Here in Washington, grocery stores and many retail stores charge five cents per bag if you don't bring your own to carry out your produce or miscellaneous household items. A pragmatic and environmentally sound move, but I'm constantly forgetting to bring my handy nylon eco bags because they're always filled with library books. Between the accumulating nickel charges and overdue library fines, I'm sure I'm frittering away enough money to feed a small country. I've been thinking that I need to ... Read more
Monday Outfit: Werebear?
Good morning, friends! I present you the down-to-the-wire, who-knows-what-the-heck-this-is costume. I cut out the main faux fur on Halloween eve, then petered out after an hour, and finally put it all together with additional fake fur trimming after school just in time for a 6:30pm trick-or-treat meet-up with friends. Despite my attempt to make a werewolf ensemble, when K tried on the in-progress costume, she exclaimed, "Oh, it looks like a bear! I love it!" I've decided to call it a ... Read more
Sewing for Me: All About the Comfy
Hudson, meet Renfrew. I'd planned on having these Hudson pants done last week as part of the Perfect Pattern Parcel #6, but I already discussed my land-of-the-unicorns approach to my sewing output level (read: completely fantasy-based). But here we are, just a mere seven days later and voila, the comfiest lounge pants known to mankind. And look, I'm branching out and trying a new position other than my usual awkward standing. I give you awkward sitting. I love wearing these because ... Read more
Monday Outfit: Halloween Ninja
Good morning, friends! Every year, I seem to end up making two Halloween costumes for K. This, I've realized, is because I never finish the main costume in time for the annual Halloween bash held at her school (which was this past weekend), so I resort to frantically sewing something quick and effortless. Enter Ninja K. I'm quite impressed with K's idea for origami ninja stars. I helped her make them, and we used the pinwheel instructions similar to this one since that's what we ... Read more
Sewing for Me: Perfect Pattern Parcel #6
I hadn't consciously planned on three tours in a row, but I've noticed that these opportunities to try non-Japanese patterns give me the much needed push to get me out of my sewing comfort zone and try something new. And when you combine a good educational cause with a bundle of patterns I'm eager to try like this Perfect Pattern Parcel #6, it's all kinds of goodness. I've been part of the Pattern Parcel round-up before here and here and here, and though they've all been great, this ... Read more