Or maybe I’m not

Last post I bragged about how I was really starting something– a new sweater about which I was SO excited. And I was. Until I knit the bust in two nights, tried it on and realized it was too big. For a day I pondered the question: Do I continue knitting and live with an ill-fitting sweater or do I rip? I decided to rip out and start again. However, it took me a few weeks to get around to ripping it and flushing two days work (not that my time is THAT precious, but still). Finally I just went for it– destruction–and now I have a pretty ball of yarn sitting, waiting for me to start again in size small. 

In the meantime I’ve accumulated a heap of sewing projects: baby blankets, a jersey knit dress, tulip skirt, and a few stuffies for some (more) babies who just cropped up. But I’m sitting on all of it. The easy part is done. The projects are picked out, the fabric is purchased, washed and ironed. The dress is even cut, the pattern for the skirt is as well. But for some reason my mind can’t seem to meet the battle of the sergers, sewing machines and tension. But that’s all that’s stopping me and that’s really a bummer, particularly because I’m in great need of some summer clothes. Since I’ve made a resolve to buy no new clothing for all of 2009 (I can only make or buy second hand and revamp) this is my only option. I had hoped that desperation would drive me to conquer my fear of malfunctioning machines, but it hasn’t helped. 

Any suggestions? Between my failure to create, my job that is not rocketing me to success or even a comfortable lifestyle, my inability speak more than one language and the fact I don’t workout on a regular basis I’m feeling pretty loser-ish. How do YOU do it? Get motivated? Get started?

Back on My Game

It’s no secret that this winter was a soul-sucker for more people than just me. I’ve had a hard time shaking it off and getting into the swing of normal life again. It’s still cold, still gloomy and all I’ve wanted to do is wrap myself in a blanket and maintain warmth. This weekend might have been the thing to fix me though. How fitting that it was Easter weekend. 

It’s probably too soon to tell, but I think I’m on a roll. Yesterday Mom and I went to Greencastle for the Fiber Event and a bit of antiquing. While I came home with no fiber, I returned wanting to use all the yarn I’ve taken the past few years to accumulate. When I started working for Susan Riedweg in 2006 I stopped knitting for myself for some reason. I’m still working for her and enjoying the work when it comes, but after seeing all that wool and linen yesterday I came home wanting to really use mine.

I purchased the Juliet pattern from Zephyr Style last night and got started on it right away. I’ve continued that knitting intensity today and even managed to squeeze a few walks with Jack into the day, a big Easter dinner with my family up north, and some flower planting in front of the house. It feels so good to be doing things again. I’d forgotten I had the capacity to do things other than sit immobilized by winter’s ridiculously tight grip. 

I’m hoping that Juliet turns out nicely for me. I’m mostly knitting it because I found this picture of it completed. I love the drape of it but fear that our body types are pretty different and my extra girth might make it substantially less attractive. Also, this particular knitter’s version looks different from all the other completed Juliet cardigans I found, but she says she followed the pattern to a T. I can only assume she may not have used two strands of worsted weight yarn so that’s what I’m attempting. My gauge is accurate with one strand. Ok. All of that was kind of boring detail. We’ll just see how mine turns out.

The Joy of Photo Booth

I’m not a technology person, but it turns out I love this new MacBook Pro work bought for me. Not only does it make creating things in Illustrator a wonderful experience (hello, productivity!), but it’s got a lot of fun devices to boot.

For instance, Photo Booth is the perfect tool for capturing Jack’s frustration at having to live with two completely unreasonable people.

Poor animal…

Ridiculous

A good friend of Regan’s had to put his dog to sleep last weekend. Knowing what a difficult thing that would be, we decided right away we needed to do something. First we thought to go visit, but then Regan suggested we send something to him first.

Yes.

Care packages are always good. 

Now, what to put in the care package?

Umm, this ridiculous creation is what we came up with.

Regan created the Mr. T inspired belly. He helped me pick out the gold jewelry at the local hardware store, and this week we spent piecing it all together.

I’m glad that we have projects we can work on together. The end results usually make me laugh.

Food

Food is the word that sums up this weekend. 

We ate take out, eat in, and home made. And now I’m questioning if I should continue to refrain from eating meat, I’m ga ga for popcorn and in love with brussel sprouts. Who knew that a weekend of indulgent fooding could open my eating horizons so much?

Now Regan and I are busy spending the last remaining hours of our weekend planning out our summer garden, which we were supposed to start this weekend.  Ugh.  If we can get our act together we’ll have an abundance of good things begin popping up in spring. My hope is by relying on our garden that we can cut our grocery bill down to a reasonable amount of money. It’s gotten slightly out of hand these days with the organic, whole foods kick we’ve been on. I like to think that for our overall health it’s worth it though, spending all this cash on things so easily consumed. 

Other than eating good food I’ve mostly been bundled up inside wishing for spring to come soon. Rumor has it that winter doesn’t last forever, but I’m beginning to doubt the truth in that.  Someone please reassure me that the sun will come out soon.

Snow Day!

There is a  part of me that yearns for middle school. It’s the part of me that loves snow days. Unfortunately in the real world they don’t come as often as when we were kids, but on some special days — like today — we get the day off. 

Regan and I are lucky in that we have noncritical jobs and so on these rare days we get to hunker down, bundle up and take comfort in the fact that we aren’t really needed. We woke to 10 inches of snow on the ground and more falling. We’ll have a foot when it’s all said and done. We’re looking forward to taking Jack out to frolick in it and hopefully take pictures since this is so rare. 

At any rate we started off the day right with a super-amazing breakfast made of wheatberries, greek yogurt and fresh and dried fruit. It’s Heidi Swanson’s Wheat Berry Breakfast Bowl. Head over to 101 Cookbooks and check her out. She’s our new fave.  She’ll make you happy that food is beautiful and delicious.

Blurg

So, I’m less good at the fabric creations than I wish to realize. If I didn’t get so frustrated each time I messed up I’m sure that the learning curve wouldn’t be so huge, but for the most part I just get mad when I make something that doesn’t turn out as I envisioned. It’s the part of me I’ve had since age five and have been trying desperately to grow out of. No such luck. Maybe some day.

This week I’ve been working on a shirt for my sister. The boatneck is to “boaty”…? and the sleeves look like wings. If I can fix it I’ll post pictures, but currently I’m taking a break from this monstrosity. I am also discovering there’s no way I’m going get all the intended gifts made for people before Christmas. Looks like Regan and I have some last minute shopping ahead of us this weekend. Blurg.

In the spirit of making things that actually turn out as I envision I took a break and made these. Can’t go wrong with pretzels and chocolate.
 

Making

We didn’t leave the house this weekend. Instead we watched the snowy outside world through our windows. Of course, two inches of snow was only an excuse to do nothing, it absolutely didn’t have to confine us to the house. The world just seems a little less pleasant during the month of December with the crazy drivers and even crazier shoppers. We’ll probably make more excuses to stay inside during the next few weekends.

We cooked some, read some and cleaned some. I’m rediscovering the neat things I have buried deep in my sewing room. I’m also falling in love again with David Sedaris. His essays always make me laugh and remind me how valuable storytelling is.  Regan and I then capped off this weekend by playing a few games of Scrabble, accompanied by putting some fondue in our bellies. It was kick ass.

Here’s a sampling of some of the projects I worked on this weekend. The only thing I didn’t snap a picture of was the homemade tea bag, which isn’t really picture-worthy, but still totally makes me smile.

1. Fabric flowers with singed edges that will be used any number of ways. I’m trying to get into accessories. Flowers seem like a natural thing to begin affixing to my headbands, belts and sweater closures.

 

2. My sister-in-law is very cool and — lucky for me — her style tends to run unique and fun instead of tailored and fancy. I’d be out of luck in the making department if she needed tailored. But fun I can do. This purse was quick to put together and I’d like to try a few more versions since I just sat down and began cutting and sewing with no pattern or even knowledge of how to put a purse together. It at least turned out to be the right shape. We’ll see how it functions as a purse.

3. Finally I have a glimpse of a work in progress. I’m working on a few versions of this item for a few people on my Christmas list. This is attempt number one.

Handmade Holiday

Jack is sitting on the front porch watching the snow fall. He’s mesmerized by it. Regan and I are huddled inside next to the space heater, making Christmas lists for giving and receiving.

Although we’ve always tried to create meaningful gifts for Christmas we usually get so caught up in work and life that we lose the time necessary to create. Instead, we resort to retail desperation shortly before the holiday, which tends to crush our spirits. Big time.

This year with the economy and our dissatisfaction with such a consumer-centric society we’re making a pledge to do our best to give only handmade and local gifts.  Each year we’ve tried, but it’s always easier said than done, mostly because of the co-workers and distant friends who aren’t necessarily the most appreciative of those things. However, I suggested to my co-workers that we shouldn’t have staff gift exchanges this year, but rather pool our money and give it to the local food bank, which (selfishly) gets me out of having to worry about what thing to buy just to fulfill an expectation. The good people I work with agreed.

I’ve already started multiple projects and hope to post pictures as I make progress. There’s something remarkably soothing about the eveness of hand-made stitches pulled through felt and the weight of several layers of knit fabric as it rests in my lap while I sew.

There’s something pretty soothing about this image though, too.

Treadle

While I shopped at Goodwill for old t-shirts to change from one shape into another, Regan explored the odds and ends in the back. I was ready to go when he told me he had something he wanted me to see first. And this is what he showed me:

This White sewing machine appears to have been produced between 1911 and 1920, according to the serial number. However, I still have to call the company to double check. Obviously, this photo was taken in our house and not Goodwill, which means I bought it on the spot for the low, low price of $50. I’ve been needing another table in my work room to set my serger on and since this is a thing of both beauty and function I snapped it up.

My next task might be to see if I can get a new leather strap cut for it and see if I can get it working again. It seems to be nearly functional. However, I won’t make it a priority. For now I’ll just gaze upon it.

I love old things– that attention to detail is incredible, isn’t it?