Casualties of Multi-Tasking

So, I'm a bit frantic lately.

I have all my usual sewing work, of course.

And, now, the dyeing. I'm also trying to dye a much larger amount than usual because I'll be participating in a small local sheep and wool festival. (I have to figure out how to display it, and how to get said display there.)

Did I mention I'm teaching myself to card and comb fleece?

I also have a sewing class going one night a week. And a new class starting next month (Advancing Sewing Techniques...if you were taking it, what would you want to learn?).

And, costumes for a theatrical production based on the book The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry (If you have never read this short story...you're missing a gem.)

Oh, I also have my creativity class on Sunday nights. Two spinning guilds, and our ASG Neighborhood Group meetings.

And I have to get a knot removed from the side of my head. Nothing serious...I just have a lumpy head.

Ah, yes, and my daughter has a social life that would rival that of Queen Elizabeth. I serve as secretary, driver, and "Momma J" (chief cook and bottle-washer my Gram P would say) to whoever is living here on any particular night. The Princess also has babysitting classes, guitar, religion, and theater to cram into her schedule, not to mention the orthodontist. Good thing she has an assistant! (imagine little smiley face with rolling eyes here, please.)

Between her schedule and mine, I had to travel to the next town, and back, 4 times Saturday. No, I couldn't just stay there to save gas...I had wool in crockpots, sand creatures to cut and sew, and appointments with clients. And anyway, I really enjoy cramming money into the gas tank.

Oh, I'm quite happy with my busy life, and when it gets overwhelming I remind myself how fortunate I am to be able to do all that I do. When I dread putting groceries away, for example, I think how grateful a less fortunate mom would be to have the same opportunity I take for granted every two weeks.

But there are, at times, mix-ups and screw-ups that happen when I'm especially busy and distracted. Today, for example, I pulled into the driveway wondering who was parked in front of my house. It was a client I'd forgotten had an appointment. I have also showed up at the wrong time for at least one thing in the past couple weeks, forgotten to send promised emails, and forgotten to turn on 3 out of my 4 crockpots.... not realizing it until 2 hours later when the timer went off and only one was hot.

In past years, at other times when I've felt our family a "lean, mean, schedule machine" I have done some pretty dumb things too.

I have, for example, dropped at least one kid off at religion when there was no class.

Realized, after who knows how long, that although I'd been diligently buckling my son into his car seat every outing, the car seat was not buckled into the car. (He's 18 now.)

I have put my purse in the fridge.

And driven towards the grocery store when I was supposed to be going to the dentist.

I've gone out in public with scissors hanging around my neck. And almost gone out with my slippers on! (Slippers feel different on the front walk than shoes with hard soles....thank goodness for small favors.)

I've forgotten pretty much everything you can forget to bring places....wallets, lists, forms, food, .....everything but pants it seems! (thank goodness for small favors)

And the house. Ah, the house. Well, it's a bit "early casual dust cloud."

Yeah, I'll catch up. In the meantime, I guess I'll just buckle up and enjoy the ride. (Just point me in the right direction, huh?)

Stuff You (hopefully) Only Hear in a Theater

• "Where's my blood rags?"
• "The leaves are under the table in a box marked 'mushrooms'"
• "Remind John to stay out of the orchard when the door's open"
• "We accidentally ate a prop in the lighting booth."
• "Will you check out my tail?"
• "Can you glue me?!"
• "I can't find my nose!"
• "Someone needs to plug in the wedding dress."
• "There is no such thing as Spain."
• "She needs a smaller pocket, inside the big pocket, so she can find her cheese."
• "Push out the giant Coco Puffs ahead of you."
• "One of my screws is loose."
• "My mustache really hurts."
• "The rats are having a hard time seeing where they're going."
  
• "Please don't eat the props!"

Hey, Wow!

My etsy shop, Fair Isle Fiber & Design has been featured as Lime and Violet's Daily Chum etsy shop of the day (ESotD)! How exciting! For those of you that don't know, Lime and Violet's is a daily compendium of pure, unadulterated, fiber-related eye candy.

Also, I'd like to thank Summerset, who recently gave me the "Excellent Blog" award! (I wish my kids would see that....they think it's weird that their mother blogs.) Anyway, if you're a sewer and you don't follow Summerset's projects, you're missing something! She is an art-to-wear sewer and her things are always inspiring.
There are many blogs that inspire and teach me. Here's a few:
Miss Celie's Pants
Field Trips in Fiber
Sewing, Creative Design and Beyond
Sew-Mad (who missed her calling as a photographer)
Yarnspinner's Tales (she who has washed more sheep than I!)

Random Monday Thoughts

• I'm Catholic and we are not supposed to disagree with the priest. But on this I must. Our priest's bulletin message yesterday had to do with our tendency to anthropomorphize our pets, and assume that they "love" us (his quotes) while really animals are different than humans and that emotion is left for us alone. I cannot agree with that. I'm not one of those touchy-feely animal lover types and I love a good bacon double cheeseburger. But you cannot tell me that our Labrador doesn't love us. Blindly, loyally, desperately. Yes, we may be made in His image. But I think she's doing much better at acting according to his ways than most of us are.
  
• I have two tailored wool jackets that I wear all the time. I think that the time that goes into a garment is directly proportional to the time that you will wear it.
  
• I'd like to make a spring/summer jacket that is just as useful.
  
• I must be getting older b/c this month's Burda is extolling the virtues of the "new safari look" and I remember another Burda issue, years past, saying the same thing. Granted the look is a bit softer this time.
  
• Sheep really don't smell so bad compared to people.
  
• If you want to experience the love of a Labrador (and learn some important life lessons), read Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan. I started it Saturday, finished it yesterday, laughed out loud, and bawled in between.
• After awhile, if you eat enough of it, even chocolate gets boring.

Dyeing, not dead

I don't think I've ever let my blog go this long without posting. But I do think there will be less posts for awhile. I will post as interesting things come up.

My etsy shop keeps me busy as does Ravelry and dyeing. Also, I want to re-vamp the blog a bit to reflect my new fiber passions as well as sewing.

Speaking of sewing. I'm still not sewing much that's interesting. But I did agree to costume a show in June for which I will be making sand/dirt creatures, clowns, and other odds and ends. It'll be good to sew something besides hems and shoulder seams. Sewing for the theater usually wakes up my sewing mojo for "real" clothes too. We'll see.

In sewing, I'm also working on a design for a "spindle transportation mechanism" (a spindle bag.)

Of course I've been dyeing pounds of Shetland and sometimes Icelandic. I also ordered my first full Shetland fleece and will be taking a class in what the heck to do with it next weekend.

I passed my 1st blogiversary a couple days ago. How things have changed!

I originally blogged to increase my sewing business - it didn't do that at all, but I learned I loved to have an outlet for writing, and making so many blogging friends. Not to mention how much I've learned by reading others' blogs on a regular basis, and how inspired I continue to be at how much jaw-dropping, beautiful and creative work there is out there.

And a year ago I never imagined I'd be spinning. I'd admired handspuns at fiber fairs but balked at the prices and passed by spindles and wheels with barely a glance. And as to the hordes of people leaving the fiber fair with huge garbage bags full of fleeces....I wondered why they'd want to bother going through so much when they could just buy the yarn and start knitting!

I guess I still don't know why even though I'm one of them. I guess that as you appreciate something you want to get further and further into the process of its creation. There is also some kind of intangible connection to the past, or maybe not even the past, but some deep-seated instinctual part of myself that needs to create things from raw, natural materials. Like gardening is for some people I think.

And there is still so much to do. If I could pause at 41 years old I would b/c I'm afraid I'm not going to have time for everything. Here are some of the other things I want to do:

• blow glass
• make jewelry and sculpture with metals, glass, gems
• make pottery
• weave
• rug hooking (I'm working up to that one now)

There are probably things I'm forgetting but it's just as well!

A Look at My, and Maybe Your, Italian Heritage

I am Italian from both grandmothers, French by one grandfather, and Lebanese by the other grandfather. But our family traditions were Italian. Why? Because grandmothers embody family, that's why.

My mom just sent me this video and it's really lovely. If you have any Italian heritage or if you're interested in why we prefer lasagna to ham for Christmas, please take 6 minutes out of your day to watch. I guarantee you'll smile.

Our Italian Contribution

Thank you!

Thank you SewIKnit2 for nominating me as one of the blogs which bring you inspiration and make you appreciate the blogosphere !

I won't have any trouble nominating 10 more (I read almost 100 blogs and they all inspire me!) Here are some I've been reading the longest, lately, and/or that inspire me in some specific way:

Miss Celie's Pants
Couture et Tricot
Field Trips in Fiber
Life Happens Be Positive
Real Life: Live and Unscripted
Sew-Mad
Adventures from the Sewing Studio
Pins and Needles
Knitting in Color
Neither Hip Nor Funky

Sewing Crossword Puzzle

I love crosswords and am working on one all the time. They are a lot harder to create than one might think...but here is a sort of pitiful one for sewing enthusiasts:

SEWING CROSSWORD FILE

SEWING CROSSWORD CLUES FILE

eta:

Crossword answers file

Thanks, Sigrid, for the link to Box!

PDF file?

This weekend I made a sewing crossword I'd like to share. I can make it a pdf. Unfortunately, not being a cyber-genius (!) I don't know how to get it to you. I think I need to post it to a third party page and then link to it here. Flickr won't take pdf files apparently. Googlepages requires a gmail account (just what I need is another account somewhere.) Any other suggestions? If not, I'll do the googlepages thing....
dawn

Ode to Moms of Small Children

Last Friday night there were five 13 year old girls sleeping here. So, naturally, I ordered pizza. What's interesting is my experience picking it up.

I pulled up to the curve, about 10 yards from the pizza shop. I noticed a mom, two pre-schoolers in tow, coming out with a large pie. She was heading towards the car directly in front of mine. At one point she had to set the pizza on the sidewalk to corral the kids. I passed her on my way in and smiled. I remember those days, wishing I had a sheepdog to help keep the kids in line. (I used to sometimes put my kids on a "leash" - a strap from my wrist to theirs b/c I was afraid of losing track of them for an instant.)

Went into the pizzeria. One pie was ready, one was not. I selected two bottles of soda and paid. By then the second pie was boxed up and I headed out.

The mom was still getting the kids into the car. I imagined there were car seats and wiggly arms and legs involved.

I got into my car behind her, started up, and pulled out before she even got into her car.

So much simpler life is now that my kids are big.

I wondered when that woman got home and her husband asked her "what did you do today?" and she listed "picking up pizza" as one of her activities, if he had the slightest idea of what that simple errand involved.

When I see women in the grocery store, struggling with small children, trying to get some semblance of what's on the list...I say a small prayer for their sakes, and of thanks for their patience....even when it's wearing thin.

I Am A Seamstress

So shoot me.

Many sewers avoid the term seamstress like the plague. It has negative connotations they say. Of domestic drudgery, even prostitution (yes, "seamstress" was once used as a euphemism for prostitution.) Or, they say, it denigrates their skill because the term is associated with factory workers, unprofessionals, maybe those that are "taking in sewing" for "pin money."
Personally, though, I take no offense when someone calls me a seamstress. I make seams. I don't need some kind of fancy word attesting to how well I do it. My work will, hopefully, do that for me.

Besides, I'm not running away from a word! A few micro grams of ink, transient pixels even. I mean, really, get over it! If the term seamstress has negative connotations than they end with me. I won't be defined by a word...I'll define the word, thank you.

Looking for Test Knitters

I designed and made several tammies for Christmas presents and I'm considering selling the patterns on etsy.com. First, however, I'd like to run my instructions and chart through some test knitting....you know, just to be sure I'm not nuts and the patterns really do work.

These fair isle (stranded) tams are knit with fingering or light sport weight yarns, 7.5-8 st per inch. They start on double pointed needles and proceed to circular. There are mirrored increases and decreases. The ribbing is corrugated (alternate colors for knits and purls), though it need not be.

Tams are blocked over dinner plates. These are 10-11" in diameter.

The first pattern I've prepared is one I made for my sister-in-law. I think it's my favorite. Lacey Tam
If you would be interested in knitting this pattern up and then reporting back your "findings" let me know and I'll send you a pdf file containing the charts and instructions.

Have a great weekend!

Inspired by Trash?

A few months ago I couldn't resist taking this picture of a pretty pile of serger trimmings on the floor. The sun was coming in on it and it sparkled with lots of happy colors.

Alas, I didn't save them. If I had, maybe I'd have created something fun and intellectually interesting like this. Vicki always has creative and inspiring things on her blog. As does Katrin of Sew Mad. Honestly, these ladies blow me away with their fresh creativity, just making "simple", beautiful, unique things.

On the other hand, we all have our talents. And mine may not be that kind of creating. I can make a mean jeans hem though, and that's something!

And, I feel fortunate to be able to experience some special happiness just by observing a pile of serger trimmings on the floor. Sounds silly, but, really, I think that many people go through life and miss a lot of little joyful things like that.

Christmas Cheer

Someone close was fretting to me recently that he didn't have enough money to purchase something special enough for a loved one. Here is what I've learned ...

When you really want to give a special gift, but don't have the money, it is an opportunity to really give something special. Here's some ideas:

~Something that requires time and/or effort. If you are crafty you can make something. But even if not, you can clean someone's car. You know, get out the toothpicks and get all the crumbs out of the shift console. You can cook or bake, or put together a kit so you can cook with the recipient.
~Write something from the heart.
~Give "coupons" for chores or favors.
~Get something inexpensive but exotic....if the person has some Native American ancestry, for example, you can give them a dream catcher or something small made by Native Americans.
~Give something local....when the boss is having a fancy dinner party and you want to bring wine, but know nothing about wine...bring an inexpensive bottle that is made locally. Or...buck the trend and bring a basket full of teas.

Actually, given the talent and creativity of my regular readers, I'm quite sure I'm not suggesting anything you haven't already thought of! Not only that, I'm sure you all have many more suggestions to add.

I wish you all a Blessed Christmas and New Year!

Fallen Deer Zones

I've been driving a lot lately, bringing my son to and from college. It can get a little monotonous...so naturally I get to thinking...here's what:

"Fallen Rock Zone" huh? Who cares if a rock fell here? OK, perhaps I can see this as a sort of warning....we blasted through this mountain and some rocks may continue to fall, perhaps onto your car as you speed by at mach 2. But, really, these rocky ledges are, like, at least 10 yards back from the road. And they slope away from the road. So, in order for a rock to hit my car, it would have to literally LEAP off the ledge. And what are the chances of that happening? Swan diving rocks.

Deer are another story. I'm much more likely to be hit by a falling deer. I've seen them perched on the edge of the shoulder of the interstate thinking about crossing. What I wonder though, is how much we taxpayers paid some guy to stalk the highways of all of New York State, determining where deer should cross. And why we hired someone on drugs....because he definitely missed the mark. OK. It may not be all his fault. Maybe the deer are not doing their part. They are in blatant disregard of the rules and have decided that they will hang out wherever the heck they please. Or maybe they're not apathetic...maybe they just can't read! In which case, we (o' faithful taxpayers) need to institute a program of literacy for all deer in the Empire State. Oh! Maybe they're immigrant deer from Canada! In which case we can set them up with regular ESL courses in forest glens, one per 10 acre plot. Or....perhaps we should make all the deer crossing signs bi-lingual? Would that do it? Because, really, I think the deer are much more dangerous than the leaping rocks.

Rest Stops have "Gift Shops." My daughter and I are going to hit Exit 29 on Black Friday and see if we can get our Christmas shopping done. Would you rather the $2 aspirin tablet or the $3 Diet Coke?

Rest Stops are historical! Something new I've noticed on rest stop "features" signs is the advertised promise that "History Happened Here." Then, near the entrance to the rest rooms and french fries (which are what you're really interested in) there are huge signs, done in blue and gold, about 100 words each, describing the aforementioned historical events. OK. So I ask you...say you're traveling to pick up your son at college. You've been driving for 4 hours and you're sick of the same CD. Are you going to pull off the interstate to see what obscure "history" happened there, at the Podunk truck stop, in 1856? This reminds me of those door plaques you can get now, for your own estate's front door, that proclaim (in the most dignified Old English Script) that:

On this Spot
~ in 1891 ~
Nothing Happened

Still on rest stops.... You order a cup of tea and a muffin. The guy behind the counter carefully removes your muffin with a tissue and places it in the bag, so as to not touch it with his bare hands. Then he pours the tea water into the travel cup and plasters his palm all over the lid to secure it. What's wrong here?

Back on the road, wary of leaping rocks, and getting closer to my destination, I'm noticing water towers. Can I just ask why they are labeled?!! Do the good people in Podunk want all the passersby on the interstate to know and appreciate that this here water tower belongs to them? Are they that proud of their water tower? Or perhaps they are afraid of losing it?

My favorite exit on the highway is one that says, "There is no return to the highway from this exit." This one really makes me think:

1. When does one "return" via an "exit."
2. What they're really saying is "you can't get here from there."
3. What are they doing down there that they don't want anyone to know about?

My son started laughing on the way home. "What?" I said.
"That message sign had a sign that said "message sign under construction" in front of it " said he. There's just nothing more to say about that.

Another one he noticed was an "Attractions this Exit" sign...completely blank. That's a hopeful community!

I think I'm going to try books on CD.

Gone Turkey Hunting

Happy Thanksgiving to You All.
I'm thankful for how openly you share your talents, ideas, and encouragement with me everyday. I wish you a lovely holiday - whether you spend it covered in flour, surrounded by a quirky family, or enjoying yourself at your sewing machine....

See you when the pie's gone!

Fondly,
dawn

For the Love of Hips

Hot Damn!

CLEAN is a 5 Letter Word

Inspired by Summerset's recent cleaning binge, I decided to give my sewing room/office thorough attention this Friday. As a rule, I clean this space on Fridays anyway, but the past couple weeks have been so busy that I've been negligent. Piles of fabrics and papers (the bane of my existence, papers) have been accumulating everywhere and it'd become rather unpleasant in here.









I clean the sewing room on Fridays for several reasons.

For one, it serves to "wrap up" my work week. I empty waste baskets and clear surfaces. Threads are re-united with bobbins and put back in color coordinated order. Pins are placed back on the appropriate magnets according to type. The floor is freed from scraps and threads. Machines are dusted and ready-to-go.

It's a kind of cathartic process really. Clients' projects are stashed int he closet or dressing room. Papers are filed. Deposits are made and recorded. Quickbooks is backed up. With work things literally out of site, I'm free to have a weekend.










So, two hours later, I have this seemingly huge, open, free space. It's pleasant in here again, inviting - someplace I'd like to be creative in. What's more, the process of putting things away has reminded me of what I have, fabrics and trims and patterns and tools, and had wanted to use. I might just do some sewing this weekend. And if not, at least I'll have a pleasant workplace come Monday morning, when it can be very difficult to get into the swing of things when you work at home.

Note the top pictures of my machine area? Dad extended my L-shaped Koala Outback table all the way to the wall. (I got this table free with my Pfaff machine and otherwise would not have chose this particular model as I think it's rather poorly designed.)

I used to be constantly dropping things (threads, bobbins, rippers, snips, small pattern pieces) down b/w the wall and table (which b/c of moldings won't meet up with the wall at the floor) and having to fish them out with a yard stick - a regular occurrence that caused me endless annoyance. So he added a piece behind the table that would meet up with the wall (both walls, around the corner, actually) about 5" wide and including a "lip" climbing 2" up the wall.

That 5" or so of extra width really adds an amazing amount of work space, much more than I'd anticipated. He also extended the length of the serger side so I could keep two sergers set up at all times. I keep the simpler machine set up for regular 3-thread overlocking for finishing seams and hems and use the new machine for everything else. Thanks, Dad!!

Thought for Today

Have you noticed lately... that the leaves are most brilliant... right before they die?

Vogue Jacket Thanks

I just wanted to thank everyone for the support and encouraging words during and following this challenging project. Wow, I'm blown away by all the comments! Thanks for coming along!