Still Around

I'm still around. Just too busy to blog. Had 7 month old Baby J for 72 hours, not that I count the hours. It's just that when he's here, I spend all my time completely devoted to him. He crawls now. He's in to everything. He has teeth and eats food. I had friends come over to see him. They all said he should be a model... See, it's not just me. He really is perfect. I'd post another picture but I need to catch up on stuff.

Meanwhile, the apartment needs cleaning, I have to fold my laundry, make the bed, the cats want attention, Uncle Mac wants dinner, husband wants attention, I have to do payroll for the vet, have to take husband to Saturn dealer to pick up car, have to... have to... have to... I guess you get the picture.

Flapper Dress II

The purple flapper dress (that is what the pattern cover calls it) finished per the pattern instructions was just too plain. So I asked for advice. The suggestions were duct tape, staples & tape, layers of lace, and fringe. I went to three fabric stores looking for something appropriate. I opted for fringe. Found 4 inch lavender fringe at $5.95 per yard - times 10 yards - way too expensive. Gold looked too gaudy. Red would distract from the red hat. So I bought 2 inch black fringe $2.50 per yard. The fringe cost more than the fabric. The result: I think it now resembles something a cowgirl would wear to a country dance. Maybe I should consider buying red cowgirl boots and a cowgirl hat.



Oh, and about going to those three fabric stores. I ended up checking out the bead departments and buying more purple beads. I happened to see some fabric that reminds me of someone I know so of course I bought a couple of yards. He will have new boxer shorts soon. Also happened to see some fabric printed with roads, lakes and buildings that would make a perfect play mat for Baby J. Before I got to the measuring table I spotted the fleece aisle. Baby J would love that Curious George fabric, and it is so soft and snuggly. I juggled three bolts of fabric, while searching for matching thread, blanket ribbon, and elastic. The thought never crossed my mind that it would have been much easier to visit the measuring table first. Deducted another $72.99 from checkbook for debit card use. Plus, I don’t know how much it will cost to repair the old sewing machine, or if it is even repairable.

Other Notes:

Question of the Day: Why is it that when men go shopping for salad ingredients they forget the dressing?

Bumper stickers: We're staying together for the sake of the cats.

Observed: Caught a 63-year old friend being fitted for a toe ring. She was so embarrassed. Said she had always wanted a toe ring Told me not to tell anyone. I promised I wouldn’t.

Wondering: Should I get a toe ring? Would you tell on me?

HELP! I need a seamstress/fashion consultant. QUICK!

This is the purple dress I am making that I must wear in less than 2 weeks. It is not finished. The material ravels. The multiple hems (neck cape, skirt cape, and hemline) need to be finished off. I could roll the hems but ick that would take forever. I could iron on some kind of fusion fabric, but that might pucker??? Perhaps I should finish it off with some sort of lace? Keep in mind that this dress is being made for a red hat event. We like glitz, we wear red hats (mine for this event is a moll hat with purple feathers), and we love it when things don't quite match. I am putting together a red and purple bead necklace and bracelets as possible adornments. I have fishnet stockings and red shoes.

I need suggestions!!!! Fast!!!!!

How did you find me?

Interesting the searches that find my blog...kind of puts another focus on what I write - did I really write all these things?

turnip blossoms
red hat society coin purse
sportsline pedometer
when did celebrating sweet sixteen start
mix red and purple
kenmore sewing machine
teenage nail polish kit
magdelend sisters
pictures of a shat
how to sew a flapper
pink color elastic headband
polo head bands

Sewing

The sewing machine was oiled. Completely cleaned and oiled. I got the purple fabric, made the flapper dress pattern, cut out all 17 pieces and pinned it together.

The shoulder and side seams of the bodice went well in spite of the slightly slippery fabric and the tendency to ravel. The pattern didn't say anything about facing around the neck and since I remembered my home ec classes I knew it had to be done. I sewed some around the neck and then around the arm holes. First mistake. Can't turn the fabric if neck and arms are both sewn together. Rip out. Sew the facing on the neck. Sew seam binding on arm holes and turn in. Not too bad, just a few wrinkles, but they will be covered up by cape.

Skirt side seams are next. I smell something burning. The wheel won't turn on the machine. I put my knee to the pedal and smell more burning. Wow, I sure must be whipping through this fast! Then I see the sparks and smoke... the tiny little motor on the back of my 38 year old Kenmore was toast.

Frantically I call a local sewing machine repair shop. The lady on the other end says, "oh yeah, I have one of those old Kenmore's in the shop now, has been here for a couple of months, can't seem to find a new motor." I tell her I'll think about it.

The debate begins. Would it be worth it to go out and purchase a new machine just so I could complete this dress that looks like it may be a disaster? Would I use the machine ever again? Would it sit for another 38 years? Well, I start thinking about all the things I might want to do again someday. I used to make all my clothes. I made my kids clothes until they demanded shirts with alligators on them. I made my husbands shirts until he burst the buttons. I made gifts for all my friends: quilts, purses, tote bags, pillows, toys, placemats and toaster covers. I never did see any of these items in use. Would I ever do that again? Really?

I spent a couple hours on the Internet checking out machines. Some as low as $99, all plastic. Only the ones close to $1000 looked any good. I opted not to purchase a new machine. Instead I called my sister and asked to borrow her garage sale special which just happens to be a Kenmore a couple of years newer than mine. It worked. It even had the same metal bobbins as mine so I wouldn't have to rewind them. Trouble is, her machine has a foot pedal, not a knee pedal. I drove that pedal just about as good as the clutches I burned out trying to learn to drive a stick shift (note: I still can't drive one of those).

To make a long story short (you thought I'd never get to the end, right?), the dress has been completed except for all the hand sewing. It actually fits, sort of. All I have to do is roll the hems for the skirt, the big circular top cape, the large, and long skirt cape. Then I need to find some kind of bow to place on the back where the cape doesn't quite come together. I might have to add a little trim around the neckline since I found out that I should not have put that facing in after all because the neck cape took care of that problem.

Will I actually wear this dress??? October 4th is still a couple weeks away, perhaps I'll go shopping. But then again, I think I should save the money to repair the old machine just in case I get another opportunity... my grandson needs a Halloween costume and the store bought ones are so cheesy...

New Fangled Objects

Pink, green, blue and purple vinyl coated baby spoons. I bought them yesterday so I could feed Baby J without hurting his tender teething gums. First thing I did was to toss them in a sink of hot soapy water. When I removed them, they were all white vinyl. What the heck I thought.. how cheap can you get that the colors washes off the first cleaning. Sure glad I didn't put them in Baby J's mouth before I washed them. I set them out on the towel to dry. Returning a few minutes later to put the utensils away, I found the color had returned. Dug through the garbage for the wrapper - White Hot Safety Spoons. They turn white if the baby's food is too hot. What will they think of next? How about self cleaning diapers?

Other than that I have been working on some Friday MeMeMes

Sept 11th

Previous 9/11: 9/11/1997 I hiked to the top of Mt. Whitney. I can't help but remember the date as an anniversary of that feat.

9/11/2001: (At the time I was separated from my husband and living with a friend) I was eating breakfast when my roommate called me into her bedroom, "a plane just flew into the WTC." I shrugged my shoulders and returned to the breakfast table. A while later my roommate called me back into her room. Now the second plane hit. We huddled on her bed, watching the collapse, in complete disbelief. I went to work late, returned home early, all the while glued to some sort of media.

Last year: Our city had a candlelight memorial in the local town square. I attended and felt a good sense of community coming together.

This year: I notice that our city has not been list as having any kind of memorial this year. That's a shame. I have been reading many other blogs. Seems most have some mention of Sept 11th memories so I figured I must acknowledge here. I will not be among those who stayed glued to the media rehashing all those old tapes. I will observe the day with thoughts for those who directly suffered. Perhaps I'll light my own candle tonite.

So far today...

Annoyance of the Day: Husband waiting to do dinner dishes from yesterday at the same time I am trying to make coffee and breakfast.

My latest gadget: Sportsline Pedometer, the inexpensive kind that only counts steps because I am beyond counting miles. The goal is 10,000 steps per day. At least that's what the booklet says. The suggested program for the first week is to not change your regular routine, just count and record the number of steps each day. Saturday I spent with the red hatters, shopping, having tea, etc. Total steps 5609. Sunday I spent with an old friend, shopping, just wandering around town. Total steps 5611. Yesterday I spent the day with husband and baby. Total steps 1600. Conclusions: (1)No wonder I gain weight when I spend more time with husband. (2)Crawling on floor with baby doesn't register as steps.

Okay, enough picking on husband. He's not all that bad. Today he is doing the laundry, taking out the newspapers and garbage, and going grocery shopping.

I've been up for three hours, fixing breakfast having to walk around husband at least four times, walking to work, sitting at desk. So far I've logged 956 steps. No, I am not obsessed with this new toy...

New Slippers

I just have to pass it on because it is way too funny - I found the link on Susan's blog.

Go here to find out how to make these

Let's Talk About Your Blog

Okay, I said that I would do all me Memes on my Me Me Me blog. But then I ran across the topic of the week at The Back Porch. Actually it was the topic for August 26th but as of today it is still the current topic.

The topic: Let's Talk About Your Blog

This peaked my interest because I have been thinking lately about what I put in here and why. It seems like it has become so much like my teenage diary - all the today I did this, today I did that and then and then... This is not what my original intention was. Sure I wanted a place to keep in touch, kind of let people know what is going on in my life, or what my reactions are to life's events. I was aiming for more of an Erma Bombreck kind of style but it seems I haven't done well in maintaining any sense of humor.

Then I discoved the Memes and started to get a bit lazy. Some of my creativity went amok. I lost that ability to come up with my own topics and started to rely on what was out there for prompts and stuff.

So what would I do different, add delete, invent? Probably not a lot. Life has it's ups and downs, ins and outs. Sometimes I'm inspired, sometimes I'm not. So what? At least I have been reasonably consistent in putting a few words out here and there. In the end I'll probably not change much so if one is bored reading this, so be it. Just check back once in a while and perhaps you will hit a good day, a creative day, something that has some meaning or makes sense for the time.

The MeMes will go on the Me Me Me blog unless I have an unresistable inclination to place them here.

It's my blog (party) and I'll cry if I want to...