So I haven't checked or written here since the December 18th. I was done for the year for work but had started the morning with things like getting a crown. It was not painful at the time other than the shots, but afterwards and still I have nerve pain. I think I have damaged nerves on that side and things just ache for weeks. So I've been dealing with that alot. Luckily I didn't need a root canal and I get the permanent crown on the 15th.

Frdiay the 20th I went to Ari's and cut out my dresses. We did dinner at Guadalajara grill and that was most excellent. Best salsa I ever had and we took the leftovers home for mel to make salsa bread. The next 2 weeks were holiday prep, cleaning, cleaning cleaning the house, sewing sewing sewing with breaks for Christmas and New Years. I did make all of the pie crusts for pies and they turned out amazing and did the good puff up in the oven. Mel did wonderful pizzas for Christmas Eve. We had Wander over for that which was absolutely lovely. Shanda brought lots of booze to try. It was a very nice and relaxing christmas. The goose was tasty that Mel and Ari did. We had mashed potatoes I made from roasted potatoes and green bean casserole. All of which turned out lovely.

We did small gifts this year minus me buying Mel his new beer fridge and him buying me my new serger. We spent more on the serger (babylock Celebrate) than I wanted but I'm replacing a hand-me-down machine from 1981 and this will last me the rest of my sewing life. So meh. The fridge is a SMEG knock off from Home Depot. Its bright red. The wine fridge we had went to Poe for her she-shed. The beer fridge went with Linnet. So more stuff out of my house.

Benton's room got completely emptied, cleaned and rearranged. And I found a nice second hand dresser to add to the room that fit in his closet so its not a dumping ground of stuff. Shanda also drove down a new to us bookcase that while it barely fit to get into the room is perfect and we got rid of a POS. We will be getting more from her stock of bookcases and from here adoptive father's estate to replace the crappy ones in the family room.

Cool things I got for xmas: books I've been wanting, a ryobi battery light/magnifier, rose jewelry from Ari, Legos from the hucks, a new matt for rolling out dough, meisen plas items, booze, an awesome bag of a RBF cat knitting that states "Easily distracted by Cats and Yarn from Ed/Asa, a dish towel that says "I'm really not the kind of person you want to put on speaker without a warning", pretty amythyst earrings from Shanda, a scent diffuser setup from her as well, yarn from the co-op in Minnesota, silver napkin rings, a castiron basting pot for the grill, a silver julep spoon.

But the new serger made things perfect. I was able to keep the silk brocade from shedding, the linen was perfect to work with and I'm again so happy I have a good steam iron. Cutting necklines is always a PITA but Ari said I needed to do a mockup and wow did that help since I had a double facing and it was good to know what went to what side. I still had to fix the back neckline a bit but meh. All good. I think the over dress turned our perfect and the under was simple but I added just a thin piece of trim and its really pretty. Becca helped me get the hem finished and the sleeve cuff buttons/loops done. My brain was not braining by the time we got to the vigil.

But can I just state that 1) my house looks amazing, 2)Mel is a rockstar and worked his ass off with Benton on his room, moving shit, pulling stuff off of the porch etc. 3) he hid a surprise for my elevation. The household did amazing. Tym and Rob, Mel and the boys all helped too to get things ready. The setup was magical in our secret porch, The boys finished up the path from the shop to the trees with bricks and then put in a pathway marker through the side yard.

We had about 40 people attend which was nice. It good to chat with folks and listen to them doing the "where are we going?" on the hidden path. Having this vigil really helped with my imposter syndrome and do I deserve this. I got gifts too which I was not expecting. Herveus sent pelicans with Megan. Lageartha made me a pelican. Sym gave me a John Wick coin since we have a Baba Yaga schtick for my ceremony. I tucked that into my bra for the event as good luck.

We had a very nice time at the vigil. The boys got a good chunk of the left over firewood burned. Mel ran his butt off with smoked salmon, chicken, sausages and the most amazing challah braided ring ever. Poe's meringues were amazing. Dominique made chicken teriyaki and veggie skewers (and then she kicked ass and ran the kitchen crew at the event without being asked). I made tasty banana bread that was devoured. Dom made tasty beer and I will admit I had a hangover the next morning, lol. But we rolled with things and got to site just after opening. Since we had seated hats visiting we brought the household loner chairs. Things were a bit chaotic and our household grabbed some tables to sit outside for the feast. But first was court which I will right about tomorrow.

The Household had planned a sewing weekend for about 6 weeks to make sure we had time off and plans for travel to support etc. I was not in charge of this, I was there to help and be a SME for things. What ended up happening I was in charge and was SME and it was fun and productive but exhausting. Teaching someone who has never sewed to use a new to me and them machine, measuring and making patterns, showing how to do things in a good way for instruction. Dealing with craft goblins (folks who cut things out on the floor, don't put things away in the same spot and just lose track of things in general (craft adhd) was a lot. I'm a bit meticulous for when I work. I have my snips around my neck, chalk and marking stuff goes in one spot and does not move while we cut. I know I'm a bit anal retentive but when you have a factory setting ie multiple machines, setups etc its important to keep the flow by keeping the tools in place. Anyhoo...we got Fiona patterned for Norse style underdress and apron dress. Got the under and apron dress cut out. The apron was fully finished, the underdress needs the sides done and the hem and trim. We also finished a pair of pants she and poe had started, got a tunic cut and sewed that just needs hems, taught her how to use her machine and got her two pairs of modern pants hemmed and an old cloak cut and hemmed for her hobbit height. That was Sat 1-7pm, Sun 10-6 and Monday 10-4. I learned I'm not a fan of gravity fed irons since they get way too hot on the hand and are awkward with the placement of the wire and water line. It irons well but not into corners since the nose is big. But I was glad I had my industrial sized ironing board with the silver cover cause that was priceless.

Anyhoo...I came home very tired and brain dead each day and while the output was nice the person who planned this was not even involved until Monday after I bitched at them in text. Your mental health is similar to mine right now and I still went cause we suck it up and go to things we say we will go to...we don't just ignore things and don't come when you are expected. Sighs. Anyhoo. things are done and I have a clean studio and my work table can get a sewing machine installed on it and I can work on the quilt this next week. I'm going to force myself to not sit on the couch and to work in my studio on things. So yeah. We shall see how I feel about that when I'm done with work today. I managed to read some but other than that I was a a lump on the couch. I did watch through a few movies I'd seen before and Friday I was productive with cleaning the house up, including my studio, to have dinner and Magic: The Gathering time with Linnet, Mason, Benton and Ari. Mel made porch pizza and we had a nice time though Mason doesn't like to lose and Ari and I were just trying to figure out how to not die.

The weekend was just meh...hopefully I can gumption this weekend. Also, I bought the "emotional support chicken" pattern and I need to pull through some scraps to make that for Poe for all of the work with Wander.

Wander has been moved an assistive nursing facility while we wait on results. I think we will know more on Wednesday.

I will post sewing pictures later when I finish uploading NOLA and them.

Well, I've managed to hit two workouts this week, fix a dress and have another dress partially torn aprt. Remember that you shouldn't start new projects after 9pm...even if they are easy and "no brainer". you will find yourself ripping out the wrong seams......sighs. I did this on both sides of the dress I'm expanding for my shoulder/chest increase. weight lifting causes changes and I made that dress when I was smaller and it was tight then. So, I'm going to add in racing stripes down the side center seams. It will match the red trim...I was just dumb late and did the wrong damn seams....and those were double seamed while the one I needed to do was not. Sighs. So tonight I hope to get the stripes in and fit. I also need to do laundry and will start that after work since its been pants all week.

I've talked so much this week and especially today I'm super hoarse. I talked for 2.5 hours almost straight ugh.

I am looking forward to some sewing zoom time with danabren this weekend and having a BBQ with my mom.

I did finish the book and wow...just wow. Nona the Night was #34 for the year and now to pick up the second Jennifer Roberson book to make #35 for the year. I'm going to get close to 50 I think if I keep on pace.

I'm working and working on the dress. I made really good progress on seam finishing. I have just the items around the sleeve to do. I did the same on the other side on Tuesday so I should be able to do that tonight after the gym. Yes, I'm going dammit. I didn't Tuesday and that was more mental health related. I'm okay with that. Just trying not to make that a habit.

So Friday I have "off" but I have volunteered for a Leadership thing for work which is in the morning. I'm going to sit and sew during it and they can cope. So if all goes Well I will be at hems on Friday night since friday day will be the hem silk and attaching all of the tablet weaving. Course I realize I may just bind the hem...hmmmm....decisions. Two birds, one stone and all that.

I will chat with the brain trust and figure it out.

I woke up this AM with a stoopid headache from crunching up while sewing...so I'm sure it is that. And its been stoopid windy and the weather change but its really probably just sewing.

Last week I was super asthma-y and stuffed up. A bit of research shows that lots of things I'm very allergic to starts to sprout/bloom and they usually make me miserable and I get a sinus infection in late January/February almost every year. So, I rested, upped my meds, made sure to take my controller med and started recovering by late Friday. I did take off part of Thursday to sleep and I think that helped but I couldn't be sussed to do anything but read and watch TV. That is okay. Honestly, so I rested and then on Saturday got a really really good shower and attended the Atenveldt 50 Year event. I took a class hosted by a gal in the Outlands on Beads from Ribe which was lots of fun. She had a nice camera on her torch so we could see her building things in real time. Then I hung out in the Kitchen with Domingo for a bit just chatting before taking a class on the way fighting started in Atenveldt by Arthur of Lockehaven and he had 8mm video to show of things from 1970 and lots of fun pictures. It was really neat to hear him and other speak on things at the beginning. Then it was a panel on the founding of the kingdom and stories from all of the old guard. It was neat. There was also a memorial presentation for all of those who we lost. Then I went back and hung out in the Kitchen some more. The whole time I was cutting out fabric for my overdress and sewing on my featherweight so I got a bunch done. I had also been day drinking pretty hard so when it came time to cut silk and work on the neckline I just stopped. There was a short howdy from the crown and then there was a virtual feast. I did not stay for that since I hadn't seen mel or Benton most of the day so I changed out of my tunic and put on a tank top and had a nice dinner and a few more drinks. I worked on my naalbinding on the hat.

Sunday I woke up and was not hung over which was surprising. I read and then got going on my personal laundry and the dress. I logged onto a zoom for Art Show and Tell with the Kingdom MOAS and that was nice to chat and keep motivated while folks showed stuff off. I used my phone to text the arts chat and my SIL for advice on things and that was also good. I got the neckline set and pinned to relax into shape on my dress form and will hand sew the edges of it on tonight and then get the rest of the dress together to see how this pattern fit. I've put the middle eastern extra gores in the upper back to help with my hulk shoulders and I think its going to fit quite nice. I will probably finish the sleeves first before its all sews together but again this is going really well.

I then spent more time on my hat and got it to the 'no more increasing' part of the process. Which is good. So progress all around. I did not get the christmas stuff down. But honestly I don't care. We will get it down today at least in the house. Benton has the day off for MLK day and he can help.

It was nice to wake up today and not feel off. I actually have energy and feel normal and motivated. I don't think I've felt this way in a really long time. I would like this to maintain. I've missed this energy.

For once in my entire life my vote matters. I've voted in every presidential primary since 1996. The contentious 2000 election I lived in SD for most of it so my vote was basically thrown away there since I voted third party and that state is ALWAYS RED.

This year and the last election I didn't vote 3rd party because I know the harm that can do for our system as it is. This year AZ is a battleground state. My vote has been counted (I checked) and we have 321k votes left to cout between Pima (46k) and Maricopa (275k). Pima is Tucson and Maricopa is Phx....and usually Pima is Blue and Phx is Red. I hope the votes left in Maricopa help turn the tide. We will know by 6pm tonight I guess. The Reservations have been very much voting Blue so hopefully that will help as well since the Res is in Maricopa. Crossing fingers

The waiting is interminable. I just ugh. My brain is wandering and I have huge things to get done for work and ugh. I don't wanna. I want to watch TV and spin yarn.

I have finally gotten the pattern figured out for the Pskov dress. Part of my problem was that I had sewn the gussets to my sleeves off 90°. Sighs. no wonder shit didn't fit. But yes, my lats are huge...so this is going to be interesting. I now need to contemplate my shift cause it needs to cover the boobs and be sleeveless but how do I not get it to show? I will have to figure that out....another mockup. Sighs. But that is okay.





The presentation/panel I was on went surprisingly well. I was nervous and I got a webcam from work so I was on screen for folks. I did my makeup and hair and put on a leopard print dress and felt really fine to give the panel, work late and then drink and spin while we watched a movie versus the election coverage.


I did finish 43) Hounded by Kevin Hearne
I really liked it and the fact it was set in Phoenix and I recognized all of the places and love the fact that a large majority of it takes place in Rula Bula a faboo Irish pub. I'm starting the next one tonight.

The doc was convinced its allergies and she was right. I hit my netipot and doubled up on a bunch of meds and low and behold life is much better and clearer. I now have not had a sore throat in 3 days which is glorious! Stoopid post nasal drip. No idea what is making me have allergies other than we had particulate in the air the last few weeks but still...good to know.

I started in earnest on my CCC project. Saturday I cleaned up my studio and put things away and got the ironing station setup and my dress form out and accessible. I took new measurements and started in working on new patterns. I need to make adjustments for what Ari calls the "flying squirrel" problem. This is usually a male presenting issue since their traps, deltoids, and lats can expand depending on movement. My flexed shoulder measurements on my back are 5 inches different than my front. So I'm modding my normal dress pattern to add in a separate shoulder gore to help with that expansion but keeping the front of the dress/gores the same. I had to math and think and chat with Ari on text to not over think things. But I think it will work. The other dress I needed to pattern was the gathered neckline underdress. Now this one is perplexing to me and most folks who have done this pattern have the neckline gathered with the sleeves. I'm going to try that out but I know I've seen this without doing that...maybe in a more modern piece?

This is the archeological find


I've got the pattern set with gathering with the sleeves we shall see how I like it. It seems bulky to me. I need to put an email into Mistress Raven to see how she did her pattern since her documentation for her project doesn't show pattern info.

I also got the room setup to bring in my gatelegged 1950s table to use as a cutting and sewing table. I'm also going to use my featherweight which research has shown is a 1947 221-1 Featherweight built in April of that year. I ironed fabric for my mockups and then cutout a mockup of the pleated dress. It will be a short dress but its an under and if it works it will be nice for summer. Ironing with playful cats was trying. I finally just kept hitting them with the sprayer. Though willow liked me misting her belly and rubbing it. So that was weird. I guess she was belly up cause she was hot.

Tasha on my first cut out mockup.



I hope to get the sewing on the mockup done this week so I can figure that pattern out. We are heading out of town for a quick weekend trip to see some things and order something in person. But we will be doing roadside geology and heading to where its not 100+ during the day. Summer still has not let go but it is cooling down at night into the 60s which is good. So you know fall is trying...it just can't quite get there during the day. My personal theory is that all of the west coast fires are affecting the weather patterns which isn't that far fetched.

The only downer of the weekend is we tried a new to us burger joint and it was disappointing. They messed up my order and the food was pretty mushy from transport and the burgers were not cooked to what we ordered. Oh, well. We know which places we like.

I did finish 40) Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato and 41) Battle Ground by Jim Butcher. Both were enjoyable. I didn't like a choice made in the Butcher novel but I've been expecting it. Its sad but true. Now I'm reading 42) Clockwork Crown by Beth Cato. After that one I may dip into Terry Pratchet for a bit.

I spent Friday doing school shopping with the boy. I was completely tuckered when we got home. I didn't craft on Thursday night or on Friday night for cosplay. I worked on the damnable scarf and am very close to finishing it. Mel has been decompressing from work stress and it has been nice to sit on the couch and watch the Olympics.

Saturday I did the grocery shopping and then worked on the lolita. Sunday AM was lolita in the AM/noon and the afternoon was working on the sarees at Ari's.

Benton had some rough spots this weekend. He did not listen well and did not get his reward for good behaviour (eegees) twice. I had to have him do pushups in the stores and he was annoying to the stylist who cut his hair. He did well at Ari's playing with Mason for hours and then he lost the groove. But he was tired and hungry so I can understand. I was tired and hungry too.

On the saree front I made the decision to add the pallau from the saree uaekiwi got me for my wedding and that I've already gotten trim and a skirt out of. I got the bottom trim all sewn on, the extra fabric and now just need to sew down the top trim and the edge of the extra fabric. The pallau piece has red on it which will go nice with Zatana's cape she wears at times off the back of her tuxedo jacket.



I still need to pattern the jacket/vest/chemise but I think that can be accomplished this week so that I can spend the following week working on SCA clothes for crown and then just working last minute items. Mel goes to Britain Sunday so I want things pretty settled and be at hand work so Ben and I can watch movies and color together etc versus me making yards and yards of trim in my studio.

The Loli is now getting very close to done.
Front:



Back:


I still need to put a bit of trim on the ends of the undersleeve, trim the bottom of the jacket, takeup the skirt piece and make the collar. The entire weekend it was "more floofy, if you think its too much, add more!" and I think I got the asthetic right on the butt bow. I still probably need bows in the front but now I'm thinking I'm going to bustle up the skirt on the jacket to show off all of my hard work on those damnable ruffles.


I sat down after dinner last night and finished up our hair bows for the Hydra Cheer squad, though I need to figure out how to use the cyber dreads I bought. I also cut out the fabric for the bun covers but I need to dig out my cotton batting to make them bigger and smoother, plus add more lace.

So, lots of progress and things are falling into place nicely. Just need to get through the next few days before school starts and then we can get back into a normal routine.

I also finished Venom in the same series I've been reading by Estep. Kev didn't give me the fourth book in the series so I started in on The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay.

I slept like utter crap last night and its now been a monday with computers, late sleepers etc. Sighs.

( To Do List )

Well, the weekend was full of stuff......
Friday managed to get up, get kiddo to school and hit the chiro before working on projects and seen Ant-man.  Fun movie as long as you ignore some physics and the whole Titanium thing.....seriously, ugh that hurt my engineer self so bad.  Seriously.  The end cut scene which almost everyone I know missed was awesome and now I have to think about what that means for future state of all things Winter Soldier.  Go see it and have fun.

Ben had a really improving week at school. He's learning and he's starting to listen and get with the program.  Friday was his best day with lots of smiley faces on his report.

I sewed a lot, I cleaned my studio to use it and purged more things out of the house.  I got my dress for crown almost completely done by Sunday night and am still figuring out what to do with trim pieces 5&6.  Le Sigh.  But I'm happy with the overall look of it and it fits nice and makes me feel pretty which is more to the point.  In between sewing and reading we had visits by Wander, Sa'id and Jessie.  All good.  Hanging out with Jessie most of the night recalls many convos over college nights.  So good.  Course that also meant that most of the weekend I thought that 1 am was a good bedtime. Le sigh.

So, dress picts:





Front Trim layout: Top bands are still in the "figure it out" stage but the other 4 are sewn on.

The impetus for purging continues, especially after Michigan and now with us having to replace the dishwasher.  That was a cluster on Friday AM.  The fix that 6 or so years ago on the cabinets that richarddbrewer did was pushing on the counter top due to a brace.  So, I had to unloade the entire glass cabinet, helf the installers get the countertop lifted up off of the old crappy dishwasher and then they could see if it would fit.  it didn't since the counter top had sagged over 12 years and they left and mel came home to fix it. He ended up driving a wedge up and got the countertop to be level and set and then the guys came back to install it.  Its shiny, pretty and so quiet it has a red light to tell you its on!

Yay!

But this meant that the contents of the glass cabinet needed to be gone through and the cabinet fixed but that was for later.  I got to work and worked my butt off on paperwork.  Got home late and mel and I did a marathon of house cleaning.  Benton got sent to his room cause his daily report wasn't good and we had to set up a meeting his teacher and the director.  He screamed for a bit but did okay after that.  We got the house settled and I even got the front carpet cleaned really well before folks arrived. I made hamburgers and hotdogs since it was so hot.  Had a nice time playing Shadow over Camelot> and enjoyed some G&T's.  We failed the game but it was good.  We had a brief visit by public_shaylan and Richard and that was nice.

Saturday we got up early pulled weeds and got the kitchen cleaned up, sorted glassware into donate and keep.  We got rid of enough that our travel coffee cups/shaker cups all have cabinet space.  We also got rid of kidware cause Ben is now old enough to use all of the adult stuff.  The new dishwasher is awesome and it cleans uber well.  Just still working out how to load it. Its very different.  Mel fixed the two cabinets in situ since they just needed bracer blocks put in and screwed back into the wall. He put clamps in to hold things while things dried and I was able to reset everthing in the cabinets.  Got that done, worked on a few other things and then Ari arrived with the kiddos to work on clothes.  She needed help getting a viking hangerock patterned up and we got that patterned settled, fed everyone and then got into sewing.  I finished the two project bags I still had lingering and then started in on the little boy clothes.  Back a month or so ago, Wander and I had cut out a lot of clothing for me to make and then I didn't do anything with it. So I know that Ben wanted a new outfit(s) for crown so I got to work on that.  I made him a red Tunic with dinosaur trim, dinosaur bag trousers and a starwars tunic.  With that I also made a new neckline pattern for him and figured out how to put together the pattern for his tunic that Eithni and others had made him but I'd never actually sewed one together.  Weird I know.  But this happens when you get a bunch of awesome kiddo handmedowns and reign as K&Q...so, now that he's getting bigger we need more clothes and I'm going against my Commander of the Pilgrim to make him happy and have fun prints etc.  Cause every lil' Viking boy needs dinosaurs, star wars, jake and bugs.  More cute clothes in a few weeks.  By the end of Saturday I got the red tunic done minus the trim attachment and the star wars tunic put partially together. I was smart enough to not cut the neckline until the next morning. (good thing I did, my pattern was too small.)  Shanda and Richard stopped by for a good talk and we watched Rocky Mountain Vets which is a pretty cool show.  Got to also hear about the winery tours they had done all over Southern AZ.

Sunday AM we all got up early and mel worked in the shop. I got going on sewing and realized my issue with the neckline pattern, got it fixed, updated and started sewing it before we headed to joe's breakfast with Shanda/Richard.  Had a great time there and then back to the house for sewing. Ben got outside time before it got heinously hot.  Saturday broke the record at 110°F and it got to 106°F Sunday.  I got work done in the kitchen on putting dinner in the crock pot, cleaned the stove/counters, made radish quick pickles and handwashed the silverware.

Stacy/Brian stopped by to get more photos of the backyard for the wall/roof plans.  All good. Stacy and I chatted while I sewed.  Unlike the dino tunic, I worked the entire neckline etc flat. I fidgeted with the binding but it looks really cool with the black.  I used some bias tape tricks from Pinterest for the corners and how to start and stop the trim which worked really really well.  I got everthing finished on both tunics just before dinner.  By this point Ben was "done" for the day. He'd had some tv but was tired and cranky and hot.  Poor kiddo. I got dinner finished with grilled curry squash and we delighted we had Wander over for it. The pulled pork turned out great.

Crockpot Awesome Pulled Pork
1 red onion chopped
1 large pork loin
1 can of beer (I used fat tire)
1 can of green enchilada sauce
Ground pepper
Garlic powder
Ground Cinnamon

Place onion in bottom of crockpot, arrange porkloin in crop pot (I cut mine into 4 chunks), sprinkle liberally with spices, pour liquid over, put on lid and cook on low for 8-9 hours.  Shred pork with forks. Serve over buns.

After dinner and getting Ben to bed I got the kitchen cleaned up and started work on my crown dress. I have the trim all pinned on it and now its hand sewing.  I sat for a while and then got really, really dizzy and hot. Mel was watching Mindcraft videos and they were making me sea sick. I went to bed a bit early and finished reading the Improbable Sherlock Holmes Anthology.  I swear I've read more than two books but its really only been that. so I guess that is the second or third book for the year.

Lots of progress and not in a lot of ways.  I guess, a lot for the house and the kiddo but not for me. I hope to get my dress finalized this week so I can work on getting the fancy trim on and figureing out what I'm wearing with it.

So, all of the projects finished laid out.


Ben in his pants (beware the cute!) Contrasting buttflap, cuffs.



The dress in progress:


Benton's progress at school after a week, writing his name without prompting.


We had a meeting this AM with his teacher and it went really well. He does great by himself but working in groups is completely new/odd to him. So we need to work on family projects at home more.  Plus work on expressing ourselves verbally. We will be getting a report home everyday as we transition but all in all it was a really good talk.  We are doing the right things and we know what we as a family need to work on.