Let her dance

Outfit Details:

radio diagram tee //  Crawlspace Studios

cardi - linen skirt -  Dooney and Bourke bag // thrifted

ruffle scarf // Wool and Whatnot

belt // forever 21     jacket // ModCloth

shoes // Privo (ebay)

nails // Essie: Good as Gold

Just right for a night of rad swing dancing with friends.

I am very much in love with this amazing tee from Crawlspace Studios, birthday gift from the girl who knows me better than I know myself - this girl.  I mean, I've been saying I loved the graphic tee trend going around, but wanted something different and... me.  So she gets this.  It's so cool, my bro said it was cooler than his shirt and he thinks he wears the best out there.  It's so cool that it has a vintage diagram of an old high-end radio adapted to receive at three wavelengths screen printed on it.

I happen to be a licensed HAMM radio technician - call sign KE7PXT - so... perfection in a graphic tee.
(Don't be too impressed with the HAMM technician bit - if I did it, anyone can, guaranteed.)

The dancing was so good.  Words fail.  The music was the weirdest blend of the cream of classic swing - In the Mood, Bobby Darin's La Mer cover) and electro swing-pop-country tunes, that, though kind of insane, was ridiculously fun.  Today's soundtrack (click play at the top of the post!), which happens to be the closing song for my new favorite movie, would've fit right in.

I'll be posting about Fantastic Mr. Fox, the best movie ever, soon.  Have you seen it?
  Ever swung to The Lion Sleeps Tonight?
Check.

A Summer Dance

This is the evening a pet dream of mine was at long last realized...

This is the evening we had our own contra dance.

There were balloons, and twinkling lights, and the four funny little trophies I picked up and knew were absolutely meant to be.  We made big construction paper rosettes out of my pinback button seconds pile, and they were perfect.

There was watermelon, and mason jars of tea, and at last the stars slowly appearing and starting their spiral above us to the wildly sweet sound of celtic contra music that sends toes tapping and blood racing to dance, dance and spin and stomp and swing.

It was awesome.  I felt so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by so many dear faces that evening, all reflecting the joy I felt from glorious dancing and hilarious fellowship.

The addition of trophies and ribbons for a four-division dance competition infused a huge spark and had everybody trying to outdo themselves with their mad Contra skills.  The concrete was brutal on our shoes (and legs!), but definitely didn't put a damper on the spins, leaps, aerial allemandes, and fabulous footwork we had going.

A much-coveted ribbon and trophy were awaiting the champions in Best Freestyle, Best Swing, Loudest Noise, and - wait for it - Epic.

We're definitely doing this again.

(also - no, we did not have trench coats, machetes, or firearms on the dance floor, contrary to the garb of the setup crew above.  That's another story for another time entirely...)

The presiding Judge and his inseparable companion, Airabella.

Our champion winners for the four divisions; Noise, Swing, Epic, and Freestyle!  The competition was hot, but this crew was unparalleled.

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. 
O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
--Psalms 30:11-12


And to crown all, the evening in film.
Thanks to Ellen and Alex for getting such awesome footage!

Do Si Do and Away I go

I'm off on a little road trip - see you on Monday!

The community Contra dance last evening was fantastic... I wish you could all have been there=)  I've finished my cup 'o tea and have to go finish packing, but here's a little glimpse into the fun.

Happy Saturday!

P.S. Looking for a great old film to watch?  Check out this delightful new Pinterest board that Sereina, Ashley, Tasha, and myself are curating, just chock-full of classic movie inspiration!

-Fantastic Films-

-Me-

Inside these canvas walls...

... the fire glows and sparkles, the lamplight throws gentle shadows on the books and piles of 

embroidery around me, and I can hear the sizzle of snowflakes as they fall on the stovepipe, 

just on the other side of the wall.  

Outside, it's fifteen degrees and snowing madly.  We have over a foot, and the world is a heavily-clad mass of velvety whiteness.  I'd share a picture, but as I don't have one at the moment, this shall suffice, as it makes me supremely happy:

♥♥♥

♥♥♥

I've been working on some more embroidery orders, and just shipped off the last today.  Such a wonderful feeling!  Here's the color pallet this time:

I adore the little dog.  Dogs, rather.  Each time I drew him for the different days, he seemed to take on a character different from any of the others and I look on them all as individual hounds.  One is so very quizzical, while another is rather sleepy looking, and the baking day pup looks exactly like an adorably greedy little boy.  

The little lass is the same to me each day, however, and she's developed quite a character herself.  She can be quite delightful when you get to know her, and her quick little tongue would as soon teach one a lilting folk tune or make a saucy quip to the grocer she trips so merrily to see each market day.  And her taste in petticoats and bonnets is impeccable.

If I do say so myself.

My sisters all came over for a sleepover on Lilly's birthday, and set up a dollhouse in grand style over the whole floor.  And we ate nice things.  And snuggled by the fire.

I recently discovered this beautiful duet transcription of The Seaside from BBC's Emma.  I can't get enough of this song, truly.  It gives me the feeling that something beautiful and completely unexpected is waiting just around the bend - as if I really were on a cliff's edge by the seaside, spinning and laughing for sheer joy.

One night while I was doodling with music on the piano, I felt the urge to scribble something down on paper - and this is what came of it.  Just for fun.  The combined result of being currently steeped in the Emma soundtrack, indulging in several evenings spent delighting in Aurora's blog, and the anticipation of going to a local contra dance.  "Oh, how I long for a ball...!"  We don't really have anything in the way of balls around here, let alone dances without costumes.  I am quite wild with longing when I read about the masquerades, dances and flings on some of your blogs;)

However, I recently found out about a monthly local contra dance in the area, and my whole family went last Friday... what bliss!  At last, I learned how to contra.  We danced the night away, and I trust this will be the dawn of a new era in our circle as we establish the tradition of historical dancing together!

"Away they all went, twenty couple at once, hands half round and back again the other way; down the middle and up again; round and round in various stages of affectionate grouping; old top couple always turning up in the wrong place; new top couple starting off again, as soon as they got there; all top couples at last, and not a bottom one to help them."
--Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol