more sewing

I have been having problems focusing on words recently.  But I can focus on making.  I have been doing a lot of sewing, a bit of crocheting and spinning, and baking.  I have also done quite a bit of small human watching.

I made two more dresses.  I have a sweater that I am putting the ribbing on.  There are three loaves of bread rising and a pan of cinnamon rolls.  I created a chef roll for the boyos.  I write it down and it sounds like a lot but I do not feel motivated.  Especially about words.  There may be more simple pictures until I find words.  The world feels odd to me right now.

But I still can create.  The two dresses I made are longer and slimmer then the a-line dresses I made.  But they work for me.  I am been drawn to neutrals.  The greys and blues work for me.  And I just keep making quilt blocks.  It makes me happy.

neutrals

I have been thinking about making dresses out of neutral colored fabrics I have had in my stash for some time.  I do not need any more clothes so why?  I do not know but I figure it is better to make them out of something I have then going shopping.  

Two of the fabrics were going to be shirts for my Beloved.  But they were purchsed at a different point in his life.  White really does not work for him.  They were soft so I have had my eye on them for a while.  The third was purchased from Ragfinery.  My Dad calls it a rags shop.  Thrifted fabric and clothes.  He is right.

I just wanted A-line dresses.  Not cut as wide as I normally cut them.  Something that I can wear all over the place, whether it is over leggings or tights.

I admit to not liking any of the pictures I got of me in them.  They are a style that looks good on me.  But pictures do not do them justice.  I need to be living in these dresses.

One of the things I tried with a couple of them are overly long sleeves.  I cut the sleeve an extra half inch wide but made it so it fell to my finger tips.  I am quite pleased.  They fit well under my sweaters.  Better then a three quarter length sleeve.  

One of the other things I like about working with a neutral fabric is that when I want to, they can become another color.  They will not stay white for the duration.  But then the dresses I make seem to last for years.  Which is why I have so many clothes.  Dresses that last for ten years or more are the norm in my wardrobe.  I am very good about making things that are the styles I wear.

I do have a longer dress shape cut out as well.  Two more of those to go.  Not quite so neutral but I have been leaning towards greys and blues.  I will need to see how those turn out.

a table and shou shugi ban

The shop display room needed another table.  I went to my favorite diy furninture designer Ana White's site and looked at plans.  So the first table was a bust.  Even if I had gotten it completely square, it was not sturdy enough for the life it would have led with the boyos.  Think knives, cutting boards, and many knife crazy people.  It was not going to work.  So, it is now in the leather shop being a surface that we do not have to worry about knocking over.

I looked further and decided to use her farmhouse console table as a go by.  I used the dimensions we were needing.  I added another shelf.  Instead of running to the hardware store, I used wood from other projects.  Not bad if I say so myself.  It is not perfect.  I learn something new every time.

One of the new things I learned was the shou shugi ban technique.  It is a Japanese wood burning technique that is used to preserve siding.  But of course, people have taken it other places.  One of those is ax handles. 

How does that piece of information relate to this table top?  The top was used as an experiment and an example of shou shugi ban for people who may want it used on there ax handles.  That very in thing right now about throwing them while drinking.  Some of these people like how it changes the grip on the handle.

I sanded the top whole down to where I wanted it.  Then I burned the top.  Sanded it a bit more so the charcoal would not mark anything else and oiled it.  I am very pleased with how the top came out.

I stained the bottom with a vintage white stain.  I was planning on coming back from my travels and applying polyurethane.  It is in use already.  I might get a chance.  I might not.

Would I build another of these tables?  Yes.  It would be better too but I know I would make different mistakes.

winter's rest

I  think exhaustion could be the word that I use for this week.  I have been exhausted.  My body is also reacting to stress by trying to get sick.  I have tried to be still.

In my stillness, I have picked up my crochet hook and worked on some half finished projects.  My best friend had gifted me some yarn called winter's rest.  The yarn was not colors I would normally be drawn to but for some reason I was.

I decided to create a pullover sweater because I have been wearing more skirts and pants.  The first iteration of it had much too much fabric under the arms.  I ripped it almost completely out and started again.  I took it with me on my travels and finished yesterday while I was sitting.  I sat yesterday.  I am doing more then I did yesterday today so far but not much.

I am really pleased with how this sweater turned out.  How long it will stay in this shape?  I am not sure.  It is REALLY warm for being cropped.  Making it into a cardigan shape may be needed so I can open the front.  But it goes well with my jeans.

I have no problems ripping out sweaters to remake them at this point in my life.  I really should just make cardigans but I do occasionally wear a pullover.  Usually with pants!  Though I have worn them over some of my less full a-line dresses.  

The next sweater I am working on while I sit is a black cardigan.  It is gifted yarn as well.  But today seems like I need to be horizontal more then yesterday.  But I have also moved more already.  I hope I feel well enough to go to the grocers store later today.  I will feel better slowly.

My Mom's memorial

I am back.  I spent a total of six days, almost seven driving cross country.  The quiet was nice.

I went to my Mom's memorial.  

I could have eaten better on the road but it was too cold most of the way to cook in rest areas.  It is where I slept though I had a bed made in the Subaru.  I have had poor experiences with beds across country.  Especially some of the routes from here to there.

Everyone in the family is quiet sad.  Still really not believing that my Mom died.  She was the healthiest of everyone.  We expected her to live to 109.  She and I had walks planned.

But that is not what happened.  She actually never felt sick from the cancer but that is not true from the drugs that were given.  The drugs shortened her life.  

We had the memorial.  It was a full Episcopalian mass.  Which is what she would have wanted.  Her ashes were interned in a columbarium in the garden at the church.  The ladies of the church put on a wonderful reception.  So many people came that the sacristy, nave, and parish hall were full for the service and the reception.  And family was there.

I stayed for five more days to help out my Dad.  More cleaning happened.  Getting tasks done.  Just being there.  

I visited my Aunt and Uncle on the way home.  That was a stop in Portland that was both family and business.  I stopped for supplies for the boyos too.  Then, I stopped at a knife store.  Why not?  But, I do feel the knife I brought home was not sharp enough.  I will need to sharpen it.

I am picky when it comes to my knives.  I do cook a lot.  I cook a lot of vegetables and need to make sure I can cut them.

I am now home.  Trying to get caught up.  I am not feeling my best.  

So I am taking my time getting back into my routine.  Part of it is how much work there is for me to do. Let alone watching Blue.  I was missed by both small humans.  And one is not so small anymore!

Part of me does not feel the most creative currently.  But there is yogurt fermenting.  Bread dough rising.  A sweater almost done.  Some of the finance stuff I need to do is done.  I will do more tomorrow.  There is just not enough time in the day.  

This is definitely one of those times that it is clear that I am not anti-social but pro-solitude.