Posts in "Notes"

Another day, another autoimmune flare, another medical specialist, another round of blaming myself for chronic illness and also telling myself I should not blame myself. The road goes ever on and on…. (Advice not requested.)

🎮 Had a breakthrough in Blue Prince and I’m so excited about it it’s hard to sleep.

📚 Reading Zoraida Córdova’s Labyrinth Lost and realized I had the perfect bookmark for any book by this author.

Finished reading: A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen 📚

This companion-sequel to A Fate Inked in Blood spends the first third or so revisiting the first book but picks up in the middle third and is gripping and full of revelations for the last third. I highly recommend the duology.

Finished reading: These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean 📚

I will follow Sarah MacLean anywhere, from Whitechapel to Narragansett Bay. If you like family narratives with a strong romantic thread, read this book.

“There was something about trains.” 💬📚 Reading Sarah MacLean’s These Summer Storms while actually on a train.

My First Skirt Sketches 🧵

Here are my first sketches for my Skirt Skills class with Brooks Ann Camper. I did a yoke for each waistline because my tummy hurts often enough that I want a friendly waist for it. I also sketched with real shirts I actually have, tucked in, since I often do tuck in. (Usually with a French tuck, thanks Tan France!) My plan for my skirt is to make something lightweight that I can wear to my job as an elementary school librarian early in the school year, then transition to fall and winter with leggings. Each sketch includes a pattern inspired by fabric available from Spoonflower and a bookish graphic tee that I actually wear to work.

Brooks Ann has a great way to create a custom croquis to draw clothing designs on your own body, which is how I got these sketches that actually look like me.

Sketch 1: Pencil skirt A sketch of a clothing design with a pencil skirt

The pattern inspiration for this skirt is Stack of Books by Kassi Simpson and the shirt is It’s Me Hi I’m the Librarian by Yaquetees.

A swatch of fabric printed with stacks of books A black t-shirt that reads 'It's Me Hi I'm the Librarian It's Me'

Sketch 2: A-line skirt A sketch of a clothing design with an A-line skirt

The pattern inspiration for this skirt is Red Crimson Pink Blush Roses by Elda & Oak Design Studio and the shirt is the Book Nerd Floral Unisex T-shirt by Out of Print.

A swatch of fabric printed with red and pink roses on a black background A t-shirt with the text 'Book Nerd' surrounded by illustrations of flowers

Sketch 3: Tulip skirt

A sketch of a clothing design with a tulip skirt

The pattern inspiration for this skirt is Pumpkin King Stripe by Disneybound Dresses and the shirt is the What’s More Punk? t-shirt from the Mt. Pleasant (VA) Library Friends.

A swatch of fabric printed with wobbly white pinstripes on a black background A t-shirt with the text 'What's More Punk Than The Public Library?'

Drawing these was super fun and has really inspired me. I’m beginning to understand and imagine so many possibilities for designing my own clothes, especially for cosplay.