Back in the groove

So he's back and our life is normal and sane again. I am sewing a handbag today and soon we'll be painting the powder room. There shall be pictures soon..

Is it over yet?

The week. It has been long and draining. Both due to him being away and work being double intensive. Mehul is being very good for the most part. He's at his best behavior with fewer meltdowns than I can remember since he turned 3. I have to ponder what is different now and why it is happening later.

I am doing two projects at the same time, I'm the developer for Project #1 and it is in the phase where everyone puts their code together and someone tries to run it for the first time. You can imagine what happens next. Everything is broken and I need to fix things as they find them. I like doing this usually.

For Project #2, I am the lead person and hence have most of the responsibility for writing the functional requirements, design, coordinate everyone else's input as needed and get it out the door to the client. I hate the coordinating part. Also, since it's going on alongwith the Project#1, it is getting hard to concentrate on the design when I'm having to fix issues ad-hoc.

I really need a getaway but none is in sight until my vacation in October. Thank goodness for the Labor day Holiday weekend. I'm going to sit on my bum and not do anything.

Anyhow, Jo made my day today by giving me a Blog award.

It is amazing to me that someone likes what I write. I try not to be very whiny but sometimes I need it. Like today.

Here are the rules:

1. The winner can put the logo on their Blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other Blogs.
4. Put the links to those Blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the Blogs of those you've nominated.

So, I nominate -
Susan's Afford Your Passions for the country needlework projects I (suddenly) like.
Teresa's Artistic License for it's great to look inside the mind (blog) of such a great artist!
Buddhini's Bright & Gold for the colorful life she lives and shares.
Buff Mama Melissa's for the hilarious posts.
Tresa's Reese Dixon for she's one of the most creative person I've seen online.
Sue's Stop and Stitch the Roses for the beautiful garden/nature pictures that make my day everytime I hop over.
and, Karen's The Sparklie Things Blog for the sparkle it provides.

On my own for a week

DH is away on training for an entire week. This is the first time he's gone away EVER! I am handling it ok so far. Mehul is missing him greatly and keeps hoping daddy will show up at home or come down the stairs or his car will be in the garage...which it is because he didn't take it. I keep explaining to him that he'll be back in 6 days. We did goodbyes at the airport when we dropped him off but he's not understanding it. Sigh. It's only been a day.
I think I should stick a chart at the refrigerator with days he can cross off.

I made another skirt yesterday but I ran out of elastic so couldn't finish it. It's made of stretchy Jersey Knit fabric and looks awesome. And then I prepared the pattern for a flared-bottom PJ pant. I should have finished them up today as I got the elastic but had to go for a HOA meeting. There is a fall party being planned at the neighborhood and it will be held of DS's birthday and it's a big one. Complete with a moonbounce, face painting, DJ, some cartoon character or another and whole lot of things. I think this time we'll skip planning a special party for his birthday and just celebrate amongst ourselves at home. We won't be up for doing anything else that day!

I gotta put him to bed and prepare for tomorrow. I'll show pictures of the skirts (so far, 3) and the PJ bottom that's ready to be put together soon.

My Olympic Start

The center design and the borders done so far are all from My Aunt's Attic. I had downloaded a bunch of designs from them and decided to make up a sampler for it. I graphed an approximate design outline just to get an idea of the size and then started it while watching the opening ceremony. I cut the fabric to 25"x25" with design area of 18"x18". About midway through the center design, I had the bright idea of adding a set of borders as a 'platform' on which the vase is sitting. Once I stitched a bunch borders, I wanted 'steps' instead of the flat platform. So, as you can see, I'm making it up as I go ;) The leaves border is the bottom stair. I might add another row under it. The design is completely different from the original I had planned but that's the fun part! So far, I've added a smaller vase on the bottom step on left side and will do the same on the right. This picture is from a few days ago. I don't know what will be next but I'm sure it will come to me. Hopefully.

Any ideas on the name? I'm adding all garden elements. Serenity Garden...A Garden Walk...??

Rakhi, Independence Day and Teej

First off, today is Indian Independence Day - so Happy Independence Day to any Indians out there. Tomorrow is Rakhi. It is the festival of celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters. I have talked about it before so I won't go into details. I just wanted to show a picture of the Rakhis that have arrived for DH and Mehul!



So, tomorrow morning before breakfast, I'll be proxy-sister to both of them and tie their rakhis :LOL

Next up, Teej is on Tuesday. That is the day when I get to fast until moon-rise, dress up in nice clothes and perform rites for the moon. I will be home this time. It is too stressful trying to work and get back home in time to prepare for the evening. I will be working because there are project deadlines but it's ok as long as I'm home.

Now for some stitching. My first Biscornu. I skipped the bead in the center. I like it this way.



Sorry for the hurried list - Michael Phelps is on in a few minutes. There is a special project I've started with the start of the Olympics and I will post about it tomorrow hopefully.

Pictures!

Thanks for your comments. Here are the promised pictures.

Shorts

Apron

Fuzzy picture of me wearing the Apron

Pants. Taken at a weird angle.

Completely taken!

I'm completely in love with my sewing machine. It was silly to even think I wouldn't know how to operate it. Though there were (are) frustrating moments. First thing I did after opening the package was watch the instructional DVD that came with it. Then, I tried to wind a bobbin. I missed a step and the thread wrapped on the underside of the notch thing that bobbin stands on. Took 20 minutes to clear that up. I could have would 2 bobbins manually in that time LOL!
After that was cleared, I watched the DVD again and found what my problem had been. Fixed it, did the bobbin and threaded the machine. Then I started trying out the stitches. They were kind of loose under the fabric so I had to fix the tension of the thread. There is a dial for that at the top of the machine so that was easily fixable. Changed a bunch of presser feet to try out various stitches. I haven't had success with the buttonhole foot yet though it may have been the button I was using. It was not sitting steady in the slot.
After adjusting tension and having stitches sit nicely on practice scraps, I decided to make DS's PJ bottoms. I had bought some practice muslin for this purpose as I was sure the first project would not be wearable. I was right! LOL So confident I am in myself. I had picked up 2 patterns at Walmart earlier that day and I couldn't wait to try them. I tried to transfer the pattern for cutting onto the fabric and it was an approximation. Ha! Ofcourse they didn't come out properly. I didn't know you had to *cut* the pattern and pin it to the fabric and then cut the fabric. BTW, YouTube has great videos for everything ;) It came in handy learning tricks about sewing just as it had with jewelery-making.
So after the muslin pants disaster, I was very anxious about another project. This time, I cut and pin the pattern to the fabric, cut the fabric, notched it and everything. Much better results second time around -- this was for DS's shorts. Although I feel the fabric is a bit light weight for that purpose but I had picked it up without thinking about what I would do with it. I had the pattern, the fabric that was the exact size needed. They're Charlie Brown fabric and DS loves them.
Then, I made my Apron from the Flirty Skirty pattern. I had bought really pretty fabric seen here for this, but I decided to use another one I had bought from Joann's. I'm glad for that too because the Apron is not as nicely finished as I would like. Also, this fabric is lightweight for an Apron. Dang it. It would look so pretty. I might still go ahead with it. It won't be used heavily anyways.
Final project as of today - Buzz Lightyear flannel PJ Bottoms for DS. They are the best! I promise to take pictures soon. SO far it's going really well. I have grand plans for making my own skirts, maybe a dress or a trouser! I've been looking at all the fabulous fabrics and patterns. We shall see how far I get before I get distracted by the next shining object LOL!