Michigan’s MoM Blog

I have used a wonderful book for years as a guide to helping my body and mind to stay health with the right foods, exercise and spiritual practices; all of which change with the four seasons.  The book is entitled Staying Healthy With The Seasons, by Dr. Elson M. Haas. I have the first printing of the book (gratefully) signed in person by Dr. Haas at its 1981 debut in Monterey, CA. Second Editions are currently available.

My copy became worn to the point of having it rebound by an independent book binder in Ann Arbor, MI after a very taltented graphic designer scanned the cover and reprinted/ laminated it in full color glory. See DavidClassicDesign.com  The original cover art shows a heightened view of all four seasons,  in nature with rivers and trees, full of life.  

Personally, I found that the ability to dicipline myself to do the right things at the right time for a healthier life comes from the successes of doing those very things. Its a Catch 22, and also a welcoming, clear path to a better life. Our bodies want to be healthy, with radiance as Pasha’s Salon promotes. We are so used to doing for others, ourselves last. As we age, picking  up more and more toxins, you know the story, the time to start seems to be soon, if not yesterday.  Check into it.

Dr. Danial Amen gives great advice about physical health and its direct connection to our thoughts and the results we experience in our lives. Here I can only state a few of his very interesting findings. Did you know that Weight Gain decreases Brain Function? If one is fat, BMI 25,  that is one’s weight relative to their height, 18.5 – 25 is normal or pushing being fat. BMI 25 or higher is fat,  BMI 30 and over is obese.

At “fat” one losses 4% of their brain tissue, that is 4 billion less brain cells, aging the brain by 8 years. So your brain is 8 years older than your actual age.

At “obese” one losses 8% or 8 billion brain cells, aging the brain by 16 years.

Our brain function is what separates us from all those valuable creatures we call “animals”.  Think about it.

You can find out all bout Dr. Amen’s work by entering his name in a Google/Yahoo search.

I’ll have more on better eating in my next entry.

Looking forward

A happy and blessed Easter to you all. Spring brings new beginnings as the sun warms the ground traveling up to the ends of the tiny tree branches and buds appear. Who doesn’t smile at the sight. If you’re connected to the changing of the seasons you will want to express yourself as I can’t help but want to create something new for  myself.

I cut-out and have yet to sew together a beautiful blouse for myself. At least I think its for myself! I will photograph it and display it somehow, either on this blog or on my website. I’m not sure if I can display photos on this blog?

Picture this.  An Asian style blouse, form-fitted with princess line seaming in a tropical floral print . Along the  serpentine neckline, twelve tiny buttons made of simulated ivory in the shape of stylized Birch tree leaves. I should have it finished by the end of this Easter weekend.

Are you Irish? I’m not. I just like any reason to relax and have fun with friends. So today we wear green, and sing along with a mug of “greenish” beer in our hands. Eat Shepherds Pie. Dance, smile and laugh alot. Its all good, in moderation.  We’ll see.

Its easy to pretend to be Irish in order to “fit in” today. But what if your individualism is so well established that you have not the slightest need to pretend to be Irish.  I was told many years ago by someone (not necessarily an authority) that Italians, like myself, should wear orange today. Silly but, I do wear orange on St. Patrick’s Day. What will you be wearing?

Ramona

I need models to demonstrate how radiant you can look in the new Mary Kay makeup looks. If you are far away, you can do it on-line by visiting MaryKay.com/ramonamooney.  Go to the Virual Makeover, choose one of their models or upload your photo. Then choose a natural look for everyday, a classic look for important meetings, and/or a dramatic look for stepping out on the town. You can have so much fun playing around with different hairstyles. 90% of the time I have every product in stock. MaryKay.com will send me an email with your must haves and I will get them to you ASAP.  I’m having more fun than I imagined with these make overs!  If you are close to me call 734-913-8131 for a private, in person, half-hour, makeover with a lovely photo of how gorgeous you look.

I learned to work with leather, sewing it with an industrial sewing machine about 20 years ago. How I learned and where I learned is a story of its own. Let me know if you want to hear that story.

In my last post I promised to tell you about the leather alterations I did last summer. 

I was walking out of my bank when I stopped to admire a custom-made leather motorcycle seat on a Harley. Next thing I know its owner was standing next to me.  We exchanged business cards.  Months later he came to me with a worn, or should I say aged, leather jacket that was now too short in the torso and too short in the arms.  My customer know exactly what he wanted me to do, almost step-by-step. 

I inserted extra leather in each sleeve between the elbow area and the wrist area.

I also inserted extra leather at the bottom from the bottom of the zipper all the way around so that it would actually meet him at  his waistline.

Since he had worked in leather for years, seats and saddle bags, etc. he had the exact same trim that was elsewhere on the jacket.  So I covered all of my seams with this trim, making the finished jacket look like an intentional design from its orginal designer so many years ago.  This jacket was also covered with commemorative patches from MIA friends and places he had visited over all the years of riding.

He was so happy with the finished jacket that he then had me alter leather pants to fit correctly – tight.

This was last summer’s leather alterations story.

Dear Friends,

Please excuse me for being so busy with life changes that I haven’t had an extra minute to communicate on my own blog!  My goodness.

I have so much to share.  Everything from interesting customers (the names are changed) and their creative projects to classic movies, where I get alot of my own inspiration.

This Chirstmas, a customer came to me with a special present for her Autistic son.  He loves to play the trombone and wear a marching band uniform.  Because she cannot find it in green and white online, I am custom making it for her. 

It’s gratifying for me to fulfill such a special and specific need.

Next time I’ll share the leather motorcycle gear alterations I did recently.

Michigan’s MoM

This week we got a request for how to make a cage crinoline.  What is it?  It is a slip that allows a limp skirt to stand out in a circle, like Scarlet O’Hara’s in Gone With the Wind.

The instructions on how to make a 220″ circumference cage crinoline. The materials involved start with elastic at the waistline and tricot (single knit light weight fabric for making slips).  As it descends to the hips the crinoline starts being gathered at that area resulting in a larger circumference at the bottom (roughly 6″ down). There put your first row of boning.  After that attach another row of crinoline (stiff netting) this time 8″ wide,  Then another larger circumference of boning, and then another row 12″ wide and so on until it is the length and fullness desired.  I suggest you plan it out on paper for the length and fullness you want as a successful result.  When you estimate the amount of fabric, netting and boning, get much more or the tricot so that you can put a layer of tricot between the wearer and the crinoline.  Crinoline is nice and stiff netting but it is quite scratchy and uncomfortable.  There is usually a slip of tricot inside with an outer layer of the descending larger and larger circumference crinoline I have described above.  Both are together and wrapped around the elastic at the waist.

Thank you for your interesting question.
Michigan’s MoM Sewing Services