Tuesday, January 31, 2006

We are still battling illness here. I took my two youngest to the doctor today. They have both had fevers since Friday. They both have had coughs and headaches. I thought it was viral, but, looking into Captain Chaos' throat I decided to call the doctor's office. They suggested bringing them in. They checked them out and it is viral. Captain Kitty does not have pink eye, neither has strep. So, they were sent home with a prescription for fluids, vitamin C, and rest. They both really want to feel better by the weekend since the Bible Quiz tournament is this weekend.

On the sewing front. I have gotten little done with them ill. I haven't kept up with my housework. I haven't done school work this week. I haven't done any sewing since Sunday. I did go shopping at JoAnn's tonight to get that red thread I needed. They had a great sale and I found two materials I liked on the bargain table with a 60% sign. So, I got 6 yards for around $7. I am washing some flannel that I bought back in November as I type this. I am planning on making myself a new gown. I need to go through my file cabinet to see if I have pattern I want to use.

Sew Long for Now.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

I read some where that mending is not sewing. I seem to do a lot of mending. I decided today to do something I have been wanting to do, but, never find the time to. Something, fun. So, I thought of several projects I have been wanting to do, but, always put on the back burner for the more pressing and I picked one. I made a scarf on my sewing machine. I used Sulky wash-away stabilizer, some ribbon yarn and two colors of fun fur. I sewed the ribbon yarn down on the stabilizer using a zig zag stitch and placed it in a graft pattern. I sewed this yarn to the stabilizer every 1 inches. Oh, I used a 30 inch long by 9 inch wide piece of stabilizer. Next, I sewed black fun fur inbetween the black and grey ribbon yarn. I did this on both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Finally, I sewed some varigated green and blue fun fur in swirl designs over the whole piece to give it some color. I did this all flat. When I had finished this I twisted the piece and sewed the ends together. I put the piece through three hot water soaks and rinses to get the stabilizer out. Now, it is hanging to dry. Tomorrow I hope to take a picture of the piece to show you. While doing this Captain Kitty and I were talking. She really liked what I had done and I offered to make her one. She ask if I would make her a boa using the hairpin method. So I need to get some real fuzzy yarn and fold a metal clothes rack to do that. I noticed Michael's has a big sale on yarn this week. I am going to try to get a few skeins.

Sew Long for Now.

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Saturday, ah Saturday. Did I get a lot of sewing caught up? NO! My lovely husband decided he wanted to rearrange the computer room/office which is also my sewing room. I really like where he put the computer, but I am going to have to evaluate where I put some of my sewing things. They are not fitting as cosy as they where. The problem is I need more storage and I need to get some of the stuff out of here. One whole wall in here is bookshelves over flowing with books. I love my books, but, I need to find somewhere else in the house to keep them. Another thing is that right now I am using tables in a U-shape to sit things on. I really need a cabinet system so I have more room to store things. I have my antique vanity in here. That wouldn't be so bad if it fit. I also have my antique desk in here. They both are housing my stamping and scrapbooking supplies. If I had some type of cabinets I could store these items much better. I need to brain storm and then sketch some ideas and start a plan for this.

I did repair Captain Crunch's p.j. bottoms that had a hole. I did repair the youth pastor's jacket that needed a broken snap replaced. I did rip a broken zipper out of a coat that needs a new zipper put in. Unfortunately with the coat I was out of the right color thread to replace the zipper. I will have to get some in the next few days and get that done. I baked a coconut cake and made some turtles for dessert. I worked on knitting my other sock. I have two sick young ones and I doled out medicine and reminded them to drink more fluid. And of course I did help a little with the rearranging of the room.

Have a glorious Lord's Day!
Sew Long for Now!

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

I got some sewing done today. I did not get all the lessons done. I did not get all the housework done. I did get some sewing done. I finished the pink skirt with blue butterflies I had been working on for myself. I hemmed two pair of pants for a customer. I sewed patches on a CAP uniform for my son's friend.

Tomorrow I doubt if I will get all the lessons or the housework done. Tomorrow my daughter is in a spelling bee. Tomorrow my oldest son has a pre-calculus class I have to get him to and from. Tomorrow is singing school for all my children. Tomorrow I have to attend a funeral for a dear man at church who went to be with our Lord Sunday morning.

Well, there is always Friday to catch up!

Sew Long for Now!

Monday, January 23, 2006
















I finally have taken a picture of the one completed sock. This pair is going to be a present to some one who wears a size 11. It certainly is taking longer than I anticipated. I tried to knit using the contental method and I am just not ready for that. I can go faster using the American method since that is what I have experience in. It has still taken me almost two weeks to get this far. I did not get any sewing done this weekend due to running the roads with my family and having company over. Hopefully, I will get some done in the next couple of days. I have some work for clients to do!

Sew Long for Now.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006



I finished embroidering the skirt with the stains. I wanted to post pictures to show how well it looks! Embroidery is great for saving things you might otherwise have to discard!


Sew Long for Now!

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

God has blessed my day! I got up this morning and had a rough start to my day. I was worried over an issue and wanted to dwell and wallow in it, instead I made myself do my devotions. I made myself take a shower and get dressed. I made myself do school with the children. I put the problem on the back burner and decided I had to leave it in God's hands. I have worked very hard since the 1st of the year to stay on track. To keep a type of schedule with schoolwork and housework. Today by the grace of God I was able to do that. He blessed me with things running smoothly and an hour of free time to sew. I couldn't believe it. I darned a pair of socks, sewed a button on a shirt, began embroidering a skirt, and began making another skirt.

I have a jean skirt I made several years ago that I love. Shortly after Christmas something got spilled on it and nothing would take the stain out. Instead of chucking it I am embroidering butterflies over the 3 stain spots. I will post a picture when I finish. I had cut out a skirt for myself in a pretty floral back in October and had not found time to finish it. Tonight I got the side seams sewn.

I am hoping and praying that staying on schedule is making life easier around here and there will be more times like this.

Sew Long for Now!

Monday, January 16, 2006

I am still working on my sock. I did get the heel finished and now am working on the foot part. Boy is this knitting socks taking longer than I thought. It's fun though!

I got some sewing in Saturday. I put a zipper in a coat for some one. It was a leather coat and the plastic zipper had lost some teeth. I replaced it with a metal zipper.

I also digitized a picture and put it on a baseball cap for a friend.

This sewing once a week is getting to me. I am so busy with school and running the children that I find no time for sewing during the week. I feel crazy! The sock knitting is the only thing helping me keep my sanity. It works well because I can just pick it up and carry it places. I was knitting during karate class this evening.

Sew Long for Now!

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

The knitting lessons went great! I am loving it. I can't wait to finish and show you.

Sew Long for Now.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

I got in some sewing over the weekend. I hemmed three pair of pants for a customer and sewed patches on Captain Crunch's CAP uniform. The funniest sewing I have done lately was today! Today was busy. Captain Crunch started back to his class at the local community college. After dropping him off I had several errands to run. One involved a trip to a notary with General Gorgeous and I, so every one had to go on the errands this morning. As we walked out of the bank Captain Chaos told me I had a hole in my skirt! Eeck. I looked down and there was this decent size hole in the side of my skirt. You could see my panties! How embarrasing. When we got home I went to my sewing room and slipped off my skirt and sewed it up. Thankfully it was in the seam.

I can knit scarves and afghans, but, nothing more complicated. For several years I have been wanting to learn to knit socks. My friend's mother is an expert knitter. The only problem is she lives in Florida. This friend's mother is here visiting! I have the needles and a skein of magic stripes. Tomorrow after lunch the children and I are going over my friend's house and her mother is going to give me a lesson in knitting socks. I am so excited! I have called her everyday making sure I have everything I need.

Sew Long for Now.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Eek! I still haven't sewn this week! I did get my sewing room cleaned and got a little decluttering done. I still have several big plastic storage boxes to sort through. I am going to take those one a week so I will not feel overwhelmed and so that I don't overfill the trash cans. I have been crocheting at night so I have been getting a creative fix. I also made some birthday cards last night. I have a stack of stuff that has come in this week to do for clients. I have a stack of mending still to work on. I have some flannel I want to use to make some pj's for myself. I will have to get myself busy this weekend.

Sew Long for Now.

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

It's a new year and I haven't gotten any sewing done in days. Sad. I spent New Years day cleaning and decluttering the washroom/basement. I had neglected that room way too long. Yesterday school started back here. I am also trying to declutter the house and get myself back on schedule from all the things I neglected last year. I worked in our bedroom and on some bookshelves in the kitchen. I am reading a book called Plain and Simple Organization. My sewing room is on today's schedule. I really need to get it better organized and cleaned. I fear it will take more than then the time I can give it today. I have so much material and scraps of material to deal with. I have a hard time throwing away even little pieces of material. I also have so many projects awaiting my attention. Sometimes it feels overwhelming. With God all things are possible! So may He bless my efforts today.

Sew Long for Now!