Visual Palate Cleanser

Because I can't stand a post without a photo.

This is a little package I bought from ScissorsPaperGlue on Etsy. There's one left. Go get it.

Cleavage and Crafting Braless

Son: What's that?
Me: Cleavage. It's like a valley, and, my boobs are like the mountains.
Son: Yeah. Except yours point down.

Doh!

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Latest keyword search that led someone to my blog:

"sewing, crafts, braless"

Huh? I guess that explains the upside down mountains.

What's your spy name?

Once upon a time at a spy party my name was Ava Vescent. I wore a self-made gold spandex dress of my own design and many, many foundation garments. The drinks were blue and served in test tubes. There was a Bollywood actor who sang us a song. I met Harry Covert. She ate the green beans that were sticking out of her bib overalls. Somewhere a video exists of that night, which I'm sure would resurface if I were to run for political office. My foundation garments were returned through the mail slot in the door.


This is me doing my best Peter Petrelli. I've been staying up way too late watching on demand Heroes. They hook me really bad with those cliff hangers, so much that I have to watch one more, then another, until it's three or four in the morning. Did you know there's a direct correlation between sleep deprivation and super heroic powers. At this point I'm close to flying.


When I'm not using my breasts as weapons, or, saving the world one cheerleader at a time I've been known to hold sleepy babies, or, sew a garment or two. This shirt is my "muslin" of Simplicity 4077*. I have a beautiful Japanese double gauze that I want to use for my final version. I saw that Flint Knits used the same fabric (different colorway) for the 4077. Hers is sooooooooo cute that I have to copy her. Maybe Copy Cat is my next superpower?

* Did you notice that Niki/Jessica are modeling the 4077? Coincidence? I think not.

Purple, haven't worn *that* in 20 years

Sometimes it seems like I don't have any time for sewing, but I can't figure out what is eating up my *me* time. Maybe it's the great weather we're having, the increased outdoor time. We've been gardening a lot. It's one of the few things that the boys and I can do in total harmony — no sharing issues, no hitting, no screaming. I'm still trying to figure out how to put that spoonful of sugar in the other jobs that must be done around here. Gardening is always sweet, and, without the added sugar. Maybe we have Stevia plant growing around here somewhere.


I ignored cooking a healthful dinner last night (gout's been rearing it's ugly toe/ankle/knee around here) to get some sewing in. Sausage, eggs, toast, and applesauce for the kids — foraging for the grown-ups. I made another A-line skirt for me — this time with Bird on a Ball, by Etsuko Furuya, for echino (can't find a link for this exact fabric). I bought the purple colorway, which was sort of a surprise. I don't think I've worn purple since the late 80s, when I had a bunch of purple stretchy clothes. Wha? Anyway, since the bird fabric is not knit, I had to increase my pattern by a couple inches to allow for my unchecked consumption of chocolate chips over the past winter. I really wanted to avoid going up a size. But, suffering all day in an ill-fitting skirt, replete with muffin top, is not fun. The new skirt feels great and looks better. Why suffer? Why punish myself until I loose weight?


My favorite flower: Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy. They always bloom close to Memorial Day around these parts. We saved the seed from a friend's neighbor many years ago and have been nurturing the volunteers ever since. The kid's garden developed around this particular set because I was trying to save them from being "hack, hack, hacked." There's a lot of hacking around here. Most of the tree dahlias met an early fate this year. My oldest might be a garden variety hacker, but he did correctly use the word "volunteer" while we were out in the garden the other day. Did you notice the peas are already past the center of the web? I've had a few inquiries on how to make a web, so I might do a how-to when I make a web-covered bean tepee.


This is a skirt I made for my littlest guy on his birthday. He likes to walk around draped in fabric, so I thought he might like a skirt. This was much too long and trippy, so, it will probably end up being a gift or something. If I'd had enough yardage I would have made myself a western shirt. I am now officially looking for the best floral, and/or, floral striped fabric to make into a western. Soft would be nice, too.


One of the flowers that has always grown in my mom's garden, Cinneraria. I'm not sure of the spelling. I did see it spelled this way when I googled, but it seemed like it could be a common misspelling. Anyone know anything about these flowers? They seem very old-fashioned to me. We usually have a few different purples every year.


It was a good year for Iris. Clusters of rhizomes, that haven't bloomed in a long while, were rich with flowers. Was it extra rain? This blossom was the last of the season. My little guy just had to pick it. Sorry, mom.

Wool-Ease Web and Random

For the snap peas to grow up. I thought about Gudrun while I wove my tangled web. Now, I'm just trying to figure out how I can add it to Ravelry. It's almost crochet, sort of.

Thanks for the pants love. I can't wait to make another pair. Hopefully I'll be able to make a pattern of my alterations.

It was nice to see KnitSonya, Sadhita, BitterBetty, LittleLovelies, Melissa (I never got your blog) and a glimpse of the YarnHarlot, yesterday at the Maker Faire. I was wishing there was an organized craft blog get together. Maybe someone can organize one next year, Beth?

Fancy Pants

My first real life, non-elastic pants with side zipper, sewn by me.


It all started with a vintage men's pajama pants pattern.


After altering the pj pattern a couple times to make it more fitted, I realized I could add a couple darts to the back, and a zipper to the side, and call it pants. I ended up adding a waist band instead of facing because I trimmed it down too low. Finally, I have pants with a waist band that fits me. It doesn't cut into my no-waist-having self.


I stay stitched the hem and let the fray stay.


These pants were made for my San Francisco trip. And, since I always feel like a country bumpkin when in the city, I thought I'd make it a theme — frayed hem and straw hat were worn with pride.


Do you see a uniform emerging? A style? Yokel couture, perhaps? I made my first French seams on these bad-boy bumpkins.


I'm feeling sassy with my made-by-me outfit.