spending a lot of time quilting

It has been a wild and crazy week.  When I am at my sewing machine, I am seeing a lot of this!  I am trying to get two quilts done for next week.  One is a Christmas present and needs to be mailed.  The other is for the shop.  Plus, I have one more quilt that I am trying to get the top done and basted today so I can start the quilting on that!

I cannot say sitting here and quilting is a bad thing.  Koda Bear comes and helps treadle.  Or he cuts threads for me.  He is cutting shapes out of fabric scraps.  We work maths.  He cuddles into me and we talk or he plays.  We read, both on my phone for e-books (because then he is just like everyone else) or hardcopy books.  It is a good space.  He likes me working here.  Except for missing dropping me off to work occasionally.  He misses adventures with doughnuts.  Who can blame the Bear?

It has also been a busy week due to just the season.  More people reaching out.  More people wanting to see each other.  Most of the year, I can easily be a hermit.  Not this time of year.  I also have a friend who I am checking on who had a hip replacement the day before Thanksgiving.  Even though her Mom and Sister are here, it does not mean I do not wish to check.  I took a kugelhopf over there late this week.  

It is so easy to be a hermit because friends and loved ones are spread across the world anymore.  But that is life.  I can still sigh.

A wild week!

Last week was crazy!  It is the big Thanksgiving year at my Mom and Dad's.  Which means lots of people, kids, cooking.  It is good to see everyone and talk but there is no quiet.  There is just not other way to put that.  There are six cousins running wild.  Twenty-one people to cook for on Thanksgiving day.  A varied number of people to cook for or feed on any other given day.  It is just family.  A lot of fun.  A lot of work. 

I am tired.

But I am thankful.  Koda Bear went to the mountain with us.  We spent a night there in the machine shed, in a tent.  It was cold and rainy but it was our mountain.  I walked to Canada and looked over the valley.  Okay, so it is not quite Canada.  About 800 meters away but it is a beautiful view.  The coughs started so we went back to my parents to sleep in the warm. 

The Tall Short Person was there for dinner on Thursday.  I and my Beloved did all the dishes.  I was talked out so that was a good place for me.  My family can talk.  I am definitely the quiet one.  I am better with a task.  Let me feed people.  Let me clean up.  I go for long walks with my Mom in the mornings.  We are "training" for Wales.

Yesterday was just trying to get caught up.  We usually have a rest the day we get back but not this time.  There was a wedding to go to.  The bride loved her dress.  But I could tell I had missed the very slow day on the way back.

I am still trying to figure out my life with Koda Bear.  It is very different then when I went to the office.  But yesterday was very successful except for computer work.  I never got here and did not get much help getting here.  I am going to have to figure out adjustments.  I have shop updates to do.  Maybe later today?  Plus more pictures to take, more walks and digging, more creating, maths!  I was awesome because I figured out how to get library books to his Kindle.  He is enjoying Fly Guy and the library has more then we were given.

I am very thankful for that small hand.  There is more joy in life with it.  Obviously, because there was a very high corkscrew slide, one of the old metal ones, that I went down.  In a dress.  Because I was asked.  It was a lot of fun!  Large smiles on both our faces.

trying to catch up and take care

The dress is done and delivered.  I spent about 50 hours on it with probably a quarter of that time hand stitching.  My hands feel it.  My whole body feels it and I am still tired.  But the bride was very pleased.  She said she liked it better and it fit better then the one she bought.  It was also softer.  Nicer fabric had been found.  What almost brought the tears though was that I embroidered her and her Beloved's initials on the inside of the bodice in a blue thread.  I knew what blue she liked so it was in that blue.

I am not a hugger.  I got hugged hard.  I am not a hugger except for small bears.  Koda Bear gives the best hugs.

Today I am trying life slowly and take care.  The is bread to bake for traveling.  And just eating!  When I have gone down a rabbit hole like a wedding dress, it is a good thing when there is bread in the house.

Koda Bear has decided his favourite colour is orange again.  I am making him an orange Christmas quilt.  The backing will be the soft orange fabric he picked out from Ragfinery.  A physical hug for the small bear for when I am not there!

And I am going to work on some dresses for me next week.  I also have a grey and black piece of fabric but I am thinking the browns first.  Being machine washable is a huge plus currently.  I might make them just a tad longer then the royal blue one.  My friend the instigator told me I should make a jacket or coat to match the royal blue dress.  I am considering.  

After the wedding dress, most people would run from their machine.  I do find it relaxing.  And I might even get a chance to spin more yellow yarn now for the sweater I am creating.  Just slow down a bit and take care.  I am so horrible at slow.

royal blue and washable

When I went into the office everyday, many of my dresses were wool.  Which I loved.  But, since I am currently working from home building my shop both here and on Etsy, I need something more washable.

I have always loved corduroy.  I know it is not the toughest of fabrics, especially in a pinwale.  But I like the feel of it on my skin.  I like it washes.  Historically, it is more royal/noble then velvet because it was harder to make by hand.  Loops had to be cut by hand and it could be easy to screw up if you did not know how.

I bought multiple pieces of corduroy.  So between stocking my shop and getting gifts made for the holidays, I am going to try to put a few simple sheath style dresses together for me.  This is the brightest of the bunch.  I was not sure I would like the colour on but I do.  I am odd.  I find when I wear bright colours they can depress me.  I might make the next one just a touch longer but otherwise, I am very pleased.

Now, it is just finding the time!

Runaway Boucherie Year 3

I spend the majority of the last three days at the Runaway Buoucherie.  This was the sunrise from Saturday morning.  We were there because of my Beloved's knives, Serenity Knives.  There was a delivery to be made and we were invited.  So why not?

A boucherie is a butchering event.  Cow, pig, lamb, chickens, duck.  Lots of food.  Lots of adult beverages.  Beer, bourbon, and whiskey were at the top of the lists since we were in Louisiana.  Most of us camped out.

I watched the cow being butchered.  It surprised me a bit because they took the hide off exactly the opposite I am used to.  I did not chose to ask why.  I just thought it was interesting.

On Sunday, I helped make pasta for lunch.  Orecchiette.  It was served with an organ hash that was quite good. 

During the chicken and duck butchering, I was cutting vegetables.  I kind of thought that I would not be cooking this weekend.  Yeah, right. I brought over 5 kg of bread to share and did not bring any home with me.  Three doughs were started this morning.  One was for pasta.  Bread and something yeasted and laminated is going to happen.

I actually did not get any of the dinner I helped make.  I had boiled shrimp and gumbo.  Danced a bit.  Then I was off to bed.  I was more wobbly from exhaustion then alcohol.  But I could still hear the music from my sleeping bag so that was lovely.

Saturday and Sunday were lovely.  It was all about getting the work done and feeding people.  Very my element.  It was raining Monday morning.  The pig butchering that was scheduled did not take place but there was still good food, good music, good people, and good drink.

I enjoyed myself.  Though I feel behind on my week but that is alright.  Not enough hours in the day.