It was my birthday a week-or-sew ago and I got a nice card from everyone at work, along with a $5 gift certificate for the Goodwill stores (a great source of bargain clothes!) ... and then I got asked to work the 1 to 10pm shift on Fridays... maybe the card was just to butter me up, what do you think?
Anyway, the phone lines are really quiet after 6pm on a Friday, which means I get eechance to listen to books! I read 106 pages of The Thoughtful Dresser: The Art of Adornment, the Pleasures of Shopping, and Why Clothes Matter by Linda Grant ... it's a good read, giving a little history of fashion luminaries like Chanel and Dior, and the reflections of ordinary people from World War 2 onwards.
Next week I shall take my quilting with me and make some inroads into resuming where I left off a couple of months ago!
I've also just finished reading House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival (by Deborah Ball), which was also a good read, with lots of insight into the Versace family and the world of fashion! ... I believe there's a similar book about Gucci which I will read very soon!
And back in the world of bargains... my Versace shaving balm arrived yesterday and is pretty good! It's quite intense, but in a leafy woodland kind of scent which I like. I do prefer the more no-need-to-shout-about-it (on-your-face not in-your-face) refinement of my Hanae Mori balm, but the Versace is a nice contrast!
What fragrances are you all wearing this summer?
Oh yes, I'm also dipping into the book Don't Go To The Cosmetic Counter Without Me!
How to sew a straight line when you're blind or have low vision, and other adventures. Follow me as I try my hand at sewing after 25 years, beginning with quilting class .
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
$5.01
well, it's been a while since I had any quilting news! Unfortunately I haven't much to add! Though I did find out there's a quilting club less than a mile down the road... it seems they meet mid-week in the daytime, so not likely I'll be able to make the meetings, but maybe I can attend some of the other events they do - it seems quite an active club! ... it's not like I can even suggest an after-work meeting since my hours are till 7pm, so it's too late to fit anything productive in by the time I've had dinner! ah well, I'm still glad to have a job again :) ... I'll just have to motivate myself on the quilting :)
Since the last photo update I've grabbed some more bargains! Yesterday we went to the Goodwill store near work and I found a nice yellow Perry Ellis shirt for $4. Today we went to the new Goodwill boutique, Blue, which specializes in "high end" items, and I finally found a pair of shoes in my size - a pair of brown Ralph Lauren ones for $15 - and a Pierre Cardin new belt for only $7.
The Goodwill stores in Rochester are part of the organization I work for, and all the items are donated, so it's a great way to get some real bargains and help fund raise!
On a less charitable bargain hunt, here's some of my recent eBay finds... a pair of Levis 501s for $13 including postage, and a new Versace jumper for $30... the jumper was a good bargain because it was $65 when I first saw it, but when I looked again a few days later it was half price, so I grabbed it! :) ... its retail price was $260 so I was very happy with my purchase!!
Since the last photo update I've grabbed some more bargains! Yesterday we went to the Goodwill store near work and I found a nice yellow Perry Ellis shirt for $4. Today we went to the new Goodwill boutique, Blue, which specializes in "high end" items, and I finally found a pair of shoes in my size - a pair of brown Ralph Lauren ones for $15 - and a Pierre Cardin new belt for only $7.
The Goodwill stores in Rochester are part of the organization I work for, and all the items are donated, so it's a great way to get some real bargains and help fund raise!
On a less charitable bargain hunt, here's some of my recent eBay finds... a pair of Levis 501s for $13 including postage, and a new Versace jumper for $30... the jumper was a good bargain because it was $65 when I first saw it, but when I looked again a few days later it was half price, so I grabbed it! :) ... its retail price was $260 so I was very happy with my purchase!!
With a bit of luck here are the pictures... if Blogger lets me upload them with my screen reading software...
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| Photo of me wearing my bargain Levis 501 jeans and Versace jumper |
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| Photo of Versace logo |
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| Photo of Levis 501 logo |
Monday, March 28, 2011
I've Been Stripping
You may have noticed, I've been a bad boy. I haven't really done any quilting for about 3 weeks, let alone blogged about it! I have made Monday quilting group with the exception of last week, but I have a good excuse!
Things have been hectic as I'm preparing to move 1,000 miles north to the cold snowy world of New York state! We start the journey on Wednesday so I was glad to make it to group today and say goodbye to all my quilting buddies I've met over the last couple of months!
In a nutshell I started sewing individual squares together to form "twosies", then I sewed pairs of those together to form "foursies"... now I'm on joining a few of those foursies together in a long strip... that's right, now I'm stripping!
I've got a couple of minor repairs to make to previous squares where my stitching missed a bit and left a gap in the stitching, but hopefully after the move I'll get on to that and press on with the stripping... photos to follow ;)
Things have been hectic as I'm preparing to move 1,000 miles north to the cold snowy world of New York state! We start the journey on Wednesday so I was glad to make it to group today and say goodbye to all my quilting buddies I've met over the last couple of months!
In a nutshell I started sewing individual squares together to form "twosies", then I sewed pairs of those together to form "foursies"... now I'm on joining a few of those foursies together in a long strip... that's right, now I'm stripping!
I've got a couple of minor repairs to make to previous squares where my stitching missed a bit and left a gap in the stitching, but hopefully after the move I'll get on to that and press on with the stripping... photos to follow ;)
Friday, February 25, 2011
Out Of The Closet
No sewing news today. Yesterday and today I was busy preparing for some kind of job fair / interview for Bank of America. Last night I pondered what to wear - I fancied a change from the suit I normally wear... so I rummaged in the closet.
I remembered buying a Calvin Klein suit in an interesting green colour some time ago. I remember it needed adjusting but I was curious... I also vaguely remembered getting some Pierre Cardin and wondered if it was that green suit and I was not remembering the label...
Well, Mr Green was CK. I also discovered I had a whole Pierre Cardin black pinstripe I'd completely forgotten! (well, other than that vague recollection). I also discovered a separate Zegna jacket that will go nicely with a pair of plain black trousers.
Both fit nicely, so yay to finding forgotten treasures! :)
Here's a pic... nice purple shirt and tie, shiney black shoes (Tanino Crisci, wearing a little thin on the soles now)
EDIT: don't ask why I need rotating. I rotated the photo in Paintshop Pro but Blogger for some reason keeps rotating it so I'm sideways again!
For the record the job event turned out to be a waste of time! They weren't real jobs, just 1 month contracts and processing data for the IRS not BOA! After filling out half a dozen forms (with assistance) it became clear why they hadn't shown us the job descriptions before we turned up, though not for want of us trying to get hold of them!
Never, onward and upward as they say, hopefully to the Rochester job.
I remembered buying a Calvin Klein suit in an interesting green colour some time ago. I remember it needed adjusting but I was curious... I also vaguely remembered getting some Pierre Cardin and wondered if it was that green suit and I was not remembering the label...
Well, Mr Green was CK. I also discovered I had a whole Pierre Cardin black pinstripe I'd completely forgotten! (well, other than that vague recollection). I also discovered a separate Zegna jacket that will go nicely with a pair of plain black trousers.
Both fit nicely, so yay to finding forgotten treasures! :)
Here's a pic... nice purple shirt and tie, shiney black shoes (Tanino Crisci, wearing a little thin on the soles now)
For the record the job event turned out to be a waste of time! They weren't real jobs, just 1 month contracts and processing data for the IRS not BOA! After filling out half a dozen forms (with assistance) it became clear why they hadn't shown us the job descriptions before we turned up, though not for want of us trying to get hold of them!
Never, onward and upward as they say, hopefully to the Rochester job.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Mystery Revealed
Do you remember this?
Or more specifically this bit?
Well I now have an explanation of what this dangly add-on to pin cushions is all about! This information comes from Chelle, who refused to leave Stitch In Time in Marrieatta until the truth was known!
Apparently once upon a time, many years ago, sewers used to coat their thread with wax. The needles would get all gunky from the wax, so the little dangly bit on the pin cushion used to be used to wipe off all the gunk by sticking the needle into it.
Back in those days the dangly bit used to be filled with scraps of embroidery thread and it did its job very well. Nowadays the dangly bits are typically filled with sand, and this is very bad for your needle/// the sand apparently will damage the needle, leaving little barbs due to the abrasive qualities of the sand, and these barbs will tear at your fabric as you sew.
So there you have it, the best thing to do with the dangly bits is to cut them off. Is it any wonder men don't feel inclined to take up sewing?
Or more specifically this bit?
Well I now have an explanation of what this dangly add-on to pin cushions is all about! This information comes from Chelle, who refused to leave Stitch In Time in Marrieatta until the truth was known!
Apparently once upon a time, many years ago, sewers used to coat their thread with wax. The needles would get all gunky from the wax, so the little dangly bit on the pin cushion used to be used to wipe off all the gunk by sticking the needle into it.
Back in those days the dangly bit used to be filled with scraps of embroidery thread and it did its job very well. Nowadays the dangly bits are typically filled with sand, and this is very bad for your needle/// the sand apparently will damage the needle, leaving little barbs due to the abrasive qualities of the sand, and these barbs will tear at your fabric as you sew.
So there you have it, the best thing to do with the dangly bits is to cut them off. Is it any wonder men don't feel inclined to take up sewing?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Stacked To The Stars
well here they are, the hearty hundred... one 6-inch squares of fabric, randomly paired up and stitched together. I think that's part 1 of my first quilt finished!
(* you're probably getting used to this by now, so it'll come as no surprise to hear I can't really see what's in the photo - it seems rather dark to me, so apologies if the stack of squares isn't very visible!)
I certainly got faster, neater and made less mistakes as I worked through them :) and by the end I was getting half a dozen done in a pleasant hour of listening to my book.
I think on Monday the next stage will be to arrange them as looks best for the final quilt, and then I'm guessing they'll be pinned into some kind of bigger groups, and then more stitching will begin!
I'm definitely looking forward to getting a sense of what the final quilt will look like! So far I've known I like the fabrics, but it's hard to picture what they'll all look like in a patchwork!
I have pondering too how 100 squares will be assembled... it could be 12 x 8 (6 foot x 4 foot) or 10 x 10 (5 foot square)... they sound the most plausible scenarios, though there are a few others, including doing a couple more squares to give 12 x 9 for a good 6 foot by 5.5 foot for example... watch this space!
(* you're probably getting used to this by now, so it'll come as no surprise to hear I can't really see what's in the photo - it seems rather dark to me, so apologies if the stack of squares isn't very visible!)
I certainly got faster, neater and made less mistakes as I worked through them :) and by the end I was getting half a dozen done in a pleasant hour of listening to my book.
I think on Monday the next stage will be to arrange them as looks best for the final quilt, and then I'm guessing they'll be pinned into some kind of bigger groups, and then more stitching will begin!
I'm definitely looking forward to getting a sense of what the final quilt will look like! So far I've known I like the fabrics, but it's hard to picture what they'll all look like in a patchwork!
I have pondering too how 100 squares will be assembled... it could be 12 x 8 (6 foot x 4 foot) or 10 x 10 (5 foot square)... they sound the most plausible scenarios, though there are a few others, including doing a couple more squares to give 12 x 9 for a good 6 foot by 5.5 foot for example... watch this space!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Cocktail Quilt
I enjoyed a tasty plate of nachos and vegetarian chilli at Raging Burrito for dinner. And then I couldn't resist sampling a Rum Runner, a delicious concoction of white rum, banana and blackberry licqures, grenadine, OJ and pineapple juice. It was very refreshing and very yummy!
So, I think when I've finished the blue / beige / owl quilt I'm currently working on, I will start one inspired by the colours of the Rum Runner! Ok, so in a glass it all morphed into a deep pink colour, but I think keeping it all separate (yellow, blackberry, pomegranate, orange) will look great! I expect I can find some nice patterns to fit in there too, especially fruity themes. Looking forward to this!
So, I think when I've finished the blue / beige / owl quilt I'm currently working on, I will start one inspired by the colours of the Rum Runner! Ok, so in a glass it all morphed into a deep pink colour, but I think keeping it all separate (yellow, blackberry, pomegranate, orange) will look great! I expect I can find some nice patterns to fit in there too, especially fruity themes. Looking forward to this!
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