Random Wonderings

I'm feeling fat. I mean, the problem is I've gained some pounds since spring break because I had a bunch of emotion problems and that mades me eat and I stopped being so healthy. I am also have digestive issues because I have been reminded by my body that dairy does not agree with me. So I'm been bloated with acidity and all over feeling uncomfortable. But I'm going off dairy again next week to actually do my allergy test which I couldn't do last Thursday because no one informed me that I had to go off medication for three days before. Next week will be a big ball of fun and pain.

But anyways, I'm been anxious and depressed lately. I always do this in spring because I come down with wanderlust. I want to go walk the hills, I want to travel across the country, I just have to DO something and that makes it impossible for me to focus on things, especially homework. I don't know, maybe there's somewhere to hike in the area? But I won't have time. I'm booked all tomorrow, I have to make sure I get all my homework done on Sunday and then I might be hanging out with friends. Then on Wednesday I'm prepping for my parents and sister to come for next weekend where I might be able to getting some of the wanderlust out of my blood by going to Disneyland so that I can focus for finals. I wish my teacher would post the prompt for the final essay.

I got a box of veggies on Wednesday so I've been planning what to do with them. I currently have a list of recipes that I will hopefully be able to get through by the time my family comes so that I can send them home will all my cooking supplies. I guess I could try making and freezing stuff so I could just cook it? But most of it's greens so I don't think that will work well. But I am currently planning a fabulous meal for my family when they come. Some sort of pasta with a parsley sauce, salad, and upside grapefruit cake. I might also throw in some sort of bread or biscuits. I'll see if I remember to take pictures.

I did finish my doll and I have all the steps for that.

I hand embroidered the two pockets. They look awesome.

 Then I made her hoops which I used paperclips because they were the only thing I had. I had to use three paperclips for each hoop which was annoying. I really needed something long enough to go all the way through. I also had to use plain muslin but I wish I had something more interesting for the fabric. The picture I was looking at it was striped.

 Then the under-petticoat which was mostly a lot of pleating. I mean, for this costume most of the shapes to cut out are so simple it's just the construction that takes forever.

 Then I had the petticoat which I used a checkerboard patterned fabric for because it was the only fabric I had that really matched. I can't wait to go home and actually have access to all of my fabric rather than having to make do with what I have.

 And finally the dress. Not that hard, actually. It's only three pieces: The back, the front and the sleeves. It's just all the pleating and the details.

While the dress is done, she still need more. I'm thinking of brown hair right now rather than a white wig. I feel like that's too formal. When I go home in three or four weeks I will be able to give her a lace cap, shawl and apron. I also am thinking of knitting her socks, or I can make them out of fabric. Then shoes. There are a few more accessory items that I kind of wanted for the costume that I might make for this model. I wanted a silk hat, purse and parasol. I mean, I can make a few more things and then I'll have to wait for the rest. But I should be so caught up in the end of the year stuff that I won't have time for things.

I'm taking a break from the doll, though I should give her hair. I'm working on a knitted zebra hat and gloves. I have an idea in my head, I just need to create them. I also want to make fairy tale bags to sell. Maybe when I get home, I will also get felt and make felt animals. Actually, I could just make animals out of the patterned cotton I have right now... *ideas* We'll see.

Best wishes!

Update: Mockup and Tacos

So I'm a failure. I'm just so bad at updating things when I have to write. I only am doing this now because I caught myself thinking: 'Oh, I'll update in the morning.' I know that's a lie. I'll either put it off or forget about it. So I'm updating now.


Food related: So I made these really good quinoa tacos a few weeks back because I needed to use up some veggie broth. Let's see, the recipe that I made up was:

Quinoa:
Quinoa- 1/4 cup dry
Vegetable Broth- 2 cups
Diced Tomatoes In Juice With Garlic and Olive Oil- 1/2 cup 
Taco seasoning- 1tsp
Cooked together for what, ten minutes? However long it says to cook it in a saucepan.

Corn:
Sweet Corn (Frozen)- 2/3 cup
Chopped Onions (Frozen)- 1/3 cup
Frozen Chopped Spinach- 1/3 cup 
Olive Oil- 1 tsp
I sautéed that all together in a pan.


Additions:
Refried Beans- one can, (1 4/5 cups ea.)
Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 1 oz
Corn Tortillas, 12 tortillas
Salsa- 12 tbsp
Lettuce

And I pretty much put them together however needed. Two tacos counted as a meal. I had probably half of the quinoa mixture left over at the end and I made taco salad with it and lettuce, cheese and crushed chips. That was really good too.

I think I have to give up dairy. I'm not going to buy anymore once I finish off what I have. I'm also doing an allergy test on Thursday and I fear what that will reveal. I think I need to give up peanuts. But I shall continue.

Craft related: I make a simple bulletin board cover with for strips of fabric. I wanted to divide a board so that I can make four different lists: Things I Need, Shopping, To-Do, and Other. My major project has been working on a mock up doll of the colonial outfit I want to make. I so far have two layers: the shift

And the stays. Her stays took forever because I also quilted them like that had boning in them. I didn't actually add boning because the fabric was so stiff and I didn't have anything to use. I really need some sort of thin plastic like what is used for whiskers on cat plushies. I will need something for her hoops because those will need reinforcement to get the shape right. I'll start her pockets tomorrow.

Mostly I have been enjoying having free time. My last midterm was yesterday so last week was chaotic and stressful. Now I can do other things and relax. By sewing a complex outfit for ten inch doll. I'm weird. It's just to hard to imagine this many layers in real life (or how much time it will take me to make them). A doll is easier.

I'll try to update again later. Currently I am eating Cheese Sauce on broccoli and penne, and tomorrow I shall try it as nachos with beans, salsa and lettuce. I also made S’mores Rice Krispie Treats for dessert, which is not the healthiest choice. I was eating healthy last week and now I'm off track. Well, I have an apple turnover recipe to try and then I think I'm going to try bean desserts. My protein consumption is way below level. That will be the next thing I try to fix.

New Episode of Hoarders

(From: http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/07/story-centerpiece-of-my-collection.html)

So I have this problem with hoarding. I know that I've had this awhile with fabric; whenever I have nice fabric I would never want to use it. But now that I've had to go gluten (etc) free, I've started hoarding food. It's partly because how hard it is to find certain things, and the price, and I'm worried that I'll crave something and I won't be able to get it. Then I cook and bake when I'm stressed so I make new things, or I want to try something so I buy more food despite having a lot at home. (And because I was sick and starving for so many years, I'm fearful of not having food.) So I have a habit of hoarding food. Which is probably one of those fun mental ticks that people get when they have food intolerances/allergies.

I've decided that I'm not allowed to make anything (unless I have ingredients that need to be used up) until the freezer has been mostly emptied. So I'm going to finish off a few loaves of bread (I think I have three different kinds and some bagels), eat all the cookies, finish off the ice cream, eat the last few french toast sticks, and maybe finish off the cinnamon rolls. I'm fine with having a few dessert items in the freezer and a loaf of bread, but I have gone too far.

My current dinner has been Conte's gluten free spinach and cheese ravioli (it was very delicious and I hope to get more), with Fresh and Easy's basil pesto sauce, and mixed veggies. All of which has been in my freezer since... um, at least before spring break. I was able to finish off the last brownie last night (with peppermint ice cream), so I ate a Cadbury egg for dessert (I bought a couple today since I hadn't really eaten anything special for Easter, and I do crave them).

The other reason why I need to clean out the fridge is I want to finish off some of the things that I know bother my stomach, like the ice cream. Anything with dairy. Spices. I'm going to try to stay away from eggs, nuts, legumes, and processed foods for a week once I start getting my boxes of veggies. Once I finish off my ravioli, I may have just bought Udi's margherita pizza, so I can cook that sometime next week. So far I haven't been cooking at all, with means I feel like this project has been a fail. But I have been looking at recipes for once I can cook again. I have some of Chebe's mixes, which I want to make. Once I finish off the bread I already have. Last week I made calzones with the pizza mix... so good. I'm planning to make upsidedown grapefruit cake next.

Craftwise, I have been distracted by the internet (because I have a little bit of homework to do, so I have been wasting time in the worst way), but I plan to make animal hats. I have a few sketches for ideas, I just need to start. And actually do my homework. I AM EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE. And lazy. But I cleaned the kitchen, bathroom, changed my bed, did a load of laundry, went shopping for food, went to a book festival, and started my homework this weekend. You can only ask so much of me! Plus, I am trying to be 'social' and make 'friends'. But soon I will be back to crafting... (Actually, since coming back from break, I've made a dress, a coat and started on another. But I need an iron.)

And so it starts

Welcome to the Wizarding Sweets and Whimsical Wears blog. I am a college student majoring in Theater Production (Costume Design) at UCLA.

I am a passionate crafter and want to organize the things that I am currently working on. I plan to use this blog for my ideas, sketches, inspirations, in-progress and finished projects.

This blog will also have my foodie experiences from what I cook to going out. I have been a vegetarian for over five years, gluten free for over three years and currently experimenting with cutting out other food intolerances such as soy, dairy, eggs, nuts and legumes to reach a balance with my body. However, I am a passionate baker and cook so I am always making new foods. This will be a way to document my cooking, and I can post about how restaurants have dealt with my food restrictions.