My Year So Far.

My Peace Rose bush in bloom.

So, I have a chronic undiagnosed illness. People are always telling me I need to keep a positive attitude, to which I reply "What's the point? I'm sick, deal." So Sunday I'm trying. I really am. I'm not feeling too bad, so I decide to clean the living room carpet. I have the machine; it's like vacuuming; no big deal. So I'm going along, getting into the rhythm of the thing (back and forth) and thinking after I'm done with this, I'm going to go through one box. I have a billion boxes full of "stuff" post divorce/ moving/ working/ kids/ being sick etc. One box is all I have to do today. Just one box and I'll be one step closer to  THWACK! 
 I stand looking at the machine. This is not a noise you want any machine to make while you are standing next to it. A yellow streak goes past. Kevin the wonder cat, who isn't afraid of anything, has left the room for parts unknown. I empty the water out of the machine, flip it over, and there on the bottom is a piece of what I assume is a fan for the motor sticking out of the bottom of the machine like a little shark fin. I don't think it's supposed to do that. There are little pieces of plastic all over. And water. And soap. So now not only is my carpet not cleaned, it is also wet, soapy, and the easy job turns into me on my hands and knees with a bucket and sponge and towels (which I have to now wash as well) trying to mop up the mess...
That is pretty much how my year has gone so far. And that one box did not get emptied.

100 Pretty Little...Mice!

Fabric scraps

 Someone gave me a bunch of small fabric scraps to use in teaching sewing classes. I experimented by making these mice pin cushions from "100 Pretty Little Projects". These mice turned out to be too difficult- they are too small for beginners. I do think they are cute. The directions say to put a rock in the bottom to weigh them down, but I had some big washers, which worked well, and make the bottoms flat. I still have to figure out what I want to use for eyes and noses. (the ears are held on by straight pins in these photos) I really wanted to use buttons for eyes, but did't have any small enough. I ran wire in the tails, so they can be twisted.

First mouse...

 For my class, I think I'll make a bigger pattern for a porcupine, and the pins can be his quills.

Second mouse..

A pair of mice.

  
I checked-out this book from my public library.

Next on the list

My newest "old" machine. Best guess? The notions with it date to the 1940's. On loan right now for a sewing display. What can I say, I love old machines, and this one is just too cool.

 My machine that I use the most is a Singer 401 Slant-o-Matic. from 1958 that I got at the age of 16. Hint: that's a long long time ago. I love the way old machines look, and my slant-o-matic does everything I need it too.

This is my next project: Simplicity 3656 from the early 1940's. It's a dress with a "Redingote", which is a coat. This pattern is so old that there are no markings beyond the patterns name, piece number, and copyright info. All the darts and other markings are holes punched in the paper. 
It cost originally 25 cents. (I was at the fabric store a few weeks back, and patterns were $18.) One of the notions listed on the back is a "9" slide fastener". That's spelled z-i-p-p-e-r. 
Better picture at Vintage Patterns Wiki. 
http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Simplicity_3656_A

This is my back-up machine. A Kenmore from the 1960's maybe. It came in a cabinet with all the gadgets, including the stitch cams, instruction books, and other things I haven't learned to use yet. 

My Summer Vacation

Started sewing again. It was my vacation last week, so I had all sorts of stuff planned. The first day I dislocated my toe, which means I had to spend a lot of time with my foot up, reading. Lots of books read, not a lot of other stuff done. So yesterday I settle down to sew, with the help of Kevin the wonder cat, of course. I went through my vintage patterns, and decided on this:

 I have a really nice piece of linen, but I decided to make it out of some of the cotton I had to see how it worked out. Going by the measurements on the envelope, there was no way it would fit, so I took the time to enlarge the pattern, and made just the top to check size. Then I had to undo all of the alterations because was too big, and had to start all over. Took me one day to make the dress. I did bound button holes, which I haven't done since home ec in Jr. high school. I even used sew in interfacing instead of iron-on. This dress dates from 1955. Haven't made the jacket yet.

 I still need to make the belt. Found belt buckles at the Fabric Warehouse for 6 for $1. Also got covered button packs for 3 packs for $1. The pattern called for covered buttons, but I went for matte black buttons. All the vintage patterns I've been looking at all call for covered buttons, so they will get used in a future project.

 Also did a side zipper, something I've never done before. Couldn't find my zipper foot, so I had to use the regular one. The zipper looks great, which is odd, because I'm really bad at zippers.

The notches on the neckline were one of the problem spots. Interesting detail, but hard to get open flat. Other then that, this dress was easy to make.

Sewing With Kevin!

Kevin likes to sew! Rule #1, straight pins are toys. They look really nice spread out all over the floor. Rule #2, pattern pieces are for hiding under. Tissue paper... yum. Rule #3, all fabric makes a good sleeping spot, especially if it has just been washed. Sub rule to #3; fabric only stays on the shelf until Kevin (king of cats) decides he wants to put his fuzzy butt on that shelf. 

See Me? I'm king of the world!

See Me holding down the fabric so it doesn't blow away. Yes, we are inside the house where there is no wind. What's your point?

I've got the book here. All questions answered!

Waiting to start.....What do you mean I have to move my foot?



 

So I was sewing...

It started out, as usual, with my plan to make up the pattern just the way the instructions tell you to. Simplicity #2207...one of the "Steampunk" designs. I started with the bustle, the smallest piece. Changed it, but not by much. Next was the skirt. Changed it...a lot. Thought the ruffle too bulky and frilly, so I did pleats, which added another seven feet to the ruffle/ bottom. Heavy, but not frilly. Working on jacket. Oddly enough, I think I'm going to add a ruffle to the bottom. I am not a "ruffle" person, but it just needs something. (photo later)

The whole time I'm sewing, I'm listening to "Care of the Soul" by Thomas Moore. Today was about the way we treat objects, and how we ignore the soul in our possessions. Things break down, and we just toss them aside like they have no meaning, when the reality is everything has meaning in the world, and to us personally. Every thing has soul. Another bit was how we keep art out of our lives because only a REAL artist can create. The true reality is, all acts are creative- sewing, cooking, cleaning, all of it is art. All of it feeds your soul.

I've been trying to be more in my own life. I try to look at each thing I do as a chance to reconnect with myself and with life. I suffer from chronic pain, (for 10+ years) so for a very long time I've been getting by by ignoring my body as much as possible. Ignore the pain, and just get on with it. But I'm beginning to realize how much of self gets cut off that way. The last three days I could barely walk because of pain in my knee. Right now the pain is gone, but it may be back tomorrow. Why would I want to be present for that? I'm not sure what the answer is.

Vampire Kitty

So, I've figured out how to add photos to my post. This is one of my cats drinking wine. Vampire Wine. I bought it because I liked the bottle. Didn't know drinking wine would give me headaches. Didn't know cats liked wine. Learn something new every day. I wonder; are library people cat people or dog people?