creating with my beloved

did you know that dreams really do come true? one of my grandest and most precious dreams was that my beloved would also be my creative partner—now that is my reality. 

so far, we haven't worked together on any huge projects, but daily life with us is such that at any moment, either of us could spring into creative action, and be either supported or collaborated with. 

from cooking to music to drawing—and today, fashion! 

i've been thinking more about style lately, and modeling, and fashion in general. while doing laundry the other day, one of our bed sheets ripped, and instead of throwing it away, i had the idea that i could use it to experiment with a sewing machine i had gotten from a friend who moved away. 

i had acquired the sewing machine right before one of our many trips, trusting i'd remember it and pull it out to play with at a later date. today was that day. 

i'm not really sure what my plan was. well, my plan was to literally pull it out and play with it, but in my imagination, it somehow got itself into a "ready to use" state and all i had to do was stick some fabric in it and go to town. 

but when i got it out of the box, i realized i actually have no clue how any of it works, and no clue how to even think about getting started. i figured maybe my sister could teach me when she visits, and i'd have to wait until then. 

to my surprise, however, my fiancé revealed he does know how to use a sewing machine, though it's been a while since he has. so he began reading the german manual and setting up the thread and settings so the machine was ready for me to use. 

so i guess it did, after all, get itself into a "ready to use" state for me to play with, just with some help from my fiancé. it wasn't shocking that he has yet another skill up his sleeve, but it does fill me with awe every time he reveals a new one. 

ah yes, i actually skipped ahead a bit. before we got out the sewing machine, we had to locate the torn bed sheet, which had been washed and placed somewhere unknown to either of us. once we found it, we started jokingly draping it on me as if it were already a garment. 

but to both of our surprise, we genuinely enjoyed doing so, and we worked to shape an interesting silhouette out of the crinkled fabric. we took a step back and surveyed our handiwork. 

"that's actually not half bad," i said, admiring myself in the mirror. the sheet harmonized with the mixed-texture outfit i was already wearing, and the overall effect was messy-on-purpose avant-garde. it was absolutely something a designer would send me out on the runway with. 

i giddily took a video of it, then ran off to another room after grabbing my phone-stand to take some cool photos. i had been wanting to practice modeling recently, and now i had a cool outfit to practice in—one that my beloved and i collaborated on!

as i snapped photos and adjusted angles, from the other room i heard my fiancé turn on the piano and start tinkering away at a whimsical jingle he improvised the other day—one he thinks is a bit silly but i earnestly adore. 

i took a moment to marvel at how insanely, unbelievably, heart-stoppingly lucky i am. to have a partner i feel comfortable being creatively vulnerable with, who puts his hand in mine and chases after creative visions with me, who reveres the golden spark in every silly little creative act of courage. to feel supported in being creatively ambitious, and to give the same support back. 

i'm excited to keep exploring clothes and fashion, and now sewing. i squealed with delight when i successfully made some trial stitches. 

life is good!

bed sheet + matching outfit x two creative explorers = avant garde deliciousness