Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

I'm back after a bit of a break. It's been a very busy and not always happy spring and I just didn't have the energy to blog. Add to that a new work computer that blocks me from signing on (or commenting on others' blogs), and a more cumbersome photo editor and you guys got nada. Zilch. A big old goose egg for a long time.

As a second to the above - I still read all ya'll's blogs. I do. But can't post comments from the office. And don't have a lot of time in the evenings. But I'm still cyper-stalking your every stitch. Be secure in that knowledge.

I spent a week in Detroit with my son and an unexpected hospitalization and turn of events.

We bought a house (FINALLY!) and moved in.

We had no Internet or cable for almost 2 weeks. And survived. Barely.

So I now have a new house with a new sewing room. There's a bonus room over part of the top floor. We'd hoped to be able to put my son up there but it won't work, so it will become my sewing room. Complete with WINDOW!!!!! bathroom, small fridge, closet and a lock on the door. My Ikea shelf didn't survive the move so most of the room is still in boxes. The machine is on the table but that's about it. Oh, and I have a TV up there. Yea! Project Runway for all. The photos were taken before the old owners moved out, it was an older son's bedroom in it's past life.

My last sewing before the move was to finish piecing this quilt. I've barely started quilting it - not sure how I want to do it. So it sits and sits. I actually have named this one: Aruba Waves. Karen and I went to Aruba a few years ago and when I started piecing this, the colors just kept whispering "Aruba". The pattern is French Braid and made from a Jelly Roll (knock off) that I couldn't resist from JoAnn's. It's backed with the same fabric as the edging. Not sure how I'll bind it, yet.

So we are now residents of Maryland. And I need to renew my car tags and can't find the title. My DH (use the "D" however you wish) has no freakin' clue what he did with it two years ago when he registered it in Virginia using, btw, an old Michigan title that still had the loan attached. So if and when I DO find the freakin' title it isn't a clear title. I can't even give this car away. A little testy about that, can you tell?

Now that I have Internet and the move behind me, perhaps I'll blog more regularly, though there's no sewing in site. My son has a major surgery scheduled for June 21 that will keep me in Detroit for a good part of the summer. Then we'll move him in with us and see the end of Michigan. I tend to knit in Michigan. Whatever.

Still working on Burda

Short post, no pics. But I did get back into my sewing room after the day from Hell. And found that, sure enough, my Burda pattern did indeed have marks for the pockets and the darts and the pleat. Duh! So my darts are back in, my pleats are stitched. And I'm now a little stumped on the pockets. Haven't given them a lot of thought, after all dinner was ready. But a little bumfuzzled (yeah, I like that word and have been waiting to use it). I may not get back to it for a while, I'll be out of town over the weekend. Maybe the pockets will get done, though, tomorrow night.

I'm totally enjoying my Thread's haul, though. I have them all over the apartment and just read a little everywhere. Driving DH nuts. Hmmm, maybe that's part of the fun. Still pending is a sewing book from Ebay and a Fabric Mart shipment. One shouldn't drink and internet shop.

And I sent back PRunway2 disc 1 to NetFlix. So when I get back in town disc 2 should be waiting for me. YEA! I'm liking season 2. And it is making me realize how lame the current season really is. Ah well. Better than the History Channel, at least.

For my good night shot, tonight I'll leave you with..... my old backyard. I missed it this summer, all but the planting part. And the weeding. And the watering. And having deer eat my begonias. And...no, wait, I really do miss watching the sun set behind the trees. And my bench.

Burda V - the final epsisode

Finished! They turned out nicely, not perfect, but nicely. I will absolutely wear them and make more. I ended up with two buttons in the front. I was thinking one large one, but when I tried them on, I could tell the waist band really needed two to fit correctly. I do really wish I'd done waist band correctly, but live and learn. Another note for next time is that I will finish my waist facing edge with some bias trimming. I see a lot of that in RTW and like the look. It would also simplify construction. I'm really happy with the detailing I did, the topstitching, belt loops, even my buttonholes turned out well - and that's a real crap shoot - I did them on my Pfaff. Hemmed on the 201 with the blind hemmer. I may start another pair tomorrow. I have quite a bit of pants fabric. If you have questions, please leave a comment. I'm pleased with this effort.

I have a ton of alterations to do, too. I got my raincoat done: seam-a-steamed the sleeves (yeah, but it works), removed the belt loops and stitched down the cuff for wearing ease. And hemmed a pair of pants. I still have 2 pairs of pants to hem and 3 jackets to shorten the sleeves on. **sigh**. So I quit with this mess and am watching PR season 2. Compliments of NetFlicks.

In about 2 minutes I'm going to watch the Coco Channel show on Lifetime. If I like it, I'll follow up.

Didn't make it to GStreet, I watched Ike coverage instead. Cheaper. LOL.

Here's what the Hanna Pants did to my sewing room. YIKES!

Project Runway, the AmEx Scoop

First, let me say that I'd've "auf-ed" Kenley and that costume. Glenda the Good Witch, wasn't it that Tim called it, meets prep school goes to an SM& garden party Terry's wasn't great, but I didn't think it was the worst. I do feel for the poor model that had to stand up there wearing that get up. The only one worse, of course, was poor Blayne's model. That was just hideous. Seriously, did someone throw up tulle?
How did she smile wearing that? Why didn't she bury her head in a pink puff and cry?

If you don't know, American Express has an online after show show. You can watch it if you sign in with your AmEx card (they don't ask for your number and there's no charge). But for those of you who missed it, here's the scoop:
Both Blayne & Terry were on it. Overall, not a fascinating 1/2 hour. BUT - the best if the scoop part - Terry said her outfit was sabotaged. The fur collar wasn't planned, she had the red fabric cut in flounces to resemble a lion's mane, but "someone" - she didn't mention Keith by name - slashed the pieces and they couldn't be used. So she did the fur at the last minute. Then redid the collar area after Christain's critique. She also said that other items - fabric, notions, supplies - disappeared. And that Keith wasn't there at all. He walked out on her after the initial consultation and slept in the break room the rest of the time (when he wasn't swiping scissors). Apparently he's on some medications for depression, not working I'd say.

Blayne's comment to remember when we see the interaction/drama is that we see only 45 minutes of a 24 hour day. So a lot of comments are out of context for us, reference an inside joke we don't know about, refer to an event that we didn't see. Good point. Apparently they don't see the show until it's aired, he has parties at friends houses to watch it every week. Then goes "out on the town" to see if he's recognized. LOL. Also indicated he's not gay. Humm. Maybe Bi-. And described his tanning regimine in detail ::).
OH! And I almost forgot - I even came back for an edit to add: Terri presented Blayne with a gift. A pair of panties that had "Holla at your boys" across the back. See, she's not so bad! She was just edited that way.

Well, that's all for today on the AmEx scoop.
(all pictures compliments of the Bravotv.com)