Kwik Sew 3635

Christmas Eve found me sewing on a tunic top/dress that my daughter wanted to use for warm up at dance.  I have fabric for three of them, but wanted to only make one and be sure it met all the requirements she desired.  So here are pictures of the finished dress.  It looks EXACTLY like the pattern envelope.  I made it in a size small for her.  Being Kwik sew pattern it went together rather quickly, my hassles were with my serger- my tried and true serger I broke while working on costumes, and had to use my back up serger that I use almost entirely for its cover stitch function.  It was a sad sad day I broke my baby lock lower looper.  ARGH- I digress.  It has quite a bit coverage for being a cross over top. The fabric was a nice purple french terry with just the right amount of stretch.  Warm but not overly warm for studio wear, and purple seems to be one of her current favorite colors.  These photo's don't do it justice and would have loved to have one of her in it, but you know how it is, you  sew it, press and finish it, and then you never see dance wear again in a presentable state. The photo makes it look kind of boxy in the front, but when its on, it doesn't have that appearance. It sits at the hips with looseness above.  I made the sleeves the length in the pattern which for her a petite is a bit long, but being the current trend to have sleeves come down over your hands and they stick their thumbs through the seam to keep it there. She won't need to put the hole in the seam, its plenty long.  I would make one change and that was the type of interfacing I used for reinforcing the shoulders and front where the skirt attaches.  Something with a little more softness would be good like "Seams be Great", but i was able to trim away most of the stabilizer is used that i didn't want to over- enforce the area and make it stick out. Mostly it was a bad choice from scraps that were sitting on my table from a previous project.  She also picked out a beautiful teal green bamboo french terry for a second one, but i'm struggling with it, as it has damage from the knitting looms, and was not cut straight, and currently is a beast to work on to cut, but i will get it finished in the next few days!  The fabric cannot win.  And Yes it does have a label sewn into it.  I finally got the labels in for my etsy shop, Red and Curly Bebe by Treva which I will have up the fist week of January.  So of course one of these had to go into her garment!

the Wrapping is finished!!!

This is a first in over 18 years.  I have wrapped all the packages I've bought, including the stocking gifts.  I do believe this is the first Christmas I won't be sitting up and wrapping until all hours of the morning. I'm so excited and relieved!  I will do some baking to share with the family on Christmas day, and make lasagna and home made rolls tomorrow for Christmas eve dinner.  I've almost always done Enchilada's for Christmas eve, but thought we could use a little change this year.  I will put the finishing touches on two tunic dresses for my daughter's Christmas gift and be finished! 
I have to say I'm so enjoying the first season of not doing Nutcracker and being consumed with the costumes and theater.  I've been to holiday concerts, went to a Christmas  party at our favorite pub, have had time to meet with friends and visit.  I cant possibly explain how sinful it feels to be so relaxed. 

Well I promised to include this recipe so here is my Christmas gift to all of you!

Kalatochki cookies

1 &1/3 cups of sifted flour
1 cube of butter
4 TBS of light cream
Mix above ingredients together into a dough and roll thin on confectioners (powder) sugar.  Cut into 2 in squares and fill with 1/2 tsp nut filling. fold over two opposite corners to meet.  Like swaddling blanket.
Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
Nut filling: 1 cup ground walnuts
                 1 beaten egg white
                1/2 cup of sugar
                1 & 1/2 tsps of Vanilla
Blend ingredients, use 1/2 tsp per square.

I hope all of you have wonderful holidays with your family.  We are staying in the area, will go to granddads for Christmas dinner with my husbands siblings and and their children.  Will be back to blogging in a few days!   

here are a few of Christmas cookie gift boxes we gave away, including: gingerbread, butter spritz in several shapes, Kalotchki's, and cranberry orange bars with cream cheese frosting.  Just enough for a dessert one night or coffee klatch with friends.

Aren't these great?

Working on my daughters audition profile and these are a few of the pics that have come available.  She will be doing more, but i do love the wild abandon these have.

Tis the Sunday before Christmas

Tis the Sunday before Christmas and I'm slowly scrambling around working various items.  Those curtains I started in the summer- I need to finish those and hang them.  They are so close and  they've been hogging my sewing table area for some time now.  Santa would like to see them finished I'm sure. Once they are all hanging, I will put up a few more pics.

And putting the finishing touches on the holiday decorations.  The last few years I've been so overwhelmed with costumes that we struggled to get our tree UP and DECORATED! This year my hubby put it up, and lovely daughter and i finished decorating it during the week.  The angel at the top will have to be done by hubby or Santa, as both my daughter and I are vertically challenged.  The cat this year has taken to sleeping underneath.  She loves tulle -net fabric, and I use a burgandy tulle for a frothy tree skirt.  She has been racing around the foyer, sliding onto the tulle and under the tree.  It's a wee bit nerve wracking when you hear the ornaments rattle.  Of course as soon as i go to get a picture of her, she jumps in a chair and looks quite innocent as seen by these photos.

I have very eclectic ornaments.  Some are from when i was a little girl- the old mercury glass ornaments- many have been gifts from friends over the yeas and hold special meaning.  The jester ornament is part of a set, giving to me by a dear friend who just moved to Ireland and I miss her terribly. She had a shop that specialized in Italian imports while she lived here.  The Jester on the wall behind the tree is also from her shop, but was given to me by the director of the ballet company i worked for.  My daughter has done Nutcracker in some form for that last umpteen years, so the year she was Clara, we purchased the Radco Clara. She has a huge collection of ornaments on this tree that will someday go with her of ballerina's & nutcrackers, from her years of dancing classic ballet.

I will be baking today as well.  Somehow its not Christmas if I don't make a these cookies that are originally middle european origin- I don't know if they are Czechoslovakian, Hungarian or what exactly, as a Russian friend makes them also, but its lovely pastry filled with walnut or apricot filling.  I usually do the nuts.  And then of course classic gingerbread shapes.  Last but not least i started making Pizzelles a few years ago- they are kind of like a very thin and light waffle cookie. I will have to post my recipe later.

This is the christmas crech my mother bought when i was just and infant.  the Angel has taken about a million dives off the barn, and has sadly suffered wing damage.  I was terrible when she would put these out.  We had a long built mantle that was the entire wall length- she would put the pieces spread out over the entire thing- I believe there are 3 sets of wise men, many more shepards and animals, including the camels not seen here- they would be put out with trees and the old cotton batting snow with glitter in it.  I would play with these much to her dismay, every time she left the room and i could get at them.  I think by the time I was 7, I quit, disturbing them. 

While going thru some stash i found some cream sport weight yarn, and decided to make a blanket.  At first i started with separate granny squares, but decided I was too picky about them being exactly the same and every time I sat down, I was getting slight differences in tension.  I couldn't stand it, so turned it into one giant sized granny square, and then put a bit of pink shell edging on it.  This was just an easy project to work on during the evenings while watching the tv.  I like to feel the thread go thru my fingers as turns into some fun piece.  Just measured it and turned out to bee 27 1/2 in square.  good size for a newborn and a carriage blankie.  Its sitting here on my gold tablecloth which is setting off the cream color more to yellow, along with the pink which is pretty bright.  But you know this is Seattle so bright colors are always in trend.

Holidays and Flowers

I love flowers.  I was looking for some patterns to crochet of flowers for accessories and ran accross a site for flower bouqets. It started me thinking about all the flowers i really love and what i associate them with.  Funny how the "language of flowers" isn't really where my thoughts go, but how those flowers bring distinct memories to mind. 

Certain flowers hold memories for me back to childhood.  When we lived on California street our backyard had poinsettia plants that my dad would nurture and have beautiful red blooms on outside in the garden.  These were not indoor plants for us. I don't remember seeing these outdoors again, until my husband was stationed at the LA airforce base- yes, there really is an air force base there- and the base housing was in San Pedro.  There were several homes in San Pedro that had these beautiful flowers outside.  To this day poinsettia's remind me of  San Pedro and childhood. Dad had these Nicotina flowers that would open and close up with the daylight, and lots of daffodils.  I know my dad had other flowers but these are always make me think of that house. 

Later on in my childhood we moved to a larger house but it had been a farmhouse at one time.  The house was lined on one side with Camelia's.  All different kinds, striped, solids, bright and pastels.  When i was in elementary school, we used to participate in the Camelia parade in Temple City. I remember once marching with my best friend doing baton twirling.  And another time our Camp Fire group marched in it. It was a small community parade, but always when i see camelias, my home and these memories come back to me.

The home came with a rose garden that had some silver tea roses in it, that were this peculiar lavender color, i loved to go out and prune the roses. When i married i chose to have bright peachy pink roses for my bouqet and head piece. This was not traditional at the time- face it 29 years ago people were mostly into white bouqets.

 No home is complete in southern California without Bouganvilla.  The papery flowers that were in pink, orange or lavendar colors. These grew across the corner of our kitchen and breakfast room.  Our patio was covered with Wistieria, which when in bloom has the most beautiful flowers that hang down.  The wisteria grew over a metal frame and during the hot summer days was the perfect shade.  I still love the drapiness of the wisteria.

My grandmother had a gardenia plant outside.  It was and still is one of my favorite flowers.  I love the scent of it.  I'm always so sad that it browns so quickly when cut off the plant.

Although Lily of Valley is the plant of my birth month, its the plant i always associate with dear friend who passed away from breast cancer.  She planted a few in her front yard and they went crazy filling out this area in a year or two.  I was always surprised by how prolific they were.

Although Eucalyptus isn't a flower its smell is one of the most memorable to me.  Our town had a beautiful and actually rather famous arboretum.  We went there often as kids, for a family outing. It had many magnificent plants, but i always remember the smell of the eucalyptus.  The leaves would get crushed underfoot and that smell would just be effervescent.  My high school had these trees all over campus as well.  Still one of my favorite smells, its a little bit holiday, a little bit of home, and a little bit of school all bundled up together.  I'm sitting here smelling the eucalyptus wreath i bought for our home.  I usually get some kind of evergreen pinetree type.  But when i ran accross these at Trader Joe's I just had to have one. 

There are so many scents in our lives, that stimulate the senses and memories.  These are just a few mine.

Wishing you some fond memories and scents as well.

Just and end note: While I didn't find the crochet flowers i was looking for, I did stumble on these very cute flowers made from rick rack and used to decorate this Christmas stockings on Martha Stewart.

Tis the season

Oh yes it "tis the season, where every commercial is about buy buy buy.  The adds on the radio, are all centered on purchasing for the upcoming holidays.  I'm tired of the commercials, and how we should run out at the crack of dawn to get some special price.  I guess I'm not that interested in a bunch of superfiscial gifts that neither I nor my family and friends need.
I would rather recieve a bunch of tickets for spending the evening with friends and playing cards, or having coffee and chatting.  I spent the day recently with my daughter, we had appointments at the same place, and the she had dance, so i went with her, afterwards, we headed to the mall and dinner.  It was delightful!  No arguing, no worrying, just pure enjoyment.  How i love those days.

 When she was about three she liked to go the mall,  not just any mall but the mall with the brown floor. Ha this was really a brick tiled floor at what was one of the higher end malls around our area.  We had a little routine, shop a bit, have lunch, go play in the play land, we could shop a bit more- usually included her trying on about 20 dresses- she loved dresses and hats.  Then we would head home.  We did alot of things just the two of us.  We  would go to the British Pantry and have tea and scones, or would go to the zoo for the afternoon, or out for a walk, but being that its often rainy here, we did hit the mall frequently if friends weren't available for some other playtime. 

As she is getting ready for college and applying to many distant areas, I truly relish these moments for i know she won't be shopping with me a whole lot come next year.  We have gone out for tea this year, which its the ritual we both love  I think as well as the time shared.  It's all about making the tea, and chatting.  I've already bought the few gifts we have for her.  With a large selection of college auditions she needs to attend the individual gifts will be few in trade for travel. 
I love that my daughter has a sense of reality and knows that we will always try to provide for her any and all that she needs.  I will always have something special for her regardless of what we may tell her.  that's just the way it is.

All I want for Christmas!

Dear Santa,
I've been good, I've been doing everything everyone asks of me, so i'm asking you to leave me a few special gifts.  Those boots I saw at Macy's?  the black and fur, they were really cute, and i would sure like those for the winter Santa,  by the way, I helped you out on that one, all you have to do is wrap them.. Haha.

Maybe a  nice red scarf made from bamboo or one like this one seen in  photo- its kind of  unusual.

Some Table Topic conversation starter cards, its always fun to have a new way to take the conversation- other than my kid is... what's your's doing?

Maybe a SAM membership would be nice, since i really like to go there, but we don't make it down much.

I wouldn't mind some new bath products Santa, i've used up everything acquired in the past.

And lastly Santa could you give me a winning lottery ticket?  oh one for a few thousand would make our life easier... HAHA.. i have the worse record in the world for winning lottery odds.  It's hilarious, so unless its a sure thing santa, don't bother.

collage applications

I do believe that Colleges especially colleges that have art conservatory programs have it out for the parents.  Not only do you have to get your child to fill out the information and write and essay or and artist statement, but you have to have same said student make up a dvd portfolio of their work performed, followed by choreographed work they have created.  And you think  you have it all covered, when you have to schedule an audition that of course is no where near your home town.  So my last fews weeks have been consumed with getting my daughter to meet these requirements and follow thru entirely.  Since U.S schools aren't her first choice of career college, but wishes to go to UK or EU, its quite difficult to get her to do this.  But as soon as these were turned in, she had no problem looking up the data needed to apply to those schools.  AMAZING!!!!! the mother says sarcastically. 

We had our last Thanksgiving in this house provided things go as planned this up coming year.  It was interesting and full of the usually family antics.  It was our first one with out Gordon's mother, which was sad, but we had invited another family over which changed the schematics anyways.  I figure this is likely the last year my daughter will be home for Thanksgiving for the next few years, very likely anyways.

Being a person who sews, i'm getting my fair share of requests of "can you sew this for me?" I don't mind if I'm organized and rested.  Not sewing for the ballet company is phenomenal!  I cant tell you how much stress that put on my self and my family.  I'm waiting for the labels to come in so I can finish my items for my etsy shop.  I'm impatiently wait to get this going full time. 

Well hopefully we will get some Christmas decorations up, this weekend.  The big question is do we set up the enormous 9 ft artificial tree we have or get a small fresh cut, or even a norfolk pine that will add green to our home all year.  I miss the smell of the fresh cut evergreen, like the ease of the artificial, and always appreciate more green in my home.

I did get out the first batch of Christmas cards. I have about 15 more to do, and will be done.  I use to make all my cards, or take photos ro send, but this year, i just wanted to get out the cards so i purchased cards, no photos, no long christmas letters.  Just short and sweet with small personal notes.  It was rather refressing to get this done early instead of my annual rush to get them out by New Years.  My next item is to work on creating a few traditional treats, that i haven't had time to make in over 4 years.  Moving out to this house was suppossed to make more time, but somehow it made less time and more work.  It was definitely my dream house- but i know what i like now and will defintely make sure those things can be created in the next home i have.

Well here's to a busy weekend, joy to all of you.
treva

Thanksgiving wishes

To all my friends and family i wish you a pleasant Thanksgiving..That you get enough of your favorite foods, the conversations are pleasant at the table, and that you find contentment with your family and friends. 
My home is always open to those who may be far from their families, or choose not to be with their families.  My parents home always had a houseful, with my mothers siblings and their children, my grandmother, and other relatives.  Thanksgiving was and all day process.  It started the day before, with preparing the house, extra cleaning and shopping.  Then early Thursday morning mom would begin the turkey, and whatever else she had in mind.  Her siblings came with more food, there was always more than we could even begin to eat.  Plus we had to have not only pumpkin pies, but mince pie, and either cherry, pecan or apple.  The meal started about 2.  People ate and then went to do things, we watched football, played scrabble, talked, the adults drank, and then you might eat some more.  Eventually pies and coffee were served about 4- 5 hours after the original meal was started and family started to go home.  My parents didn't have  a dishwasher, but the dishes were always done, and put away before everyone left.  We had the usual family disagreements, arguments and comraderie. 
These same individuals came over 4 weeks later for Christmas eve.  Where upon we also tried to sing carols- you have never heard so many interesting versions of rudolph the rednosed reindeer, silent night, or  up on the house top among others that we joyfully destroyed from the original versions, from lack of memory.  These holidays at my parents home were truly communal.  Everyone did something to help prepare the meal, eat the meal, and also clean up the meal.  There was never a little red Hen syndrome.   I only remember a few times during the my childhood, and the life of my mother, that we didn't go to my mothers home for Thanksgiving and Christmas eve.  She passed from cancer when i was 23, and those famous holidays seemed to slowly dissapate.  She was the oldest of four, and somehow she was the one who kept things together.  I moved with my husband several states away, and we usually then celebrated with my in-laws.  It was not the same as my own parents but it had traditions just the same..A few years ago, i started to be the hostess for Thanksgiving.  Too much work for my husbands mother, although she insisted to still hold Christmas dinner.  Its never going to be like my mothers and my childhood memories, but all the same its a time to celebrate friends and family.
So to all of you - begin your own or continue your traditions, and celebrate those whom you love.  This year we will have one less at our table as my mother in law passed in June.   But in her own way, as my  mother is, she will still be with us...

Looking for Labels

Blog will be short this week.  Celebrated daughters birthday!  She's officially and adult, but will always be my little girl.
I've been busy working on the shop. As I'm preparing items to get ready for my etsy shop, I need to find a good label maker.  I have a temporary solution but if anyone knows of a label company that makes nice labels, reasonably priced, I would love to know of them. 
And as today is absolutely beautiful after having such a dredge of hard rainy days, its hard to be inside, but with the sun shining through my windows it does offer an extra bit of energy to work. 
Sunny wishes to you!
~Treva

New Digs!

Well life around here has been quite busy.  My daughter will be turning 18 in two days, which in some ways is very hard to believe!  Who ever thinks when you bring that little bundle home from the hospital, that 18 years will pass so fast, as if you turned around, blinked and turned back.  It all seems a blur at the moment.
We've been dealing with so many things trying to get college information in and applications filled out.  We had to buy her a new car, following a nasty car accident during foul weather a couple weeks ago.  That was no fun either.  When i have to make big purchases, especially unplanned ones i always have a sick feeling in my stomach as if things aren't in my favor, but i know this time we were treated fairly as a friends lovely husband helped us with his contacts to get the best deal. 
And now after much contemplation I've decided to open an etsy shop.  Hopefully by the end of the week i will have all the finer details worked out and announce my shops name here.  I've been making baby gifts for years, since I first learned to do embroidery and handsewing at the tender age of 10.  I've decided to take the skills i've learned over the years doing fine hand work, as well as costume work, and just knowing what a parent needs for their little bundle and create a baby line of goods. 
Starting with lovely blankets that are crisp cotton on one side and flannel or minkie on the other side.  This was my daughters favorite type of blankie when she was little.  We did not have minkie then but she had the flannel on one side. and they were great for all year long.  When it was cold, you put the flannel side by your skin, and when it was warm you put the crisp cotton by your skin.  they made great blankies for tummy time, sitting and snuggling especially as she got older. I've been making these for friends over the years transitioning to minkie instead of flannel.  Some of the children call them "Butta" blankets, because the minkie is soft like butter feel. Each one is one of a kind creation.  I will also have binkie bibs, burp cloths, and eventually a few clothing items.  I love to create these items, because i know they turn into treasures.
Well that's it for today.  Hope you have a great week, and keep and eye out for my announcement of shop opening.
Treva

Thankful She's Safe

When November started here in Washington, so did the rain. It has been the hard, windy, hailing, torrential rains that make it hard to drive in.  My sweet daughter  finally consented to get her license back in august.  This was not without a lot of pushing and shoving from her parents.  She only wants to drive an automatic, and we are a family of  manual cars, with one Excpetion our truck we use for hauling things.  It is automatic and equipped with 4 wheel drive, but is huge and a bugger to drive especially if you are short and petite as she is.  G-pa gave her his favorite car a saturn coupe that was a classic at 15 years old and perfect condition.  He had purchased a new car, and was helping her out.  Well as the story here started the weather turned nasty.  We live about 30 miles from everything she does- school, dance, boyfriend, going to performances in town etc.  She was heading home from class, entering the freeway from on ramp, there was standing water and hail, along with heavy rain, when she hit the standing water, she lost traction and control, spun out, across the freeway lanes and hit the median.  We got that awful phone call that we worry about every night, when she's out, that she was in a wreck.  She had the airbag go off in her face, bloody nose, some whiplash, scared.  Fortunately there were some good samartins, a car full of guys, who stopped, called 911 sending police and paramedics. They helped her until the official help came.  As she & they, talk to my husband on the phone, i get in the car to drive 30 miles quickly to get to her.  Its hard to know what to expect when you get there.  I didnt expect her to have bloody and swollen face.  That really took me off guard.  I've been in hit before but fortunately had not suffered any injuries, so really wasn't expected.  The paramedics had cleaned her up a little. Still a shock.  And I was so overwhelmed that she was ok,  she kept saying I'm sorry.  Hard to make your child know you dont care about the car, as long as they survive.  To bring some levity to the situation, the paramedic says to her, "Hey this never happens to guys when they crash, no car load of girls stops to help" and look at all the men you have here.  Wow. 
So my days over the past 10 days have been spent driving my daughter to all her activities, college, dance lessons, rehearsals, dr appoints, waiting for hours inbetween these things- as its too wasteful for gas to drive home and most times not really worth the time.  I had to find something to do while waiting.  I read, I window shopped- unfortunately that gives me more ideas of things i would like to be doing, sewing, cleaning, scrapbooking. I went to the movies, i drank coffee . I factored in how to pay a new carpayment-ugh, not the head of my list when i'm already factoring in how i'm going to cover college expenses for my daughter next year. I researched cars, their safety factors and if the insurance was favorable of them. 
In the meantime, I finally found a replacement vehicle. Something considered very safe- subaru legacy- all wheel drive, dependable.  A car that hopefully will last her for several years, make it thru the mountain weather until we move, and keep her safe.  That's what its all about.  Keeping them safe.  So she has wheels again as of yesterday, and already is back to driving the miles.  And we waited and worried until she got home late last night. Off again this morning, how quickly they return to their routine. And as parents we have to let them, its our job to help them grow, and worry about their safety!

Too much stuff!

Oh i know its been a bit since i've been on here.  I was starting to feel like i was spending too much time on the computer, and i'm going thru this phase of trying to de-clutter my home.  It gets pretty ruthless when i do this.  I start off just annoyed with too much stuff, and then i start throwing things away, or putting them in the goodwill pile because i just dont want to deal with them anymore.  I started in my pantry.  I keep alot of appliances you use only a few times a year, but when you do, they make your life so much easier. So as i wander thru re-organizing every shelf, getting rid of old spices, attempting to put all the party supplies in one place, deciding i almost hate tupperware, because my family does not look for things in it. Do I need a wok? actually i dont think i do, so this will be leaving. I always use my black iron skillets and i prefer them for most of that kind of cooking. Yes it turns into a job of i think i want to throw all this out, rather than deal with it.

Next i started with my desk.  You know the horror, of you have things organized for you, but no one else can find a thing.  I had carefully placed and important card from my father in law, to return to him, and all of a sudden it disappeared under the mounds of papers that must be sorted, filed, placed in the shredder.  I found it! Yeah, now i would like to set a fire to every paper that needs to go into the shredder, rather than take the time to shred.  UGH. I'm all into recycling, and wish i didnt have to worry about identity theft when i do so.

We have officially lived in this house for 5 years.  I thought when we moved here it was my dream house.  And it was, but its in the wrong place.  Too far out from where i live my life, my old friends, and the places i like to hang out.  So now, i'm ready to move, and if that means leaving the perfect house, then so be it.  It will  have to fall to the house gods or whoever makes sure you sell your house, so you can buy a new one. 
I've been planning this for about 6 months now, and when i want to market the house etc, one more christmas & new years here.  All of sudden I see that my neighbor has put there house up for sale.  Our homes are very different floor plans, but to think of having two houses next door on the market at the same time, worries me as people will wonder if something is wrong with the homes or neighborhood.  Understand we live on the first hole of a golf course. These are very nice homes, there is nothing wrong with them, and we have gorgeous mountain views on one side, and the golf course on the back side.  I love the mountains, and clean feeling of nature, but i know i love the water more.  I have lived by water-lakes and beaches since i first went to college most of my adult life. I grew up in the foothills and thought i wanted to be back there but finally realized that its the water that keeps me going.  Unfortunately for my family, i dragged them with me, but we all have gotten something from the move.  Its not without some benefits.
So enough time spent worrying, and back to the clutter/toss/give away mode.

cake truffle balls

Well I saw on Bakerella's blog all these cute little designs she did with the cake balls, and just had to finally try and make some myself.  There is no red velvet cake mix to be had in our area, so i just used a chocolate cake mix, and added the cream cheese frosting to it.   shaped them with a scoop,  and through in the freezer for a bit.  Then decided to go for the pumpkin look, spiderwebs on pumpkins, and ghosts.   It makes so many at one time. 50 of these little buggers.  I think next time i will freeze them and move them to bags for storage, and just take out enough for what ever i'm doing..  regardless, i started in and did  them all.  i melted the candy coating in the microwave, but i think next time i will try a double boiler, so i can keep the heat more consistant underneath the coating.   For a first attempt they turned out pretty good.

Gratitude & life's energy

Just a quickie today- i think.  I've been thinking about some things and one is gratitude.  Sometimes i get lost in all the things around me.  It seems like there's too much clutter, too much I need to do. Too little time to be with my family & friends.  Too much want. 
     If i change those thoughts around i can see that i have  much to be grateful for.  I'm thankful for the friends and family i have and every moment that i get to spend with them.  Do i wish i had more minutes with them, of course i do, but its more important that i can appreciate what i have.  I have a wonderful spouse, and lovely daughter who have made life full and joyful over the years and for them I give thanks.  My aunt who is one of my best friends, my friends who fall in and out of my life- all of them make my life more joyful. 
     The clutter i hate (it stifles my mind and energy)- my spouse really doesnt know how much i hate it- he thinks i like it.  Oh you have know idea about this one, BUT i have clutter, which means i want for nothing.  I need to get rid of things, quit being over sentimental.  I learned from my MIL that when you want to clean out things, offer it to people who you think might want to use it. And if they say "NO" then its time to take it to goodwill so some one else can.
Unfortunately in my crafty mind, I'm always thinking of what I can do with this in the future, BUT its time to say how long have i had this? Have i done anything with it?  Will i use it in the next 7 days? Then lets move it along.  OF COURSE there are things we have we dont use every 7 days- sewing supplies, and some crafting staples,  etc. But even those need to be reduced. 
     So usually when we think about gratitude people associate the word attitude with it.  Its all in your attitude of how you see things.  But i believe its more than that,  its not just attitude.  You can fake attitude, i've done it many times.  It's really about being honest with yourself.  Looking at all that you've been granted in your life. 
     I have in my control  the ability to declutter, bring the energy back to my life, and create for my family and friends.  I know there are changes all the time, and making the most of those changes is acting with gratitude.

metallic pumpkins

I don't honestly remember whose blog i saw these done in silver, but i was fascinated with them, i had to go out and make some of my own. I used the carveable  pumpkins  from Michaels. Now is a great time since they are 50% off. Then purchased spray paint in Chrome and Copper.  I sprayed them all with the chrome, but wanted more depth.So then i sprayed them with the copper kind of lightly. Then i felt like i lost the chrome color so i went back and sprayed in some more chrome to brighten them back up.  I decided that  adding a flower arrangement with some halloween suckers would be good, and made one of these to give as a gift to a dear friend.  Will leave  it as a surprise on her doorstep. I was outside taking photos as the sun was starting to set behind our hill, and got just the perfect glow.  I'm really pleased with how these turned out.  They are easy and you should not feel intimidated if you give them a try.

hope you all are enjoying our gentle fall weather!

Lovely Sunny Day!

Waking up today to such a lovely sunny fall day is perfection!  Its brilliance, and the air is crisp, and energizing.  It's a college holiday, so my daughter is home this morning, which indeed is a rarity.  Actually having her be home is a rarity, since her senior year has started. She runs up as i came down the stairs so "whatcha gonna do today?"  Hmm well i have and appointment later, what are you going to do?  I have homework.  The constant answer it seems, homework- if its not homework for her school classes, its homework for her choreography classes.

   Last night we went on the search for a vintage photo of my mother.  She was modeling for a photographer in the woods in a suit that looks as if its made from a few bandana's tied together- something sort of wood nymph like.  I've always loved this picture of my mom.  Now my daughter wanted to use it for a storyboard for one of the pieces she was creating.  What a compliment. See photo to the left.  It was interesting though, as we toured thru this old album of photos where most NOT ALL but most of the individuals had passed on.  She would look at a photo and say who's that?  and it would be my mom, or an aunt.  And then we found this beautiful picture of my grandmother, and she says who's that?  It's my grandmother, I said, she looks at me and back at the photo, and says you look like her.  I'm in total agreement.  My lovely grandmother was short, blonde and rubinesc.  My mother was tall, dark haired and not thin, but was not over endowed on top.  I prayed as a kid i wouldn't have my grandmothers abundant breast.  I certaintly was headed that way, and as a teenager, and it scared me.  Fortunately somewhere they stopped and i do not have the abundance of my grandmothers breast or lack of  my mothers (according to her) but am happily in the middle.  This tour thru the photos was not very long, and a little sad for me.  My daughter never met my grandmother, or mother, or several other dear relatives.  She has grown up only knowing stories of them, and actually knowing a few other relatives on my side, and my spouses parents and siblings. It was an interesting time.
So today, we have lovely fall weather and the feel for foods made from winter squash or pumkin.  The smell of cinnamon cooked.  Perhaps i will make the little pumkin tarts that Bakerella made  a week or two ago. Pies and tarts always bring back family memories as well.  It's just one of those days.
Have a great one!
trev

ahh the weekend

Today has been one of the very mixed feeling days.  It started out good, I turned in 86 yards of fabric for the purge stash sale.  I'm hoping alot of it sells. I only asked for a few pieces back, rather than donate.  Then,  tired  still, i  went to work at the studio with kids i teach which i usually find very rejuvinating.  Then happily set off to get coffee and call a friend about going to the movies tonight her husband is out of town for the weekend at their sons parent day for college.  As soon as she answered i could tell something was not right.
She finally gave in and told me had just found out yesterday she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and was still trying to get her head around it.  After talking for about and hour about outcomes, and not writing the book before its written, because we all have a tendency to imagine the worst possible scenario instead of the best.  I know this friend well and she has been there for me many times.  The year i was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma, she did all the good thinking while i did the I'm not going to think at all.  When i had duct removed from my breast she was my good thinker again.  We are both the kind of people who do for others and never let others know we are sick or we need help.  Stubborn supporters of others never letting others do for us.  I know she will get thru this and i know i will be there for her, and that my job will be talking to her, making her see things in a different light.
 This is not the day i planned but it is the day i had given to me.  And i'm thankful that i was able to share with my friend something that is so dreadful in her mind, and help her to get thru.  At this stage there isn't much more i can do except show up with a pint of ben and jerry,s some hot coco and bottle of baileys.  This is the girls fix everything bad in our lives. Bad dates, fights with spouses, missing your kids in college- as they grow into their own adulthood. We will get thru this, and happiness will return.

Someone else's stash

After teaching this morning, i ran over to the fabric store to see if i could find some great felt for the needle books. Unfortunately no one had the heather bailey felt.  But i did stumble onto some nice wool felt in limited colors.  So i picked up a few pieces and will try them out tomorrow.  I also bought a little silk duponi to try out as well.  .
This evening, Gordon and  i went over to Dad's house to go thru some of moms stash.  She has two full dressers full of fabric everything from yards to fat quarters and some scraps. It's all sorted by color per drawer. It is a daunting project. I can understand dad's loss when he looks at it, especially as he doesnt sew, but has helped her over the years with many projects. I was only able to make it thru one dresser, before i had filled three boxes, and 2 brown paper shopping bags.  So much to go thru.  I did stumble across a find, a box full of silk fat quarters in in solids and prints.I love silk  Also some squares that had been sewn together for i dont know what,  she had several projects where squares were cut, or some were sewn together but she doesn't store the directions with the project.  Ohh a little frustrating but i guess it will make same interesting thinking while figuring what to do.  In the meantime, I plan on going thru some of this tomorrow and running it over to project linus.  Mom donated many quilts to the local veterans hospital for patients, army family services and some for a few other places.  She was even kind enough to give me one, that i gave to friend who has been fighting cancer.  So much of a person goes into quilt making, they just seem like they're filled with love somehow.  So I may not be quilter like her, but i can pass some more of her kindness around by donating some of her supplies.
Happy weekend
t

Needle kits

Came up with a new idea today after viewing some of the fabrics and new felts on Heather Bailey.  She has such wonderful colors.  I want to make small point shoe  sewing kits for ballerina's.  Kind of like a needle book, but with a place for scissors, and floss for sewing ribbons and elastic.  I plan to make a mock up of this in the next day or two and will post it.  I'm hoping i can find some Heathers felt around here, or i will have to mail order it.

Mom's quilt

Well finally I have some pictures of Mom's quilt.. I finished the quilting on the big machine, and now i've brought it home to put the binding on.  It's so bittersweet to work on.  I know it gave her so much joy when she was working on it. But to finish it for her is so hard. she did such beautiful work, and i have mostly done hand quilting and fairly small projects so its just daunting over all. Hopefully it wont take so long to do the binding, but i know i plan on hand stitiching the finishing seem.

The photo on the left below is taken from the landing on the second floor

 The quilt is laid out here in my entry way. On the right photo's still being taken from stairwell

Hermi is my trusted sewing partner.  She loves my sewing room, and especially tulle and patterns. She immediately jumped on this when i laid it out on the floor to  take photos.  I wish i had remembered to take the camera and take photos when it was on the quilter.

Trying to get a picture of the quilting on larger squares, but its a light thread that blends well on top and is hard to see in photo..

the quiliting on the smaller green blocks, kind of a celtic knot type pattern. I haven't measured it but i think its a double bed size. The backing- she had a light thread in the bobbin so it really shows up here especially if you make a mistake.

Fall is here!

I love Seattle and surrounding area in the fall.  The days are usually sunny and crisp, and the trees are starting to turn into glorious reds and yellows.  You can almost smell apple cider in the air. It makes you feel like you should be baking and walking in the woods at the same time.

 My lovely daughter has gone back to classes at the local college.  She experienced her first time driving to campus and the quixotic event of parking on a college campus.  Not being able to find a spot in the parking garage, and having to search out a new lot.  Eventually following others until finding herself having to parrallel park on a hill.  Realize she's only had her license for 2 weeks. All was well until she had to go back and find her car.  I got the call of I'm trying to find my car, but dont have any idea where it is. Fortunately she was laughing.  Her car is a classic Saturn Coupe and does not have the alarm pog. So its kind of like going to and amusement park and not remembering where you parked.  Today she headed back to school, giving herself and extra hour of time.  She was well prepared for the parking onslaught, but found it much easier to park.  Ah success, parking with ease, and making it to class on time.
Tomorrow, i head over to dad's to work the quilt.  [ Credit for the word cloud goes to Sweet Sassafras-who was kind of enough to allow me to borrow this]
Have a lovely day.

treva

Inspiration!

Yes, sitting here thinking i need  to finish projects, but that does not always inspire one to move and do them.
Sat down with my daughter last night going thru the new Burda and found several cute pieces she would like to have.  She has a rather classic but fun style - at 17 it has to be fun, independent, and classic.  Her comment one day, as we passed Talbots, if i was older i think i might shop there, meanwhile she does shop at the Black and White store, Antrhropologie, and several independents.  Some of her favorite finds from stores in San Francisco, and Vancouver, BC.   So this was exciting, to see what was interesting her from this issue.

Then having a few minutes to sit, and not finding much on, i turned on Sewing with Nancy, and i have to say after watching her for so many years, there's not usually alot of new for me, but she and Mary Milari were working on some cute sweatshirts for kids, and i have to say, I'm a sucker for sewing for kids.  I think i like to so much, because kids, don't really know what goes into it, but if they like it, they wear it and wear it, til it wears out.  My daughter had two real favorites like that when she was about 3.  One was a sweatshirt out made into a cardigan.  I had stamped teapots, and roses onto fabric squares and then sewn them onto the bottom of the shirt.  split the middle and blanket stitched. She still remembers this, but i dont know if i saved it.  The other was a dress i smocked for her, and she picked the fabric out.  It was tiny buttons print in very brite colors.  I smocked it with a bright turquoise thread and bright pink.  Because she picked out the fabric i think it was her favorite.  The same year i made her a flannel night gown out of a tiny red and white plaid, and smocked holly and ivy across the front and around the cuffs.  She wore this until it completely wore out, at about the age of 7. 

So now i'm inspired with some ideas for a few childrens sweatshirts, and few new things for my daughter.  I know to keep inspired, i will have to start something new, as well as finish some of the other projects to make more room. 

So i know what i'm doing this weekend, i hope you find something inspiring as well!

hoarding does it create clutter?

i fluctuate between being a horder ( which my spouse would easily confirm) and a tosser.  i'm sentimental and hold onto so many things that i might want to revisit someday, or think my daughter might want to have in the future.  i love looking at photo albums, and cards that my mother saved (example congratulations from my own birth, birthday cards for years and years, newspaper articles, etc)  these things have some kind of merit to them for history at least.  Then theres the sewing and craft hording. i used to save every scrap of fabric, or any item that could be used for craft project.  When i was an avid rubber stamper, i went around looking for things to stamp on, or to decorate a card or box. I have boxes, of balloons, dum dum suckers (they make great little add ons for birthday cards and packages) charms,buttons, ribbons, tiny pom poms for reindeer noses on cards, etc.  You name it, i probably have some of it stashed.  When ever i go to these drawers and think i should clean a bit out - forget it. i no longer hold the same love for my precious rubberstamp collection.  i have over time sold many of them, and one day I took a whole box to goodwill store.  Other times, i think oh this was one of my favorites and i made so much with it i cant possibly get rid of it. i am faced with the fact that i truly need to get rid of about 1000 stamps.  This means deciding which ones will go to new homes.  Ugh.  i hate the decision process choosing which stamp will be able to stay, and which ones will adventure to someone elses collection. 
This extends over to my fabric collection as well.  i finally allowed myself to put a few pieces that were good sized remnants left over from making curtains, and a few home dec projects for sale in a garage sale we had. No thoughts about it, UNTIL the pieces left for new homes.  Sudden thoughts of i should have kept that i could still use it. i'm not selling it for enough.  Oh my, this is how it goes.  So yes in reality i have a huge fabric stash, and i'm suppossed to go thru my mother in laws stash- which by far she had more than i do - as she's a quilter, and has tons of pieces put aside- in fact three separate dressers full.  its daunting, because my mind says oh these are special, she chose them and planned on using them or did use them.  We cant get rid of this, it means something.  But in reality i know, i cant possibly keep all of it.  So sad, back to that decision process. i need to head over to the house she shared with my father in law, and work some more on her quilt.  Set up on the long arm it fills a room that is about 14 ft long, and i keep having to walk around from one side to the other.  i'm not so afraid of the machine anymore, but its not something i feel in charge of yet.
By the time i do, we will probably sell the machine.  i dont think my father in law wants to store it indefinitely, and i dont quilt enough to make owning this monsterous machine worthwhile. And although its been suggested by a dear friend that i keep it and make a buisness of quiliting others quilts for them, i dont think thats for me. i would hate to mess up someone elses piece of work, and the stress would be too much. So these thoughts on hording are related to the clutter accumulated in my sewing  & craft room. i'm not a neatnick by anymeans-i'm one of those artist that goes from one project to another sometimes within minutes of finishing one, so i may not clean up my space for at least 5-6 projects.  Yes it is and can be scary, i usually have a good idea where something is, but should anyone move any item, things shift and then things disappear. Oh my.  My loving spouse refers to it as my "black hole." i'm hoping i can declutter my space some soon. in order to work, dream and imagine,  i need some clear thinking space instead of the clutter that crowds my room and seeps into brain.  The one thing about having a dedicated space for sewing/crafting is you can close the door and leave, and its not until you come back that your faced with whatever you left behind- this can be good and bad, as one is never forced to clean up until you can no longer wade through.  Coming soon, pictures of  mom's quilt on the quilter as i work to finish it.

Starting anew

For 12 years I've been working for a dance company making costumes for ballet & modern dance, and several big productions including Dracula, Nutcracker, Coppellia, Don Q, among others. It started as just a small project.  I was working on smocked dress for my newborn niece, and the next thing i knew i was being asked to make garments for two people whom i did not know, measurements were being sent to me from two different places, I had no patterns, and did not know the story.  The only thing i knew was that i was chosen for my sewing abilities.  Aagghh was all i could think.  Then i was handed two of the ugliest pieces of fabric, one a sandwashed silk reminscent of puke green/gold and the other similar color but gold dominant, jacauard print for home decor.  The individuals were to show up 3 days before the performances. so they had to mostly be done.  I had made theatre costumes which are very different from ballet/dance costumes.  Theatre costumes are usually made to be a bit sturdier than regular clothes every thing is faced, in ballet, everything is suppossed to flow and fit like a glove.  Oh my, was all i could think.  These fabrics don't offer flow nor would they be able to fit like a glove because of that.  I also learned just how picky dancers can be.

 The next year, i was working for a brand new dance company. The first show would be nutcracker, requiring tutu's romantic and pancake, fairys, party girls, soldiers, clowns, a mouse queen instead of king, basically a cast of 35 with most have 3-4 parts each, i designed and created over 120 costumes for that show.  I found out several things about volunteer help.  1) its rarely enough.   2) NO ONE ADMITS TO KNOWING HOW TO SEW these days- not even hooks and eyes, its quite pathetic.  3) When someone tells you, that you will have lots of help, never ever believe them.  4) if you think someone can cut out fabric/patterns for you with out knowledge of sewing, think again.  Oh these were just a few things i learned that year.  I also learned that if you succeed at an impossible task, you will be asked to perform magic, and frequently heard coming from my mouth, was "am i suppossed to pull that out of my ass?" and somehow i almost always did.  The director i worked for was full of impossibilities.  She would forget that i was 1 person, i did not have a staff.  Over the years i got used to it, but never accepted it.  This year at the end of the season in June, i decided it was enough.  Enough late nights, back aches, running around looking for fabric in the limited local shops we have here, and online.  Time to move on.

So here i am, moving on.  My daughter the High School Senior (often referred to as Red) is doing the same.  She has danced with this company for 10+ years.  But this summer while gone to san francisco she was asked to stay there for the school year to dance full time.  This we could not agree to, she's not quite 18, but it made us all aware she needed to work into some other companies and gain a more varied experience. She is often my inspiration, or muse.  I think of so many things i want to create when i'm working on something for her. So this year, i've decided i would come thru on many items that i have promised her the last few years.  Including her own tutu- if you've made a pancake tutu -you know it can take a 100hours. the romantic tutus are much less complicated, and even though they are longer, are far easier in contrast. I have projects i want to finish for my home and myself.  My drapes i started last year for my living room, in a beautiful botanical print on black. Small bags for girls with embroidered dancers and fairys with jewels of course and lots of trims- i made a mock up of one, and never found the time to finish. Some things are difficult and others easy. My one big challenge is to finish the quilt my mother in law was making when she passed away in june.  She had made the quilt top, and got it onto her long arm quilting machine. She set the pattern for the quiliting on top, and then got very ill.  And now I person who has never used a long arm am faced with finishing it.

Part of this mission is to make things for myself as i lose weight.  Because i want these to be inbetween clothes, i want to makes things that i like and meet some of the design styles that i've been wanting to wear, but hoping during this year i can also  lose 65 lbs. that have creeped back on my medium short frame.  They hinder my outdoor activites, and i no longer want these pounds to be part of who i am.  I know i can do this, as well as satisfy my creative needs and thats what this blog is all about.