Trick or Treat

I had lots of candy, but very few trick or treaters last night.  I've been steadfastly working my way through the left over stuff.  The little people who did come were adorable and so well-mannered.  One little guy was much more interested in Edgar who was perched on the chest in the foyer.

I'm not sure why he was so interested in Edgar, as his mother had an adorable French bull dog puppy (with bat wings) on a leash.

My hat got plenty of compliments, and I thoroughly enjoyed our few visitors.  Unfortunately, today is the day when all of the Halloween decorations must begin to come down.  Not nearly as much fun taking them down.

Dolls in progress.  Seems like they have been in progress forever.

Mermaids Finished; Other Works in Progress

 Mermaids, fish, and a coral reef (sort of)...the octopus (or kraken) holds a ship in his legs and has a village on his head.  The  inspiration for the mermaids and kraken is from illustrations in A Dignity of Dragons:  Collective Nouns for Magical Beasts, which is great fun! 

 Edgar, waiting on the top step for me to pet him and tell him how handsome he is before I go into the studio.

 Some of my little eccentricities in progress

Today is my brother's birthday.  Happy Birthday, Steve!  We won't discuss his age, but I'm even older!

bits and bobs

Here are some shots of bits and bobs from yesterday and this morning.  I used "tinsel glitter" on the papier mache cat head and like the furry look.

I got a few errands done this morning, then stopped by Counter Culture for an Avocado Delight which I brought home for a quick lunch.  Boy, I love those sandwiches.  Finished a few household chores and put in another load of laundry.

Then I was out again with the intention of finishing up everything that needed to be done.

It didn't work out that way, however, because stopping by one of the antique shops on my route, I discovered different vendors all over the parking lot.  (Glad the bank was one of my first errands because it meant cash-on-hand.)

I bought several things from the outside vendors before even entering the shop.  This was one of those days when several items just seemed to insisting on leaving with me: the most expensive was less than $4.50 and the cheapest was marked "free."  Nice!

Ended up coming home again, resting, and gloating.

Now, I still have to go the grocery store and pick up my prescriptions before calling it a day.  Then, since Fee won't be home, I'm planning on pop corn and movies for the evening.

Have a great weekend, yall!

Bryce Eleanor before leaving for the nursery yesterday.

I've reached a bit of a stalemate with the Halloween figures.  None of them seem ready to move forward, so I'll put them aside for a bit while considering where to go  with them next.  Two are almost finished, needing only a few details; two are only heads and need cloth bodies...maybe I'll try to come up with patterns for them today.

I made a top hat for one, but it just wasn't quite right; still, what doesn't work for one, might always be useful somewhere else. Some tiny, tiny poppets in  process for various figures to hold.

Off to do get some laundry done!

Yesterday was "get it done" day.  Well, both Monday and Tuesday, I buckled down and did some of the many things I'd been putting off.  The problem with procrastination is that the stress builds as the "to do" list expands.  Knowing this, I still manage to get myself in the same fix pretty often.

Today, however, I feel much better having cleared so many things from that dreaded list!

Also finished this Halloween pumpkin poppet, but that was just fun!

I love Halloween.  Partly because of residual childhood attachment and partly because we are beginning to see cooler weather by late October.  Usually.

Right now it is 89 degrees.  Pretty warm for early May. 

Blue With a Touch of Orange

A little more progress on this project.  Tediousness in the wardrobe department!

The orange thread is for another project, but I needed to break up all the blue.

I've paid bills, balanced my checkbook, filled out some forms for automatic bank draft on utilities, and cleared most of the stuff from my desk.  Yea!  I feel much better.

Off to yoga!

Now What?

I have pretty much finished Laundry Day; I had initially intended to have some buttons on it, but wasn't pleased with the effect, so have decided against their inclusion.
I do like the buttons, but just didn't feel comfortable with them no matter where I moved them.
I am considering attaching the smaller piece to this striped fabric, but no decision yet. For some reason that fringey selvage that I used as a border pleases me.Working on this piece reminded me of an idea and a sketch I made a couple of years ago, and after some searching I located the original drawing. Have been considering it for the last couple of days and may attempt to jump into the fabric incarnation before long.

The new roof is on and looks much better. We changed to a light grey architectural shingle. Still some work to be done, but they are on another job today, so once again the pleasure of quiet and privacy. They will be back on Monday, but now that the roof is on, things should not be so noisy.

Mac is on antibiotics. Dr. C. said he found no evidence of cancer in the lungs or elsewhere, but he does have a gall bladder problem. This coming Monday, he will be back to see if he has to have his gall bladder removed. In these economic times and considering what I've spent in the last two weeks, I'm praying that the problem will clear up!

The blog world seems to be quieter lately; I'm not the only one who has taken a break from daily blogging. So...what is going on with you? Big (or small) projects in the works? Need to lie fallow for a time? So involved with the day to day that computer time is limited? Thinking creatively?

Oh, damn. They are back on the roof.

The Week That Was...

Kind of Lost. A bad cold has kept me down most of this week. 'Tis the Season. :) Sniffle. Sneeze. Cough, cough.

I've been too tired to do much of anything besides sleep and read, so most of my projects came to a grinding halt. That is the strange thing about a cold: the effort to do anything is enormous, and the mental lassitude makes things even harder. I pretty much gave up the effort.

So over the past few days, I've done little more than sleep and read. I did manage to sew the appendages to my poor limbless sock monster and remove the pins that held some on.
He is certainly much happier.

This morning has been much better; hope I'm at the turning point and now on the road to recovery.

Vintage Sewing Paraphernalia

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

I love that quote.

On Wednesday, I took my camera with me as I planned to visit a couple of antique shops after the meeting downtown. First stop, Timeline Antiques (a kind of antique mall). Spoke to the owner and asked if I could take pictures, then discovered I had my camera, but not the card!

Had a good time anyway and made a few sewing related purchases (which I had to wait until I got home to photograph):The latch hook is a Shillcraft Readicut.I like pretty needle papers and advertising thimbles.Forbes Magazine posted this article Eight Reasons Why You Can't Pay Attention (which applies to both children and adults). I found #'s 3, 5, and 9 to be frequent problems.

I never used to watch television very often and would spend my evenings reading. Now, I do enjoy watching television at night while doing handwork of some kind. A few favorite shows and my Netflix movies provide entertainment as I ply needle and thread.

When Fee brought home this spaghetti sauce, I protested.

No! Your sauce is the best! Your sauce is divine! Your sauce is homemade in the skillet not the jar! Your sauce is all fresh vegetables and lovely aroma! Your sauce is visually and tastefully delightful!
But the Tuscan Vodka Sauce was pretty good! I had two helpings. Large helpings.

October Pleasures

Isn't October a lovely month? Those cool snaps that occasionally make their way to our area provide such delight, such energy, such improved spirits. Fall has always been my favorite time of year, and certainly the relief from our hot, humid summers justifies a celebration.

Time for banana bread...
and Louisiana Hayride bean soup (my version...
There has been no studio time lately. I've mostly been attending to daily chores, playing catch up on several duties that tend to get put off (delayed, forgotten), reading...anything but sew.

The table began catching books and laundry and (although not yesterday) newspapers.
Thinking about what to do with our little cottage and small garden area down at Raft Bayou requires searching through some of my books and magazines...
Have Laddie's laundry folded and ready to go. That little spray bottle has a quick mix of spearmint and lavender for a sweet scent.
Avoiding the studio has not been a deliberate choice-- more a too lazy to think period--but the fallow period has gone on long enough.

I began working on the back of a pillow yesterday. I had already uses scraps and left over borders, so I just added here and there until I had the right size for the back. Then I decided to embroider a little...

But there are still a lot of book distractions and Daniel Jackson of Sourcebooks sent me some delicious books that made my day yesterday which I'll tell you about later, but I'm very excited about these!

Daily Grind

I promised myself that I wouldn't get back on the computer until I'd accomplished 4 things on my "to do" list.

Accomplished:

• 45 min. of yoga (last night's class was a good one, and I should not just wait until class to practice); actually, our substitute teacher last night was Ginny of Lee's White Leopard Kung Fu and Tai Chi School. She takes kung fu; I'm tai chi -- even if I haven't been in almost a year.
• balanced the checkbook!
• laundry
• completed 6 little 9-patch squares

I'm working on the last post for the flea market sewing box. I've love hearing about all the vintage sewing treasures you have found. Rayna recently had a use for some silk thread in a quilted sewing box she purchased for $3!

A Few Steps at a Time

The garden is beginning to look lovely again. Strange how it looks so barren one week, and the next, all is well. I love watching the garlic open up. And the bell-like blooms on the comfrey. I took these pictures early yesterday morning while it was still cool and fresh, by the afternoon it was in the 80's, but still almost perfect weather for enjoying spring.This garlic bud is opening. Looks almost like an alien, doesn't it?
Busy, busy week. Meeting down town this morning, then several errands that had to be run, including a trip to the grocery store, the post office, and the library. I was trying to get everything done before the threatening bad weather actually let lose, but now it seems to have blown over. After the last couple of days of "just right" weather, I wasn't looking forward to the new storms.

Bryce Eleanor's Christening will be Saturday. Chris' family will be coming in on Thursday. Erin and Mila and Max will be here on Friday. Several events and family functions in the works for the weekend.

I did make a new cover for my ironing board, but still haven't had a chance to really sit down and decide whether to finish some WIP's or to start something new; since things will be pretty hectic soon, maybe I'll just put off messing up newly cleaned sewing room.


I love my Notes from the Universe that I receive every morning. Here's today's message:

"Don't be afraid. You needn't slay the beast nor scale the entire mountain. That's not how it's done. You only need to move through today, Jen. Think of the distance you've already covered. Focus on your strengths. Let each new step remind you of your freedom. Let every breath you take remind you of your power. Seek out friends and guides; they're anxious to help. You're not alone. You're understood. This road has been walked before. Dance life's dance, just a few steps at a time, and in the wink of an eye you will wonder to yourself, "What beast, what mountain? Was I having a dream?"

Love you,
The Universe"

Pay It Forward Gifts~In the Mail

Click to enlarge.I got all 6 packages in the mail yesterday and most of my errands completed. When I got home and got all of my groceries put away, Amelia called and asked if I could come help out. She was deathly ill with a stomach virus and a cold and literally couldn't take care of Bryce. Chris had been nursing her and caring for the baby all day, but he had to fly last night. So I packed a few things, put Mac on his leash, and the two of us went to spend the night.

Poor Amelia. She was pitiful; Bryce, on the other hand, was in a great mood and was a pleasure. Mac was busy trying to figure out his place in the pecking order with Amelia's dogs, but I'm not sure he ever succeeded.

This morning, Amelia felt human again and able to venture away from the bathroom. Still a little weak and very tired, but thankful to be through with the stomach virus.

I got home a little while ago, showered, fixed a sandwich for lunch, and am now contemplating what I can make to catch up with the Daily Thing I missed yesterday. Something very quick and easy...

Of Mice and Men

O.K. -- I failed in my attempt to post every day in November. Yesterday, I just took a day off. Although I didn't meet the challenge of posting every day, I did post ALMOST every day, and I'm satisfied with that.

On Monday night, after Fee went to bed, I saw a mouse in the kitchen. In all the years we have lived in this house, we have never had mice inside the house. In the attic, we've had rodent trouble before, but not inside the house. I left a note for Fee. He left early the next morning to go to south Louisiana, but he did respond to the note!I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. But if anyone wants a mouse please let me know, my instructions are to give the mice away. Now Fee is out of town, and I'm alone with the mouse/mice. I have not seen the mouse again, but I know he's there lurking.

Yesterday morning I went to the doctor. About the failure to take the thyroid meds, he just looked at me intently and said, "You know that was a mistake, don't you?" Oh, yes, I know. Really, I do. I'm still recovering from that mistake.

He gave me a prescription for some sinus medicine and some Lyrica for my neck pain. Some days I am literally "a pain in the neck." The Lyrica is for nerve pain and has given me more range of motion in my neck and has reduced the pain considerably.

After the doctor, I dropped of the prescriptions at the pharmacy, then went out to see Laddie. He was doing well. This is a great relief. We've had two weeks of a calm, sweet temperament. We looked at a National Geographic book and talked about the pictures. As well as possible. He didn't protest when I left after about an hour, just kept looking at the pictures.

Went by and picked up the prescriptions, then home about 1:00. Took the Lyrica and the sinus med, read for a little while. Then slept from about 1:30-4:30. Both medications can cause drowsiness. Oh, yes, believe it. I generally sleep no more than 6-7 hours a night and sometimes less. Now, I sleep all the time. Bah!

I did piece the back of the quilt and laid it out with the batting last night. Now, I just need to put the top on and pin it.

Amelia called yesterday to tell me about her doctor's appt. The baby has dropped and other indications led the doctor to say the baby may be here in two weeks. That would be wonderful as then they could be home for Christmas instead of in the hospital on Christmas Eve, which is her due date. So the baby quilt is now a priority.

Have you been keeping up with Sew, Mama, Sew? I check in every day. The only thing I've actually made was the lunch bag, but there are links to such great tutorials for such a wide range of things. If you haven't been there, click that link!

WIP and Giving Thanks

Busy week from start to finish. I've already been back to the grocery store because Fee preferred the white chocolate bread pudding to my suggested dessert offerings; however, I went early and was home by 8:00 A.M.--thus missing the chaos that ensues on the day before a holiday. Hope that was the last trip!

I have a crock pot chicken dish in the works and a bean soup for Amelia. She is trying to get some dishes frozen for post-delivery, so I'm trying some new recipes to freeze (the chicken), and making the bean soup because it is her favorite.

Erin and her gang are expected tonight so I have several chores and errands in that regard. We were hoping to have Thanksgiving at the Raft Bayou cabin, but as with all construction projects, this one keeps its own schedule. Marty, Stephen, and I will have lunch with Laddie at the cottage (too many people agitate him)--extended family dinners will be later.

Here are some current WIP projects - just three, but the three I'm currently spending time on. When I have time... Might as well put them away for a couple of days.



Giving Thanks for:

family and friends
good food
good health
good books
changing seasons and holidays
the internet and all that it offers

enough for now...an endless list

Not Much Sewing

Very little sewing done in the last two days. Friday, Amelia and I went to Deck the Walls, which was a disappointment; had lunch; then went to Les Boutique de Noel, which was a lot of fun. We spent a lot of time looking and talking to friends; we each bought a few things I got a long, sleeveless sweater with a shawl neck from Medina's that I just love. Medina's has the cutest clothes, and two of Amelia's friends were manning the booth so there was a lot of chit-chat going on. In another booth was a college friend of mine and her lovely daughter (we watched Jill & Ivy grow up), so that was fun, too. Then to JoAnn's where we each got some crafty or quilty things. By the time I dropped Amelia off and got home it was around 5:00, and I was pooped.

Today, several places with Robin and Katie looking at stuff for the cabin before heading down there to see the roof which went on this week. Food, discussion, decisions, measurements. Food.

Tomorrow, I'm staying home and sewing. I think.

I'm still trying to post every day, but this coming week is going to be difficult.

Aren't Post Titles a Chore?

Fee brought home this lovely (massive, great big) container of biscotti. How do I love biscotti, let me count the ways...until they are all gone! Good man!I'm working on so many projects at once that I have to make a list to make sure that none of them are neglected. Today, I'll make letters "B" and "E" for the Winter Class of liberated piecing and cut some more strips for the newest quilt with Anna Maria Horner's fabric. If those 2 things get done, whatever else happens will be fine.

No real arrangement for the Winter Class piece has yet emerged, but these are the blocks I've done so far, photographed on different backgrounds. Actually, I'm still not sure this one will go anywhere, but I'm learning about pieced letters anyway.
This is a picture of my hutch, located near the door to the patio. The hutch serves many purposes including holding whatever might be wanted when taking outside breaks. Yesterday's high was 84, but today is much cooler, and outside breaks will soon be a thing of the past. The point is to show you what it looks like when the area is clean. Clean? you might say--it looks pretty cluttered. But no, it is as uncluttered as it will ever be; yesterday, I cleared off 90% of what was stacked here and will be stacked here again. By the end of the day, hutch accumulation will have gotten underway. When it reaches a certain level of chaos, I'll post an update.

Yesterday, I relocated 5 books and 6 or 7 magazines (into neat stacks elsewhere: by my chair, by the bed, in the sewing room), put my note pads and "hard copy" journal in the drawer, put most pens, pencils, and highlighters in the white container (which is always there, but the pens are often just lying on top of books), cleaned up crumbs from the dog biscuits that are in the blue and white bowl, moved my sun glasses, overlooked the binoculars (dark object in left corner) because the birds and the butterflies are so active.

How to Make Errands Fun

Yesterday was a busy, busy day. I had several errands to run and duties to perform so to reward myself, I made a list with places I wanted to go that were "on the way" or "on the way home."

It works like this: on the way to the first unpleasant, unimaginative, or mundane chore, you stop at a place you enjoy on the way. Depending on the time of day and time of year, it might be (for me) stopping at Counter Culture for a Humphrey (yogurt and fresh fruit, mmmm) or Papa's for their delicious sandwiches on heavenly bread. That sort of thing. Food, however, wasn't the reward yesterday.

Yesterday's route, planned with more efficiency than usual, took me first to Ladies-In-Waiting to pick their stylish brains and purchase a little dress Amelia had fallen in love with. Newborn size and waiting for its prospective owner to arrive, it is being monogrammed.

Next stop. Boring.

On to Material Girl, a local quilt shop that is having a going-out-of-business (slowly) sale. Fat quarters for $1.25-2.00 and one yard lengths and most notions at 40% off. Hands full of stuff I didn't really need, but couldn't afford to pass up (?) , I took my grinning self to the counter. Where, in that serendipitous the way of the world, a flyer for the Red River Quilters made its way into my bag.I must have had baby girls on the mind because I bought plenty of pink!
Next stop. Mundane.

Next stop. Duty and confusion.

Next stop. JoAnne's to pick up some elastic, some linen, some more rick rack, and to enjoy another browsing experience. And I met someone who reads my blog and who also belongs to the Red River Quilters, another serendipitous event. Hi, Jacquie!

Last stop. Mundane.

Then home, to admire my new purchases. It was 4:30 by this time. A full day of rewarding myself for doing what had to be done anyway. Heh!

The only sewing I did yesterday was this little skirt, which took no time at all. I had already done the the top.

Today: lunch and shopping with Amelia. A difficult life, but one must work with what one has. :)

Coffee and Collars

Started my morning by spilling my coffee on the desk (and piles of paper). Not an auspicious beginning to the day, but on the bright side, it wasn't all over the keyboard. The experience made me realize that the clutter had become unmanageable--how strange that the growing pile was invisible. I'm determined to get the desk back into shape, decide what to do with the various papers, and move on to cleaning the sewing room which is in the same cluttered shape.

Friday, I made a cute little dog collar slip cover for Mac, based on Penny Sanford's adorable examples. I didn't print out her pattern, but used the general idea and adjusted it for Mac's collar. It was a fun project, but my first response on putting it on my poor model was that he now looks like a circus dog. There may be more for the daughters' dogs (Erin's Mojo and Amelia's Jezza, L.J., and Lady Carolina Belle), but first, I think Mac needs a collar more suited to his personality, a little less, if you know what I mean. Will skip the scallops on the next one; Mac is such a tailored dog. Of course, some bandannas are also a strong possibility...
However, first will be a visit to Laddie and then brunch with Fee. Cleaning can wait.

Tired

I'm worn out! Just got home from spending the night at Laddie's (he has a new medication that needs supervision for a few days). When Katherine got there a little after 8:00, I flew home. Now, I'm contemplating my recliner for a nice mid-morning nap. Don't know if my husband missed me, but Mac sure did, and I owe it to him to cuddle up in our chair and "rest my eyes." Later!