Sunday, December 30, 2012

2012...A Year in Review

Nah, I'm not doing one of those posts! By the looks of my closet I have not been very productive at the machine this year. Tom made the comment that I might be surprised if I really put a count to it, but I'm not that into counting. The mojo has returned and I have added some wearable garments recently, but most of 2012 was spent working on our property, our new house (okay, there has been a bunch of home dec sewing around the new house) and just working!

I did sit down after dinner and turned that darn heel the first go round. Sometimes when a project is whipping you distance is the best remedy to the problem. Now it's smooth sailing to the toe. I love my Chia Goo needles because the yarn just glides off of them...I hate my Chia Goo needles because the yarn just glides off of them...see my dilemma???

Today is another football day for sure. It appears that Tom did not sleep well again last night as evidenced by the computer monitor turned off. Poor guy. I got a solid 6 hours thanks to Tylenol PM. I used to think my Mom was addicted to the stuff...turns out you just don't sleep as well when you get older and sometimes you need a little help! The things they don't tell you...well, I think I'm done with the computer...time to fire up the sew machine and go. Later Kittens...

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Knit.Fail

Also Beaver.Fail, but we won't talk about that. I decided to work on my socks during the football game. I was at the turn of the heel. I got about halfway in and had to rip it back because I made a mistake. Okay, no biggie...it happens. I get back to knitting and the stitches fall off the needles! When the heel was almost done! Seriously! After that I had a few more mishaps so I stopped to cook dinner.  My joints are hurting now anyway, so I think I'll just read tonight. Freaking sock! I shall conquer you tomorrow!

Jack Reacher

Tom had been housebound long enough so today we took in a matinee. We saw Jack Reacher which was based on the Lee Child novel "One Shot" starring Tom Cruise. Best Tom Cruise since Top Gun! I admit I once had a little obsession with the volleyball scene, but I was more of a Goose fan or in Val Kilmer's camp before he let himself go...hehehe! How the times have changed! Lee Child actually has a cameo role in the movie, so watch for it! Now back to sewing!!!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Winner...not a Wadder

I don't know why I waited so long to sew up Sewaholic's Renfrew top. I bought it when it first came out and traced it out and then...nothing. I didn't even cut out the traced pattern until yesterday. Today I pulled out a remnant ITY from a dress I made a couple years ago (still love that dress...a Maggy London) to try out the Renfrew. Not the best knit for this pattern, but it turned out great! I see this becoming a go to tee pattern along with my Jalies. Those Canadian gals know how to draft a pattern!!! :) Now off to watch High Plains Drifter with my honey...it's been a quiet holiday here, but we did get to FaceTime with the kids this morning and see Colt in his Christmas glory! Merry Christmas!!!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!

A quiet Christmas Eve here. Watching movies and football, sewing pillows and cooking pheasant (per Pop's request). The dogs are all slabbed out in their usual spots. Missing our kids...hoping Sara, Bryce and Colt are having a nice holiday and looking forward to when they come home! Merry Christmas to you all. May you be blessed with peace and happiness this holiday season!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Radio Silence

Last post in September? I think this is the longest stretch I have ever went without posting to my blog. Part of it was business, part of it was I couldn't figure out how to post a pic with my iPad and the rest was just apathy! Wasn't feeling like writing about anything. As I sit here in the quiet morning (okay, quiet except for the tattletale pomeranian who has to report back when Kodi moves!), I realized that I miss journaling and should make an effort to check in with myself more often.

Progress has been made on the LaPine house. The great room has been painted and the window seat cushions recovered. The guest room has fresh paint and the fireplace stove replacement is underway. Tom had surgery, so things have slowed in the renovations, but as soon as he is able I'm sure he'll be chomping at the bit.

Sewing has been happening too. I made a Halloween bag for Colt and did some embroidery projects for him. Of course sewing for hire jobs have came in and I am grateful for those. I have made a few garments for me, which were sorely needed (and I need to make some more). Only one wadder in the bunch, so that's not too bad. I made another Jalie cardigan in a super soft brown knit that I love. I thrifted a bunch of pillows at my favorite thrift store and embroidered 8 wildlife themed pillow tops for the window seat in LaPine. In other crafty news, I finished a crocheted "Calm Cowl" (I kid you not...that was the name of the pattern) that I started while waiting on Tom's surgery. I started a pair of socks the other day that I think are going to be luscious.

A whole lot of reading has been going on here too. I loaded the Kindle up with books for Tom and I have been using the Kindle app on my iPad for my reading. Notable recent reads are Cheryl Strayed's "Wild" and Mitch Albom's "The Time Keeper". I also read "Overdressed..." by Elizabeth Cline which really confirmed what I already knew. One of my most favorite jobs was working in a sewing factory. It's a sad fact that those jobs went away. I try to balance my serious reading with some fluff and have been enjoying Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I know, I'm a little late to the party, but I like having a whole series of fun quick reads that I can pick up after I read something heavy. I am on Goodreads and enjoy following what my friends are reading. They also have a giveaway section and I have been lucky winning a few books to read as well.

Music. Many moons ago Tom sold a gun to buy me a guitar. For those who know Tom, that was a sincere act of love. I had not played with said guitar in a long time. A really, really, really long time! Well I pulled it out and have been learning. Songs beyond "What do you do with a Drunken Sailor?" Okay, the bulk of my current repertoire is America's "Horse with no Name" and Lynard Skinner's "Sweet Home Alabama". I've missed a few days practice because Tom just had surgery and I didn't want to subject him to me playing poorly, but today is the day to get back on the horse. So if you hear the dogs a howlin'...you'll know why!!! Happy Holidays!

And just because every post needs a picture...here's Colt:

Project Dress a Girl

For the past couple of years, I have made dresses for Project Dress a Girl Around the World, in part thanks to the campaign launched by Mari...