Sew What?

As I unpacked all my sewing equipment that I'd taken to Kathy's, I realized how much my sewing room has changed in the last 10 months. For one, it's become more crowded. Two more machines in cabinets will do that. But it has also taken on the air of a well-loved and much-used room. Here it was in September, freshly painted and floored - I'd just moved in and I'd also just left my job. This is my sewing machine table today. My idea and inspiration boards have become quite cluttered. (And I recently cleaned them up) My pinning, cutting, small pressing job table has become a fixture I don't know how I ever sewed without. And while the window provides wonderful natural light - the mountain view isn't bad either. My serging station sits atop my antique Singer 301A that I was delighted to discover works like a champ with a little cleaning and oiling. Not pictured is also my ironing board at a 90 degree angle to it's original location. And doesn't the new/old treadle machine look lovely in front of the lace curtains?! Now, lest I give the impression that my sewing room is spacious with all these "stations", here's a little video tour, if you are interested. You'll see how efficiently I have fit all this in one small space.

The Buzz on Our Bee

Our Saturday sewing bee went really well. I'm so glad Kathy was willing to host us as her space was a great setup for the job. Here you can see our machines around her kitchen table and the huge island we used for cutting out. Just off the kitchen is her sunporch and since the day was unusually warm, we set the ironing board up out there with all the windows open for a breeze.


I was awake at 6:OO am and since the sunporch was such a lovely spot at that time of day, I set to work out there on another table cutting out the necessary tissue pieces and pressing them for use. Kathy was up not too long after that and fixed me some coffee. Yeah! Then Steph joined us and we set to work. I cut out all but the blue skirt, which Steph cut out and made completely on her own. She looks like a pro here...


And here is her finished project. She was the first one to complete anything that day. She looks pretty proud of herself.


I worked on the tunic. The fabric was a pale green linen that worked up really nicely.


Stephanie had selected a pretty trim in matching pale green. It's a satiny braid with a velvet ribbon running through it. We added it to the neckline and then she had the idea to add a swirl to each shoulder, as well.


Kathy worked on a skirt that was seven curved flounces done in a batik. It turned out really well. Here's is Stephanie in her completed outfit.


We had a great time working together and enjoying one another's company. The consensus was that it was much more fun to sew together than alone.

We're On the Eve of Construction

I want to start this post with a picture from a night or two ago... the sun was shining brightly from the west as a strong storm moved in with dark clouds from the East. It made for quite the contrast of light and dark.


So in preparation for the Sewing Bee tomorrow, I finished my scissors case so that I could safely transport these important tools. Valerie helped me with the design when she was here last December.


She also taught me the foundation piecing that makes for the colorful outside of the case.


So tomorrow Kathy, Stephanie and I are going to have an all day sew-a-thon in the the hopes of completing three skirts and two tops for Stephanie to add to her wardrobe before she moves in two and a half weeks. Last night Stephanie and I went shopping for fabric, today I washed and dried it all but I put off ironing until this evening after the sun went down. It was sizzling hot here, 90's in Evergreen - nearly unheard of - so what better arrangment for ironing than on the deck after dusk? You can see the moon right above the iron...


I do believe the tomato plants are approving of this rich coral colored linen.


And just what will be sewing up tomorrow?




Stephanie has selected the top with plain sleeves from pattern 4149, to be made out of pale green and coral linens.


Skirt A from pattern 2416 in the brown batik and another in view B from the pink and pale green batiks.


And finally, the skirt from 4149 in the lightweight cotton that looks like denim.


Looks like I'd better wrap up this post and get ready for all that construction!

I love you, too, Valerie!

I was doing some cleaning and sorting today and I came across a note from my niece, Valerie. She's all grown up now and you can read about her adventures here. But back in 1984, when she was seven years old, she gave me this very sweet note...


"You make my heart break into a 1,000 sweet hearts"

And I also found this journal entry, from my journal, in 1985 about my then 9 year old niece:

May 6, 1985 - This morning I have something to look forward to - I am taking Val fishing. I treasure the time I get to spend with her. She is so special. She has this understanding, a sense of reality, that I find such good company. Some of it is probably just youthful innocence but it is also her. I really don't think it is merely a phase she will grow out of. I trust that we will always be good friends.

A Typical Fourth of July Celebration

I saw from my sister Kathy's blog that I was supposed to comment about our holiday. Well, we spent it doing what most people probably did... we visited and ate and played dominoes.


And what did we eat? Your usual July 4th fare. Biscuit-Topped Lemon Chicken. Cheddar biscuits baked over creamy lemon-pepper sauce chicken. And Kathy made fabulous Almond Green Beans. I was glad there were some left to enjoy later.


And then, of course, we finished up with an ice cream sundae bar. Blackberry Dark Chocolate, Strawberry Creme, Mint Chocolate Chip and Extreme Chocolate Moosetracks ice creams with your choices of caramel, strawberry or chocolate sauces with peanuts, walnuts, M&M's and Oreos.

All enjoyed by me, Kent, Stephanie, Kathy, and Sam, Jessie and Tristan Mazurek. We had a great day!

Picnic in the Park

We had a really nice church picnic last Sunday. It was relaxing, the weather was perfect and the company was exceptional. My favorite part? I would say it was the sleeping baby I snuggled. I find that so soothing! Tristan seemed to find it soothing also.