I’m steamrolling towards the end of another academic term.  I’m finishing up 3 courses with 3 major papers due on December 7th.  I’m hoping to be able to devote a little more time to this blog after that.  Once those courses are done, I will have completed 4 out of the 5 required courses for my Masters degree.  After that I “just” have to do my thesis.  I’ve had to book myself off for this week as far as supply teaching goes, except for Friday because I got that call last week.  I am thinking of booking myself off for all of next week as well because those papers need to get done and then I can relax a little.

I’ve got some projects on the “to do” list.  Perhaps a little overambitious or I’m just lazy and should spend more time sewing but I’m no longer sure I can complete them all in time for the holidays.  I have to say that I really am enjoying this lifestyle I’ve developed and reality is going to be very harsh.  Right now, I get up in the morning and whenever I manage to get myself going, I sew.  I do that until noon then put everything away.  Now this afternoon I actually did coursework but essentially my afternoons are my own and I choose what I’m going to do with them.  In the evening I try to get work done for my job (answering support email for a website) and lately I’ve been watching the full series of Criminal Minds with my mother.  As wonderful as this all is, I know eventually I will have to join the real world and get a full time job and say goodbye to my wonderful mornings spent sewing, my ability to come and go as I please and my laid back schedule.  I have to say, though, I really don’t wanna!

Anyway, today I did a little more treasure hunting in the house.  You would think that I would have found everything there is to find by now but no, I’m always discovering new things or rediscovering things I’d forgotten about.  I have a few things I would like to post about but for now I’ll just talk about the books and magazines I found.  Here are some photos:

I haven’t gotten to look through them yet but I did spend some time laughing at the people on the cover of the magazines.

One book is called The Art of Making Puppets & Marionettes by Charlene Davis Roth.  It’s copyright 1975 and thee price tag on the front says $2.95.  Can you imagine?  This book would easily sell for $30 now.  I’m not sure how interesting it will be for me as this isn’t really something I’m into but I thought I’d haul it out and look through it just the same.

The next book is The Complete Step by Step Guide to Home Sewing.  This one is much more recent, it’s copyright is 1990.  I thought I might find some interesting little projects in there.  We shall see!

The final book is is Erica Wilson’s Embroidery Book.  There’s an inscription inside that says “Dorothy – 1974  Have lots of fun with this book.  Helen”.  Dorothy was my grandmother and Helen her sister.  I was 13 when my grandmother died.  I don’t remember how old I was when Helen died but I don’t really have that many memories of her, due I’m sure in large part to the fact that I have memory problems.  In any case, it makes me feel closer to them both and I’m glad that their sewing supplies, cameras and books are being used once again.  I’d like to think that somewhere out there they know and they’re smiling.

The rest of the lot are magazines:

McCall’s Needlework & Crafts, August 1984

McCall’s Needlework & Crafts, Jan/Feb 1984

McCall’s Needlework & Crafts, September 1988

McCall’s Needlework & Crafts, Jan/Feb 1983

The Best of McCall’s Needlework & Crafts, Vol 1

Modern Needle Craft, No 40, Fall Winter 1962 (priced at a whopping 50 cents!  it would likely retail at $15 now)

As I said, I haven’t really looked through them yet but I hope to do that and anything interesting that I find I will blog about.  I realized that at this point I’m probably talking to myself but hopefully, as I start to blog more regularly, someone will wander by here and enjoy some of these ramblings.

It’s been awhile!  I thought I would post the latest thing I’ve made.  The pattern is by Keyka Lou.  I love her patterns and have almost every one.  They’re really pretty and the instructions are really easy to follow.  Even if you’re just starting out, which I was in February of this year, you should have no problem following her instructions.

This is the Pocket Clutch and it’s made with a Japanese fabric for the exterior.  It’s a linen/cotton blend and has a wonderful grain to it.  The interior is a mauve paisley and works really well as a lining so I tried to stock up on it some.

I didn’t do the best job photographing the interior.  At some point I’m going to build myself a light tent and start taking higher qualities photos but for now, this will have to do!

I often call my parent’s home a treasure chest.  I am forever finding interesting things tucked away.  Because my mother inherited the majority of the “stuff” that once belonged to her aunts, there are many surprises tucked away, forgotten about until someone stumbles onto them again.  One aunt enjoyed photography.  Another made jewellery.  A third worked as a seamstress at Sacs.  I think my great aunts and my grandmother were cool women who in many ways were probably ahead of their time.  When I was little, my mother used to sew.  I remember one particular bunny costume that I wore long after it was much too small.  It is not unusual then, to find various sewing related items around the house.  Here are a few such things I’ve found very recently.

Welcome to my blog!