Happy New Year!

Better late than never! I've been busy since the new year. I was involved in the usual holiday happenings plus I had some projects to finish up. My first FO of the new year was a sewn one:

I cut this out before Christmas for the Patriot's Ball which was scheduled on Dec. 19 --the day of the big snow! It was rescheduled for Jan. 2, so I put this together on Jan. 1. It took a little longer than I expected because I decided to do my usual seam finishing--French seams! They just look so nice in silky or lace fabrics. The fabric was a cheap lace from Joann's with a polyester lining--two things I never sew with but I was trying to go on the cheap! The lace was embroidered and had more texture than most inexpensive laces. It also had some gold in it. The lining was a light taupe. I was pleased with the final result. The bustier is one I've had for several years. I get a lot of wear out of it. Here's a close up of the skirt fabric:


I have a couple of knitting FO's:
First--the Whirligig Shrug from IK Weekend Knits. This was made for Baby Bianca--my niece's baby.


Details:
Pattern: Whirligig Shrug by Stephanie Japel, Size 12 - 18 mos.
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in Ivory, less than 1 skein
Needles: Knit Picks Options, 24 in. size 6
Modifications: none
This is a fun, quick knit. If you have any little girls to knit for, this makes a sweet gift!

My most recent FO is Wicked by the Zephyr Girls. I've had the pattern and yarn for several years and I finally decided to get this one done.



Details:
Pattern: Wicked by Zephyr Girls, Size 32
Yarn: Odyssey by Reynolds, 100% merino in Teal--10 skeins
Needles: Knit Picks Options 24 inch, size 7; Addi Turbo 16 inch, size 7
Modifications: Extra hip increases and I picked up 2 stitches under the arm when starting the sleeves. There were 54 sleeve stitches and the cuff pattern is an 9 stitch repeat so I added 2 stitches for the pattern to fit!

I'm happy with this one though I wish I hadn't done as many hip increases. I forgot that seed stitch doesn't cling like ribbing and the bottom is a little loose. I may run some clear elastic thread through it for support.

I've started a new sweater for the SKC Knit along. I'll post about that later. This weekend we've been taking down Christmas. I still keep winter around though. I collect snowmen and they stay out until March when the bunnies come out. This year I added to my snowman collection:




The top 2 are candy containers as their heads come off!

I'll have to fill you in on some of my knitting and sewing goals for the upcoming year--but I'll do that later!

A monumental thing--my car turned 200,000 miles! And people say American cars are junk! I love my trusty Ford and I'll be sad when it finally dies--which doesn't appear to be any time soon!


Kitty Cam: This one is from Ems. Chelsea and Mokey pause for a portrait before fighting over who gets to sleep in the sink!

You deserve a break today . . .

And that's exactly what I got! I broke my right foot yesterday during dismissal duty at school. I was walking a busload of kids out and my foot turned in just as I was going to step on it. I put all my weight on it and felt a snap. I continued standing on it for about 10 minutes then went to my room and iced it. It swelled up a lot. Fortunately I was able to drive by using my left foot on the break. I picked up David then we headed to Howard Co. General ER. We were there from 4 until 11. I was so bummed because I was really looking forward to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. I got to watch part of first period in the waiting room then they took me back. I was able to catch the presentation of the cup in the waiting room before we left. I have a splint on the foot now and I'll need to see an orthopedic.

This is most inconvenient as school ends this week. I have to pack up my room and move stuff and I don't think I will be able to. Oh well! I guess I will get some knitting done!

As if that wasn't enough--I noticed Harley had thread coming from his bumhole today. Mikey ate thread once and almost needed emergency surgery. It can cut through their intestines and kill them. I called the vet and she said that if he didn't seem bothered, to just give him Laxatone because it was probably working its way out. Here's hoping he's okay. It won't be a good time to fork out over $800 for surgery.

Now to figure out how I can take a shower!

Kitty Cam: This one is from Ems--Where's Mokey?

No beans!

Here I am at home for my second snow day and I have no beans! Actually today was more of a "wintery mix" day. The wonderful snowy winters of my childhood are long past. Global warming has seen to that. Now for the beans--whenever I have a snow day, I make one of two things--either chili or Pasta e Fagiole. Typically the pasta soup is the choice because it uses things I typically have on hand and it requires no meat. As luck would have it, I didn't have beans! The soup requires dried beans and the chili requires canned. I had neither! Bummer. Even worse--I had the worst craving for a grilled cheese sandwich at lunch and I didn't have pepper jack! I'm just a big fat failure today! I had to use swiss cheese with red pepper flakes. It just wasn't the same!

So I've had two days off and I have not accomplished one single thing. I figure that snow days are freebies so I'm not "required" to get stuff done per se. I certainly could've sewn or done some knitting but I did neither. I managed to watch "24" which I had recorded and "No Country for Old Men." That is one strange movie!

So that's it! I have my winter concert tomorrow though if school is delayed we will miss our dress rehearsal. Oh well! We roll with the punches around here!

Kitty Cam:
This one is from Ems--Chelsea insists on following Mokey everywhere--even to the bathroom sink!

Is it June yet?

I should not be asking that question the first week of January. I typically don't feel that way, but the first day back at school after a break is always tough. First off--I'm totally exhausted! I went to bed before midnight last night which is unusual on a Sunday night. I always stay up too late on Sunday and then start the week tired but I was responsible last night. I have no planning periods on Mondays and Fridays so they are harder to begin with. The kids were out of it. When I would comment on their lack of attention, they would complain of being tired. Well, duh! Teachers are people too! It will get slowly better. I will admit that I am doing the snow dance tonight and tomorrow morning--or should I say, the Wintery Mix dance! I'll take whatever I can get!

No knitting today. I did start off the day being somewhat productive at home--I got a load of laundry in the washer, the dishwasher filled and running and dinner in the crock pot before I left for work. I didn't go in early because I anticipated staying late for a staff meeting. Our meeting was cancelled so that we could take the time to "get back in the groove." Thank goodness!

Bird treated himself to some new ink for graduation and he sent me a photo:


I've always told that boy that Mom is the one girl who will never break his heart! I guess he must agree!

Bushism of the day:
"I think it was in the Rose Garden where I issued this brilliant statement: If I had a magic wand -- but the president doesn't have a magic wand. You just can't say, 'low gas.'" --George W. Bush, Washington D.C., July 15, 2008

Kitty Cam: Ems sent this photo of Mokey. When she got home, he immediately got in one of the bags before she could unpack!

I love goodies!

I love surprises and I got a lovely one in the mail yesterday! A box of goodies from my Winter Wonderland Swap Partner! Let's see what she sent me:
On top in the box we have a Nicky Epstein Felting book and a lovely handmade card

Next we have some sweet goodies for me and some fishy ones for the kitties!

Next we have more kitty toys, some holiday tissues and some playing cards with the St. Louis Arch (my buddy lives in MO)


Next is a small Christmas tin with more kitty toys!

And finally, a large Christmas tin with a gorgeous skein of Mountain Colors Merino/mohair blend yarn in all those fall colors that I love along with some crystal snowman earrings:

Here's a closeup of the earrings:

Thank you so much ArmyMom! I love everything!

Here are a couple of photos from our night out at Rams Head:

And here's the whole group!


I've been getting some shopping done and making gifts this weekend so there's not much else to share! Back to the old grind tomorrow!

Bushism of the day:
"The question is, who ought to make that decision? The Congress or the commanders? And as you know, my position is clear -- I'm a commander guy." --George W. Bush, who apparently is no longer "The Decider," Washington, D.C., May 2, 2007

Kitty Cam: Mokey looks perfectly at ease on Em's pink comforter!

This 'n that!

First off--Here's Jon Stewart with his commentary on the latest trash talk!


On to other stuff--I've been somewhat unproductive this week. I'm coming down with something--just sort of dragging all week. Ems came home Monday night. We didn't see her all day and night on Tuesday then she hung around with us last night before going back to the Burgh. I had taken her sewing maching in to Sew Fair for repair as the needle arm wasn't going up and down. I was afraid that I would have to get her a new one. Her current machine is the Singer Athena 2000 which I purchased for $500 back in 1979. The Athena is the first computerized machine ever built. That machine served me quite well for a number of years and I used it to sew most of my contest entries back in the day. I replaced it with a top of the line Elna in 1992 which my parents got me for my birthday. I was thrilled that the repair to this machine ended up only being $100. I was also delighted to find that Sew Fair carries Kwik Sew patterns. G Street has discontinued them and since Hancock closed I haven't been able to find them! I picked up three:



The last one is perfect as a layering piece. I had been looking for a scoop neck knit top.

I also stocked up on McCall's patterns at the Joann's sale. First I got a bunch of jacket patterns. I love jackets since I turn the heat off in my classroom.




Here's my favorite:

My frustration is that I can't get enough of the fabric I want to use for that pattern! I had seen this fabric a couple of weeks ago and it stopped me in my tracks! At the time, I didn't have a pattern in mind so I didn't get any. I won't buy stash fabric because I never know how much to get. This fabric, for example is 60 inches wide and typically 2 yards would be enough to make a jacket, skirt or slacks. Unfortunately the pattern I now have in mind takes almost 3 yards. When I went back to get the fabric, it was gone. I called every Joann's in a 50 mile radius and only one which wasn't very far away had some of this fabric.

If you look at it carefully, you will see that it is not a typical houndstooth. I was able to get a yard and a half. A couple of stores have it on order so I will check back with them. If I can't get enough then I will make a skirt.

I also got a dress pattern and a couple of skirt patterns:



I will have a lot of sewing to keep me busy!

I've been working on the lace part of my sweater. I've decided that I will spend tomorrow night (TV night) plugging away at this sweater. I've totally lost my motivation and I really need to finish it. All I have to do is finish the lace. The seams have all been stitched and the ends woven in. Once I finish the lace and block it, I will weave ribbon through the eyelets.

The color looks a little washed out in the photo. It is sort of a light greenish gold. The yarn is Tahki Sedona which is a silk, linen, cotton blend. I want to finish it so I can start the SKC knit along. There are 3 choices and I want to make two of them. I already have the yarn (Malabrigo Silky Merino) for the Silken Scabbard. Here is the pattern:

I may change the sleeve either to a 3/4 length or a belled sleeve. The color I have is a lovely buttery gold. The other pattern which I like and just purchased is called "Baby Cables and Big Ones."

I really like this version that I found on Ravelry:

Note the belled sleeve. This style of sleeve is more flattering for me so if I get around to making this, I will make that modification. I've been looking a yarn and I found an apple green or a rust color that I like for this. I will wait until I'm almost finished the first one.

Last weekend I went to New York State to do some genealogical research. I left on Friday and spent Friday afternoon roaming some historic cemeteries taking photographs. Saturday I spent the day here:

This is an old courthouse built in 1841 which houses the Orange County Genealogical Society. I was able to get a lot of sources for births, marriages and deaths that I couldn't find anywhere else. New York is not a good place for research as they did not require vital records to be kept until the very late 1800's so you have to find things like deeds, wills, old newspapers, church records etc. Fortunately a lot of local records to the area were compiled by volunteers and are housed in the research room there which is open all day on the third Saturday of each month. We didn't have school on Friday so it worked out really well. I drove home Saturday night and got home around 11 pm. Now I have to catch up on stuff around the house!

Bushism of the day:
"Information is moving -- you know, nightly news is one way, of course, but it's also moving through the blogosphere and through the Internets." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 2, 2007

Kitty Cam: Chelsea and Mokey snuggle together.

What comes down, must go up!

. . . to paraphrase an old saying. Of course I am referring to the stock market. I've been glued to the news these last few days. When I heard the name "AIG" mentioned, I got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. As luck would have it, I have an annuity account with them. I've been contributing to it for about 25 years. Should something happen to that account, then retirement will be a figment of my imagination as it will be way out of my reach. There is simply no way that I can support 2 people on my Maryland State Pension--which until last year was ranked 50th in the country. How could we have gotten into this situation? McCain's answer is to form a commission to study the situation. Excuse me? This is a crisis situation which requires action NOW! Commissions are for looking at avoiding problems in the future--not for solving them now. I sincerely hope the electorate starts to see the connection between the administration of the last 8 years and the current economic crisis. Funny thing about lifting regulations on businesses. People get greedy and do whatever the hell they want. Anyone who thinks that business will just regulate themselves, is just completely out of touch. That would be like me throwing out all the rules in my classroom under the guise that the kids will just police themselves and do what's right. Huh? Is anybody home?

Enough negative talk. This week has been pretty productive. I finished the back bodice of my Surplice Camisole. No photos as it is really nothing to look at yet. I also finished my jacket. I have a special talent for making projects more difficult than they need to be. I'm not complaining as I end up much more pleased with the end result. I'm very happy with this jacket. It is a little tight, but since I am losing weight, it will be perfect when I lose a couple more pounds. I can just wear it unbuttoned until then.

Here are the details:
Pattern: McCall's 5717
Size: 10 - 12
Fabric: Polyester Brocade from Joann's, China Silk lining
Modifications: none to the pattern. Bound buttonholes were used in lieu of machine stitched buttonholes.
Buttons: Dichroic Czech glass

I love the collar. The upper collar has pleats which make it sort of puffy. I also like the lower sleeve which has pleats in lieu of gathers. The pockets are functional not just decorative flaps. I was particularly pleased with the bound buttonholes. I will be posting a tutorial for how to make them when I get the chance to type it up. Here are the photos of the jacket:








Now I'm planning my next sewing projects. These will be sewn from stash fabric. Several years ago my friend gave me this cotton with tiny embroidered daisies:

I'm hoping that there is enough fabric to make View D (the pink one) of this pattern:

The problem is that the fabric is only 36 inches wide. I may have to make some modifications. The first would be to make the lower neckline then possibly shorten the sleeves to elbow length. I'll lay out the pieces and see.

The other project in the planning stage involves this piece of rayon that I bought some years ago:

It is difficult to capture this fabric in a photo. It has an iridescent quality to it. Depending on how the light hits it, it can look bluish purple or gold. It is very drapey and it should be perfect for this dress:

It's been a long time since I've made a Folkwear pattern. I will have to measure like crazy. I also have to remember that they use 1/2 inch seam allowances which I've never understood. I have an issue with pattern companies not following the industry standard of 5/8 inch for woven fabrics. I still love this pattern. It is similar to a vintage 30's dress that I have which no longer fits.
I also picked up this New Look pattern at Joann's:

I love knit tops like this for work since I wear jeans most of the year so I'll have to search through my stash to see if I have a suitable knit for this. If not, then a trip to G Street will be in order. I need to plug away at my knitting for the rest of the week though. I want to get the Surplice Camisole finished so that I can begin one of my winter projects. I'm thinking that I will do the Opulent Raglan first. I have ordered the yarn for the Silken Scabbard and I'm hoping to order the yarn for the Dirndl Raglan as well. I must prefer knitting winter sweaters--particularly top down ones!

These next couple of weeks are somewhat busy with hockey meetings and back to school night!

Bushism of the day:
"More than two decades later, it is hard to imagine the Revolutionary War coming out any other way." --George W. Bush, Martinsburg, W. Va., July 4, 2007

Kitty cam: Meet Chelsea (on the left). She was a little stray that Ems took in last week. Mokey seems to love her as you can see!