seeds of the season have been planted and are sitting now in a sunny porch window. There are summer dresses to sew and winter padding to lose. I can't wait to start riding my bike and for the daffies to raise their heads, in other words, for spring.

It's been awhile...

2009-01-21T14:58:00.001-08:00

before a king

frost's path

waves, frozen

the sincerest form

I have been away from blog-land. Well, Zora Jane has been away. I have been lending a voice to two new blogs, here and here. There has been a garden to put to bed, a new roommate, a house to renovate, a collective to start, a dress to make and holidays to celebrate. The New Year is a good place to begin again. Perhaps with a different voice. I hope so and I hope some of those who were reading before haven't completely lost faith that I'd come back.

One of my favorite things about my little room is the view of Storm King Mountain. It is there watching as I go to sleep and it is he who greets me every morning. I have thought of doing a picture diary of Storm King and have taken many photos already. Here are four more. Morning frost on the window is a new phenomenon for this California girl. And like a snowflake it draws you in with it's geometric beauty. Never the same but familiar. It is winter here in the north but all is not sleeping.

What's keeping me awake? Well, watching a new president dance at Inaugural Balls and this:

a sneak peak of a new dress made for a friend. It's been many a day of ruffles.

Changing. All those changes.

2008-07-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

I'm in the midst of switching from Typepad. I need to cut all the non-essential expenses in my little life here. So onto Blogger and a new place to explore. Sorry about the mess.