Life Posts · Sewing

Sewcation!

We were excited to visit friends a few weeks ago for a weekend. I shared some of the pictures on a Wednesday, but forgot to include these last few. I’m always amazed at just how cool our friends are. They can simultaneously keep both children and animals alive and thriving! Also, they are excellent hosts. I didn’t get pictures of the food we ate because I was too busy enjoying it. One of the highlights was homemade zeppoli for breakfast the day we left, but we also had delicious BLTs and a lovely chicken and pasta dish.

Here are some of the other pictures.

I got to snuggle a baby and it was fun to see their older boy, who we haven’t seen in a year or so. He was talking up a storm, including telling the Husband a long and involved story about “coconuts poofing” away while he was attempt to nap. He was also fascinated by both the superhero stories we brought the boys and the Husband’s grown up book that had only words, no pictures. Fancy stayed with a dog sitter, as we weren’t sure how she would handle a toddler and a 7 month old, but the older boy might have remembered her a little, after I showed him pictures of him and Fancy at our last visit. We have a picture of Fancy and S from last time up on our mantle display at the moment. 🙂

Besides seeing adorable children and our friends, we had an ulterior motive. Well, I did at least. My friend K (technically K 1, since we met in college) has not has not had much experience sewing with knits and wanted to learn, so I brought both my serger and my sewing machine up, as well as fabric, and some of my free patterns. She has a vintage Viking machine that purrs like a kitten. I was expecting a little trouble honestly, since my modern one has issues sometimes, but it loved sewing knits!

We used this really cute elephant fabric to make matching leggings.

Here’s a legging closeup:

We’re both wearing Lago tanks in the picture too. I made both of those, but K(1) made herself a black Lago after making the leggings. We also have matching leggings in this fabric:

Mine are shorts and hers are full length leggings. K(1) was nice enough to share fabrics. There may also be another pair of matching leggings coming when I can figure out how to cut things without hurting my thumb again.

This was the weekend I decided I really did need to get my hand looked at after I woke the Husband up by rolling over on my right hand and whisper screaming when I couldn’t move my thumb. I now know I have sewing related tendinitis and am not allowed to use scissors for a bit. I think I can still use a rotary cutter though, but have been resting it as much as possible.

Regardless of hand condition now, I did manage to make a pj set for K(1) which turned out so cute that it almost didn’t make it. 🙂

I had already made myself a pair of jogger pants with the neon sign material and was able to get a tank out of the mint fabric, so she did get it in the end. It was close though!

I also finished these two Lago tanks, one out of heathered blue tri blend- a mix of cotton, rayon, and spandex, and the dino one out of swim material.

Both are jus t serged on the hem because they are workout or sleep tanks. They are both super comfy. I cannot stop making this tank pattern. I think it’s almost my perfect pattern.

I let K(1) use my serger to finish these beautiful linen napkins that she had started. She sent me this picture after we had gotten home and it made me all smiley and giggly.

Look how pretty they are! I did one as an example and then she did the rest.

She also made myself and my other sewing friend, also a K, these adorable pin cushions and sent me hime with some super cool vintage patterns.

I was a bit jealous of this super cool vintage pattern box that includes everything you need to make this dress.

How cool is that? I’m excited to see it made up in the future.

We had a very lovely time and it was so much fun to introduce her to a couple of my favorite patterns. I’m hoping we can see each other again soon and to be able to finish some of the things I have for her and the boys. Send some healing vibes for my thumb and I’ll try to rest up as well. Otherwise, I’ll have to find someone I can bribe to cut out my patterns and fabric for me!

For now, I’m off to dream of more sewcations!

Simple Sundays · Uncategorized

Simple Monday- Adventure

“As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was about to happen.” -Winnie the Pooh

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” – Amelia Earhart

“The world is not in your books and maps, it’s out there.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

“I think it’s my adventure, my trip, my journey, and I guess my attitude is, let the chips fall where they may.” – Leonard Nimoy

“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.” – Edwin Powell Hubble

“Our obligation is to give meaning to life and in doing so to overcome the passive, indifferent life.” – Elie Wiesel

Life Posts · Wordless Wednesdays

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday- Star Trek

Of course we had to make matching outfits and the Husband wore his Starfleet shirt. No one said anything a out them, except the ticket taker who said “Our Star Trek exhibit is down the hallway to the left.” 🙂

Deep Space 9!

“You shall be assimilated!”

Janeway’s chair and uniform, just for my Dad! She’s his favorite Captain.

This was a really cool exhibit! I enjoyed seeing the history and thought behind the different evolutions of the show. I’m currently on Deep Space 9, so tried not to read any spoilers! Hope you see some things you recognize if you’re also a Star Trek fan!

Simple Sundays

Simple Sunday- Star Trek Edition

“Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.” — Spock

“Without freedom of choice there is no creativity.” — Captain James T. Kirk

“Live now; make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.” – Jean-Luc Picard

“You can’t go through life trying to avoid getting a broken heart. If you do, it’ll break from loneliness anyway.” – Dr. Bashir

“There’s an old saying, ‘Fortune favors the bold.’ Well, I guess we’re about to find out.” — Sisko (Deep Space Nine)

Commander William T. Riker: “It’s just that our mental pathways have become accustomed to your sensory input patterns.”

Lt. Commander Data: “Hm. I understand. I am also fond of you, Commander. And you as well, Counselor.”

― Star Trek: The Next Generation

Life Posts

The Ladies’ Library Association

I hope you’re ready for some swoon worthy pictures! I was lucky enough to attend Sparkle Motion, a bellydance event put on by Boheme Tribal Bellydance last weekend and it was held at the Ladies’ Library Association of Kalamazoo. This lovely space is breathtaking! The featured picture is the ceiling above the staircase.

Their website is here:

http://ladieslibrarykzoo.org/our-history/

I’ll give a brief history, but I encourage you to go poke around, as it has a fascinating history. The Ladies’ Library Association was formed in 1852. It was the first women’s’ club in Michigan and the third club in the nation. It was known as a “college for women” and guided partially by Lucinda Hinsdale Stone. Before buying the building in 1878, the Association met in private homes and (ladies after my own heart) acquired a large collection of books that could be borrowed. This collection became the first public library in Kalamazoo.

The Association also had the distinction of being the first women’s organization in the nation to be able to finance and own property.

It is housed in a glorious red brick house, built in the Venetian Gothic style. We were lucky enough to be able to use the auditorium, which is in the second story. The woodwork and stained glass had me in awe and I felt very privileged to be able to take the workshops and attend a performance here.

Photography was not permitted during the performance and I was too busy dancing my butt off to take pictures during the workshop, but I was able to roam around the building and take pictures before the event. The workshop was with Kami Liddle, by the way, who is a fabulous dancer and one of the first dancers I started watching. She’s extremely graceful and I admire her control and artistry.

Here is a Youtube link for you, if you want to see her style. I highly recommend watching it. https://youtu.be/1uGOmXGdRrw

The first workshop was focused on arms and we learned lots of new arm patterns and ways to think about incorporating them choreography, as well as some good stretches for wrists and arms. We also had a two hour workshop on Shimmies and oh my gosh… My brain may have been a little fried in the good kind of way at the end. It was a fantastic workshop though and I’m glad I went. Less glad that I fell and twisted my knee, luckily after the workshops, while attempting to get out of the hotel shower. It does feel better now, but I’ve been out of commission for a bit.

Anyway, the building was spectacular. I was spoiled growing up in a house with stained glass, but my jaw dropped when I walked up the staircase.

Glorious!

The upper transoms of most of the regular windows had stained glass depicting different books and authors. I’m too short to do them justice unfortunately.

There were also mural windows downstairs, one in memory of one of the members, and this one, which is a piece commissioned by a local artist.

Until one of the volunteers told me, I wouldn’t have guessed that this was newer. It blends so well! The top transoms are the older glass, for comparison.

This one is the memory windows. Are you swooning yet?!

Not to be outdone, the woodwork made my heart go pitter patter too. The newel post!

These are the window pulls! With original hardware!!

This beauty goes all the way down the staircase.

Speaking of staircase… The other side of this is where the stained glass windows are. I swooned!

Inside shutters! For when the sun is too magnificent coming through the very tall windows.

Carved arches!

The venue also had very elegant plush chairs and delicious antiques set up in little nooks for reading.

Of course, I found the commemorative quilt, but it was too big to get a very good picture of. The hallway was very narrow.

There were some gorgeous chandeliers too.

I was so excited to be a part of the history of this space and could definitely feel the granduer and the pride that the volunteers had in it. I really want to go prowl around all the antique buildings now and see what other treasures are there. For now though, I will be dreaming about it and leave you with this elegant way of saying “tornado area.”

There’s also the fact that between the two of us, the Husband and I walked away with 40 books/media from the first of three book sales we are attending. It was not my fault entirely… If you bought 10 books, you got 10 free! What were we supposed to do? Needless to say, I’ve got some reading to do!

Have a lovely, book filled, cozy night!

Life Posts · Wordless Wednesdays

Thoughtful Thursday- Auto Show Pictures

Pictures are all credited to the Husband. I didn’t go to the show this year.

Lego Truck!

Apparently all the engines are hand built?
Canadian Coast Guard

There were puppy adoptions. We almost had a new puppy…