Halloween Rant........

Everyone has been complaining about the price of costumes. I think I may have a solution. How about a costume co-op? Beg, Barrow, Trade or Steal? We all have tons of costumes for different age groups, some handmade, some from our closets, some store bought. Why don't we list what we have after Halloween, and the sizes and see if anyone is interested in borrowing them for the next Halloween? Then whoever borrows has the whole year to accessorize, add to or take away to make it just what they need. In just the photos I posted, I have a soccer player, a softball player, a dead sock hop girl which comes with an awesome home made poodle skirt and hula hoop, Sage is Cinderella, Guoda is Courtney Love and Jayson is Kurt Kobain. I know I can lend out stuff to be a biker, hairdresser, witch, Alice in Wonderland, The Cat in the Hat, a Candy Corn Witch, Hip Hop Dancer, ballerina, hockey player, a plug and socket set, Fat Elvis, Lisa Marie and I am sure so much more that I have forgotten, we can also mix and match, kind of check the costumes out like a library and have fun maybe do a cookie exchange one day and bring all our costumes from the past for everyone to pick through. I will post a poll for everyone to vote and if you're in, you're in!

Super Fun!

What a crazy week, I did however get in five workouts!  Yay Me!  Monday I had to have Stevi at soccer practice at 7:50am, she made the school soccer team, I made it to Yoga, brought Stevi to her doctors appointment to go over her MRI results which basically said that she is growing so fast her muscles can't keep up with her bones, so for now she is taking a break from dance, then Stevi and I went to our quilting class. Tuesday I had to work but before work I got Stevi to soccer practice, then Jay brought her to softball practice so I could get to my spin class after work. Wednesday, get Stevi to soccer practice, go to work, go to my Bosu Circuit training class then freshen up as much as possible to go to my friend Randy's house for a Beijo Purse Party, which hopefully will end up being a great part time job for Chrissi, and yes  I bought a fabulous bag and a wallet, I have been stashing any $5 bills I come across for mad money, so I had some, I actually had to write a check for the tax but oh- well.  Thursday I went to a step class in the morning, then to my dermatologist appointment, met Chrissi and Jack at Mimi's for brunch (thanks Chrissi!) off to Spanish Springs to wash my car with Jack and go look at a rental on Robert Banks Blvd, still haven't heard back from the Townhomes so not holding my breath, and then took Jack to Stevi's softball practice so he could play in the park, pick up dinner and wait for Chrissi to come grab her baby boy for the night because I had to be at work at 6 am Friday. Friday I ended up working from 6am to 8pm but from 1-3 I went to my friend Judy's funeral and then to Brickie's for lunch with my mom before heading back to work, after my last client, who is also a friend of mine, I was invited by her and her daughter to go have dinner with them at Pinnochio's which was a great way to end the day, got home at 10:15 because we took our time with girl talk.  Saturday morning, I woke up to my alarm so I could make it to Spin class at 8:30 and stopped at 7-11 on my way home to grab 3 plain donuts so Grandma and Grandpa had some kind of treat for Jack since Chrissi dropped him off at 10:00.  In the meantime, Jay had to go get Stevi at Skytavern because she went off a jump while snowboarding and someone went over the jump after her, she crashed, he landed on top of her and knocked the wind out of her to the point she blacked out for a second or two.  Now we have Jack, he just woke up from his nap and Tyra is dropping Mashae off at 2;45, Jack is coming to the salon to get a faux hawk for his picture appointment at 4,  we are going back to look at the house around 5, my mom is meeting up at the mall and Shae is staying the night because Stevi is babysitting her cousin for the whole night. Whew, Slumber party!  Tomorrow after Jack leaves, we are going to grab Gary, (Judy's husband) and get him out of the house for a motorcycle ride then dinner. Done, pooped finished.

Iris Pathways Quilt Class

Hopefully I will have a working camera by the time this class is done in February.  Stevi and I are taking a Iris Pathways class at Sierra Sewing Center and we started last night.  She chose her own fabric which consists of hot pink, black, purple and white, with music notes, camouflage and skulls with cross bones.  My fabric is very 50's and is in chocolate browns, aqua and orange with very retro prints.  I was worried about Stevi taking the class with me but it ended up just her and me which was great and she breezed right passed me and is on a further step than I am.  I am much better I have discovered at quilting than stocking knitting.  I can't wait to see our renditions of the quilt, it will definitely be interesting!

Knitting the "Ugly" stocking........

I think I make it look more difficult than it actually is, I am Bubba, therefore when I knit, it is not pretty, it is , picture this......as Bubba would knit.  I started a stocking for Guoda, yes a Christmas stocking, the pattern I chose is an intermediate pattern, and I decide to be frugal and instead of purchasing new yarn, I would use some Chenille yarn my sweet little sister gave me for free..........she later told me she gave it to me because it was so hard to work with.  My mother has seen me knit, it is not pretty.  But I try, the stocking has 3 rows of shingles that attach to the base then you knit the 3 needles together.  I followed the directions and special ordered the double ended needles and when I got to Madreadoptiva's house, she said.."No, no, no,  put those down!"  then went and got me her needles on the round and said, "You are going to love me for this!"  Boy what a difference!  I didn't look like I was going to snap the knitting needles in half.......(and yes you can do that, I have) I was so proud of my achievement that I proudly held up my stocking to show my loving husband and he looked at it and said......"That is ugly." then tried to fix it by saying..."well, it's not exactly pretty....."   Just like when my mom saw the fabric I chose for her bathrobe and said, "I hope that fabric isn't for me, that is hideous ."  Does anyone see a pattern here? My family is so proud of me........I can tell.  Maybe I should quit while I'm ahead, but I will not be defeated so 'BRING IT LOVING FAMILY, BRING IT!'  Because there is no crying in knitting.......It takes a lot of balls to knit like I do..........

Sewing Sunday Sage Stevi Success.........SSSS

Sage's quilt it done!  It was the hardest thing to do, machine quilting is not easy on a starter Pfaff.  It's not perfect, but it was made with love and I hope she gets a lot of enjoyment out of it, I chose a really soft fluffy back for her, my machine hated it so it bunched slightly here and there, but I didn't have the time to hand quilt it, so it is what it is.  Today is actually Sunday even though I know you are reading this on Tuesday and right now Stevi is finishing her blanket.  She wanted a new blanket for her bed and we had bought the fabric awhile ago. We used the extra satin which she is using as the trim and I made her a pillow case.  The scary thing is, I didn't even have to think about it and it came out perfect.  I have a ton of fabric that I got over the last year with plenty of unfinished projects, so I will keep working on things to keep me out of the mall and things should work out!

Bad news, I think I may already be outgrowing my sweet little sewing machine....uggh.

Accomplishment!!!

Off to Joanne's today, I need to finish Sage's quilt by putting on the binding and backing.  I spent around 5 1/2 hours on the top yesterday and finished it! I already had some strips sewn together but all the pictures are from yesterday.  I am so excited, it turned out wonderful, so now my two beautiful nieces will both have quilts from their Auntie Beautiful.  My mom came over in the afternoon and we did day 2 of our marathon training.  It was easier and I must admit, I was looking forward to the running part.  I am going to train again this afternoon and Stevi is going to run with me before gymnastics,  I know I am not supposed to over train but I need to get my 3 days in when I can, the rest of my week will be too busy and Friday-Monday we are riding the Harley's up to Highway 1 to see the coast and the lighthouses, hopefully not through snow!  I will try to run a couple of times along the coast, that will be pretty, and easier too considering we live at 5200 feet above sea level.  After today my training will be 3 days of 5mins. walking and 2 mins. running.

Sew-in-Stitches

Back in January I entered a drawing at Sierra Sewing Center for free classes (click on Sew-in-stitches title) and I WON!  I never win anything, but this time it did! It was worth $100 so I put it towards a 4 week sewing class which started last Wednesday.  It is a level I  sewing class which is great, I have been playing around and taking quilting classes, however This class is geared towards garments.  I made a shirt for Stevi.....which apparently will eventually fall apart, thankfully, she is still growing.

    The first class  was more informational and we received our supply list which goes as follows:

• Palmer/Pletsch apron for Artists and chefs Pattern (#001) $8
• Fabric for apron (I chose purple and gold for the pocket)
• Construction thread to match or contrast (Gold of course to contrast)
• 60" tape measure
• Seam gauge
• Fine pins with glass heads, 1 3/8"(so you can iron over them and they don't melt)
• Pin  cushion or magnetic tray
• Chalk marking pencil-color that will show up on your fabric (I have blue and white....thank you Liz for the heads up!)
• Scissors- 7",8" or 10" work well
• Small scissors with sharp tip
• Seam ripper (I broke my first one, now I have an industrial strength ripper!)
• Pen or Pencil and notepad.
• 
  
  

  When you start class they supply a binder and the list, we are responsible for everything else, but they do supply the machines which are Viking.  I do have to say, I prefer my Pfaff, but they say you fall in love with your first machine.  Day one was getting to know your machine, I have played enough that I was actually ahead of most everyone in class....they are true beginners, as I am, but it is nice to understand exactly what is going on!  We also made sample sheets for our binders for reference, I can now do a...

•  Clean Finish which is.. Staystitching 1/4" from cut edge.  Turn fabric on stitched line and press.  Stitch folded edge, using regular stitch length.  Used to finish the edge of a facing or hem. 
  
•  Directional Staystitching..Single layer of fabric.  Regular stitch length, 1/8" inside from finished seam.  Use on curved an bias cut edges to keep them from stretching out of shape.
• 5/8" Seam..Use guide on machine throat plate.  Press flat then press open.  This is most common way of joining two pieces of fabric in garment construction.  It is the standard seam allowance width.
• Grading...Trim the layers of seam allowance to different widths so they don't all end at one point.  Used to eliminate bulk in seams.  Prevents distinct ridge from showing on the right side.
• Understitching.....Press seam.  Stitch from right side using regular stitch length.  Pull seam allowances to facing side (not garment side) and catch all layers in stitching.  Stitch 1/8" from seam.  Used to keep seams in place and weight facing to keep it from flipping out.
• Clipping and Notching.....Clip inward curves.  Notch outward curves.  Pinking shears can be used for notching.  Used to eliminate the bulk in seam allowance.
  

  I wish my sister could take this class with me....she is great at self taught sewing and I am sure she knows how to do all these things, but it sure makes sense when an instructor explains why and when to use these different stitches.  I am taking level II in June, which is Thursday evenings and it will go over making a robe......Liz I would love it if you could join me!!!  Toodles!

My projects I am working on.....

I can't believe I am actually blogging about this, but here goes.  I am currently working on 3 projects (my sister who inspired me said it would happen  and I assured her I would only tackle 1 project at a time)  I have been trying to finish a shirt I am making for myself, which I hope to finish today, and pictured below, I am almost done with a quilted table top I am making for our living room and  the one I am MOST excited about it the small quilt I am working on for my BEAUTIFUL niece Willow who is having her 4th birthday on the 26th. The fabric took me an hour and a half to choose, but as you can see from the small portion I have accomplished, IT IS SO CUTE!!  As I get further I will keep you updated , there are 7 different fabrics and I have only just started and gotten 2 stars done, (there are 9)  I won't have it done for her birthday, but probably a week or two after as I am doing this in class.  I never in my wildest dreams thought this would be me.....my sister is to blame, but I'm kinda liking it!