tmi

photo by Jacques Henri Lartigue  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/3809707.stm

2011 in Review: 

I started this blog, and opened the Etsy shop. The blog was intended to be strictly for business, but personal events directly impact my work decisions, and by not addressing these, there’s not much to post. I’m not someone who can keep their life neatly compartmentalized, so maybe it’s time to let it all run together.

Consider yourself warned.

First, though not foremost, I’m developing new “products” for MS&R. Geographically, this is a tough location for hunting vintage clothes and I’m loath to build a new business based on the whims of serendipity, so I need to branch out. I have tons of ideas and have been steadily making prototypes and patterns which always take more time than allotted. I’ve finally learned not to crow about my dreams until they can actually  work, so that’s all I’m prepared to say about the new products for now.

Second, and more importantly, The Kid and I have been eating healthier. We cut out gluten at the end of July and I immediately felt more energetic and a near cessation of the morning “feels like a 10 margarita hangover” headache. Within a few weeks I had lost 15 lbs. 

In the "stupid is as stupid does" category, I spent way too much time with someone who demanded most of my energy and attention. Sadly, it took a while to realize they were unworthy, and put an end to the fiasco. Still, it was a good reminder that a person’s behavior is a better gauge of  character than words. It’s easy to understand this in theory, but not so easy to recognize the conflict between words and actions in practice.

I began sewing again. I used to be an avid sewer, but stopped several years ago because it was no longer enjoyable.  Now that I am (mostly) mended, I am again finding pleasure in joining thread and cloth.

For the first time in many years, this New Year promises to bring new beginnings, joys and adventures. 

a little side project

I've been looking for something to make from a pile of old cashmere and wool sweaters and last night I made a very long striped scarf. But when I woke under the full moon this morning I took it apart and started over, this time using a chevron pattern. I like chevron even though it's wildly trendy right now which virtually guarantees it will be "out" by the end of the season. But I don't love it enough to paint the wall, or slipcover my sofa-- or offer it any other long term commitment.  It looks very nice, considering. Considering the colors are random, I'm using oddly colored left over serger thread (bright purple & black), and the pieces are smaller than I would have used, had I not already cut everything into 3" strips. I don't have the patience for a large, tedious piecing project right now, but can see making a scarflette, or perhaps, a cowl.

early morning under the full moon

this woke me at 4 am...

Not quite domesticated...

My friend taught me this really easy toffee recipe last year, and I decided to try it again this year.

 Only I couldn't remember her advice as to how long to let it boil-- either until the color changes, or it just begins to smoke, or perhaps it was for a certain number of minutes. I had to look online and decided upon 7 minutes, while stirring constantly. Nowhere did anyone mention to avoid stirring with a plastic spoon.

Taking the slow boat

I was born into a family of Type A personalities. Our mottos are “be 15 minutes early, or you’re 15 minutes late” and “no pain, no gain”.  Naps are for babies, and old people. Sick days are for wimps. We measure life by accomplishments and achievements, not by any touchy feely gauges, such as feelings, or relationships.

This works for a lot of people, but not for someone with one (or more) of the insidious autoimmune diseases such as SLE, CFS, Fibromyalgia, and RA. Switching to the slow lane isn’t easy, but it’s necessary.  The hardest part is adjusting expectations— forget perfection, sometimes “good enough” really is good enough. Slow and steady may finish last, but they finish. 

Having said that, the projects are progressing… slowly, and that’s okay. 

playful doggy + water bottle + unattended laptop = crash course in pc repair.  

I've always loved taking things apart. Luckily, this time I was able to put it back together.

I've been working on a new project and have been taking apart old suit coats to reuse the wool. I love de-constructing old tailored garments and admiring the old time craftsmanship in the hand stitched collars, the layers of horsehair interfacing, and rows and rows of pad stitching along the lapels.

But tonight I'm working on this: it's a lovely vintage Harris Tweed and the ugly matted goo you see is glue. Glue on the hem, the lining, and the interfacing. Lots to cut off. Ugh.

Ta Da!

Inspired by a vintage war salvage logo from loc.gov. This took a good part of the day to piece together but it is good enough to keep me happy for a while. Also put together versions for 'vintage" goods and "handmade". Oh, and ordered real live business cards. I think the next round will have to have some color...

Project #1 is an attempt to create a chew resistant soft dog toy. Using scraps of recycled wool, I laminated two colors with free hand machine quilting. These I cut into the toy shape, using a large "pocket yeti" pattern from an old project. I layered this to a piece of the denim (dyed red) and added a felt face appliqué. Then added another layer of denim over the top, leaving a space in the stitching to turn it right side out. Trim, turn, stuff and close.

He looks a bit like a hollow, or soul eater (from the Japanese Manga, Bleach). Not a great photo, I admit. Quite blurry-- I think he's trying to run away.

footnote: poor little guy lasted all of 5 minutes.

The new season brings new routines and projects, thus the absence. In short, I'm still trying to get used to school hours-- and not too successfully. With several new ideas in the pipeline my old Singer Touch and Sew decided she was not up to the task, and quit-- no notice. Well, not exactly without notice-- she'd been to the shop twice for repairs recently and yesterday was the first use since the last visit. She worked great for all of 10 minutes, and then quit feeding the bobbin thread. So this morning I ran to the thrift store hoping to find something cheap and working. Actually, I always hope to find an amazing industrial machine with a $5 price tag, but so far, no luck. Instead, I found a very nice Touch and Sew and was tempted until I checked the gears and found they were still the original nylon. As that is the origin of most of this machines problems (being that plastic gears tend to break and wear after a few years), I kept looking. The only other machine was this pretty little green gal-- the Singer 185J-- which, according to the internet, is a simple straight stitcher, not very pricey for resale, but a real workhorse. A quick check confirmed the electrical seemed to work ok, but the belt was missing. For $19.99 which included the table, I took the chance and brought her home.

I was a bit nervous she would require some obsolete bobbin and needle size, but she likes the Singer 66, which is sold everywhere, and of which I have a few dozen. Needle size looks standard too. Best of all, I forgot I had an old non working machine in the attic which had the correct size belt. Sometimes I amaze myself. So far, everything works great, except the bobbin winder. The handwheel won't disengage and the bobbin winder doesn't turn. More research is required to figure this out, but in the meantime I can wind bobbins on the "new" Singer. New, as in bought in 1999 but not used until last year. It took me that long to figure out how to thread the bobbin, and it sews like a drunken tailor so it's only used as a last resort back-up to the back up.