making Light of things

We took Miss Teen to a local Lights in the Park event.  We wanted to go, and thought she'd probably like it.  

It's very booked up,  so we were happy to go on a weeknight, and early. 

It was quite a long walk, over 7000 steps, and well arranged.  There were several food opportunities,  We had Crepes about three quarters of the way round.  

scantastic

The scanner is back upstairs. It worked really well!

I have scanned a whole load of pattern pieces.  Each piece has been checked (by projecting it and comparing it to the original).    I've even done  the numerous  pieces from my Jacket workshop,  which on their own took a few hours.   I've been using z mega sized carrier thing to out them through tvd scanner, which means they go through smoothly and evenly.  Its an unwieldy thing, and takes a while to load and unload. 

  I've still got loads to do,  but I've had enough for now.  I also want to try working with the scanned pieces,  in case I uncover a flaw.

I've already realised that some of the scans don't show the seam allowance very well,  and I've actually put  warning in the filename of every piece scanned. There were a lot of them. 

I'm so happy that it's worked,  and I **will** bring it back downstairs to do another batch or two.  But not yet.   I'm running on empty, and I'd like to try and get something sewn next.

I'm counting this as a creative thing. Just 1,  so its not cheating.

Total crafty things this year:60

Sewing based makes: 

123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion
27) Burrito rolled bag (from Jane's July Zoom)
28) Replace waistban on massively oversized maxi skirt
29) Salvage DH's Firestorm tee shirt (using stretchyfix)
30) Yet another Heartlight skirt (July) feathers scuba, great pattern matching, good fit on waistband
31) Convert single duvet cover to king size
32) Convert 1 pillowcase to 2,  and create 2 additional plain pillowcases to match
33) Dressing gown (LoveNotions Compose) (black flowers on white, brished cotton)
34) Cover for A0 printer
35) Condolence cards
36) Halftime Hoodie with thumbhile cuffs
37) Jolly Roger hoodie with raglan sleeves,  crossover cown hood, thumbhole cuffs
38) Half Tme hoodie,  larger size,  with kangaroo pocket
39) Horsey Dressing Gown for MIss Teen
40) Camo dressing gown for DH

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off: 11) full on scanning and testing  of Jacket Retreat pieces,  and many SFD drafted knit fabric pattern pieces. 

 

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks) 

C) Painted bisque small jug (hen names) and had it fired. 

D) Heart shaped plate with names of all our pet hens, and had it fired
E) Medium jug

Blinding

A crash in the living room,  a blind extended, and two jumpy cats. Shelby had finally done it.

She has been pinging the cord with her paw  for months, and I've occasionally caught her gnawing at it.

And it finally snapped.

We are hoping it can be re-corded.  A quick inspection of the other 3 blinds revealed a second one partially chewed.

Pesky cat .

Scan

Ten days ago,  I managed to do a sterling job of clwaring the kitchen worktops and cleaning. We also did a mini declutter of part of the loft,  and I was able to give away most of the stuff. The rest went to the tip.   We now have enough space to put the beer and wine stuff back up there.

I even managed to identify quite a lot of fabric for destashing, but I haven't managed to sell it yet.  It's been moved into the box room, so that I can continue the Tetris involved in moving fabric about.  

I had my booster a few days ago and I've had a bit of a reaction to it, which is a nuisance.  

I had decided to make myself some long sleeved tee shirts, as it's a bit chilly now.  I couldn't find the sleeve pieces for any of my self drafted patterns.    So, I had to go through them more carefully, and I decided that I would get on and do the scanning.

The carrier sheet I bought is too big.  I debated for a day or two whether to cut it, or to buy one the right size.  They are horrendously expensove, nearly £100,  so I decided I'd cut it.   I#m going ot do that today.

I did some test scans in the meantime, and they are looking accurate enough.

I hope this works.

The idea is that I will scan in all my "self drafted" pattern pieces.       It  originally meant that it didn't matter if I lost pieces, I could reprint them.  It also meant that when I want to make alterations, I can print a copy of the original, rather than having to trace a copy.

Now that I have a projector, it also means that I don't need to print them, I can just project them!

Tools like Inkscape should help as well.

 I so hope this works.

 

Dressings Down

It's been an up and down couple of weeks healthwise, and I've been finding it difficult to get motivated to be creative.

I had ordered some fleece for Miss Teen, to make her a dressing gown, and I also saw some fleece which I htought would give DH a brief chuckle.  I bought that too, and hid it.

I made Miss Teen's dressing gown using an adult pattern.  I think it's going to be too big, but I didn't want to fork out for a kids pattern.  I'm trying not to buy any more sewning patterns unless they definitely have something that I don't already have AND I'm definitely going to sew it up in the "near future".

I guess the benefit of making her one in a ladies size is it will last her longer.  It's only for here, so it's not exactly going to get worn out with use.  

I finished it last night.  Overall I'm pleased with it, I did a hood in this version, and I'm happy with my coverstitching. 

She wants an Oodie, or similar, for home.  I've promised to buy her a Comfy when they have them in stock in Costco (due in  end November),  as this is cheaper than buying the fabric (or throws) to make her one.   I suspect she'd prefer an Oodie for here too... ut I'm hoping the horsey fabric will win the day.  She's coming over after school

I made one for DH as a surprise.   It's a ladies pattern (Love Notions Robe pattern), but a few people seem to have made them for their male partners without issues.    I found it hard to guess what size to make,  I looked at the "finished size"  list,  and I compared it to male orientated garmenbts from the same pattern company.  I also compared it to my dressing gown (which was pointless) and to some other articles of clothing.

I cut the backs first and sewed them together.  And I had to redo it.    DH has been wathing Sewing Bee with me, and he will be appalled at the lack of pattern matching.    I wasn't sure I was going to have enough fabric to cut out another pair of backs, but I managed it all in the end. 

I also managed to overlock a sleeve on the wrong way, so I had to cut it off and then cut a new sleeve.   That wil teach me not to check before I sew.

It's all done now, and It looks OK.    I'm not sure it's going to be the right size,   but he'll smile when he sees the fabric.  At least, I hope he will.  It's too late now.

Total crafty things this year:59

Sewing based makes: 

123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion
27) Burrito rolled bag (from Jane's July Zoom)
28) Replace waistban on massively oversized maxi skirt
29) Salvage DH's Firestorm tee shirt (using stretchyfix)
30) Yet another Heartlight skirt (July) feathers scuba, great pattern matching, good fit on waistband
31) Convert single duvet cover to king size
32) Convert 1 pillowcase to 2,  and create 2 additional plain pillowcases to match
33) Dressing gown (LoveNotions Compose) (black flowers on white, brished cotton)
34) Cover for A0 printer
35) Condolence cards
36) Halftime Hoodie with thumbhile cuffs
37) Jolly Roger hoodie with raglan sleeves,  crossover cown hood, thumbhole cuffs
38) Half Tme hoodie,  larger size,  with kangaroo pocket
39) Horsey Dressing Gown for MIss Teen
40) Camo dressing gown for DH

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off

 

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks) 

C) Painted bisque small jug (hen names) and had it fired. 

D) Heart shaped plate with names of all our pet hens, and had it fired
E) Medium jug
F) Tall, "split personality" jug
G) Macrame angel
H) Felted a christmas bauble
I) Made a fused glass teaight

Sugar headache

I made Christma Puddings yesterday.  We don't know whether there will be a "lockdown" over Christmas, so I've made an assortment of sizes. I also made a pudding for my bff Y.

I also reheated a leftover pudding from last year, ready to make truffles today.

Today, I made Nigella's Puddini.  Truffles made with christmas pudding, golden syrup, plain chocolate, and Pedro Ximenez sherry.    The PX is so  sweet,  it's sweeter than golden syrup.  Ask me how I know.

I melted some white chocolate to cover them with,  and I ate what was left in the melter.

And, I made peanut brittle.   I don't think I cooked the caramel long enough as it isn't setting.  I made the mistake of testing it while it was trying to set,  and this was the final straw.  I now have a full blown sugar headache,  I have no sympathy for myself.

I'm not sure about the puddini.  They taste like... cold christmas pudding and chocolate.    DH ate one and quite liked it, which was a surprise.    

I've put four in a tub to take to Y,  along with her pudding, but I need to try and shake the headache first.

Disheartening. Reheartening

Yet another china mug bit the dust last week.    This was caused by a badly placed tea caddy falling off the shelf,  while DH was getting the correct caddy down, and crashing into the mugs that were waiting to be filled with tea.

It was one of our Juliet mugs.   I bought some when they were new, and I bought them when they came up on Ebay.  At one point, I had so many that I had "spares" hidden in a second cupboard.  When I went to the spares cupboard,  there were none.    They don't come up very often now - not in the shape I want, anyway. 

They make me smile because DH and I both, independently, started a habit when the first Romeo and Juliet mugs joined our collection.   Whoever made the tea gives themselves one of the other china mugs (I also have lots of cat designs and hen designs,  but I find Dunoon make lots that I really don't like) but we always use a mug with a heart on for our other half.   It took a while before we realised that we both did the same thing. 

It's an unspoken "I love you", every single time.

We've been doing it for so many years,  and I'm struggling to work out when it started.   I think we bought the first ones from the Dunoon factory shop in Stone, when we stopped there on the canal.   That means it was after 1992, as we weren't on a hire boat.

The tea ones are very faded now through daily dishwashering.

Yesterday, I made the tea.... and there was no suitable mug in the cupboard;  the (few) we have left were all in the dishwasher, and were mid cycle.  

We do have the design in coffee cups (espresso, double espresso, and cappuccino),  and in the end I improvised by using one of the enormous breakfast (cappuccino) cups for DH's tea.    He commented on the enormous cup, and chuckled when I explained why.

Dunoon does still do something very recognisably R&J on their smaller mugs.  But the smaller mugs are too small for tea, or we don't find them particularly comfortable to hold.   After doing lots of careful comparisons, eventutally   I chose  something that is a variation on R&J, in a reasonably sized mug. 

We'll see how they go.  I can always put them at the back of the cupboard, for emergency use, until we get used to the idea.

 

Forwards and Backwards

We made a big step forward in getting things sorted in the living room. 

The  lovely and comfortable leather sofa has gone to a new home.    The two new (to us) chairs arrived, and everything was cleared to facilitate getting them in and sorted.  The room looks airier now, apart from the mahoosive ottoman now stored under the window.    I've put loads of the floating carp in it though (like Miss T's blankets,  the Revitive,  my various body stretching bits) so that's overall better.

I've got a pile of "project bags" which need to be relocated. 

I'm trying to find a replacement coffee table to go between two chairs (instead of the functional but big nest of tables.

This morning, a few things went backwards, so I'm feeling a little flat.  I'll bounce back.

5 out of 4 Halftime Hoodie with Kangaroo pockets

Miss Teen came for a n overnighter, and so she was able to try on the hoody.  Ths was made a size larger than her measurements suggested,  but this was partially necessary because the faric stretch was low.

Fused Glass

I finally collected my fused glass tealight holder