Monday, October 17, 2011

Yes Please


I am happy to say that is what several of my days these past weeks have looked like. Tea and Tolkien, a wonderful combination. Only improved upon with lots of sewing. Yes, that's right, I've finally made some sewing progress! And I've finally photographed said progress! And I'm finally posting about it too! Wow.

And first up is my camera case. I wish I could show it to you with the camera in it, but... yeah. I got all of the materials at Joann's when I worked there last year, the button and the batting were on clearance and the fabric and the burlap were both remnants. So the whole project was very thrifty, costing me hardly anything and slightly denting my stash.
The buttonhole was the first one I've ever done on my new (as of last year) machine, so that was a little nerve wracking. I'm not extremely confided when it comes to button holes, I usually feel like I'd rather do them by hand, which is completely crazy, I know, but true. You see, before I was allowed to learn to use the sewing machine, my mom made me learn to sew by hand. I'm really glad she decided to teach me that way, but I blame her for the fact that even though I've been using the machine for 12+ years, I'm more at home with just a good ol' needle and thread.

And last, yet not completed, a blouse I'm working on. It's from a vintage pattern, that I'm finding I love. I'm making two of them at the moment, and they're both going to be sleeveless because I didn't have enough fabric for the sleeves. I don't mind though because it's perfect for layering that way, and also the summer. I've been planning to make them for around three years now, maybe even four. It's a good thing my tastes don't really change.


The snow has come, and I think it's going to stay. The trees are quite coated with their first layer of frosting and all but the roads are white. May you all have a lovely week!


Best wishes,

Clara

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Cranberries

Last week I was stir crazy to an extreme, I couldn't focus on anything and was frustrated, but I had no clue why. And then it hit me; all summer long I've been outside for at least four days a week, until work ended, and since I've hardly been outdoors or anywhere in almost three weeks. No wonder I'm loosing it! I needed to get outside. Now, I've gone blueberry picking with my family almost every summer for the past ten or eleven years, and every time we see the cranberries that aren't quite ripe yet among the blueberries, and I always want to come back later to pick them, but never have until now.


(photos are mine)

Thankfully it worked out for me to take my dad's truck and drive out that very afternoon. I was only out there about three hours and I didn't get many berries, but it was amazing. Being out alone on the hill, with just the wind and the silence gathering the last of summer's jewels for the winter was exactly what I needed. And I think I learned my lesson about how long this country mouse should stay inside.


Oh and happy October!


Love, Clara