We’re not interested in holidays, or anniversaries, and we don’t remember our own birthdays, much less anyone else’s, but we do celebrate one tradition: a new year tea. Or maybe it’s an end-of-year tea.
In any case, it’s how we mark the coming year. Continue reading
Mr. Noile had a favorite waxed canvas coat for a long time, and I bought a more rarefied waxed canvas coat myself a few years ago. I’d never sewn with the fabric, though, so making these bags was a new experience.
I’m not alone in loving the look of classic waxed canvas; it’s a bit like aged leather, without necessitating the murder of animals.
Once I had proof-of-concept for the body pattern for my weighted dolls, and (possibly even more importantly) proof-of concept (and proof of execution) for the faces, it was time to make the actual dolls.
The first step was to choose fleece for the external cover. This was more difficult than I expected.
The path to my doll’s faces was not a simple one, but in the end I found some kind of resolution.
The machine I intended to use to make them ended up in repair — specialist repair, far away — and, in any case, I hadn’t been very confident that I’d be able to produce anything acceptable without any previous experience with machine embroidery or a dedicated embroidery machine.
For the past few years, I’ve donated goods, of one kind or another, to a county nursing home. Last year I made tactile/fidget quilts, but this year decided to do something different.
Originally I thought I’d make bears, but soon realized that I didn’t have the wherewithal to manage anything quite that complex in this, Our Second Year of Covid. I decided that simple dolls made more sense, and started by drawing a face template.
I ran across this little gadget at Red Stone Glen. Annie, who helpfully watches the shop, enthused about it.
Though Annie’s advice is always excellent, I had my doubts. My sewing room is littered with useless needle threaders. Continue reading
More masks, acknowledging the arrival of Covid Delta, and recognizing that we’ll be wearing them for quite a while yet.
Both of these masks are Mr. Noile’s, and both are the Marfy free pattern. Continue reading
Mr. Noile has been spending more and more time with his various outdoor cooking devices.
One of our ancient IKEA aprons.
Much nicer than the current version, BTW!
He wears our kitchen aprons when fiddling about in the open air. I am not a fan of this, as I’m fond of our indoor aprons, and they add a nice bit of color in our kitchen. Continue reading
A couple of years ago a new deodorant came on the market. It was fabulous! No chemicals, easy to apply, fresh, almost non-existent and natural scent, and it worked. Best of all, the container was refillable. Green all the way!
It was called Myro, and, despite being almost universally loved, it failed spectacularly, due to its propensity to leak all over itself, cabinets, shelves, and anywhere it was placed. Gel all over, ugh.
. . . that’s Draft It Yourself!
This is an easy-to-design, easy-to-make, handy, tote anyone with a little sewing experience can make.
