I've been quite busy.

I got up this morning and after walking the dog went to the grocery store and then Hancock's to pick up a few things needed for some planned and in progress projects. I decided against G Street for both time and money's sake.

I have finished my BWOF April 09 #101. I reviewed it over at PR already, so I probably won't do so again, though this one looks very different. Again I didn't put on the pockets. It just gives it a more casual look than I want. I may make it one more time (hey, it's already traced!) in a lightweight denim and do the pockets and top stitching. I DID make it 3 inches longer. I just like my skirts a little longer than this one was. For now, I bought this fabric at G Street earlier this spring from THE WALL (duh...) thinking shirt. But it wanted to be a skirt. Who am I to argue? It really is a much nicer piece of all cotton than I originally thought, but it really wants to hold both creases you don't want and pin holes. Hopefully they will wash out some. And it wrinkles like your granny. I made some piping and used it on the front between the yoke and front panel. I orginally thought to use it between the front and side panels, but decided it would be too much. So I have some piping left over for another project. Cool. The buttons I had in stash. I couldn't believe I had these! They were freakin' perfect. I think this is from the stash my MIL gave me over Christmas. Otherwise this skirt is really easy. Side zipper, no waist band. Ignore the BWOF directions for the yoke and you'll be done in a flash. I spent more time on the piping than anything. And you want to know something REALLY scary? I have some shoes that match the blue. Told you it was scary.


I also replaced the tie in my lounge pants with a ribbon - much easier and more comfortable. The bias tape was too heavy and the wrong fabric. And I have more of this, too. (from Hancock's today).

Up tomorrow will be a shirt to match the pants. I was going to put an embroidery on it, but couldn't find the right colors at Hancock's. Not sure if it was me or Hancock's. But I may do an applique before I'm done. I got it cut out this evening, I'll be using my Jalie pattern - with the waist lowered by 2". Pretty boring photo, I know. But I took it, I'll use it.

But before I do that tomorrow, I want to do some embroidery on some cotton I bought (yes, at Hancock's) for some new place mats. This will be my second attempt at embroidery and the first with a purpose. My machine is a little messed up, though. It's supposed to recognize the embroidery unit automatically, but it wasn't doing so. I finally pulled it off and found the connector wasn't stable and was pushed back into the machine. I pulled it out, connected it and am good to go. But I need to get that fixed. Maybe. Without the auto- detect it provides a wider and longer base for sewing/quilting. Hmmm. Anyway, I'm looking forward to playing with that tomorrow. I have 4 to do. Or maybe 8 if I make them reversible or maybe use a different embroidery on the flip side. Do I really have to go back to work on Monday? This is so much more fun.

Oh, and I also replaced a button on a pair of Target shorts. Sorry, no photo here. I know you're disappointed. You'll get over it.

I may cut out another pair of pants while I have my stuff out. I need pants badly. And hem the two pairs sitting on my shelf. That would help. So would loosing 10 pounts.

A while back I mentioned I found a new pin catcher at Jo Ann's while visiting my son. Since I've finally found my camera, here it is: isn't the cutest thing? I like the divider, my plan is to put metal only pins on one side and my plastic on the other side and use it at the ironing board. So I can easily accept iron friendly pins.

I know you were all glad I found my camera. But you should be careful of what you wish for. I spent a few minutes cleaning out the bobbin case. Yes, this is all from the bobbin case. Not the dryer. Apparently it isn't safe to leave me unattended for an entire weekend with a working camera and computer. I take pictures of lint and post them on the Internet.

I have something new in the works for (maybe) tomorrow. I worked on it a bit today, but it's a bigger project than I usually tackle (blog wise) where I just ramble and post pictures.

Whew!

I finished both my BWOF blouse and piecing my quilt this weekend. Friday was my flex day, so I had an extra day. And I put it to good use.

First, here's my quilt all pieced and ready to sandwich and quilt. I found a dark blue sheet set at Target that I will use for the backing and I already have the batting. I played a bit with quilting stitches, etc. But haven't made any decisions yet, other than I will use yellow machine quilting thread, found at Hancock's yesterday. If you look at the close-up picture you can see some of my wonky strips that I ended up with. The story of that was handled in detail at SG. I have that thread bookmarked for the next time. And will likely be doing some Amazon shopping.

My BWOF blouse is completely finished (well, I need to open one buttonhole a bit more). In the end, I did as suggested: held my breath, stuck my tongue out and but the button holes in. I changed my mind about the buttons. I liked the white, but the light on the shirt isn't really white - more of a cream so I didn't want to use stark white buttons. The smaller black ones were OK, but I just wasn't in love. I found these at Hancock's yesterday and DO like them. They don't jump out like the white ones, but I think they do well. (Not sure what the red shadows are - flash reflection maybe. It isn't on the shirt). The colors are much true-er here than in the earlier post.

Today, I FINALLY loaded my 4-D embroidery software and realized that I need more thread before I can embroider anything. I smell an on-line shopping excursion.

And I cut out another pair of Marlene pants. Even I'm getting bored. But I need pants and these are fast to do if I can focus enough to do them.

I was aided in my sewing progress by a fall I took on Thursday afternoon at Union Station. Right smack-dab on the train platform. Right ankle turned and down I went. After realizing that I hadn't broken every bone in my body, I thought I was OK and would walk it off. But by the time I walked down to the Metro platform, changed trains, walked home, and took the dog out I was just about unable to move. It was some better on Friday, but I stayed in and babied it. Still some sore, but apparently I won't loose the foot or even have to walk around with one of those blue platform shoes on. And it gave me quite the excuse to stay in and sew.

Photo's from yesterday

Here are the pictures that go with last night's entry. So, while less wordy, this entry will be much more visually appealling (I hope).

My finished quilt top. Still looking for quilting and backing recommendations. I didn't realise how blurry this was until it uploaded. You'l have to squint to see.

My first embroidery trials. I kind of like these. And even DH thought it was cool to watch.

And finally, our photo of the bald eagle. You can see why I like the ones on the 'net better.

And One for Wendy...

The Threads is still available. Let me know where you want it sent. Sure I can't interest you in some Golden Girls costumery?

And the next Marlene pants are out from under the Singer, they have the basic construction done, meaning legs and crotch seams done and the seams finished. Finishing the seams was great and something I'd never really been able to do. My Pfaff would just squirt the fabric from out of the edge of the presser foot. Viking -ok, she needs a real name - feeds the fabric straight and does the overcast stitch very nicely. Part of the difference is Pfaff had you try this at the edge of the foot, Viking does it in the center of the foot. Tomorrow night I will probably only get the interfacing fused and maybe (eh, we'll see) the zipper. Probably not more than that.

I finished the quilt top. I haven't photo'd yet, but it's kind of neat. My proportions are off - too long and thin, but the pattern turned out interesting. I don't know (a) what to use as backing and (b) how to quilt it - patternwise. Suggestions? I know there's no pic here, but there are a few in previous posts. I have batting.

And I did my first embroidery. No use for the pieces, but it worked perfectly. Another teaser, maybe some photo's tomorrow night. Heck, maybe I'll frame them, my sewing room could use some "art". I used green thread (one of the spools that came with the machine) on dark blue linen, so it's nice. Sorry, all of you who were waiting for Winny to Pooh on my BurdaButt. I am still working on the double B graphic for my back pockets, LOL. Weny: you can share it as a member of the BurdaButt Club.

This morning we took a walk on the GW Parkway to view the eagle family. You can stand on the trail and see the nest across the street. (Photo complements ) She took much better photo's than I did, you should really take a look. Just scroll thru the pictures until you get to the eagles. There are a number of really nice shots. While we watched, an osprey raided the next. Not sure of the damage - if any - done. One of the eagle returned and chased it off pretty violently. It was quite a site.