Week 45

You may recall that last week, I started on a project for a coat. There were a few snags- the fabric that i originally chose that happened to be an end of the bolt cut just wasn't enough (without some serious creativity involved) and rather than go back to the store and pick out something else, i switched to a pretty color gradient- green that I bought sometime in college (let's say 4 years ago). I didn't have quite enough to do the facing too so some of the black lining shows, but it blends fairly well. It was also originally going to be sandwiched with a fleece layer, but i changed my mind when i changed the fabric to satin, so now it's a jacket. It's basically a peacoat- except that it's green satin...

pay no attention to the wet hair...

Also, I realized around the beginning of the week that my procrastination on this project stemmed from one very identifiable source- i did not want to spend 5-6 hours at a time in the freezing cold basement with my sewing machine. Solution? We went to walmart and bought a folding table and folding chair and set up a temporary sewing area for me in the library- the library isn't really big enough for this which is why i stress temporary- i don't mind going into the basement in the summertime. It ended up being a good thing, because our furnace started pouring hot water all over the floor today. Most of my things (all the important things) actually are elevated/not on the floor down there, but my sewing machine pedal and some of the cords would have been on the floor so at least they were safe upstairs instead.

Week 44

A COLLAR:
We begin this week with Honey's new collar- which is really just another of the coiled link bracelets i made earlier in the blog. I used a burgundy coated copper wire and painstakingly coiled 70 links-roughly 26 feet of wire. She's so cute! I want to hang her newest ID tag from this one, but I need a crimp ring (just for ease of use).

 I'm still thinking about adding a fabric collar underneath and stitching it down- but haven't really decided yet. In the meantime, she's wearing it as is.

A STORY:

This week, I started writing a little children's story- Kissed by the Fairies: A tale for little red-headed children. Bob's mom always told him and his sister that their freckles were pixie kisses, and I think it would be cute to have a story for the dwindling number of red headed children in the world for why they have red hair, light skin, and freckles when no one else does. I really like what I have, but would like for it to be longer... If you would like to read it, please let me know with your email address so you can be given access to my new writing blog (which is not public).

THE COAT-Progress Report:
On Sunday, I cut out the pattern pieces and made Honey's collar. On Tuesday, I ironed the pattern pieces and cut out the shell- in a different fabric than I originally chose. I plan to sew the shell together tomorrow (Saturday) and do the lining and finishing next week.

SHOW & TELL:
I promised a little show & tell of my new "toys". I bought some flocked display pedestals last week that I'm really very excited about!

I know I don't currently do the craft show thing (and the one that I did wasn't very encouraging), but having a way to display pieces if (and when) i try again would be helpful. It also means that in future photographing, i can put these against a backdrop and have more professional looking photos (in lieu of picking a piece of furniture to dangle from. lol)

COOKING:

Bob and I only had one day off together this week, so instead of using it as a work day, we used it as a cooking/cleaning day. I made spicy onion soup, and crisped up the bacon for BLTs. They're peppered bacon, dijon mustard, baby spinach, and sliced cherry tomatoes. After a small kitchen fire, we enjoyed our soup and sandwiches on my new xmas dishes, and then made an apple pie.

Week 43

This week was more in the little details and not exceptionally challenging, but I've got big plans for next week, so little bits this week is a nice respite.

My mom told me about these metal spirals that twist into people's hair, and I saw some rennaissance faire pictures of people wearing them so i decided to start giving them a shot. I'm not in love with the first 2, but I see their potential and may try again. I'm definitely going to make a few shorter ones with charms and see how i feel about them. I like them better in silver sheet, but I don't have any silver sheet thin enough for this. (I can make the thicker sheet bend/twist, but it would be extra heavy) Preferrably something thicker than my copper sheet which gets bent too easily, but thinner than the 20 gauge i have.

The wire on this one is less than ideal (based on aforementioned lack of silver sheet), but it does have a bead dangle.

I also made a few trips to JoAnn fabrics this week, and while I was picking out fabric for a coat, Bob decided that his peacoat needed updating and picked out some buttons($25 in buttons actually). I changed out all the buttons on that peacoat so that it would be different from everyone else's peacoats. He's pleased as pie! lol.

I was planning on squeezing in one more project, but as chance would have it, i came home and took a nap today. My fingers also started tingling again today too- probably the cold- it finally snowed!

Coming next week: A new coat! (for me) A comfy collar (for my little Honey Bunny), and show and tell!(i bought some jewelry displays for bracelets and necklaces, so expect some slightly more professional looking pictures of said objects in the future). I also have a sundress in limbo (i started it in the summertime) that's been sitting halfway done for several months now (it's a shell that needs lined, zipped, hemmed, and strapped).

Happy New Year! resolutions...

Technically, my last post was made at 1am on New Year's Day, but i was dead tired and more concerned about filling my weekly quota than I was about New Year. Normally I don't do resolutions- I feel that if don't trully want to fulfill that goal (or feel capable of fulfilling said goal), then you shouldn't commit to a goal in the first place- resolutions really aren't meant to be failed or cast aside. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. Anywho...the point of that mini tirade is that THIS year, I DO in fact have a resolution: -ahem-

 I want a house of my very own,

and my goal is to save $10,000 (the down payment needed to obtain a loan) by the end of October, and hopefully find and buy a house before 2012. I intend to save that money on my own, regardless of what Bob is able to save/contribute (though he intends to begin saving in the spring). This averages out to me saving $1000/month. Winter is a very slow time for a waitress so I won't be able to save as much in the winter, but come May, tourist season begins again and that means $1000+/week for me and my goal. Yes this will mean less eating out, and less buying whatever i want when I want it, but a house is worth it- and i KNOW i can do this. It's important to me. Assuming Bob saves an equal amount or close to it, I intend to use some of that $20,000 for 2 things in our new house: a fence for the dog is very important to both me and Bob, and I will not suffer Honey and ourselves to live in a house without one. Also, Bob and I desperately need a new mattress- we don't sleep well and i don't know WHAT i was thinking when i bought a single-sided mattress that can't be flipped. When we move again, this mattress will NOT be moving with us.

2 Other Little Tiny Resolutions for 2011 (again that i feel I am capable of accomplishing):

-My favorite dessert in the world is a Thai dessert of sweet sticky rice with mango (preferrably mango icecream). I have a big bag of "sweet sticky rice" from an Asian grocery store and an ice cream maker. At some point this year, i will procure coconut milk and mangos and i WILL make my favorite dessert myself.

-I've known for some time now that the goal of one year that i placed on this project is soon coming to an end (in March) and I decided some time ago that I have no intention of ending the project in March. What that entails for Year 2 of The Xarata Project and this blog, i haven't entirely decided- only that the blog, and my projects, WILL continue. There may be a twist of some sort in the rules (like consignment or craft shows or a guideline in design/material), but I really haven't thought that far just yet. Update: Okay, so maybe I have decided. You will notice an extra "Page" labeled at the top of the blog- The Xarata Project: Year 2 outlining where the blog will go from week 52...






Also, on a side note, I'm fairly certain my sister-in-law gave birth to our very first nephew today, little Andy Nichols. How exciting!