Thanksgiving Week
Nov 20, 2007 Life
A few years ago, I started taking the whole week of Thanksgiving off. While I have yet to host Thanksgiving, I’ve managed to find a meaningful activity for each day.
Monday – Clean the house
I need a clean slate before I can be productive. It’s a personality trait handed down from my father. I can’t help myself. So I spent Monday cleaning. I love a clean house. It feels great. Of course in not time it will be messy again, but that’s OK. It’s all apart of the process.
Tuesday – Grocery Shopping
Going to the grocery store the week of Thanksgiving is a little like braving the wild frontier. You never know what you’re going to run into. I believe it is safest to go during the day and not on Wednesday. On Wednesday shoppers are a little frantic. Today I purchased the good for pies.
Wednesday – Pie Making
I actually like to make pies. I even believe in making my own crusts. It’s part of the tradition. Tomorrow I’ll make the crusts first thing, then let them do their thing in the fridge. Then I’ll get to work. I plan on making the traditional pumpkin pie and a new-to-me pie Cranberry-Cherry Pie. I’ll report on the outcome.
Thursday – The big day
Time to eat! It’s my favorite holiday hands down. I’ll start off the day by enjoying a little bit of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. One day, I’m going to go to the parade.
Friday – Shopping
On Friday, I traditionally go shopping with my Grandma, my Mom,Aunts, and cousins. Both my mom and my Grandmother have birthdays the last week of Thanksgiving. We take the time to celebrate with just the girls. Now we aren’t into any of the early bird sales. Rather we’re the group in Dillards trying to decide between the Estee Lauder bonus pack or the Lancome bonus back. We might even walk over to Nordstroms to see if they have a better deal. We do this every year.
Saturday – Recover
As much as I’d like to go forever, eventually I start to run out of energy. So on Saturday, I’ll start putting the house pack in order. Maybe I’ll pull out the Christmas decorations. We don’t have an electrical outlet in the front yard. So maybe I’ll feel ambitious and and figure out how to install one. I’m also working on gift ideas for co-workers. Hopefully by the end of the week, I’ll have something to go with.
As you can see the week if full of fun festive stuff. I hope you get to enjoy your holidays as much as I.
A Couple of New Books
Nov 14, 2007 Books, Quilting, Sewing
As a gift, my sweet husband order Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts for me.
All the hype on the Internet prompted me to buy the book site unseen. Normally, I either check out book from the library or I preview it at bookstore before I buy it. Were my expectations met? Yes and I. Let me explain.
When I make gifts I have a tendency to go overboard. With each new gift I feel like I need to exceed my last gift. It’s like I’m competing against myself. I’m not really good as simple, yet useful gifts. So when I looked at the projects in the book, I thought, “Man these are simple.” In hind site, I realize that is key to the “last minute” part of the book title. So with my new perspective, I decided to embrace the simpleness, and I made a pincushion.
with any luck this will be the first of many projects taht I make from this book. Some of them might actually be gifts.
Last weekend, I checked out Bend-the-Rules Sewing by Amy Karol.
While this book is very different from the previous book, I really like it. It’s not even my style. I’m more of a finished look type of sewer. Amy’s projects go for the handmade look. Despite my like, I probably won’t buy the book. The projects that I like the best—Woodland Elf Hat, Simple bib, Scalloped Baby Blanket, and Puppet Theatre—are all for kids, and I have none. Maybe one day.
A Fall Moment
Nov 5, 2007 Life
Since we moved in, I havn’t taken enough moment to enjoy our yard. (sigh) About a week ago, I snapped this picture of a our maple tree. Now most of the leaves are gone. I’m amazed at how quickly everything can change while I busy myself with life. I need to carry my camera with me so I can capture more moments.
A Little Crafting
Nov 3, 2007 Sewing
True to my word, I decided to make a few things. To get my spirits up, I started with a small project. I needed immediate gratification.
Project #1: Fabric-covered Thumbtacks
I just had to have some of these. I was surprised at how easy it was to make these. I used this button making kit. Just in case you are wondering, size 30 (3/4″) buttons work perfectly with these quilter’s thumbtacks. I think these thumbtacks would make a perfect Christmas for co-workers and such. I mentioned this to Ross. He set me straight. These thumbtacks might be OK, to give to women, but no they are a little too feminine for men, regardless of the fabric selection. Back to the drawing board I go.
Next on my plate, Project #2: An Offset Square Pincushion.
I found the tutorial on Craftybits via Sew, Mama, Sew. I loved it. The pincushion is simple. Yet it makes the mind think. Since making the pincushion, I discovered that this shape is more widely known as a Biscornus.
I had so much fun making the first pincushion that I made two more today.
Not that you can tell from this photo, but I used a cover button to dimple these pincushions. I believe I used size 20 buttons. The pink pincushion will be a gift for my mom. See additional photos on flickr.
I want to mention a couple of things I learned from these pincushion. In the past, I’ve had problems making the dimple in pincushions and other stuffed items. Either my thread broke or the button didn’t give the look I was looking for. By following the tutorial, I fixed both problems.
It was all about using the proper notions. For the dimple, I used “button thread.” It is thicker than upholstery thread. It comes in about 8-10 colors. Using the nice sturdy thread, I made the little loop on top to make the dimple. It worked like a charm. I got my nice little dimple, and the button doesn’t carry the pressure of creating the dimple.
Since the thread is thick and the directions call for two strands of thread to go through the needle eye, I used a chenille needle. The eye is large, and it’s a little longer than the standard sharp needle.
Well that turned out to quite the post. Hopefully there will be good blog fodder in the near future.
A Little Blue
Nov 2, 2007 Life
Today is a blue day for me. I don’t have it all pulled together like I want to. I think I’m fighting a cold, and it’s killing my energy+happiness. (sigh) Then this morning I realized that I missed the first day NaBloPoMo. I totally missed it as in it wasn’t even on my radar. Last year, I participated. It was so good for me. While some of my posts bored me to tears, the process got me writing. I really intended to participate again this year. Why didn’t I just post yesterday? Ugh! (I’ve just posted a reminder to myself on my Google Calendar for next year’s event.)
Blue mood aside, I have much to write about. My craft/sewing/quilting studio is almost done. Hurray! Pictures coming soon. I just need to paint the doors. Door painting will begin tonight. While the paint dries, I’m going to make something–anything to get the creative juices flowing. The pincushions featured on Sew, Mama, Sew look doable. Then I can move on to think about Christmas.
