scattered

Lots of lazy little things going on around here this past week or so as summer rushes to a close.  It's cool & greyish again here this morning, though we did just have two hot days (which is rare enough this year that everyone is walking around talking about how we just had two hot days).

First-ever attempt at a jacket.  Sleeves turned out surprisingly decently; have stalled out at crucial moment of zipper installation.  Maybe today.  This project has served as a reminder to me to never show the pattern packet to my girl, who got very shouty that I was not making the pretty pink ruffly one as pictured.

Playing around with hand-dyeing cotton twill tape.  I'm finding the process incredibly satisfying, though I suppose at some point I should take a break from process & think about what I'm going to do with product.

Been spending some time poring over the book I got from Sally's tag sale, Basics for Girls (ISBN978-4-579-11147-3, more pictures on flickr).  It's exactly that, charmingly basic, with several variations on each pattern, (ie, dress with short sleeves, no sleeves, long sleeves, & "formal" versions).  I'm not sure there's much here that I couldn't find with a good dig-through of fabric store pattern books, but of course I love the styling (& not having to imagine what the pattern could look if done up in fabrics more to my taste is nice, too).

When there are two kids, you can't make just one space helmet.  My boy & I got into papier mache the other day, an excellent cheap messy morning of flour paste, a local free paper, & a balloon.  He's hoping it's dry enough to paint today, I'm hoping that I didn't over- or under-estimate his head size too badly.

I was never very impressed with this mirror ball dot fabric on the bolt, but on our perfect trip to Portland a while back we were at a quilting store (Fabric in the City) & there on the wall was this big amazing modern quilt made using all of the colors together, & it was the color combinations that got me more than anything else.  I ordered this fat quarter box after looking longingly at it for months, & I love seeing it on my shelf so much that I don't know if I'll ever be able to cut into it.

The Great Wall of Tomato is finally paying off, & we're getting cherry tomatoes by the double handful every day (these are Sungold, the Matt's Wild Cherry are just starting to ripen).  I have been ruthlessly cutting back still-growing vines & blossoms in hopes that if the plants would just focus, there will be enough time to ripen up all of the full-size tomatoes before the weather turns.  We have been laughing all summer about how maybe we won't put in quite so many tomato plants next year, wouldn't it be nice to be able to see the dahlias?, but this harvest part is pretty well worth it.

Comments

[Anina]

Weren't those 2 days of summer great?
The papier mache project takes me right back to my childhood. We once made heads for handpuppets that way, shaping noses and ears out of the paper too. It was so much fun.
I love the little cherry tomatoes. Did you plant them from seed? I've found that around here I have to buy a BIG tomato plant to have any hope of tomatoes before winter. Especially this year.

[blair]

I don't know how they manage to make the clothes on those pattern envelope look soooo scary. I wonder if its intentional. I love the colors of the twill tape, if you need someone to take some off your hands for experimental sewing. I'm just sayin....

[erin]

lots of goodness going on over there! how did you dye the twill tape? good old rit or something else? i have some stuff i want to die and i like how saturated your colors are.

[Mama Urchin]

Love love love the twill tape. Please share how you dyed it or tell us what we can do to get on your good side :)

I also got a book from Sally and I considered that one you got. I love the styling too.

[beth]

I bought those same dots for the very same reason! Can't wait to see what you do with them. Consider yourself bookmarked!

[Shannon]

Dear lord! I was always upset that twill tape didn't come in the colors I needed and I can't believe I didn't think of dyeing it. Your colors came out very well - so pretty!

[Felicia]

Can't wait to see the space helmet :)

[jeanetta]

where do you find the twill tape in cotton. i have looked at both hancocks and hobby lobby and can only find it in polyester