I Got Some New Eye Candy!

I saw this lovely little book at Barnes and Noble several months ago and just couldn't bring myself to get it at that time. My wonderful Mom-in-Law got me a gift card for Joann's for Christmas. Yesterday was the first time I've had a chance to go in since before Christmas. (I know, it's a wonder I didn't go into some kind of withdrawal! ) I checked out Kenneth King's Cool Couture but after really looking at it decided it was probably still beyond my skill set. Then I saw this. I was so happy!

Granted I don't do a lot of hand sewing, but there are times I need it. It soothes me. This little book has several little projects ranging from the cute little tote on the front cover, to a laundry bag, to stockings and ornaments, a various house linens, slippers and garments. I know I'll be doing the stockings and ornaments for next Christmas for sure. The laundry bag intrigues me. Lord knows I need one! There are so many ideas in here. Not just the projects themselves, but I see them being the basis for embellishment on a skirt , or jacket, or blouse. So many ideas.

Now, before you think I'm just goofing off day dreaming with my book, I have been busy on the blouse. The bodice front and back are sewn together, seams serged. I've even had to do a slight sway back adjustment. The back was noticeably 1/2 to 3/4 inches longer than the front. That correction has been made and we're ready to begin with the waistband next sewing timeout, hopefully tomorrow evening.

It's All So Boring.....

It's all so boring but at least it's still sewing-related. So I'm still on track Since last I posted, I've still not been creatively productive, in that I still yet to put the first seam in the Simplicity blouse. All is not in vain, however. The tension has been reset on the sewing machine along with seam samples sewn. The serger has also been re-threaded, no small feat, as it has been a long time since I've done it and I'm still getting acquainted with it. The tensions on it were all screwy for such a silky fabric from the last project done on it in thick cotton so that in itself was a process!

My beloved son honored me with his mending, making my first official completed project for 2011 reattaching the elastic waistband on his boxers. They aren't in bad shape, in fact, nearly new. He merely pulled a thread he shouldn't have. Yes, the thread attaching boxer to elastic, leaving more than half the poor waistband dangling haplessly. Order and support have been restored to the kingdom.

Simplicity just released their new patterns and I have to admit I'm really disappointed in the offering. Everything seems a re-hash, re-release, or just plain boring. The only the that caught my eye was this little pretty:

Of course I have no red carpet event to wear it to, nor any special occasion I can even think of that would be appropriate for such a dress. But I am just mad about all that pleating at the bodice! The slightly trailing train is so glamorous, too. Who wouldn't feel like a movie star in a dress like this? It's so timeless yet modern.

Oh, well. Sigh. Back to the blouse and boxers for me, though.

New Year's Resolutions

Typically, I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. I've always found that they reinforced my feelings of failure as I inevitably, like most people, fail to meet them, adhere to them, whatever. I flop out big time. Be it weight loss, be a better person, quit cussing, exercise more....yada, yada, yada. You know the spiel. By Febuary, March latest, its all dust and dreams and pint of ice cream in front of a chick flick on TV.

I don't know if it's an age thing, an ADD getting out of control thing, or life is just really confusingly busy thing but I just can'ts seam to focus on my sewing the way I want to. And I really want too! Time just seams to slip into weird little places. Laundry, dishes, and normal housework were always obstacles but were pretty manageable. I keep getting lost in books, movies, even stupid re-runs of re-runs. Worst culprit of all. I'm addicted to watching my son play Assassin's Creed. OMG. It's like watching a movie and getting to participate too! There are even puzzles I get to help the character solve. It is a blackhole for time wasteage and I can't seam to walk away.

Culpability is in order. I need structured and order to get the sewing back on track. Journaling it should be a huge help, as it was before. Some sewing-related activity for at least 15 minutes daily. Be it sewing, cutting, setting up the project, researching a process. Something related to the process of sewing will be accomplished daily. Checking outthe activity on Pattern Review again. I have a very large collection of patterns to work thru and a stash I no longer have room to add to. Further incentive to kick it in gear. I have all these great clothes in my head I need to get them in my closest!


To that purpose I have begun a project. Simplicity 2501:

I've had it in "my collection" for a long time. From one of Joann's $1.00 sales, I'm sure. It's one of those muli-cup patterns eliminating the need for an FBA.

I have cut out view D, like featured in the picture and am using this fabric:

also from one of Joann's sales. A polyester charmeuse of creamy white, tans, black, and purples.

I just love the colors in it. I have several disparate pieces in my wardrobe and was working last year on trying to tie them together. This will work nicely with the purple pencil skirt, black flaired skirt and tan gored skirt that I made last year trying to work in some neutrals and solids. I also have a pair of brown slacks and cream slacks.

So, I'm off to sew.... Happy sewing all

No Mo' Babies, Baby

What a lovely weekend but its coming to an end. So many things are coming to an end this weekend. "My Baby" celebrated his 20th birthday. Adulthood. It sounds so simple. Childhood is completely abandoned; there is no more 'teen left. There is only that large undeniable 2 in the decade column. Granted, this is the offspring with Asperger's and ADHD still struggling to find a job and a place in life post-graduation last May and very unlikely to change his address anytime in the foreseeable future. The number 20 in connatation to birthdays still symbolizes much.

He is no longer a child, albeit my child til my last breath, he is now an adult. I am a woman of grown children. No more babies. No more children to raise. They're all grown. Starting their lives as adults. My role as guiding parent, sun to their planet is no longer valid. I am no longer their ultimate authority, their ultimate champion, the giver of all food, love, attention, direction....all those myriad jobs that parents simply do every waking moment.

As the parent of grown children, I find its more important to be a supportive role in their burgeoning life. Whatever it is they need now, I as their parent, will still try to provide. Support for their decisions, cheering squad to their successes, encouragement to get through those tough times. I can help with laundry, research on the 'net for that term paper, babysit the grandson at the last minute, and cheer at the rugby match.

My son' s life may not change simply because his age has reached a numerical value his abilities and maturity can't begin to match and my efforts to help him acheive a "normal, produtive life" continue unchanged. We still seek gainful employment, purpose to our days, meaningful relationships with others. Those goals remain unchanged from grade school for him, for my whole family. Mommy may now be Mom and Grammy, but she is still needed.......

Reading: Skylight Confessions

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It's snowing here on Bittersweet Lane, as it is in much of the country. Not terribly deep or even treacherous but a lovely old-fashioned thorough dusting. Just enough that our rural school system cancelled classes leaving Mr. B home. As great luck would have it, Child 3 and 4 (Miss Belle and Mr Mike) and I all have the day off as well. We all slept in like bears then ate leisurely breakfasts. There's nothing cozier than sipping hot, fragrant coffee while watching the snow fall. The whole world seemed quiet and hushed by the blanket of snow. Mr. B put some lovely music on and we both indulged in coffee and novels for half the morning!

I had started reading Alice Hoffman's Skylight Confessions several days ago and finished it this morning -- mopping the tears from my face the whole time! I enjoy Ms. Hoffman's magical realism emmensely but find that some of her novels can get a little formulaic. This one was fresher, though darker, dealing with much darker emotions and family dynamics. Themes of depression, death, and family and oft asked question of what does family consist of are dealt with in her usual shimmering way--changing and evolving as the book progresses. Good, fun read and good cry. Now I think I smell Miss Belle's chocolate chip cookies coming out of the oven.

I Should Have Listened to Cookie Monster

I love cookies. I love cookies the way this guy does--shoveling them in as fast as I can crunch 'em up with crumbs flying everywhere. Somewhere along the way, though, I lost that inborn knowledge that every kid has: there is no such thing as a bad cookie.

As an adult with more sophisticated tastes and cook with stronger skills, I became a cookie snob. The only really "good" cookies were homemade from scratch. Sure, we indulge in the efforts of those famous elves and can lick 'n dump with the Trump like everyone else. But those don't count. It's like eating burgers for supper on the fly--it's food, technically but who views it as "good food".

Reform came to my house in the guise of a fundraiser. As a teacher, Mr. Bittersweet is often persuaded by students to help their cause. Mr B is the biggest cookie hound I know and I strongly suspect that fundraiser had his name as chief target on it. After spending that much on cookie dough, I wasn't about to let it rot in the fridge. I made some up for the grands. They loved them. (So did the quality control inspector who visited the kitchen.) I made up some more tonight while dinner cooked as a treat for a job well-done in the garden. So fast. So easy. Only what we needed for a small treat without all those others calling out to be eaten, too, so no guilt. I'm sold! I'm reformed! Those coupons for cookie mixes and dough will no longer be relegated to trade. Cookie Monster has the right idea--just enjoy!!!!

Secret Pleasure

Like so many others, I have a wayward attention span. I can rarely sit still for long, let alone sit still and do one tedious thing. Watching TV is usually accompanied by handsewing or copying recipes from magazines into my recipe book. Big sewing projects require a novel on CD.

My favorite is Lauren Wellig's Pink Carnation series. I love them! The current indulgence is "The Seduction of the Crimson Rose".

These books are a combination of Georgette Heyer's Regency romances (from Jr High) with spies, more substance, and a parallel life in the present. It may sound goofy, but I just love to sew to them--I can't "read" one, but I can listen all day to the audio version. Then wait impatiently for the library to obtain the next one.....

And yes, sewing is happening again.