Sure serging

What with as many clothes that I’ve been making and will continue to make, I decided it was time for a serger to take up residence in my house.  The wee little card table that I sew on is perhaps a bit too small for 2 machines, but it’s not really that big of a problem.  I was not prepared for the serger though.  Gnomey seriously is the nicest little machine.  So intuitive to use, so simple, so sturdy.  Just. Great.  Not that the serger isn’t…but sergers truly are a bit finicky.  All the threading and tension–it takes some time to get used to.

So far, I’ve used the serger for finishing the a shirt that I haven’t bothered blogging about though I like it very much and my purple dress.  Today Noah has been rather sleepy, so I took the opportunity to make my Craft Hope blankets (just a single layer of flannel edged with bias binding).  In addition to the blankets, I made some handkerchiefs which Craft Hope is also asking for with my serger.  I figured it was a simple project for me to practice serging on because let’s face it–though it’s necessary to practice on scraps before you start serging, it’s a bit boring.  So by the 8th handkerchief (the bottom sample in the picture, the top is the 1st one I made), I think my ability to serge a decent rolled hem has improved considerably.  The fabric is some beautiful calico from Nathan’s Grandma’s stash (she was kind enough to let me raid it).

Additionally, Ann tagged me to list 6 unimportant things that make me happy. Here goes:

1.  Chopping big piles of vegetables and mise en place: A big knife, some music, and things smelling lovely in the kitchen–really, can your day get better?

2.  Accordion:  Can you be grumpy and polka?  I think not.

3.  Opera:  The marriage of every art imaginable executed at a wickedly high level of expertise all wrapped up in tremendous music.

4.  Baking: There’s nothing quite like a tray of perfect cookies or the beauty of a well-executed sponge cake batter.

5.  Playing video games with my husband:  Lego Star Wars just might be about the funnest thing ever.

6.  Making my son smile: honestly, I never thought I was such a ham.  It’s so amazing to see his little face light up.

I will tag Lauranie, Susie, Nils (if you have a chance getting used to married life and all) and Dawn.

7

I’m rather glad I wrote this a couple of days ago.  We went to all our baby classes this weekend and my brain is pretty shot, but I’m glad to have something to post (perhaps I should follow my own advice in #2 below).  Having been tagged by Lauranie, one of the wonderful ladies at Sew Mama Sew, here are 7 things I love in no particular order of importance.

1. My family–I love my husband and how he loves me and this little baby who has yet to make an appearance (can I count down the days from a month yet?). He’s going to be an awesome Dad…but I knew that and that’s one reason I married him. I also have wonderful, loving, supportive, unselfish, wise parents who each sport a cheeky sense of humor. I am really blessed. I love my bro and my sister-in-law and my sweet niece and nephew. Being an auntie is the best.
2. Tea–when life chucks a whole lot of lemons your way, have a cup of tea. You’ll feel better. Really.
3. Cooking–during no thing except prayer is my mind clearer and more at rest than while cooking.  Cooking with other people and teaching others how to cook–that’s even better.  That’s how I spent my birthday last weekend.  We had our two sets of engaged friends over and I had led a strudel workshop.  I made dinner too–what, work on your birthday?  My friend’s fiancee took pictures which are on his blog.  Cooking is not work at its best for me–it puts me at ease. 
4. Music–there’s always some in my head playing. Opera, polka, jazz, hymns, even jingles from commercials I saw when I was a kid–it’s all in my head giving color to the day.
5. A good cozy place in a library and a big fat cookbook–when you have music playing in your head all the time, sometimes you need a quiet place to turn your head off.
6. Sewing–it feeds my love of color and textures and helps let my creativity flow when I can’t cook or listen to/play music. It’s also slowly redeeming my experience in 9th grade geometry with a teacher who really didn’t know how to teach that which she loved so much.
7. Travel–it’d probably freak my Mom out to know that I like taking long walks alone while traveling (often seeking out tea or food), but I appreciate the way that travel makes you go beyond where you are and see things from a different perspective. In those moments, you find out a lot about yourself and about people in general.

Additionally, I will tag Ann and Susie.

I’ve been tagged…

I got tagged by Ann at Winter’s Edge Home to list 5 things I love about Christmas.  Here they are…

1.  Christmas Cookies–if you haven’t figured that out by now, I will metaphorically say how much I love them in big tacky flashing lights.  I love making them, I love eating them (though I can’t this year so much), and I love giving them.  Christmas=happy fun baking time in my house.  It always has and always will.

2. Jesus–last year I sat down and found just a few of the many many passages in the whole Bible that either account Jesus’ birth or prophesy it.  I realize that Tolkien got the idea about the hobbit and the ring from his life as a Christian, but seriously–how amazing was it that the Lord brought the biggest promise in the least likely of places anyone would look for it?  Amazing.  Every time I think about it.

3.  Eggnog–not the liquored up stuff.  The stuff laden with cream and sugar and eggy goodness sprinkled with fresh nutmeg on top.  I allow myself 1 quart a year to drink all by myself.  Thankfully Nathan thinks it’s disgusting.  Sadly I had to give it up this year what with the milk intolerance, so I had a quart of Silk Nog, which isn’t bad, just not as rich and tasty.  I’m kicking around the idea of coming up with some coconut milk version. 

4.  The tree–I love how the lights illuminate the little ornaments and no matter how old I get, it’s magic the first time the lights go on.  I used to sit as a kid and sit and stare at the tree and imagine the presents (Nathan’s family puts them under the tree way before Christmas and Santa brings the stocking gifts–I always liked the anticipation, but this way is fun too).

5.  Giving gifts–it’s so fun to give something to someone that they like/appreciate.  If it came from your own hands, it’s even better.  Not that recognition is the goal, but the ability to give something to someone in which a piece of your heart went into it.  It’s just special and myserious in a way.  It IS more blessed to give than receive, but not in the way that you would think at first.  It’s a gift that brings warmth to your heart in this quiet sort of peaceful way.

I shall tag 2 others:

Hearth and Home

Uklassinus

And I’m done with Happy Holidays.  If Merry Christmas offends you, I’m sorry, but I will continue to say it because I am sincerely wishing you and your family all of the hope and joy and peace of Christmas–the hope and joy and peace wrapped up in one little child who was God Himself who came that we might have a different kind of hope.

Du, Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen

Taking video of yourself is not the easiest thing in the world, especially when you only have a wee digital camera to do the job.  I love this tune.  I hope it brightens your day. 

Polka Therapy…well some day.

So my aunt Gina (who I made the purse for in January) used to play the accordion.  I always thought that was cool growing up, but I have ALWAYS been a violinist.  I HAD to take class piano in college for my music ed degree and I passed my finals due to the grace of God and TA’s that were very generous.  During my sophomore year, I had a really difficult living situation.  That was the year that I really discovered polka.  You can’t listen to polka and be upset for too long.  Seriously.  Ever.  It’s impossible.  And if you can, you have a black black heart.  So sometime maybe a year ago I decided–hey, I have some reasonable piano skills and I have an extra violin that I’ve needed to sell, so why not sell that and buy an accordion?  Well, Sunday, I finally found one through the beauty of Craigslist.  It’s awesome.  It’s good for me to have a different musical outlet besides my violin.  I think sometimes I get bogged down with perfection when it comes to playing my violin and I forget about the sheer joy of playing.  So someday when I figure out all these crazy buttons, I’ll play polkas myself when I’m feeling blue and I’ll brighten people’s days.

Apparently I need some new tights…

This is fun.  Thanks Winter’s Edge Home for the link.  Who knew I’d be Superwoman?  I was hoping for Spiderman.  He’s my fave.

More fun quizzes from structured settlement factoring.