tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69880784557926408712024-02-25T15:15:09.309-06:00SewSewNerdySewing, knitting, dyeing and living in Austin, TX and as much traveling as possible.SewSewNerdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133034351462210984noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-88674819791317411422020-04-09T09:03:00.002-05:002020-04-09T09:03:40.083-05:00My factoryIan and I were talking last night after I got a call from a friend with questions about mask-making. I told him I doubt many people realized how much we are all collaborating behind the scenes. I know the image most people have of someone who sews is a sweet old lady happily sewing all alone.
That is partly true--this is mostly a solitary sport, but when we're all working on something this SewSewNerdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133034351462210984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-57162227199366773092020-04-04T12:40:00.001-06:002020-04-07T19:47:24.166-05:00Looks like we're going to be making a lot of these....I decided to start a new post since these instructions are specifically geared toward folks making a lot of face masks.
I've lost count of the different methods I've tried, and I did start out using fabric left over from other projects, so the following technique wouldn't really work. Thanks to my mom, I have a stack of quite a few lovely prints in fat quarters and yardage.
This method can be SewSewNerdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133034351462210984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-17713691894074208722020-03-31T11:35:00.001-06:002020-04-03T07:12:59.104-06:00Fabric Face Masks***Update*** I don't know why I was making this more complicated than needed. Why oh why would you cut 5 and 4" strips when 4" is plenty??
Directions
for pleated fabric masks
***I will
add photos this evening for more clarity. Please let me know if you have any
questions.
I’ve read
quite a few descriptions and discussions about these masks. The bottom line is
that they aren’t as effective SewSewNerdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133034351462210984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-77040189029595550812019-02-02T09:13:00.002-06:002019-02-02T09:13:33.195-06:00In memoriumI finally got this machine embroidery piece done for a friend at work. This is Jackson, who passed away last year after an illness. Tracey says this was his most contented expression, squinty eyes and a two-tooth smile. I got a string of "thank you's" and a hand written note from her two girls.
I was going to make a pillow, but she knew the girls would fight over who got to snuggle it, so theySewSewNerdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133034351462210984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-9831709310579297852018-12-21T13:03:00.001-06:002018-12-21T13:03:21.352-06:00And Away I Go (again)!I love traveling. If you know me, you know this. The problem with travel is that it only makes you want to do it more.
So, when Ian told me he'd be in Ireland until the 21st of December and asked how I felt about celebrating Christmas in the UK, I didn't hesitate and started searching flights.
I'm looking forward to spending the time with him, seeing more of the UK and meeting more of his SewSewNerdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133034351462210984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-89492804273104065312018-10-10T09:35:00.001-05:002018-10-10T09:35:05.720-05:00Just Can't Get Enoughtravel, that is.
I won't be going far for the sewing conference this year, since it's in Dallas. It feels odd to be going
away, but not heading to the airport. I'll be driving up on Wednesday to see about 100 of my best sewing buddies, learn a few things and possibly do some fabric shopping.
Our conference is open to the public, so check it out if you're in the area: https://SewSewNerdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133034351462210984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-45851376919791670842018-06-01T04:34:00.000-05:002018-06-01T04:34:08.309-05:00Sorry for the lack of postsI must apologize for anyone hoping to see my usually travel posts. I’m not working at all on this trip, so traveling without a laptop, and I haven’t been able to get photos to load in blogger on my iPad. I’ll catch up when home, but in the meantime you can follow me on Facebook.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-85251041902224884592018-05-25T18:28:00.001-05:002018-05-25T18:28:36.999-05:00A New EnglandIan is not a big fan of London, and determined that I see the “real” England. For me this a ‘new’ England, though I know it well from a lifetime of BBC movies and tv programs.
My trip started a bit differently, with packing. I normally start my process about a month ahead. I’ll put my suitcase out and as I think of things I want/need to take, I throw them in. I do lists, too, but don’t rely on Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-55944260405159785252018-05-23T07:44:00.000-05:002018-05-23T07:44:52.491-05:00It's that time of year again...Yep, I'm leaving on another trip. This is late for me as I usually head across the Atlantic around April/May. This trip is different for a few reasons. Firstly, I'll be joining the Bloke this time (our first time traveling together). After a few days in the Cotswolds we're headed to the Isle of Man for the TT(Tourist Trophy), a series of crazy motorcycle races, hence the timing.
We'll be staying Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-436867080663917942018-01-26T07:43:00.000-06:002018-01-26T07:43:09.831-06:00My hands hurt and I can't find my underwear...
I got a jump on the workroom before the official move date.
The move happened. I dutifully filled out the questionnaire on the moving company's site, but there was no checkbox for "slightly obsessive multi-craft practitioner. What would typically take about 4 hours (what a normal person would have in a two bedroom apartment) took 7-1/2.
Most of my belongings have been transferred to the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-82835766594165115842018-01-14T09:34:00.000-06:002018-01-21T09:39:04.020-06:00This may actually happen...All through the process, this felt like just another project. I've done plenty of projects: sewing, knitting, technology, even building a house. I like process and projects(most of the time): planning, choosing the materials, watching the progress of something being created.
Now that I'm only less than a week away from taking possession and moving in, it seems like a dream.
The place is looking Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-51517105881981050772017-11-07T10:26:00.002-06:002017-11-11T09:41:25.281-06:00That was fast!It's been just under 2 months since my last post, and boy have things changed.
The house looks like... a house. They're installing the electrical systems today--HVAC and plumbing are already in as are the fireplace, windows and garage door.
So far, I've only found one thing that wasn't done right the first time--the doorway from the great room to the hall was installed backwards. My project Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-92053122064542429382017-09-11T14:43:00.001-05:002017-09-11T14:43:47.292-05:00Thank Goodness I Like the GuyI had my first appointment this morning with Casey, the project manager for my new house.
He seemed like a regular sort of guy, which is just what I was hoping for. Too slick means he doesn't actually do any of the work (and probably never has). Too rough--maybe he'll trash the place if you piss him off?
This guy struck me as someone who works hard and takes pride in doing a good job. I Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-63967554428570188152017-09-06T17:53:00.002-05:002017-09-06T17:53:46.270-05:00Holy Sh** This is Actually HappeningMy sales guy said I should hear about permits by the 8th, but I was ready for things to be delayed after all the damage and mess in the Houston area. That, and buying a house just a couple of weeks after deciding it was the right thing to do was starting feel a bit dream-like.
So when I got a text from Brandon (previously mentioned "sales guy") with this photo, my gut reaction was "oh crap. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-38775722146388903262017-08-24T20:59:00.001-05:002017-09-05T19:29:56.558-05:00This is funand scary! But mostly fun.
My mortgage loan is "gold certified" (whatever that means), I've finalized all the options. Now we wait for permits. I've been told we should break ground in 2-3 weeks now.
Today I received a few things I ordered from the UK.
Pulls for the kitchen
I fell in love with these bin pulls as soon as I saw them. I bought enough to put on all the cabinet doors and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-41826483472974639562017-08-21T19:28:00.000-05:002017-08-21T19:28:34.712-05:00Pretty sure it's too late to change my mind...This morning I made the final selections and sign and initialed a few dozen papers. It's exciting and scary and emboldening.
I changed my mind about 200 times, fretting over colors and finishes and appliances. I've worked up a spreadsheet and my Pinterest account has seen more activity in the past 3 weeks than all the years I've had it. I can't imagine how overwhelming this is for someone who's Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-64457624767184836722017-08-12T08:18:00.001-05:002017-08-12T08:18:51.567-05:00Why?No one has asked me this yet, but I figure someone might be wondering why I chose to buy a newly built house over one I could buy much cheaper and renovate. I thought about, it since my ex and I did that twice and then built our own place here in Texas, with our own hands and the help of two fantastic guys from Guatemala, Oscar and Eddy.
Here's the list of features that won me over:whole-house Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-65388931575344458902017-08-08T12:42:00.003-05:002017-08-08T12:42:54.003-05:00and Then Things Got Even More Interesting...My friend, Leslie, likes to say, "If you want something done, ask Juliette to do it."
The Bloke starting seriously encouraging me to buy house a few weeks ago. Just over a week ago, I decided to go for it. I started looking online, got an idea of what I could qualify for, and made an appointment with his realtor to look at "pre-owned" houses on Sunday. I completed a pre-qualification with her Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-23711498233515634122017-07-29T08:10:00.001-05:002017-08-08T12:44:05.562-05:00How Do You Know?I'm still processing everything that's happened over the past 18 months, and probably will always have it churning in the back of my mind. It's the curse of being a problem solver, I'm afraid.
I'll never stop wondering if I could have done things differently, if there was something crucial that I missed. This doesn't mean I'm not moving on with my life.
I've dated.
I've done some online dating Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-4619234796564388202017-07-28T19:09:00.002-05:002017-07-28T19:09:30.365-05:00the long process of purgingWhen I was younger, I wrote in a journal daily. It was how I dealt with every curve life threw at me.
I stopped writing about 7 or 8 years ago, for so many reasons, but mostly because I wasn't ready to do anything about what I discovered.
I started writing again about a year ago. I've done some off and on, sometimes by hand like the "old days", but more often electronically as thoughts Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-61168701612009803432017-04-29T12:02:00.000-05:002017-04-29T12:03:07.045-05:00Cheers, London!
Sequined Chanel--too delicate to move
My last few days in London were a mixed of work and pleasure (though not mutually exclusive--I love my co-workers all around the world). On Tuesday and Thursday, I spent the morning with my good friend, Rachel Kurland at the Victoria & Albert Cothworkers' Centre. We view a few garments both times, with the help of curators of the collection. I'm so Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-55629776517846295742017-04-23T14:41:00.001-05:002017-04-23T14:41:52.830-05:00Catching up, slowing downToday was my first day on my own again. I had a very cool lady from work come stay with me in Paris and travel with me to London. It was her first trip to this part of the world, and she ventured on her own in both cities. I wasn't anywhere near that brave the first time I came her, so I'm impressed. I also got to know her better and like her even more now.
I got a late start today, which was Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-12250713577433519132017-04-17T15:01:00.002-05:002017-04-17T15:01:36.957-05:00Things are going to get a little boringsorry, but I didn't do much today and tomorrow I'm headed to the Paris office, so I won't be posting as much for the next few days.
The secret door (I thought it was a closet)
I got some fabric shopping down and picked up some treats for friends and co-workers.
The only photos (other than food photos--with my phone) I took today are of the cool little passage I had to go through to dump the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-21097315380643039812017-04-16T15:26:00.001-05:002017-04-17T04:31:48.141-05:00Easter Sunday in Paris
There wasn't a lot I could or wanted to do today, which is good, because someone was playing horrible, loud music into the early hours and I didn't get much sleep.
Veggie seller at Marche Bastille. yes, those are mushrooms in that basket
Fish seller at Marche Bastille
I did, however, make it to the Bastille Market and pick up something for dinner. It's mostly a fresh food market with Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6988078455792640871.post-3893447877860278692017-04-15T16:24:00.004-05:002017-04-16T07:37:24.577-05:00Le Samedi a Paris
I got a later start than I had planned, but it was fine. I saw what I wanted to, and even got a little shopping in. The only problem is I forgot to pick up a few things at the market, and everything will probably be closed tomorrow. I'm hoping I can get some things at the Bastille Market, assuming it is
still on tomorrow.
I pass this market on my way to the metro...
This reminded me of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0