Cool Stuff

Some nifty stuff I found around the webs lately:

Sewing Machine Needle info
Cathedral Window Quilts
Summer Sorbet
Healthy Yummness

What have you found?

Dear Podcasters

You guys rock, you really do. You talk and talk about interesting stuff and put much effort into your hour+ long podcast. Let me just make one suggestion or maybe just point out the 1 thing that will make me turn off your podcast and not listen to any of your 8000 (or just 8) episodes. The thing... smacking/eating. YES we can year you eating while your cohost talks, yes I can hear you smack, smack, swallow, smack talk with food in your mouth, etc. Seriously ladies get a clue.

Blog contests and more

Flour sack towels are my favorite, favorite, favorite dish towel. 1) They dry dishes very well and 2) they dry themselves very quickly because they are thin. I love them and I am always on the hunt for more which is why the contest over at Bee in My Bonnet is the perfect thing for me. You can enter too!

Also, the quilt is coming along, hopefully more pictures tomorrow or this weekend.

What are you working on?

What do you think this face says?

I can't decide. Maybe "Dad did you wake me up for this?" or "Mom if you show me one more piece of string knit into something I don't care about I will scream" possibly "Um, it is summer I don't have to get up early... leave me alone"

I guess that makes Norm a teenager?

Sometimes it is easier to be green

Let’s start with the good news. Kenny (my sewing machine) is all better. He has been cleaned out, fixed up and is now back home working hard. I am catching up on my quilt-a-long. See, all pretty!

Sorry for all the cursing Kenny, but you really were not behaving

I am not very “hip and green” I am just an Oregonian (don’t get me started on the “green” movement and my problems with it). I don’t recycle cans because I get the nickel; I recycle them because aluminum doesn’t have to be downcycled. I recycle what I can because it is natural to me. We compost because we have a garden, we received free compost bins and it is easy (Jim puts a lot of effort into it which makes it faster, but isn’t completely necessary). Composting can seem extreme, but it really isn’t.

Jim has been home a lot lately and has been keeping himself busy being converted to do-erism. He has been mowing the lawn, chilling with the turtles and BUILDING STUFF! He took Kenny to the repair shop for me. He hit Lowes to buy power tools and materials to build a compost sifter. If we waited for compost to be completely finished, through and through it would take a long time, but if you have mostly finished compost you can sift the good stuff from the unfinished stuff. We looked around for sifters and they were kind of expensive, and also hard to find. So Jim decided to make his own. He started with wood and metal mesh and screws. Eventually he came up with this:

He did an amazing job, and he is pretty awesome. My mom asked me if Jim was now “converted” to doerism, I think he is about there.

Apparently I have to warn about the rest of this post because my father and bro-in-law don’t like the words “uterus” and “period” etc. So consider this a warning. Don’t keep reading if you don’t like these words and similar conversation.

There is one thing that I do that some would consider on the extreme side of the “green” spectrum: dealing with my periods. I hate my uterus because it is not a useful organ in my body; it is a torture device with minions named ovary 1 and 2. Let’s suffice it to say that society’s conventional methods of dealing with my uterus do not work for me. I have changed it up and started using the DivaCup. I am in love. Why did they not talk about this option in health class? I swear they explained tampons every year, but not once mentioned an option like this. Seriously, it rocks socks and uteruses (uteri?). It took a couple of days to get it in right and comfortable, but now it is faster, cleaner and way more comfortable than any tampon I have ever used. I swear (and this is probably psychological) my cramps aren’t half as bad with the cup as it was with tampons. I just wish it could also keep my hormones from getting all screwy, but then it would be a miracle cure for all that ails me.

So what is so green about it? I don’t have to buy tampons ever again. Tampons are expensive, but they are also wasteful. Plastic applicators, bleached cotton, etc all ends up in a landfill. There is no plastic thrown away, no applicator, no funny chemicals. I never have to guess at how heavy I will be and choose the right absorption level tampon. I still hate my period and my uterus, but the cup makes it so much less of a burden to deal with. I encourage everyone to give it a shot. It seems expensive at first, but really it cost about 2 months worth of tampons for me. If you really want to be good you can get it at a nearby “natural grocer” some whole foods carry it, but not the one closest to me so I just ordered it online because it was easiest and most convenient for me. This is definitely one way that I think it is WAY easier to be green

Happy Thoughts and Window Shopping

I finished a pair of sox! this doesn't help with my sewing machine situation, but it does make me happy

There are more details on ravelry, but basically... I love them!


Lately I have been window shopping/wishfully browsing a bunch of websites. I created a list of wants. I actually find this quite fulfilling because it is like I went shopping, but didn't spend the money (which is good since I have none at the moment)

Quilting Related:
Any set of quilting threads on this page
Pretty much any Sulky 30 wt set
Bernina Sewing Machine(wishful thinking, but my mom has one and I want a workhorse like hers)

Other:
Raspberry tea. I like it hot, but have recently made super strong iced tea that is to die for. This is the best kind since it has no actual tea in it (I don't like the flavor of tea, just tastes like funky dirt to me)

What have you been wishing for lately?

Meme and then some

Sew, Mama, Sew requested that we write up our answers to a meme about our sewing machine.
I wrote it up and then my lovely green machine died. I was sewing some strips together for a quilt along and all of a sudden the tension just stopped working. I tried everything I could think of and I still couldn't get the tension to do a thing. In the end I used up a half a spool of thread trying to get things working. So irritated. I am ready to throw the thing out the window, but I am going to see how much it will cost to fix it first.

Keep in mind I wrote this all up before the breaking happened:

What brand and model do you have? Kenmore (something basic, I can't remember the model number)

How long have you had it? 1.5 years

How much does that machine cost (approximately)? $150 (I think, I got it as a gift, so I'm not entirely positive)

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)? I have done some skirts and lots of quilt blocks. I just finished my first quilt ever and I expect to make more

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? I go in spurts where I don't sew for months, but then I will sew for a week straight

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name? She does not have a name and I think she is ok. I wouldn't say I am in love, but she does very well for the cost and my skill level.

What features does your machine have that work well for you? It is important that I be able to drop the feed dogs for quilting. I like the drop in bobbin with the see through lid

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? Sometimes the thread gets caught in the top. I think it is something with the tension knob not being quite right, but I can't be sure. The only other thing is the sensitivity of the peddle it seems to be either ridiculously slow or freaking cheetah fast. I am getting better at controlling, but due to my extreme use and non-use I feel like I have to relearn every time I get a hankering for some sewing.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it! My husband got it for me the first Christmas we were married. I give him alot of credit because he doesn't know anything about sewing (or any of my other hobbies), but he found a great starter machine. I guess he looked a bunch of places before deciding on it so I appreciate his effort.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? If they are just starting then yes, I found it is easy to thread, change stitches and works well.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine? Skill level, amount of use, time, quality of machine.

Do you have a dream machine? My mom has a bernina minimatic (or something) it is heavy duty without being cumbersome. I did very little sewing on it as a child, but if I ever got really serious about sewing I would buy a bernina in a heartbeat (or steal hers).

Growing up is no fun

Today I parked at the Wilmington T station and took the train to work. My day was normal I went to work, worked, came back. Got back to Wilmington and saw my car. Someone hit my car and didn't bother to take any responsibility by leaving a note or anything.
So instead of going to the gym like I planned or knitting, I spent the evening on the phone with my insurance company. They were really nice but since it was after regular business hours I have to wait for them to call me tomorrow and then I can set up a time for them to take a look at the car. I still have to work so this is really putting a cramp in my style. I really feel weird driving my car in its current state, but I have to go to work. Pictures when I have the camera and the sun is out.

Many blog posts today

I am known for being really black and white. I see the world as right and wrong, do or don't, action or inaction. There really is very little grey in my world because I don't comprehend it. This can be detrimental if you are married to me, but it is great when I decide to take action because I do it all the way, never partial or half-assed.
This weekend was a doer weekend for me. Another blogger does this amazing thing where she busts out amazing fabric projects that look perfect and she acts like it is nothing. I decided I should try (insert laughter). I wanted to make a quilt. I had stopped at this little quilt shop in Reading, MA and saw a small bundle of fat quarters in bright colors. I thought "Britt, those would make a good crib quilt." And then it started.
Disclaimer: No, not for me remember, Britt is not having babies, and believe me if I ever change my mind it will be VERY clear (remember all or nothing with me)
Anyways, I started by cutting strips and sewing them together. Made some blocks, made a quilt top, then sandwiched it. I was going to try out my freehand quilting, but decided to just stitch in the ditch. I added bias tape last night and came up with this:

Jim insists it was windy, so he needed norm to help hold the quilt down

Lovely bright colors. Now let's take a look at Britt's inability to sew in a straight line (click to embiggen)

Also note Norm's cute little grumpy face and wrinkley legs

I am excited that I finally made an entire quilt start to finish. So excited, in fact, that you get even more pictures!

There's this guy

Let me tell you a story about this guy.

Once upon a time there was this guy who has lasted over 25 years in a house full of girls (1 wife, 5 daughters). In fact, he thrived in a house full of estrogen. He perfected the delicate art of giving sincere compliments and criticism. He started with just one, his beautiful bride (more on her in another post). Next, they quickly added two daughters, a few years later a couple more and topped it off with a curly-haired, blue-eyed beauty.

He spent over 25 years encouraging his daughters to be the best they can without crushing them with pressure to succeed. He taught them to shoot free throws, mow the lawn, serve their community, make waffles, float rivers, make collages and be self sufficient. So far he has three high school graduates, one college graduate (the rest are on their way) and 2 more still succeeding through k-12 school. He taught his girls how to work hard and how to play hard. He pretty much rocks socks.

He will be the first to tell you that he is lucky to have 5 "daddy's girls" but he is also the first to make fun of the sillyness of living with so many women. No, he's not perfect, but he is as close as they come to the perfect dad.

I miss this guy because he lives so far away. I love this guy because he's my dad and it's his birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!

Love
~Your Favorite Boston Dwelling Daughter~

52 Weeks of Food my husband won't eat

It's been awhile since I posted an entry about food my husband won't eat. Today I worked from home and had a nice long wait before my appointment so I was reading blogs on my phone. I came across Carole's most recent entry and decided that would be dinner. I didn't have very much lemon juice, but I did have 5 oranges on the counter. I juiced 3 of them plus 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice for the marinade. I served it alongside rice that I cooked with 2 smashed cloves of garlic, 2 cups chicken broth (I had opened it for the chicken anyways) and 1/2 cup of rice. The sauce left in the baking dish was perfect on the rice. It was really good. I made 3 chicken breasts so that I could take it for lunch and it was definitely worth it. Turtle Tamer ate it without complaint or grimace (no compliments either, but that is expected).
Give it a shot you won't be disappointed.

Oh there has been some knitting too! My sister in law was due to deliver a new nephew for me last Sunday (yeah, I'm sure she is doing this for me HA). Though she has yet to pop, I did complete 2 baby sweaters last week and they are freaking adorable (in my oh so biased opinion)

Children's Placket Neck Pullover Sweater in Green Rowan Handknit Cotton

I really liked this pattern (after I started it 3 times) and I would definitely knit it again. My guage was off, but I was able to knit the 0-6 month size and end up with a 6-12 month size sweater which works quite well for the timing of the baby it will make a nice fall/winter sweater. It's knit bottom up, seamlessly in the round with easy raglan shaping so the finishing was simply grafting the underarms and weaving in the ends at the ball changes.

Baby Yoda Sweater Front

Baby Yoda Sweater Back

I made some changes, the most obvious of which is I made it striped. I am calling it "Stylin' like Waldo" because it reminds me of Where's Waldo. I also added a tie to the inside of the sweater and put the tie at the bottom. I did an attached i-cord around the front and neck edge because it gave a nice finished look, plus it transitioned beautifully into the the i-cord ties. This is another one I would make again, but I would knit the sleeves in the round since my seams are ok, but not great.

Future Plans

This weekend we made future plans for salad with

Squash & Onions

Lettuce & Peppers

Tomatoes

I AM A TROLL!!

Although I assume I am supposed to be offended, I actually giggled at the thought. Of course, I giggled because I now feel the need to get a gem for my belly button and some crazy manic panic type coloring for my hair, which I will then stand straight up so that I can look like this

Happy Anniversary!

How to determine that you are, in fact, married the greatest guy in the whole world

Your husband (for reasons beyond your control) is away from you for your second wedding anniversary. He makes up for this unfortunate situation with the following:

1)Buys you tulips before he leaves
2)Sends you sweet emails/texts/phone calls before and on your anniversary
3)Really seals the deal when he sends you the following picture from the Tulsa, OK Zoo

Happy Anniversary

Those are turtles, but not just any turtle, those are GIANT turtles. They look like Norm, but they are giant like Sherm will be one day. Really how much cooler can you get?

Immune System, I hate you

So while some people are finally enjoying spring I have been half dead. It started awhile ago I was getting really tired for no reason whatsoever. Then this weekend I was busy, helping a friend get stuff done. Monday I was still just ridiculously tired so I went to bed early. Tuesday was worse but "whatever" I thought. I would be fine if I just got enough sleep (why I thought going to bed at 7 was normal, I don't know). Wednesday I woke up with aches, a sore throat and I was sneezing colors that should not come out of the human body. I told work I would sign on from home and I called up the doctor. Since they are right around the corner they got me in and the doctor had much to tell me. First, it is definitely some infection. Strep throat maybe, sinus infection maybe, or maybe just some other funtastic bug that is attacking my body. This means I get to take ridiculously strong antibiotics along with a decongestant and "get some rest"

Before this attack on my body went into overdrive I was finishing up a sweater and I have 1 button band to do and it will be complete. Of course, I can't show any pictures because I don't have the camera, Jim took it with him so it will probably be a couple of weeks before you see it