Sunday, October 30, 2011

October 30, 2011

My episode on "That's Clever" aired again. I even got a couple of comments. One person wants the pattern. I can't find the instructions that I wrote up for HGTV. Maybe I have it on the office computer.

I wish I had time to do some sewing this weekend. I've been spending my free time changing out my closets from hot to cooler weather clothes. Sweaters and jackets take up a lot more room than summer tops.

The kitties are having a wonderful time jumping in and out of the closet and sleeping on top of clothes as I try to sort them.

We won't get to play"dress up" for Halloween this year. Lupita didn't want to spend all day with us again. I can't blame her. She's over every day doing something with Jim and/or Mom.

I'm glad that we went to Kemah last year. Maybe next year...

A couple of years ago we went to one of Andy's friend's halloween party. I still can't believe that he has cut me out of his life. I can't say anymore about him in this blog.

I'm tearing up again. later...

Here we are in 2009:
I can't find last year's photo.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

October 16, 2011: typical day of a caregiver

Today is the anniversary of the car wreck that left me handicapped at the age of 18. My left kneecap was shattered so the surgeon removed it. I've found out since then that people really NEED kneecaps.

Now I've learned what handicapped really means. Jim is REALLY handicapped. He's stuck in a wheelchair.

Today I got up at 5:30 AM and let in the caregiver. I went back to bed until 7. Got up, checked on Jim, threw on a hat & clothes, went to CVS and then Walmart grocery store. As I was loading the car with my purchases I had another flashback of Jim helping me with grocery shopping. We would take 2 carts, he would go one way and I'd go the other. He'd load the bags into the car, carry them into the house and I'd put the stuff away. I'm happy that I had his help back then but I mourn the loss of his help now. I teared up in the Walmart parking lot.

I drove home and I carried in $200 worth of groceries. The caregiver left at 9 and I came home at 9:15. I checked on Jim. He needed my immediate help. I cleaned him up then finished putting groceries away. Mom came in and I made her breakfast.

Finally at 10 I got to sit down and have a cup of coffee.

Monday, October 10, 2011

October 10, 2011: my "Katwise" coat

I have long admired the coats that Katwise makes from cut up wool sweaters.  See one of Katwise' coats at the bottom of this post.
They are pretty pricey and they deserve to be.  In Houston I'd be lucky to be able to wear a wool coat once during the winter. (I keep trying to add a link to her etsy shop but it doesn't seem to be working.  To see more of her coats, just go to etsy and search for "katwise."  She has lots of really nifty coats on her page.)

Then Katwise published a guide to make your own coat.  I made mine from cut up t-shirts and leftover knit fabric.

I planned on making the big full skirt and long crazy hood.  The full skirt looked terrible on my fluffy body.  I removed some of the skirt panels and cut the front 2 panels parallel to the front closure.

Then I added the sewn on waistband and belt.  Again, it looked bad on me.  So I removed the waistband and I was able to really make sure that the top hit me right at the waist.  I added belt loops and a belt that helped me better fit the coat.

I made the long hood and attached it to the coat.  It wasn't heavy but it still felt like it was dragging the coat back and choking me.  So I removed the hood and added a collar.  The collar was really cute but the neckline was still too high.

So, then I removed the collar and added a facing to the bodice of the jacket.  I added some large snaps to close the coat properly. Because of my cutting down the front panels the coat wasn't large enough to wrap around me very far.

Then I started on the fringed scarf.  I'm still adding scraps to it.  I don't think it's possible to add too much fringe to the scarf.

The bodice of the coat is a Coldwater Creek t-shirt that I bought for $6.00.  The striped pieces are cut from a nightgown that I purchased at Alcatraz.  The pink is from a Talbot's t-shirt that I had purchased on ebay.  The rest of the pieces are leftover scraps of fabric that I had laying around my studio.
My inspiration from Katwise:

October 10, 2011: ASG meeting

Last Saturday our neighborhood ASG group met in a new-old location.  8 years ago (approximately) we used to meet at the Eleanor Freed Library on Montrose.  Then the funding cuts made the library close on Saturdays so we moved around a bit.

I volunteered to do the program because our location is in the middle of my prime shopping grounds.  There are some really good thrift stores in the area  I love shopping in thrift stores.  It's kind of like hunting for treasure.  Plus, I can actually buy several items without spending too much money.

My program was showing off some of my thrift store finds that I upcycled.  These pictures are of jackets and robe that were way too small for me.  The fabrics were lovely.  I removed the sleeves and used the fabric to add inserts to the side seams.  Voila, clothes that fit me!

The red vest was made from a Japanese robe that was actually made in Japan.  I sewed this vest long before I knew that I would have a Japanese daughter-in-law.  I loved the colors and design of the robe's fabric.
I added fabric from the sleeves of a jacket and inserted it into the side seams to make this black vest.


This blue vest combines a jacket and applique pieces from another vest.