Macro Monday

Something out of science fiction? A luscious dessert?!

Silly Saturday

Oops . . . . .

I thought I’d measured at least twice . . .

The curtain should come down to the AC unit & not leave part of the venetian blind uncovered. The curtain’s 9″ too short.

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Silent Sunday

Late afternoon sunshine ~

Nana Cathy’s Monthly Photo Challenge

Chiming in with Cathy’s Monthly Photo Challenge this month – fences and post boxes – here are my contributions.

Here’s a black & white photo of a wooden fence during a snow shower. If you can see the white blobs that look like they’re painted on the darker wooden fence – that’s the snow!

This is the well-known Erie Canal in winter, and the metal fencing on both sides. Can you see how far down the water level is? Someone told me this is done every Autumn, but they didn’t know why. Maybe to reduce ice damage? Our past 2 winters have been so mild, there hasn’t been much danger of that.

I believe the lift bridges along the canal are closed during the winter, so maybe it’s to discourage boats from trying to sail. If anyone knows, do tell!

Now here’s a two-fer: A metal fence surrounding a “house” of metal post boxes, plus slots for out-going mail. The reason why it has a roof & looks like a little house is because there are 350⁺ mail boxes on the 4 sides, with the interior 2 sides completely under that roof.

Think of 2 rectangles, one above the other. Remember we’re talking a flat-lay drawing to indicate separation as in an aisle – one along side the other – not physically one on top of the other! There’s an interior aisle’s width between them and one roof covers both. There’s enough overhand on the outsides to give some protection from rain. Hope that helps with visualizing.

I do admire the glorious crochet and knit objects that jolly up so many postal boxes in the UK and elsewhere, and perhaps they exist over here, too. But mainly, we seem to have needed to protect postal boxes from those wanting to damage them and their contents.

Thank you, Cathy, for giving me a reason to troll through my shoebox!

Catching up

Hello Lovelies! Long time~no blog. It’s been busier than usual round here with unexpected projects that didn’t include sewing. (Meeeh!) Some are resolved, some are on-going, but they haven’t stopped my thinking about wardrobe . . .

That’s what I was thinking about when I strayed into my all-too-local fabric store. You know what’s coming . . .

On the left are two 100% cottons that feel almost like lawn – wonderfully light and silky even though they were new bolts in the quilting section. (Gasp!)

Originally I was just looking for something to make a couple pairs of sleep shorts to go with 2 oversized tees I use as sleep shirts. But the fabrics are so soft I can’t stop thinking about other possibilities . . . . . .

The red rayon on the right (how’s that for alliteration? 🤣) looks to have been maturing in situ, waiting for me to grab the last 4 yards on the bolt. It washed beautifully and has a very luscious feel.

I’m thinking loose slouchy trousers & a top – maybe the Amalfi (by Masin). Has anybody made it? I’ve looked through IG but there’s not much about it, although there are lots of nice piccies.

If the universe will get off my back so I can sew!

✂️ 🪡 🧵 ✂️ 🪡 🧵 ✂️

Macro Monday

This week’s Macro – quite different from last time . . . . .

Last week’s elicited interesting comments, so I thought I’d pull the lens back a bit and show what it actually is. First, a review. . .

And now a couple of shots from farther out ~

Whilst visiting my local yarn shop just lately, somehow another skein of this decided to come home with me. Then I remembered I had crocheted a hat late last winter, but hadn’t a matchey-matchey scarf . . . . (click pic below for last year’s post). I do love this yarn!

Macro Monday

Sliding in a wee bit before midnight with a macro.

Silly Saturday & talkin’ about tea!

My favorite tea for many years, starting when I was visiting, then living in Silicon Valley (California), is a rooibos-based herbal tea named Good Earth Original Sweet & Spicy. And it is!

The Good Earth was one of the very early Palo Alto restaurants featuring a healthy menu, and they served this tea by the pot. Eventually, they began to sell it in bulk and in boxes of individual bags.

At some point somebody had the idea to put something besides their logo on the little tags on every tea bag, and the rest is history. Sometimes I’ll save a memorable tag, and that should explain the above collection’s variables.

Happily, today the tea has a definite niche following, and can be found on many grocery shelves. It seems to sell out often, which is why I can verify that Walmart also stocks it. 😉

Although it’s my favorite tea I don’t enjoy it constantly. Rather, I’ll wait until late afternoon, when hopefully I can take time to sit and savor it.

Do you drink tea? What kind? Do you have any tea-related habits or traditions? Do share!

☕️ 🫖 🍵

Wordless Wednesday

It’s that time of year . . .

The annual Poirot!

Catching up

Suddenly it’s late October ~ one of my favourite months in my favourite time of year. How did that HAPPen?!

I finally decided to make a little wreath for the front door. This building used to be an elementary school (ca. late 1800’s!), so there are interesting nooks & crannies around, including little ledges beside each apartment’s front door.

My door is no exception, so I also needed to decorate The Ledge. Something Autumnal, but the right scale for the space. Hmm.

I had some errands to run and decided to add a trip to a local crafting thrift shop. I’m so glad I did, because I found 2 small figurines that are perfect size for my small space. Together they were less than $2. Such a deal, and the money helps support a senior center.

Love this little witchy-woo!

Might keep this out thru Thanksgiving.

Buttons… Yes, I’m still thinking about remaking my bracelet (mentioned here). One afternoon I took a stroll through YouTube, looking for ideas. Gads! There are a zillion button bracelet how-to’s! I fancied trying this method, and using her technique for tying off.

I remember trying the same thing when originally making the bracelet, a looong time before YouTube. Then I used regular thread and a French knot kind of tie-off, but the bumps bothered my wrist.

The video’s creator makes the sewing look easy, and I hadn’t thought to use button thread for extra strength. Maybe the combination of stronger thread and a different knot will work this time.

Meanwhile, the heat’s been turned on here – it’s baseboard and residents have some control over how much they get. Mine’s turned off, because the outside temps haven’t been that cold. Even so, I’ve done a lot of uneasy sleeping under a sheet.

The last 3 days, however, have been colder ~ thank you, Canada! I’m hoping it hangs around. I also have to start sewing some honest-to-goodness Autumnal clothing. (Something I didn’t need much of in the South.)

So please stay tuned, Lovely Readers. Actual sewing might be about to commence! 🤞 🤞

Speaking of buttons . . .

One of my sisters likes to make up her own needlepoint designs, adding sequins, buttons, charms – whatever strikes her fancy.

We were chatting about that lately and got on the subject of buttons. Suddenly I remembered some gorgeous wooden buttons I gotten years ago, and made into a bracelet. And wonder of wonders, I even remembered approximately which box might be hiding it. Sis1 said I should get it out & wear it. Well . . .

Last week I was going through more bags & shoe boxes of sewing haberdashery, and located the box of jars of buttons. And that bracelet. Some history…

Probably 20 years ago I was still in Silicon Valley and frequented a wonderful fabric store co-owned by Gale Grigg Hazen, who’d written articles for Threads magazine (among others), and authored the book, Fantastic Fit For Everybody: How to Alter Patterns to Flatter Your Figure.

Back to the buttons – She and her partner, whose name I don’t recall this instant, found some of the most luscious fabrics for us customers, and kept coming up with marvelous products, classes & teachers.

And then they got into buttons. That’s where these one-of’s came from – a grab bag, from which I picked out similar ones for this bracelet. (At the time, making jewelry from buttons was popular.)

I used elastic cording, as it would be easy to thread the buttons onto the cording. However, I didn’t use quite enough buttons. The fit has always been a bit snug. I do love a little dangle in my bracelets, so haven’t worn it much.

Any of you Lovely Readers made jewelry from buttons? Do tell if you have!