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!

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.

Flu versus sewing

Another bout of flu offset but a surprising amount of getting things done. The first three days I learned all kinds of things about the homeless in Japan. Interesting and diverting but not too useful. Then I went into the rabbit hole of The Great British Sewing Bee, seasons one to four. I don't have a link because I wandered all over You Tube to find the different episodes.

Inspired, I gathered up Steve's sweater and finally added the missing button.

He really likes wearing it on the weekends. It turns out to be pretty snuggly.

I purchased 2 metres of a Bamboo Jersey Knit from Blackbird Fabrics (here) after Christmas and made version two of the Toaster Sweater. Only it was huge. I snipped out the arms, trimmed the armholes and re-inserted the arms. Inside out and upside down. Yup.

I guess I could have smiled.

I remeasured everything again, re-cut the arms out, reduced the side seams and finally, have a top that I can wear. I made the mistakes before the cold came in, and solved them while coughing up a storm.

 

Phoebe asked for an apron for her birthday and I supplied. Although this is one of the smaller projects I have ever made, it is probably the best made.

The details were fun.

She gets wet across the front when she does the dishes and wanted some pockets on the sides. I added some rip cord nylon inside the centre pocket and lengthened the waistband tie.

The bias binding turned out perfectly, for a change and the entire apron looks just so professional. I made it in time for Steve to get it to the post office so it will arrive in time. Happy Birthday Phoebe, if you are reading this before the 28th.

2 p.m. appears out of nowhere

Does that happen to you? I'm working away on tons of things and all of a sudden it is mid-afternoon. There is no way that I am going to be able to complete even a quarter of my list. It didn't help that Steve whispered the magic words, "Do you want to go to the library for a book and a treat?"

I flew off the chair at that. Our local library has an amazing coffee shop and very nice seating. A book was on hold for me there and the shop where I get my tea is just around the corner. Off we trotted and had a very nice hour.

Back at home, Steve's sweater stares at me. The collar is finished, but the sleeves still need sewing on.

The shirt is finished and he is wearing it on this -17 day. It is a nice flannel almost a light wool kind of warmness to it.

The back looks pretty good also. I knit the watch cap for Steve for his birthday and he hardly takes it off these days. I'm not sure if he is cold or realizes his hair is in terrible need of a haircut, or if he is channeling Mike from the Monkeys.

I did manage to sneak in a quick t-shirt for myself on Sunday. It is meant for spring and fall, the neck is too open to be warm enough for winter. The fold line down the centre of the shirt better wash out! I thought it would iron out. If it stays, I might have to decorate or spill spaghetti down my front in a careful way.

As well, Steve asked me if I could mend a pair of jeans that had one leg hanging off by a few threads. I tossed them out then felt guilty. I had seen a post on turning jean legs into small baskets with fabric scraps. I pulled the jeans out of the garbage and made 4. There are some folks or students who might like a piece of Steve to throw things at.

It may seem as if there isn't any stitching or studio related events going on here, and in a way you are right. But I have sent off a collection of poems to a competition and groomed a four part story into a 5000 word short story. I think it is hilarious. Lots of sailing mishaps. Now I have to think where to send it to. It is all part of my ongoing creative project to be famous at something.

January Makes and near makes

I've noticed on a few sewing vlogs that I follow that folks are summing up the things they make every month. I had several goals, nearly all met.

Stitching on the new project has moved along nicely, I hope to have it done in a few months. As I stitch, more ideas about how to detail the parts roll in.

I purchased the fabric for Steve's shirt several months back and meant to have it done two months ago. Buttons still need to go on, but then, voila.

It is probably the best shirt I have made so far. The collar went together without any hitches, same with the cuffs.

And the knitting on the sweater also nears its final moment. I will sew the parts together and start the collar.

The goals...sweater and shirt finished by Friday.

To make things less challenging, ha ha, I started knitting a sweater of my own. It has a bit of a lace pattern that needs concentration. Yikes.

At the end of January, Steve and I, along with our son and his girlfriend went to Sheffield Mills to see the eagles. The farmers out there toss out the dead chickens and the eagles just love to eat them! This day, the eagles weren't hungry. They stayed in the trees and mocked the over 300 people standing in a field, watching them watch us.

I am momentarily famous

I invite you all to go to the link below and have a look. I was interviewed by the Studio Art Quilts Associations, Atlantic area. I am enjoying the kind comments from the people I have already shared this with. Feel free to adore me more, I love it.

http://saqaatlanticcanada.blogspot.com/

79 Photos?

I have taken 79 photos and thought I had shared them on the blog at least once since the 17th. Time flies when there are good books around.

The last piece in "3 sneezes make a wish" is done.

This was really fun to work on.

I thought I would have a lot of trouble with traveling threads or knots coming up onto the surface of the hanky, but the only problem I had was the needle sliding out of the work.

When coming up from the bottom and moving my hand to the top of the work to pick up the needle, the needle would fall down. Often. The background is very thin, the needle didn't grab into anything.
This project now needs a way to be hung as a group. There is a vague idea floating in my head.

Sometime back I moaned about outstanding projects that take up mental and physical space. One of these was a sweater I received from a dear friend, many years ago. I wear this year round. An attack of moths (twice) meant some holes in the back which my daughter darned a couple of Christmas's ago.

This Christmas break I darned the elbows. Moths or lots of leaning on elbows, I don't know, but the holes were getting pretty large. There will come a point when there is more darning than sweater, and even then, I doubt I will take this off.

My second group of three stitched images is underway.

I expect it will be a threesome, but I haven't chosen the other two.

I am using a different thread. It is called cotton a broder and it is a bugger to get hold of. The US provider is out of business, so it is off to England I shall go. In fact, that is a good reason to go to England myself. I must check out the shop that supplies it, once I find one. There is a book store that has a side space that sells amazing cakes and teas. And i want to go back to the TATE. A field trip is building.