Why Do You Sew?

Wednesday night, the power was out for a couple of hours. Yesterday morning - mid makeup - before I dried my hair - it disappeared again and didn't reappear until after lunch, which was just enough time to change my mind. When I started SWAP (sewing with a plan), I decided to meander along and see what happened. Having never done a SWAP before, I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it or if I'd finish and it didn't really matter to me either way.

What happened is that I've sewn a lot of clothes, more than enough to meet the criteria although one more garment, particularly with beading, would finish it in "style" except I don't want to. I don't want to sew another garment on this theme. I don't want to bead. I don't want to put on the outfits, figure out my camera settings, set up a backdrop, and take and compile pictures. And I don't want to be judged and voted on. That doesn't feel like the right spirit to me. So one day before the deadline, even though it's completely doable, I quit - LOL.

What I really wanted to do was work on a bra for my daughter. I've been thinking about her a lot lately, missing her, wishing she didn't live so far away. When the power came back on, that's what I did and it gave me a headache!

Not to name names but I won't be dealing with this company any more. When I opened the package there was not enough yardage of the cup fabric to cut even one frame with the direction of greatest stretch going the right way never mind the five I'd been assured of. On the other hand, there is more than enough of the band fabric. Perhaps they got reversed. I don't know. I do know that there is fine cat hair on the black fabric and a really strong perfume (musk) smell. I'm allergic to cats and I'm really allergic to musk.

Since there wasn't enough yardage, I put the cup fabric in the laundry room, cut out one set of bands and put the rest of that fabric in the laundry room assuming that the musk smell would dissipate from the remaining supplies. It didn't. It's in everything only now that I've started, the bra can't be washed until it's finished. As I cut each trim, the rest goes in the wash but the smell is staying. Luckily, there's only the stretch trim and the closures left to finish.

This bra is meant to be a sample to see how well the sizing fits and what adjustments need to be made. I wanted a firm fabric so I used a stretch taffeta for the frame and cups. It's a remnant that I picked up in a dance academy, originally intended for costumes. It looks pretty good with the black band fabric and trim. If the bra fits her, it'll be pretty and if it doesn't, it's not a great loss.

Smells aside, I'm having fun. I made two bras in the workshop last fall and this is only the third one I've sewn. While it's not perfect, my skills are advancing. A few more and the flow should be committed to memory and come to my hands more easily. I love when that happens. That's the point where creativity kicks in. To be creative is one of the main reasons I sew.

Why do you sew? Since the first time I sat down at a sewing machine, fabric has been my primary medium. Over the past thirty five years, I've sewn fashions, then textile art, then fashions again and while it's a nice bonus to get a wardrobe or an art piece for myself, that's not why I sew. It's not even for practical reasons like fit or economy although those too are a nice bonus. It's because I LOVE TO SEW. It consumes me.

I think in fabric. I love taking the parts and pieces, putting them together, and creating a new whole. Only, it's not enough for me to crank out one garment after another especially if they look alike. Automated sewing is boring. I need to be interested on an intellectual and a creative level. Often that interest comes in the form of a question.

For example, I'm making this bra for my daughter because her size is difficult to find, expensive, and typically available only in boring white and beige. The question is can I make a bra that will be supportive, inexpensive, and pretty? Once I have the sizing correct and the flow of sewing memorized, the possibilities are endless. They tickle my mind. I become aware of things like the recent Lane Bryant ad, which apparently some channels refused to run because in their opinion it shows too much cleavage. Since I've seen a lot more cleavage in other ads on non-plus size models, that judgement occupies my mind too but... back to the subject...

The bra's shape becomes a blank canvas which is true of all garments. Each one is an opportunity not only to be creative but also to perfect current skills or learn new ones. Yesterday, while I was working on the bra, my mind was busy with the forward shoulder question. I'm not interested in angling my shoulder seam forward almost an inch. I don't think that will look "normal". I'm also not interested in skewing the sleeves and most of the adjustments I've read about do exactly that and it's certainly what happened when I re-inserted the sleeve the other day. Since big names have developed those techniques, I could end up going in that direction however, I have an idea for the adjustment that I think will work easily without those issues. I just need to try it and I will soon. It's become the thing that I want to do next, my question of the hour.

THAT is one of the things I love about sewing. That it occupies my hands and my mind, makes me pay attention to details in the world around me, helps me to think outside the box, and develops my creative skills including thinking, organizing, resolving, comparing, and evaluating. It's a huge and satisfying energy force in my life. I can't imagine what people do with themselves who do not have a similar passion. Being creative permeates my entire life and exits through sewing.

Even overnight, the smell didn't dissipate enough and it's taken me a lot longer than normal to write this posting because my head is pounding. I feel like I haven't said what I wanted to say as wonderfully as I wanted to say it. However, I'll finish the bra this morning, wash everything, air out the studio, and decide what's next. It'll be whatever interests and amuses me because one of the reasons I sew is to have fun.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - washing machines

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Personal Growth - Have you ever become aware of a feeling that was growing just below the surface in your life, there but not recognized? I've realized in the last few days that I am angry at diabetes. It surprised me because of all the things that can happen to a child, diabetes is manageable. It's far preferable to the forms of cancer they tested him for when he was diagnosed. How hard that would have been. And even so, it is taking over my life, consuming copious amounts of time, money, and energy, and filtrates into every thing. While I don't physically have diabetes, as the primary caregiver, I emotionally do. It affects every single decision I make. I'm so angry that I don't even want to talk about it. I just want to ignore it and make it go away and of course, I can't and it won't. Oh joy - something else for me to figure out - VBG.

What I Could Have Learned

At the SB/RC workshop, Ron gave a demonstration on sewing men's waistbands. Since I was busy cutting out a blouse and had absolutely no intention of sewing men's pants, I skipped watching. Dumb. What I could have learned.




His method eliminates bulk by pulling the end around to the back with a fold rather than a seam at the edge. I have no idea how he actually does it. I only heard about it so mine is fudged. When I take the next workshop with him in September, I'll ask for a demo. Eliminate bulk - WHAT a good idea! Why wasn't I paying attention?



The other place I could learn more is with muslins. I've been using them but not USING them. After sewing these two blouses, I've decided it's not enough to sew the front and back together. If the blouse has a collar and sleeves, I need to add the collar and sleeves to the muslin as well. Sleeves make a big difference. I'll be much better informed using the muslin in that way. Luckily. I didn't do too bad with the McCall's 6035 above that became the raspberry blouse however, the Vogue 7903 is not going nearly so well.

RuthieK wrote: I have that blouse pattern but have not tried it yet. What's the sizing like? I have the one which goes up to a 14, but I would normally cut a 16.

I think you'll be able to work with the 14 because the shoulders are quite wide. I narrowed mine at least an inch. I'd HIGHLY recommend a muslin. After you read today's posting, you'll understand why my blouse became a muslin and you might scrap it or make major changes.

Sharon said: Thank you for posting the differences in the pattern range. I also heard she had incorporated round shoulder. Did this get mentioned?

The neck adjustments are for a rounded back. The shoulder wasn't mentioned specifically. However, some really weird things are happening with this sleeve on me so it's possible they were adjusted too. Below is what the sleeve looks like sewn in as per the pattern and hanging on Millicent (my dress form). You can see how much excess there is and that "flippy" bit behind the back cap curve. There's a lot of bicep width and the sleeve is not at all smooth. It seems as if the blouse back and/or the sleeve cap is too wide.




When I try the blouse on, the sleeve gets even worse because I need to do a forward shoulder adjustment. I noticed some wrinkles from the shoulder to the back neck on the raspberry blouse but this one is way worse and the twisting and wrinkling of the sleeve is far more pronounced. You can see the outline of my arm to see what I mean in the picture below. You can also clearly see the pressure point on my shoulder. It's quite a bit forward of the curve of the sleeve cap creating pulls at the curve and excess behind it.




When I dropped my son off at his music lesson yesterday, I stopped in to talk to Charlene at Anderson's Sewing Centre about this sleeve and she marked where the end of the shoulder seam should be. It's 7/8" forward. What's so funny is that she was exclaiming on and on about how pulled the shoulder looked and all that excess fabric behind the sleeve and how yucky it was and saying how lucky she was that she didn't have to do these kinds of adjustments when I said, yes you do. She looked in the mirror and sure enough, she has the same wrinkles, excess, and yucky. Many of us do after being curved over computers and sewing machine for years.




The front armhole is cutting into me while the back has a huge amount of excess. The sleeve is quite skewed. Later, I'll compare with the McCall's pattern and see what the differences are. THIS is NOT attractive.

Nor is THIS.




Last night, I took out the sleeve, rotated it forward to where Charlene had marked, stitched it back in and the cap lies somewhat better however the sleeve is even more twisted, and wrinkled. The fold you see gets even deeper and the sleeve looks wrapped around and into my armhole. It's very uncomfortable. I am NOT impressed.

I'm not going to go forward with this pattern right now. I need to sew one more top for the SWAP and since this is the last week, I want to get that finished first. After that, the bra for my daughter and a few alterations on some existing garments and then I'll get back to working on the forward shoulder adjustment although probably not with this pattern. I'll start by sewing the sleeves into the other muslin that I already have prepped adjusting one forward and leaving one as is to compare. I might draft a garment in PMB also to compare.

I'm not cleaning anything today. I spent 4 1/2 hours in the kitchen yesterday. That's enough for two days - LOL. It's shiny clean. How on earth does anyone do this deep cleaning while working full time? I've spent almost fifteen hours cleaning the upstairs of my house so far and I still haven't done the blinds, windows, lights, baseboards, or floors. What a LOT of work and it has to be done on occasion or we'd be overwhelmed with mess and stuff.

I'm going out for coffee this morning and then I'll decide what I need to sew for the SWAP and start on that. It'll be something quick. I only have two days. Maybe another t-shirt with some detailing.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - help from Charlene identifying the problem even if I don't quite know the solution yet.

What's Different About Today's Fit

Sandra Betzina designs a line of patterns for Vogue called Today's Fit. When I looked for the official language to describe the line, there wasn't anything on either the Vogue site or Sandra's. Strange. Paraphrasing, they are supposed to be designed more realistically for how women are actually shaped. In class, Sandra gave us a list. What's different about Today's Fit is:

... the bust point is dropped 7/8"
... the front is narrower and the back wider like RTW
... the front neckline is raised 1/4" while the back neckline is dropped 1/4"
... the waist and tummy are larger with a smaller waist to hip difference
... there is a larger sleeve bicep
... the sleeve ease is reduced to no more than 1 1/4"
... the armhole is higher
... the pant crotch is shaped like Burda. Apparently Sandra designed for Burda at one point.

BMV Club had an amazing offer yesterday. LOL - I didn't earn my $5.00. Instead, I bought ten, non-essential, not planning to use them right away, patterns for $32.30. I'm okay with that. Thirty dollars can be the regular price of some Vogue patterns. It's a really good deal.

I ordered two Butterick and eight of Today's Fit patterns so I can explore the differences more. If the patterns haven't appealed to you, look at the line drawings. Sometimes that makes a big difference. Many have the potential to be quite useful.

Because I had tried on the actual garments at the workshop, I knew more about the patterns which is probably why I ordered so many of Today's Fit. That and the differences intrigue me. These changes are ones that I normally make, like moving the sideseam forward, which means the patterns have a high potential to be T & T's. When I tried the pant muslin on in class, it fit fabulously so that crotch curve is worth investigating especially since many women with my shape like Burda pant patterns.




Right now, I'm sewing the Vogue 7903 blouse. When I made the muslin, I didn't know about the narrower front, wider back difference with the line so the sideseam was quite far forward. Being able to cut on one size was a nice change. I moved it back before cutting out the actual garment. Other than that, I added some width through the hips, shortened the dart length, and added 1/4" to the shoulder seam at the back neck tapered to the shoulder point for "fleshy" shoulders. That's it and so far, the piece in progress is sitting nicely on my shoulders. I need to hand stitch the collar band and then I can sew the sideseams and try it on again.




The fabric is weird. It looks like a denim shirt fabric but it feels fake. It has drape but somehow it's plasticy. It presses but only with a lot of effort. It's hard to describe. I wonder if I'll like it when it's finished. I may like the look but not the feel.

One thing I won't like for sure is how short this blouse is. That's one of the "issues" with workshops. It's so easy to forget that you wanted to make a change - like adding two inches to the length - one for the inch I took out through the armhole and another because I think it's needed. I meant to; I didn't. After the blouse is finished, I'll see how it worked out but I'm pretty sure I'll be adding length next time and making it in a much nicer fabric, maybe a real denim shirting.

Sandra suggested ending the back darts at the high hip level instead of extending them to the hemline. Right now, they look kind of poky. I'll see when it's finished. In the front, I extended the darts to the hem because the muslin had a flippy look. I'm not sure why I think I have such a big stomach when I'm constantly flattening the front. That should tell me something but apparently it's not sinking in.

This morning, I am cleaning the kitchen which will be a long and not that fun task however, I'm looking forward to it being finished, clean, shiny, and fresh. AND... it's Wednesday and Wendy will come to sew tonight so I will get lots of sewing in this afternoon and evening. At least, I hope so. I'm ready to be finished with this blouse. I want to work on my daughter's bra next.

Knitting went back and forth yesterday. I've knit the plain stockinette stitch section of the sweater back three times. The first time, there were too many stitches so I went down a needle size and it was still too wide so I decreased stitches but went up a needle size thinking that would work based on my gauge and it was still too wide so this last time I went with the decreased stitches and the smaller needle and it's working. I find it strange that I can make a gauge but when I'm knitting the actual thing, somehow it's different. Have to figure that out.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - my oldest son was awarded a position in the IT department at the university he attends. It's a great place to work with a more than decent salary and has the potential for a full time position once he graduates. As well, it looks like he'll get to take some summer courses at a discounted rate. YES YES!

Knit Was It

The last time I sewed - twenty years ago - I sewed a lot of blouses and wore them all the time. Then babies, body changes, and working from home happened and I ended up forever in t-shirts, or so it seemed. It was impossible to buy a blouse that fit and I had no time to sew so... knit was it.

Since then, I've realized that I'm not comfortable in the typical, crisp, button down blouse and I especially do NOT want anything fastened right up to my neck. Even so, I thought a blouse would be pretty and now, I have one. YES YES - This raspberry fabric is a soft, rayon batik. It's lightweight with drape and flow. Far more me than crisp.




Even though it has been a long time, I still remember blouse sewing details like attaching the collar stand right side to wrong side so that when the collar lays open, the stitched part is revealed while the hand stitching is tucked underneath the collar. Works like wonderful. Be careful to keep the top upward when you attach the collar. It's easy to get it turned around.




Way too many patterns have way too much sleeve ease. This one - McCall's 6035 - fit nicely through the back as you can see in this picture but...




... had almost 2" of ease through the front of the sleeve cap. You can't spread that out between the notches because the center point at the top of the sleeve cap needs to match the shoulder seam or the sleeves will hang twisted. I couldn't ease that much extra fabric in smoothly without the puckering you see in the picture below AND... there was no need to. A sleeve doesn't require extra ease. Stitching the ease lines should pull the cap in enough without gathering.




On the front only, I slashed from the sleeve cap to the seam allowance on the opposite side and then overlapped the edges 1/2" to remove 1" of ease. As you can see, this shifted the position of the pattern on the previously cut sleeve taking out ease along the cap and shifting the one side. I pressed the two sleeves right sides together, re-pinned the pattern, and re-cut the sleeves.

When they were inserted again, the back continued to fit smoothly and the puckers were completely gone from the front sleeve cap. MUCH better.

Where in the past I would have put up with puckers or even with buttonholes on the wrong side, I've since learned that if I can, I want to make it better. Doing my best at each stage is a personal choice. It's one that I made with my textile work and it advanced my skills considerably. I want to do the same with fashion sewing. There's no rush. I can take the time to do my best especially when I see something to correct. That's how skills are developed - practice, practice, practice.

It's knitting day. Kyle has a doctor's appointment. After that, I'll drive him to school, and then go. I had to rip back yesterday. The sweater was getting too wide above the lace ribbing. I wanted to do that at home and pick up the stitches carefully. I did. Now, it's ready for straight stockinette stitching. I should make a lot of progress knitting at the doctor's office, at arts & crafts, and at knit night. YEAH.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - Becel has developed a vegan margarine with only 0.2% soy lecithin and only the possibility of 0.2% corn. That was low enough to take the risk. I tried it yesterday. It was good. YEAH - butter on muffins, butter on vegetables, butter for icing, butter, butter, butter - or as good as it gets. YES YES YES

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Personal Growth - O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art. - hymn originating with Carl Gustaf Broberg, 1849-1940, Sweden

We sang hymns in both the morning and the evening services of the church I grew up in. I love to sing and Sundays were one of the few opportunities I had each week. To this day, hymns resonate with me. Many are committed to memory and pop into my mind at the strangest of moments. The hymn above, How Great Thou Art, is a particular favourite.

God is powerful beyond amazing and yet he doesn't always act in the ways that we wish he would. Because of that, life often fails to make sense. We're human. We question. That's the way we were created.

Standing at my living room window, I look down at the houses below me. Two in with a dark roof is the home of a couple who married about five or six years ago. She lost her first husband, he lost his first wife, to cancer. She had two small children; he had two grown children. They fell in love and it seemed a perfect mix. Now, her oldest son, thirteen, is dying of a rare brain tumor, the same one that his Dad died from. It seems so unfair, so unjust. My heart aches. If you think of them, please pray for Zach and his family.

A Sewful Weekend

This is what my studio looked like at 5:00 on Saturday morning. The sewing machine was sitting in a puddle of sunlight that streamed across and over to ...

... the work island infusing everything in its path with a golden glow. If you have to be up at such an early hour, it's wonderful to be greeted by sunshine. Later in the day, the storm clouds rolled in and we had a mixed bag of weather. Doesn't matter. I had a wonderful beginning. I was up...




... so early to get ready for the day, drive across town, pick up my son from his friend's birthday party sleep-over, and drive him back for an early shift at work. Six-thirty in the morning found me at the Starbucks midway picking up a bold - wake me up - coffee. I'm sure the barristas were glad to have customers since they had to be up too although I wasn't the only one there. On the way, the sunlight filtering through the spring leaves and glistening on the river made for a beautiful drive.




I spent all day Friday in the studio - literally - from 9:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night. It was FABULOUS. I finished most of the blouse and sewed the buttons on Saturday, right after making and then picking out seven buttonholes on the wrong side. It seemed strange but I'd checked twice. I was wrong twice. Luckily, they picked out nicely. Thirty-five years sewing and I can still do something so dumb. Too funny. I have more details about the blouse - tomorrow. On Saturday...

... I finished the denim skirt. I'd worn it around the studio on Friday and decided to take out the side seam 1/8" allowing for another 1/2" of ease. It's not much but it made the difference between nicely fitted and too tight. I'm definitely on the over-fitting end of things. I have to be careful about that. Who needs ease for movement? Sit down - why? I'll just stand here and look gorgeous - LOL!

Here are the wonderful details on the back. It seems a shame to have gone to so much work only to wear the blouse over top but that's the way it is. I rarely tuck anything in although...

This is the last week for sewing for SWAP. Next week I'll need to take photos. To highlight this skirt, I'll tuck something in, probably the pink paisley t-shirt I made in January, maybe with a belt and my pink heels. First, I need to count clothes, make sure I have enough, sew whatever is left, and consider photography combos.

I've booked to take another three day workshop with Ron Collins in September. I'll need spending money and space in my stash so when I was driving back from Nanaimo I made a deal with myself. For every day that I do NOT buy something that I don't need (with need defined as use immediately) I "earn" $5.00 and for every day that I buy ONLY what I need, and nothing else, I still "earn" $5.00 because it takes herculean strength for me to resist fabric on sale. You just know an agreement like that is going to be tested - VBG.

I've done pretty good (eleven days) so far by simply not going to the fabric store only on Saturday, I needed covered buttons for the raspberry blouse. When I walked into Fabricland, there were 70% off signs everywhere. Oh the temptation.

Putting on blinders, I walked past the till, down the aisle between the thread and the buttons keeping as far away from the fabric as I could get, walked straight to the notions wall, picked up the covered buttons, retraced my steps, paid asap, and left immediately. I darn near did the happy dance when I got back out into the mall. I didn't even touch. YES YES - yeah me!

The really funny things is the buttons wouldn't cover well. Two layers of fabric was too thick. A layer plus interfacing was too thick. One layer showed through shiny. Painting the metal didn't help and then... they were low quality, bent easily, didn't press in well, and looked yucky. I guess it was a learning opportunity on how to resist temptation. I ended up using some buttons from stash.

I wore the skirt and blouse on Sunday. Above is the front with my zebra necklace bought in Nanaimo and below is the back. I'll narrow the shoulders and shorten the sleeves slightly next time otherwise I'm really happy with how it fits.

This morning, I'm taking my son for his monthly blood test. Then, I'm going to - finally - clean the bathroom cabinets, go for a walk, and then work on the second blouse from my trip. It's a light, denim blue, color. Not sure what I was thinking. It looks so pale. Hopefully, I'll enjoy it finished. Have a great day.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - two days sewing, two garments finished

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Personal Growth - I can't remember the exact wording however, one of the points in yesterday's sermon was about the root of temptation, which is wanting more rather than being content with what we have. Always wanting more makes me incredibly unhappy. I'm forever chasing rainbows. When I'm content with what I have, it seems that more somehow filters into my life. I believe that God will not give us more until we show contentment with, and solid responsibility around, the "little".

A few years ago, I started making recycled art using whatever I had. Typically, I started with an old quilt top and developed it into a new piece. It became a whole new way of working and resulted in tremendous growth in my artistic abilities and several online and in real life workshops. Now, I see that same way of thinking showing up in my fashion sewing. By working with the little, I am able to create more.

The ability to create something wonderful - or at least useful - from something useless moved over into other areas of my life as well. I noticed it again last week when I was cutting up the strongest cardboard boxes from cereal or granola bars to use as containers for assorted baking supplies. I never would have done that years. I'd have bought new, matching containers. Now I see uses for old things.

One HUGE statement is that I'm happy where I live. We have moved a lot and it took a lot of moves for me to realize that any time I didn't want to deal with something, I'd move because moving kept me busy for at least 6-12 months. When we moved to this house, I took a year off work and everything bubbled up to the surface. It was a rough year. One of the best and the worst of my life. I had stuff to deal with and now that I have, I don't want to move any more. I don't want a bigger better house. All houses are virtually the same. It's what you do within them that makes a home.

I'm starting to move in new directions with money. For a long time, we've managed well however, I want to manage superbly. A friend just paid of her mortgage. I want to pay off mine too. A few weeks ago, I wrote the last tuition cheque (2010-2011) and paid the last re-registration fee and the last parent participation fee. There is grad and transportation left to pay for and then I'm done paying for school. That money can move in paying down debt directions. I find that incredibly encouraging. Along with my studio spending agreement and my increased awareness of want over need, this is going to make a tremendous difference. I know that suddenly there will be more in less because my eyes are open to see.

I'm not sure where this learning may lead. Nowhere or somewhere. It doesn't really matter. I am, and am learning to be, increasingly content. I am learning to walk around the temptation of wanting more just because and to be happy with what I have. It is good and enough.

A Very Grumpy Girl

The harder I try, the further behind I'm getting. Interesting week. It should have been vastly productive. It's been anything but. On Monday, I woke up fresh and excited thinking that I'd get my blouse... and my skirt... and my other blouse sewn this week and so far nothing... absolutely nothing... is getting sewn. Doesn't it just make you want to scream sometimes. I've picked out the stay stitching and pinned on the collar band. That's it. Total sum of yesterday's endeavours.

My girlfriend showed up around nine. She was here until noon and left with a lovely piece of thread lace that I completely forgot to take a picture of. I thought she was bringing her own sewing machine. She didn't. She used mine. I knit. She wore perfume. I got a headache. Knitting was understandably slow. I'm just past the ribbing and into the main body of the sweater. That - at least - is looking good.

Kyle was home sick. Aryck had his last exam in the morning and got home just before my friend left. He's now an unemployed student with two interviews on Monday. Hopefully one turns into his summer job. The most exciting thing I did late afternoon was make meatloaf with mashed potatoes, gravy, and baked cauliflour - LOL. We had a lovely dinner.

The bathroom cabinets did not get cleaned and I won't be cleaning today. I'd scheduled the kitchen but I have no desire to spend hour upon hour cleaning the cabinets, fridge, and stove. Monday. Maybe. Today, all day, I absolutely MUST sew or I will be a very grumpy girl. Hopefully I can report the finish of my blouse and skirt asap - VBG.

About Monday's 200th posting - I've received several concerned emails wanting to reassure me that I and my blog are liked. I'm glad. Thank you. However, please know that that wasn't my concern. I'm not feeling unloved. My point was that I know I march to a different drummer and I'm more than okay with that. In fact, it's the way I'd rather be most of the time. I have my moments just like everyone else. Numbers are simply interesting data when considering a business idea. I'm very entrepreneurial minded. I can't help but be aware of numbers. It's in my genes. I'm equally aware that it's important to look at numbers in perspective.

As I said, the last time I went into business I wanted to be wildly successful in a traditional sense. This time - depending on what happens in the fall - wildly successful would mean something on a much smaller scale and would simply extend where I'm at now. Since turning forty, I've been increasingly unconcerned about what "they" might want. I am doing what interests me and those who are also interested are welcome to follow along - or not. Either way, it is and will be great. What is meant to be will be. As Jeremiah 29:11 promises - I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Wishing you a sewful weekend - Myrna

Grateful - Spending ALL DAY in the studio. YES YES

Progress - Sort Of!

Yesterday was sort of productive and sort of not. I really wanted to make significant progress on the raspberry blouse. I didn't. First, I finished the regular housekeeping. Then, I sorted through all the containers in the living and dining room. After that, I made a stir fry for lunch and a pot of soup for dinner. And then - right when it was (finally) time to sew - the power went out and stayed out until dinner time.

On Wednesday nights, my friend Wendy comes to sew. We've been spending most Wednesday nights together for about seven years. She's learning how to quilt and this is her only sewing time. Each project literally takes years. Yesterday, she reached a milestone point finishing stitching and starting pressing the hundreds of blocks for her queen size quilt - which meant she was using the work island - which I also needed to use - which meant I did something else. The only thing I sewed all day yesterday was the collar. That is progress - sort of.




Knitting on Tuesday night had been equally progressive. I started the night making a sample gauge and after three hours of knitting, it was back in a ball with nothing to show for my time. Somehow, I couldn't get a handle on the pattern. I guess there's a reason why ribbing is my favourite stitch - LOL. Last night, I conquered it. Yes, Yes, more progress. I'm replacing the 2 x 2 rib on this....

... Sirdar 9018 cardigan with the lacy ribbed pattern. I'm also lengthening it and changing the neckline and I will probably knit the button band right on. In other words, it won't look anything at all like the pattern when I'm done. It's just a guideline to sizing.

Did I mention that my sweetheart shrunk a bunch of my favourite sweaters including three black ones and since I wear black a lot, I'm feeling rather naked. It's a good thing this is an easy knit. Oh - I think I did mention it when I said I was knitting a shrug. I've paused on that project because the bottom edge was curling quite badly and I need to figure out how to get it to lay right otherwise I won't like it when I'm finished. I may use a different yarn. It's acrylic so blocking doesn't work as well.

This morning, a friend is coming to learn how to make thread lace. Instead of three hours cleaning, I'm do the bathroom cabinets. There's one large one with five drawers and four cupboards, a taller one with towels and lotions, and another over the toilet with diabetic supplies. Not too many labels to read. It should be a quick clean. Good. After that, I'd really, Really, REALLY like to make some progress on the raspberry blouse. It'd be great if I finished it and the skirt for Sunday. This is starting to feel like wishful thinking.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - electricity

Three Bags Full

Temperatures yesterday were summer warm. At 9:00 last night, when I was driving home from knitting, there were LOTS of people out walking. The weather has been the strangest thing this year. We barely had winter and now summer seems to be on fast forward. Look at my cherry tree. I was greeted by blossoms this morning.




It amazes me every time I do a deep cleaning - which is typically once or twice a year - how much stuff there is to give away. We're not buyers so I can't imagine where it comes from or how much more there would be if we were buyers. These three "bags" full are just from our bedroom. The one on the left is actual garbage, the one in the middle is clothing for the second hand store, and the pile on the right is of t-shirts cut up for shop rags and jeans cut up to refashion into something. I'm not sure what yet. The denim just seemed too useful to throw away. Howard had a LOT of old jeans stacked in his closet.




We have a walk in closet in our hallway for coats and shoes. All sorts of things get stuffed in there over a season. By the time I'd cleaned out it and the two pantry closets in the hallway, I had all these piles to give away and another pile of garbage. The give aways include winter coats, snow pants, and shoes. There is still some sporting gear to sort through. The piles grew and the closet looks open and clean. There's such a visible difference that even the men in my life noticed though it'd be hard not to with all this stuff piling up in the living room although...

... Monday - after I'd been cleaning in my bedroom for a couple hours - my son asked me "how long does it take to unpack?" which totally cracked me up. I was unpacked from my holiday half an hour after I got home. He knows I do it that way so I'm not sure why he thought I was still unpacking but funny. He said "oh" when I said "I'm not unpacking; I'm cleaning". Today, I need to do regular house keeping, especially the bathrooms, and then sort out the armoire and drawers in the living/dining rooms. After that ...




... some more sewing. I got a little bit done yesterday afternoon before knitting. I'm working on the McCall's 6035 blouse I started in Nanaimo. The fronts are top stitched, the shoulder seams sewn, all the seams finished and pressed, and the hems serged. Next is the collar and collar band. I waited to cut them out in case I made any adjustments to the shoulder seam to account for a "fleshy back". They don't seem to be necessary so... moving on. Wendy is coming tonight to sew. I'd be thrilled if I got this blouse finished. Considering how much I've been dragging my behind, that might be too much to hope for but... we'll see.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - gorgeous weather and progress cleaning

One A Day Plus Walk

If spring cleaning is old fashioned, than I am too! I don't like the actual act of cleaning but I love a clean home especially a sparkly spring clean one. It feels good to sift, sort, clean, and clear the house until everything is tidy and fresh again, pushing out the clutter and opening up a world of possibilities. Typically, I give it a mad push, do it all at once, and finish in a few days. This year, things are a bit different.

In the past, I've cleaned cupboards, closets, drawers, boxes, and baskets, and that's it. We've moved so often that I didn't have to worry about anything else. I either bought new walls or painted old ones. This year, we're staying put and we're not redecorating which means I'll be washing walls and windows, light fixtures, doors, floors, blinds, and baseboards too. Hopefully, I will that is. I have no idea if I have the stamina for all that.

I've decided to do one task a day and then take a walk. Yesterday, I cleaned the closets and drawers in our bedroom and bathroom including my jewelry chest. It took three hours. I'm nothing if not thorough. Today, I hope to do the hall closets. Already, I'm tired - VBG. I can imagine coming up with excuses. I hope I don't. I hope I persevere.




My closet is yet, still, again sorted through. More clothes went into the too big pile and some of the clothes I was storing in the too small box now fit. YES YES - perfect timing for summer. I wish this lace knit top was another three or four inches longer otherwise, I really like the fit, the shape of the neckline, the lettuce edges, and the three quarter sleeves. I'm going to measure it for future projects. It needs something underneath so perhaps I'll make (or buy) a longer camisole to extend the length.




There were two pairs of denim capri pants in the box, both hemmed at awkward lengths right on the fat part of my leg. The one pair is quite tight still which is surprising since it's an eleven and I tried on a size five the other day. That just goes to show that sizing is simply a number. The pair above is looser, a bit on the big side, but that's okay. I'll shorten them to just above the knee length perhaps with a cuff and they'll be good for summer. I've been worrying about summer and what I'll wear. I have almost no clothes and even though I'm sewing steady, I can't seem to get caught up because my size keeps changing. Re-fashioning a few things will help like...

... this skirt. It has two layers with lacy flippy bottoms. I bought this one and four others on sale for $4.99 each in Portland a few years ago. They became my summer "shorts" since I rarely wear shorts due to ugly varicose veins. One skirt was damaged somehow and thrown out. I can't even remember what it looked like but below are the four remaining. I'd like to shorten or reshape them in some way to add a bit of variety. Other than the fabric, they're exactly the same. Yawn, yawn, boring. When I alter them, I'll take the elastic waists in tighter too. They're slightly too big. I wouldn't want them to accidentally get pulled off when I stand up and my skirt doesn't.

I cleaned my husband's closet as well. In the thirty years we've known each other, this is the second time I've cleaned his closet. It's a task. He's a keeper. He throws absolutely nothing out including worn out belts, smelly insoles, bent hangers, plastic bags with receipts in them, and numerous other you've got to be kidding things. Together, we are a minimalist and a keeper. What a good combo - LOL.

Howard is an inverted triangle, wider on top and narrower through the hips. He doesn't look the best in bulky sweaters. As you know, I'm a triangle which means I'm used to adding bulk on top which means I have on occasion bought him the wrong kind of sweater. This one is a dark black with blocks in grey and lime. LOL - it was the color I loved when I bought it so it's perfect for me. I have plans to cut it and...

... this ribbed chenille sweater up to make something for myself. The second one could be harder. I seem to remember that chenille runs badly. Does anyone have experience with re-fashioning old sweaters and/or with chenille? Any tips?

These plaster moulds of his feet cracked me up. Who keeps these things? Wouldn't they be fun as stepping stones in the garden? When I told Howard that he said no, no, no, we have to keep those in case I need in-soles again, it'll save us hundreds of dollars. I explained that feet change and you'd want current moulds if you were investing that kind of money. A clear glaze and into the garden they should go IMHO. Then again - we could try some reverse pride. Instead of moulds of our baby's feet, we could give our kids moulds of their Dad's feet. Too funny!

This morning is knitting. I'm debating going or not. It feels like I have too much I want to do to give up a morning a week especially when I go knitting again in the evening. I'd much rather sew than knit and that's not at all portable. We'll see. Have a great day.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - I've been blessed with so much that I have both the responsibility to care for it and the opportunity to sift, sort, clean, clear, and refashion or recycle it.

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Personal Growth - In a comment yesterday Elisabeth said - there are ways to advertise your blog (Facebook, Twitter). I'm not sure that's where you'd like to spend your energy... EXACTLY. Those days are over. I refer to the early days of my career in quilting as my prostitution phase - a time when I sold my personal creativity by providing what others would buy. I didn't do what interested me. I did what "they" wanted. Not anymore.

I've no interest in marketing myself. What will be, will be. Now a days, I go my way, talking about what interests me, sharing what I'm working on, writing and teaching because I love to and allowing those who are interested to walk along with me.

Stats interest me in that they help to make more reasonable decision BUT they don't control my life. If I go back into business, and if I am a success, it will be because others are interested in what I have to share, because of positive word of mouth, and because of divine intervention. I won't be working my butt off or breaking the bank to make it happen. As Carol said, I blog for my benefit and I'm pretty sure my readers are like minded, not needing to stand up and shout that we're here although I very much appreciate all of you who commented yesterday. Thanks.

200 - A Collection Of Thoughts

Every one hundred postings is an opportunity to assess how things are going, what direction I'm actually moving in and which direction I'd rather be moving in. This 200th posting is a collection of thoughts. It meanders just as my life meanders at the moment.

This cherry tree grows just outside my kitchen window. It's absolutely gorgeous, tinged with the fresh lime green of spring. On Saturday, I watched it unfurl from tight buds into the soft ripple of opening leaves. Soon blossoms will appear and eventually dark, sweet cherries, the kind that are good for eating by the handful.

Almost everyone loves our cherry tree and eagerly picks the fruit in late summer. I'm not almost everyone. I don't particularly like fruit and I'm not at all fond of cherries or any fruit that squirts when you bite into it. That makes me somewhat strange living in a part of the country known for its orchards. It appears I eat as much fruit in a year as some people eat in a day.

A month ago, Carolyn of Diary of a Sewing Fanatic, linked my blog in a posting. Over that weekend, almost six hundred people visited and of those only a handful signed up as followers. In the weeks following, the stats barely shifted and, after a brief moment in the spotlight, life on the blog had returned to normal.

While other authors and instructors taught the how to and basics of quilting, during my career I achieved the most satisfaction from teaching about creating independent pattern free work, textile art, and the fundamentals of art and design along with creativity coaching. My passion was and is to encourage people - women in particular - to know themselves, to be true to that knowledge, to grasp life fully, and to follow their bliss. My primary audience was either a small smattering of quilters who wanted to take their work in artistic directions or a small smattering of artists who wanted to work in an unusual medium. As an artist and as an author and instructor, my work was alternative rather than mainstream. I refer to that as living on the edge. The edge seems to be my place.

In the time that I've been writing this blog, I've watched the readership on other blogs double or triple. In one case, readership has gone from zero to just under 1,000 and that's only the registered followers, not readers like myself who visit daily but haven't subscribed. Some blogs are posted so erratically with weeks, even months, in-between postings that I wonder what draws people to them and yet their readership is high, much higher than mine. Obviously, my way of being does not have mass appeal.

That I march to a different drummer is not a new awareness. It's something I discovered early in life, first in grade school and especially in high school. I didn't fit the norm. This is something I see again each time I attempt to become part of some organized grouping. I never was, and never will be, girl most popular. I'm too challenging, too intense, too opinionated, too outspoken, too intimidating - or so I'm told - for mass appeal and that's okay. I'd rather be all that than average or normal, words that I equate with boring.

Psychologist say that our number one need is for acceptance and that our number one fear is of rejection. Oprah phrases it differently. She says that we all want to know do you see me, do I matter. Both of these views are true and yet I believe we cannot rely on external measures of our worth. Success, happiness, and self acceptance can only come from within. They are a gift that we give ourselves. Our happiness is our choice. I am happy.

It'd be easy to look at statistics and say I am not seen, I do not matter, and yet statistics are simply data. Data can be manipulated and - by our own choice - interpreted in numerous ways some of which are healthy and some of which are not. Having marched to a different drummer my entire life, I choose not to be devastated by the reality that I'm not girl most popular and instead embrace my uniqueness and eccentricity because I am not alone. There is a percentage of the population that is just like me.

Typically that percentage includes strong, intelligent, interesting, and accomplished women who value individuality, creativity and ongoing learning just as I do. These are people I enjoy being around when I have the opportunity. It's this somewhat small percentage that I've been thinking about a lot lately as I think about what's next in my life. I knew that given time and space the answer to the question - what do I want to do next? - would appear. On the drive back from my retreat, it appeared as a return to the familiar with a new twist only - after that teaser - I'm not going to talk about it in detail yet although I'm excited, taking notes, and giving it space in which to come - or not - to fruition.

While there will always be periods of the unknown, I don't believe in a lifetime of aimless wandering. I believe in making life happen for me rather than hoping it will happen to me. Hoping doesn't accomplish much. Action does. My passion is to support and encourage other people - particularly women - to their best and my skills and abilities are all about the creative. Being in Nanaimo, with a classroom of women and with Ron and Sandra, confirmed that I am just as skilled and just as creative with fashions as I was with textile art. It confirmed that my answer lies in that direction.

In September, when school begins again and life returns to the comfortable pace of fall, if I'm still as excited as I am now and still as confident of the direction, I'll begin and I'll tell you about it then. Right now, I'm appreciating this combination of calm and excitement that has given a new grounding to my life. After almost a year of wandering, the possibility of feeling settled exists once again.

Twenty years ago, my goal was to be a BIG NAME in quilting. I wanted to write wildly popular books, develop amazing new techniques, invent life changing tools, and travel to teach internationally. I imagined jet setting to Europe or Australia. I imagined being "it" all of which now seems strange. Twenty years later, that's the last thing I want. My goals are much smaller and far more personal. They focus around exploring my own creativity, growing myself up, spending time with family and friends, encouraging others, doing work that stimulates me, and above all else maintaining balance.

As I age, balance has becoming increasingly important to me. Balance was completely lost the last time I went into business and balance is something I am determined to maintain as I think about opening a business once again. Balance is not just work and play. Balance is giving and receiving, it is learning and sharing, it is resting and moving, it is noise and silence, it is spending and earning, it is the present and the future, it is everything and anything but easy.

My position in life is somewhat blissful. I'm not working and yet I have a reasonable amount of money to spend on the things that interest me. I have daily and emotionally heavy obligations and yet I have six or seven hours each day in which to do as I please. I have another fourteen months of serious and unchangeable commitments that center around others and yet, after that, my options are personal and wide open. I have choices.

Between now and fall - with the possible start of my new project - my goal is to develop a balanced routine that includes both the practical and the creative things that I want to do. Some I've talked about before like regular exercise, cooking most meals, better fiscal management, and maintaining household chores and some include learning new skills, pushing my creativity, writing more effectively, and becoming even more comfortable in my own skin. I hope my 300th posting - and those in-between - points to increased success in these areas.

Thanks for letting me meander - Myrna

Grateful - a sense of direction, a pending plan

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Personal Growth - Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established. - Proverbs 16: 3

Years ago, I adopted this verse as my mantra only I had it wrong. In my immaturity, I thought it was I who decided what I wanted to do and informed God and he who would be compelled to make me a success because he had promised. LOL - manipulating God is not a good idea.

The truth is to commit to doing what God has called me to do - to fulfilling my unique and individual role - with his help and therefore his success. No manipulation necessary. He who made me, who formed me to be exactly who I am, who has promised me abundant life, will create for me purposeful, meaningful, and fulfilling work that utilizes my God given skills and abilities AND maintains my priorities and healthy balance.

I used to worry that if I left it up to God I'd end up doing work I didn't want to do. Another immature thought and not one I need to worry about any longer. God's work will be work that I enjoy. What a relief. In my ignorance, I certainly don't want to run off in wrong directions. Been there, done that. Instead, I'll spend the next few months watching for the signs that this idea I'm weighing and measuring is God's plan knowing that if it is, all will be well and if it is not, something else will appear.

The Green Cardigan

Minus the buttons, the green cardigan is finished with a mixed review. I'm glad that I had the confidence to simply pick up the needles, start, and see what happened. The end result is a pleasing design. The overall color is fabulous and the flecks of other colors add interest. The shaping works well. Tried on, it fits perfectly. The crochet edging along the hems pulled them back out smoothly and created a bulk free join when I used it to cast on the collar. That was a what if idea that I explored and learned a new technique from. All this is wonderful. What I don't like is...




... the feel of the yarn. It's thin, loose, easily pulled out of shape, fuzzy, and way too warm. It was purchased several years ago when I first returned to knitting. Since then, I've learned that I prefer a firmer yarn with a smooth surface and that I'm uncomfortable in fuzzy garments. They make me feel crafty and bulky as opposed to creative and sophisticated. At some point, I'll re-knit the shape in a that's more like Myrna yarn - one that I'd actually wear - and it will be much better.




When I'm away on a retreat, I never shop at malls. In my opinion, malls have become boring and repetitive. They're so much the same that it feels like you've never left home. Instead, I go to independent and high end clothing, consignment, fabric, and yarn shops. My shopping is all about gathering ideas and turning them into garments that I'll enjoy wearing and ones that will express my inner self outward.

On my last trip, I picked up two individual knitting patterns - one for a sweater that I tried on in the store and another for an unusual poncho for a child. I also bought two European magazines that I hadn't seen before called Phildar, which is French, and Verena Knitting, which is put out by Burda. I didn't know that Burda had a knitting magazine and was pleased to see that it is more edgy just like their sewing one. Both magazines contained patterns that were significantly different from North American styles.

On the drive back, I spent a lot of time thinking about why I create. It's partly because I enjoy the process and the results - how the act of creating turns raw ingredients into something amazing. It's partly because that's how my mind works. I get it. Ideas bubble constantly and my hands can't be still. Not creating is unimaginable. And, it's partly because I want to be unique, not a carbon copy of someone else or of what's in style. I want to be my best expression of me. How is that accomplished? That's a question I return to again and again.

Right now, I'm sewing a jean skirt and two blouses. Those garments do not sound unique at all. Many women wear jean skirts and blouses except that my jean skirt is blue shot with red and glimmers purple. That's a detail that differs from ordinary blue denim. It seems to me that our individual uniqueness is in the details and the delivery.

Individual uniqueness is in the way we dress ourselves, our combination of color, texture, and shape, and how we combine garments with accessories like jewelry, shoes, and bags. It's also in our personality and our self confidence which is both beautiful and attractive. Confidence says I'm okay with myself, I don't need your opinion to make me feel better. I'm already there. That's magnetic. I'm working on both my uniqueness and my confidence. It's a life long journey.

Contrary to what I may have wished I'd done yesterday, I moved slow and did very little. My husband is so glad to have me home. It made me feel special. To thank him, I took him out a latte at work. Then I ran a few errands, did the banking, washed the fabric, and read a book. Today, I want to sew only the sun is shining and it's beautiful outside. I think I'll start by going for a walk.

Have a great day and weekend. Talk Monday - Myrna

Grateful - the time and space to explore aspects of life that are higher on the hierarchy of needs than basic survival. What a gift.

The Treasure Hunt

The drive down was unbelievably windy with blowing snow and limited visibility. The drive back was clear with blue skies and sunshine. Weird what a difference a week makes. I arrived home around 3:30 yesterday afternoon and by 4:30 everything was unpacked and I was napping on the couch.




Above are "the world's best" tweezers and three rolls of 1/4" fusible tape in black, white, and bias. The tape is made in Japan and quite pricey. Each roll is $20.00. It's fabulous. I know because I saw it demonstrated and got to try it.

Most workshop instructors share techniques and notions and typically, the further away they come from, the more likely you are to hear about some thing that you didn't even know existed. If you're lucky, you'll be able to buy whatever it is right at the workshop like I did. I'm not sure if Kathy got these notions in first or if Sandra and Ron recommended them first. It doesn't matter. What I do know is that not only is she a fabulous workshop organizer, she carries quality products at her shop - the Snip & Stitch in Nanaimo, BC, Canada.




Sandra wrote More Fabric Savvy years ago. It was the only one of her books that I didn't already own and I should have. It's an incredible resource. Each page talks about a different fabric, how to pretreat it, what seam finishes to use, what kind of needles to use, what kind of thread to use, and all kinds of other great info. Already I've learned to use a smaller jeans needle and cotton thread on rayon for better results. I didn't know that before but what a difference.




In class, we were able to try on Sandra's clothing. There was something about the Vogue 1124 cardigan I didn't really like and something about it I did. I think I can work with the pattern. The Vogue 1061 hooded tunic looked absolutely amazing on everyone. It's a miracle garment. The back is made with separate pieces. You don't have to mark all those lines. The Vogue 1164 wrap top was equally popular. Using her technique for fusing the neckline, it looked good on women of all different chest sizes and the closure can be moved to make it higher or lower. Vogue 8630 is a pattern I'd been thinking about buying and picked up since they had a Vogue sale on at the time. I really like the collar.




Kathy had a LOT of knit fabrics for sale. I didn't buy any. Her regular prices were higher than I typically pay. I'm quite cheap when it comes to fabric. I have the time and the desire to snoop out a good deal so unless I am really, Really, REALLY in love with it, it's a no go. The three knits above are from the bargain center and the sale table at the Nanaimo Fabricland. The one far left was $3.00 a meter. I have no idea what the regular price was. The purple one was regular $12.00 a meter on sale for $3.60 and the one far right was regular $24.00 a meter on sale for $6.20. Those prices are much more my style. We went to the Fabricland three times while we were there. There isn't much fabric choice in Yellowknife so Caroline was having a fabulous time. Her suitcase was quite full - LOL.




One of the students in the class, Linda, was the instructor who taught the bra making workshop last October. She brought a pattern and bra making supplies for me. This bag is enough for five bras and - including the pattern - cost $100.00 which would divide to $20.00 each although the pattern would get amortized over however many more I make. These are for my daughter. She wears a difficult to find and extraordinarily expensive size. A typical bra for her costs $200.00. That's ridiculous. We're going to start with basic black and once I have the sizing perfected move on to....




... other colors and styles like this gorgeous lime and lace bra of Alison's, another one of the workshop students. She too had taken Linda's bra making workshop and brought a whole suitcase full of bras to show her/us. This one was my favourite for obvious reasons - lime being my favourite color. She dyed the fabric and notions. Fun.

Howard laughed when I told him that I'd stopped at several Fabricland stores on the drive home. In Chilliwack, I picked up this organza with ribbon embroidery. There was one meter left in the discount section for $5.00. That's enough to have fun with. On the floor, this fabric would have been over $30.00 a meter. That's why I haunt the bargains. I like to save money and I like unique finds like...




... this bead and leather necklace I found at A To Zebra. Isn't that gorgeous? LOL - you might not agree. This is one of my favourite dress shops in Nanaimo and quite luckily I had to walk by it every day from the parking lot to the workshop.

On Monday morning, I drove Caroline to the airport and then spent the day shopping in the old town center where the Boca Cafe is. That's the cafe I told you about in October that makes the gluten free foods. They were serving carrot ginger soup and chocolate cake. YUMMY.

Across the street is Betsy's Place, a consignment shop. What I love about high end dress shops is exploring the details on clothes I can't afford. What I love about consignment shops is finding those same clothes at doable prices. Can you tell that I want to look like a million dollars while dressing on a dime? Too fun.




The leather belt has a weathered look like old denim, two rows of eyelets top and bottom, and a brass buckle. It doesn't seem to have been worn much. The skirt is one of those heavy knits with amazing flippiness and drape. It's way too long so I'll shorten it from the top so it doesn't affect the godets.

This black lace cardigan is made from a rayon silk yarn. It's heavy and flexible also with fabulous drape. There are more lace details around the hem, picot edges at the neckline and sleeve hems, and beaded buttons. It's about hip length.

There is NO WAY that I could have bought this purse new. It would have been well over a hundred dollars and I paid less than that for all four items. I almost made a complete outfit. There were fabulous shoes but one pair was too small and the other too big and I didn't find a top that I liked although I have the perfect fabric - black with a brown print. It's been in my stash for years. Looks like its moment is about to come.

After my day in Nanaimo, I went to Victoria to visit a friend for a few days. While there, we picked up my pieces from the gallery in Sooke. On the way, I stopped at the yarn shop in Whippletree Junction. It carries yarns and patterns that our local store doesn't have. I picked up two European magazines and an individual pattern. I don't need more yarn. Of course I don't need more fabric either but I seem to be able to resist stashing up on yarn more than I can resist stashing up on fabric - LOL.

This morning, I'm going to wash the fabrics and find a space for them in the cupboard, put away the notions, and (hopefully) get to work on finishing my class projects. The skirt needs to be worn around to see how much it stretches out. After that, the raspberry blouse and then the denim one. On the other hand, I may sit around doing nothing but dreaming - LOL.

Have a great day - Myrna

Grateful - home safely