Owl Stretching Time

I love Monty Python. I know, I know, that’s an easy thing to say. I’m guessing most of the general public knows at least one skit or one punchline, even if they don’t know from whence it came. My problem is, I’m a bit of an obsessive fan. I can’t just watch one skit or one disc. Oh no, if I start I have to watch every. single. episode, plus Live at the Hollywood Bowl, their German episode and Graham Chapman’s “Looks Like a Brown Trouser Job” (hysterical!).

Then I have to watch every single movie. And not just the “official” Python movies, but movies like Jabberwocky, or A Fish Called Wanda, Yellowbeard, Time Bandits and did-you-hear-that-Gilliam-is-breathing-new-life-into-Don-Quixote?! I forced myself to watch Valiant, Shrek 2 and Shrek 3 just for Cleese’s voice. My mind goes all “explodey” when he shows up on Doctor Who!

Still. I’m not done. I have to watch all the extras, all the interviews, all the random things that are placed on the discs. After that I change things up and watch “At Last It’s the 1948 Show”, “The Frost Report” and Cleese’s films he made for … the word and phrase are escaping me now… for businesses, like training videos.

Then I mix it up and watch Fawlty Towers, Palin’s travel shows. Jones, among other things, has a really fun documentary about numbers on youtube.

Michael Palin’s book, “The Michael Palin Diaries” is about a month overdue at the library, but it is so good!

I also really enjoyed watching the backstory of Life of Brian…
(Which I can’t seem to embed but here’s the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDCAJTrF1gg)
which leads me to the original reason I got on this topic…

I had no idea there was a new Python documentary out!! I can’t believe I missed that one. Also seems like I missed a fun water fight. With luck I will be able to watch the documentary tonight and I am very excited. From the sound of the title, “Monty Python: Almost the Truth About the BBC Lawyers”, Palin wrote a bit about it in his diaries, but I cannot wait to learn more.

I know I’m frighteningly obsessive, but I also know I’m not alone in my obsessiveness and amazingly enough, thanks to wacko fans like me, some of the early episodes of MPFC would have been lost.

A Sneak Peek

My latest finished project

Ta-da! My first peasant blouse I’m alright with sharing with the world. I used another of Vegbee’s fabulous tutorials. (On a side note: I wish blogspot would let me log in so I could tell her how great I think her tutorials are and how much they’ve helped me. Trust me, go read them! On top of her tutes, she just has the most fantastic outlook on life.)

At any rate, I used a pretty little purple flowered remnant from Walmart and what is probably-supposed-to-be-used-under-a-skirt white material that was also a remnant. That’s why E isn’t wearing it. She has worn it a few times, but there is already a tear in the white (and that wasn’t even her fault – bad mommy!) so there’s no point in her wearing it until I can salvage it.

Total cost of this practice garment: $1.50 … ouch. I shouldn’t have used the purple on a practice shirt, it’s cute. I try to shoot for less than $1 per outfit. Oh well, rack this up to another learning experience. I’m even happy with my failures, what is going on?! :p

I like to make a “practice” garment with material that is cheap before I start my “real” project. Usually I use sheets. But all this has been leading up to an outfit for E I’m pretty excited about. I really hope it turns out! I’ll even give you a sneak peek and a hint.

Just a little sneak peek

And here’s the hint: Firefly/Serenity.

Upcoming Projects

Because my list is getting huge and I need to get my act together, this should keep me on task. I have quite a few presents and costumes to get together before the end of the year!

September

finish swing skirt
E’s Halloween skirt Finished 9/29/09

October

My own circle skirt from S’s shirts, using Vegbee’s tute
B’s birthday tutu Or even better, some sort of criss-cross tutu, these are gorgeous!
hoodie for S
pjs pants for at least 4 for xmas 10/3/09 Finished
S wants me to make him a “Gumby” costume a la Monty Python. I’m not sure much sewing is involved, but I better put it here.

November

Dishtowel aprons for Xmas
Something pretty for my cousin who is having another girl, a blanket? This itty bitty baby dress? Maybe a baby tutu? Suggestions welcome!
This incredibly cute bag for ME! Or maybe I’ll give it to my mother who loves purses the way I love geek stuff. Very special thanks to Jessi Linn for drawing my attention to it.

I’m sure I’m going to end up adding more, maybe a scarf for my mother in law. Maybe something my brother in law can use in basic training. Maybe I can find some inexpensive Betty Boop fabric and make something for my sister.