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Yesterday, after a full day of Grouchy-ness on my part AND being a Certified Crab Apple (also on my part), my hubby, who had already cleaned house, sent me out on my own, did laundry, cooked repeatedly and totally kept the house running, told the boys that "Mommy is going up to her Sewing Room while we watch a movie together." Even when I can't figure out what I need... he knows!
I spent the first 25 minutes cleaning up the sewing room (and made a marked improvement in the room). Then, in just 75 more minutes I finished up this project, which I started TWO YEARS AGO (when I cut it). TWO MONTHS AGO, I assembled the parts (insides with pockets, outside with padding, straps). Last night I quilted and assembled it. I learned/remembered two things:1 - I must sew more often... I love it!
2 - My current quilting setup is not as desirable as the one I would like to have... by way of a Juki sewing machine. The biggest problem (at least for small projects like this) is not the size of my machine, but the fact that the machine is slightly higher than the surrounding table-top. This is troublesome because I found a great tool to use (Quilter's Halo, by Sharon Schamber) but it works better when the area around the needle is flat. Hmm...
So. I need to find time in my busy schedule to make sure I am spending time each day (because weekly goals seem to disappear) in my sewing room... which probably means I will sacrifice computer time.Anyway. Wanted to share a quick project completion in quick blog post.
So. I've been making progress on my sock for my Aunt. I'm ready to do the first heel. But I'm thinking there will be a difference on the leg part, so I review my notes. I don't understand... my cables go straight up the middle of the sock. I look on Ravelry, and sure enough, EVERYONE else's go zig-zagging around...
This Sock is by TheBlackSheep.
See how beautiful their pattern shows up on a solid colored yarn.
Why am I bothering to even try a pattern on a varigated yarn?
Is it so my "mistakes" aren't as visible,
and when I switch to a solid color I can do it right?
Yeah... that must be it!
This Sock is by SuzyQSparkles. Where is my pattern at?
Why am I photographing with the flash at night?
Is it so I can post to my blog while I'm thinking about it,
or so I can be really exhausted tomorrow because I stayed up too late worrying about A STUPID SOCK!!!?
I have talked before about the complimentary Adobe Photoshop Action Sets, from The Pioneer Woman. Today, I'll show you some more I've been playing with.Here is a photo of Frank I took yesterday. This is "SOOC" (Straight Out Of the Camera).
I enjoyed playing with it as follows (cropped, sepia, heartland, and colorized):
I love the original color version, but it's interesting to see how colorizing or removing the color causes your eye to travel to things like the lips and eyes. With Frank's pale coloring, removing the color really brings the focus to his eyes, and somewhat to his lips.Then Tom snatched my new camera and snapped his first picture on it... of me. Here it is SOOC.
I cropped it (with a slight rotation) and the applied The Pioneer Woman's "Lovely and Ethereal" Action... which warmed the colors and softened the edges.
Since Tom's Best Friend Keith sent me an AMAZING GIFT... a new digital camera, I've been taking and editing lots of pictures... but I realize (through constant reminders from Keith and my Mom) that I HAVE been stingy about sharing the results. I will make every effort to rectify that, know this though, I have just one week until I start back to college, and two weeks until Frank starts school.So the luxury of "free time" I've been enjoying is about to disappear! Knowing this, I've been taking full advantage of being lazy (well, lazy for me anyway!). I've been playing silly PC games, going to the parks, taking pictures, perusing magazines, and generally not getting a lot done. I think it's good to allow ourselves a break once in a while. Mine is almost over though, and I do look forward to the return to productivity and general busyness!What have you been enjoying lately?
While the dancers were practicing their routines today, I was practicing taking photos with the new camera, and Jack decided to practice staying in the middle of things.
My camera and settings stayed the same. One second, I'm taking dancers, the next Jack, and then dancers again. This little series really shows Jack's personality. He's developing his Stand Up routine to get laughs and always be in the middle of things!I talked with the Publisher of the local paper today. I just stopped in unannounced and she spent 25 minutes talking with me, reviewing and critiquing my photos. That is definitely something unique to this Small Town living. She even invited me to participate in a Photo Editing Workshop they'll be having for the Newspaper Staff soon. She said "we pay for it anyway, we might as well have others attend!" She was pretty excited about a few of my photos... I need to gather names of the subjects and submit them for possible publication. :)
Jack has been attending a Summer Song and Dance Camp since last Monday. It is just an hour and a half in the mornings, but he's been enjoying himself. Today he was watching his Knight Costume's "Chain Mail" move in the mirrors.
Jack will be performing "Splish, Splash", "My Girl", and "All for One" this week on Thursday evening. If you would like to attend, it would be great to see you there!Today I played with my new camera (a gift from Tom's best friend, Keith) during the class. After class, the teacher ask me to get some pictures to her to be published in the newspaper. This got me thinking... I contacted the paper and they do accept amateur photography, but do not pay for it. Still, it would be such a thrill to have my photos published, as well as being something for my Life-Portfolio. I think I'll stop by with a collection of my recent photos on CD for the editors to review.
Yesterday we planted five trees (with the gracious help of some local teens to dig the holes). I found the planting of trees very joyous and inspirational!
Yes, I know the trees look a little lean. Last week, when I bought them, they were lush. Then, the wind kept blowing them over and they started to dry out. After just a day in the ground, the leaves are cooling off and moisture is returning. The trees will be fine!Jack keeps going outside to check on "his" tree, and saying "Look! My tree grew!!!" True to his nature as the "baby" of the family, his is the tree in the center, right in the middle of things, center-of-attention and all that. Funny that he chose "his" tree and it's location all on his own!
PS: Tuesday Jack went out to check on his tree and "pull weeds". He came back in and proudly declared "I pulled all the leaves off my tree!" I wonder if it will still grow. One thing is for sure... if the trees survive our family's "gardening", they will be stronger than ever!
I just spent three hours hanging out in my sewing room. I think it's been a good month (probably longer) since I did that. Just went in and played. It was great! So relaxing!While working away on an old sheet, turned Renaissance / Pirate Shirt, I was thinking about how I believe we each need to let our creative juices flow. Actually, I feel better in general when I give myself regular time to play (at least each week, preferably each day).What I am curious about is how you let your juices flow? Do you write, paint, sew, stitch, mold, sculpt? Are you musical or mechanical? Do you tend a garden or cook or bake? What do you do that just feels second nature to you? Do you have one thing more than others that truly relaxes you?Personally, I do many of these things, but feeling cloth in my hands and hearing the hum of a sewing machine is by far the most therapeutic thing I can do for myself... and it has been for many, many years. What about you?
