3rd Annual Parade of Empty Spools

I have done this twice before. The first posted on 31 Dec. 2010 (30 spools used in 2010) and the second on 11 Jan 2012 (15 spools used in 2011, with 2 from this current year). This one will be posted today, 31 Dec. 2012 because I am done sewing for the year. I spent the past two days in the sewing room, we have 22 folks coming in the morning and there are other things to do! 

So here are 28 spools, which really should be 30 because I took the two from January of this year and stuck them on LAST year, to boost my puny, post chemo sewing accomplishments. So, I am thinking 30 spools for 2012. So how many will I empty is 2013? We'll see! 

I do have some "goals" for this year. First to finally make the "perfect" man's dress shirt. I have struggled with interfacing, just not finding that perfect crisp feel that won't show through from shrinkage, which seems to be a problem with Pellon brand. So frustrating to follow the instructions and still come out with less than ideal results. With my experience, my new shirt book and now, finally, the possibility of being able to order some professional quality interfacing, we'll see. When I think of the time, effort and expense of a custom man's shirt, it is nice if it looks right and lasts a while. I have three I want to finish in January, one for my son (late Christmas gift) one for SIL#2 for his b-day and one for hubby, just because he's my #1! His will be basic white with french cuffs. 

I also want to sew for myself more. I have gone through some physical changes either from chemo or from facing the big 60. The bod is looking more like a cozy comfy place for a grandchild to snuggle into, even though a non-sewing goal also includes some fitness. My clothes from the last decade need to be updated and replaced. I have some fabulous fabric that is just calling me! I found a blog that is called the "stingy seamstress" or something like that. She ONLY sews for herself. I am inspired by her dedication, but I just can't do that, seems boring. 

I would like to also start keeping a notebook. The blog is great, but I am hands on. I want to have a section for each person I sew for and also a GUEST section, for donations and friends. My hubby has me sewing for several of his buds these days. So a gift section for those outside the immediate family will be included. 

That's enough goals for now, I have 22 people coming to my house in less than 24 hours, gotta GO!

Pattern drafting

My youngest finds plenty of ways to challenge me in the sewing room. She likes fine fabrics, so silk and wool have become more comfortable and less intimidating for me to work with. I have also made her a couple of things from scratch and also used clothes she loves to draft patterns. This is my latest pattern drafting effort. I believe that the pattern grew a bit as I drafted this time. Not sure why, but that can be adjusted once we try on the blouse. 

 This is an overall look at a blouse she really likes. My basis for the pattern. 

Inside the front of the blouse. 

 The outside. Drafting that facing was a challenge, won't be sure I got it right until I actually attach it. 

 Front pleats, a necessary addition. 

 Another detail of the pleats, how they come up to the collar. 

 My practice piece from some fabric that was not designated for a particular project. One thing I have learned, a practice piece is NEVER a waste of time. The pleats were a real challenge and I cut the armhole part to the first pleat, sewed the pleats, THEN cut the rest of the front to the front center. I am not sure how I would draft with the pleats integrated into the pattern, but this works just fine. I took some of the curve out of the right front pleats and they turned out a bit nicer (and smoother) than the ones on the left front of the blouse. 

Snow

Snow is 

Beautiful

Cold

Magical

Heavy

Sparkly

Dangerous

Soft

and we got our fill while visiting my brother for Christmas.

Games

I like to play games. 

My mom stayed with us from Thanksgiving until Dec. 22 when we drove her to my brother's house for Christmas. She will visit a few more weeks with them before heading back to her home. We saw three movies, Lincoln, Flight and Anna Karenina. We had lunch with friends, friends for dinner, shopped and sewed, had a lesson or two on her IPad, and we played games.  We played a LOT of games and added a few more during our time at my brothers. We even invited neighbors a couple of afternoons to join us. All total we played . . . 

Farkle - 59 games
Upwords - 27 games
Rummy Cube - 25 games
Scrabble - 1 game
Quarkle - 3 games
Dominos - 4 games
Settlers of Cattan - 3 games

I think my favorite is Upwords, but any time I can spend face time with those I love is a good time. That is one reason I like games. You are WITH the person playing the game. Conversation - optional. Competition - optional. It is simply time with another person. Fun, engaging and a lovely way to spend in your leisure. I still remember our last trip to the beach with my son and his family. Each evening the four of us adults played Contract Rummy. What a fun way to spend an evening. Laughing, enjoying, thinking a bit and just being together. 

Now . . . back to work. 

Shirt for mom

My mom picked out this vineyard print and because the shirt pattern is so simple and I have made quite a few, I was able to pull this one off before we took her back to bros. I have another shirt, skirt and top to make her, but other things have floated to the top of the list, she will have to wait a bit. 

Skirt and shirt

My oldest was looking for a suit and we found a nice navy jacket and blouse at the outlet mall and I made her a skirt to go with. She's ready for an interview!

Sewing for mom!

My mom has been here for the past few weeks and we have been seeing movies, going to lunch, bible studies, concerts and visiting family and friends . . . . and sewing. Here she is wearing the latest creation. 

I made a list of all the items that we wanted to get done. measuring, hemming t's and pants, making custom pellon patterns for shirts, skirts, shells and such, and of coarse sewing. I still have two shirts to make for her, which will probably have to mailed later and also learned that polyester has a strong tendency to pucker when you sew it. One skirt will never see the light of day. 

Happy Birthday mom, so easy this year! Just make you clothing that you designed yourself!!

That's my sewing room??

We have a leak! So . . . for repairs to be made and repainting of the ceiling, THIS had to happen. A total removal of all my STUFF! Good grief, I sure had a lot of stuff and it is now stuffed into the dining room, with some in the master from the earlier removal of stuff for company. Good grief, I sure have a lot of stuff!  The other thing was I took down ALL the pictures and quilts. There were three quilts and more pictures than I could count. Each new picture randomly went up on the wall, but as I took them down I realized that there is WAY too much linty dust generated in that room. I think a photo album is going to have to be purchased to house all those fabulous baby photos with a choice few put back up. Decisions!  

Happy Birthday - Part 3 & 4

We had another big weekend with folks arriving on Friday afternoon and a concert and dinner on Friday night. We went to a local eatery that also has really great talent done in a small venue. One of his favorite artist joined with another artist and they did a great holiday review. Great food (surprisingly) and great music. 

We also had plenty of time to just visit and hang out, which was wonderful. 

                                     

The "boys" heading out to the kitchen store. 

The next evening hubby gathered a group of friends and family for cooking school. A great way to celebrate a big birthday. Getting to move around, learn a technique, visit with everyone, just a fabulous way to enjoy a meal. I am thinking of doing the same for part of my big birthday celebration. 

 Our group. Fun people!

 Watching his sister mixing up dessert.

 Plenty of time for visiting while others cook. 

Oldest and SIL#1 mixing up some salad dressing.

Happy Birthday hubby. I am so thankful for you. 

Bullwinkle and friends

Hubby . . . he IS a Bullwinkle fan. From WAY back. I made him a Bullwinkle and Friends quilt a while back. He uses it daily. It was fun to make and so very unique!  

My brother channels Mr. Peabody, but I think SIL#1 would as well. Unfortunately he was not at this party, he stayed home to take a class, something about defensive driving or something. Hope you passed, SIL#1. Missed you at the party.

 Nephew as Dudley Do Right, oh, so RIGHT!

His friend as Natasha? Oh, I so think so, she has the accent NAILED!

Birthday Party - Part 2

We headed into town to meet everyone at a great little place that our youngest enjoys before dropping some of our guests at the airport. 

Nephew and friend.  So glad to have had them for the weekend. 

Sucking the marrow out of life . . . . err, bones. 

Birthday Party - Part 1

We were able to have a spontaneous celebration with gift opening on Friday evening when youngest and her hubby did a surprise visit. Not everyone was here, but that is sometimes the case with a large family. At least the birthday boy was here. 

A luxurious robe, a snazzy tie and something to imbibe and share.  

Doing a little bow tying demonstration. He IS a PRO!

Happy Birthday hubby! Love you to bits!!

Blue Bell Boy

My brother has a sweet tooth!  

Thanksgiving 2012

This year we were privileged and blessed to host family and friends for a great Thanksgiving Feast, but so very FAR from traditional. We had home made corned beef, horseradish and sauerkraut  along with roasted veggies, rice, salad and gingerbread. The food was fabulous and the company was even more so.  

 The weather, I can't say enough about the weather. Doors and windows open, lovely cool breeze refreshing us all and great places to visit inside and out. WHAT a blessing. My brother and nephew enjoying my grandma's glider. 

Youngest keeping an eye on a skinny puppy who is contemplating an adventure on the other side of the wrought iron fence. 

My brother and oldest sharing something on his tablet. 

 We invited some of our favorite neighbors to join us. They didn't mind the "no turkey" celebration. But we did have wine, and beer, and even some Single Malt as the evening went on. 

 And of coarse, there were games! 

The group gathered around our THANKSGIVING table. 

I am SO thankful for SO many things, 

God Bless us everyone!

Anticipation

I posted, then realized I should NOT take credit for this lovely site. All hubby. And he cooks, too. 

Two shirts

I had a little time to sew yesterday and today and managed to finish two of the items I cut out on Saturday. But now the sewing room is all put away in the closet in anticipation of my guests. It will come back out after everyone goes back home. 

These were fun shirts to make. I didn't have enough extra to match up the space shirt, but was able to get the cats matched up down the front. I may have to start piecing the collars as well when there is a strong nap to the fabric as I am not so keen on the upside down kitties. 

Retreat

After several days spent in the midst of children, then travel, then a couple of days of busy preparation for company, I found myself facing a Saturday alone with everything checked off my list! Done, done, and done! So . . . what shall I do?  Retreat!  I decided to take the day and retreat to my sewing room and spend a quiet day doing what I love. Oddly, I didn't sew a stitch, but got much accomplished in planning, organizing, pressing, cutting, and spending  time contemplating how very blessed I am. 

I even got to start with freshly sharpened scissors, three pair! Happiness! 

This is the part of sewing that doesn't involve "sewing". An amazing amount of time is spent planning out pattern placement, carefully cutting, aligning that front button closure, interfacing, thread selection, pressing, etc. This represents over eight hours of work. 

This evening I will review my shirt making book and see how much I remember from my summer project. I hope it all seems familiar, that first shirt took a LONG time and I have at least four I hope to make before Christmas. 

It was a lovely day in retreat, I'll need to do this again sometime. 

NC fall 2012 - the group shots

Our daughter-in-law is an extraordinary photographer and has been known to take some phenomenal photography. "Challenging" children are her forte. She can get kids captured, even when they are generally not terribly cooperative . . . except her own. We have about 40 shots that are similar to this one, which I love!  

Amazingly enough, we have at least two that are really, really nice and capture the kids being lovely, smiling and relaxed. Love those little people. 

We enjoy our grand kids far more than I ever imagined. I personally have an affinity for children in general. I am fascinated with their ideas, their thoughts, their interests. I probably "played" with my kids far more than most, but they were gifts that were for ME to know in a way that no other person on the planet would know. They were so precious, so fascinating  and a pleasure to watch grow and develop. Even though I don't get to spend near as much time with these little people as I would like, we do get several times a year of intense visiting. I feel like I DO know them pretty well, and that they think I am a pretty good grandmother. I hope they know how very much I love them. 

When you are close to 60 years old, this is generally how we feel after five days with four of the most precious children we know. The not so funny thing is, that big guy on the left . . . sleep was never his thing, he can't even fake it! 

Thank you for your love you little people, it's all that counts in the long run. 

NC fall 2012 - this and that

This is what my son calls the "up the nose" shot. My boys, love 'em.

Two terrific parents. Wise, patient, fun and determined. Love 'em and so grateful to them for raising children that are a pleasure to spend time with. 

Love this boy. That first grandchild always has a special place. It is a miracle, and a magical experience when your own child creates their own little person. 

NC fall 2012 - the pinata

The day after we arrived, the kids were in school and we had Baby D all to ourselves. I absolutely love having one on one time with the kids. It is fun to see them on their own and get to talk with them uninterrupted. A special treat when there are four of them. Daniel has the most interesting sense of humor and you never know when it will pop out. He knows he's funny, too, which makes things even funnier to watch him wait for a reaction. HE thinks he is hysterical. Which IS hysterical. 

So, we headed over to the Big W with him to pick up some stuff. I wanted him to pick out his own birth day presents. With him being so young it is hard to know what he might enjoy. He spent quite a bit of time looking here and there, but finally settled on stuff that shoots stuff. It is tucked away in a closet at his house, as it is kinda big to ship. I will also send a small box when the time comes, but the main stuff is already there. 

The entire time we were in W he was focused on a pinata, or"peeata", as he called it. We, in an attempt to occupy him, spent quite a bit of time looking for one. He was relentless. So finally after scouring the entire store, I told him he would have to ask someone who worked there about the "peeata" We found a guy in the pet section! This fellow directed us to the Halloween clearance section and we were fortunate to find this little ghost for 75% off. OK, we'd pop for that one. But then, the candy. We found a reasonable size assortment pack, while discouraging him from choosing a bag he picked that was nearly as big as him! Amazing what large bags of candy are available these days. 

The fun part, stuffing the candy inside. The hard part, waiting for dad to get home. Patience isn't always a four year old's best attribute. Being the very cool parents that they are, we got a bat and a broomstick, the two men held it up and let the kids have a go right in the living room!  It took a while and some hysterical antics (I failed to grab my camera, boohoo) before that thing broke open. Of coarse all the candy got deposited in a pumpkin for distribution later, but I will never forget D's "peeata" and the fun we got from that! Memories. 

NC fall 2012 - part 2, the park and the pool

One thing about my grand kids, they are active little kids. Take them somewhere and they are OFF to the races. No sitting around. The girls can play quietly for quite a long time, and you put on Discovery Channel and the cowboy is mesmerized, but get them outside or to the pool or the park and everyone is running and climbing, exploring and experimenting. I guess I used to have that kind of energy as well, as I can still remember "outside" with my two older brothers or some neighbor kids was definitely where I enjoyed being. And when I got old enough to be allowed to ride my bike far and wide, I was in heaven. I loved exploring by myself. We lived in an area that allowed some pretty far and wide bike riding. At least for a kid. 

The cowboy thinking OUT side the box. 

The tricky part was keeping an eye on D so he wouldn't copy. 

Lulu is much stronger than she looks. 

I think her swimming has given her some serious upper body strength. Impressive. 

Baby K playing, she likes to play. 

She also spent time over on the stage in the background. 

Baby K's imagination . . . I would love to spend a little time there someday. 

Baby D has been capable of doing this for a long time. 

This year it was SPEED he was going for. 

He asked me to "time" him and that boy can FLY across those monkey bars. 

Go Baby D!

We went to the pool twice while we were visiting. The kids enjoy some time there. They are so fun to watch cooperate and play, and then turn around and torment one another. Kids, ya gotta love 'em.