Countdown!

As they say--All good things must come to an end. Tomorrow is my first day back at school full time. Ugh! Don't get me wrong. I love what I do. I just hate getting up at 6 a.m.! I will never be an early morning riser. It just goes against my circadian rhythm.
I love the easy pace of summer. My school year is extremely scheduled and fast paced. It is a very stark contrast to summer. The first week back is comprised of room set up, planning and a lot of meetings--in fact, if you asked anyone, they would say that there are too many meetings. When the powers that be want to see test scores rise, then the assumption is that teachers need more training in order to make that happen. When you've been teaching as long as I have, these training sessions become rather redundant as more than likely, you've sat through similar ones before.

My last weekend was spent running errands and sewing. I did finish my two yoga tops. Both are made from the same Kwik Sew pattern out of cotton/spandex. The leopard one has black stretch lace trim and the fabric is cut away behind the lace. I'm quite pleased with both of them.


I love Kwik Sew patterns for knits. The major pattern companies design their knit patterns just like their others. Kwik Sew and Stretch & Sew patterns are designed differently. They use 1/4 inch seam allowances and their construction methods are different than those used for woven fabrics. The patterns from both of these companies are usually very quick in their construction and they fit the way knit garments are meant to fit.

I also cut out a denim skirt and my brocade jacket. The jacket was time consuming as it had quite a few pieces plus lining and interfacing. I was delighted today to receive the buttons I ordered from the Button Shoppe. I called them on Friday to order the buttons and I got them today! Now that's what I call fast--particularly when you consider that they came from California! I can't begin to tell you how beautiful these buttons are. They are pressed black glass with a green/gold aura or luster on them. Aura coatings change color depending on how the light hits them. You can sort of see this in the first photo. The second photo shows a button with the brocade and the satin that will be used for the bound buttonholes.


I'll be able to start this jacket this week. I had to wait for the buttons as bound buttonholes must be done before the jacket is fully constructed.

Product Review
A few weeks ago I purchased some Black & Decker cordless power scissors. I had found that my Dritz scissors were no longer holding a charge. I had gotten the Dritz scissors 5 years ago before I had surgery on my right hand. I liked them, but I felt that they were difficult to control and I didn't use them on lightweight fabrics. I also couldn't cut precise shapes with them. When cutting the pattern notches (which I cut outward), I would cut around them, then I would go back with regular scissors to cut out the notch. I got frustrated recently with this and with the fact that I had to use them with the power cord which was cumbersome so I started looking at consumer reviews for the Black & Decker ones--all of which were very positive. The first thing that impressed me was the price! The Dritz scissors were $69. The Black & Decker range from $15 - $25. Can't beat that. The cheaper ones are a basic model with one all purpose cutting blade. They are not particularly suitable for fabric, but they seem to be what is available in the local stores like Target, Walmart and Home Depot. The more expensive model has an additional fabric cutting blade with a flat shoe, which is a necessity, and a table clamp which is something I probably will never use. These scissors hold a charge for quite a long time. They have an ergonomic design which feels good in the hand. What surprised me was how controllable these scissors were. I was able to cut all my pattern pieces with outward notches without a hitch! I cut my denim skirt, my brocade jacket, interfacing and china silk lining!

If you are a sewer who hates cutting things out like I do, I highly recommend purchasing these scissors. Make sure that you get the ones with the extra fabric cutting blade. I found mine brand new on Ebay.

Well, I guess I better attempt to go to bed before midnight! 6 a.m. will come way too soon!

Bushism of the day:
"Trying to stop suiciders -- which we're doing a pretty good job of on occasion -- is difficult to do. And what the Iraqis are going to have to eventually do is convince those who are conducting suiciders who are not inspired by Al Qaeda, for example, to realize there's a peaceful tomorrow." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 24, 2006

Kitty Cam: Greg knows how to spend a summer afternoon.

I love when the doorbell rings . . .

because it usually means that the UPS man has left a package on the doorstep! Yesterday I received these:

These are my new Uggs clogs! You might think I'm nuts to be ordering these in the middle of the summer, but there is some history here. I started wearing Uggs about 30 years ago, before anyone knew what they were. I used to order them from Eddie Bauer way back then and DH and I had matching slippers that were ankle high with a roll down cuff. Once we had kids, they had the same slippers. We always liked them because you could go outside to lock the cars or take out the trash in them--plus they were virtually indestructible! I switched to the clogs about 15 years ago and I wear them as slippers year round. A few years ago I discovered by accident that they could be washed in the washing machine! One of my slippers was under a laundry pile in the closet and it inadvertently got put in the washer with the clothes. Imagine my surprise when I found that my ratty old slipper looked almost new! Since then though the shearling lining is practically gone and they are really ready to retire. Check out the contrast between the old and the new:

I feel like I should have some sort of ceremony for them before I respectfully place them in the trash! They've provided me with at least 15 years of faithful service. They were a prominent part of this Self Portrait Challenge post.

I tried on Labyrinth last night:


Fits like a glove! I will add 3 inches to the length. I'll knit 12 rows in the teal yarn then do my dye painting to correct the color issues. After that I can add the ribbing on the bottom and neckline then do the sleeves. I love Wendy Bernard's fitted top down sweaters. They are so easy to alter to your measurements. This one only required a few extra hip increases. The pattern called for 6 increases done every 7 rows. I did 8 increases every 5 rows which is what I had done for Sahara. I can't wait to finish! I'd like to have it done before I leave for Boston on the 21st. I'm thinking that I will either do the Dayflower Camisole or Violetta next. I have the yarn for Dayflower so that will probably be it. I'm going to wait on Sea Urchin and do it when school starts. It will be a good fall piece to wear over a tank top when the weather is still warm.

I've been going through some stuff in the sewing room. I thought you might enjoy this:

100 Buttons! This is in a frame and it hangs over my sewing machine. I made this for Ems to take to school in Kindergarten. It was the 100th day of school and the students were to bring in 100 of something. What better to come from our house than 100 buttons! I have always had a love affair with buttons.

My mother had 5 of these button jars in her dresser drawer. It was deja vu when I found them while cleaning out her house. These were like buried treasure to me as a child. I remember begging to play with the buttons. I would sit at the kitchen table and do who knows what with them. I know that I would sort them by color or size. I would pick out the fancy ones--particularly those with rhinestones --and I would arrange them to make pictures. No Fisher Price shape sorters for me! I got to play with buttons! I suspect this accounts for much of my love of them. I will have to come up with some creative things to do with my vintage buttons. I may have to make jewelry with some of them. I can't bear to part with them.

A bit of nostalgia
To continue my discussion of buttons and trinkets I've decided to share photos of a lovely little Chatelaine that I made some years ago. For those unfamiliar with chatelaines, they are items that are worn by the user to hold hand sewing/embroidery tools--needles, thread, thimble, embroidery scissors, awls etc. Chatelaines were typically worn around the neck or affixed to the waist with a tie. This one is about 6 inches wide and 5 inches high and worn around the neck.

Let's look at the details. This item is constructed from scraps of velvet, silk, moire taffeta, grosgrain ribbon and small crocheted doilies. The fabric is pieced in a crazy quilt style and each seam is embellished with silk and seed bead hand embroidery. There are antique cut glass and mother of pearl buttons. A pocket holds the embroidery scissors. Two hand crocheted pouches with ribbon drawstrings hold a thimble and a wooden needle case, whose top is also embellished with a pearl button and seed beads. There are also some antique fabric trims as well as a new little brass charm. A velvet ribbon snaps onto the scissors to keep them from getting lost.



I love this little item. I keep it in my room but I should probably display it on my antique sewing machine in the living room alongside my other antique sewing trinkets. I still use this when I do embroidery!

Bushism of the day
"You know, when I campaigned here in 2000, I said, I want to be a war President. No President wants to be a war President, but I am one." --George W. Bush, Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 26, 2006

Kitty Cam: Greg chills on the couch while watching another episode of Law & Order.