Saturday, October 29, 2011

My Latest Project



This is my latest project, Code name:  Terry.  What a guy.  Building a relationship is alot of work, but so much fun.  I'm not getting much of anything else done.
Terry is a true romantic.  He sings to me, and we dance in the kitchen.
Girls:  Need I say more?

On the farm scene, all of the alpacas are gone, and my purpose for being there is a real puzzle.  Especially with a long, cold, winter upon us.  I guess I'll be spending alot of time in Seattle.  My son announced on Wednesday that they are having a boy, so the sewing begins!!!  A grandchild in the future is so exciting.

Last night I cooked manicotti, using my home canned spaghetti sauce.  ZOWEEEE!  Was it ever good.  I should really make this stuff to sell.  So, I'm always thinking.  I'm sure there will be some big endeavor just around the corner.  For now, I'm dividing my time between Seattle and Nooksack and having quite a good time of it.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Lost River Alpacas

I made my last post on my Lost River Alpacas Blog today.  You can view it at:
http://lostriveralpacas.blogspot.com/2011/10/end-of-era.html

Thursday, October 20, 2011

A Beautiful Day for a Train Ride


Tuesday was a beautiful day for a train ride.  I had spent 5 days with Terry in Seattle and was returning home by train.  The train runs along the coast of Puget Sound and through some of the most beautiful farmland.  I sat with some people from California and acted as their tour guide until I fell asleep.


My time in Seattle included a trip to the Pike Place Market, brunch with my kids, and a walk through the Freemont Market.


Terry's house is located right near the Green River Trail that runs for miles along the river, providing beautiful walking and bicycling.  Terry bought me this bike to keep at his place so I would be able to use it there.  I rode an average of 6 miles each day that he was at work.


This is the seat.  The peace sign is also on the chain guard.  In honor of the days of the flower children, I named the bike Buffy; for Buffy St. Marie, not Buffy the Vampire.



I mentioned in my last post that I would be dressing in period costume for the Nooksack Centennial next year. Above is the pattern I found for a walking skirt, the equivalent to our blue jeans today.  Can you just imagine dragging all this fabric around about your legs every day?



This is the pattern for the apron, or as they called it, the dress protector.  In all my research of attire in the early 1900's, I found the women wore mainly black and white.  Their only color was in their aprons.  I had a difficult time picking a fabric for the apron.  We have the Civil War collection, which is too early, and then the vintage 30's reproductions.  What came in between?
I finally found this.  The picture doesn't do the colors justice, but it is a nice green with yellow flowers.  I'm looking forward to making this up, along with the skirt.  Then I will just wear a lace blouse to finish off the look of a farmwife in 1912, ready to do her daily chores.





Saturday, October 8, 2011

Nooksack Centennial Celebration


My little City of Nooksack will be celebrating it's 100th Birthday next year.  The City Council decided to have a big celebration for the event, and I was asked to chair it.  Now, I tend to take on too much, and have signs all over my house that say 'NO' as a reminder to me to slow down and think about what has been presented to me.  Well, this one was too much, and I knew I could be a positive note to this endeavor, so I accepted.
I have purchased patterns for clothing from the 1912's, and I will be dressed in period costume for the event.  I will be making a walking skirt, and a dress cover.  I will share those items in a later blog.
The celebration will be a huge party in the park on September 8 and 9th, 2012.  I'm in the process of building a Facebook account.  I will tell you more later.

Last week was a wonderful day at the Market.  I'm not there today because I have a cold and am dragging my booty big time.  Sigh.

I changed the layout of my booth, and it was amazingly effective.  Of course, you never know from one Saturday to the next what makes people buy from you.  There is my little spinner in the foreground.  By spinning there, I attract alot of attention.
It was actually a cool day, and I sold a few more hats to other vendors.

This woman bought her hat in the Spring, and suggested the vendor behind her get a hat since she was in the wind and was freezing.
It's so gratifying to walk around the market and see so many people wearing my hats!!
Isn't she just adorable in this hat?  Gotta make more.

Do you just love these Chinese Lanterns?
These are the masseuses that set up shop next to me each week.  They are such fun, and we've become great friends.
These Buskers provided some very unique and terrific music for us all to enjoy.

Now that I'm writing all of this, I'm so sorry I am not there today.  But, I don't even have enough energy to load the car, so let's get real.
I think it's time for a nap.