Thank goodness it's vacation week...

Because it couldn't have come at a better time! I used to think that the week off in February was a waste of time. We were just off for the twelve day holiday break only seven weeks ago. There was also MLK day and a professional developement day as well, although we still had to attend school, minus students. But between all of the colds, the snow, the cold, and my own personal stress levels, I needed this week off! It isn't just a luxury..it is a downright necessity!

So, what am I doing on this wonderful vacation week? Sewing. Tons and tons of sewing. As the production assistant/costume designer/drama mama of our school's drama club, I volunteer my time and expertise, to create costumes when needed for the productions. Every year we are involved in our state drama festival. Our school is a host school for the preliminary level of the festival. We have six other schools from the state arriving on Saturday, the 28th, to participate. Our production this year is a Japanese folk tale, "Dragon of the Winds". Therefore, I have to transform 19 high schoolers into traditional Japanese townspeople, head to toe. Many kimonos, obis, hatamis, happis, and other assorted garments are being created. Thankfully, the construction of everything is fairly simple..it's a quantity issue. And I stress over the littlest details, wanting everything to be perfect. I am sure, once they are all put together in their wigs, kimonos and zoris, they will look wonderful, but right now I am only seeing piles of fabric in various stages of doneness. So, that is what I will be doing this week. I will post photos of finished garments when they become available.

On the reading front, I have finished "The Eyre Affair" by Jasper Fforde. Quite enjoyable, I must say. I really liked the mix of mystery, sci-fi,and classic literature that Fforde creates. I definitely plan to read the other titles in the series. For now, I went with super light.."Chicks with Sticks (It's a Purl Thing)" by Elizabeth Lenhard and "Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer.

On the knitting front, I finished the soy wool hat, although it hasn't been felted yet. Here it is in it's ginormous, uncooked state:




The photo on the left of me wearing it is the truer color of the actual hat. I really need to felt that puppy, as who knows how many more cold days of winter we have left here in New England. What am I saying..it can snow well into April here!

On the personal front, DH is still job hunting after being laid off over a month ago. Finances are still holding, thanks to a small severance package he received. He was only at this facility for a little over four years. Previously, the company he worked for for over 17 years, was closed and outsourced to China. But the world is a different place economically than it was four years ago. Hopefully something will come along soon, if only for the normalcy of a routine again. It's just really odd leaving for work myself and having him home. But it is even stranger, and more depressing, for him, when I leave and he is left behind.

Well..off to sew. Kimonos await!