A new leaf...

Nothing like the threat of having to take a pill to get me off the couch! I have 3 months to get my cholesterol down or else??? Cheerios anyone??? I need to get at least 20 minutes of cardio type exercise at least 5 days a week. Off the computer...on the treadmill I go!

Sewing Therapy

I have been a little stressed out lately and this evening I found a little free time to myself. The perfect stress reliever? A quick Jalie sweetheart top with a ruched neckline variation. Similar to the yellow one I made this summer, I used self bias strips for the binding. It is a rich dark teal blue...not a usual color I wear, but I think it will be a nice accent in my wardrobe. Everything is done but the hems on the sleeves and the bottom of the top. I could have pushed on and finished it, but my movie was over (Someone Like You) and I am feeling tired, so I quit while I was ahead. I can finish it tomorrow or the next day. It dawned on me that when you're feeling down, a cherished hobby can help take you away, if only for a little while. What do you do to take care of your mental health?

Thank you Trudy!

I have been honored with the Creative Blogger Award by Trudy of Sewing with Trudy. Thanks Trudy! Honestly I feel like I have not had much creativity lately. I did spend some time with the embroidery machine the other day and that felt wonderful. I have lots of other projects swirling around in my head...hopefully soon I will commit them to fabric. I decided that it was time to update my blogs look. I guess I do have a little creative energy going. Okay! On to the rules of the award: The "RULES" of this award are that I am to 1) tell you seven things that you don't already know about me and 2)name seven other blogs to receive this award. I'm going to start with number 2 (because I like being bass-ackward sometimes!) I am not going to name just seven blogs because there are so many blogs I love to follow that I can't narrow it down to just 7. Soooo...if you are reading this, you are most likely one of my peeps and this award goes to you because you inspire me daily with your creativity. Do with it what you will...display it, share it, fly it up the flag pole...the options are limitless because that's what creative people do...we create...so go wild! Here are seven facts you probably did not know about me (or probably care to know!!!)
1. I was obese as a child...yeah, I was the fat girl, which later turned into the anorexic girl, before they really put a label on it. I struggled with my body image for years and still when anxiety creeps in I tend to not eat. I am a healthy weight now (at the upper end of the scale for my height), but the "fat girl" still lives inside me.
2. I prefer thrift shops to regular retail stores. Call it the bargain hunter in my, the recycler, whatever...I believe that too many things are cast off that still have value and I would much rather reuse than contribute to the waste.
3. I used to run sled dogs...dogs are a prominent theme in my life.
4. I didn't set out to become a nurse. One of my earliest jobs out of high school was a CNA...hated that job and vowed I would never do that again...HA! Seems nursing was one of my best aptitudes. Life sure is funny that way!
5. Autumn is my favorite season. I love the change in the weather, the colors of the leaves and all the things Autumn...fresh apple cider, hunting season, making hearty soups, Halloween and Thanksgiving!
6. I'm a little bit country AND a little bit rock and roll!
7. As a young girl I had a crush on Kevin Tighe of the television show "Emergency". No wonder I married a Fireman!!! :)
So there you have it folks...seven useless rarely heard facts about me! Have a pleasant Sunday!!!

Bits and Pieces

As promised, here is the newest addition to the home for unwed sewing machines (Thanks Gwen for that name...I love it!) She is going to a young girl who wants to make doggy raincoats. She is getting a horse today, so she may be preoccupied for awhile. I also found a home for the Singer Touchtronic. Our friends came last night for a visit and Annie brought 2 blankets she had made for the kids that she wanted their names embroidered on and the edges quilted around. She has wanted an embroidery machine so she could embellish and quilt, but that is not in the budget currently. She did an awesome job fusing the edges of the quilt and stitched stays in the body of the blanket by hand, but she didn't have a sewing machine to finish it how she wanted. She asked if I would do it. I said, "How about I give you a sewing machine and YOU do it?" Hayden's blanket was Thomas the Tank and when I showed her the machine, what do you know? There was a train stitch and I knew it was the perfect match! Annie actually had never sewn before, so I gave her a basic lesson to start and then let her play while I went upstairs to do the embroidery. She really caught on fast! She tried all the stitches and started putting quilt blocks together. I brought down my big tote full of quilting fabrics and let her take whatever she wanted and also gave her a packet of photo transfer fabric to do a memory quilt. I can't wait to see what she does with it! It is so gratifying to help someone get started in the craft that I love. I spent the rest of the day playing with Hayden so Mom could play with her new machine. He is such a busy guy...I am exhausted now! Checking my email I see that Fabric.com has a new free Hot Patterns download for the Cool, Calm and Cowl necked top...go check it out! NCIS on the TV and Tom in the recliner...life is good!

Today...I sewed

Not much, mind you, but needle and thread did meet fabric. Tom brought home some work pants that needed the crotch seam fixed and Uncle Bruce needed his Nomex pants rehemmed. He tried to say that they were an original pair that I had done and was defective...I think NOT...the stitches were too long and the thread was CRAP!!! A girl knows what a girl sews! The hem won't be coming out any time soon now! I used the new $10.00 Singer that I acquired last week. I always try to do at least one project with any machine I drag home before I find it a good home. I guess I am some kind of sewing machine rescue. I sewed my Toby Keith dress and the swing upholstery project on the Singer Touchtronic and Ricci Riccar sewed the boat upholstery. I want to make sure that it works right for the young lady who is about to receive her. I hope she learns to love sewing as much as I do! My Grandma gave me my first machine and I loved to treadle away. This is not a treadle of course, but she is a nice steady machine. I took a picture this morning but didn't have time to download it yet. Hayden and Chloe are coming to spend the night tonight! (Their parents are coming too!) Maybe the pics will get downloaded tomorrow after the kids leave.

No sew weekend...

I had every intention of spending my "free" Sunday in the sewing room. Well, that didn't happen. I don't think I even set foot in there yesterday. Life's little details, like changing the sheets, mopping the floor, making the meals, etc. all got in the way. And alas, it is Monday and I have to go into work early...blah!!! Maybe I will have energy when I get home tonight to whip something up. I try to avoid sewing anything special when I'm tired, because you know what happens them...the sewing witch makes you do something stupid! Better get off the computer and tend to my chores so I can make it to work on time...maybe in a few days I will have something to show.

Some things Never Change...

And it's a good thing...a lonely Mama missing her baby needs to feel wanted. I was checking my email when my daughter skyped in from England. "Mom, how do you get chapstick out of clothes? We had a laundry accident!" I am known in some parts as "the Stainmaster", so I gave her my best secrets and then she had to run. I got off the computer to clean the bird cage, steam mop the kitchen floor, clean and oil the newest sewing machine of the fleet (Gabe, it's a gem...you're going to love her!!!), talk to my brother on the phone...twice...fold a couple loads of laundry...start another batch of sour dough french bread for dinner tonight with Jason and Janice...and then finally was able to sit down for a bite of lunch! Just checked in with Facebook and the chapstick came out of the clothes! I love it and I love you Punkin!

AWOL

That's what I've been...AWOL!!! It's been a crazy few weeks. My baby now lives in England. I am adjusting to the time difference and try to catch them when I can. They are busy getting settled with a house and a car, not to mention their new life! We have taken a couple of trips to visit family on the days we weren't working. I spent a perfect "girl" day with my friends down in Coos Bay, which reminded me of the importance of nurturing friendships...as the nursery song goes..."Make new friends,but keep the old...one is silver and the other's gold". I am aching to get some sewing done, but there hasn't been any block of time to get any reportable progress. Sunday is an unscheduled day and with Tom at work I plan to sew. I did find an unloved Singer Merritt 4530 at the Goodwill in North Bend for $10.00. I thought it odd it was so cheap, but I figured whatever the problem, I could figure it out. It came with the book and a bag of bobbins. I also found a Singer buttonholer for $1.99, which was good because the one I bought off ebay never came and it appears that the sale was a fraud! What kind of person would defraud a person of a sewing attachment??? Blasphemy!!! :) Anyway, when I got the opportunity to sit down with the machine, the needle thread seemed to get wrapped around the bobbin. Looking at the bobbin, it appeared that it was too high in the race. I went up to the magic sewing box and brought down a bobbin that appeared more like the one illustrated in the book...voila!!! Now it sews great!!! I need to clean it up and oil it so I can take it down to my niece who wants to learn to sew. That will be fun! It's late, so I better start the bedtime routine so I can get to bed soon...work early in the morning.

Cozy Crazy

I am really loving the cozy. When I first saw one I was rather non-commital...meh!!! Until I made one and wore it for awhile. I am hooked! I cut out 3 yesterday and whipped one up after work last night. In about an hour! Talk about your instant gratification projects! I don't know if letting it hang down is kind of channelling Maude, or not, but I like it (and Bea Arthur!)Here is it tied in front and then tied in back. My Hunny even noticed it and complimented me when I dropped off their dinner at the firehouse! Of course any time you bring food to the firehouse you are greeted with positive affirmation! Them boys like to eat!!! I styled it several different ways until I got tired of taking pictures of myself and had to go to work. I see the cozy as a versatile little wardrobe piece that can change your look depending on your mood and occasion. I ultimately ended up wearing it to work with the ends pulled through a buckle to create an empire waisted shrug. I think I will continue to ride this cozy train until someone tells me to get off!

McCalls 5859 (aka the white pique jacket)

It's official...It's done and I'm wearing it to work to prove it! Normally I don't wear jeans to work, even though it has been approved for Sundays, because I don't consider it professional enough for a nurse. But I figured, it's a rainy Sunday, most of the students are going out for the afternoon, and my new jacket looks so great with jeans!!! Now I've probably jinxed myself and will end up at the hospital...naaah!!!! I will do a full review over at Pattern Review, but I must say that this jacket was super easy to put together and I am sure I will make another one in the future...probably view A with the short little cap sleeves for next Spring. Check out the lining fabric...I heart it!!!
I am really thinking about Fall sewing and plaids are dancing in my mind. What sewing dreams are you currently having?

The White Jacket is Done!

Well, technically. I am still on the hunt for the perfect buttons and need to put the buttonholes in, but that's quick and easy. I set the sleeves, sewed the lining, sewed in the lining, finishing with hand sewing the lining at the sleeve head. I lost the last page of instructions (it's in the studio somewhere...I just didn't want to waste time searching for it), but once you are familiar with garment construction, a basic task like that is not a stretch. Let me just say that I am very happy with the results! Sorry I didn't finish it sooner! It fits well and I can see wearing it alot. Such a shame you're not supposed to wear white after Labor day! When has a rule ever stopped me?

Cleaning...A Love/Hate Relationship

I love a clean house. Not so wild about cleaning when I could be sewing. I bought a steam cleaner today. It is a Gruene Steam mop/cleaner. The tank is removable with many attachments and it has straps to throw it over your shoulder. I heart it!!! I decided a good test would be to tackle the bathroom in our bedroom. It did a fabulous job cleaning the shower door and removing soap scum. I did the mirror and vanitys and then put it back on the column to clean the floor. It did a great job. The problem with cleaning is that when I do get down to it, I see other things that need cleaning and have a problem stopping. Fifteen minutes til Project Runway...just enough time to fix a bite and settle in.

A perfect day

You know...the perfect day is not the day when something earth shattering happens. Life is made of those everyday "normal" moments that mean so much. Like being with those you love...good sushi...a Disney movie in 3D and spontaneous hugs on a street corner!

The Junk Man

We have a junk store in town. Yep, it's a junk store, but I mean that in a good way. If you ever need anything, it's always a good idea to check Mike's first, because he's probably got one...or a dozen. Legend has it that he has been running a junk store since he graduated high school and he is older than me (and that's OLD!) I went in there to see if he had a good corkscrew. Mine had given up the ghost and I would much rather have a vintage, well seasoned one than some hunk of junk that would last about as long as the one I just buried! Mike had a wide selection and I picked out the best. He also had an almost new apple parer, core slicer doo-dad for $6.00. I needed a new one of those with apple season upon us. I'm also on the lookout for a new dehydrator too, but Mike didn't have any of those today. I hadn't been there in a while, so I thought I would look around. Shopping at Mike's is like going to a museum...there are weird and wonderful things to be found if you take the time to look. But don't move anything. Mike knows where every little item is and there is hell to pay if he catches you picking something up and leaving it somewhere else! I've never done it, but I've witnessed the wrath of Mike, and it's not pretty! As I wandered down the aisles, I spotted a sewing attachment box. WHAT??? It had "$2.00 All" price tag.
There was an old Singer box inside. I opened it up and was excited to see a ruffler attachment right on top!!! There were some other feet I couldn't readily identify, but for $2.00 I thought I would take a chance.
(Even though I had already bought the correct ruffler and buttonholer for my machine off ebay). When I got home I fixed a nice Caesar salad and iced tea for lunch and sat down to dig through my goodies...there was a binder attachment as well...the other attachment I have been coveting...All for $2.00!!! There also were 2 Singer automatic buttonolers with the case and instruction booklet for $4.00 a piece, but the one that's coming for my machine has 19 templates, so I left those for the next person. I was a happy girl, no doubt! Chatting with Mike as I was paying, he told me he had a nice Singer Featherweight not too long ago with all the attachments...$295.00!!! Sigh!!! Probably a good thing I had not been in for awhile because that definitely would have been added to my collection! I need to do some research on the other attachments, but I'm sure thanks to the world wide web someone will know what they are and how to use them! Soon as the floor dries I will dig out the old girls and see if I can get these attachments to work!