Still stashing

Since my sewing ability is currently hampered by time, space and a machine that won't sew in reverse I've had to scratch my itch my shopping. For fabric. At Joann's. But, you know, I've found some things I really like. I'm not a huge fabric snob - though I do love me a run through Michaels . But you can't have missed my affinity for the THE WALL at G Street. So when JoAnn's put some of their nicer, um adult-nonfleece-nonpromrelated-nonseasonallythemeprintedcotton, fabrics on sale I jumped. Maybe even actually a little bit in the store for glee. I showed you my first haul, but I went back and found one more piece. Not quite the deals I saw before, but 90% off is hard to come by. My plan for this (yes, dearies, there IS A PLAN) is the same S&S dress but maybe the V-neck version. Likely won't line this one at all. This is a 100% rayon at $6/yard. Funny how suddenly $6 seems like a lot after $0.99. Shame how a great deal can distort your vision. But it was a good breach into today. I'm playing a little hooky and going fabric shopping and lunching with a sewing friend. We're planning on hitting both ends of the spectrum - a high end retailer and a discount wholesaler. With a break for nourishment in between. We're both wearing our latest creations which I, for one, am excited about as I don't have much call to dress up right now. And I'll come back later for the juicy details. Remind me to take my camera, ok?

Found it!

I DID leave my camera cable at my son's. Yea! I really thought I'd gotten it before I left his apartment, but no, it was still here. So NOW you have photos.

I flew into Detroit this morning. Reagan was an absolute mess. I printed my boarding pass yesterday and then left it on my desk so I had to reprint at the airport. BIG mistake. The lobby was jammed and packed and full of angry, annoyed and impatient people. Most of whom were just unable to comprehend that some of us only needed to print a boarding pass, not check luggage or steal their seat or any other evil act. I was sworn at and had my bag shoved around. I finally found an empty kiosk and in less than 2 minutes had a new pass and was on my way to security. No lines there - all still on the floor above. Down to the gate where the flight before us still hadn't boarded. 2 gate changes and 2 1/2 hours later I was on my way to Detroit. To add to Delta's confusion with the increased holiday travel and weather delays they'd chosen just this week to move the Northwest flights from the other terminal. Timing, as they say, is everything.

Picked up my rental car and drove to where my son lives, he was out with friends so I went to the bank and then got my glasses adjusted (yeah, knew you'd be excited). Then I went back to Skeins on Main. This time to ask for help. I added an extra row to the scarf I'm making for Kevin and when I tried to tink it back it got ugly and uglier. I frogged a few rows and things went down hill from there. I spent some quality airport time trying to repair this to no avail. It just kept getting worser and worser (as my sister used to say). I went in hoping they could put me back on track. And let me say that I have to take back a lot of mean things I said about them. Karen, one of the instructors/employees was there, she taught the last class I got to attend and taught me to cable. She fixed me. She fixed me good. THANK YOU KAREN! She was not only helpful but so very nice about it. I stuck around a bit after the fix and knitted for a few. She found me a new pattern for another scarf, reversible like the one I'm knitting (it is somewhat longer now). The cool thing about this pattern is that it looks the same from the front and back - a good thing in a scarf since both sides show. The wool is almost black, "Obsidian" I believe. I bought it at Fibre Space, it's a Miss Babs "Yowza whatta skein" . For a guy's scarf, this is nice wool, washable, stretchy, pretty. But it's slow going for me, but I have a long flight tomorrow to work on it.

And finally, the long awaited pictures of the fabric I bought in San Francisco:

And snow. SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW. Last week on my patio. Yeah, we had a bit of drifting. It was still there when I left this morning.

And, finally, my son's new car. Pretty, isn't it.

Then I stopped by JoAnn's for a couple of pieces of fabric that I liked last time I was there, but passed on. For 2 of the 3 I bought I got the last on the bolts. And the flannel to re-do my bargello quilt and some really bulky yarn for a quick scarf for a right-after-Christmas gift. Off to dinner in a few minutes and an early ride to the airport in the morning.

Ahhhh, Home

I drove back to DC yesterday through the first snow storm of the season. It started snowing exactly at the Pennsylvania border and snowed all the way home. Road conditions and snow amounts varied greatly from spitting flurries, to slush, to 6 inches on the ground to wet roads and so on. Only a couple of accidents seen in the highlands of PA and they were just slide off the roads. It did add about an hour to my drive with slower speeds. I wonder if this was a first, though. It snowed in Virginia before it snowed in Detroit. Colder there, though.

In order to be able to come back home "to live" we got our son a new car. The HHR worked really well for him so I just did it again. My husband said I couldn't do it in a week, but I closed the deal on Friday, Mobility Works will put in the hand controls next week and he should be rolling again by Thursday or Friday. He will finish his classes in a couple of weeks and will graduate. He's going to take a couple more classes over the winter.

We went to dinner in Old Town last night, but DH is sick today, so I'll probably go to the grocery store and then I think I'm going to walk down to the LYN: Fibre Space and see if it's friendlier than Skeins on Main . I'm done with my classes there. rather disappointing, as I have said, though I did learn some useful skills. I learned to cables last Wednesday night. And my son said he would LET me make him a scarf now that I can cable. How lucky am I? I'm sure Fibre Space can help me find some yarn for this privileged project. They're just down the street and I can walk. After yesterday's storm it's sunny and mid 40's today. I love the south.

I want to rework my bargello placemats, too. I need some more flannel to do this, JoAnn's has some "gingham" checks that make it easy to line up. A suggestion I had was to cut all my strips wider and then sew them to the desired width. So I wouldn't be struggling with trying to get straight seams on tiny, little 3/4" wide strips. That was my downfall. And right now the work I did is being used as a dust cover for my machine. Ah well.

Novi Expo

Short post this morning. I'm up at 6, drinking a cup of coffee before heading out to Novi. It's about an hour (probably less on Saturday morning, unless MDOT has closed major roads - and they often do). The ASG Sewing Expo 2009 is finally here. It's actually been ramping up since Wednesday, but I'm only attending today. I have an 8:30 class on knits (better not be all serger stuff. I don't have a serger and the description didn't indicate that it was), some free time, a class with Sandra Betzina (looove BS. she has the best techniques. I live for her front fly tutorial), some free time, and a class with THE KING (again, remember that's Kenneth, Elvis is long gone), then free time or come home if I'm pooped. I'll be there with my PR button, my "I made the button, and my SG heart on.
I have my camera and plan on photo's galore, but I forgot to grab the data cable, so I can't post any shots until I get back to DC. Sorry, but just think it's like Christmas - remember the anticipation? Yeah, just like that.
And I apologize for any misspelling or other odd typings. It's 6;30 on Saturday morning. I'm barely coherent. Woo-hoo!

Do You Want to Play a Game?

Julia's Sew Sweet and Special asked if anyone wanted to play. The "game" is that the first 5 commenters that say "I want to play" will get something from her. Conditions are that you take what she sends, and that you play on your blog. Well, I want to play. So, here's the deal: you want something from me, be one of the first 5 to say so, leave your blog addy so I can contact you to let you know you are a winner (or a wiener? HAHAHA!), and play on your blog. I will send you something. It is my choice, and I promise it will be sewing related. It may be good, it may be bad, it may be funny, it may be cool, it may be just want you always wanted or just want you threw away, it may be something for you to make, it may be something I made. It's just a crap shoot. And I have a year to do it (though I hope it doesn't take that long!). Sew, Do You Want to Play a Game?
I drove back to DC last Saturday, a week earlier than planned. My son was doing well and the doctor said he could drive and load his chair and all that Jazz, so I was just in the way. His hip was still hurting and he's on an antibiotic (one more day), but seems to be doing well. My husbands going to spend next weekend with him.
The last night before I drove back I went to an old favorite beer and wings joint for the best Buffalo Wings west of, well, Buffalo. And big beers. And felt like it on Saturday morning. Not the best scenario for a 9 hour drive. But worst WORST WORST of all was that I left my box o' feet (sewing machine, that is) at my son's apartment. GRRRR! I had them in the desk drawer and didn't remember to get them when I packed. GRRR! again. Of course he's taking his own sweet time in mailing them back to me. Remind me of this next time he wants something, deal?
I finished my fabric post cards this morning (thankfully, the foot I needed for this was still on my machine) and will mail them out tomorrow. I've already received one from Laurie. I'll post pictures of all of them, including mine, when they're all received. But I wouldn't want to ruin any one's surprise if they peeked here. You just never know who's watching, right? I thought this was a blast to do and I know I'm really going to love it when the rest start rolling in. But I also thought it was a bit tedious by the end. I made 10 cards and doing the same thing 10 times was a bit much for me, I guess. That's probably why garment sewing appeals more to me than some other crafts. I may do this again, but not right away. (subject to change when I start finding goodies in my mailbox)
Speaking of goodies in my mail box, Wendy promised to send me a BWOF tracing for a pair of lounge bottoms from an issue I don't have. After saving it from the big New Jersey fire of 2009, she mailed it time to get to me before the holiday. AND she added an Independence Day bonus. The skirt she's wearing in this post. THANK YOU WENDY! And, hmmmm, she also sent me some fabric for making welt pockets. Is this a hint that I've procrastinated long enough? Made enough Marlene pants with OUT the pockets? Hmmm???
But since my husband will be at my son's next weekend and my box of feet should arrive this week, I'll get to sew next weekend. I'm thinking PJ's, no welts? And my July BWOF has a pair of pants I like and a pair of shorts. Passing on the poncho for now, though, I think.
And, despite the fact that it's only about 70 degrees right now I know that it really IS summer. How do I know? Yesterday we hit the farmer's market, then I got a little sunburned in DC roaming around for the 4th and tonight we had green fried tomatoes. YUM! I won't make them more than twice a season, they're just too fattening, but they're soooo gooooood and so summer. (And limiting myself to twice seems to keep them special).
If you're still reading, thanks for sticking through this whole picture-less post. I promise I'll drag out my camera soon.

A quict and non-sewing update

I drove to Detroit yesterday, quite uneventful and rather quickly. I left at 9 am and pulled into Kevin's parking lot at 6 pm. I tend to just DRIVE when I'm alone, so I did. 2 stops, once for gas and food. And once for an ATM when I realized I didn't have enough cash to get my car off the Ohio Turnpike (why can't they use EZPass like everybody else?) . And Karen, I got smart and velcro'd the EZPass to my windshield since I didn't have a side-kick to hold it up for me. (In Pennsylvania).

Today we went shopping: Kroger, Target and Best Buy. I got him a larger shelf unit for CD's and DVD's so I'd have a place on the sofa. Then I had to build the darn shelf. Whew! At least he has good tools for the job. It only took us about an hour (us, HA!). I made a quick run at JoAnn's, but just wasn't inspired, so I went on to Kroger.

Of course I have the usual clean up to do. I love my son, but he's a pig. Plain and simple.

Not to worry, all. He's 26 miles north of the center of Detroit and quite safe. We lived here for 14 years and he stayed when our jobs moved us to D.C. The JoAnn's is a nice one (includes a Viking outlet with lots of feet for my new fetish) and Haberman's is only about 1/2 hour away (even less from the hospital). I need to do some research and see what I need for the Fabric post cards . I have my fabric, but that's all. Sometime over the next couple of days I'll have to move his school desk to the dining room for me to work and sew on. Scoot it in next to the weight machine I should use.

His surgery is at 10 in the morning. He's looking at probably a 2 day stay and then home. We chose a closer hospital to home this time, so I'll be able to come and go better. May even get to sleep in a bed on Tuesday. Hey, it could happen.

Updating

I'm at my son's house so no sewing - unless you count buying elastic at JoAnn's for sweat pants and stalking out of Goodwill in a huff sewing. I don't. But I did take a few minutes to do some "housekeeping" - both on my blog and at my son's apartment. Bleck. I added a lot of links for my favorite blogs and sites. If you don't see yours there, let me know and I'll check it out. I love keeping up with youse guys and my list isn't all THAT long!

I found this on the 'net. Just way the heck cool all over! The mosaics are made of C&C thread! They're upside down because they're made to be viewed thru a lens that flips them.

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.

Home again, Home again, jiggity jog.

Ahhh, comforably plopped in the big blue chair, in front of my big screen TV watching a new CSI, drinking a glass of wine. The good life. K picked me up from the airport, we stopped & had dinner, and went home. I think Bravo may have poisoned me with the garlic, though. And there was a note on the windshield of my car, K couldn't reach it, said "sorry about your car" and phone number. Looks like someone backed into my front bumper with their trailer hitch. ENOUGH!!!! We're picking up K's new car from his total that he'd just gotten back from the previous accident. I almost bit it Tuesday, some moron turned right, right in front of me at Reagan. Missed me, took out the traffic signal. Going to check out my Singer this weekend, spend a little one-on-one time with the old 201. Finish lubing it and clean it up. Maybe take a peek at the wiring (that scares me some). Am I starting to ramble? Oh well, by blog. May pack up a few things and ship them to the apartment. Way beyond worrying about the amount of stuff in DC, now.
We had an offer on the house, full price, but contingent, so Cartus hasn't accepted. So still in the same place, there.
Did I mention the new golf clubs? We decided that the 25th anniversary was the golf club anniversary, confirmed by Hallmark. We both bought TaylorMade irons, I got a TM driver, W bought a Muzuno driver, stiff shaft that may help stop the right draw and we can spend less time thrashing through the woods. I have a Cleveland 60 degree wedge from Christmas and W bought a couple of wedges, Cleveland also. NOW we need a nice weekend to play. Weekends have been cold/rainy, weekdays nice. That's spring for you.
It does feel good to home, though. I haven't been here since January, so not doing well on my resolution to come home more often. Need to work on that. I enjoy being here, but hate the getting here part, and there's always so much to do, very little of it fun.

Wednesday Night

Well, Christmas is over. Whew. I was right and wrong about gift arrival. One gift didn't make it, but it wasn't the one I thought. A book from Amazon shipped early in December, but never made it. I send an email to Amazon on Christmas afternoon and within 10 minutes I had a response that it would be re-shipped and overnighted. I'll let you know how it turns out, but so far I am majorly impressed. I do a lot of Amazon shopping and really hated to have a bad experience.

I got my purple iPod shuffle, and added my workout music to it. I'm rapidly running out of reasons to not to work out. And a 60 dg wedge, ready for golf season, now. But how the heck am I going to get it to DC? And, best of all (LOL), a new vacuum. My old one ripped up my kitchen floor on Saturday, so it has to go NOW, before it damages the hardwood.

MIL is still here, will leave on Friday morning. We went Soaring Eagle Casino today. Long drive, Kevin came out $100 ahead, I was $13 ahead, Warren $25 ahead and Mom was down $10. Not too bad and better than sitting around the house all day. Maybe go see a movie tomorrow? I'm having dinner with friends tomorrow night at PF Chang's. Looking forward to that. AND, I won't have to cook a freakin' meal.

No sewing, I dug out a few tools, etc., but I think most of my stuff is in a box in the basement. Probably just need to replace as needed, it's all old and there's better stuff out there. Can you sharpen Pinking scissors? I'm going to dig my old machine out of the closet and take a couple of pics. I'll post them here, along with quilt pics (MIL gave a new one to Kevin for Xmas, very pretty, combines quilting and x-stitch). I found the book for my Singer, so I can look up some other machines. Karen may post some pics of sewing stuff she got from her aunt on SG to see if MIL can ID the items. They would have been contemporaries and both are/were sewists. I hope she gets a chance to get them on line while she's here.

We had a repeat looker at our house on Saturday, Mary called today and said its between ours and one other. We'll see, been down this road before. Kacy's a problem, size and breed, but whatever. I'd sure like to get out from under this house. I don't want to live in Detroit anymore.

Well, that's about it for now. Looking forward to getting back to DC, but also will miss Kevin and Kacy. We need to get settled, its been too long. Merry Christmas!