On Not Reinventing the Wheel

About a year ago, I was reading a handful of blogs on sustainability and coming environmental apocalypse, specifically Crunchy Chicken during the annual “Freeze Yer Buns” Challenge and Casaubon’s Book when the author was discussing how her family dealt with low interior temperatures. These are people who, when it gets cold, don’t turn the heat up – they add layers. Casaubon’s Book, which, in general, looks toward history to find solutions to such problems, mentioned the petticoat. It’s weird that I’d more or less forgotten about petticoats, given my general tendency toward antique fashion. I appreciate that I can wear …

New Project (’cause I needed one!)

About a year or so ago, I discovered PS I Quilt, just about the time that Rachel started a Pinwheel Sampler Quilt Along. It didn’t take long before I was wishing I had found the site just a week or two earlier, or that I had jumped into the quilt along before I really knew what it was about. And I promised myself that the next time Rachel announced a quilt along, I was getting involved. Guess what? Rachel’s announced a postage stamp quilt along and I’m gonna play! I ordered the quilt top fabrics yesterday, and they’ll be here …

I finished this over the summer, much to the consternation of the other parents observing at circus class – how could I stand to be working on a quilt in the summer, when it was hot?!? Of course, then I forgot to photograph it and then I wasn’t blogging much… Anyway, here’s how my second quilt repair project turned out: Now that it’s raining and chilly, it’s now totally acceptable for me to be working on a quilt while Caitlyn’s circus-ing. I finished the other one that’s been in progress forever yesterday – photos to come next time the sun …

A new project: Or maybe I’ll start with this one: I may do some prep for a few more before I actually get started sewing anything. I’ve got the sewing table at it’s “tall” setting which makes cutting so much easier. Or maybe I should move all the other stuff off the table so it isn’t so blastedly difficult to adjust when I need it.

It can rain now. The trick or treating is over, Caitlyn has an enormous haul of sugar (yay for our neighborhood and Columbia City businesses – no gum or jaw breakers this year and lots of Reese’s, Milky Ways, and Whoppers!), and we had gorgeous weather despite previous forecasts that had us trying to adjust Caitlyn’s expectations into last year’s costume. But while the clouds did move in this afternoon, the rain held off. And so Caitlyn wore the new costume. It’s a little too big in the top, and the hemline will probably start marching toward her knees next …