Temporty change of connection

Hi All.
Life has thrown me a hard curve ball. Mom's stroke has meant she is currently living with us for an unknown amount of months. All my efforts at time management and keeping goals are gone, gone and gone. I could look at this as a moment for change or a moment of holding my breath to get through this. There have been signs and portents but no animal entrails to lead me in either direction.

After a weekend at the camp where my thoughts tend to crystallize, I decided I need to use Instagram to help me keep on track of goals. Time is chopped into fragments now, goals have to be smaller and Instagram is a good tool to capture this bits and bites.

I really enjoy writing this blog and from what I understand of trends, lots of people like to read a short blog of people they follow. In that spirit, please join me on Instagram. There is a link on the upper right corner. I will notify Instagram whenever I post a blog here and visa versa.

Have a good summer!

Offline for a bit

Hi all, My mom had a stroke last week and I am in Toronto helping out. I didn't bring my camera or any cables to switch phone images to the computer, so you will have to languish a little while without me.
I hope spring is treating you all to some lovely tulips and daffodils.

Been working hard

Been working hard but not much to show for it photo wise.

The snake continues. Have I made an error? Too much pondering. Get 'er appliqued on and then judge it.

Seeds under soil,

These might be butterhead lettuce. Time will tell. (note to self: please label things)

Sweetpea seeds. Ha ha, I doubt these will work. I soaked them for two days before planting in moist seedling soil. Along with Cosmos, Sweet peas refuse to be nice to me.

Hopefully, these will turn into Cipolini onions. I thought I started too early last year due to the complete failure to germinate, but it turns out I should start these in January or maybe even the fall. I bought a warming mat to go underneath and I might have success. Behind are johnny jump up seeds maybe, and in the taller pot are radish. Why do I put myself through this year after year. Two years in a row the radishes have been utterly awful. I might bronze my first successful radish, I've been waiting so long.

I've sewn a new shirt that needed a long seam picked out twice,

I will show the complete garment when it is finished. I like to putz away on these projects on weekends between chores.

Hours have been spent pulling threads out of a knit blanket that I didn't like,

 I'm down to the last 10 percent. I have watched a lot of You tube videos in the pursuit of visual compliance.

This week I can sew the new sections on it.

I broke a personal record at the gym and squatted (terrible image, both visually and verbally.) 100 lbs.,

 

These photos are from Google. I'm kind of embarrased to ask my trainer to take a picture of me lifting. A new envelope to burst out of and not be modest.

I added in an extra gym day to build up walking stamina. Also not me, but it gives you the idea of the incline. At the park the other day, We walked up a long incline about this steep and there wasn't any fainting or stopping to search for breath.


This next Google image I couldn't resist. This is my new personal goal. I want to do this on my way to the library or to the bar for drinks.

 

Sewing along

The snake begins to take shape. I'm using a silk tie that has a nicely blended back.

There should be enough to make the entire length of the snake. It goes along quickly.

With the new sewing machine I finished the Wiksten jacket.

I bought the fabric from Style Makers in the US. Tons of shipping costs make it a bit of a pill to swallow but I do like this fabric.

I prefer to smile when there isn't a camera. I thought I was grinning my head off.

I bought this striped fabric two years ago from Darrell Thomas in Ottawa. It is a wool knit and is so comfy. The pattern is Blank Slate's Boatline t-shirt. It has a curving hem line.

I'm pretty proud of the stripe matching. I've been watching the Great British Sewing Bee and remembered the importance of basting. A little basting went a long way here.

I've been lucky enough to be asked to join a local allotment garden. It's about a 30 minute walk away. I have a plot that is 10'x10'. I always moan about the amount of yard work I have here at the house, then I always add in some veg in a raised bed and it always fails. Why not take on more opportunities for failure I thought. I have to figure out how to fit it into my schedule, get back on the studio output trail and return to writing. I haven't taken that seriously as of late. Many details to sort out so the spring is springy.

A snake in the garden

Upon waking one morning, a few weeks back, it came to me that the stitched piece I am working on needs a snake.

Sometimes a flash of an image just shows up, fully figured out. That is always a nice way to start the day.

It took several fabric auditions, but I finally settled on this blue tie. It has a distinctive right side and a nicely softened back.

A few variations of a snake were drawn out and this long, curvy one was the winner. I decide to keep its head inside the stitching, there was a nice sized opening.

I haven't any idea why a snake. No references to evil, genesis, micro-climates or ecosystems. Just a snake.

On the topic of snakey lines, I decided to make this top from Ottbre magazine.(here)

Ottobre is a Finnish magazine,with English text, specializing in women's and children's patterns. In this issue, the focus is for women and larger sized women. There are two centre-fold pages with the patterns printed on both sides.

The patterns have to be traced out, then cut out, then used as normal pattern pieces.

The instructions are in the middle of the magazine and are fairly good. I'll know better as I get sewing and actually follow them.

This little duo of sketches are being thought out so I can keep going once the snake of above is finished. I know the watering can will be red, but appliqued or stitched or maybe, in an act of madness, painted?

 It turns out I have been invited to join the allotment garden where these sketches were made. Hurrah! Hopefully more sketches will happen in the warmer months.

Pfaff-ing along

I have bought a new sewing machine! The Pfaff passport 2.0 is now sitting merrily in my sewing area a.k.a. the dining room. The broken Pfaff, a marvelous 30 year old built in West Germany, is hopefully getting  a repair and I will save it for making lace cloth.

During the time between the two machines, I pulled out the hand stitching and remembered my pledge to respect each day. My goal is that each day, there is a general task (studio, writing, stitching, gym) that I need to make sure happens and the remainder of the list needs to come second. Even if I don't accomplish a ton on each day's task, I feel a lot better if I don't let them drift off.

I am always surprised how much I can get done in an hour when I concentrate.

I've also remembered that taking at least one picture a day for Instagram really helps me focus.

I've also remembered that other people's priorities do not have to be my priorities. Nothing specific to report there, but a little gentle pressure from some others wanting my time triggered my "No Thank you, I can't take advantage of that opportunity right now." mantra.

So now, with a lovely late winter sun shining, the sound of car tires driving through melting snow and the occasional bird song, I will pick up needle and thread and get to work on that lawn chair.

Broken sewing machine - OW

Yesterday there was a dial. I didn't remember what it did. Instead of getting up and finding the manual, I turned it. Boing!
That's it. No more zigzag, or stretch stitch, or button hole parts. Only straight stitch remains.
I guess that isn't a complete disaster. I can still stitch cottons or most other woven fabrics, but forget button holes or certain seam finishes. But worst of all, I can't sew any knits and I have a line up of knits to sew.
That took up a certain amount of my day, stomping around and trying the stitches several times to make sure they were broken.

I did manage to get a certain birthday present done and I am pleased with the outcome. This is what I call my miracle apron because it comes up high under the collar and food doesn't fall behind the apron.

 It also wraps around the hips. That way when I forget to use a towel, I can wipe my hands on my hips. That happens all the time. The apron helps the jeans last longer.

Well, that's a crummy picture. The close ups are better.

We are on our second messy blizzard. I should have been watching movies and stitching, but instead, I shoveled and watched ridiculous You Tube videos and didn't stitch. Self sabotage there. February is the month in which anything that gets done is considered a success.

Getting out of bed, feeding the cat, finding socks.... Anything that involves some physical exertion and a minor amount of thinking is a successful achievement. Last weeks sewing projects, some stitching this weekend and an apron, plus roaring around with my snowblower make this February a brilliant success.

Part of my procrastination is that I know this piece needs something significantly more beyond this image but the mind is blank. I will get this bit done and show it around a bit to some friends and see what happens. I will also head out into the freezing ice pellets in the direction of the woodpile, make a fire, make some cheese and crackers and return to You Tube. Snow ya later.