2013 Fall Back

It has been since the Bear Quilt that anything new has come out of the sewing room.  The machines have not been silent just busy refashioning tops.

In 2010, with the implementation of a wellness program at D.s company, we went on 20 weeks of Weight Watchers with great success.  A total loss of 40 pounds changed my wardrobe over and the 'big' clothes were packed away.

There are a couple schools of thought on retaining 'big' clothes.  A frequent comment was, "You should get rid of those sizes so you don't have them to get back into."  That is an understandable idea but I have some very nice pieces and am realistic enough to know that those boxes may need to be revisited.

Three years down the road and indeed, those boxes came out of storage.  I have regained 20 of those pounds and some of the stored tops refashioned, are a sensible, economical choice.

Don't be discouraged for me, I am back at Weight Watchers for a refresher and expect to unpack the smaller tops that, for the moment, have been stored away.

This pillow has been at the back of my mind since I finished the Raw Edged quilt.  A round pillow was my initial concept but it didn't have the bright blue fabric that popped on the quilt so my intention was always to make another round or square.

My friend S. over at Thoughts From Mill Street sent me the Exploding Pineapple pattern some time ago.  I decided to give it a try and in an afternoon this came together using a small pillow form.  I believe this is a much better compliment to the quilt.

L. is back at UT for his junior year and that seems to be the motivation for getting the sewing room up to full speed.  Already in mind for the holidays; I like to cover the couch pillows in decorative fabric and there is a 'hidden zipper' tutorial to try with the fall material.  As well, Elysium has a wonderful, free Good Deeds dress pattern for small girls I want to get started on.

With Fall at our doorstep what is on your mind?

Google Images:
www.sherv.netrestorativebody.com

Empty Nest Year 3: Getting the Hang of It

L.'s third year at UT began with move-in weekend over the 24th.  Our experience with this has been different every year.

The first year we paid extra and moved in the night before the rush.  The second year L. drove down with out us and moved himself in.  This year his 'stuff' was stored miles from campus and he was moving into a new high rise.

I failed to mention he was on campus the whole summer for classes and a lab internship so the answer to the question, "Are you headed for Austin?" was "You bet!"

800 students were moving into one building on Saturday.  It was controlled chaos, well done, but chaos none-the-less.  We were in the unloading zone at our appointed hour, braved the waves of back-to-school shoppers at Target and Walmart and had L. set up and settled by the end of a long day.


Dorm living has changed.  The past two years L. was in a private dorm that looked exactly like a dorm room. This new set up is more like an apartment. The only thing lacking is a cook top and oven.

A kitchen/living room area shared by two bedrooms that hold two students each with a double sink, shower and stool.

Every visit is celebrated with good food and venues that are pure Austin; high energy, unique and Austin Weird.  You gotta love it.  L. does and so do we but it doesn't make saying good-bye any easier.  This third year is set to be full and exciting and speeding him towards plans post-graduation.  Where does the time go??

D. and I are as settled into our empty nest as L. is into Austin.  We are finding our way with new interests and looking toward our future. The journey, to date, has not always been easy but we have each experienced positive, personal and family growth.

And so we say, "Cheers!" to all new and returning students and the adults that make the college experience possible.

Google Image:
dearkidlovemom.com

Hook 'Em

 Since L. left for college at the University of Texas at Austin I have been an avid UT representative.  When you are connected to a group through regular, large sums of money it seems only wise to support that group wholeheartedly.

This being said, anything with a Longhorn or that is burnt orange I proudly display.  I have the mom sticker on my car, numerous burnt orange t-shirts and lounge wear plus my office is decorated in UT wall art, I use UT pencils, Kleenex and a mouse pad.

It should come as no surprise my support will show up in my sewing.  In the Bear quilt post I mentioned trying my hand at paper piecing.  It didn't take long, combing the internet for free patterns, until this Longhorn pattern showed up and became my first attempt.  This is a 5 inch square and really too intricate for a first try but I wasn't daunted.  It took several ripped seams to get the idea and make a good run at the technique.

A good first try.

Much like paint by number with fabric.

I was happy with the end result but wanted to try this same pattern on a larger block.  Another internet search found how to enlarge a square and I turned the 5 inch into a 10 inch.

Each effort highlights sections to practice and I've exhausted the Longhorn for paper piecing but have another square to try already in mind.  The individual piecing doesn't take a lot of time, putting the combined pieces back together and getting a 'squared' square was my biggest challenge.  Something to continue working on.  What have you been doing this summer?

This Longhorn pillow has a place in the re-upholstered chair.  

I Was Thinking of You....

Working with fabric is a panacea for me.  Handling fabric through cutting and sewing is an activity that puts me in a place where the cares of the day fall away.

D. bought me my first sewing machine early in our marriage because I wanted to try my hand at making clothes.  I took a couple of sewing classes and although I could follow the patterns accurately I don't possess that spark of craftsmanship that keeps a garment from looking....well, homemade.

I tend towards projects that allow me the pleasure of creating, doesn't require a fitting and is forgiving with mistakes.  Quilts are particularly satisfying because the outcome always looks good.

After my sad attempt at clothes the machine didn't come out of the closet too often.  When it did, even when L. was young and in the smallest of apartments, I would piece a quilt.

L. leaving for college, my sister sending me her serger, a room available to pull everything out and leave it out and a friend supplying wonderful fabrics has sent me into sewing overdrive.

The informational treasure trove available on the Web has provided most of the inspiration.  A variety of quilts led to little
dresses and then back to this adorable quilt.  The pattern, (the cat and dog will eventually be made), was discovered on a Pinterest page.  Heading over to Simplicity I discovered it was out of print (no longer available in stores) but could be ordered online.

In the midst of putting this charming bear together my next project was discovered. Paper Piecing, a method for making intricate patterns on quilt squares.  It explains and offers an easier method for creative piecing that strikes a cord in the pseudo-craftsman that lives within me.

What to put this interesting quilt square on?  Back to the Net to surf sewing websites I stumble across a 'Bag Swap'.  A wonderful world of various homemade shopping bags and many had incorporated a block that was paper pieced.  A perfect next project.

Having been asked more than once, "What are you doing with all these things,"  had me thinking, 'what am I going to do with all this stuff?'

Initially, they were for L. or my own use.  The kids clothes had no particular purpose other than my desire to try my hand at the patterns and I would teasingly say they were for my grandchildren (no pressure L.!)  D. came up with the best answer and I now say, "These things are going into my Grandmother's Hope Chest." This gives my sewing a purpose and encourages me towards better craftsmanship.

While sewing I imagined snuggling my grandchild in my arms, wrapped in this bear and what I will tell about making it for them at a time when they weren't even a twinkle in their Daddy's eye.

I will say, "While I was sewing this bear, way back then, I was thinking of you."

Done and Done

Done!

We began dis-assembling this chair for re-covering during Christmas break.  L. was home and helped me re-do the springs in the seat and also picked out the fabric, accurately doing the math to be sure I had enough to finish the job.

Getting started post here and completed post here.

Like most projects once the largest portion was done there was less impetus, and desire, to tear into the ottoman.

The niggling thoughts of a project undone finally kicked me into gear.  It was a pleasant surprise when the ottoman progressed faster and smoother, due in large part to the learning curve achieved through the chair.

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy the process as much as other sewing projects so unless there is another piece that really catches my attention I'm not going to seek out any more reupholstering projects.

Clearly, there is a white tag that needs to be removed from under the ottoman.

Refashioning has grabbed my attention and there are several tops on the sewing board to learn how to refit and redesign.  That project is only to fill the time until the 'out of print' pattern arrives that I ordered, just today, from Simplicity with the cutest rag quilt.

Pics to follow!

Swan Song

The definition of Swan Song is a person giving a final public performance or professional activity before retiring.  Following is the Swan Song for this version of Live & Learn with Sally.

My first post was published at the end of January, 2009 because of a suggestion from D.   He thought I might enjoy the process of blogging.  I was vaguely aware of blogs but had no particular interest until he made mention of it.  I was intrigued that D. thought this was something I would enjoy . . . and he was right.

Through research, trial and error I stumbled into, and became a participant, in the enormous, online world of bloggers.  What an incredible opportunity to satisfy my writer's bug, put my words in front of a wide audience and make new friends.

Blogs are a treasure trove of information giving evidence to the myriad of reasons someone might want to blog.  An early, important rule of blogging is; a wide readership requires posting regularly and often.

The focus of my blog has changed and evolved but it has always been, and will continue to be, a creative outlet.  Posts will be less regular and contingent on what my other creative outlets are producing.  Topics will be more personal journal and less an attempt at growing a diverse readership.

Thank you so much to the readers that have subscribed or visited weekly to read my words.  It is your attention that drives every writer.

Thank you to the friends I have made in the blogging world.  Your commenting was much appreciated.  I will continue to stop and visit at your place.

To all those who have passed my way, thank you for joining me on a great, personal, writing experiment.  It has been fun and much enjoyed.

Later!






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kmonadollaraday.wordpress.com - 
www.bearvalleycommunityhospital.com 


    

Current State of Affairs

In the weekly rumination of "what will I blog" the topics were varied and many, requiring a post on the current State of Affairs as seen from my arm chair in West Texas.

Nationally:
Memorial Day Weekend.  One weekend a year to thank those who sacrifice their lives for our freedom seems weak and yet under the blanket of minimum government funds our citizenry demonstrates their gratitude by stepping forward.  This is just a chip on the iceberg of the organizations that offer help to our returning soldiers and their families:

• Support Our Troops
• Rural Assistance Center
• Soldier's Heart
• Veterans for Common Sense

Oklahoma Tornado.  Crisis enmasse seems to be happening at a fast pace; Sandy Hook,

Boston bombings and most recently the destruction resulting from the EF5 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma.  The huge bureaucracy that is our government moves slowly but surely yet once again our citizenry steps in to fill the gaps.

National groups include:
BillyGraham.org; salvationarmyusa.org; savethechildren.org/oklahoma

Non-profit organizations include:
 Baptist On Mission Disaster Relief; Missouri based Convoy of Hope; Santa Barbara based Direct Relief; United Methodist Committee on Relief;
 Jewish Federations of North America

It is difficult not to feel pride when we read how often the common people step up and help their neighbor, reach out to offer assistance and take the time to care.  

Domestically:
West Texas remains in drought conditions with no expected change this season.  Water in our area is becoming a limited, expensive commodity. 

We worked through the mysterious illness that affected us all with one trip to the doctor, OTC meds and many hours on the couch.

We've enjoyed two weeks with L. home before he returns to Austin for a summer of class work, lab research and tutoring.  This leaves D. and I to entertain ourselves with summer plans currently limited to a 4th of July visit with D.s family and an August visit with my folks.  

Personally:

With the summer stretching in front of me I predict a Summer Sewing Extravaganza.

Three dresses are already on the cutting board. Our list of minor home repairs will get some attention and I leave the possibility open to the unexpected, unanticipated adventure.

What is the current State of Affairs looking like from your arm chair?  

Google Images:

www.gowithgo.net

www.msichicago.org