Buttons, where are the buttons!

Last night I sat down to sew new curtain tie backs for the living room. I had the fabric sitting out for weeks. When I finally decided on doing a button closure, I set out to the garage (where a lot of my sewing supplies still sit in boxes) to find my buttons. I went through every box sitting in there! (Should have put some stuff away, but eh.) NO BUTTONS! I have JARS of buttons and they are missing! It still has me in a tizzy, but I was lucky enough to find an old jar pincushion that had a few buttons stored away.
I found the curtain sheers (the correct size!) at the thrift store for $4 each. Originally I was going to make some curtains, but time and money (some home deco fabric is expensive!) delayed me to the point of walking in Bed and Bath's doors. And lo and behold.... linen curtain panels on clearance for $20 each. Score. I figure they are such a neutral color that I could use them anywhere and I would still have the option of cutting them up to repurposing them if/when I felt like it.

I decided on using a red polka dot fabric to bring the red from our lovely couch to the other side of the room. I backed it with some reclaimed linen pants and interfaced it to give a clean, crisp look. I am in *love* with the button hole feature on my new Pfaff. It let's you manually make a button hole size then remembers what you did so I didn't have to measure every button hole for each tie back. Love, love, love it! Now with some well placed pillows and accessories, everything will coming together. Just in time for the party!

Recent thrift finds

One good thing about moving is discovering all the new thrift stores. One bad thing is you miss your old favorite thrift stores.

I gathered the following items at a few different places. One thrift store benefited a local animal shelter. As I looked around I was pretty disappointed with the very high prices for very subpar (I mean I would throw the stuff away!) items. But then I found another white, cotton, cable knit sweater to add to my "I'm going to make into pillows on day" pile and this very tiny, marble cake plate with glass dome. I suppose I could put a wheel of brie in there, but my spools of vintage fabric ribbon will do for now. Want to know how much this cutie set me back? $3. *smiles*
I also recently found this gorgeous, luxurious yellow polka dot twin flat sheet. It is the SOFTEST sheet I ever felt. I wish I had a twin size bed in the house so I could use it. It might take me awhile to cut this one up.

And I am not sure if this counts as thrifting, but a couple Sunday's ago Jeff and I realized we were very low on food and decided to take a Sunday trip to my parents to raid their freezer and garden.
Lot's and lot's of green beans, tomatoes, spaghetti squash, and red skin potatoes, yukon gold potatoes, and butternut squash. Green beans have already been frozen. Tomatoes cooked down into sauce. Potatoes and squash are hanging out in the garage. And we also cooked down a bushel of apples into applesauce and got that canned. Winter here we come!

Apple butter is next.

But first we are hosting a Harvest Party this weekend for all of our friends. On the menu- pulled pork (I roasted one pork shoulder yesterday and another today), butternut squash soup, mac and cheese, spaghetti squash, seasoned pinto beans, hot apple cider, pumpkin pie, and apple crisp. Just to name a few things. I suppose there will be pickles and roasted pumpkin seeds laying around too. OK. Now who's gonna help wash the dishes?

Please come, end of the day.

In five minutes I have to find a way to avoid a billion rain drops falling faster than I can run 50 feet. And as I sit here (stealing unsecured internet) listening to the rain fall on my car sun roof, I think I can hear a sewing machine running in the far off distant part of my mind. It's been almost 7 weeks since I touched my Pfaff. I am having serious withdrawls now. I am not sure but I may have the shakes.

It's Friday and I can't wait to get home!

Swapping Goodness Style

This is a long over due post. It all started back in August... when Rebecca asked me if I would like to do a personal swap with her. Of course I said yes, but immediately after I agreed I got notice of my new job and long story short it's now the middle of October and I am posting pictures of my loot.
She sent me a whole tin full of sewing goodies that included buttons, trims, zippers, and fabrics. She made me a pink and brown button ring, felt blue and brown flower napkin rings, and a crochet tea cup. I have to really admire knitters and crocheters. You are a special group of people that spend a lot of time creating wonderful things. She also made me a mini pin cushion in a white porcelain basket and the 'star' paper flower pin.



I regret that I had to abandoned most of you in reading all your blogging posts and reset the counter. While I love Google Reader, after being gone for so long and accumulating over 800 unread posts I had to call it quits sometime. Last night I set all blogs to 'read' and I start anew today. Hopefully, I will have more time to note back. And, of course, maybe sew something.

If you want to check out my end of the swapping bargain click here.

Keeping busy

I can count on one hand the days until I am home from Chicago.

I am so excited to get back on my sewing machine. I think I may try my hand at sewing clothing again. Staying at a hotel for 28 nights will make you get out to do some shopping. I found two great dresses on clearance that fit me perfectly. Now I can use those measurements to adjust patterns. I also browsed those expensive brands to see what details they are including in there designs and picked up a few ideas.

By the way, if you are looking to go camping Old Navy is selling tents labeled as shirts. Seriously, absolutely no structure in most of their designs. I felt like I was trying on pillowcases and looked just as attractive.

I also spent some time at the book store checking out the new Amy Butler book "Midwest Modern". I really enjoyed looking through all the pages. If I didn't have to worry about overweight luggage I would have bought it. Barnes and Noble's didn't have her "Sew-It Kit" available, but I am excited to look at that when I can.

I also browsed Joelle Hoverson's "Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts". I can see myself making a project or two from this book.

I ended up coming home with the latest edition of Threads magazine. I really enjoy all the tips they include. I will definitely be using some of their articles when I restart my clothes making adventure.

When I do get home I have to unpack my sewing room. I am very excited about putting up my $8 brand new thrifted curtains. Time to make another place a home!

Long time, eh.

So, ya. I've been busy. Very busy. I can't even catch up on all my blog reading. I am using my work computer and 1) I shouldn't really use my work computer for personal use and 2) the browser doesn't work well with reader so I can't view any new postings. (It's going to take me a month to catch up on everyone!)

I leave Chicago tomorrow and I am so excited to get home. But there is no rest for the weary. We have to move 20 minutes north next week. (Along with updating all the address change info, we are getting new cell phone numbers, setting up utilities, I have to find a used washer and dryer, and I am training out on the road with a trainer each day.) Then the 30th, which is also our 1st year wedding anniversary, I fly back to Chicago. :( To make up for the missed anniversary celebration, we are planning a fantastic weekend in Washington DC the second weekend in October. I can't wait till I get a normal schedule back.

Remember all that linen I brought with me? I didn't touch it once. Figures. If I didn't bring it I would have probably had the time.

Jeff did come and visit me last weekend and we had a fabulous time in downtown Chicago (minus all the parking costs.) Saturday we arrived downtown around 11am and didn't leave until 1am. We visited Millennium Park, found a Celtic Festival, watched a strong man competition, found ice cream cones and sat by a beautiful fountain, walked along the beach, discovered the Aquarium but didn't stay because we were not paying $23 each to see fish, had dinner downtown and saw the Blue Man Group. We slept in on Sunday.

I will be trying my best to make a 6:50 flight tomorrow evening but I am being bussed to the airport with 15 other people. I hope they have their game faces on because if they are late, I have to wait until after 10 to fly out.

I am so ready to be home!

Two truths and a lie

A little bit of catch up... I made it to Chicago. All is well. I have been exhausted every night. During one of our training sessions we played the ol' tell 2 truths and 1 lie exercise. The instructor wanted the listener to work on memory and listen skills and to try and spot a lie. Apparently, I am a very good storyteller. I was able to fool people with incredible accuracy. Not that I put this skill into practice very often, but I thought it would be fun if you played along.

Here we go:

1) This morning I had to be ready at 7:30am (on a Saturday!) for a defensive drivers class. I was originally told that we were going to be driving on a driving course and speeding around cones. Instead, we got to drive a mini van around the suburbs of Chicago (for 3 hours!) while narrating our driving experience and sit in a lecture for another 3 hours. Apparently, I brake too hard. Who knew?

2) Tonight was the first night I unpacked my linen and embroidery materials. I brought along 4 colors of linen (3 neutral and one yummy chocolate brown). The embroidery designs I have been doodling during training will be put to use soon.

3) I couldn't believe the hotel forgot to put sugar in my room so I could have it with my coffee in the morning. All week I took a few sugar packets during breakfast and lunch to make a stash in my room.

Which one is the lie?

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(3) I don't drink coffee in the morning (often) and certainly don't use sugar when I do drink it! So what did I need 20 packets of sugar for? Why a homemade sugar scrub of course!!

I used some new shea butter I purchased before my trip out here and utilized the freebe bath wash provided by the hotel. The version made with real lemon zest smelled much better, but you got to work with what you got! Next time I will be purchasing my shea butter at Bath and Body again. This new stuff seems too waxy, plus it was cheaper and you got more for your money.

I am ready for my long, hot, steamy shower with activated heat lamps now! There is a hot tub downstairs, but with a wedding AND bar mitza currently in the works, I may stay out of the way. Well at least for another hour. Then everyone will be good and drunk and I can crash a fun party and enjoy a few drinks for myself.

-this was a lie-

- not really-

- the shower wasn't a lie- :)