The Kirtle Bodice is Done

 Yesterday was another lovely sunny day with a high of 9.5C. This morning it is clear and -2C. Today we are to have sunshine and 12C. 

Lifestyle

I was out shopping with daughter-in-law. Our first stop was in Wolfville so she could buy her course textbook at the university bookstore. I am so proud of her for doing courses towards her CPA. I did peak around the bookstore but it was pretty empty. There are very few courses offered at the moment with more coming this summer. 

We then went on to New Minas. Our first stop was to get food for Elliott. We then worked our way back to Walmart and then home. It was a quick trip which was fine as I enjoy going out with her. 

Once home, I did a few little things like putting away dishes and tidying up so I could run the dishwasher after lunch. I wasn't going to be home for dinner so I could do that job early. 

I picked up grandson from school and was happy there is a loading/unloading zone. The school hosted a ruby tournament and every parking spot at every entrance was full. There were students everywhere as they have 3 fields to play on. I took the very back entrance in and out of the school as it was the least busy road. 

Dinner was fabulous. We had curries, rice, and a salad. Dessert was a coffee cake made from Bisquick mix. The bottom half was dry and bland. The top half was delicious as it had apples and a spicy topping. I am sure they will eat it with ice cream to add some moisture. If made again, daughter-in-law will add vanilla, a bit more liquid, chopped apples mixed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar and then add the topping. It certainly won't be the original recipe. 

Sewing

I spent a lot of time on the bodice and got it done. I did the side and back seams which proved to be fun. First I tried to sew a side seam to a back seam. Then I sewed one side seam to the opposite side. I finally got it right. Lastly, I sewed all of the bottom seam but 2" and worried about turning it right side out. No fears, it turned beautifully. 

I changed the buttons on the hemd. I had to replace the top button as a stone fell out and I could not find it. I felt that if the dress was regal, the buttons on the hemd needed to be regal also. 

I lucked out with these buttons as they are expensive. They were 70% off and I still have a package of 2 left if I need them. 

I pinned the skirt flat onto the doll and I am happy with how it looks at this stage of the game. 

I played with crystals and pearls for the skirt/top embellishments. I am thinking flowers but who knows what I will end up doing. 

I have less crystals so am deciding if flowers or a row of crystals between the flowers. 

My research continues on both the hemd and kirtle. The kirtle I made is historically correct though boning was probably not used unless it was reeds. The front piece would have had a layer of other material added to it. That layer would have been pad stitched. For the doll's kirtle, I should have used two layers of fusible interfacing and stitched it the way as directed but added a row of stitching down the middle of the boning channels. 

The hemd has been a more difficult item to research. It is German and the neckline was smocked. The cuffs were given a very simple smocking stitch that could expand for putting the hand through. It was a garment that both men and women wore. The kirtle was worn over it. I found no reference to this high neck chemise being smocked in England as smocking has a secretive history. The collars and cuffs may not have been smocked in England during the Renaissance era. Was smocking done on labourer's garments rather than those of a higher status? 

Knitting

I didn't knit last night. I forgot to take the hat to see if it fit daughter-in-law. 

Today

I need to do two loads of laundry and start tidying up the dining area. I want to sew this afternoon and start knitting tonight. It is a stay at home day for me. 

Until the next time.....................................................................

The Kirtle Bodice Is Labour Intensive

 Yesterday was sunny and windy with a high of 6C. This morning it is clear and -3C. Today is to be mainly sunny with a high of 10C. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I tackled the litter box area in the spare bedroom. It was deep clean day and I spent a lot of time getting everything very clean. Elliott likes his area clean which I do regularly but I like to really clean it up every week to 10 days. 

Next up was to start cleaning up the kitchen. I decided I should do dishes and make frozen dinners. I made more dishes to clean and, in the end I made 5 pulled pork meals. I also sliced chicken ready to be used also. I have run out of freezer containers as I have used many to make chicken broth. 

I also cleaned under the sink. I emptied it, washed under there, and put back only what I use on a regular basis. The rest was disposed of. It looks much better under there and I can see and reach everything easily. I have to buy furniture polish and that is it. 

Sewing

I worked on the kirtle top all afternoon. I read the instructions, cut out the fabrics, and sewed and sewed and sewed. The front of the kirtle took the longest to make as it has padding stitches all over it. Drawing the lines took the most time. 

The back of the kirtle has cotton for the main part with the upper part being in the satin. There is no padding on it. I don't have a picture of the back. 

I was brain tired when I finished the top to this point. I had really focused on how to do it correctly and neatly. 

I now have to stitch the top together at the center back and side seams. Then it will be on to sewing the bottom outer fabric and lining together. Then I can add the skirt to the bodice sewing it by hand. 

I have been watching some YouTube videos on corsets and have learned a lot. I have also done some reading on corsets. The kirtle comes before the corset and its evolution from being a loose fitting garment to a fitted top with an attached skirt developed over time. The bodice became the prototype for the corset. The kirtle fell out of favour when 2 piece dresses became fashionable. 

I am still sitting on the fence if the smocked hemd and kirtle are worn together. I find that the hemd or chemise in most searches are not like this. A lower neckline was more common. Sleeves could be long or short. The kirtle is more historically correct. It is the middle dress worn over the chemise and under the over dress. More often it was wool or linen though the front of the skirt and bodice could be made of the fabric of the over dress. I have learned a lot while making this outfit and have more to learn. 

Knitting

I finished knitting the top of the peach hat and it is ready to be shipped to daughter. I want to make one more hat and then start a pair of socks. 

Thoughts

    Daughter showed me a video of a cow who had 4 babies. All are doing well and are very active. I have seen triplets born to one cow but never 4. Very rare to say the least. 

    I have been enjoying doing research on Renaissance fashion. I have learned a lot and still have a lot of questions about what was fashionably correct in some countries. The hemd is very much German and a variation of it and the kirtle is seen in their tops and drindle skirts today. I know that I will be doing more research on historical clothing as time goes on. 

Today

I am out this morning with daughter-in-law. I hope to get more food for Elliott plus a few other things if I can. I want to sew this afternoon. I pick up grandson from school and have dinner (curries) with family. I may knit tonight if I am not too tired. 

Until the next time........................................................

Progress On The Kirtle

Yesterday was another sunny day with a high of 14.7C. This morning it is partly cloudy and -2C. It is to be sunny with a high of 7C.

Lifestyle

I did yoga yesterday morning and worked at stretching both sides. There is some stiffness in the pelvic floor that is starting to improve with the stretches. There was a couple of cracks which was good. Less pain was also welcomed. 

The next job was to start laundry and I got all the bedding done. I moved Elliott around in a blanket when I needed the start the next load. He left the room when I took the sheets off the bed. He was annoyed with me. I made the bed right after lunch. 

While the laundry was going, I cleaned the bathroom. I scrubbed it hard as it was dirty. I opened the window and cleaned it. I got rid of the moss and small plants growing in the moss. I scrubbed and disinfected the window to stop any more growth. I stretched into the tub and scrubbed it out. It needed to be cleaned due to the window dirt plus the starch dripping off the fabric I hung in there. I ended up washing the floor on my hands and knees. 

The pork roast was done by dinner time and I shred it into the liquid. It was tasty though adding BBQ sauce to it elevated it to the next level. I have a few meals to freeze today or tomorrow. 

I walked down to my friend's to take some fabric scraps and rulers. We had a good visit. While visiting her, I noticed that the pain in my lower back left. The muscles were relaxed and over their misery. The flare up was done and gone. 

Sewing

I did work on the doll's dress. I hand basted the facing down before I did the two rows of running stitch for the cartridge pleats. That job is done. 

I started on the kirtle bodice. I was confused for a while as I wasn't sure what I was doing. I cut out the kirtle front and started to mark it.

I cut out the two lining pieces to go with it and interfaced one. It is under the top piece ready for me to sew the boning channels. Once that is done, I can mark and stitch the remaining stitching lines. I couldn't do it as I had no thread. My friend gave me another spool of the same colour. 

I have read the bodice pattern several times now and kind of, sort of have it figured out. The front piece has a lot of stitching on it which will be slow going. 

Knitting

I finished the small purple hat last night. It is still on the needles incase I have to add more rows. 

I also undid the peach coloured one and am on the last row before I start decreasing for the top. 

Thoughts

    The flare up is done and I am feeling so much better. I am glad that I pushed through with yoga for the past 2 days. I think it helped relax the muscles and seat the SI joint. I really don't want that bad of a flare up again. 

    I have decided to focus on decluttering cleaning products. I have been trying to use them up but I avoid the ones I don't like. I will get rid of some of the cleaners I hate and buy only 1 to polish wood with. My go to cleaners will be two in the bathroom and four in the kitchen. I want to get a container for the ones in the kitchen so I can keep them all together. One more layer of clutter to be removed from the house. 

    I plan on getting back to removing the edging from the hedge. Instead of walking back and forth taking the edging to the shed, I will push it through the hedge and pick it up on the lawn side where it is more level for walking. This may happen this weekend if I am pain free. 

Today

My main two jobs is to clean up the litter box area and do under the kitchen sink. If I have extra time, I want to tidy up the living room. This afternoon I will sew on the bodice and will knit tonight. 

Until the next time................................................................

Progress On The Doll's Skirt

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 12.4C. This morning it is cloudy and -2C. Today is suppose to be a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 14C. 

Lifestyle

I did yoga yesterday morning and focused on stretching both sides equally. I found that it helped a lot as a couple of the exercises on the left side actually helped the right side. There was a bit of cracking but not as much as I had thought. The cracking happened in bed as I relaxed, the joints went back into place. 

I was out to get groceries after yoga. I walked most of the store and it wasn't that bad. I got tired taking the bags into the house and up the stairs. But I persisted until the job was done. I then sat with heat on my back and rested. 

Once rested, I did some clean up in the kitchen and got a few things organized to do some cooking over the next couple of days. I did cook chicken and a pot of rice in the afternoon. A pork roast is in the slow cooker already this morning. I am almost out of freezer meals and need to make more. I am thinking spaghetti and lasagna will be made tomorrow. 

Elliott has recovered from the vet and is back to his normal self. He hates his diet, loves the sun, and is happy. 

Sewing

I got back to sewing and it was wonderful to work in a clean space. I felt energized and creative. My first job was to start putting rhinestones onto the skirt of the dress. I have a limited amount of jonquil stones. I need to buy more. 

Looking at the skirt, I need to add a lot more stones to it and I may need to add a few more appliqués to the top of the skirt. 

I then cut out the skirt back from cotton. The seams got serged and the back placket put in. I am pretty proud of that placket. I love how it went in so neatly for me. 

The front and backs were sewn together and then I started on the facing for the waist. The video said 1" and then the presenter cut hers at 1.25". I had to redo mine when I realized what she had done. I did the V part as she said. The raw edge was turned under and sewn down. The facing was sewn on to the skirt. A lot of pressing and the facing is ready to be hand basted down. 

Once that is done, I can mark for the cartridge pleats and hand stitch them ready to pull up. Then it is on to the kirtle bodice. 

I wasn't overly sore when I left the sewing room. I stood and sat as I worked on the kirtle skirt. I was up and down the stairs to watch the video. I think I had a good balance of movement and it allowed my sore spots to relax and continue healing. 

Knitting

I finished daughter's purple hat last night. I am pleased with it. 

I unknit daughter-in-laws purple hat to the last row before decreasing. It now ready to have 4 more rows knit on it and then the decreasing done. 

Once it is done, I will unknit the peach coloured one, make it longer and finish it. Then I can start on another peach one. There is still yarn left so I will be making a third hat in each colour. 

Thoughts

    Spring is here. One of my neighbours dethatched his lawn and his son raked up the dead grass. My friends mowed their lawn as did another person two houses down from me. My lawn has been limed and the next step is to fertilize it. The fellow who mows my lawn will be around before long. 

    On the note of spring, one garden center is open with early flowers for sale. Too early for me as we are still having frost in the mornings. But it is nice to see the bright blooms on those plants when I go shopping. 

    I realized yesterday that I had a major flare up in my SI joint. It came on slowly and then hit hard. Having had osteopathy during the worst part was good as it helped the muscles relax. Doing yoga yesterday was also good as I stretched the muscles to help them relax more. I am sore which is to be expected. It will ease off as my body relaxes and heals. 

    Though I am sticking to sewing what I have, I need to buy more stones and eyelets for the dress. I also need another spool of thread for it. I am enjoying that I can shop from the stash to make items. Yes, I do need to buy a few items to finish projects and I am focusing on buying only what I need and nothing else. 

Today

The pork roast is in the slow cooker already. I need to do yoga to keep the muscles and tendons stretched. I have to do laundry and clean the bathroom this morning. This afternoon I want to work on the doll's outfit. Tonight I will knit. I may go out for a walk in the yard this afternoon when it is warm. 

Until the next time...............................................................

A Day Of Intense Pain

 Yesterday was one very sunny day. The high got to 9.1C. This morning it is clear and -3C. Today is to be sunny with a high of 13C.

Lifestyle

I was a wreck yesterday. I was so sore when I left for osteopathy, I wasn't sure if the therapist could fix me. She worked on me and got me 50+% better. I could walk without it hurting. 

The right SI joint is not seated properly. The muscles around it were tight and hard to relax. The left SI joint is fine and the muscles around it relaxed when worked on. The glute in the right inner thigh was tight but relaxed when worked on. Walking with no pain was much better than walking with pain. 

At home, I did as told. I sat with the heat on the SI joint. I tried to roll the joint while it was warm so it would seat properly but to no avail. It did cause muscle spasms and a lot of pain when standing up. Walking was fine. I repeated the process all afternoon. I did a few things standing up; sweeping some floors and walking the length of the house. 

I had rolling IBS attacks due to the pain. I was exhausted from all of the pain and did have 2 very short naps. I did eat but not properly as I wanted comfort food. By 10:30 pm it was over and done with. As I rolled over in bed, the SI joint seated down in the hip area not the lower back. That was one welcomed crack. I slept all night which was great. I am still a bit sore but can handle it. 

What caused the pain? I don't really know. I do know cleaning the sewing room aggravated it. I know the pain caused the IBS attack. The muscles around the SI joint tightened up to protect the joint and they started to spasm some. I survived it. This morning I only have a bit of pain on the left side. It is still recovering from the ordeal. I will be monitoring the pain level for the next couple of days.

I did not sew or knit yesterday afternoon. I didn't even go the basement once I got home. I did watch a variety of YouTube videos. I felt useless but there was nothing I could do about it. 

Today

I have to do some laundry, get groceries, and try to tidy up the kitchen. I want to cut out the doll's kirtle skirt, serge the seams and sew it up ready to finish the waist. I hope to knit tonight if I am not too tired. 

Until the next time..................................................................

The Sewing Room Is Decluttered and Cleaned

 Though yesterday started. off cloudy, overall it was very sunny. The high got to 12.6C. This morning it is a bit overcast and 4C. Today is to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 9C. 

Lifestyle

The first thing I did yesterday was to get heat on my back. I kept it on my back while I did the balance sheet. No problems getting things to balance. I paid my taxes and put everything away for another week. 

Next up was to fold laundry with heat on my back. I got it all folded and put away. Once that was done, I put double the heat on trying to ease the pain. The pain was being persistent which was annoying and tiring. I alternated sitting with heat and walking in the house. Nothing wanted to ease the pain until the Tylenol kicked in. Then I could do a few things. 

I was outside for a few minutes cleaning the dust bunnies off the mop heads. I walked down the driveway and up the road a bit to admire my clean ditch. The neighbour's youngest boy did a perfect job of cleaning it. I am so happy it is done. 

The Sewing Room

I kicked myself into gear and went down to the sewing room. I wanted to get it finished. I sorted yarn and got rid of about 25% of the yarn. This is yarn that I never touch. It is the yarn that I push around when hunting for yarn to use. It is those half balls that I will never use up as there isn't enough. I put them into a bag to donate or give away for free. I sorted what was left into sock yarn, doll yarn, more doll yarn, hat yarn, and expensive yarn. I dusted the top of the cube and called it done. FYI, I have enough yarn to make hats for a long time. 

I did a quick clean of the book case as I am keeping all of the books, etc in it. I purged it hard 2 years ago and do look at those books. I swept the floor and mopped it with Swifer wet cloths. My back would not allow me to do it on my hands and knees. The floor was dirty. Most of it was lint from cutting fabric and every day walking in the room.

I still have to deal with two piles of fabric on the chair. One pile needs laundering and the other needs starching. I need to buy backing and edging for the cushion cover which will be done in the next couple of weeks. 

My treat for cleaning up the room was to embroider the second mug rug. Both have the back flap hand sewn down and are in the craft bazaar tub. 

I love these mug rugs and may have to make myself a set. 

My final thoughts on the sewing room:

    I have had time to think about the fabric in the stash. I have planned on making two cardinal cushion covers to sell plus the one for the sewing room. I have most of the fabric plus the zippers. I think for the 3 cushions I will need to buy .5 meter of fabric for the big cushion cover. I need to look at other fabrics in the stash and make start working on what I can make from it. 

    I have a lot of yarn and need to stop buying yarn unless it is for making gifts for family. I also need to find where I can donate hats. I have an empty bin to put them into so I can have a bunch to donate when the time is right. I also have to knit myself another vest with yarn I was given for Christmas. 

    I have realized that I don't really want to belong to paid subscriptions at this time. I want to sew up more of the fabric I have using the patterns and ideas I have accumulated over time. I find that having to make something once a month is not allowing me to sew down the stash. I have to say the projects are labour intensive and time consuming. I am enjoying them and learning and I want time to use what I have learned. Next year will be sewing up the doll patterns I have.  

    I have to say that I did keep the sewing room fairly tidy considering what I have been sewing. I did get behind on little projects which was the cause of the cutting table getting messy. This clean up and decluttering was focused more on letting go of items that I have not looked at in 6+ years and have moved around to get at what I wanted to use. I will still have to focus on keeping the room tidy on a daily basis. That is a given. 

    Is this the last decluttering I will do? No it isn't. I will look at everything again in December, see where I am at and what I need to do when cleaning the room then. 

Knitting

I did knit last night and got quite a bit done. I didn't take a picture of the hat but will tonight. I was too busy thinking of the yarn that needs to be knit into hats. There is enough yarn to make over 20 hats. 

Thoughts

    With the sewing room cleaned up, I now need to do some cleaning upstairs and then tackle the family room. A plan is growing as how I will tackle it and how I will set up to do my crafting. 

    My body rebelled with spending hours cleaning. I hurt from it and had an IBS attack from the pain and the food I was eating. I realize that I need to slow down and spend less time each day cleaning. I will have to listen to my body and stop when it says to and not push on. 

Today

I have osteopathy this morning and want to get a load of laundry on before I head out. I need to grocery shop either in Sackville or here. I don't know if I will sew or not but do know I will knit tonight. 

Until the next time...............................................................

More Progress On The Sewing Room

 Yesterday was a mix of clouds with the rain coming in about 6 pm. It rained almost 1/2". The high got to 9.4C. This morning it is cloudy and 5C. We are to have a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 13C. 

Lifestyle

I was busy all day and didn't sit down to rest until almost 8 pm. I had a rough night of pain and cramps so wonder how I will function today. I have heat on my SI joints already this morning. 

I helped out at the community hall as there was a roast beef dinner being served. I served tea and coffee for a bit and then helped put food on the plates. I washed dishes and ran the commercial dishwasher. I was on my feet for over 3 hours but I did enjoy it. I haven't worked with this group of ladies since before the Spousal Unit became ill. 

My neighbour's youngest boy was given the task of cleaning the ditch yesterday afternoon. He did a fabulous job of it and I am so grateful for that. I could have done the side ditch but the front one is steep and I worry about getting out of it. I am also happy that no more garbage is going into the creek (?) behind their house. None of the garbage picked up was mine as I keep my trash picked up and my containers are in the garage. 

Sewing Room

It was another busy day in the sewing room. My first job was to tackle the cutting table. The slide in drawers were tidied up so I can have my tools in them. Then I started to handle the "stuff" on the table. As I handled it, I decided to cut piping for daughter. I got two pieces cut and hung up. 

The scraps are ready to go to the quilting group. Next up I interfaced the two counted cross stitch pictures which were buried in the mess. They are both with the Charlie Brown book I need to work on. 

The final job was to sort and cut batting for 2 mug rugs. A bunch of small pieces of batting were trashed. After that it was sorting, folding, and wiping the table and cutting mat. I did stitch out the first mug rug which I finished up at the end of the day. 

After lunch I started working around the rest of the room. The pressing area was tacked, cleaned, and arranged. I was up on the ladder washing the window above the ironing board. Black mould was dealt with. The window was scrubbed clean and sanitized against more mould growth. 

I then decided to work on the tall cabinet of drawers. I emptied every drawer, assessed what I needed and tossed the useless stuff. I put all my threads in there. It was a big job deciding on how to arrange the drawers so I can reach them easily. The serger thread I haven't used in years will be shipped to daughter. She uses a lot of different colours. I use mainly black, white, grey, navy, and off white. 

I moved on to the cubby with the dolls on it. It was cleaned up and the window above it was washed and sanitized against black mould. I didn't touch the doll's clothes as I am working on a plan to make each one a wardrobe using the clothes I have made plus making more. 

Then it was cleaning the sewing machine area. I wiped and cleaned, and put away items that had been left out. I put down the quilting extension I had used for making the cardinal quilt. 

The other machine was cleaned and the table washed down. I prepped for the next mug rug and called it a day. I had been at it for 5 hours. 

What did I take away from yesterday's cleaning?

    I have way too much stuff in the sewing room. I found a blade for my small rotary cutter. I don't lack for anything so I don't need to buy anything until it is necessary. The new rotary blades showed me that. Counting 3 containers of new pins told me that I don't need any more of them. 

    I loose things easily as every drawer was full. I found the bobbin cover for the zig-zag throat plate. I had looked for it several times but it was well hidden in the thread drawer of the sewing machine cabinet. It had flipped in there when I changed the throat plates on the machine. The "less is more" is right for me. 

    I have held on to too much. Part of it has been guilt from therapy buying. I have said I need to sew it up as I had bought it. I have realized I don't have to as someone else can enjoy it. It is from the past and doesn't need to be around to remind me of what happened. I just need to remind myself that I don't need to therapy buy or get something that I have no idea what I will make from it. Having extra items on hand isn't necessary. Rotary blades, sewing machine needles, pins, etc. can be bought as I need them. 

    I need to put things away in their proper spots after I use them. It allows me to find them easily and keeps the clutter at bay. When I put them in a different location or they get hidden in the mess, I will go buy a new one. Being tidy and organized is key to not buying items I already have. 

    I have bought items that I haven't used much or at all. The case of the quilting rulers. I was going to learn how to use them, tried, failed, and put them away. My friend can have them or give them to someone who will use them. I have come to the conclusion I won't be free motion quilting. It isn't my thing hence why there are long arm quilters who love to do it. 

    Having projects cut out or piled to make is wonderful but I need to only have two, three max, to work on. After that, they get neglected. My brain likes to start and finish a project before moving on to the next one. I am working on how to manage that. At the moment I have piping, doll's dress, and quilt to work on. I am at the max and won't be cutting out anything else.   

    I also noticed that I want to sew now that the room is clean. I am not at my clutter threshold anymore. I am finding the room relaxing to be in. But I can't until I finish the next area. That won't take long. I also need to move items out of the room that go to the thrift store and mop the floor. Once that is done, I will start sewing again. I will need a break from cleaning as I still have the family room to do. 

Today

I have to do the balance sheet today and fold laundry. I hope to finish the sewing room and move items out into the mechanical room. I need to make sure I don't over do it as I am sore. My treat will be to make the 2nd mug rug on the embroidery machine. I will be knitting tonight. It is a stay at home day for me. 

Until the next time........................................................................

Tackling The Sewing Room

Yesterday was another sunny day with a high of 13.5C. This morning it is partly cloudy and 5C. It is to be mainly cloudy with a high of 9C. 

Lifestyle

I was in a bit of a funk yesterday and it has been building up for a few days. It has been coming on as it is spring and I loved doing things outside with the Spousal Unit. It is partly because I have been tired with the pain from my hip and knee. And finally I have been unhappy working in the family and sewing room. Both are getting too messy for me. I needed to deal with it. Which I did. More on that in a moment. 

I did get outside for a bit yesterday and decided to pull the edging up from the road side of the hedge. I got 10 pieces pulled and into the shed. I also did some hand weeding as I went along. My next job is to remove the plastic spikes from the edging and stack them. In the evening my neighbour came over and we finalized what is going to be done under the deck. He and his sons will be helping me one weekend in May. 

I had a fabulous dinner at family's. Smoked baby back ribs and they were tender and tasty. Daughter-in-law did a fabulous job of smoking them. 

Sewing Room

After sitting for a few minutes in the morning, I decided to start cleaning the sewing room. It has been stressing me out as I know I am at that point where I will stop sewing due to the mess. I have hit my clutter threshold in that room (and the family room). It was time to set aside all other projects and tackle the room. 

I grabbed my cleaner, cleaning cloths, and a garbage bag and decided to deal with it. Like one lady on YouTube, I was peeling away the clutter. It was going to be a deep declutter. 

As usual, I started at the little work table and went through everything. Binders, books, and baskets. I was ruthless in what I tossed. I also found a new blade for my rotary cutter. When the table was done and wiped, I did the top of the box my sewing machine came in. Again I was ruthless. What I kept I will use. 

Next up was the corner desk. I went through it and tossed some items I didn't need. The rest was organized and one item will go into the garage sale. I wiped it down along with the chair. 

Next up was the closet. I knew I had to sort fast to get through it. It wasn't a case of mulling over what I had and deciding if I will use it again. I actually was ruthless in that area. Every bin was gone through. I bagged up ribbons, beads, trims, and much more. The Japanese fabric weaving kit is leaving the house. I will sell it. The pleater is going to be sold. Fabric was found and some was put into a pile for the thrift store. Some was going to a friend or a quilting group. The doll's fabric tubs are lighter. The floor was swept and everything was put away. There is empty space on the shelf. 

I sorted the fabric for quilts in the small plastic drawers. I looked at the cardinal fabrics I have and decided to make cushion covers to sell. I retrieved 2 cushion forms from the donate pile and have the zippers, etc for them. A quick sew for me. Once that was done, it was on to the fabric stash. I grabbed a chair and went at it. 

The stash was messy but it had fabric in it I wasn't going to sew. I put it into donate, to my friend, and to the quilting group. I worked fast. Fabrics were folded and put back on the shelves. I know I will sew them up over the next two to three years. As I put aside fabric I didn't want and folded up what I wanted, I could feel my creativity coming back. 

At this point, I had to have lunch and prep for a meeting at the bank. The cutting table is one big mess. 

It will get worse before it gets better. It needs to be sorted and dealt with. The chair is full of items to be sold or donated. 

The big pillow won't be going as I have a cover for it. I need to get fabric for the backing and trim for it. There are two piles of fabric on the floor which need to be bagged to take to the thrift shop. 

Have I reduced my clutter threshold to where I feel happier? Yes to the areas I worked on. I could feel a calmness coming over me as I worked in those areas and let go of items that have been sitting stagnant for years. Have I peel off the last layer of clutter? Probably not. I will evaluate what I have again in late December and do another big clean up then. 

I did take the fabrics set aside for my friend and the quilting group over to my friend last night. She had a wonderful time looking at the fabrics taking what she wanted and putting what she didn't want into the quilting group's bag. I know the fabrics she kept will be used in the wall hangings she makes. 

What did I take away from yesterday's session.

    I have a lot of supplies and don't need to buy a lot in the future. There will be some purchases to finish projects. But, I won't be buying new projects for quite a while unless it is for something I will make immediately. 

    Though I have been careful to tidy up, clutter does emerge over time. I need to remember to spend a couple of days every few months doing a clean up. I loose my creativity when the room gets messy. I also need to remember to use what I have and not stock pile things as I can buy them as I need them. 

    Are subscriptions to things like Sewing With Cinnamon (SWC) clutter? I am working through that at the moment. What I am finding is that I don't have the time to sew the doll clothes I want to. There is always a labour intensive project to work on through SWC. What is good -- I can cancel at the end of the year knowing I will have learned a lot and can rejoin when I am ready to do it again. At this time, my sewing doesn't evolve around the dolls like it use to. The other thing is I am not sewing the patterns like I have and want to sew.

Today

My goal is to continue decluttering and cleaning the sewing room. I am thinking of starting with the cutting table as it is the biggest mess. Then on to the rest of the room. I have to be out to help serve dinner at the community hall at 4 pm. I will need to eat before I go. It will be a late night for me so no knitting tonight. 

Until the next time..........................................................

A New Quilt Started

 Yesterday started out with some clouds but cleared off and was beautiful. The high got to 11.4C. This morning it is clear and -2C. It is suppose to be sunny with a high of 14C. 

Lifestyle

I was out the door early for a hair cut. On the way in, I noticed the old magnolia tree's blooms have started to open. I was really excited about that. I also admired the places where people have planted crocuses in their lawns. The colours in the grass are wonderful. Spring is slowly coming. 

I took a new route home as I wanted to see how fast I could get to town. I go through the area behind me and come out on the road to the hospital. It will take me a good 5 minutes less to get to physio which is next door to the hospital. It will be faster to go grocery shopping. I will be going that way more often. Strangely enough, they still have all the big trucks come in our way. Hopefully that will become less as time goes on. 

Once home, I swept the floors and tidied up some. I was monitoring Elliott as he isn't eating his dry food as well as he should be. I know he has one tooth that is sore so this morning I put him on canned cat food. He is happier. Once he looses weight, he will go in to have his teeth examined. He may be on canned cat food for here on in. 

Elliott enjoys the sunshine and loves to nap in it. I had to close the curtains as the sun was in my eyes. Elliott had been sleeping with a paw over his eyes.

Sewing

I starched the fabric for a 3 yard quilt. I am still deciding on the pattern I want to make. I have one pattern that is a strong contender but need to look at the patterns in a book I bought. The colours of the fabric are very subdued which is okay. Not all quilts need to have strong contrasting colours. 

I pressed the fabrics for the beginners quilt I am going to make. I cut out the strips for the first block and made a mistake. I have a new ruler that I am learning how to use. The first block is made. 

The second block is a 9 patch and I have cut out 3 blocks for it. I am doing it scrappy. 

There will be some snowflake blocks in this square to give your eye a place to rest. The third block will have the mistakingly cut fabrics used in it as they are usable for it. 

I finished the hand sewing on the front of the kirtle. 

I have drawn around the pattern again and had to fix a mistake. The lines will disappear when I press it. It is now ready for rhinestones. 

I have decided to make the back of the kirtle in cotton so it will be less bulky when the dress part is put over it. The front bodice of the kirtle will be in the satin and lined in cotton. The back bodice will be in cotton. I have a print I can use for it.

Knitting

I knit last night and got about 16 rounds done. The hat is growing quickly. 

I have a feeling there is going to be yarn left over. I won't be making a third hat but may make a doll's sweater from the remaining yarn. Quick and easy for summer knitting. And they can go into the doll's wardrobes I want to make. 

Thoughts

    I am a bit concerned about Elliott's health. He is getting older. He needs to loose weight which is hard as he is one lazy cat. Once he has lost his weight, I will take him in to see his regular vet and we will make a plan for his teeth and to see if he has a heart murmur or not. He was very stressed out when he saw the vet that it was probably his heart racing from the stress. But I need to make sure. 

    I didn't make it out to the shed yesterday. I will try today to do that. I have decided that I will start hoeing the hedge on Sunday and then again on Tuesday. After that it will be on days it doesn't rain. Once done, I can call the person to come and cut the edge and get the cloth down so we can put the gravel on top. I am not sure how this is going to work out as I don't know how bad the road side of the hedge is.

Today

I need to do yoga as I have been fairly pain free the last couple of days. I want to do some housework before lunch. After lunch I have to go to the bank and pick up grandson at 5 pm. In between, I will go to the shed and put away the winter equipment. I also will walk the road side of the hedge and pull up the edging that is there. As I am out for dinner I may or may not knit tonight. 

Until the next time......................................................................

A Busy Day

 Yesterday was cloudier and cooler. The high got to 8.2C. This morning it is clear and 2C. We are to have more clouds and some drizzle today with a high of 10C. 

Lifestyle

I spent a bit of time first thing taking out all the garbage. That included emptying the garbage cans in the sewing room. I was ready to take out recycling and compost in the afternoon. 

Once done, I was off to New Minas. My shopping list was tiny -- the quilt shop and the dollar store. I spent under $15.00 combined (last of the big time spenders). I noticed that the town was quiet for a Wednesday morning. The quilt shop had no customers, parking lots were not as full as they usually are, and the dollar store had 3-4 customers. Usually there is a line up at the tills but none yesterday. The other quilt shop wasn't busy either. Very unusual. 

Elliott was to the vet in the afternoon. He was not a happy camper about this visit. He didn't like the vet. She wasn't as friendly as his usual vet which was probably the reason. He weighed in at 19 lbs and is now on a diet. He has to loose 3 lbs. His heart beat was rapid which was either stress or a heart issue. He got his shots and was happy to get back into his carrier. He did try to bite me and lunged at me at the end of the visit. Once home, he was happy to roam the house and settle down. He actually squeezed into the recliner in the family room with me and stayed there for an hour. He was happy to cuddle and snooze with me as he was feeling slightly off from the shots he had. He is back to normal today and I am sure he will be very vocal about the amount of food he can have. 

I got the recycling out to the curb after we got home from the vet. The bit of wind we were having was cool so I was happy to get that job done. I did look at the hedge and started thinking about it. 

Sewing

I swept the sewing room floor while I was doing the garbage. It was dusty and needs to be done again in the next couple of days. I also need to start dusting and wiping surfaces clean as there is a lot of fibre dust in that room. 

I had a wonderful visit at the quilt shop. The lady who teaches machine embroidery petted my cardinal quilt saying it was perfect. We talked embroidery and she showed me the wall hanging she is making. It is done in panels and I had seen this done when living in Dawson Creek. A lot of work goes into these panels which are then sewn together to make a picture. 

The dog panel quilt was admired, measured and is in the system to be long arm quilted. Once that was done, I took out the bundle of fabrics as I wanted to buy .3 meter of 2 fabrics to go with it. I got these two fabrics.

The salesperson is so good with ideas and fabrics. He will be leaving in the fall. New adventures for him as he will have completed his masters degree. We will miss him so much. 

After lunch, I starched the bundle of fabrics plus the two new pieces. I did a 1:2 ratio so they would be stiff. It took about 6 hours for the fabrics to dry which is not bad. They are now ready to press. I will use the Cricut  heat press on them. 

I finished hand sewing the outside edges of the appliqués on the dolls dress. 

The next step is to hand stitch the centres so they lie flat and secure on the fabric. I estimate 2 more sittings and it will be done. I have to re chalk the lines so I can see them. That will take me 5 minutes to do. 

Knitting

I started another hat last night. I had to restart it as I somehow twisted the joining part. I did get 10 rounds of ribbing done and am ready to start on the pattern. 

This hat is for daughter. I am hoping to finish the ball of yarn on this one. Then another peach one for daughter-in-law and I will be back to knitting socks. 

Thoughts

    I am trying to figure out a plan for working in the yard so I can start next week. I will start with weeding under the hedge so I can hire someone to edge it for me. I would also like to walk the days I don't do yard work. I need to get outside now the weather is warming up. 

    Elliott started his diet this morning. I have measured his food for the day. He will be angry with me at some point as his dish will be empty and he can't have any more. He needs to loose weight so he can have his teeth cleaned. That means he will have an anaesthetic. I want him as healthy as he can be so he will live a long life. He will be 14 sometime in May. 

    I saw on Facebook that the magnolia buds are starting open in Annapolis Royal. It will be another week before we will notice them here. I love the magnolia blooms and enjoy looking at them when I go out for appointments in town. I am enjoying the daffodils as they are blooming right now. It is so nice to have colour after the dullness of winter. 

Today

I need to get ready to go for a haircut in less than an hour. Once done, I want to sweep floors and tidy up a few things in the dining area and kitchen. The starched fabric will be pressed and the next quilt fabric will be starched. I am trying to get ahead of the game and starch fabrics and then clean up the mess and not touch it again until summer. I want to work on the hand appliqué on the dress and knit tonight. I would go outside but we are to have drizzle today. If no drizzle happens, I will put away the winter tools and get out the dutch hoe in preparation to start weeding under the hedge. I want to knit tonight. 

Until the next time..................................................................