Zippers, most people are afraid of them or hate them. I have a beautiful friend who showed me years ago how to put them in and I am no longer afraid. In our fast paced world zippers are one thing that you just can't hurry through putting in. I have found a zipper foot essential. I have also found basting a HUGE time saver. You can manipulate hard places easier with a hand needle and have the zipper ready to sew in. Another wonderful mentor to me once said that when zippers are on sale she buys them in the longest length she can get. That way in future you don't have to worry about have the exact length. You can cut off a zipper at the bottom after making a bar tack across to keep the pull from coming off.

I learned some new things about zippers this weekend. I have put zippers in coats and jackets before, but never a reversable jacket. The lady who ask me to do this didn't tell me it was reversable. She told me she purchased the zipper already and it was in the bag. It was a normal 22 inch zipper. A jacket needs a seperating zipper to open up on the front. I spotted that right away and told her I was going to purchase a seperating zipper and I would add it to my fee. I measured the coat and the original zipper that was in it. It was 24 inch. I spent one week going to several different stores trying to find a light pink 24 inch seperating zipper. Impossible. I couldn't even find seperating zippers in some stores. I finally found a brown one, thankfully her jacket was pink and brown. Oh, and I never found a seperating zipper with the double sided pull for the reversable part. Thankfully, she was ok with that.

You know I try to patronize my local shops. It makes me sad because we are loosing our local Hancocks. That's where I found the zipper. I see why a lot of people are going to internet buying for their sewing needs. I just can't buy material this way yet. I need and love to feel it.

Sew Long for Now.

I love people who plan ahead! Yesterday I embroidered a name on a stocking for next Christmas.

Sew Long for Now!

Quote from the General, "Sleep is over rated."

Can you tell it's the end of the school year where you are? We don't actually follow the public school calendar here. We continue in the summer. What else is there to do on a sweltering summer afternoon if you can't go to the pool or lake? With a child graduating this year, it has thrown more to be done on our plate. I have sewn this week, but, I have also bought paper and envelopes and printed graduation announcements. I am in the process of addresses these now. We also have taken a paper route. The children and I are delivering the paper in the mornings. It's amazing how cool it is to work with your children, even if I do have to get up at 3:45 a.m. to do it. We laugh and cut up and get really silly. Then we come home to eat breakfast and read our favorite comics outloud. I finished five capes and put a zipper in a pair of pants for one lady. I altered and repaired four pair of pants for our local minor league baseball team. I hear they have a few more pants to do before Monday morning when they leave for an away game. I ripped a zipper out of a jacket and was going to put another one in, but she sent the zipper and it is not a seperating zipper. I think she would have a hard time putting that jacket on!

This coming week may be worse than last. We have our spring concert for singing school and some more things to do that I know of, but can't remember just what. Hmmm, I am glad I have a big wall calendar in the kitchen!

Sew Long for Now!

Has it been that long since I visited here? Life just sort of catches up with you doesn't it. I have been sewing. Not as much as I would like, but some. I have finished 3 1/2 capes now. I love this pink one. The fabrics are so luxurious. I made a cute apron for a birthday present and forgot to take a picture of it! It was blue with little white and red flowers on it. I put large red rick rack on it. Lt. Col. Cool is going to go to VMI after all and so we have been sending in financial aid forms. We also spent a lot of time last week getting photos together for the yearbook and a power point presentation they will do at the graduation ceremony. It's cold and windy here today. It seems strange to watch snow flurries fly in the middle of April.

Sew Long for Now!

Here is a picture of the crosses in front of our church on Resurrection Sunday.

Sew Long for Now!

I have been quiet this week. I had some housework to get caught up on from my marathon sewing. I am working on the capes again. I completed this red one yesterday. Oops, I see a thread that needs clipping! The wind has been gusting around here some this week. 40 mph. It ripped two of the flags. They took them down and I repaired them. I also sewed button holes in these two to give them vents so the air could blow through them and hopefully not rip them again. These two are in front of a building and they get air flow from two directions which cause them to get battered. I have quite a few more capes to do. I need to delay them today. I have an apron cut out that I want to sew up to give to a friend for her birthday. I also have two jackets that need zippers put in. I think I will do that first since it has gotten a bit chilly again around here.
Sew Long for Now!

Friday I spent most of the day in bed. I was having some issues with my bp and pounding in my head so the doctor put me on medication. I just felt drained. Saturday we had planned to celebrate the General's birthday and go out of town. We went to The Tank Museum in Danville, Virginia. It was pretty interesting. Of course my military history buffs loved it. We also enjoyed playing around with some of the exhibits. Here the troops are.

Even the General got in on the fun. It was a nice fun family day. We had good conversation and a lot of horse play. We went out to eat and just enjoyed being together.

This morning we had an inspiring church service. We had communion today. After the service began when we were praying the lights went down in the sanctuary. When the prayer finished and they came up, as the congregation lifted their heads we were awed by the scene that met us. Up at the front of the sanctuary was a table and around it sat the 12 disciples. Who ever ask the people to play the parts did a great job. They looked similar to the DaVinci painting of the last supper. Actually, the whole scene did, props and all. Then as the drama of the last supper was portrayed we joined and had communion when Jesus gave the bread and cup to his disciples we partook also. It was just awesome!

Sew Long for Now!