stitching and scavenging

Since there was a break in the rain this afternoon, it was a good time to go and check out the bay nut tree on the next block. Picked up quite a few, which after peeling off the rind, totaled out at about a pound. Of course once they dry that will be less, but there will be more on the ground tomorrow. Only the one tree in the neighborhood seems to have any nuts this year, if they are bee pollinated, that is the one that is closest to the local hives...

Being out and about, I braved the local Goodwill (October is not a fun shopping month there). Found an old wooden tripod, which might work for the digital camera, or if not, could possibly become the base of a floor lamp. Another find was the half-price handknit blue wool pullover; while not a Useful Style, it is a lot of nice yarn for $3.50 (once unraveled). That will be a nice mindless project, should circumstances call for suchlike.

Still very tired, back sloooowly improving, more physical therapy tomorrow...

Sewing this weekend: went to this local sewing studio on Saturday afternoon with E, we got there about half an hour after they started, and the big room in back was full up. I'd hoped to get access to a larger table for cutting out than I have here at Acorn Cottage. We ended up setting up in the front room, which had a conference table; and just in the next room where the reception desk was, there was a standing ironing table. Oh my word, what wonderfulness! My ironing board at home is sweet, vintage, painted wood (padded with layers of wool blanket) and too short even for my short legs. Added to my eternally growing list of to-do is now: creating an ironing station that is "just the right height" , maybe some kind of drop leaf/attached to the wall kind of thing? More thought is needed...

Several weeks ago, I scored a length of cotton knit fabric to use for making a "muslin" of the Teagarden T, which given the odd shape of the one pattern piece, is a bit tricksy to alter. Since the pattern piece is so large, being the entire side of the shirt (half a front, including the collar, the whole sleeve, and half the back), it was very helpful to have a larger space to lay it out, and the pattern paper was handy too! That will be one of the two next projects to be worked on, as well as a dress for A.

The "protective coloration" pinafore now has pockets added. Rather than my usual rectangular patch pockets, this one has curved edge pockets with the edges bound in self bias binding, to match the edge binding. Another grey pinafore, this one had been cut out ages ago, is now almost completed. The fabric was originally my bedroom curtains when I lived at Fjords End, a nice heavy wide wale corduroy. Decided to go ahead and take the patchy trim off it's current home and add it to this one, (as that had been the original plan). There is an hand-embroidered length (summertime transit project) of the same navy corduroy that is ready to be attached to the navy pinafore, so they will both be an appropriate length and both have hemline decoration. These Marimekko dresses look so very playful; I'm thinking about doing something similar, using pinwale corduroy for the multiple pockets, just because it would be fun.

Note to self: do not cut fabric after 11PM. Moving hand away from business end of scissors is vital. Scissors is sharp, fingertips are soft (bandaids are good)