A Good Day...so far

A schedule change gave me an unexpected day off today. That double shift was totally worth it to be enjoying my third (or fourth) cup of coffee (but who's counting?) and telling you about my day so far. It began early (as always) with Kodi boofing downstairs telling me he needed to go out. So I rounded up the usual suspects and we all went out and did our business (I waited til I came in). Then I decided to upload a couple books to my Kindle Ipad app (Tom is now using the kindle-Kindle). I had not loaded any new books since the great crash of 2013, so it took a little techno fiddling to set that back up with Calibre, but I now have Silver Lining Playbook and Argo waiting to read! Reading has taken the lead as my leisure activity and I think I have finished 9 books already this year! Goodreads has been good to me...check out the giveaways. Publishers are happy to send you books to read. Reviewing them is not a prerequisite for the giveaways, but I feel if they are nice enough to send me a free book, I should tell you all what I think about it. The reviews have been pretty good, because I only enter giveaways for books I actually would pick up and read. After I'm done with the books I give them away, because it's good karma to share the love. I just finished Found: A Memoir by Jennifer Lauck. I really enjoyed it. Frind me at Goodreads and let's talk books!

Next came errands and a trip to my favorite thrift store. I knew it was a good day when I saw this beautiful little fold up sewing table outside where they keep the big things. I asked how much? They said $3.00 and I hauled it immediately to my vehicle! Inside I found 3 brand new 10-yard rolls of Swedish Tracing Paper. $2.00 a piece...yes please!!! I also found a beautiful silver tray for a buck to put my oil and vinegars on. Totally addicted to the Oil and Vinegar store in the mall. This way they are beautifully displayed and I can easily access them when I'm cooking. Also found some more toys for my little guy. Toys are expensive Peeps! We went shopping last week and I was kind of shocked at how much they ask for hunks of plastic! I will get these toys bleached and in Gramma's playroom for his next visit. Last week I found a little golf set that he had a blast with. The dogs seemed to enjoy fetching, um, stealing golf balls too. A good time was had by all!

The mail stop was good...some new shoes for work and a freebie book (Thank you Goodreads!) A stop at the market for some dinner stuff (and blood oranges...couldn't resist!) and a visit to the Bargain Depot for pita chips (best buy in town) and now it's time to get to work! Can you tell I'm stalling on the work part???

Anywho, since pictureless posts are boring, here's Colt and Pop on the Fire truck. I think he is telling me to get off the running board and get in the "garbage truck" (aka, the brush rig). He also tried on Pop's turnouts, but he has a ways to grow before he fills those boots!

Home Sewing

I have been a poor blogger lately! Fortunately I have been a pretty good seamstress lately and have churned out some pretty good things. For example...my window seat cushions and accent pillows,

Tom spotted this awesome wildlife tapestry at the Mill End store in Milwaukee and we knew it was the perfect fabric for the window seat. Embroidery Library had some Northwoods Silhouette designs that accented the base fabric. I'm very pleased with how this project turned out. Here are some detailed pictures of the pillows.

Our last trip over was very productive too. The kitchen and nook walls are completely painted. All I have left in there is the window trim.

We finished painting the hallway as well, so all that is left is the master suite, the main bathroom and my sewing room. I'm still undecided on the color for my sewing room. I think I am going to use a Liberty print I picked up the last time we visited the kids. What color would you choose with this fabric?

I'm leaning towards the green. The blinds are black and I don't think I could live with pink long term. Part of the master suite is painted pink, and that's gotta go, so I'm not going to lay it down in my studio. The current carpet is a forest green, but that will be changing!

Well it's a work day, so I better get off the computer and get a few chores done before I have to leave! Hope you all have a super Superbowl Sunday!

Flyby...

As the song goes..."this is just a flyby..." I thought I would give a brief update as I am working on our  desktop. Just bought new antivirus software and it's really quite the joke that I am the IT specialist in our house (quit laughing Steve!) Things have been quite hectic here! We made a quick trip to the Deeter's Old Folks home to find it had sucked down a whole tank of propane! 27 degrees inside the house does not feel good! It has been super cold over there...negative degrees, so the house gets a pass this time, but we took measures to boost the insulation options and got ourselves on a keep full situation, so that should not happen again!
The best news ever is that our kids will be back in country in a few short weeks! Yay! Can't wait! I have jumped into super Grandma mode and have been getting things for Colt. They will not see their   household goods for 6 months, which is annoying enough for an adult, but a 2 year old needs his stuff! Gram picked up a Radio Flyer Retro Red tricycle yesterday...just like the ones we had as kids, only new and not rusty! It is different than his "motorcycle", so hopefully that will be fun for him! Of course I have my toy box for visiting kids, but I also have my Grandma box with things I have been collecting for Colt. Lots of books, puzzles, cars, trucks...the things little boys dig! Of course a trip to the Carter's outlet will be in order. I have been waiting to take Sara shopping so she can pick out what he needs. Squeal!!!

I also have been sewing too! Working on an extra special project that I can't reveal just yet, but I promise there will be pictures and lots of gushing when it's done! I am almost finished with my Sewaholic Cordova jacket and it is fabulous! I see a few more of those in different fabrics as well. Did you notice how many of Tasia's patterns were nominated for best patterns of 2013 on Pattern Review? I've said it before...I'm a Sewaholic fan! I also bought some Simplicity patterns at the 5 for $5.00 sale the other day. Simplicity 1699...cute new peplum top...just sayin...I also am in love with Leanne Marshall designs!  Did you get the notice from BMV for the $2.99 sale? Including Vogues? I have so many great patterns but so tempting! We'll see. Tom tells me now is the time to buy because in retirement spending money may be more tightly monitored. Sigh! I know my stash will carry me through! I did resist buying more sock yarn while at JoAnns. I have a beautiful pattern on the needles and try to knit whenever I have a spare minute. That includes stitching to and from Portland in the van ( God help me if they ask me to drive...whenever will I knit?) One of the instructors is teaching the others to crochet. It's awesome to see..a crafting revolution!

Well, I better get in gear and do some cleaning or something while the desktop finishes it's thing. It's a work day for me. Tomorrow is my Friday, which is a good thing because it's a holiday (yay for time and a half!) and it's dog day, so everyone should be Happy, Happy, Happy! Hope you all are enjoying your Martin Luther King holiday weekend...see you again soon...with pictures!

Clothing Expiration Date?

Yesterday as I was getting dressed I wondered...does clothing have an expiration date? I was pulling on a favorite print t-shirt that plays in the rotation a few times a month and thought about when I had made it. Had it really been almost 4 years? I remember buying the remnant at JoAnn's after we had breakfast with Sara at a little diner in Oregon City. Tom and Sara went to the automotive store to get something for her car and I snuck into the fabric store. The T was a BWOF raglan sleeve that takes a minimal amount of fabric (less than a yard). It's not stretched or faded. The shirt still looks good and works well with my wardrobe. Should I be concerned that I'm still rocking it? I find many of the things I make become the things I wear all the time and sometimes the clothing I buy end up in the donation bag. Dear Readers, how do you determine when it's time to say goodbye to your creations?

Back to Work...

Ahh, the dreaded end to vacation. Actually I have worked a few days over the holiday, but today is the day we go back to work in earnest. Not entirely a bad thing as getting back in the groove can be good. Bad thing is less time to sew, knit, crochet, read, play the guitar, play with the dogs, watch football, watch movies, play on the internet...

Progress has been made in the studio. My first Cordova is well on it's way. The zippers have arrived from the ebay shipper and the mystery bundle had a black one in it, so my next Cordova will be black wool. I may alter the sleeve in that one to be a plain fitted sleeve as the wool is a little bulkier than the suggested fabrics (when has that ever stopped me?) and the tucks might not work as well. I am loving the peplum and hope to have it done in a day or so to wear! I am working on a quilt for Colt as well...I need to get back on that as they will be coming home soon! Yay!!!

I started a good book last night. It was sent to me as a giveaway on Goodreads and I am already halfway through! It's called "The Valley of Unknowing". Friend me at Goodreads and we can talk about books!

Well, better get off the computer and get something done before time to head to work. Later Kittens!

A Much Better Day

After feeling punky all day yesterday, my sweet Baboo sent me to bed with a couple of Tylenol PMs. Surprisingly it took about an hour to fall asleep, but when I awoke only one side of my head hurt! Luckily that went away as the day wore on and my Cordova pattern showed up. Yay! It's already traced and the first version is cut out. I ordered some zippers off eBay when I discovered I had no zippers the right size in my stash. I watched an interesting documentary on Jack Kevorkian and discovered the 6th  season of Army Wives is now up on Netflix (I know I'm way behind G...I'll catch up!) I played my guitar while Tom was out...it's getting easier, but it's going to take a lot of practice to sound how I imagine the music in my head. The only distressing thing that happened today is that the shipping tracker I've been following for the shearling boots I ordered said they were delivered...somewhere on the East Coast...what??? Hope they straighten that out soon! Well, time to kick a Pom off my lap and get some cake for us...I'm sure he won't mind when I come back with food! It's back to work tomorrow!

Happy New Year!

Hope you all had a joyous new year celebration. Things are still quiet here. We watched football and other TV shows and I finished my sock. I also completed a comfy plaid tunic...the last creation of 2012 and I had intentions of taking a picture for the blog, but I'm trying to kick a migraine headache and nobody needs to see that visual! Maybe tomorrow...