Yesterday the wind made it feel cooler than it was. We had a high of 4C. This morning it is -4C and we had a bit of snow fall during the night. We are to have cool weather for the next week.
Lifestyle
Home
As it was Sunday, I made sure that the basics were done but did not do a lot of cleaning. We did do grocery shopping. I also made and baked spaghetti sauce in the afternoon. Baking it on low in the oven makes it delicious; the spices are so much nicer than when boiled on the stove.
The Spousal Unit worked on his puzzle during the day. I helped out a couple of times and found some pieces. We thought this puzzle would be easy but it isn't Too many green pieces. He will keep plugging away at it and I will help when I can.
Health
I finished Day 3 with a bang. I ate within points, all food was healthy, and I monitored my carb intake more. I am down 2 pounds and am on the right road now. Today is Day 4 and I will continue to eat healthy all day.
Sewing
I spent a bit of time in the sewing room with the doll's t-shirt pattern. I printed it off again and added 1/4" to the neckline. I also made a neck facing for it. To the back I will add 1/8" so I have a bit more to turn back for the snaps to be sewn onto.
The grey knit is out on the table and my sleeve pattern is on it ready to pin down. I will but out the doll's t-shirt again and work only on the neckline and side seams. Once again, this is a trial as I want to get a good pattern.
I also started reading and listening to the Couture Sewing Academy material while waiting for the Design Academy to start Feb. 1. I will spend a bit of time daily on it. I want to work on some of those skills and have a good understanding of the terms used.
Knitting
Saturday, I crocheted a shawl for the dolls out of the left over white yarn from a messy bun hat I knit. It fits a bit tight over the head so it will be put into the doll's own clothes.
Yesterday, I crocheted a grey one and ran out of yarn. I will pick up another ball as I can use it for the dolls. This yarn really sparkles.
I am just over three rows short on this one. The bit of blue showing holds the loop so it won't unravel.
I started another messy bun hat last night. I love the color of the yarn in the skein.
Though called Blue Moon, it reminds me of the sky.
A couple of nights and it will be done. I do have enough to make one more or I can save it for the dolls. Decisions.
Today
It is the day to clean up the living room and front entry. I want to get it done so I can focus on the basement. I hope to cut out the sleeves for my t-shirt and work on it. The doll's t-shirt will be cut out and starched.
Until the next time........................
Yesterday was a nice day with a high of 4C. It stayed warm all night and it is 0C this morning with a skiff of snow. We could get a bit more snow today and then cooler weather.
Lifestyle
Health
I ate well yesterday and stayed with in my points. I am hoping I will loose some weight before Wednesday. Today is Day 3 and I'm feeling ready. I can feel some difference as my body detoxes from sugar.
House
I did the daily clean in the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Once done, I tackled the dining room. It took me until noon to do that space. I vacuumed, washed floors, dusted, polished silver and tidied up the table. I was busy in that smallish space. It is done for now.
I found this on Pinterest. I like it though I would change the days I do things. It is something to follow though.
Sewing
I spent the afternoon sewing the doll's t-shirt. I kept in mind about proportion and how this would look best on the doll. As I sewed, the t-shirt wasn't sitting right with me. Had the fabric stretched? Not according to the pattern as I laid it on top of the fabric a couple of times. I realized a couple of things when I put the almost finished product on the doll.
With the t-shirt tucked in we have the 1/3 (top) to the 2/3 (bottom). Though both are plain fabrics, it is pleasing to the eye.
The top fits well through the body as I took the side seams in from 1/4" to 1/2". I am a stickler for a smooth fit of clothing on the dolls.
But look carefully. I have the shoulder seams pinned up another 1/4" and this means that the sleeve needs to be narrower in the cap.
The pattern was a free one and it has never fit the Gotz dolls well as it is for another doll. I have fiddled and tinkered with it. I left it over night and looked at the pictures again.
I like the smooth fit in the body. Making the sleeves long shows that the underarms are too high up as they bind. I think that taking the shoulder seams up and adding 1/4 to 1/2" to the neckline and adding a facing will help the neckline. I like this plain neckline to add crystals. It gives it a more dressy look. I have lots of fabric so a new one will be cut out later on with all the adjustments made. Each time I do adjustments, I will get closer to having a pattern I like and will use.
Knitting
I finished crocheting one shawl for the dolls and the second one is well on its way to being completed tonight. I love how they use up the left over yarn from the hats. Pictures to follow when they are on the dolls.
Today
I will start on the living room. It won't get finished as we have to go shopping. The afternoon will be spent in the sewing room. I am hoping to work on my grey t-shirt. I need to cut out the sleeves first.
Until the next time............................
Yesterday the temperature rose to above freezing by 11 a.m. During the day, the temperature rose to 4C and it dropped to 2C during the night. The storm will be over us and then we will get another spell of cold weather.
Lifestyle
House
I spent yesterday morning cleaning the house. I have decided cleaning our house is not a project but a chore that needs to be done on a regular basis. Some parts need to be done daily, others weekly. Yesterday was a combination of weekly and daily. The master bedroom, bathroom and kitchen were the targets for the morning.
I am trying to use up what is in the freezer and I have the fridge freezer tidied up. I will have to make soup with the ham bones, eat some salmon and the frozen vegetables and we can get more for the upstairs freezer. The downstairs freezer will be used up in about 4 weeks and then I will do another meat run. The pantry has the usual items in it and I will continue to buy what we need. I'm trying to stay away from overloading the area but may put some items in the basement if I see a good sale.
Health
Yesterday, I started back on my proper eating regime. It is time to cut out the refined sugars and eat more vegetables, fruit, and protein. It will take about 4 days of this to get the refined sugars out of my system. Though not much fun, it is a necessity.
We didn't turn the heat up very much yesterday morning as this house stays warm with the proper sized heat pump in it. I roasted in the house on Thursday and wasn't going for a repeat on Friday. This morning, the house is warm and the heat pump is set at 61F.
Sewing
I didn't sew yesterday as I needed to finish a book that would have disappeared from my iPad. I thought it was two books in one but it was three.
Knitting
I finished the second messy bun hat. It turned out very nice and is quite sparkly.
I am taking a rest from the hats and will be knitting on my scarf and crocheting little items for the dolls from the left over messy bun yarn (white and grey).
Today
I need to clean the dining and living room, tidy up the three rooms I did yesterday (daily tidy up) and do a bit of sewing. The Spousal Unit is going to a basketball game this afternoon and we are having dinner with family.
Until the next time.....................
We have had snow, then warmer weather, and now it is cold. This morning it was -7C; our coolest morning for a while was yesterday at -17C. The upside - no wind.
Lifestyle
The heat pumps were replaced Wednesday and what a difference it makes having larger ones in the house. It is actually warm in here. We didn't realize how cool the house was until the new one almost roasted us out of the house.
Sewing
I made a reusable grocery bag over Jan. 1 and 2. It is a sports themed one that is different.
I bought thread to do a rolled hem on a cowboy rag for Daughter.
I chose the variegated thread to add a subtle amount of color to the scarf as it is plain. With the larger spools being a dollar each, I could splurge and buy one spool of more expensive thread.
I have been working on a course called Design Academy and found out it doesn't start until Feb. 1. I have been looking at proportion and have learned quite a bit. The biggest thing to look for is the thirds. One third/two thirds is the most pleasing look when aiming for proportion. The size of details and print are also important.
- I automatically play with proportion when sewing. A ribbon at the waist of a dress, a small knit bolero, top length, skirt length are something I look at when I design an outfit.
- What prints look the best on the doll. What is the largest print I can get for a specific look. Plaids, pleats, tucks, etc. are really important.
- I pass by outfits that are not proportionally pleasing. I see why some outfits don't sell easily and others are gone before you can look at it a second time.
I will be thinking more about proportion as I look for inspiration pictures and will be applying it to what I sew. I will have a few pictures to print off to put into my sketch book.
Knitting
I picked up the needles Wednesday night and worked on another messy bun hat. I got it half done and love how it looks.
The silver metallic thread really shines in real life. I hope it will be done tomorrow night.
Today
It is house cleaning day. I need to sweep, wash floors, do laundry, and a lot more. If it takes until Sunday to complete, I'm fine with that. I also want to sew on a doll's t-shirt. I have the pieces starched stiff in hopes they won't stretch when I sew them.
Until the next time............................
Happy New Year
We start the year off with a temperature of -3C. It is snowing out so the world will look clean and white when daylight arrives.
Reflection
Health wise, the Spousal Unit and I were sick at the beginning and the end of 2018. In between, we were healthy. I am thinking we started and ended the year with a small weight loss. We both know we need to do better this year.
Sewing larger amounts of fabric was slim. I made Daughter-in-law a bag for her knitting.
The Spousal Unit got a shirt sewn and I can't find a picture of the finished product.
I made a grocery bag for a lady that is quite classy in black and white.
And I made Daughter-in-law a lunch bag and first aid kit for Christmas.
It wasn't a lot and I plan on doing more sewing of larger items to sew down the stash.
Knitting
I did do more human knitting in 2018. Grandson got 2 pairs of socks and Daughter got 4 hats. I also knit a 5th hat that will be shipped out in April as part of a consignment.
Onto 2019
My goal this year is to be more focused, make a plan, and follow it. I can explore still but I need to be more focused. My bullet journal will be my friend as I plan out the following areas:
Health
Loose weight, start walking, and stay well.
Home
Keep our house and yard tidy. Purge what we don't need and do some renovations that need to be done.
Sewing
Work more on sewing up the stash. This will include a blend of crafts, people sewing, and doll sewing. The goal is to sew 50 meters this year.
Knitting
To knit down more of the yarn stash doing a wider variety of projects. Doll knitting allows me to learn new techniques which is great.
We both want to explore more of Nova Scotia as there is so much to see.
It is the last day of December and a cold one. We have a special weather statement saying we will get snow/rain off the Great Lakes New Years Day.
This morning it is -13C and we should see those temperatures for the next couple of days. Truly Nova Scotia weather.
Reflection
This past year has been somewhat of a successful year in the sewing room. The room got painted and is so much lighter and brighter. I do enjoy sewing in there. We love the color so much, the whole house will be painted that color.
Sewing
This year, the sewing was mainly tiny. I did a lot of doll sewing exploring with patterns I was given or bought. I had some successes in the doll world.
Doll sewing started out with easy pieces such as leggings, simple dresses, and t-shirts. The biggest challenge was making Anna's black pants as I had to redesign the back piece thanks to a friend who did it first.
I did more pieces that took a bit of creating using ideas I found on Pinterest.
Lastly I ventured out and tried a complete outfit. It was a goal of mine and hard to achieve.
Next up, came sewing Edwardian clothing for the dolls. It was fun but I have to say the pattern directions left a lot to be desired.
I even worked on my photography skills and started to use backdrops. In the midst of all this sewing, I became a pattern tester for Pixie Faire.
I did stretch my learning skills when sewing for the dolls. I especially learned more about which patterns and fabrics went well together to create outfits that looked great. The secondary thing I learned was pleats. It started off with the Georgian period clothing and ended up with a bespoke kilt.
Knitting
I did a lot of stretching and learning in knitting this year. I really moved forward from knitting in my comfort zone to trying new things. Dolls are a great place to learn as the items are actually samplers.
After knitting some turtle neck sweaters from the neck down, I decided to knit a two piece set. The pattern is easy to follow so I chose to learn two techniques; adding beads and doing an i-cord edge.
That led to another beaded design on yarn that didn't work out. The design was great though.
I knit a sweater three times as the pattern is cute. I worked on the front edge of this pattern as I wanted it to look smooth. I did two white and one blue sweater.
I knit another pattern twice using a new designer to me
I also knit a dress where I learned a few tricks -- the pockets were the area of learning.
My biggest flop was this sweater. Yarn and pattern did not go together. I'll try it again using a different yarn.
The item I made that I loved is this sweater.
The sweater was a test pattern and pairing it with a plaid skirt was a perfect marriage.
The hardest item I knit was this dress. Blocking the skirt so it wouldn't roll was a painful experience.
I knit a very easy cape to go over it and was pleased with the results.
Exploring
2018 was the first year that I really explored. I chose the doll world to explore in as the items are small and more like samples that can be worn.
I had hoped for 20 outfits to sell but I ended up with 4. One I sold and the other 3 languish in the sewing room waiting for the next 17 outfits.
I have learned through reading, watching, and asking that seasonal outfits sell the best. I like the combination of knitting and sewing for an outfit. It seems to be what others are looking for. Having a bit of a story also helps gets a vision of what I want to make. Fabric choice is important. Pairing fabric to pattern is number 1 but choosing fabric that isn't too focused on one idea is of great importance.
Where Do I Want to Go
I want to work on getting 17 more outfits done in 2019. I am looking at my patterns, fabric and yarn and am hoping to make good marriages between them all.
Conclusion
I really stretched my learning in the doll's world this year. I am planning on taking two courses to help me out and then spend time doing more complicated outfits. I need to stop overthinking and let my ideas flow. I can be my own worst enemy.
The weather is cool this morning after having a lovely 8C high yesterday. The weather was cool over Christmas and then it snowed hard on Dec. 28. Our trip home from the airport was 90+ minutes. It took son about 2 hours to come in to pick us up.
Lifestyle
We had a great visit at Daughter's over the holidays. The temperatures were around freezing and it snowed on Boxing Day. A good 4" fell. It was nice when we left on the 28th but started to snow after that. They had a substantial snowfall in the area.
Sewing
I ironed a lot of fabric for Daughter and we estimate it was a good 70 meters. As I showed her fabric, she decided on what would go with it and I ironed and bagged 13 future shirts for her. That alone was a good 25 - 30 meters. That didn't include 3 shirts that were cut out and in bags already.
I will start sewing on Jan. 1, 2019. I have January's items ready. They are the items cut out from October plus finishing my t-shirt. I have to order tracing paper before I can start a shirt. If possible, I would love to sew one shirt before the end of January.
Knitting
While at Daughter's I knit one messy bun hat. I have to cast on another one January 1 and get it knit. I also have to knit on my scarf. I think I have to do a test knit for a lady (private) this month. So January is a busy month.
Today
Daughter-in-law and I are going grocery shopping today and then it will be a quiet evening. We are almost back to normal from our trip. We are out tomorrow night for a while so we need to rest and get caught up in our missed sleep.
Until the next time.......................
