Tuesday, July 20, 2010 Posted in Knitting
I worked so desperately hard to finish this before I go on vacation. As usual, I don’t love how it looks on me. Funny I took the time at 9am to put on the right earrings to wear with it for the photo but the pants are all wrong!
When will I learn to stop trying to make myself knit garments..I should stick to accessories. I’m afraid I’m so burnt out from this project that I don’t even know if I have it in me to start another one right now…however, I’m afraid I’ll regret not having a project with me on vaca in case I get stuck at the airport or a rainy day or something!
I need to put on some SPANX before wearing this..but this is just a quick shot my dd took for me so I could post here and on ravelry.
Here’s a quick a-line skirt I made using Amy Butler’s Barcelona Skirt pattern with Echino’s Quiet Ground fabric. I saw this fabric at my LQS, Quilter’s Alley and I had no idea what I wanted to use it for, but I knew I had to buy it. So Roxanne suggested a skirt. I love the idea of this unusual fabric as a garment but once I got home I was afraid it might be juvenille for someone “my age.” With some convincing from my good friend, I went for it. It’s adorable and because it has so many great colors in it, I surprisingly have a lot that will go with it.
I’m heading out soon for a much needed vacation. It’s a family trip, so I’m not sure how relaxing it will be but I’m hopeful.
Friday, July 2, 2010 Posted in Sewing
Once school is out, it becomes a real juggling act to keep my business going, entertain an now 8 year old and feed my craft obsessions. I managed to finish this Patricia Tunic in time for the fourth of july weekend. The fabric is much busier than I would ordinarily wear, but my intention was to wear it as a shirt with shorts to head to the beach. It’s cute, but not loving the pattern repeats on the front..oh well, now that I’ve made one, I can make more. This fabric is Anna Maria Horner voile and it is beautiful. I did pre-wash as I heard it shrinks horizontally the first time.
I’ve been a painting fool. The last of the wallpaper is gone from my house..and so is the baby blue carpeting! Photos to follow..
Been knitting trying to make something in time for the summer. I’m trying (again) to make a garment for myself. In the past, I’m better making things that are not size specific as my gauge can be all over the place.
I received an email from English Yarns for the new Kim Hargreaves Misty Book and I’m trying to resist buying this new book. Some of my favorites:
Arielle - photo from English Yarns
Petal - Photo from English Yarns
Carrie- Photo from English Yarns
I’ve discovered Modern Quilt Guild and this fantastic pattern: Mixtape Quilts. The pattern is so well written with great photos to put even the first time quilter at ease. My problem is always the fabric selection but I think I can handle this one as it’s not too busy. Here’s a blog post with a sample.
In all my life, this year has to be the wackiest weather I can remember. This past weekend we received over 4 inches of rain in about 24 hours with crazy winds. We are lucky that we have NOT lost power nor suffered any property damage but there are many outages in the area. Yesterday I did not leave the house at all. I finished a few projects though. I got around to blocking my latest knitting project the Lacey Ribbon Scarf. It’s a new purpose for sock yarn so I thought I’d give my sock frenzy a break.
I’m now on a sewing kick. I had my lesson with my new machine last week and am now going to attempt some new projects. My other addiction, bags…so I’m going to attempt a clutch bag to wear when I go out in the evening instead of trekking around my large tote bag… Stay tuned!
Sunday, February 28, 2010 Posted in Sewing
I hate snow days..while it is pretty, I’m not one to run outside and play in it. It’s bad enough I have to walk the dog in it!
But I’ve been doing some sewing. I made 4 new quilted placemats (photos forthcoming.) I think the fabric choices are busy. Could be the placement of each fabric. Dunno. You tell me.
I have learned a lesson that I honestly should have already known.
As a bag junkie, I am forever on a quest for the perfect bag. What makes a perfect bag? Well first you need to define the usage of the bag. Everyday? Shopping? Knitting? Etc..
So I found that the said bag in my previous post is not the perfect gift. The straps are too wide for the recipient (a petite person) as they slip off because they are too wide. And maybe the size is too large as well for the petite person. Therefore, I’m not going to make bags as gifts anymore. Except for myself! However, I will make them on an as requested basis and for commission to sell.
Speaking of sewing, I received my new dream sewing machine! So exciting! And, I even got some Signature DPN needles for my other addiction of sock sewing.
It’s New Year’s Eve day and this is my LEAST favorite holiday. I’d rather treat it like any other night, with the exception of splurging on a surf and turf dinner that I’m cooking tonight. We woke up to a beautiful snowy setting, so I made a fire, grabbed a big cup of coffee and my knitting and voila…I’m like a “grandma” as a dear ole friend has classified me on facebook. DH wants to have a party, or go to a party…and truthfully, I wish we were in PA with you tonight knitting with other fine folk :)…then DH would have someone to stay up to midnight with…sigh…when will we ever live closer to one another.
I’m on a roll..we woke to snow and that means there’s no need for me to go anywhere today except sit at my sewing machine! So as I mentioned in my last post, I modified the Multi-Tasker Tote to be shorter by about 1 inch or so, including the straps and I have hit success. I’m very happy with the outcome. I think it needs some type of closure either a snap or toggle but all in all it looks good. Hope the fabric isn’t to “out there” for Mom…I also hope she’s not reading this now… DOH!
Now that I’m done with that project I need something to do with peanut so I came across this great project for us to do. She’s selling a little village but there’s also a single house as a freebie with adorable printable patterns!
(Pardon all the iphone pix - it is only 8am on a Sunday morning!)
I’m busy making gifts for the holidays. I have to share a gripe though. All those beautiful special magazines that come out in late November/December with patterns of homemade gifts are published too late! It just makes us panic and feel inadequate for not finishing anything in time..or maybe that’s me.
We had our first snow up here in the new house. It’s beautiful. I’m happy I don’t have to go anywhere today. I’ve been sewing as a break from knitting. I’ve finished one pair of socks for a friend. I frogged a neck cowl I made because it was so large it would be confused with a poncho. So I’m down one gift.
I just purchased Anna Maria Horner’s Multi-Tasker Tote pattern. Great fun pattern. But the bag is larger than I thought. I originally had ideas for a knitting/craft bag which it is perfect for. But I was also going to make one for Mom to use as an everyday purse but I’m afraid its too big. So I was up until 11 modifying the pattern and cutting new fabric. Hopefully my modifications will work.
We’re making progress on the house still. Kitchen wallpaper gone and repainted. That was after I destroyed the wall underneath the wallpaper..they didn’t prime or paint the sheetrock so it just peeled off..I’m pretty sure there’s another level of wallpaper and sheetrock underneath it!
The formal living room baby blue carpeting is gone! And I discovered beautiful dark wood floors. What a coup! I acquired a sofa and coffeetable/ottoman piece and it’s coming together. My challenge is window treatments. Roman shades for soft casual elegance or 2″ white wood blinds for style as well as function of offering some privacy? Here’s what it looks like now (oh and the cornices are going too - if anyone wants them just pay for shipping and they are yours! - Same goes for 6+ pleated fabric shades.)
I was at my LQS and saw what I want for Christmas, albeit a bit expensive for a Christmas gift 
The Emerald 183. It’s a intro level electronic sewing machine but some nice features!! My Kenmore is OK but a bit clunky..ok I know I can justify it if I keep talking… The benefits of buying from a local store is a lesson and service..I’ll definitely need that lesson.
So house update: I’ve removed wallpaper from the powder room (used to be black floral.) Thought I’d be bold, chose a blue paint. Painted it. Hated it. Hired a painter to repaint it for me in a more neutral color. Not neutral enough (BJ Hazelnut Cream) because the floor is black and white and well, Hazelnut Cream has some pink to it and frankly it looks like shit against a black and white floor. However, before I realized I hated that color too, I had the same paint applied by said painter in my bathroom which I removed navy wallpaper doned with metallic shells. At least the tile in that bathroom is cream and it sort of goes. Sort of.
Then I removed the wallpaper blue paisley border in our bedroom. I broke down and purchased a steamer after getting immensely frustrated after completely only one wall in one days time. After much scrubbing, some hot water burns and scraping. I got most of the glue and border off. However, the truth will be revealed once we paint it because that’s when you notice whether you actually got all the glue off or not. This room will be painted off-white. I just cannot commit to another color mistake at this point.
THEN, I attacked the kitchen. The kitchen had Laura Ashley blue coral wallaper combined with black and white (faux marble) vinyl flooring. Either these people were blind or drunk all the time and didn’t notice how loud this kitchen really was. I mastered the steamer, got it down. But also removed much of the sheetrock. They never primed the sheetrock and honestly I think they sheetrocked over another layer or wallpaper as little peeks of it appears in some spots. Now that our kitchen went from 1970’s Irish geriatric drunks to 2009 crack den. NOW it’s time for the professionals. Today was day one of the wall repair and priming. The fumes are noxious and my head hurts but I’m excited at how good it’s going to look when completed.
And yes, we’re painting the kitchen Linen White.
by Nina
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