Oh my.

This spring/summer sewing season has been another journey in learning for me.

Starting in January 2011 or so, I connected with the lovely ladies at Luxe Bridal as their main Alterations Specialist.  I would pop into the store for set appointments with their brides as the dresses arrived, give them a quote and trundle on home to work on the myriad of Eco-TAV, Belly Dancing For Fun, Bellywood with Halyma, Bollywood For Fun stuff on those todo lists or  even just relax a bit.

And the clients started to roll in – how cool is that!

And I worked my fingers to the point of knowing it was time to take a break when I would start to accidentally poke myself while pinning clothes, clients, etc.  I love sewing – no question there. but geez the heavy season does take it’s toll.

And the brides have all been pretty good – the dresses have on occasion been evil incarnate – or the designers just have no consideration for the end result having to be taken apart again in order to actually fit!

Bah humbug! to nylon thread, tiny machine stitches, and beading lace after it’s sewn onto the dress { this means that when I start to remove lace to access a seam, little beads start dancing all over my studio floor}

Bah humbug to plastic crinolines sewn into the dress and the outside temperature hitting 37 plus a humidex reaching “OMG I am a lobster” degrees. { sorry vegans}.

I also had some amazing moments creating some fabulous dresses – one in particular was a wedding dress that would continue it’s useful life as a performance dress for a local harpist…

We also performed a LOT, danced, learned, choreographed, played, and had a blast!

And so…

…the final days of this season’s journey are upon me.  I consider September  like  the New Year – it’s back to school time, back to livable temperatures and time for me to look at all of the fun fall events, projects, classes, clients… AAAAAAA...

holidayHolidayHoliday….

Okay, I am a bit better now.

Tonight= final fitting on the lovely bridesmaid dress connected to the beadwork above.  it should go on it’s way by Thrusday – maybe Wednesday.

Tomorrow =I work like a crazy person on a small batch of new products for my favourite Eco-TAV client, Life Without Plastic.  You’ll see those online soon. This will probably be a 2-3 day project.

Two more wedding dresses head off this week, and one lovely silk outfits goes home until September, when I will get it back and finish it off.

Almost there…

 

GAH!!!
Unannounced and unexpectedly this afternoon our Internet stopped working. My wonderful husband called Bell and after being bounced around for 30 minutes, he was told that they have decided to do some work on our line.
So without telling me in any way at all- no call, no email, nothing, we will be without Internet access until late Wednesday evening/Thursday.

This is not the end of the world- but it does mean that if you need to reach me for anything immediate, you will need to go ‘old school’ and pick up the phone!

If you can wait, email me And I’ll get back to you Thursday or whenever I get a moment to pop online at the coffee shop or community centre !!
See ya later!!
T/H

Just back from a supply run, and after trying two other Byward Market places that might have sold twill tape/straight of grain ribbon, I ended up at Richard Robinson school.  The Tuck Shop.

There is a funny young man who has been working there for about 5 years, according to his chatter today, and I pop upstairs about once every 4-6 months for some supply that I don’t want to drive all the way out to a fabric store to pick up and especially if the little yarn/sewing place on Nicholas doesn’t have it { I go see her first, small business and all}

And today it was straight of grain tape as I have a slew of under-bustles to create and I have devised my own ribbon system that works pretty well, especially with cotton tape that sticks to itself once tied in a little bow.

As I was leaving the school, I cannot help but count the years since I graduated from the Fashion Designer { 1988] and Couturier [ 1989] courses there.   It’s been a while.  And over the past few years, I have run into a few of my school mates from those years, some still sewing but many having moved on to other creative adventures – which is all very cool.

Today I was thinking of the day I went in for my first meeting with “Mr. Robinson”, when I was applying to attend the school.  I don’t remember the exact day or anything, but it would have been in the spring of 1986, the year I graduated from high school, making me 17 at the time – just barely 17.

My mom and I drove to Ottawa and she came up with me and waited for our allotted appointment time.  I told her it was okay for her to stay out in the waiting area while i went in, but “Mr. Robinson” happy invited her to join us.  I would have shown him sewing projects and probably some artwork, and I vaguely remember him asking my mom what she thought – kinda odd, but I think he was trying to make me feel comfortable as I would be one of the youngest people in the class.  Folks from Ontario did 2 more years than us folk in Quebec at that time, so I would have been starting at 17 with 19 -40 year olds { actually one lovely lady was in her 50s I think}.

So while I don’t remember every specific detail, I do remember the feeling of nervousness, anticipation, but also a confidence  – I always felt strong in my sewing capabilities, even at that age.  I was making Grad dresses that year for 3 friends…

Anyhoo – if one is going to spend some time on  beautiful Friday afternoon reminiscing, it might as well be about something positive, and although there were a lot of stressful times during those 3 years, and the 20ish years since, it’s all good.

Many of you know that I try to get out and get in a walk every morning to start my day.  Some of these walks take me along beautiful parkland and waterfront with birds and turtles and squirrels and groundhogs and all sorts of fun natural scenery.

Other days I have errands to run and end up along the concrete and pavement settings with old buildings and new, early morning folk setting up in the Byward Market, still some squirrels and mainly pigeons as my wildlife influence.

This morning was a “city walk” and as I was ambling along Rideau on my way to the 24 hour grocery store, I was travelling behind a woman who was walking as if under the influence…  I cannot say for sure that she was, but her twitchy walk, huge sun glasses on a very cloudy morning, and repetitive stroking of her hair  seemed to indicate there was a good chance she was.  And even if she wasn’t, it got me thinking.

I have never done drugs, so I cannot describe the feelings of being on drugs, but i have consumed alcohol to the point of , well, to a variety of levels and have some awareness of the changes I go through if i have been drinking.  Mainly these days I just get tired, which might explain why I become a bit of a mean drunk – or maybe it’s just that I have such a wry wit when sober, but hold back… 🙂 friends are eye rolling right now, I know!

But without any knowledge of actual drug use, I do often feel like my morning walks begin in a stressed out, twitchy stupor, my mind racing through the what-ifs and should-haves of yesterday, jumping back and forth with the must-dos and oh-craps of the coming day.  So along I go, trying to let it all settle, while getting my body to move in a symmetrical fashion to counteract the growing asymmetrical musculature I develop through the heavy sewing months.

And sometimes I wonder if this is what it’s like to be on drugs.  So much going on so quickly in my little head ! And I do feel twitchy 😀

I know I make the choices to fill my life with creative and exciting activities and obligations.  I know that I could say no more often and I am working on that, along with time management and personal limitation awareness.

And my brain continues to bounce around from one thing to another until my ical alarm goes off giving me 15 minute warning to get back to living in the moment, and get ready for what life is bringing next.

BEEP BEEP BEEP – and off I go!

Robert Sawyer and Bob Ledrew, originally uploaded by Halyma.

Finishing off a week’s end of busy, Tom and I checked out Robert Sawyer at the Mayfair as part of the Ottawa INterntaional Writer’s Festival.

And familiar faces abounded! Nice to have seen Kate, Bob, Rob, Dwight, Miro and Helena!

And when I asked Tom about purchasing the WWW trilogy, I was informed it is already in our audio book collection – awaiting August/Algonquin.

We were staying until the end to chat  for a moment as Tom had videotaped the talk on his behalf, and I resignedly mentioned the difficulties of getting an audiobook autographed… And I don’t think Rob realized I would jump on it when he made the suggestion of recording a clip for me! I love my ipod touch!

CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE AUDIO AUTOGRAPH – it’s pretty literal!

Finally, I am almost feeling it.

I don’t want to get my hopes up that winter is gone – I know it’s not!  But I can feel the lightness in the air with the time shift and I like it!

LIfe has been bringing me new fun and challenges this year, and while it has taken me some time to get into a groove in the new year, I am starting to hit my stride.

2011 has been bringing in the new!

New dancer in our Bollywood For Fun Group! and that means new routines, new ideas and loads of fun! You can come see on April 2!

New business opportunity with Luxe Bridal – Madeleine and Lisa are such lovely ladies and are very enthusiastic about what they do, and I am so pleased to be working with them as their “Alterations Specialist”.  I AM STILL CREATING ORIGINAL DESIGNS – so be sure to still come see me!  But it’s fun to play with others and find new inspiration working on the ready made dresses!

And new moment to share my perspective! Susan Murphy graciously interviewed me for an article on Thought Wrestling.com’s blog series focused on creativity – how cool is that!

And it’s only March!

So I am really looking forward to a year of of a good amount of the familiar to keep me stable, and just enough of the new to keep me curious!

I was out for my #morningwalk and as I passed a particularly New Orleans themed restaurant in the Byward Market, I was amazed that music was blaring out into the streets – at 7 a.m.  hmmm. I guess today is Mardi Gras.

Two of my Bollywood For Fun buddies are performing tonight at Shattered Ceilings at the Mayfair.  Because today is International Women’s Day.

So here we are, in a crazy messed up city of snow and ice, with a sect of folks being encouraged to spend the day indulging in a mass of pancakes and other excesses, as they prepare to give it all up for the next 40 days , until they then again indulge in a mass of chocolate or whatever to bring about their major religious holiday that will take place in April.

And there is the notorious concept that in a particular city down south of us, there are potentially thousands of young women making the choice to expose themselves in exchange for strands of plastic beads. I can only imagine the chaos, having only heard about this from my second belly dance teacher many years back, when she actually experienced it first hand and shipped the beads back to make her own very special “mardi gras” costume…

The juxtaposition of this against the posters I have seen all over for the “I’m not a feminist, but…” films at the National Archives tonight, along with the event my colleagues are performing at, gives me pause.

Are we better off for the opportunities we have, as women and people in general, to both indulge our own excessive behaviours at the same time raising awareness of the numbers of women around the world who would be horribly treated or even killed if they chose to flash someone in public exchange for a bit of pretties?

Or are we really a very messed up society that is still trying to find it’s way beyond religious influence, beyond defining ourselves by extreme behaviours,  or even find a way to redefine extreme behaviours as “normal”, and then what kettle of fish does that open?  Who keeps fish in a kettle anyway?

Whadda you think?

Click on the photo to see more pics and some video clips!

Fire and Flux- what a fun installation!
Artist Christine Irving and her crew have created an amazing adventure to be enjoyed behind the Museum of Civilization during this opening weekend of the National Capital Winterlude Celebrations!

I was honoured to volunteer for a few of the many hours put into set-up and was part of last night’s safety crew while folks lined up to dance, swing and sway on the platform so that they could “make fire!”

Thanks to Leslie for having let me know about this opportunity, and while I am fully booked for the rest of the weekend, I hope you get a chance to go see it today or tomorrow – during the day it will be just as spectacular!

Click through to see some fun video of both it in action and the fabulous fireworks from last night’s opening ceremonies! Great job to all involved!
Love living in Ottawa!

… It wasn’t a full on hour walk, but it was more than I’ve managed during the cold spell we’ve had.  Yay for -13 celcius!

Anyhoo, I got to thinking, as I always do during my morning walks- or any walks for that matter, about the upcoming Dancers’ Bazaar and  what I have to prepare for it.

One thing with running TAV Creations, which is mainly custom sewing & design, I really like doing what folks need/want/request etc. It means that my work has a purpose. I get to create something that someone has envisioned in their own head but are not in a position to make themselves.

Or I get to design something for them, using that special piece of fabric they were given, bought on a trip, or  for any other reason, and that fabric has brought them joy and can now be put to practical use and bring them more joy.

This process works with both my bridal work and my costume work.  And even alterations can be fun when it’s with something pretty and sparkly!

I have tried over the past decade+ of  Dancers’ Bazaars to have items that are basic and simple, so that they can complement existing bedleh sets, add that final piece to an outfit, or be the base that the whole ensemble is built upon at a later date. This burgundy one started out that way, and then found it’s owner and we finished it off!

I have found that pre-making a complete set, including beadwork etc. has worked on occasion, but I often don’t have the time to produce a fully decorated set with all of my regular client work, classes etc.

So what journey will I go one for this coming Bazaar?  I have some ideas – that I will share when I actually start to implement them, with full on photos of the work in progress etc.!

In the meantime, tell me something: What are you looking for in costuming these days?  What’s your belly dance costuming need for the upcoming season of shows that will start in now time?  Leave me a comment below and soon I’ll get a new poll up for you to take too 🙂

Meanwhile – happy dancing!

T/H

Today I was able to enjoy an early lunch with the Friday Office gang and a girlfriend whose schedule now allows her to do more stuff during the day.

It was very interesting listening to her talk about her life and what she’s doing these days – we have haven’t hung out together much in smaller settings for a while, so it was nice to be able to chat.

It reminded me that for my whole life, I have liked rotating through friends – that sounds weird I am sure, but I have always liked to have a diverse selection of folk to spend time with and alternate my social scene when I can.  It makes me appreciate them all more.

And it was nice to listen to the conversations – some silly, some intense and that’s the very nature of FridayOffice that @wtl loves so much.

Honestly, I can only take it in small doses, and today was just right! Another reminder of who I am – I like spending time with girls. I like boys too, but I like them for short periods of time – like today.  And the men I know are amazing men – no worries there – no brutes amongst them! But spending time with boys means I have to get out of my head and open myself up to new conversations.

Sigh.

That’s a good thing, I know, but I am a selfish girl and like to talk about things I am interested in.  I like to talk about things I know about.  And challenging myself comes at a price to my ego – I may be wrong about something and have to change my views – GAH!  Or merely think more than I feel like at that particular moment.. again, GAH!

Again, just a bit more insight into me! Perhaps more than you need to know – but if you know me already – this isn’t that big on the news front!

So, after a lovely lunch, my girlfriend and I walked out into the beautiful sunshine and parted ways a few blocks later.  I continued on home in the sunshine thinking.. What a beautiful day…

Hope you have had a great day too! it’s not over yet!