Productive after all

[hrj]

 For a bit there, it looked like today was going to be a lazy lay-a-bed day.  (And it sure is nice to have self-permission to have them.  Hmm, maybe I've finally managed to achieve that whole "year of me" thing.)  But after doing breakfast in bed and watching the last couple of iTunes-purchased episodes of Blood Ties (unsatisfying because there's no series closure), making my way out into the rain to get groceries, I actually made significant progress on two sewing projects.  I've gotten the supportive gothic gown (in peacock blue, by the way) up to the point of doing the lacing holes.  It still lacks sleeves and I'm waiting to figure out the neckline until I know how it's going to fit when laced, but now it's at a handwork stage.  Then I did the main seams in the re-fitted "laurel party dress".  (Have I mentioned that I hate hate hate remaking garments?) The re-fitting had to work around keeping the original buttonholes (all down the center front and sleeves), but that wasn't too difficult.  I need to refit the lining, then put the sleeves back in and redo the hem.  I'm also thinking of adding fitchets, since the inspiration I'm working from had them (as best I can tell -- it's a low-relief grave slab, so there's a fair amount of guesswork).  Having the Oscars on in the background probably helped in getting the sewing done.  Have I mentioned recently that I think Hugh Jackman is incredibly talented?  One thing bothered me that I've noticed at previous Oscars: excluding all the "special form/genre" awards, it seemed like all the nominees came from only maybe half a dozen different films.  And while I liked Slumdog Millionaire (saw it Friday, will try to review soon), it felt a bit like it had been adopted as the official "Oscar darling of the year" (of which there always seems to be one) that gets just a few more awards than its quality really calls for.