Dr. Frankendress: Polyester is suprisingly thinning!

I think, for a lot of creative people, we have to have more than one creative outlet. So, when I'm not writing, I can be found in front of my sewing machine either quilting or piecing together outfits. There's something about the hum of a sewing machine that can quiet my mind after a difficult writing session. And, while writing can take months or even years of work before you have a final product, sewing is instant. And, there's something nice about the instant reward of time spent working.

I think that's why my favorite part of writing is the revision process. The hard work is already done and now all I have to do is smooth away the rough edges and make it shine. That's also why I like going to resale shops and browsing the racks. In front of me are a thousand possibilities to transform something truly hideous into a one-of-a-kind creation that reflects exactly who I am.

Here's my latest purchase that I'm so excited about:

I'm guessing it's a 1970's prom dress. But I'm not sure. It's hideous. And polyester. And hideous.

But there's also something about it, something that called me back to it even after I walked away. A nagging in the back of my mind that there was more to this dress than meets the eye. That it wasn't finished. That it was waiting for me to come along and transform it into exactly what it was meant to be. And so I bought it for a whole two dollars. I took it home, and tried it on - it was a perfect fit! (And surprisingly thinning considering it's polyester! Who knew!)

And so, just like I would with a finished rough draft, I've let it sit in my closet for the last couple of weeks, untouched, as I deliberated the best way to transform it. Because, once I cut into it, there's no turning back. And now, after looking at hundreds of pictures on the Internet, I think I have a pretty good idea what I'm going to do with this dress.

Stay tuned to watch the transformation.

What about you? What are your other creative outlets?