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Friday 29 January 2010

JFM finished




Oops & Opportunity

Did I not just admit to being a patternaholic and look what showed up in my inbox - an offer - OH THE TEMPTATION. From Thursday through Saturday, all Butterick, McCalls, and Vogue patterns are on sale for $3.99 to BMV Club members. Warning. Alert. Note to self. Do NOT go there.

I wrote a friend and asked if she was managing to resist and if not, what did she order? Her reply totally cracked me up. She said... I have been having similar conversations with myself about patterns. I get weak though when I look at new arrivals. Addiction is an hour by hour struggle. I understand.

I do NOT need any more patterns. I do NOT need any more patterns. I do NOT need any more patterns. I do not need... oh... I need a zipper... let me go to Fabricland... I can avoid buying patterns by...

... buying more fabric. HELLO! Wednesday night, I cut out the denim I bought on Monday and yesterday, I started sewing it. YUMMY... like when you buy a pair of pants that actually fits and think quick, get another pair or when you find a t-shirt that washes, and washes, and washes, without stretching out, and wears like wonderful. Times like these are times for seconds, and thirds, and fourths. I could have resisted. I could have stood strong except...

... when I prewashed the fabric, it shrunk considerably. After several shrinking after the garment has been sewn episodes, I've upped my pre-washing routine from hot wash, hot dryer to hot wash, hot dryer followed by cold wash, hot dryer. Following that routine, the denim went from more than enough fabric to not nearly enough which is what caused the whole problem in the first place. I went back for 4" for the waistband and came home with 3 meters. Hmm... But, but, but, ... it's YUMMY! I console myself that yes, I'm weak but at least it was on sale.

The problem started when I went to cut out the center front and center back panels. The remaining fabric wasn't long enough for both pieces. The cut end was really skewed and crooked. I could get the back pieces in full but the front pieces were short several inches. This is an oops and an opportunity.




Using the pattern piece from the Simplicity 9825 (plaid from last week) skirt, I shortened the center front pieces and created a yoke pattern. First, I traced the line of the Simplicity yoke and then...




... I added a seam allowance to both sections. This Burda skirt has a seam at center front. The Simplicity yoke does not. That meant transferring 1/4" from center front to the side along the bottom of the yoke.




Next, I pieced, serge finished, and pressed open the center front seam and top stitched both sides. Then, I added the yoke, pressed it upward, and top stitched it in place. After that...




... I added the two side front pieces, serge finished and pressed those seam allowances open, and top stitched them as well. Here's the front section finished.




Right now, I'm creating skirts in front and back sections that are completely finished before sewing the side seams because I keep losing weight and it's easier to take it in if I don't have to open up waistbands, facings, or hems. Back when I was struggling with my weight, I never would have imagined it was allergies. Now I'm wondering how many other women should go get that checked. I imagine the weight loss will eventually end when I get rid of all the stuff (read fat) I have stored up for a rainy day and when the food issues settle out however, for now, it's a nice bonus to this blip in my path.

Today, I'm cleaning house, making it all shiny clean before Howard gets home tomorrow. He will be home just over 24 hours before he leaves for Guatemala early Monday morning so we plan to spend as much time together as possible in-between him packing.

As far as I know, all the paperwork is now in place although he did have to find a lawyer while in Detroit to witness his signature on something. Every government has its hoops for the team to jump through. The Mexican one seems the toughest so far but that's probably because they haven't gotten to the Guatemalan border yet and because, when they do, they are being met by someone from the ministry which will make it a LOT easier. Eventually, the two school buses will be there. YES YES! It's going to make a tremendous difference to the ministry and even so, I am SO GLAD that it is not my butt driving nine days in a school bus. They were not designed for distance. Me either. All my padding is on the sides not the behind - VBG.

Have a great weekend. - Myrna

Grateful - as much as I joke about my addiction to fabric and patterns, I am SO GRATEFUL to have this way of de-stressing and of expressing myself. Time in my studio is keeping me sane right now. YES YES!

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Personal Growth - The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash -- along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant -- dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ -- God's righteousness.

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong; By no means do I count myself an expert in all this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward -- to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision -- you see it yet. Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it. - Philippians 3

What do we know in high school? Nothing. My graduation yearbook lists my goal as "to be someone". Besides being quite a statement on my life at that time, being someone is not measurable and therefore not attainable. It took some growing up to get from there to here and thankfully, I'm not still in that struggle. Life is full of ups and downs with happy mountain moments and deep valley strife. One is pure fun. One strengthens and builds character. It's hard for me to imagine smooth sailing. I've learned so much in the struggles and yet, I couldn't make it through without my faith. I'm glad that I am at least pointed in the right direction, looking to be the best me, all that I can be.... and for divine intervention - LOL.

Thursday 28 January 2010

Peer Pressure

I'm finished knitting. The four sleeve seams are joined and I'll do the underarm and side seam after it's blocked. Here's the front before blocking.




Now that I've pinned it on Millicent and know it's snug but not too snug, I can remove most of the markers. Some I'll keep to help me stretch and pin evenly but I don't need them all. I'll do the blocking today so I can wear it on Sunday.

I must have missed them last time - or more likely having the sweater with me this time did the trick - but these buttons look just about perfect AND they were on sale 50% off. Works for me.




LOTS of things were on sale. It is NOT a good thing for a fabriholic like myself to be going to Fabricland on a regular basis. Luckily Kyle's done his exams now. This fabric below is actually an indigo blue. The color rendition is really bad. The section to the left is the wrong side. It's lighter with dark mottles. The right side is dark with light mottles. Both sides are useful. The bolt was in the discount section, 140 cm wide, 50% off, $1.50 a meter. I got six. Like the paisley from Monday, it's a drapey, smooth, and slightly sticky fabric that goes wonderfully with the denim I bought for the skirt and will fit into my SWAP plan.




Apparently we never overcome peer pressure. We are forever influenced by what we hear, see, and read which makes sense and is a good bad thing in my books since I'd love to believe I'm more individualistic than that. However...

The other day I told you how much I liked this blouse on the Selfish Seamstress' blog. Elaine has a wonderful sense of humor and of style and is both competent and creatively curious. She's inspiring and I imagine I'll be influenced by many of the things she produces even though I'm almost old enough to be her mother and we have radically different body types. The first posting I read on her blog was for the English Tutor Dress. WONDERFULLY done. She started with Simplicity 2473. When I saw this New Look 6909, it seemed to combine what I liked about the blouse and the dress. I just have to decide if it will appear too young on me.




Yesterday, I read about Shannon's Spring Sewing Plan on Frogs in a Bucket. She'd just finished a New Look 6831 blouse. I wouldn't have looked twice at that pattern without a little prompting however, between Elaine's and Shannon's blouses, I am now the happy owner of my very own copy. It will be perfect for either of my new blouse fabrics.




Mary Nanna of Make it Smirk posted Bermuda Bahama, Come on Pretty Moma using a free download from Manequim magazine. LOVE those. I haven't worn shorts in years. Apparently I think I might again because I bought Burda 8157 due totally to her influence although I imagine - IF I sew them - that I'll wear them with pantyhose and heels like the model.




A young couple with three absolutely adorable children sit in front of us in church. We occasionally allow them to snuggle their own kids. Mostly we steal them for prolonged cuddles. Vanessa, the Mom, has a fabulous t-shirt with a split in the back with a drawstring. I'm guessing I can copy it using this Burda 7742 pattern.




The pattern is in the Burda Young Fashion line-up. I'm trying to figure out what exactly is "young" about a turtleneck with or without sleeves because them seem pretty classic to me. That leaves the split back. Is Burda saying split backs can only be worn by "young" people? Hmm... if so.... guess I'm "young". I love that curve of my back. Can't wait to show it off - maybe with the Bermuda shorts.




That little dot of orange light is the Olympic torch. Yesterday, we left for guitar early because the torch would be passing along the street where the lessons are and parking was scarce. After the lesson, Kyle and I waited around for the torch to appear - about 30 minutes - watched what took seconds and was, as he said, not really a big deal before hurrying home to make it (barely) through an intersection before we would have had to watch again only to discover that the torch was passing down the road behind our house and we could watch it from the balcony. Too funny. Obviously, I should have checked the route except that it's not nearly as interesting when you don't know the runner. Last time, in 1988, my friend Wendy was running. WAY more fun.

Gaylen wrote: ... do you think it's something that could be mailed?

THANK YOU - I thought about that only butter needs to be refrigerated so probably not. If Howard can't pick any up in Detroit, I'll give your offer some thought. Normally I'd drive to Kelowna to meet you only that's the weekend my husband is coming back from Guatemala. How long are you there? For shopping - if you're in Vernon, there is a WONDERFUL Fabricland there. The one in Kelowna is not nearly as nice but still not bad although coming from the US our prices might make you gulp.

I'm sewing a skirt today out of the denim I bought on Monday using the Burda 8213 pattern - a trumpet skirt. This is one of my favourite styles. I was going to make the Vogue jacket only it won't go with my sweater and I want an outfit for Sunday. I'm getting to the end of bottoms. The SWAP calls for four so I'll have to shift to blouses or the jacket next week.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - NOT getting stuck in traffic for half an hour with a tired, hungry teenager

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Personal Growth - You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion... - 2 Corinthians 9: 11

Susan Being Snippy wrote: ... so I wonder, do I give too much to the wrong people and not enough to the right ones?

FABULOUS question Susan. I thought about it a lot yesterday. I was thinking about the different kinds of giving and the things that we give such as time, and friendship, and knowledge, and so much more - things beyond money. When I read a verse like the one I above, I immediately feel like it's telling me I HAVE to give but it's not.

In reality - as with all things - there is a balance point. Just as we can hoard, we can give too much. For example, so much time to others with none for ourselves and our families or so much money to others that we cannot meet our own financial responsibilities. When things like this happen, it's not good and ties in with what the pastor said on Sunday about the importance of deciding how much and to what we will give because there is an unending demand and the answer is individual to each person and organization.

For me, I check attitude. I stopped making gifts for people a LONG time ago right after I found the quilt I'd carefully matched to my SIL's nursery crumpled and shoved on the bottom shelf of the change table unused. It wasn't the only time I'd seen a gift unappreciated however, it was the final straw. It seemed ludicrous to be giving people gifts they didn't want especially if making that gift wasn't necessarily something I wanted to do. Too much bad attitude all around.

I've also had to check my nature. I tend to over give especially in areas of money, things from around the house, and knowledge, and BIG TIME in the area of friendship. I give way too much and end up hurt. Every time I hear the lyrics from Kelly Clarkson's song, they make me think of certain people and situations. They go - Because of you I never stray too far from the sidewalk. Because of you I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt. Because of you not only me, but everyone around me. Because of you. I am afraid. This is the pendulum swinging too far the other way. There is a "safe place" at middle ground that I'm working to find.

I think that all through life we are learning how to find those balance points between too much and not enough. The gut clenching, the resentment, the attitude are sure signs for me that this is not a giving situation. Sometimes, I'm wrong. Sometimes I have to give myself a chat but most times, these are indicators to JUST NOT GO THERE.

Wednesday 27 January 2010

A Serious Attack Of The Green Eyed Monster

Yesterday was not all that productive unless you count sitting around and looking decorative. I did that well! After Barb left, I ran a few errands, cleaned up some piles of clutter, had coffee with a friend, and read a book. A slight bit of knitting happened.




The cardigan is now in one piece. It's joined at the end for 1 1/2" of ribbing around the neck. I'm petite, which meant I needed to shorten the length through the armhole. The ribbing was supposed to match in with the existing pattern at the front and armhole edges and across the sleeves. It didn't. Some fudging happened although it looks like it's going to be okay. Here's the pattern again - the Bernat Just For Mom Cardigan from booklet 530167.




I know that not all of my allergies are going to be reversed. That has me thinking from the perspective of what do I really hope to get back to make my cooking life easier. Eggs is way up there. Even the substitute mixes call for eggs. Butter - or at least a suitable butter substitute - would be lovely too. Before these new allergies, I was able to use Earth Balance buttery flavoured spread except it contains soy. Barb found this Soy Free version on the Internet.




One trip to the health food store later and I'm having a serious attack of the green eyed monster. The soy free version is not available in Canada. It is carried nationwide at Whole Foods in the United States. The closest store is in Seattle. Really, 7 1/2 hour is not too far to drive for buttery spread... is it!

LOL - I called Howard in Detroit and said a really wonderful, I've been away, present would be butter. I've also found myself craving carrot sticks. VBG - my, how interesting life has become. He will, of course, try to find some in the evening or between meetings. I can just imagine the guys discussing this over coffee - my wife wants butter - anyone know the address - let's GPS it. I call these HBC moments. They're good for a marriage. Men are programmed to hunt, bag, and conquer.

More knitting today. There's only an inch to go. It's the nervous inch where you find out if the garment is actually going to work out, fit, or flatter. I hope so. It's very cute and goes so well with the plaid skirt. I can't remember where but I did read on one blog about how to make an elastic casing inside the neckline to keep it from sagging. I may just do that right away AND... hopefully... I find buttons (and not more fabric) at Fabricland this morning.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - buttery spread exists and one day will be mine

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Personal Growth - Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy, and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity - 2 Corinthians 8:2 - - - For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. - 2 Corinthians 8: 12

It's not about how much I have or what I don't have, it's about what I do with what I have AND my attitude. True in so many areas of life.

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Innocent Pleasure

It feels like forever knitting this sweater. I'm so tired that the needles are hypnotizing and I find myself envisioning curling up and nodding off in the chair which is not too polite when you have company. Barb wondered if part of the exhaustion might be the tiredness of healing. I'm going with that. It sounds quite positive.




I'm almost finished the second front piece. The paper strip for the buttons is working like a charm. I thought there were seven but actually there are nine. Apparently, I can't count. I guess that makes it "good" that I forgot the yarn yesterday and couldn't pick up buttons at Fabricland although I don't think there were any to pick up. We tried a few options against the bolt of plaid fabric the skirt is made from and they were either too pink or too brown or too glitzy or too something. I know it's personal, but choosing buttons can be a lot of work and it's way more difficult without any real selection. I'll look at black or navy blue or something else along that line when I go back on Wednesday. Kyle has another exam to be picked up from. I'll - hopefully - take this button piece so I can button them through and see what I think.

I know I don't have to explain how fabric ended up coming home with me. You know how it goes. We have lots, we know we don't need anymore, we plan to use what we have, and even so, we're seduced by the pattern or the feel or the color and we buy it anyway. I do have a problem with fabric - VBG - but as far as addictions go, this is a fairly innocent pleasure especially right now when virtually everything else is off bounds. I'm not eating out; I'm buying fabric - LOL.




I've already admitted being a sucker for paisley. This grey one is GORGEOUS. It has a lovely smooth feel without being slippery. There's a slight "stick" to the fabric that will make it easy to sew with. I think visions of this blouse the Selfish Seamstress showed on her blog were dancing in my head. It looks wonderful on her. I don't get the Burda fashion magazine so I'll check my (extensive) stash of patterns for something similar... first... and then we'll see. Next to fabric, patterns are my downfall, and then books, and then yarn BUT as I talked about in another post, all of these buy more time to read or sew or knit them. It's money invested twice. I like that.




The other two fabrics were a dark, flowing denim with a slight bit of lycra for a gored skirt and a polyester rayon lycra blend, fine wale corduroy, in black bought for the Vogue jacket I showed yesterday along with a bit more for a skirt to go with. It has lovely drape.




Yesterday was a milestone moment. I experimented and made broccoli soup - completely from scratch - using only what I already know and my nose - almost like a textile art piece. I started and went one step at a time asking myself what next and what if. I've decided that in order to learn to cook from scratch, I have to treat this in a similar manner by listening to my "inner cook" and trusting the process.

Using the blender, I chopped cooked broccoli into rice milk, added some pureed cashews to make it creamy, and spiced with salt, pepper, cumin, dill, and coriander. As I was smelling all the spices and trying to decide what seemed to blend with the mix, I find myself wondering "what if I added a touch of cinnamon". That's HUGE. Probably the first experimental cooking thought I've ever had. I didn't. The soup is so yummy right now that I decided to wait and try it when I get down to the last bowlful.

Gaylen wrote: I'm enjoying your journey with foods

LOL - that made me burst out laughing. I'm glad you are. I alternate between extreme frustration and tears which is why the soup was such a big deal - a happy, successful, I can do this moment and it actually tastes great. I could serve it to company.

With all that I'm allergic to - barley, oat, rye, and wheat, all corn products and derivatives, all soy products and derivatives, carrots, lettuce, onions, peppers, bananas, oranges, pineapple, peaches, plantains, casein, cheese, cows milk, lactose, garlic, peppers, eggs, chicken, lamb, clams, halibut, scallops, shrimp, baker's yeast, candida, yeast mix, and MSG - I have to eat new foods, cook without cans, packages, or mixes, and discover new flavours. I love hot spicy food so, if anyone knows how to do that without peppers, please let me know. I can have black pepper.

Barb is leaving today. I am REALLY going to miss her. It's been such a gift to have her here this weekend. She came for the exhibit opening and the timing was fabulous for this new hurdle in my life. She's kept me sane. Being a food scientist, she already knows so much and that combined with her let's just try it and see attitude and her ability to do research (and understand all the garbly gook) has helped me transition past the completely shell shocked and overwhelmed stage into something slightly less and moving forward. I woke up this morning to a chocolate cake on the counter. I can hardly wait to see what it tastes like.

Today, more knitting. I'm focused on finishing this sweater before going on to anything new knitting or sewing wise. There are about two inches left to knit before joining the pieces for the collar band. We'll see how it goes. I've prewashed the three fabrics I bought yesterday. I'm ready to start tracing the pattern and prepping for the jacket. AND... I have to think of something for supper. Today is turkey on my rotation plan.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - feeling more positive

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Personal Growth - But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving. - 2 Corinthians 8:7 - - - - Remember this: whoever sows sparingly, will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously, will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:6 and 7

The sermon series has been on giving based on the book The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn. I have a giving nature so on one level, it's not difficult for me to give. When something like Haiti happens, I don't ask IF I should give. Of course I should give and as generously as possible. I heard about a homeless man in our town who came into the Salvation Army with $1.47. That's all he had and he wanted to help. OMGosh. So inspiring.

On another level, I can get resentful and withdraw and hold tight especially when people are disrespectful, demanding, or unappreciative. I have experienced this most often when I was teaching and in terms of knowledge and expertise. I have been asked to donate my art work or my teaching in situations that didn't require a donation and ones that could have paid me a salary. After a lifetime of building up that knowledge, and being in business, I resent someone else's expectation that I should give it away for free. It is too one-sided. I've had to work on these feelings and decide where to give cheerfully, without reluctance or resentment, like with this blog where I give knowledge, support, and encouragement in a way that works for me and hopefully for others too.

On yet another level, I discount the gift. I'm not even aware of giving. Right now, I have several piles of food upstairs in the kitchen designated for specific people who can eat this particular combination of ingredients like Lorraine who gets the bread mix and Sharon who gets the rice crackers with sesame garlic and Marlene who gets the gluten free cake mixes with corn but not soy and Francine who gets the ones with soy. Every year when I clean my house and studio, I give away stuff to individuals or charities. This comes so naturally to me that I don't often see it as giving although it is - especially if I looked at the dollar value which is quite substantial.

AND YET... I found myself wondering do I give enough and then it occurred to me that if I have to ask the question, doesn't that tell me the answer? An interesting thought to ponder.

Monday 25 January 2010

After The Sweater...

Saturday, I worked on the skirt and finished it. I enjoy making each piece look neat and crisp. Not with any kind of pressure. I just try to do my best at each stage and that brings together the best project possible. The facings are made from lining fabric. It's light, neat, and pretty. This is the stuff I picked up for $1.00 a few weeks ago in the bargain section. It's quite good quality. Great buy.




My friend Barb has spent a lot of her time going through lists and researching food on the Internet. She says this is fun to a food scientist. Good because it looks both boring and completely overwhelming. I'm EXTREMELY grateful. I now have lists of ingredients with notes beside them as to their source and likelihood to contain ingredients I'm allergic to. She has worked through the extensive corn list, the yeast list, and will do soy next. I already had a gluten list so only a few more - LOL. This is good. YES YES!




We made these muffins. Actually, Barb did and I watched. They are "okay" at best - look great and are crunchy on the outside and doughy on the inside. Howard LOVED them. That made me laugh. I told him if these are great, I'm going to stop worrying about making good food. Apparently it doesn't matter although... we also made some cinnamon raisin scones that were fabulous and a pasta dish that Kyle had seconds of. Progress.




The sweater is still in progress. I didn't wait for it and wore the skirt on Sunday with a black t-shirt, cardigan, belt, AND my favourite fuchsia shoes. The plaid lines match up pretty good. I didn't like the way they appear to run uphill from the sides after the curve of the hip. Apparently that's geometry. No matter what, they will.




The sleeves are finished for the sweater and I'm working on the right front. To avoid putting the buttonholes in the wrong spot, I've pinned a strip of paper to the back. I took the finished length, marked a button hole 1/2" from each end, and then folded it to get the exact placement of the seven buttons and now I'm knitting to the pattern. So far, so good. Three down, more to go.




Kyle has an exam this morning and then is off for the rest of the day so I'll pick him up instead of making him wait around all day for the bus. He'll walk over to Fabricland where Barb and I plan to wait for him, see what's on sale, and pick up buttons for the sweater. I've decided to finish it before I start sewing something new. My brain is not totally functional. It's amazing how much energy it takes to feed yourself when you have to read every label and how tiring it is even when you have your very own food scientist to run everything by. I'm going to miss her friendship and her expertise when she goes home tomorrow.




After the sweater... I'm not sure. Possibly the Vogue 8146 jacket. This swing style is a long time favourite. In black, it would go well with the SWAP items so far.

I'm hesitating about what to sew because my measurements show that I'm going to drop down a size soon. Not that that can be changed but it makes it a bit difficult to choose sizing and is somewhat of a problem in that I was going to wait until the end to photograph the pieces. Now, some will look too big. Oh well... what is, is. I remind myself that I'm enjoying sewing with a guideline and NOT competing.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - Barb's expertise and willingness to help

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Personal Growth - Knowledge is power. - Sir Francis Bacon, 1561-1626

I mentioned earlier that I'm reading The Naturopathic Way. Learning that all illness stems from the same source, the body out of balance, and presents in different ways was eye opener. It's motivating to do the things that need to be done to stay in balance.

Equally enlightening was learning that fat is an accumulation of puss and water due to inflammation ** (see note below). This explains why - as strange as it sounds - I can literally feel myself losing weight right now. By avoiding the foods that irritate me and eating the ones that don't, I am healing. I knew that fat cells swelled and enlarged. I didn't know why. This explains it and why, when my hormones began to shift, I put on weight and couldn't lose it. Inflammation.

This is both comforting and motivating knowledge. By avoiding these foods and restoring whole health, my body can heal, regain health, and function effectively once more. YES YES. I came home from the Naturopath on Friday with a plan to desensitise certain foods, to heal the intestine, to rotate foods, and to improve overall health. The plan means a minimum four weeks without certain foods and much longer - months or years - without others. I will never get back shellfish and most likely not gluten and dairy but quite possibly all the others, maybe even eggs. It can be done. Good.

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Edited 2:41 p.m when Hatty wrote: ... but I have to say that while inflammation is the cause of many systemic illnesses, I doubt very much that fat is an accumulation of pus and water....

Thanks for commenting Hatty. Of course when I went to find the page this info was on to see if I had taken it out of context, I couldn't. That's always the way it goes. Barb and I discussed it (with her being the scientific one) and without proof of the right page, here is what I think the context was.

Foods that I am allergic to are toxic to me and cannot be broken down by my body so they accumulate and have to go somewhere and get sent to the tissue and cells which then become enlarged due to inflammation. I remember reading somewhere that we don't produce more fat cells but that they enlarge due to too much food. I'm thinking too much or toxic.

Barb thought that the word pus may have been used out of our usual context and/or we wondered if it was because the author is European and using it in a different way than we do. Definitely, I didn't pull it out of nowhere and definitely, I do not want gangrene - LOL. I'll take that pinch of salt.

Friday 22 January 2010

Previous Punctures

After I'd sewn the first yoke on, I serged the seam. Of course. That's what you do when you think it's not working because - as we all know - if you serge the seam it will magically fix itself. NOT. It just makes more work.




Luckily, it was a three thread serge and easily picked out. Since the yoke was re-cut full and the skirt was now trimmed, I stitched a line 3/8" from the edge on the yoke, matched the remaining 1/4" seam allowance of the skirt to it, and stitched at 5/8". It worked! The new stitching lined up with the previous punctures.




I'm not a matchy-matchy kind of person. Textile art removed any hope of that so it felt weird matching lines but... the plaid did what it was supposed to do along the center back seam even with the zipper. YES YES! Hopefully the sides are as co-operative.




This is the top of the back zipper. That pin sticking out is the same one you see below holding the seam allowance in place. I'm still struggling with what to do at the top of the zippers. Next week, I'll do some snoop shopping and check out RTW. I only have one purchased skirt in my closet and last night...




...I realized that a hidden zipper might have resolved some of this except that I wasn't brave enough to try the hidden with the plaid. The facing is folded back nicely along the edge of the zipper teeth and will be hand stitched in place. That leaves a length of seam allowance at the top that is raw and exposed. It can be whip stitched in place BUT... SURELY... there is a better way. If you know, please let me know.

Tonight is the opening of my exhibit. Well.... to be totally honest... it is actually the opening of the Emily Carr and Jack Shadbolt exhibit at which we'll get a minor mention. I - teasingly and with absolutely no disrespect intended - refer to this as the famous dead people in the big gallery while Megs and I are the starving artists in the little gallery. Either way - should be fun.

My friend Barb is coming up from Victoria for the opening. I really appreciate her coming AND... she's a retired chemist who worked in the food industry. I have LOTS of questions about substitutions and does this product actually contain X, Y, or Z. Hopefully, I don't wear her out. Hopefully, I don't bawl all over her. Today, I'm going for more testing. This time for hormones and other functions. God only knows (LOL - literally) what I'm about to find out. I might wish I hadn't gone.

Otherwise, a wonderful weekend visiting with a friend. We'll spend some time in the studio. I'll finish my skirt. I was so exhausted last night, there wasn't enough energy. It took me over an hour to buy three vegetables, a box of tea, and a pound of bacon yesterday after reading all the labels. All the non-stick sprays contained soy. All the teas except for peppermint contained an ingredient I can't have. All the turkey was buttered or stuffed with wheat. All the ham and bacon contained corn, even the pound I bought. When I got home, that one ingredient I wasn't sure about was on the list too.

My husband asked around at work for a butcher who sells meat without additives and THREE of the other men said their wives "can't eat anything". They were going home to find out some information for me. I'm thinking a ladies tea party and a chat. Bring your own lunch - VBG.

Obviously, this issue IS related to menopause. I'd been wondering. Not anymore. Without trying, I can list half a dozen women who have allergies to the same extent that I do and we're all around the same age which makes me wonder how many teens developed allergies when their hormones shifted and don't know. I know that my daughter developed an issue right about that time. I can't help but question hormones and allergies. BUT...

... my brain is tired. Enough questioning. Enough reading labels. I'm going to enjoy the opening, enjoy my friend's visit, enjoy working in the studio, enjoy finishing up the skirt, enjoying doing more knitting on my sweater, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. It's the weekend. Enjoy yours.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - visit from Barb

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Personal Growth - Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. - - Preserve sound judgement and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. - Proverbs 3 NIV

I'm exhausted both physically and emotionally. Yesterday, I was too tired even to be in the studio, which is VERY tired. I went to bed really early. It has been not just days and weeks but months and years of prolonged stress which is obviously taking a toll. Thank God I've always believed in self care. Can you imagine if I didn't? Sunday, my husband leaves for three or more weeks. I'm excited for him. This is the trip of a life time. I'm not excited for me remaining home alone to deal with whatever comes up.

Traditional medicine does not have an answer. Alternative medicine is expensive. What I don't want is to spend a lot of money following numerous paths that lead to dead ends. I don't want to become resentful or fearful of food. I don't want to lose too much weight because I can't be bothered eating. I want a plan that will work, help with food from someone local and knowledgeable, strength, the wisdom to discern what is right, and the money to pay for it. Please. Thanks God.

Thursday 21 January 2010

A Day In The Studio

If I had anything planned for today, I can't remember what it was. Perfect! I want to make a pot of lentil soup and spend the day in the studio. First, I'll have to pick up (yet still again) a few more groceries - fennel, apple cider vinegar IF it doesn't contain yeast, and a spray that isn't made from soy. Who knew that Pam was? Not me. I've read enough labels in the last few years to last me a life time. It certainly makes you inclined toward one ingredient foods. Surely a strawberry is a strawberry? No. I learned yesterday that fruits and vegetables including salad bars are sprayed with sulphates to keep them fresh looking. I'm not allergic to sulphates BUT... I'm now washing everything extra carefully.

It's intriguing to me what we as a society have done to ourselves by our fixation on looks. Individually, we might make different choices however, collectively, we'll buy shiny, bright and chemical laden over dull, slightly blemished, and healthy. And that just goes on and on. It ties into our discussion about Crystal yesterday. Looks aren't everything... or are they? If they are for our society and not for us personally, how do we walk differently?

OH... and some almond butter for protein on celery sticks. What interesting food I'm eating. Eventually, I'll find a new way of being. It'll work.




The yoke and the waistband have slightly different curves which meant the plaid lines only matched sort of. They were on in the center and off toward the edges. I stitched them together, pressed the seam, and started an internal debate. Yes, it doesn't match. No, you can't buy more fabric and make a different skirt. Yes, there is a solution. No, you won't just wear it like that even if you don't tuck anything in. A few minutes of that and I went to knit.




I've re-started the sleeves. Now that I know how to space the increases and how long I want them to be, I'm knitting the two together and using markers to tell me what I did and what to do. A couple inches of knitting and I knew what to do on the skirt. I love how when we remove the pressure of coming up with an answer by doing something else, the answer appears. YES YES!




There was enough left over fabric to cut the yoke pieces on the diagonal. This piece is just laying on top. Even though it's not stitched yet, I already like that look a LOT better. It's purposeful instead of hit and miss. Now that I've resolved that question, there is a hope that I might finish this skirt today.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - several friends keep emailing cooking ideas and links to books and information. I really appreciate how much they care.

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Personal Growth - I'm reading The Naturopathic Way by Christopher Vasey, N.D and - finally - a light bulb has gone on. He talks about balancing the body's terrain and about how all illness stems from that terrain being out of balance. In particular, he's talking about bodily fluids and their jobs of keeping things flowing, cleaned, and detoxified and of removing "yuckies" from the body. Suddenly I get it. When I'm not drinking enough water, there aren't enough bodily fluids to move toxins along. The creek runs dry. When I'm not eating healthy, it's like trying to clean with cold, dirty water. When I don't exercise, it's like trying to sew with a blunt needle. In other words, when I don't do the things that need to be done, my body's terrain is out of balance and unable to fight off present illness AND I did it to myself. Isn't that something I wish I'd understood sooner - VBG.

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Screeching Halt

Knitting in the morning, another trip to the grocery store, more knitting in the evening, and the only "sewing" done yesterday was to cut out the skirt. That's all I could fit in. This is not exciting but it is somewhat encouraging (to me at least). It is forward progress in what feels like a screeching halt to my productivity.




Perhaps it was testing fate to say that I hoped to finish the skirt and the sweater by Friday. Yesterday, I knit the second sleeve - twice - and I'm about to knit it again. In fact, I'm about to knit both sleeves again and place the increases closer together, arriving at the full bicep width sooner to make for a nicer fit. So "all" I have to do is two sleeves, the button side of the front, the neck edge, and sew it together and the sweater is done. LOL - is it me or does that NOT sound like progress? It's very pretty though. I love the color. I'm looking forward to seeing it finished.

Lyn wrote - the key to living with my food issues is forward planning

This is my conclusion too. I'm working on a four day meal rotation and will expand from there into a longer plan. I want to make some soups that I can freeze for lunches and I'm trying for something quick for breakfast but... it's not working so far. On Monday, I made muffins and they looked like hockey pucks and tasted like yuck. On Tuesday, I made more muffins. They taste like glue - pink glue. A chef I talked to this past summer suggested I "find new favourites" which makes sense. Trying to duplicate what was doesn't usually work too well - VBG - except with sewing. I did a fabulous job with that ModCloth knock off if I say so myself.

Katherine wrote - I always knew your exhibitions pieces would be great but they are really stunning. I'd love to see more photos to get a feel for the exhibit as a whole. You seem so happy sewing fashion at present. You certainly have talent in very different areas of textiles.

Thank you Katherine and everyone who posted encouraging comments about the exhibit pieces. They are really appreciated. I dropped in yesterday with a friend who isn't able to make the opening on Friday. The show looks FABULOUS. Craig did an amazing job putting it together. I'll get some more photos at the opening.

I sometimes wish I worked in a different medium, one that was quicker, less expensive, and more universally accepted and I don't. I've always been drawn to textiles. I enjoy how they can be formed and shaped, the never ending variety of colors and textures, and the endless possibilities. Megs (my exhibit partner) and I talked about the joy/frustration of working in a format that is often viewed as domestic craft. Her work is so not table-wear. Mine is so not bed-wear. This is a struggle that we have both had to embrace and ignore because neither of us can imagine working any differently.

I am VERY happy sewing fashions at the present. It was thrilling to see those skills come back so quickly and to feel the addition of the attitudes I developed in textile art. Mostly, I am VERY happy to be away from the business, the constant marketing, the constant coming up with a new idea, the constant "buy me" aspect. It's absolutely wonderful to be creative from a purely personal and exploratory point of view and to have a studio that is a place of peace rather than pressure.

There are very few people that I would willingly sew fashions for which makes sewing them just for me. That sounds selfish. So much of my life is about supporting other people that it's not, it's the balance. Self care and balance are something that women especially need to pay careful attention to. I say it often that the care of the care giver is so overlooked. We cannot give out if we do not first fill our own gas tank.

Ann wrote - I have to confess that I didn't buy the Marcy Tilton skirt on Sunday when I was in Fabricland. I am worried about the length of the skirt and feel it would look frumpy on me. I am 5'6" tall but kinda short in the legs. I am long waisted.

It is SO IMPORTANT to know ourselves and to trust our instincts. I'm short waisted with longer legs. I wear straight skirts frequently and honestly thought that skirt would look good on me until I tried it on. I don't have a straight body. I have hips and anything hanging from the hips without a shaped hemline makes me look like I'm shuffling around in a tent so the part that didn't work for me was pushy outy bias sections. They made the hemline wide and uneven.

Did I know that before? Yes. Did I remember it? No. Does it matter? Not really, because when I put the skirt on, I trusted my instincts . It wasn't "me". I moved on. I didn't try to make it work or to convince myself it worked. I just moved on. It's wonderful coming back to sewing fashions with an "it's all entertainment" perspective and way less pressure on producing amazing end products. It's far more fun and - without that pressure - produces more amazing end products.




Perspective is an interesting thing. This photo by Norma Jean Roy for Glamour is of Crystal Renn, the highest paid PLUS size model. I think she looks AMAZING and I love, want, wear that style of skirt frequently although in a calmer, less dressy, version. The ad certainly had my attention.

There has been quite a bit of discussion about Crystal lately including two articles Is Crystal Renn's Success Really a Triumph For Size 12s? and V Magazine Can't Put A Plus Size Model In Its Pages Without A Straight Model For Comparison. She is 5'9" tall and her measurements are 36-31-41. She, supposedly, wears a size 12. How is that plus size? The average American woman wears a size 14.

Other than the fact that I'm 5'4" which is, yes, a substantial difference, my measurements are HB 36", FB 39", W 32", and H 43" which really isn't that far off and makes me even more shapely. I wear a size 9/10 pant and have squeezed into a few (not for public consumption) size 7/8's lately. A 12 is way too baggy so it must be those teeny tiny designer labels.

Crystal's story is interesting. After years of pressure, she put herself first, walked away from the unhealthy attitudes around and expectations of models, and ended up in a solid career. Sometimes the toughest decisions we make turn out to be the best ones for us. That's something for me to think about - my personal growth moment for today.

This morning, coffee with one friend, coffee and knitting in the afternoon with a new friend, and sewing in the evening in-between driving my son back and forth to work and youth. It sounds like a lazy day. Wonder why it feels busy? LOL - time to change my perspective.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - I know what's for dinner.

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Eliminate - Duplicate - Mirror

It's been forever and a day since I've worked with a matched print but I still remember - just barely - what a pain in the behind it is AND to eliminate, duplicate, and mirror the lines.




I started by making a second copy of all the pieces and then pinned the center fronts together to form a complete front pattern. Since the center front line was perfectly straight with no shaping, there was no need to add extra "matching" frustration to my plan. I matched the hem to a horizontal line, center front to a vertical line, and then made sure that any other points like the lengthen/shorten line, notches, and upper edges were "meeting" at the same spot on the plaid. Everything is single layer. I don't cut anything out until all the pieces are pinned just in case one needed to be shifted.



With the back pieces, I positioned them so that the center back seam would end up halfway between a wide pink section. Once sewn together, it will form one complete repeat. It's hard to see in the picture but the center back seam is 1 1/8" wide. The 1/8" is for serging off the edge to finish it and the remaining 1" is for a wider center back seam. It's a lot easier to insert the zipper when you have more room to "play".



The yoke section for each piece was cut out directly above it aligning the notches and centers. Slight easing happens along the top. I may need to do some heavy pinning and/or hand basting.

I didn't get a lot done yesterday. Once I'd cleaned the house, picked up groceries, and done some research at the book and health stores, the day was mostly over. I finally pinned the pieces at 9:00 last night so they're ready to cut out. Today is knitting this morning, lunch with a friend, and then knitting again tonight. Tomorrow, I have two appointments and another Friday morning so I doubt I'll get the sweater and the skirt done for Friday night. Maybe one of them. I hope so.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - finding a book on boosting the immune system stuffed on the wrong shelf in the book store and marked down to $2.00. YES YES!

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Personal Growth - Do everything readily and cheerfully -- no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing. - Philippians 2

Some people handle adversity with such grace. They are inspirational. Yesterday, started out not too bad. I thought I had things under control - especially my attitude - and then stuff started to pile up and by the end of the day, I wanted to cry, and rant and rave, and yell, and demand my own way. IMHO there is way too much happening in our lives and - LOL - that's not how it works. I'm picking myself up again. Working to show grace. Working to be inspirational. Baby steps.

Yesterday, I cleaned out the fridge and the pantry, gave away what I couldn't use to a woman at our church who also has gluten allergies, and went grocery shopping and bought a HUGE selection of fresh vegetables. Now I'm exploring new ways to cook them and on the lookout for a good vegetable book - one that identifies what they are, what they're good for, and what to do with them - LOL - and a book that identifies spices especially ones that are spicy but aren't peppers. Good thing, I'd already begun to like curry. I'm also looking for a source of pure spices that don't contain an anti-caking agent. It's typically wheat or corn.

When I create a textile piece, it's a step by step process. I start with something like a piece of fabric. Then, I do one thing, and then another, and then another until the piece tells me it's finished. It's a process of constant responding and moving forward. Sometimes the choice I made takes the piece in uglier or more difficult directions. I stay with it, keep going, it will finish just fine. Life is like that. Making choices. Having responses. Keeping going. A friend sent this link on How To Grow a Mandala. It's beautiful. It's similar to how I create. It's reflective of life.

Monday 18 January 2010

That Didn't Work

I wore the knock off t-shirt and a Simplicity 9825 skirt to church yesterday. Black is so hard to photograph. We couldn't get a really good picture of the top. Here is one overexposed. I wish I had re-arranged a few wrinkles BUT... what I really wanted to show was how the row of buttons across the bust worked better than stopping at that one right on the bust point. A good save. LOTS of compliments.




I made the skirt last September and then lost weight and needed to make it smaller. I did that and then never wore it because...




... one side of the back kick pleat kept flipping forward. It drove me crazy. I tried sewing the pleat shut and couldn't walk. Next, I opened the side seams, carefully pinned and aligned, re-sewed, and it still flipped. I tried again with no success and after that, gave up and didn't bother wearing it until Sunday when I needed something to go with the top.




When I asked Howard to take a picture of the outfit, I asked for one of that bit at the back that's sticking out too and he said nothing is sticking out. When I was getting dressed - and trying to talk myself into wearing a flippy kick pleat - I wondered if it might "wear out" and straighten all by itself. Apparently it did. Don't you love the shoes? I was looking for an excuse to wear them. Not quite the right green - turquoise would be better - but oh well... FUN !




This is the skirt pattern. It's pretty basic. I've decided to use this one with the fuchsia plaid for the SWAP (sewing with a plan) especially after my sewing experiences this weekend - read NOT good.

First, I pinned up the hem on the Marcy Tilton skirt, tried it on, and thought it looked frumpy. I asked my husband what he thought and he - with that deer in the headlights, what's the right answer, look on his face - said that yes, it did look frumpy. I knew it. That didn't work!

It just didn't FEEL right even though it fit nicely. I didn't even bother hemming it. I won't wear it. Dressing is a balance between what looks and what feels right. Doesn't matter to me how wonderful it looks if it doesn't feel like me although it does matter if it looks bad even when it does feel like me. I have to have feeling and looks together for a winning combination. Then I love it to death. The top is - luckily - a winner.

So is the Simplicity skirt. This is a "me" style only I wear it a lot - just like I wear a lot of several other "me" styles like trumpet skirts. My friend Caroline and I had a discussion earlier this year about lowering our frump factor by adding new lines to our typical styles. The Marcy Tilton skirt was supposed to be the new lines of my typical straight skirt. Apparently that's not working. Maybe new - non bias - lines.




This weekend, I changed my mind about using bias binding on the waistband. I couldn't figure out why I had to take the waist on that skirt in and in and in when it should have fit snug right out of the envelope. On Saturday, when I started a Vogue 8603 skirt, I used a facing because the one on the Simplicity skirt fits smooth and snug. As I was drawing the curve for my tipped waist (illustrated above) it dawned on me what the problem was. The curve is bias. Bias binding is bias. Bias stretches. There was nothing to stabilize the curve. DUH! Lesson learned. I'm back to facings made from lining fabrics.




Here's another lesson learned the hard way. When using a longer than needed zipper that I plan to cut the end off of AFTER it is secured with another seam, I pin the zipper tab closed BEFORE sewing the second seam so I don't yank the tab right off the zipper. Ask me how I know?

AND - another lesson. The Vogue 8603 skirt was supposed to be quick and easy, take my mind off the frumpy Marcy Tilton skirt and a few other things that were going on, and give me something to wear on Sunday EXCEPT...




... I forgot to cut out the center back pieces and then I didn't have enough fabric lengthwise and cut them on the crossgrain instead. It's not that I didn't think about it. I laid the fabrics across each other and it looked okay loose but NOT once sewn. Then, it looked like a skunk stripe which is so not happening on the back of my butt. After several dead ends, I switched to knitting for the rest of the weekend. LOL - my machine and I needed to go to our corners and "cool off".

Today, major cleaning and then some sewing. YES YES! I'll start on that plaid skirt. It's hugely ambitious and even so I'm hopeful of finishing both the skirt and the knitted top to wear to the exhibit opening on Friday. Maybe, maybe not.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - Namaste Foods - namaste is a Sanskrit word with no literal translation. It is used by this company to mean "the Spirit within me honors and respects the Spirit within you". I'll take that.
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Personal Growth - This weekend was somewhat of a pity party. I had a few good cries and some mad, sad, frustrated moments and now I'm putting on my big girl panties and getting on with it. On Friday, after food testing, I found out that not only am I allergic to gluten and dairy, I am also allergic to corn, soy, yeast, egg whites, and seventeen other foods. This is hugely overwhelming for me. I can cook but I don't like to and I tend to use cans and packages in combination with fresh foods. These often contain ingredients that I must now avoid which means cooking from scratch.

Cooking is an art form. It's not my art form. I love trying new foods and ethnic restaurants and eating varied cuisine and even so, I'd much rather be creative in other ways. I don't understand the language. I can't read a recipe and know what it will taste like unless I've eaten something similar. I don't have a sense for what a spice tastes like or how various spices work together. Apparently, that doesn't matter. Apparently, this is something I will need to learn.




My hissy fit is over. 24 hours, some whining, and now I'm formulating a plan. I need to do some more research and I'm confident that there IS a path of healing. Meanwhile, I'm very thankful for Namaste Foods which are produced in a gluten, wheat, soy, corn, potato, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, and casein free environment. SO HELPFUL.

At least I can grab a bag once in while in-between reading and experimenting. This makes life a little easier. I'm also thankful that my husband is about to leave on a long trip. That will give me time to work through the harder parts of an elimination diet before he gets back. AND... it's winter. I rarely travel or have company in winter. AND... I have no plans until April. All good.

I find myself wondering what? Not why - what? Why never makes sense to me. Why not me? Why someone else? I'm not exempt from difficulties. I do believe that stuff happens for, and because of, various reasons and that there is always a lesson to be learned. What is my lesson?

Definitely this new reality will affect our health and our budget with less eating out and less buying of packaged foods. It will also make me more house bound. One is positive; one not necessarily so.

What can I learn? How can I use that to help myself and others? Where is this going? These are all questions that will become clearer over time. Right now, my focus is on overcoming and healing from allergies. If you have a positive story to that end, I'd love to hear it. If not, please no. I want to focus on the positive. Thanks.