Bohemian Bluestocking

I have a day off. In my current theater incarnation, I have 1.5 days off(1/2 of Sunday, and all of Monday, when the theatre is dark) I came in today to do a couple of hours work, truing up a shawl-collar vest pattern, which I will cut tomorrow afternoon, after my draper has trued and cut a tailcoat using the same lining.

But what to do now that I have the rest of my evening? Probably go home, clean the apartment a bit, keep knitting on the sweater I've started, maybe start another pair of socks, if so inclined. Not very exciting, I admit, but more reassuring that I can have a seemingly normal life, if I choose.

It's still raining here in the Berkshires. And it's rained a lot this spring and early summer. Sun would be really nice. And I guess I'm just down. There is always a slight trough after technical rehearsal. Our next show, Othello, hasn't really geared up yet, or maybe *I* haven't really geared up for the next show. And my project/build list looks a bit daunting: Several floor-length dusters, tailcoat, shawl-collar vest, pants, empire-waist wrap dress, and a gyspy-ish soutache-embellished bodice. Now, admittedly, I am not building *all* these garments, but, as 1st hand, I need to keep an eye on their progress, and more importantly, need to be able to speak intelligently about them -- which is probably the harder component of the two.

And no, I am not whining about it. Just a a slight wave of "oh god, what have I done...."

But I am off work a bit early this afternoon, which worries me a little, as if I am missing something vital, and it will dawn on me later tonight.

So I'll go home, make some real dinner, and work on my quilt a bit. Yes, there is a project that does not involve yarn. I've collected enough 30s style blue/red/yellow prints to make a lap quilt. I bought a pattern, called Bento Box, looks a bit like a abbreviated Log Cabin. After the 1st run at the lap quilt, I'll move onto a full-size in Japanese print (hence Bento Box, because it looks a bit like the layed school lunch boxes used in Japan)

So, I don't pay much attention to my blog stats, because I assume I'm out there in the ether, on my own -- except for Beth S. -- who I know reads it :) But I looked recently, and yes, someone's reading it. Not that I have facinating things to say, but hey, I have something to be said.

The update is I am hard at work in the costume shop at Shakespeare & Co., that regional theatre(note the 're' -- very important...) in Lenox, Massachusetts, nestled in the Berkshires, "America's Premier Cultural Resort," according to the country's promotional materials. Which really means the area is full of second-home owners and the touristas, coming to imbide "culture" in the form of Tanglewood, Norman Rockwell, and the various theatres that abound.

The reality is gridlock, crabby customer services, and new yawk accents clamouring in the humidity of July and August. ugh.

I just wait for September and they head further north to gawk at the leaves. Yeah -- they're pretty, but jeez, making a special trip?

So I am making costumes, and knitting my little heart out so I'll have stuff to sell this winter. And a home-cooked meal is probably not within site any time soon. darn.

It can be soooo nice to see your stuff on stage. And this week it's even doubly nice, since it's a knitted item on stage. I knitted a wig for a current show at Shakespeare & Co, the regional theater I work at. And here are the pictures:(courtesy of their website/Kevin Sprague/Studio Two) And it actually looks like a wig, though slightly flat on top, the curls were a little tight to get into that small circumference. I am pleased, and as soon as I can get some close-up construction photos, I'll post those.