Under A Snow Warning

Our weather has been something else. We got snow, then it warmed up, got cold, the wind blew and today it is snowing hard. The province is under a snowfall warning. We could see a lot of snow fall according to Environment Canada. 

Lifestyle

With the snow warning being in effect since our last storm on Sunday, I headed into the WW yesterday morning. I drove in snow the whole way. When I came out from the meeting, the sun was shining. 
I have been watching what I've been eating and tracking. I lost .8lb in 8 days of which I am happy with. I want to keep going with a loss each week. 
My IBS is improving after eating onions, garlic, and sausages over the holidays. I am trying to eat more of the foods that don't irritate me. It is hard, but I'm trying to be disciplined. 
Since removing the insoles from my shoes, my back, hips, and legs are much improved. I still have some pain but it is nothing like it was. 

Sewing

On Monday, I was out to the fabric shop to get a piece of lace, some fabric for a secret partner gift, and to see what I could find for the next reading pillow and a bag I want to make. I left with it all. But it will be sewn this month. Pictures hopefully tomorrow. 
I am testing the dress and here is the front bodice.

The back bodice is complete and sewn at the shoulders. The bodice lining is also done. I'm ready to start the sleeves. When the bodice is done, I will have to wait to see about the skirt. The designer is having a look at it as one tester said it is too big for the waistband. The verdict is out - the waistband is 1" too short. But will it fit the bodice is the next question. 

Knitting

I am on the last row of the doll's dress. I had to lengthen it by 11 rows as it was too short. I knit to gauge for stitches and I know my rows are off. I'm 12 row per inch where the pattern is 10.5 rows per inch. I'm glad it is almost done as it is such a sweet pattern. 

Today

Housework, laundry, sewing the bodice of the dress and finishing the knit dress is in the books. I bet I'll be shoveling snow also. 
Until the next time..................................

Machine Purrs Like a Kitten

We have had some warm weather the past couple of days. A high of 7C on Friday and 5-6C yesterday. We are waiting for the snow to arrive today. So far nothing. 

Lifestyle

We took advantage of the warm weather on Friday and took down the outside decorations after lunch. The wreath on the front door and the artificial flowers in a pot on the front step will be stored in the next week or so. I like the front area empty when it snows. 

Sewing

The sewing machines were picked up Friday afternoon and set up yesterday morning. It is nice to have them back home. 
I hemmed grandson's school pants in the morning and had them home right after lunch. When I got home, I decided to try out the sewing machine and it purrs like a happy kitten. While testing, I made these mug rugs. 

They are now in the tub for finished Christmas projects. 
I laundered a bunch of the doll's fabric as I am starting a test pattern. It is an 1830's Victorian era dress, which is great as I can showcase it for Valentine's day. This is the first of two dresses I will be testing this month. 

Knitting

I worked on the dress and have the sleeves cast off, under the arms cast on and have started the shaping for the waist. I'm really paying attention to the pattern and I don't want to have to start this pattern again. LOL.

Today

This morning will be housework and this afternoon will be the test pattern. Tonight, more knitting. 
Until the next time...........................

A Sparkly Project Completed

We had another typical winter day. Temperature got to 3C, the sun shone, the wind blew, but we had no snow or rain. Today is going to be warmer they say. 5-8C for a high. 

Lifestyle

Yesterday morning I did a bit of laundry before heading out to get grandson. We are working on his science project. We had a good 90 minutes rewriting his essay. We aren't done but we are about 75% done. 

Sewing

I spent the afternoon in the sewing room. I made a pattern to fit the bottom shelf of the table we use for the Christmas tree. I cut out the last of the snow storm fabric in it plus 4 - 5" squares for 2 mug rugs. The backing needs to be pieced before I can cut it out along with 6 squares. I will have used up the full 2.5 meters of fabric when this is done. 

I had a huge urge to have a completed project so I spent two hours making a back drop for the nativity scene. Armed with a video, staple gun, fabric, and painter's canvas I got the first part of the project done in good time. 

The next hour was spent putting hot fix crystals onto the stars. When happy with what I did, I used my trusty hot fix gun and attached every  one to the fabric. The end result was a twinkling night backdrop for the nativity. 

In real life it twinkles beautifully. It and the cardinal backdrop will be bagged and put away today. 
Once done that, I downloaded a bunch of patterns with an 18-50's - 1920's theme. I'm hoping to start a prairie dress once I get the first batch of Christmas sewing done. 
I would like to make a new bag pattern using this fabric. 

I will have to see if I can fit it in this month. I don't want to loose sight of sewing up the Christmas fabric. 

Knitting

I am working on the dress and am getting closer to casting off the arms. Even though this is the third time I've cast this on, I'm still enjoying the knit. 

Today

Grandson is coming over to finish his science paper, getting groceries, and we wait and see. If the sewing machines come in early, I'll head in to get them. If not, I may trace a doll's pattern. 

Christmas Projects Cut Out

Yesterday was a warm day with a high of 6C. At 8:00 p.m. it snowed enough to whiten the car. This morning it is 1C and the snow is basically gone. 

Lifestyle

I did some housework yesterday as the house needs to be worked on again. The bathroom was the targeted area. The goal is to work on an area most days. 
We were out for dinner at family's and we took a box of extra and never to be used again tree decorations over there. They will go to daughter-in-law's work place for the tree they set up. Something more purged from the house. 

Health

I started a new bullet journal for weight loss. I want to write a few words daily and keep track of how I am doing. With my gastro issues flared up from the holidays, I need to work on my self care goals. Part is tracking food and activity, part is writing in a journal and part is making sure I'm healthy. 

Sewing

I am so excited to be working on Christmas fabric. I'm almost beside myself having it out. Crazy but that is me all over. 
I cut out the tree skirt and table toppers yesterday. Though the two pieces of fabric were kind of blah alone, when together and cut out, they are quite cute. The dark fabric is one of my "why did I buy that piece?" fabrics but it is perfect for backing. 

The paper beside the dark fabric is the sizes I needed to cut out for the table toppers. I call it my recipe. All that is missing is the flannel as it needs to be laundered. 
The left over bits aren't too bad either. 

I am going to make 2 mug rugs from some of the fabric. Instead of 5" squares, I am going to make them 6". The remaining fabric will become a table topper for the bottom of the Christmas tree table. I just need to make a pattern. I will get all of these items out of 2.5 meters of fabric. I still have to measure the flannel. 
This is the remainder of the fabric from the pile I pulled out in December. There is 5 meters there and go well together. 

Ideas rolling in my head for them.

• Table toppers for dining room table and buffet. 
• Tops for tea towels that are Christmas themed. 
• Painter's canvas for the small hall - down by the guest room. 
• A wreath that sits on the table if there is enough fabric left. I have to find and buy the pattern and precut foam pieces. If it happens great, if not, I'm fine with that. 

Knitting

After a bit of frustration, I had to throw away part of the dress I was frogging. I started again and am paying closer attention to the pattern so I won't make the buttonhole mistake again. Yes, I had a buttonhole in the wrong place. I will get this dress done correctly.

Today

I need to do a bit of housework prior to picking up grandson for help on his science fair project. He and I are rewriting his information essay. I would love to do the painter's canvas for behind the nativity scene. Then I can put it away until next year. If time, I want to cut out the 6" squares for the mug rugs.

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

Welcome 2020

I'm ready to bust the stash this year. Here is where I am on January 1, 2020

• I am patiently waiting to get my sewing machines back. Two to three more days and I am hoping I can pick them up. 
• The pile of Christmas fabrics on the cutting table have projects planned for them. If they aren't fitting for the fronts of the projects, they will make great backings for them. 
• Covering up the fabric stash is helping me focus on the fabrics on the table. 
• 2020 Monthly To-Do List has its own tab on the blog and January is posted. I'll fill it in weekly. 
• I'm excited to start filling in the Excel spreadsheet (Stash Shrinker). It will be color coded this year. What is on the shelving unit is now officially called stash and will be recorded as purchases (inventory). Beside it will be the sewn amount. The goal is to see how much is in the stash and if I sew each piece up or have to put some back on the shelf. 
• I have my first embroidery project planned. I'll let it stitch out while I'm cutting out projects. If I force the issue, I can get the embroidery done in one afternoon. 

Christmas Fabric Overload

As I have had an obsession with Christmas fabric and there is an overload in the stash. I am focusing on it at for January. Get it off the shelf and into made items for Christmas 2020.

Fabric Choices - Project One

After some thought and playing with a bunch of fabrics that go well together, my first project has been chosen and is for the living room area. 

Project #1 is a tree skirt and matching side table toppers. For the tree skirt I have chosen a few techniques to do.

• Line the tree skirt so no raw edges show. 
• Do a rolled hem on the ruffle. I will use 2 spools of red thread and the third one will be embroidery thread to add some sheen.
• Top stitch with 2 threads in either gray. May try a twin needle. 
• Make tie closures out of the grey fabric. 

The two table toppers are a work in progress with my ideas becoming a reality.

• The centers will be the grey fabric with the print as a border. 
• The batting will be flannel that I have on hand for these kinds of projects. 
• Backing is a fabric that I bought and shouldn't have. It will be perfect for these items. 

What I haven't decided is how to quilt it. I'm thinking straight lines vertically. 

I hope to have these projects cut out by Jan. 2, 2020 and the amounts recorded in Stash Shrinker. 

I'll keep you posted on the progress.

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

2020 - A Year of Balance

It is the last day of this decade for us. 2019 was a year of good and bad for me.  
The Good - I sewed a lot of fabric this year. It became a forced issue to get the fabric off the stash shelf. I made a consorted effort to use up the fabric so I can buy a few new pieces. 
The Bad - Our basement flooded on April 8 and we didn't get it back for 8 weeks. My sciatic nerve flared between late April and June and all the pain and stress I was feeling gave me a good case of gastro issues. 
With most of the bad behind us, we look at 2020.

2020

This year is a move towards balance in our lives. For me that means balancing sewing, home, and travel.  

Health

• Self care
• Loose 25 lbs. this year through healthy eating, moving more, and drinking more fluids
• Continue going to WW at Sackville as it is a great fit for me at this time.

Home

• Get work done upstairs as we have planned
• Get our front porch boards redone and have the back deck done. 
• Yard work by me. I need to get outside more and enjoy the yard. 

Sewing

• Sew 50 meters of fabric this year from the stash. 
• Continue with monthly to do list to keep focused on sewing down the stash.  
• Sew up half of the Christmas fabrics. 
• Try to complete half of the UFO's in the sewing room. 
• Do 1 embroidery project each month. 
• Test sew for the dolls.
• Finish the sewing room decor. Desk and filing cabinet need to be purchased and pictures hung. 
• Balance sewing with life - sew more in winter, less in summer
• Finish the Couture Sewing (doll) Academy. 

Knitting

• Knit using a variety of yarn weights from the stash. 
• Knit test patterns for the dolls. This is something I enjoy. 
• Do Sweater 101 (child's size) so I can knit myself a nice sweater.
• Think about renewing my membership with the Knitting Guild Association and redo the beginner's class. I'm ready now that I've knit a lot in the past 2 years.   

Other

• Do some exploring during the nice weather once to twice a month.
• Visit Newfoundland if possible. 
• Read a book now and again. 

I am looking forward to 2020. 

A Christmas Tree Skirt Begun

Yesterday was sunny but the wind made it feel cooler than the 0C it was most of the day. Today is suppose to have flurries in preparation for the snow/rain/freezing rain tomorrow. It is currently -3C at 6 a.m.

Lifestyle

I finished one more part of the paperwork this morning. Still more to go but I'm getting there. I hope to be done by the end of the week. 
The laundry did get folded and we didn't starve to death while I'm doing this job. I do take sanity breaks and did quit at noon. 

Sewing

I made a choice not to wash the sewing room floor today. It will get done in the next few days. Instead I needed to do something fun. I chose to make a circular pattern for a tree skirt for our small tree. 

It is circular and quite small looking. But it will have a ruffle on it. I did press the paper pattern and laid it on fabric. 

I had hoped the stripe would be the ruffle but it wasn't happening. I gave up and used the fabric the pattern is on for the ruffle.Got a big no on snowflakes.

I laid the snowstorm fabric down with the check and I had a winner. 

I pressed the fabric and laid the pattern on it. The opening edge is on the straight of the grain. I also made the hole in the center 1/4" smaller drawing it in with a pencil. 

The fabric is folded so I will have an outer and a lining. 
I have cut one of the ruffles and need to make another one. From the remaining fabrics I will make two table toppers for the end tables in the living room. If there is a piece of the snowstorm fabric left, I will make a small table topper for the shelf the tree sits on. 
When done, these projects will have used up 1.5 meters of fabric. I will keep you posted on the steps I'm taking to make them. 
I took my new iron out of the box today. Grandson gave it to me for Christmas so I can press doll clothes. Love it. 

Knitting

I'm making headway on the dress. I'm loving it but will have to knit more rows as I think it is going to be too short. This is not uncommon for me. If I knit to stitches/inch, I am sometimes have to knit more rows. Especially with fine yarn. 

Today

 I'm out to get weighed in, do some shopping and get home in good time. I am not sure what I will do in the afternoon, depends on how I feel.
Until the next time......................................