Just Another Day

Second Post of the Day

Speaking of Lisa, she called me mid morning yesterday and asked if Rosie could come over while she took Nash to the vet.  Having Rosie over always means lots of activity and play time for the other dogs, but especially for Tammo.

He's jerking on the poor little toy mouse so hard that his ears are flying!

One of Rosie's strategies is to simply lie down and hang on to the toy. Like Mama was, she's built like a Mack truck and solid. It's muscle, not fat, and that little girl is STRONG.

Usually the other dog wears out after working against that dead weight for a while and gives up. Smart girl!

Speaking of dogs, my arm still looks pretty gruesome scary shocking icky. It has gotten infected so we are watching it.

At one point I drew a line around the infection boundaries but since the infection never crossed the line, I knew it was not getting worse. I washed off the line and at the moment have no plans to see my doctor. 

Despite having Rosie over, I finished the camel/elephant block print shirt. I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

The sleeves look overly long because its a 3XL and the shoulders are much wider than the hanger and thus the shoulders hang down. That makes the sleeves look like they were made for Bigfoot.

Those printing errors that looked so glaring are small and spread out across the fabric making them hard to see. I will still let interested buyers know, though.

Today's plan? An early morning walk with Craig, Tammo, and Pepper, and then heading back into the sewing room again. I got started on a 2XL trade shirt yesterday and I'd like to finish it today if I can.

Ian has a football game this evening, but the heat is so oppressive, I'm most likely going to stay home and indoors. (I wonder if they might cancel the game due to the heat?) I'm also getting ready for a visit from Sarah - she flies in tomorrow to spend Labor Day weekend with us. Can't wait!

Stay 'tooned! 

Welcome, February!

Happy February, ya'll! Although Indiana is still in this kind of mode:

Does this place look familiar? 

Here's a look at it in October - I drive right down that drive in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-xxtHwRlPc&t=57s

The temperature when I let the dogs out this morning was -4 and we are under yet another cold weather advisory. With snow expected tomorrow. And an unexpected dusting of snow that occurred yesterday. (As I write, a snowplow just went by.)

February, please do better than January!!

The silver lining of a terrible month of weather is that I spent a lot of time sewing. I cut out and finished seven chemises

and six trade shirts, three of which I completed just this past week.

This one was finished yesterday afternoon, and an hour after I posted it, it sold to a re-enactor in Nebraska. I had intended to take it to Kalamazoo, but I'm not going to turn down a sale.

This block print was a little tricky because of the regularity of the floral pattern. I had to center the pattern on it and then, when I opened the neck, I had to be sure to cut right down the center of the flowers.

But it was this block print pattern that gave me the most difficulties of the week.

It is a fabulous print, but it, too, had to be carefully cut out so that the print was centered.

The fabric also felt heavy and almost a little "sticky." I knew what that meant, and immediately I covered my ironing board with an old pillowcase and prepared for dye transfer!

Sure enough, soon my fingers were turning blue.

Even my fingernails turned blue!

After I finished it, I washed it three times to get rid of the excess indigo and now I feel comfortable that any dye transfer is under control.

Despite the extra work, the shirt turned out really cool and I think it will sell quickly.

One last gasp from January about sewing - I got a top of the line pair of Italian sewing shears from Craig for Christmas.***  I'd been wanting to splurge and get them for a long time, and he made that happen for me. (Thanks, Craig!)

Yesterday I was preparing for a marathon pattern cutting out session of more 18th century trade shirts and I decided to try out my new shears. As I opened them, the note on the back of the box gave me pause and then made me laugh.

They really are exceptional shears, but I would never say that the "countless details" in what I sew "have been shaped to reflect" who I am. Nor do I think chemises and trade shirts are part of my "skill and passion for self expression..." Seriously, they're just fun to make!

I quickly discovered, though, that it is true that my new Italian shears "are ideal for crisp, clean cuts" so I guess I will ignore the rest of the hyperbole and just enjoy that.

Here's hoping for better weather for February. If that doesn't happen, well, at least it's a short month!

*** Cole and Emily also got me a pair of electric shears for Christmas. I haven't tried them yet but I will and will let you know how they work. Thanks, Cole and Emily!

Sewing for March in January

With the weather so cold, snowy, and icy this month, I have gotten a lot of sewing done for Kalamazoo. Which is good since I sold nearly everything I had made at The Feast of the Hunters' Moon last October.

Here is what I've sewn this past week.

My biggest seller are trade shirts (also called a voyageur shirt.) This is a size small in a block print with lovely shades of indigo.

And, of course, sleeve buttons to close the cuffs.

A trade shirt, size medium, block print fabric.

You can't see it well in the first picture, but look at the beautiful Christmas red and green colors in this fabric!

There are six sizes of trade shirts that I make (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, and 3XL.) For an event, I like to have at least two shirts for S and M sizes, four to five each for L and XL, and finally, two each of 2XL and 3XL. That's a lot of shirts to make! (Currently I have eight finished and ready to go.)

My next biggest seller are women's chemises (also called "shifts.")

Chemise, size small, cotton.

Chemises are the basic undergarment for women. Regardless of whether you were nobility or underclasses down to the poorest of people, you wore a chemise. So these sell very well, too. 

The cuffs end at or just below the elbow and can be closed with sleeve buttons, twill tape, or ribbons.

I make chemises in S, M, L, and XL. (I need to draft a 2XL. It's on the to-do list.)

For events, I try to have in stock two each of S and M, and three each of L and XL. That's ten chemises and I currently have three completed and one halfway done.

Also on the sewing list are a cloak or two (thank you, Feast, for the sales of the others), and at least four bedgowns (Feast affect again.) I should make some panniers, too (yep, Feast).

I am happy that my things are selling so well, but I am also a one woman company.

Lisa helps me with sales and set up/take down and Belle helps me present at School Days, but neither woman sews. Even if they did, though, I don't really want to hire any sewing out - I prefer to make everything that is sold.

One thing on my sewing list is to make myself a new riding habit.

I have learned so much since I made these two habits five years ago. Stashed away in my sewing closet are a bolt of hunter green wool and one of blue wool. I really want to turn one of them into a habit but the issue is eking out the time to get one made.

Having one finished by KZoo is a pipe dream, but the Feast is possible. A lot will depend on sales at KZoo and how much restocking afterward I will need to sew for the Feast.

I found this meme recently and laughed when I saw how well it described me.

(and 18th century history!)

Keeping Busy

Second Post of the Day

Is it just me, or is Breyer sharing new models, BreyerFest or otherwise, at an unprecedented rate? I don't remember ever seeing so many offerings in such a quick succession.

Yesterday they announced Maddox, the first Collector Club Special Run of 2025.

If you are a club member and interested in him, he becomes available today at 1:00 PM Eastern time. The mold is fairly popular and Breyer advises that you order quickly if you want one. 

I love my Nemea, but I am not a fan of the mold (too much of a shelf eater)  so I won't be ordering. (Photo of Nemea by Breyer.)

I love to do give aways, but I rarely get to enter one. Jennifer held one in January

and I was one of two lucky winners of her Notch and Ruffle medallions! I was so excited!

Jennifer also had some horsey fabric going spare and she tucked that in with Notch and Ruffle. Fabric is always welcome in my home. Thanks, Jennifer, for the medallions and for the bonus fabric!

Speaking of fabric, I continue to spend a good deal of time daily in the sewing room. 

I have made ten trade shirts in the last three weeks

and feel much better prepared for Kalamazoo. (It's in mid March so I have a little over a month left  to prepare.)

Now I move on to chemises (I need to make at least four of them)

and pockets. I only have one pocket left from Feast

and while I'd love to make some more embroidered ones (this is my personal pocket), they take a lot of time to make. I don't think I will have that time so embroidered pockets will have to wait until Feast.

But sewing for KZoo is not my only task.

I also have a very large order for haversacks that I am stitching up - fifteen for a woman who is returning to the hobby and is preparing for a live show.

That project started out with a good dose of frustration.

I opened a brand new bolt of fleece fabric and found this. I've unrolled the bolt and don't see any more holes, thank goodness.  If I had, I'd have taken it back to JoAnn's and returned it. But I will be checking every inch of that bolt of fabric as I unroll it and cut from it.

Finally, a little bit of sewing humor. I've done four online seminars for Breyer, so when this meme popped up on one of my sewing social media sites, I laughed out loud.

Using a long strip of fleece (both comfy and stretchy!) this sewist has tied her phone to her head so she can film what she is doing as she sews.

Of course, that didn't really happen, but she is poking fun at the problem anyone who teaches a sewing seminar has - getting the actual stitchwork filmed for those who will be watching the video.

Been there, but NOT done that! LOL

Have a good one, all!

Music, Matching, & Mutts

The past week or so has been busy musically for Cambria and Titan.

They wrapped up their final performance in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Cambria taking a photo of some of the kids in the children's chorus. That's Titan in red.

Two days later Titan was back in the studio recording tracks for another song and video for composer Angie Killian.

Next up on their schedules was a rehearsal for a song and video that both Cambria and Titan are recording for Easter with The Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. 

Jessica sent me this picture of them rehearsing but I have no idea where Cambria and Titan are.

Jessica used to sing in an ensemble that was conducted by Ryan Murphy, the same man who is conducting this production. After the rehearsal, they got to chat and he took a photo with Titan and Cambria.

This past Sunday morning the Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, and the children's choir recorded the song all together. I can't wait to see it! (It's for Easter so I doubt it will be released before April.) I will post a link here when I get it.

I've gotten two more trade shirts completed for Kalamazoo. 

This is a 2XL with horn buttons. I like the geometric pattern that is interspersed throughout the print.

This is a Medium. I don't do checks very often even though they are correct for the time period. It can be is a real bear to get the checks all matched at the seams before you cut the pieces out. 

An example of checks (in this case, plaid) that do not match.

It is a sign of quality workmanship when plaids, checks, and stripes match - the next time you are looking at clothing with checks, plaids, or stripes take a closer look. If they match, then it is a better quality piece of clothing.

In the "Nash, you are SUCH a goofball" department, I was startled to see this when he visited the other day:

(Judging by the toys scattered around, clearly he had been playing hard.)

Nash had flopped down on his belly and was leaning against the back of the couch. His back legs were extended just a bit past the edge. I didn't know he was there and so I was pretty taken aback when I came around the corner and saw them sticking out!

Another picture of a hard-playing and tired Nashie, this time up on the couch. No one can flop like Nash does! 

Breyer has already announced two more BreyerFest Limited Editions this week and said that they will announce something "cute" later today. My guess? The plushie.

Stay 'tooned!

When You are Cooped Up Inside

First Post of the Day

This may be the most boring blog post I've ever written. It's January - the longest month in the entire year. Cooped up in the house, days that consist of more darkness than they do light, snow and ice and then more snow and ice...

Right now we are under a Cold Weather Advisory. With below zero temps coupled with dangerously low wind wills (-20 or so) expected, I won't be taking Pepper to the park for her daily game of frisbee!

Which is okay since I am still under the weather. Craig is mostly back to normal but his wound is still weeping. Its's certainly a lot better than it was, though.

So, stuck indoors and not feeling well... What to do that's constructive? Well, my Christmas purge has morphed into purging around the house. 

I've already mentioned the emergency closet I created (and which was used within a week of creation); now I've moved into the kitchen for a cooking utensil sort-out.

We both cook, and we both have our favorites, so I put them all out on the counter and sorted out my must-haves into a pile.

Craig did the same, and then the ones neither of us want or use are going to Good Will. (When it's warmer.) 

Another indoor project has been organizing and preparing for The Kalamazoo Living History Show. 

My clothing stock is very low. 

Not complaining; it's because I sold so much at The Feast of the Hunters' Moon last October.

I'm a one woman company and do all the sewing

and there is a LOT to sew before KZoo. 

A bonus to being cooped up inside is that I get uninterrupted sewing time.

I've begun by replacing the men's trade shirts - my goal is to have two of every size.

I really like this fabric - it's not as ornate as many block prints, but the colors and the more subtle pattern are appealing to me. These are the sleeve pieces.

A pleated sleeve and cuff. (Not yet pressed.)

I save the sales tags from the sold items  (the white tag is sewn in the collar) and pop one onto each new shirt. Those saved tags also help me know just what sold and needs to be replaced.

As cold as it's supposed to be for the next few days, I'll have plenty of time in the sewing room and will hopefully get at least one more shirt completed.

Wish me luck!