The weekend was nice. I knit and played video games. I finished Graveyard Keeper...well, finished is a weird word...but I finished the main phase of play. I can continue to do things and I might but its done. So I started Stardew Valley and fell off a cliff of a fun game.  Sighs.  But I made different choices than for mel's game so my setup is completely different.  The game controls are not the same as Graveyard keeper and that keeps nerfing me but that is okay. Its a fun game and I'm enjoying it.

I have made progress on shawl and we've now gotten solidly into Season 2 of Clone Wars.  I'm really enjoying it.  It really builds the story about what happened.  I really hated Episodes 1 thru 3...so stilted and awful.  This is so much better.  Also, I now have a cosplay I want to do of Luminara Unduli...cause she's awesome.

I did spend time with Jackie crafting on Saturday and that was nice.  But with Skylar over and Benton being spastic I was not up for kids and pool stuff on Sunday.  Ugh. We need to plan things with the kids a bit more in advance than hours. Ugh.  I just can't right now with spontaneity.  Or maybe I was completely peopled out which is why I vegged on the couch and played video games for the entire day.

I did get my bingo card for the Steve Rogers Bingo Fanfic event.  Have until December 21st to write at least 5 fics...which is a good goal. I'm going to print out my card and then put it into a physical journal so I can doodle my way through some ideas.  I didn't go for the smutty prompts so they are all fun things and I will have fun even if its just 100 word drabbles.  Its a challenge to myself.

I did finish Highland Treasure (book #9 of the year) which was delightful and quaint.  It had a lot of the tropes...one bed, fake marriage etc.  I have now started Shattered by Kevin Hearne (book #10 of the year).

This post was ate by the firewall...we shall see if lets me finish it.

We have fun, were tired and sore and tired. Good times had by all and we had epic cosplay moments.

Cosplay quickies:

Ari and I as Mab and the Morrigan:


Me in the parade marching with the SCA and happygoth


Ari and I and Hydra Cheer


Me as Athena:


Lolita - So Fluffy!



Zatanna -





Meeting John Ringo:


MEeting Jim Butcher for a quick selfie!

My manager is out sick yesterday and today and its been quite and I buckled the heck down and rocked out on lots of paperwork which includes change papers and engineering justification memos on why we are changing things. Lots of work etc.

Linnet came down with Lice so scribble was cancelled which meant that I was able to get working on crwon clothes earlier. Wander was over and with her awesome spatial skills I got the neckline completely worked, squared up and sewn. She worked some magic since I'd cut the front and back panels off a bit and I hand finished everything on the sleeves and the neckline. The trim was gift from Chani while we were crown and I had *just* enough to do what I wanted.





So tonight while the boy is in the shower I'll get the sleeves attached to the gores/gussets and then get that sewn onto the dress. Then I will do the hem and I hope I have enough bias tape left over from my last binge of making it to finish it. Its going to be close.

I also got the trim laid out with Mel's opinion on choices.



So looking positive to finish by Wednesday night which will be great. Then Thursday can be cutting out things for Zatanna and packing for crown. still gonna be a lot of late nights.

( To Do List )

Yesterday was odd but okay. I worked hard and then picked up Benton at Mary's gym. Mel called quite tipsy from Britain while I was driving. Ben was squirrely the entire evening and went to bed in tears. You insult me, you don't get tucked in. Sighs. Its not been a great week on behavior. I'm pretty sure friday while he's at school we will be removing all of his toys from his room. Sighs.

I pulled out the Lolita and got the sleeve trim sewn on, it was only pinned on teh one sleeve. We had stopped at Hobby Lobby and I got ribbon to finish. The man at the front asked me how my day was and I answered honestly "pretty sucky" which I guess he didn't expect. You ask that kind of question you get an answer you might not like. I got the trim done and then decided on the bottom trim on the jacket. I had thought I'd use the thick trim but with the bustling it would have been too stiff so I used the thin trim and I'm quite happy with it. I then pinned the bustle rosettes I had made on and called it done. IT was late but the women's sand volleyball was on and I attempted to figure out how to hike that skirt section up on the loli but did not trust myself to do delicate pleating up work when tired and after 10pm. I mucked around with the alligator clip attachments on the buns and added a few bow that I need to sew on to the buns. Yes, I bought premade small bows cause they were cheap and will be consistent for what I need.







I also was an adult and packed lunches and did the cat boxes since mel was not here to do his chores. I also got the trash/recycle bins moved out into the sidewalk for this AM. This was good cause this AM I'm tired and just a bit toasty from so much work. I have plans for sewing tonight which will mean I finish the hydra cheerleader and the loli skirt and the base sewing of my over dress for crown. Mel will be home (hopefully) by 8pm, I may be going out to karaoke. We shall see. I may just be in project hiding mode after taking Ben to his first group therapy session. I have to leave work at 3 to pick him up by 4 and get him to his appointment by 5pm. Sighs. Bringing work along so I can get going on this papwerwork avalanche.

Tomorrow is massage, haircut/color and doc appointment for Ben for his lungs. I need to sew the over dress of the crown clothes including getting the neckline done by the evening so I have hand work for Saturday. I don't expect Mel to be in any shape to do anything so I'm thinking in terms of single mom stuff at least until Saturday. We shall see.

Sunday I'm heading to Ari's for choli work and I hope things are set for me to finalize the final 3 pieces for Zatanna.


( To Do List )

Work was work worky work work. I found some issues and now I have a lot of work a head of me. Oof. Luckily I need more things to do (LOL). Got done, got home and the boy had not had a good day at school and that made all of us tired. Plus a random no-sleep text from my mom made me in a further foul mood. Sighs. I ended up in bed by 10pm. I was so tired. The whole family was grumpy so nuf said.

Saturday morning I got up way before I wanted to since Mel and Ben were talking on the porch while mel got ready for his ride. Sighs. I got up though, had coffee and attempted to stay on task and get things done. Which I did, overall. But the one thing I wanted to figure out was a spectacular fail. Ooops. I made a choli and it did not fit and was not what I wanted for the Zatanna. Its not even useable for a pattern itself. Sighs. But that clouded my brain when I finished a skirt, finished putting trim on the sari, Finished a scarf and didn't kill people. It was an almost thing at the pizza place cause they were dumb. But I ate pizza drank beer and went to bed much happier than when I started.





Mel had a productive day and finished the entertainment center. He will shellac it next weekend so we can get it installed into the house the following week. That means I have 1 piece of my parent's furniture left and that is the curio cabinet. We are looking for an antique to replace it.



Sunday AM mel woke up early for his flight and I snuggled in bed until Ben kept banging on my door from 630-715am. I was not happy. I told him that I would not accept that behavior and sent him to his room after he immediately threw something I told him not the throw. I left him sit there while I drank a cup of coffee and then planned the day. After that he was right as rain. We had breakfast at Prep and Pastry, did errands and came home for snacks etc. He played well, watched a movie nicely and was in general just awesome to everyone. Willa came over in the afternoon to help me cut out crown clothes. I had to do fabric kung fu and was left with a tiny bit of scrap. My under is short sleeved due to fabric but I think it will be very comfy.




Had a wonderful dinner with Ben and we watched more Olympics. He really liked watching the skeet earlier in the day, we watched some golf, synchronized swimming and volleyball. He got a good shower and bed shortly there after. I was tired but I sat and was watching the Olympics until the cable went out so I turned on Hulu and started watching Sleepy Hollow and finished my socks.



( To Do List )

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 )

Friday I left work and ran a couple of errands. Got my new contacts...still need to break those in though and will start on that tomorrow. Got home and was deciding what we wanted for dinner when Paul called for dinner out. We got to meet his new boyfriend (Tim) and see Ari as well. Ben was a handful but he was exhausted and tired but he ate good. It stormed really well while we were gone too. Got home and headed to sit on the couch after getting into comfy clothes. I was beat. I didn't stay up too late but did finish Spider's Bite. Mel was up playing Minecraft for a bit.

Woke up nicely on Saturday. Mel fixed the pantry cabinet which mean I spent the morning reorganizing it and throwing lots of weird stuff out and finding I had 5#s total of cous cous. oops. I guess I kept buying it thinking I hadn't?

Got into the studio and started serging fabric. I figured out I would need to head to the store later for other serger thread to match the blue. Got my machine figured out on how to do a rolled hem and then started building the tiers of the lolita skirt. And here is where scribe_ari and danabren and I scream "fucking ruffles. The bottom tier alone is 12+ yards of fabric. I attempted to do them gathered and kept breaking threads so I just hand pleating everything. I'm used to it for the Rus pants.

First tier and cat helps:




Benton as came in and helped pick up pins and clean up the thread off of the floor for me which was actually really helpful. He also handed me pins while I pinned the first tier. Which is also helpful. I sat down to teach him to handsew a bit and he didn't do too bad. Still needs to finish it though.

Now as I was working Mel and I had an argument about dinner. I didn't realize I was grilling and would have set things out, got the grill going etc. But I managed to get it settled and done just before the storm moved in. I ate and then headed out to Joanns (serger thread and coupons), ulta (20% coupons), old navy (school uniforms for $5, Icing (hair supplies) and Total Wine (booze). Got home and then started in on serging the rest of the tiers since I was going to have to switch colors so I did all the white first and about 930pm the serger started growling. I shut it down thinking over heating....game it 15 mins and it still did it. Snarfed on Twitter and the awesome swordmage came over with hers at 1015 at night. We got it running, figured out how to do the turned hem on it and I got going. Woot. I ended up with insomnia and got a shower after I switched to the blue thread and got it setup for the gauzy fabric. I read until 1am on the next book in the series Venom.

I woke up early and got up about 730. I just couldn't stay abed. Ben slept in until 830! (which was good for him). I got dressed and headed out to shopping and got Donuts at the new Queen Donuts near the subway by the base. Their donuts are huge and the price reflects that but they were tasty. Mel said their old fashioned is not as good as Donut Wheel. Got home and started in on ruffles and there is where I made a mistake. I read the directions which weren't clear and I missed a location for a set of ruffles and well, I realized that when I got to a tier about that. Ari saved my bacon with a suggestion and I made another layer to go in there and added another layer at the top. Sighs.



That white shouldn't be seen....sighs. So....



To final!


Though I think I will bring the white fabric up by half its height. The weight of the bottom tier is pulling it strangely and it looks odd. bewilde agreed this AM.

I got that done and then had a beer..it was 930 pm but I was wired. I made a peach cobbler and decided (smartly) to not attempt to make the AB Blueberry Buckle. I saved that for this AM where I put on an apron and made a wonderful confection like a 1950s housewife. I'm in a skirt and lowish heels and "gussied" up a bit. Bridget and the kids arrived about 10 mins after Ben woke up and got them settled. The buckle was not out of the oven yet but Bridget says it turned out fabulous.

So, in all a frustrating weekend in some respects but not too bad. Ben was okay. I know he missed his friends but a week of Maddie and Mark should be good for him. We have the appt with the school today and then we will be hopefully set for Kindergarten minus me being school supplies. I hope to get that done on Friday.

oof.

( To Do List )

Work was dull. The drawing reviews I'm doing are tedious but necessary. I found the most ubiquitous note ever that had us laughing "Soldering shall be in accordance with applicable specification." So if the Barnam and Bailey Circus has a solder spec we could use that. Seriously. LOL. But by the time quitting time came I was toasty and my brain was soup.

Fought traffic to the knit shop, we had weather moving in again and while we were there the first pass blew through which took out power poles etc around town. Didn't loose power there or at home but things flickered. I got to show off my TDFleece spinning and the cat. I worked on the Chevron scarf that I blogged about Rule Number 3 breaking and its still effed up. But I'm making do. The comments from people on Ravelry also show that its effed up and the pattern writer is still being rude. I have about 2/3 of a second ball left and then will be done with it. I'm all about finishing old UFO's (unfinished objects).

Got done there and headed home. Mel was watching Minecraft stuff on youtube. I headed back to the studio and managed in 2 hours to get the second sleeve on the jacket, the armscye hem turned, the neckline tack stitched and all of the last of the fabric for the skirt ruffles cut out. I have no idea why I was so scared to cut into the sheer fabric. It was easy, just goes to show I don't trust my own abilities with things at times to the point of nerfing myself. Put everything away and stacked the fabric up for sewing tonight.


The trim is just laid around the neckline...not sure I will use that or something else yet.

Pile of fabrics for the ruffle booty!!!!


Weather was also nuts last night. I guess there were 61 mph winds at the base (1/2 mile from my house. crazy.

( To Do List )

Work was okay. Got news that Janelle was in labor and later that day Miss Theadora made her debut. Yay. Busy working my newest projects at work and the eye strain is a bit much from staring at drawings for 7 hours out of yesterday. Ooof but that is my life. Soon will be the changing said drawings for 7-8 hours per day. Woot.

Got done with work, stopped off at the credit union to pay on the roof pledge loan. Need to be hitting that harder if we want it off the books by years end. Admittedly, we have 5 years to pay it off but we don't like to be in any sort of debt. Got home to an empty house. Well, I wanted to work on projects right away but as we've been telling Benton, do the things you don't like first so they are done so you can do the things you do like. So, I did dishes. Was just starting in on the sink after putting all of the clean ones away and getting the dishwasher going when Mel and Ben came home. He took over the dishes since it was silverware and a couple of glasses and feast gear that was left. I put on a load of shirts and then hopped into the studio to work on the lolita.

I got the peplum cutting mistake fixed and once its ruffled no one will be able to tell. Then I got the sleeve pieces out and started to piece the first sleeve. Got the top sleeve gathered to the bottom and then sewed up the inside seam to find out my She-Hulk Bicep/forearm combo does not meet a Size 22 dress size. I need about another inch. Oof. I made a sandwich for dinner and then Wander was by for movie night so I got her take and my assessment was good to add a bit to the sleeve pieces and then resew that seam. Its on the inside of the arm and its covered by another flounce (which I still need to cut out and will now lengthen for curvature of my forearm. Good to know. I need to mark the pattern pieces because I really to like the sleeve pattern and it will be nice for later projects too. I also got her take on my plan to cut the gauzy fabric and my plan is good and I may be able to just tear the fabric. I will have to see if I can get my serger to serge those edges.

I got my stuff and headed to scribble where it was names on scrolls for a few events and then I callig'd 2 scrolls for one of those events. Next week we have more full texts to do and hopefully will have the last august event on the books. I know the closer we get to Dragon*Con the less we want to work on scrolls and Ari as Gwyllym's MOD to do as well. Luckily that is straight calligraphy for her but still time.

Got home and cut the pieces for the sleeves and then drank some water, showered, read for a bit and went to bed.

The weirdest thing about yesterday is that my mouth feels like I flossed too much and my left side feels like my wisdom teeth are coming in. I had those yanked 15 years ago. Not sure if its sinus stuff or worse but we shall see. Its just not making things pleasant.

So for tonight I will get the sleeves finished and cut out the froofy fabric and the strips for silver trim. All good.


( To Do List )

Up until about 2pm on Sunday I was feeling like a total failure. It took Ari hitting me upside the head to tell me that just cause I wasn't working on my cosplay stuff completely 24/7, didn't mean I suck. I was making stuff and doing good and I need to shut up and color.

So, lets rewind a bit....I had things to do this weekend which involved finishing up the lolita....I only managed to shop for it...I got some trims and another yard of fabric to make more trim...but I've been thinking about it.

Thursday I went to karaoke after spinning while Ben was in the shower. I got my first bobbin of 2 ply done on the red/denim yarn.


Had nice time singing and having a drink before getting home about 11pm. Mel was out and had to go to work in the AM. I set my alarm and crashed. He left around 515am and when I got up at 10 to 7 there was coffee. Yay! Got Ben to school and then came home to spin. I got the second bobbin done of the plying and then started in on errands (see above purchases) before I headed to my massage and a bit of other shopping. I didn't get my toes done...they were too busy but I picked up the boy who had had an awesome day and we got muchkins and coffee at Dunkin before heading home. I sat and finished up the pieces of the cat I was working on for a baby gift and the boys played legos. I got that done and we showered and then headed out for swordmage's bday at Ermanos. Ben did really well though he was tuckered. Good beer, food and conversations. Got home and I was tuckered myself. I didn't have the energy to do more than stare at fabrics but I managed to pull things out of stash for more purse/project bags for D*C.

Went to bed and slept pretty horribly....not sure what is up. We got up late to head to the event but it was all okay. Things were seriously running on SCA time. We should have carpooled with Dom...lol. Ben did okay. He was tired but he ran around with the kiddos there while we judged and taught folks what a median standard means and how not to be a jackass when judging. I saw lightbulbs going off above peoples heads which was good. We finished judging and then had almost 3 hours until court....seriously. 3 hours. Sighs. This meant we had to eat in SV and then drive home to make sure Ben didn't melt down. But he did good, we had Culvers and it was tasty. I did manage to get pictures of me spinning during court and also to chat and kibitz with Caolfinn. Which was awesome.




Got home and I started in on plying the rambouillet. It is so pretty.
.

Sunday I woke up poorly. Like the bed was on the wrong floor kind of waking up. Boy oh boy was I in a bad mood. I was a grump which was not helped by the fact that I had nothing but coffee until lunch. I had lunch and a beer and was much better. I got dinner on to cook and made spanish rice for the house hold meeting/pool party. But during the finale of this years Tour de France:
I finished my plying and then spooled everything off and organized it into this picture just as Froome crossed the line with team Sky in a can-can line.



Left: Silk/Merino singles 22-24 wpi and 233 yards all drop spindle.
Top: 2 ply rambouillet of 160 and 236 yards in skeins, Full singles to ply during tour
Middle (little): left overs from red and another project. 17.5 yards 3ply, plied during tour
Middle: red and denim merino, 69 yards and 131 yards 2 ply, 1 oz of red spun during tour all else plied.
Bottom: Easter yarn 148 and 174 yards plied only.

Total yardage spun and plied: 1633.5 yards
Total yarn to use: 1168.5 yards

We left for the household meeting a bit late because I couldnt' find my swim suit....it was in the laundry still from the retreat...really???? Sighs.

I relaxed a lot when I chatted with Ari who hit me on the head and chatted with A'isha on hair styles for the loli. We got home and dinner was not going to be done..I should have set the cooker to high while we were gone...oops. Ben ate his lunch which he hadn't earlier in the day and I think I drank a beer for dinner while mel had chips. I wasn't hungry. Hrafnheim can cook and if you go hungry its your own damn fault. Ben had a ice cream drumstick...thus he ate dinner.

I was feeling restless and just started cleaning up my messes. I had spinning stuff everywhere in the family room and I organized it and put things away. I cleaned up the studio for use, organized the stuff I had bought, put more things away, finished the cat for Julia/Eric, cleaned off the table for cutting later in the week, pulled fabric for crown clothes and just tidied things up. It felt really good. I then sat down about 9pm, pulled up Pinterest for how to make hair bows and made 3 as test pieces for our Hydra Cheer Squad.

The Cat:


The Bows:



And then I decided to finish a long lingering knitting project that just needed a hook and eye put on it.



So, I guess I was all about finishing things that have been on my plate and are stealing my muses to work on things I need to. All good, just didn't feel up to it...Now I do.