McCalls 7286 Cut Out

Though lovely and sunny yesterday, the high got to 1.2C or 34F. This morning, it is cool at -5C or 23F. Snow is in the forecast for this afternoon.
Lifestyle
I dropped the Spousal Unit off at the hospital and went grocery shopping. I also got some mail posted and the vehicle gassed up.
After eating lunch, I fell asleep watching TV. I also had a nap in the evening. I know I am coming down from the stress of all winter plus knowing we don't have to do chemo for about 5 years.
The Spousal Unit slept during his chemo due to the bag of Benadryl they gave him. He woke up groggy, unable to walk, and a bit confused. The nurses helped him get going. He read and played games on his iPad to pass the time away. Last evening, he started to ache which is normal for him. He will feel miserable with his aches and pains for another week to 10 days. Then he will start to gain his strength back.
Elliott has been doing his thing again. He spends time hollering to be let into the basement suite and when no one responds, he throws a fit. He has also been taunting the Spousal Unit by sitting on his side of the loveseat. Last night, he was totally relaxed on his blanket.

Sewing

Crafts

The Advent calendar is folded and ready to be quilted on the machine.

The binding is ready also.

Garment

I am trying to take part in the Spring 6 PAC by doing a navy column with light blue and turquoise accents. It is a part of my wardrobe plan. If I plan on making 6 items, I have to sew two items each month. It may not happen as I have to do other sewing also.
I finished tracing the top pattern, laid it out on the fabric and got it cut out. I was really surprised at how much I got done yesterday.

I do like the lace inserts.

You cut out four inserts and sew one to each side of the front and back. When you sew up the side seam, you sew down the inserts to finish it. This top is also a raglan sleeve with a neck band. The sleeves are hemmed. My goal is to finish it on my days off. Next on the list is a shirt for the Spousal Unit and leggings for me. Oh, I have to finish the Advent calendar also.

Today

I work a full 8 hour shift so I won't be doing much at home. As I have to cash out, I get home later so it will be TV and bed.
Until tomorrow.......................

Last Chemo Day

Yesterday started out snowy, then it rained, and, by last night it was relatively nice. This morning it is cool at -4C or 25F. The sun is suppose to shine today.

Lifestyle

We had to head out to see the Oncologist yesterday morning. Parking is such a pain at the hospital that I thought I would miss the appointment. But I got lucky and after three trips through the parkade, I got a parking spot.
The Oncologist came into the room grinning from ear to ear. The Spousal Units lymph count is down to 0.1 with normal being 3. He has chemo today and then it is back to blood work and doctor visits as before. We left the hospital grinning from ear to ear. The Spousal Unit will feel tired for 6 months but he can look forward to planning what he wants to do outside. YES!!!!
I worked a 4 hour shift and did cash. I am being left more on my own though there is always help nearby. I also got trained on the new cash registers and they are fabulous. I got to try lots of ideas from two of the other employees. I helped cash out last night which is the least favourite part of doing cash. I do miss working with the other ladies so I am hoping I will be able to work both areas each shift.
Last evening, I realized how much stress I have been under and was extremely tired. I fell asleep on the couch and woke up stiff and sore. I am hoping that life will be more relaxed.

Sewing

Crafts

I have the Advent calendar pinned and ready to quilt. I also cut the binding strips, sewed them together, and pressed them. This project is almost ready to complete. I have to make a pocket for the back and do the little pieces to put on the tree. I expect it will take me most of the month to finish.

Wardrobe Planning

I didn't have any time to trace the next top but I did get the fabrics for it and a shirt for the Spousal Unit laundered. I had no time to look for fabric for a camp shirt for me. Maybe later this week I can look.
I am really firming up the navy core four. It has changed a bit from what I had thought.

• Navy leggings in a denim knit
• Navy leggings will become jeans I have on hand
• Navy knit top with lace godets
• Navy knit top with short sleeves

I haven't found a fabric I want to use for the second pair of leggings. To the above I will add

• white knit top with short sleeves or a blue crepe top
• blue plaid camp shirt

That will give me a good start to a wardrobe. I will have to add some accessories such as a scarf and purse.

Today

The Spousal Unit is getting his last dose of chemo and while he is getting that, I will go grocery shopping. While waiting to pick him up, I will trace the pattern out and maybe even get it laid out on the fabric. It is my day to move slow.
Until tomorrow...........................

Balancing Craft and Garment Sewing

Yesterday the weather was something else. It snowed and it rained due to a moist system coming in from the ocean. It certainly wasn't warm at 2.7C or 37F. This morning there is more snow on the ground, it is snowing lightly, and the temperature is at the freezing mark.

Lifestyle

First thing in the morning we headed out to the hospital for the Spousal Unit's blood work. After we got home, I did a few things before going to work.
At work, it was busy. There were 104% more sales compared to a year ago. I did cash until the cutters needed their break, cut fabric, and took my break last. Then back to cash. I was nervous as it was my second time doing cash and I wasn't supervised. I did okay with a lot of apologizing for being slow.
The young couple have moved in and we can barely hear them. Once in a while we hear the little one but otherwise it is quiet.

Sewing

Crafts

I have the advent calendar backing taped to the cutting table, the batting and topping placed on top of it. It is half pinned together. Once done, I will remove it from the table and quilt it as I have time. I need to start my next project for the store.

Garments

I am ready to start my next project and am ready to get going on it. I really needed the break after the red top as I pressure myself to be perfect.

Wardrobe Planning

I keep fine tuning my wardrobe to fit my life style. The Vivienne Files help keep me focused. This year she is going to put together a collection each month based around 6 scarves. That means 6 different coloured outfits to look at monthly and two of those outfits fit my colour scheme perfectly ~ navy blue and black.
For the navy blue column, she has used light blue and turquoise as accents colours. I do like both of those. For the black column, she has used red as the accent colour. I do like red. This has my mind dancing. I don't need to tweak my plan a lot. I just need to get busy and sew it up.

Today

We have to see the doctor this morning and then I work from 1:45 to 5:45 p.m. I will be learning how to use the new cash registers. I am hoping that I will get a balance between cash and cutting as I do like to interact with the customers at the cutting table. Cash is like a rest for my body. I am hoping that I can finish pinning the advent calendar together.
Until tomorrow..................

Preparing to Sew Gift Bags

Yesterday warmed up to 1C or 30F. Where the parking lots and roads have had salt put on them, they are wet, wet, wet. A lot of windshield washer is used so one can see the road.

Lifestyle

We headed out in the morning to get more pictures and the Spousal Unit's prescription. I thought I had picked the pictures on the phone to be printed and when it opened up in the kiosk, all of them were there. What a pain I eliminated all of the pictures but a few.
We did a bit of meat shopping when getting the prescription. Though mid morning, the line ups were long and many people had large orders. We got home just before lunch; about an hour later than anticipated.
The Spousal Unit has joint pain which is caused by the chemo drugs. It will work its way through his body over the next several days. He  hates it but there is nothing he can do about it. His energy level is remaining at a good level though he does nap in the afternoon.

Sewing

I spent quite a bit of time making a second apron and writing up the tutorial. I will post the tutorial next week.

I also started on the gift and wine bags. I had some fabric and decided to carefully cut it out to see how much fabric was needed for 1 of each. For the body, you need 13" x the width of fabric and the cuff is 4" x the width of fabric. The lining is 16.5" x width of fabric. I had more than that and would buy more than that to get everything nice and even.

The above is the wine bottle bag and below the gift bag. 

Rather than embroider the cuff, I use a print fabric. On these bags, I am going to add a couple of pieces of trim to the cuff. The lining is white cotton.

Knitting

I did get 12 rows knit on the scarf last night. The ball of yarn is getting smaller and I am hoping it will be finished by the end of the month if not sooner.

Today

I work 8 hours so will have only the time and energy to knit on the scarf. I hope to buy the trim for the bags today so I can work on them on my next day off.

Until tomorrow..................

Explore 2016

Where less will be more.

 

RECAP

Last year I decided to continue with the theme of Explore. We finished renovating the house in Ashcroft, purged a lot of our belongings, sold the house without listing it, and moved to Kamloops on July 1. The Spousal Unit had to start chemotherapy for his cancer in the fall. Explore 2015 went out the window quite quickly due to all of this. It was quite the year and one we hope not to repeat for a few years.

EXPLORE 2016

I will continue to explore again this year with the theme of less is more. Though we purged, we still have too much in certain areas of the house. It needs to be dealt with as we redo each room in the house. Plans will be made and they can be broken or unplanned if necessary.

 

Lifestyle

Lifestyle will be the forefront once again. As we age, we need to take care of ourselves.

• Exercise - I walk a good distance most days at work and lift bolts of fabric on a daily basis. I want to get out and walk the River Trail three times a week and then begin my running program again.
• Eating healthy with a once a week treat. Loose weight. I need to keep the stress levels down.
• Support the Spousal Unit who continues undergoing chemo treatment. He should be done in February and will need time to regain his strength.
• Update the upstairs of the house one room at a time. Take my time and not set a deadline.

Sewing

It was a dry year for sewing in 2015. I was fine with that until late October. The closer I got to upgrading the sewing room, the more I wanted to sew. I allowed myself to sew some Christmas gifts to fill the void. Now, I want to:

• Watch Craftsy classes and start building slopers for myself. I see this as the best way to get good fitting patterns.  
• Sew the stash up either for myself or give away some of the fabric I don't want. I have a lot of fabric I love, some I don't and a few pieces that are iffy. I do know some of the fabric will be used when I make slopers and will more than likely be trashed.
• Build a wardrobe of simple clothing items. This is beginning to look interesting. Working in a fabric store allows me to sew clothing to display and promote fabrics in the store once a month. As I look at what I want to make, I see a style emerging thanks to a few blogs I read and what other employees wear in the store. I see leggings/slim pants in Ponte and other stretch fabric so I can bend and move easier. I also am seeing longer tops in knits and crepes and maybe items in fleece, boiled wool and a lovely faux suede. Maybe I will get a 6 PAC made.
• Make the Spousal Unit shirts. I have a lot of fabric on hand for him and he needs a lot more shirts in the closet.

Knitting

• Start a new course to stretch my knitting. Basics, Basics, Basics or Taming Your Tension from The Knitting Guild Association.
• Finish knitting the yarn for charity.
• Start knitting for myself - socks, hats, scarves, mittens and a sweater
• Knit for Grandson, Daughter, Daughter-in-Law

Crafting

• Work on photo albums.
• Use up the craft/quilting cotton. Begin Christmas Once A Month and make several of the same items out of cottons until that stash is used up. Sell those items at a craft bazaar.

This year I plan on continuing the purging to have the More Is Less theme in our house. It seems to get easier with time. What is left requires me to be more creative in my thought process but ideas do come to me on what to do.

 

Welcome 2016

Bring on What You Have In Store For Me

Great Experiences

The weather has been cool but not cold. We are experiencing warmer than normal minimum temperatures and normal maximum temperatures. We are enjoying that a lot. It did snow up in the mountains but nothing down at our level.

Lifestyle

I worked 7.5 hours on Dec. 28. I was asked to stay to close so I could help set up tables. We moved full tables and refilled other tables with bolts of fabric. It was tiring but fun.
While I was at work and the Spousal Unit was sleeping, family was skiing at Sun Peaks. They did enjoy their day up there.

The videos showed that Grandson did well on skis.

We headed out to Sun Peaks again yesterday for dog sledding. After getting the ticket to go and having lunch, we headed up to the parking area to wait. Grandson played in the 12 foot high snow banks from plowing the parking lot.

Then a lady came into the parking lot to pick up the six riders. She brought a sled puppy named King to socialize with people.

 We walked down to where the dogs are kept and got to meet the musher for the sled Grandson and Daughter-in-Law were riding in.

Chris, the musher was fabulous and took us to meet the dogs.

When the sleds were prepared for people to get in, the dogs started to bark and howl. They were ready to be hooked up and run. Usually they put 8 dogs on a sled but this sled got 10 dogs for this run. A very special treat.

And they were off.............

Grandson got to be a mini musher and had a ball according to him and mom.

He helped Chris mush most of the trail. What an experience to have.

At the end of the run, this dog said it all.

The dogs were fed chunks of fat and a thick chicken soup for a job well done. The comment made was by Grandson that when they come back someone wants to ski and dog sled again.

Today

There is lots to do around to prepare for a family to head home the next morning. We are certainly going to miss them. We will be out for a hair cut, ship parcels, and get a few things. The afternoon is to start a memory book of this Christmas.

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

Plaid Meets Lace Infinity Scarf

Yesterday was warm but cloudy.  The high got to 6.7C or 44F. Though it was cloudy, we saw only a trace of precipitation. I do believe there was a skiff of snow up higher on the hills.

Lifestyle

The Spousal Unit’s abscess is healing nicely. He now goes every three days to be checked. He is feeling so much better. Hungry and more energy. Just in time to have it kicked out of him again. He has chemo again this week.

We had two young ladies look at the suite yesterday morning. They commented it was the nicest one they had viewed. They will let us know if they will take it. I have let another person know it is available and she is looking on Wednesday.

After they left, we hauled items upstairs from the one bedroom and kitchen and I got them cleaned. Baseboards dusted and floors washed. The Spousal Unit levelled the fridge. We are moving forward to getting the unit cleaned and ourselves unpacked.

We changed the light bulb in the basement stair well as it burnt out. The bulb was black and we wonder if it was bought black or if it turned black as it aged. The stair well is really bright now. Hmmmmm, I see dirt I didn’t see before.

Sewing

I made a scarf today. It is an easy sew. The pattern is Fifteen Minute Plaid and Lace Scarf and was quite easy to make. Thank you to the customer who told me about this scarf. It is a beauty.

Materials Required:

Half a meter of the two plaids (that is about 20” so you can cut on plaid lines) I used a 60” wide fabric that is a brushed cotton but you could use flannel that is 45” wide.

Half meter a of crochet look lace; one wide width and one narrow.

Procedure:

I took the time to cut the plaids 18” wide on the plaid lines. If using 60” wide fabric, cut the large plaid 45” and the small plaid 36” long. On 45” wide flannel, cut one the width of the fabric less the selvage edges and the other 36” long.

Pin the two pieces together at the short ends making sure the end are even.

Sew together with a half inch seam and press the seam to one side.

Pin the wide with lace onto the scarf making sure that the bottom end of the lace covers the seam. Stitch in place top and bottom.

Next fold the scarf in half so it is long and narrow. Take the time to match the plaids at the seam for a professional look. Pin in place and sew with a half inch seam. Press the seam open. Trim the excess lace away. Turn to the right side.

Turn under a good half inch on the small check end. Lining up the seams on both the open ends, put the folded end on top of the large plaid to make a seam. Pin it in place using a line on the large plaid as a guide.

Turn under one end of the narrow lace and place it on top of the seam. Slowly stitch down the center of the lace making sure you have a tube as you go around. Flip the lace up onto the sewing machine when you need to pin more of the tube in place. Work slowly until you are about 5” from the end (or is it the beginning).

When you have reached the spot where you can’t go any further, hand stitched the ends together and then hand stitch the lace down in place making sure to turn under the end and sew the ends together. Be careful not to sew the tube together. I did it in one place and had to pull it out.

It took me a bit of time to get the scarf looking great. I did make a figure 8 and then worked at it to look as nice as the picture of on the blog.

I was about an hour doing this scarf only because I fussy cut the plaid and took my time to get the plaids to match at the long seam. A great gift or craft bazaar item. It cost me $15.00 for the supplies and I think it is worth $30.00 - 35.00 at a bazaar. Note: the response I got on Facebook makes me wonder what those people would pay for this scarf.

Knitting

I continue to knit on the scarf and am now knitting one pattern set of 11 rows every night. Last night I did 2 sets as I work late on Thursday night. I won’t get it finished before Christmas so will be finishing it up in January.

Today, we head out for the Spousal Unit to give blood for pre-chemo numbers. We will shop to get some basics and then home. I work from 12:00 to 5:00. Tonight I have to knit another 11 rows on the scarf. I doubt if anything will come up from the basement though I should unpack a box that is already upstairs. It is going to turn into a time thing.

Until tomorrow……………………….