Thursday, October 01, 2015

Boy, Was I Wrong!

I thought that my elder years would be spent lolling around, eating bon-bons, watching game shows on tv and generally vegetating.  Well, I guess I was wrong.  First off, I don't feel like an "elder" person -- I still listen to rock and roll music for goodness sakes!  I am pretty up on pop culture (much to my husband's dismay) and I still like fashion and makeup an such -- oh, and bon-bons, too!

However, what isn't happening is the lolling around.  I am as busy now as I ever have been and for that I am thankful.  I don't think I would "loll" very well.  I am learning new things (crochet) and I am cooking from scratch -- all.the.time.  I am also sewing-- a lot.

So, while I have been away from here for several days, I haven't been sitting still.  I have been sewing.  I am making a quilt from these fabrics --



It is a very simple quilt with the "map" as the center and then borders of the other two.  I am handquilting it, without a hoop or frame, and I have pinned it with over 800 safety pins spaced 2" apart.  I didn't think that quilting without a hoop would be possible -- or at least enjoyable -- but it is.  I haven't had any hand pain at all and that has made it a very enjoyable project.

Also, coming up at the end of October is Bean's school's answer to Halloween.  It is called "Saints and Angels" Day.  For pre-k 3 and 4 she was an angel.  This year she gets to be a saint.  She also got to choose her saint and she chose the obvious -- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton -- her school's namesake.  St. Elizabeth Ann Seton appeals to my daughter's interest as she is an American saint, born during the American Revolution era and was originally Episcopalian. So, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton we will be.

So, I am adapting this pattern -- and doing it by hand, I might add because I have discovered that sewing clothing by hand (couture) allows me to sit in front of the television as I stitch and not in the back bedroom by myself.

I am using the blue dress pattern with the cap from the upper left view and I am lengthening the pilgrim collar to be a cape.

And then, the Bean needs some fall dresses for church.  I am making this one up out of something -- not sure what.  I made a muslin (first time ever) for fit and surprisingly, it fit! So, on I will go.

So, that is what I have been doing while I am waiting for more medical tests -- I am still waiting for an appointment (they will call -- SOMETIME) and trying to maintain some form of sanity.

And cooking -- I am enjoying cooking, for some odd reason, even though my husband doesn't seem to enjoy my cooking -- unless it is bread.

On a somewhat sad, yet humorous note, I have been forced to recognize that I am not a spring chicken anymore which probably means that I should cut my hair because old hens don't wear long hair -- right?  Anyway, I had to attend a funeral yesterday.  I have lost about 1 1/2 inch in height which means my slacks are too long.  I decided to wear some heels of the lower, kitten style.  Bad, bad bad decision.  I have arthritis in my feet and haven't worn heels in years -- YEARS -- I could hardly walk.  My toes hurt me so much last night I thought I was going to cry -- I seem to have arthritis in the joints where my tiny little delicate toes attach to my feet.  I figured I would be fine this morning.  Again -- WRONG! I can hardly walk -- my right foot hurts so much!  I think I will be doing a bit of decluttering with all my heels!  That way I can make room for my new orthopedic shoes which I will probably need after this.

Lesson learned.  Oh well at least I get to go shoe shopping! That is always fun.

So, anyway, that is what I have been doing.  I will post quilt pics when I get a little farther along.

Have a great day!






5 comments:

Frugally challenged said...

I love doing crafts by hand when I am slobbing out! knitting, crochet, sewing, done whilst just lolling in an armchair and listening to a book, that's my idea of bliss! I'd never have thought of calling the sewing couture - that gives it a new dignity.

Boyett-Brinkley said...

Oh yes, most couture sewing is hand sewn -- a la Coco Chanel (my secret heroine -- kept secret because she was so controversial and not a seemly heroine). I am finding that kiddie couture is easier because getting those small pieces in the machine are frustrating. Especially a dart -- and that costume has darts! Why when there is nothing there to "dart" -- oh, I guess it is to make it a form fitted bodice and it is -- in fact, we are going to have to put her on a cookie diet so she doesn't outgrow this thing in a month. In any event it has been great fun and I even got the sleeves set in reasonably well (on the second go). I will say that hand sewing is a lot easier to pull out! I will post pics when I get done. I am cutting the skirt now and have discovered that I will have to buy more fabric. Bother.

Jane and Chris said...

I'm not a crafter..but I am a baker! I understand the height loss..I've lost 3 inches in height since I broke my back..my tops are more tunic like now..very fashionable! I read that flats aren't good for the feet (which is what I wear),but a one and a half inch heel are good. The way I feel right now,I wouldn't trust myself to stay upright on a one and half inch heel. How do we know what's really best?!
Jane x

Jane and Chris said...

I'm not a crafter..but I am a baker! I understand the height loss..I've lost 3 inches in height since I broke my back..my tops are more tunic like now..very fashionable! I read that flats aren't good for the feet (which is what I wear),but a one and a half inch heel are good. The way I feel right now,I wouldn't trust myself to stay upright on a one and half inch heel. How do we know what's really best?!
Jane x

Unknown said...

What a wonderful combination of quilt fabrics! And how nice and flexible hand sewing is versus being anchored to a machine. It tends to be therapeutic too, so what a good diversion while waiting for a call from your physician. I hope you don't have to wait too much longer, but perhaps "no news, is good news."

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is an excellent choice, but oh what work there is to her costume! I'm anxious to see it progress.

It's a hard day when you have to turn in your heels, no pun intended, but comfort is everything as we age:)

Blessings
Bonnie


Update

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