Funsize!

Spent today making mini moccasins. After a few days of trying to sew practice runs with paper and plastic, I came to the realization that only fabric would do. The only scrap fabric I have are old tee-shirts and jeans that are too small to wear, and too stained to donate to charity. And the tee-shirt fabric won't lay fat when I cut it -- wants to curl up like wrapping paper that's been too long on the roll. So jeans it's been.

But because of the seams, I can only fit half-size patterns on on the fabric. So it's dollie moccasins weekend!

So far, I've got one badly sewn moccasin completed, one moccasin sewn moderately well, and one better one that's half done.

...

I would be further along, but I keep dropping the needles and needle threader, and it takes forever to pick them up again. Taking a break until tomorrow, so I my creative urge is not completely squelched by my frustration

On the up side, the toe puckering technique is fun! I have to trust it, though, and do that loopy zig-zag stich further, if I want the puckered bit of the toe to be at the top of the shoe, like the illustration, even though it looks like I'm taking up the whole slipper... turns out, I'm not.

I've got one more pair of jeans available to cut up after this one I'm working on. So if you know any poor orphan dollies who need shoes... I may be able to hook them up!

G.I.P.!! (and language nerdity)

Got a hundred spaces for userpics... might as well start using them.



It's an adaptation of something I painted on a sweatshirt in my sappy, unicorn-obsessed teenage years, and I have kept a soft spot for the image ever since.

For those unfamiliar with this hand signal, it's a casual way to say "I love you." It's a combination of the American Sign Language letter signs for "I," "L," and "Y," as seen here:
American Sign Language Alphabet.

American Spoken Language is closest to British, as we know. But American Sign Language is closest to French Sign Language, because Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, who was a pioneer in education for deaf children in America, chose the methods used in France, rather thn Britain. ... Now I'm curious. I'm going to Google for French Sign Langage and British Sign Language, for comparison. ... in any case, I have enough rusty ASL in my brain to get around Paris -- as long as I meet up with a Deaf native ;-).

will ETA later, probably...

[ETA: Found this webpage, that compares the British Sign Language fingerspelling alphabet to the American one. I'm including the whole thing, rather than just the illustration, because I fell into reading the whole thing. It seems to be part of a Lingusitics course from the University of Pennsylvania, and I'm a sucker for word nerdity like that. Note: it's noted on that page (last updated in '03) that there are 103 different Deaf signed languages around the world. But when I searched the site linked to, I found that the number had gone up to 121 -- that's a sign that the Deaf around the world are becoming less isolated and are educating each other. ...Hmmm... and thanks to mass media and mega business, spoken languages are losing diversity.

And here is the fingerspelling alphabet for French Sign Language]

English Meme (from tinyturtle)

English Genius You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 93% Advanced, and 100% Expert!

You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. (You have an extensive vocabulary)*, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go! Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it! For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 55% on Beginner You scored higher than 40% on Intermediate You scored higher than 35% on Advanced You scored higher than 92% on Expert

Link: The Commonly Confused Words Test written by shortredhead78 on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

* Really, I don't think this test even approaches the extent of a person's vocabulary; all the words are common, everyday ones. It does, however, measure the accuracy of a person's usage.