Sorry for the long time away! I'm certainly not off to a good start blogging! We were felled by 'the plague' over the holidays and well into January. I always end up with bronchitis, so am just now feeling normal again!! I know so many folks were, and still are, sick with the same flu. Yes, it's that time of year....as if winter weren't challenging enough on its own. Although, we have had strange weather this winter! For the prairies, it has been very very mild, that is until until last week, when we dropped down into -30ish.
Anyway enough about winter and flu! I ordered three sewing books over the holidays. First, The Colette Sewing Handbook, by Sarai Mitnick;
The Burda Style Sewing Handbook, by the folks from Burda;
and finally, Norwegian Handknits, by Sue Flanders and Janine Kosel.
Of the three, my preferences are toward The Burda Style and Norwegian Handknits. Burda Style includes 15 projects and a section profiling other sewists and how they interpret the patterns. Always inspiring! I can see myself making some of the outfits using my own ideas, as suitable for my age, personality and lifestyle. The Colette includes four patterns and detailed instructions on "how to". This would be a beautiful gift for someone learning to sew. I think the Colette Patterns may suit younger women more so than myself. It is a lovely book though with lots of instructions and wonderful clear pictures to guide you. And well, Norwegian Handknits is simply pure pleasure reading! Many, many patterns are included, with historical information about the patterns and pictures. Lovely reading on a winter afternoon!
I have ventured into my sewing room this week and lined up all my UFO's. I managed to finish a black knit top I had laying around since forever. The pattern is #1960, from Nancy Erickson, of The Fashion Sewing Group [http://www.fashionsewing.com/home.htm]. This pattern is one of my favourites and goes together easily and quickly. I have made the sweater many times as well. Another UFO waiting is a red sweater knit, cut out, and just waiting to be put together. But first, I have to finish a sweater jacket which is soooo close to being finished - just have to do the buttonholes and bottom hem. Can you imagine - what is stopping me?? I will try to post pictures shortly. You may be interested to know that Nancy puts out a superb newsletter five times a year. A wonderful source of sewing ideas and methods, fashion news and fabric! Loooove it! When I get my newsletter the first thing I do is staple all the samples so I don't lose them, then make a cup of tea or save it till bedtime to read every square inch!
On the knitting front, I confess to doing not much at all. My friend and I have committed to a large craft show in October, for which I am making felted bags. As I will need at least fifty, I need to get motivated! I have a made few already, that just need to be lined.
I purchased several (okay, 50) balls of wool from Elann at a very reasonable price. They have a great selection and being located in Canada, I receive my order very quickly.
[http://www.elann.com/Commerce.Web/default.aspx]
Are you getting the impression I do alot of online shopping? Haha that may be so! We have a very limited selection of stores in the small rural city where I chose to reside. There is no knitting store here, only one chain of fabric store, and only one small shop that calls itself a bookstore, but I beg to differ! So online shopping has opened the door to many products that I normally wouldn't have access to. And just as a footnote, any businesses I mention here are for information purposes only. My palms are not being greased, nor am I connected to, any of those mentioned. I just like them and want to share!
I hope to blog at least every other day, if not more often. I would love to hear from anyone who has time to leave a comment or just to say "hi".
Peace be with you,
Peace be with you,
Mimi
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