Floridays: Crafting and Cooking

Stop one of "Patti Wagon: 2012 World Tour" was a complete success.  New York was wonderful, and I came away feeling very inspired, artistically and otherwise.   I am now in Florida, with full access to my mom's art studio and her 50ish years of clothing-making experience.   Time to get busy. 

The inspiration behind today's craftiness is two-fold.  (1) This blog.  An artist in South Carolina just finished two years of up-cycling a new outfit everyday.  Her imagination is obvious, but it's the execution that is so stunning to me.  The way she's able to "make it work" would titillate Tim Gunn.  (2) My luggage was lost on the way to Florida, i.e., I had no clothes.  Is there honestly a better reason to make new clothes?

Let's start with a little no-sew action.

Before: Dowdy skirt. Cute pattern. Lots of potential.

After: Trendy Tube Dress. New decree: Never pass up dowdy skirt in a cute fabric again. All you need is a belt to cinch it into a wearable piece.

If you're into this sort of thing, I have two more complex projects that I'll post tomorrow.

Consummate crafting day followed by consummate Florida evening. Shrimp feast at the Clayton homestead.

Quickest, most delicious shrimp recipe ever: Boil water in a large pot, add in a couple tablespoons apple cider vinegar and a couple tablespoons pickling spice. When it comes to a boil, add in raw shrimp, still shelled. Cook until the shrimp turn pink. Drain. Serve with ramekins of melted butter and various mix-ins: tabasco, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Sirracha, wasabi. Eat until you're sick. Regret nothing.