Welcome!

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    I'm Susie Bright, I live in Santa Cruz, California— I like to cook and sew and throw parties and wear costumes and pretend I'm running my own couture maison.

    It's a dreamy escape from my other world, which is writing, publishing, & politics.

    If you'd like to stay abreast of my new stories, add my blog to your newsfeed, or sign up for my email updates— use the little widget on the bottom left of this page.

    The subtitle of my blog, Good Cooking, Fine Sewing, & the Leisure Hours, is inspired from a quote by Kitty Emeneau, the devoted wife of famous linguist Murray Emeneau.

    Murray was influential in his field, and Kitty was an exceptional hostess. At one of their parties, a student asked Kitty if she was a behind-the-scenes collaborator on Murray's linguistic epics, in the manner of many "faculty wives" who worked without credit on their husbands' endeavors.

    "Oh no, dear," Kitty said, with a trill that rivalled any drag queen's. "I'm strictly for his leisure hours!"

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Betty Jo's Valentines

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    These are valentines from my mother's childhood scrapbook, "Betty Jo" Halloran. They were sent and received, from her siblings, grandparents, cousins, and friends, from 1929 to 1938, in Fargo, North Dakota, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Please enjoy them with my love. xoxo, Susie

Main | May 2007 »

April 2007

April 14, 2007

Pirates of the Carribean Skirt: Ahoy there, Wenches!

Newskirt I feel pretty; I feel witty; I feel pretty and witty and GAY! 

I feel like Rita Moreno on the best day she ever had, because I just finished my new skirt.  Doesn't it rock? It actually floats and swirls and plays hide and seek, too.  Aretha has dubbed it "The Pirates of the Caribbean" skirt. Johnny Depp must be gnashing his teeth to gaze upon it.

Here's my sewing instructions, and the pattern info for it. This is one of those patterns that looks like a total bore on the package cover, but has secret potential.

Now, onto my Nancy Drew dress! Yes, out of all your suggestions I flipped over CH Cisson's idea of the cocktail dress with the square neckline and princess seams.

I love princess seams. Yes, they require more cutting (a front and two side fronts), but making a full bust adjustment (which you need for anything over a B cup) is a SNAP, and they make you look like a very svelte princess indeed.

I'm cutting it out as soon as I finish this post. I  relished the "Nancy Drew police uniform" suggestion too, but I'm afraid I need more immediate gratification. Uniforms require tailoring, (i.e., muchas horas)  whereas a sexy cocktail dress is a one-day dressmaking affair.

Speaking of Pirate Booty, here is a knitting pattern for a Pirate Queen Booty Bag. Dammit, I need a stitch-slave!

April 01, 2007

Eat Me Now Ask Me How

Chocolatekamasutra I've rarely felt so aroused and hungry at the same time.

You can see all the positions of yumminess at a site created by ardent, philosphical, drug-geek hedonists. What lovely people.

However, they give no clue who the artist is.

Apparently, you can buy the eight-bar set at a snooty chocolate web boutique, although they warn you:

Although tastefully done, the illustrations on these bars are quite graphic and adventurous in nature, including nudity, and are not for everybody.

Well, I wouldn't want anything less!


thanks to monsieur brown for the tip.

Susie's Q