Lexi's Pajamas

Right now all I'm working on is the gown, (the gown on the left). I will make her the robe later. I'm just short of the amount of fabric to make both. If I get lucky I can pull something sneaky and fit it on the yardage that is left. It's gonna be hard with the stripes. I picked the type of fabric for her (a quilter's flannel I got on sale at Joann's about a year ago) and then let her pick the print. I was hoping she would pick the skull print that I have but she went for the stripes. Maybe it will help her look taller ;).

On a separate note, I'm checking out Ottobre patterns. I got the first magazine in the mail. I have to admit, I'm not very impressed with the Women's patterns, they just aren't my style. The children's patterns are fantastic though. I'm having to figure out how to convert the sizes from European to U.S., shouldn't be too hard. I like the fact that they have a good deal more boy's patterns than other pattern companies, patterns that don't require buttons every time you turn around. I am happy about this because I can now make Russ a lot more. He gets the short end of this stick with the sewing sometimes because I shy away from buttons so much and so many of the patterns that I like for him require them. I did promise him a hoodie before the weather turns cool, he was very happy about that.

No Excuses

I have been an unforgivable lump for three days. Barely keeping laundry done and staring at my new sewing project. All the moving and unpacking fried my brain for a short while I think. I am feeling the itch to stitch though. Summer is moving at a nice pace here and I want to enjoy some time getting some things completed at my desk soon. My "want-to-do" list is growing and I'm just sitting on it like a hen on eggs. I think I am about to get my mojo back though.

My New Sewing Digs!

Here we are. It's still very unornganized and cluttered but I have alot of moving around left to do and I'm looking into getting a shelf unit with doors on it to use for fabric and fun stuff like that. It will be slow coming together considering I'm still decorating the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. I'm not even gonna start on the kids rooms at this point. Alexis has hers halfway there, Russell's looks like a bomb went off. He did not inherit ANY organizational skills from me. I have a pattern for a gown cut out right now waiting to be put onto fabric for Alexis. Her SpongeBob pj's are almost too small for her now and she needs something to do for the cooler nights here on the lake. I will post pics as soon as I get it going.

Finally Moved In!

Yesterday we got our furniture and other items delivered to us. It's been a long two days. We have been unpacking and sorting and, unpacking and sorting some more. I have the beginnings of my sewing area set up in the basement. There is still alot of adjusting to do to get it up and running. Hopefully I can post pictures for you guys by the end of the week. I'm really hoping to get back to more regular posting VERY SOON. I have a couple of projects on the burner once some minor curtain and pajama repairs are finished. Keep coming back, things are going to start picking up again soon. Thanks for stopping in even during this long and never ending move (at least it seemed that way).

We Finally got Moved In!

Why, yes, yes, we did move into our own place over the weekend. I also start work on Monday, YAY!!!! We also get our things from storage delivered on Monday. Monday will be a good day. Tomorrow will be a good day too. The BF has a job interview, cross your fingers that all goes well. It would be really great to have both of us employed by the end of the month.

I would like to welcome a follower that joined in my absence. digitalliz, my sister is now a fan of mine! Whoohoo. I'd also like to welcome all of my other followers! I'm not great with meet and greets. It's great to have you all here. Hopefully within the next week, I will have the beginnings of a sewing area in the basement to take pictures of for everyone!

Calling All Erie, Pa Sewist!

If you live in the Erie vicinity and you want to meet up, PLEASE, email me! I'm trying to be proactive here. The Sewing Guild has a chapter about 3 hours from here but, I need something closer. I don't have the time and resources at the moment to try to start a chapter. You don't have to be a vintage sewer, sewing in general is all the interest required. These meetings can be weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, it doesn't matter. Have a friend that sews in the area? Please refer them to my blog. Help me be proactive and send me an email and lets start a small group of enthusiasts in the area, I swear, I don't bite. :)

Guess What

I am gainfully employed. Unofficially at this point but once the paperwork is submitted tomorrow, I'll have a job. My new super seems uber kewl to boot. I won't be making a 40 mile, one way commute either. At the most, I'll be making a 15 minute commute. This is really shaping up. We should know more by Wednesday about the apartment so, keep your fingers crossed in that department. I gotta run now, dinner is waiting!

Short Story Fans?

Who is a short story fan? Short stories are not my normal choice for reading but, with extra time on my hands, no extra money and the books at the in-laws house just lying there begging to be read, I picked up a short story book. The author is Joe Hill, the book, 20th Century Ghosts. Most of the stories have been good. I'm down to the last story in the book to read. I have found though, that I'm not a literary minded person (if that's the correct wording). I'm a lazy reader who doesn't like to come up with the answers myself the way this author wants you to, so this leads to some disappointment for me. If someone has read this book, especially "My Father's Mask", please send me a spoiler. I'm dying to know the meaning of this story. This may give me some closure to this particular story and help me get some sleep tonight instead of sitting up wondering what the H-E-double hockey sticks this guy is trying to say with this story.

New Place

It looks like we will be moving into our own place by next weekend! As long as everything keeps going the way it's going, we are golden. I'm starting to let myself get excited. I was afraid to do that before the last call from the new landlord.

I'm still waiting on the second half of my interview. I went to the on-site location to meet with my new supervisor on Thursday night. Nobody was there. There had been an emergency and everyone had had to leave. I go back tomorrow night to finish up and get the employment process rolling again.

YAY!

Thank the good Lord, we found a place to live. We should be moving in by the end of the month. It only took two weeks. I have to be honest, I was beginning to lose a little hope. We would get out of bed in the morning and begin scouring newspapers and rental websites and also cruise potential neighborhoods. We ran across alot of places that would suit our needs but they would not allow our pets. And now, what a nice man we seem to have found to rent from. Keep fingers and toes crossed that everything continues to move in this direction. We had placed a deposit for the apartment we were originally going to rent and the owners of that property have yet to refund it! Bad form. Luckily we have enough put away to cover the needed costs but we still need the other back, that was a large chunk of change that we both worked hard for. B works for a law firm and one of the lawyers has offered to help us out. We both hate to go this route but they have had plenty of time to get our money back to us. I noticed while looking through listings that the lady with the crappy property was listing under three different names. Hind-site is 20/20. This just goes to prove that long distance moves are not easy.

I go for the second part of my interview in about an hour. I could potentially be working part-time with Autistic patients on second shift. This would work out wonderfully because I begin my sophmore year of Nursing school in August. I found out at the beginning of this week I have about $400 worth of supplies to get that I don't currently have the money for. Hopefully I can begin working by the end of the month and get the needed funds in time. I had no idea that this could get so expensive. I have also made my first visit to the doctor to get necessary blood work and vaccinations out of the way. I'm about half finished with this process. I think the word pincushion just about covers it. I am looking forward to it though. Only three years to go until I get my BSN! Hard work, work, work...........

Not Enough Coffee

The "no caffeine" headaches are the worst.  But, there is good news.  I may have a job by the end of the week and Jeremy is taking his civil service exam right now in hopes of snagging a job also.  Still no place to live, the search continues.  I'm seriously considering composing a letter to the editor of the local paper about the "no pets" situation.  We have called so many phone numbers and not one allows pets.  Being a RESPONSIBLE pet owner, I have plenty of rants over this situation but I will reserve them at this time.  Most of them are not very polite anyway.  

Another two days has passed and still no sewing machine or patterns.  I'm wondering how long this forced dry spell is going to last.  Hopefully not too much longer.

Confessions of a Pattern Hoarder

I've completely missed one confession and now, I'm totally late on this one.  I do apologize for this but, one does not move four states away very often. 

How bad is my pattern hoarding?  I haven't been able to lay hands on any of my patterns to pacify myself or go looking for new ones at sales.  In one word, WITHDRAWALS.  There comes a point when everyone reaches their limit and can't put a certain thing down.  Sewing and pattern collecting are mine.  I think I even copped a small attitude yesterday when passing a sale I just knew would have been wonderful to stop at and couldn't.  The Bible verse, "and this too shall pass", keeps running through my head.  I wonder how long this will hold me.