Sick day

I have a pretty nasty cold.  My thoughts are all blurry.  I'm a little bored.  Let's see what pictures I have.

Oh here we go!  I got Willow the Mary Frances Sewing book and a full sewing kit for her birthday in December.  She's read the whole book about 6 times and now she's ready to learn to sew.  But of course she can't start with the first lesson.  Oh no, she has to start on the seventh project, which is a sweet little lacy nightgown.

She's so cute though.  She's re-fallen in love with her American girl doll.  She wants to sew everything just right with the perfect fabric and trim.  She has her little sewing box perfectly organized.  She just makes me want to scoop her up and give her a kiss on the head, but at eight years old that's probably the last thing she wants me to do, even if she weren't way too heavy. 

That's my girl, the little budding seamstress.  I am one proud mama.  And now, I need a nap.

The first item in the spring collection!

I love cute hats.  And I hate raindrops on my glasses.

Sal the hat model.  I think it's a bit big.

This is a pretty cream chenille with machine embroidery.  Can't you just imagine wearing this with a light jacket in April when who-knows-what the weather is going to do?  I love it.  As soon as I get some real pictures its going up in my shop, but I am definitely keeping one for myself!


PS  Oh My Goodness! I can't believe I did that!  It's not chenille, it's wide wale corduroy!  And I call myself a dressmaker *sheesh*

I think I'll call her "Sal"

I made this pretty little doll as a mannequin to display my kids clothes.  I think she turned out so pretty!

cute little fingers

My Sweetheart is creeped out by her.  She's too realistic.  He's says that she's going to brutally murder him in his sleep.  He has obviously seen way more scary movies than I have.

 

It doesn't help that she has a piece of pvc pipe sticking out so she can stand and she's usually standing on the back of the couch and she's the size and shape of a real toddler.

But I like her!  I think she's sweet.  And both my girls want me to cut the stick off and let them have her.  Maybe they'll get their own for Christmas.

But then there will be 3 scary dolls to kill Sweetheart in his sleep...

*whew*

So, I've had kidney stones for a long time.  I know what they feel like.  This time felt just like any other time, but it dragged out for 5 weeks.  So I finally went to the doctor, hoping he could do something, anything, that would help.  Uber pain pills were not helping get on with my life.  Turns out I had a kidney infection after the last stone.  One week of antibiotics and I'm fine.   Hooray!

I am feeling so incredibly much better!  I'm almost all caught up with the day to day stuff and I'm designing again.  Bring on the Spring Collection!!

A happy, upbeat post

Well that last post was a big ball of depressing.  Sorry about that.  I've been trying to push through all the emotional stuff and think about my work rationally.  The reality is that I'm sick for months at a time.  It sucks, but it's not a death sentence.  I can use my creativity in other ways.  I can find things to do that don't require standing or sitting up straight.  I can take things one day at a time.

So I'm going to work on my poor little neglected supply shop and I'm exploring other fun crafty options which may or may not actually work, but that I can do partially reclined on the couch.  I'll post about that later.

 

And since every blog post should have a picture, here's my girls in their matching first day of school outfits that I made.  You can't see the details at all, but their faces are just so sweet! 

Okay fine, one more pic.  The top is a very soft cotton knit.  It's black with little itty bitty white polka dots (which don't show in the pic at all but the add a nice softness to the overall look) and I embroidered a redwork paisley in bright pink on Willow's and purple on Violet's.  Then I put another layer of fabric at the yoke so the embroidery wouldn't be scratchy on the girls' skin.  I do want them to actually wear it!  The skirt is a charcoal grey rib knit.

Look at that!  A happy, upbeat post!  Hooray!

*sigh*

I am so stinkin' frustrated.  I have been working SO hard on my spring collection.  I've been making patterns, dyeing (dying?) fabric, bought a tripod, been looking for a model, etc., but I don't get very far before my kidney starts hurting.

My kidney looks like this except with little rocks in it

    

When it hurts a little bit, I can't stand at my work table to do anything.  When it hurts moderately, I can't sit up straight at my sewing machine.  When it hurts a lot I have to take major pain killers and then I can't think or stay awake.


That really makes it hard to get any work done!  It's also not helping with my weight loss goals.  I may just have to be content 10 lbs over "healthy and normal", which sucks too.

Anyway, I'm feeling very discouraged.  If I can't even get my dishes done in time for dinner, how am I supposed to get my spring collection done in time for spring?  Some days aren't so bad.  Some days I'm totally couch ridden.  And it usually goes on for months.  Maybe I should abandon the idea of being an independent fashion designer.  I've already given up tailoring and dressmaking because I can't meet deadlines.  I don't know.

*sigh*





PS, I normally try to make all my posts fun and uplifting, so I hope you'll get a chuckle from my pictures.  I really do want some feed back though.  I don't know if I should just give up or what!

Because I'm too lazy to take my own pictures

I just thought I'd share on of my favorite blogs with you. Tanit-Isis, I read, or at least check on this blog every single day.

 

Not only because she posts almost every day and I don't want to miss out, but mostly because she's just so chatty and fun to read.  I admire how daring she is with her sewing adventures.  She's the one that got me to try making real jeans and I discovered that I LOVE it and will never buy a pair of jeans again!

I admit that I am a little jealous that she is so pretty and slim and photogenic, but hey, my fabric and supply stash is WAY better, so I guess it all evens out right?
Anyway, check her out, she rocks.

I'm dying

Or maybe not.
Dying is when you cease to live. "I'm going to die. I'm dying." What is the verb when you're using dye? Is it still dying? It doesn't look right to me, but neither does dyeing. Although spellcheck says that both are correct (although the word "spellcheck" is apparently not a word). Grammar Nazis? Anyone?


Anyway, I got to dye some fabric last night for my upcoming spring line. However, I was hoping for a nice fresh apple green but what I got was more of a celery. Very pretty but it doesn't match my inspiration fabric, and it doesn't go well with the red, pink and blue I want.


Oh well, more dye shopping.