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How I Pass My Days-Part 4-The DMV

August 19, 2008 in how i pass my days, self care, sewing | No comments

We decided to get our driver’s licenses today. When we left the house, the wait time was 17 minutes according to the DMV website. How does that explain that we spent three and a half hours there and walked out with one paper license (Eric didn’t have his passport with us) and a partial car registration? Whew. Busy, busy.

In other news. Since I’m realizing that I do not have as much time as I originally thought, I will have to cut back on the goal. Only doing one of my book plans or scrapping the books and coming up with my own plan. I’m not sure what I’ll do yet but will keep you posted.

Eric has had kidney stones for 5 or 6 weeks now. He called the doctor to get in again and see if they can be removed. The doctor’s first appointment isn’t until September 29th!! He left a message with the nurse (it was lunchtime) so we are hoping that they can squeeze him in somehow. Poor guy.

In other news, I went to the Long Beach Quilt Show at the end of July with Eric’s aunt and grandma. We did one of the crafty sessions and I won! Here’s a link on another blog about it. You have to scroll all the way down it was 70s Style Surviving the Runway. My idea was the spinning record. She says second in the blog, but really I got first. Fun times!

Ah..Accountability

August 18, 2008 in sewing | 2 comments

So. I spent the better part of the afternoon reading and asking myself hard questions. I’m feeling a lot better and not so serious. Still planning on my goals, though. When I returned to the computer, I had a potential employer in San Francisco asking me to an interview. Yippee.

Here’s what I’ve been sewing lately. It is going to a friend that just moved back to St. Louis. She’s pregnant, hence the stuffing in the middle.

Peace,
Katy^_^

After and How I Pass My Days-Part 2

August 13, 2008 in artist way, family, how i pass my days, Musings, patterns, sewing | 1 comment

There you have it. If you knew how much time and thought and shopping went into that table you’d probably be a lot more excited like I am. Let’s just say we’ve easily spent 5 or 6 hours in the last two days, and 3 separate trips to the store.

Things I love about it. The table is counter height so I can work standing up or sitting down. There are two chairs so Eric can work there with me, if I’m not using the entire table, that is.

I have two ideas of things to make. Which means drafting a pattern and sewing. A pleated shirt and a strapless dress to wear like a jumper over a crisp white button-up. Problem is I don’t have a block for my size and I’m kind of hard to fit. Thank goodness for trial-round muslins.

After seeing it all together, I am already figuring out changes. I think that I need to put some things on the walls. I have a big cork board and want to do something fun and girly like painting alphabet letters or something. Seems like a task to be done when my mom visits in September.

Also, I’m thinking it may be time to purge some things. Or at least use up my stash. I seem to love fabric shopping, but then it hides in a plastic tub. I’m sure the fabrics would much rather be styling on my bod. Another purge would be my rickety old first dress form. It was one of my last pre-marriage splurges, so it is definitely more sentimental than anything. I will definitely sleep on it.

In job news, I finished my application. Eric helped with my IT question–seems they didn’t support the web browser I was using. I have a meet and greet with a representative for a master’s program tomorrow. At any given time, there are 5 or 6 master’s programs I am interested in, so seeing as this is the only one I’ve asked for a tour on I think it is at the top of my list.

Peace,
^_^ Katy

Before

August 13, 2008 in sewing | No comments

Happy Cinco de Mayo

May 5, 2008 in Musings, running, self care, sewing | No comments

Happy May 5. I can’t believe it is already the 5th, that means less than 2 weeks until the big tri! I’m feeling the tug to do two a day workouts. I still haven’t decided for today–I may go swimming later. We did a time trial at the pool yesterday–if I can maintain the pace in open water that I had in the pool, the swim with take 33 minutes! Considering I couldn’t swim when I started this whole thing, I’m completely flabbergasted that I swim that fast now! The coaches have certainly worked their magic. I did swim in the lake on Saturday, but it was choppy and cold, so we went a bit shorter distance than we originally planned. It was in the 50s or 60s and the water was just about the same temp. I am learning to love my wetsuit!!

We find out if Eric is the speaker at the pasta party this week. Also, I made it $1000 over my fundraising minimum. Holy moly!! You can still donate if you want, everything at this point goes straight to the society!!

There are so many projects I want to start on and books to read, but I feel like everything is on hold with the tri and move. So sorry if the blog is a bit dull with my tri reports. I am definitely more nervous about this event–mainly the bike–than I was about the marathon. Who knows if I’ll ever do a century ride. A TnTism is the triple crown. You have to complete a tri, half or full marathon, and century ride to complete the “triple crown”. We’ll see what happens.

Apparently where we are headed in California is a huge biking community so I plan on getting over this unmerited biking fear. I’ve fallen so many times with my clips now it doesn’t even phase me, so I’m not sure what is causing the fear.

Peace,

Katy ^_^

Demolition Ball and Procrastination?!?!

April 6, 2008 in leukemia, Musings, running, sewing | 1 comment

Yesterday was a full day. I had a group training ride of about 20 miles with a brick thrown on the end–a 6 minute run immediately following a ride. Talk about weird sensations–jello-legs comes to mind. Lead feet too. Then a meeting in the middle of the day and an honored teammate social in the evening. Honored teammate socials give the Team in Training Team an opportunity to meet and interact with the “official” honored teammate. Several people have personal honored teammates as well that can be invited. Eric is our official honored teammate.

The honored teammate social was playing Demolition Ball. Bumper cars, two teams full of competitive people, a plastic ball and plastic scoops, with a play by play announcer has never been so fun. It was amazing. And yes, the round we did girls verses guys we scored the winning point with 8 seconds left. It was legendary!

Now to the procrastination. This week was also full. I was able to sew a futon cover for a friend last Sunday so it started off super-productive. Then hit training, catching up with friends which was awesome–and so needed, allergies hitting–but yay Spring is here, and school meetings for Eric. So sewing and writing were put on hold.

Since this is Eric’s last year of classes, we officially hear of our placement on April 22, but are pretty sure we know where we’re headed–it would involve some serious packing. We’re pleased as punch. That means the next goal is finishing the blue Vogue dress by April 22. You’ll laugh to know I started it a week before the 4th of July holiday 2007 in hopes of wearing it on our vacation. So here goes! It really wants to be worn, but any more than 2 buttonholes scares me.

Progress will be posted soon!

Peace,

^_^ Katy

Alabama Chanin Weekend Workshop Thoughts

March 29, 2008 in cooking, food, Musings, self care, sewing | 1 comment

First off, Alabama Chanin recently posted the upcoming dates and locations for future workshops. I highly, highly recommend making it to one of them if you are able.

I really enjoyed the entire weekend. Even the 6-hour drive there and the 6-hour drive back. Since I made it through 4 states, it really felt like I had accomplished something! Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama if you are curious.

Friday Night Reception~Friday night there was a cocktail reception. It was low-key and laid back. We got to meet Natalie, Angie, and the other participants. I took one picture that night. Here’s a coffee table spread from the evening with flowers made from fabric scrapes. Yes, they are that gorgeous in person. The gossip that night was Billy Bob Thorton was in town. I tried to go see him, but the venue was full. I enjoyed my walk around the downtown. It was really cold and even managed to snow on Friday night!

The Stay~While in Florence, I ~~stayed~~ slept at a Bed and Breakfast. I say slept, because I spent very few waking moments there. The time I was there was great. Their breakfast was fabulous, the room was spacious and clean. And it was walking distance from the main few streets in Florence and The University of North Alabama. I got to make the first footprints in the snow that dusted the campus on my Saturday morning run. I love B&B’s but must say I felt slightly odd staying there alone. It is definitely less awkward going down to breakfast if you have someone to go with.

The owner said her daughter called the room I stayed in the treehouse room. I think it must have been added on to the house at some point. It was so restful there. I really did feel like royalty.

Saturday~Saturday was one very, very long day. Not in the terrible it wouldn’t end way, but more in the oh my gosh, I got to do what? And for how long? With really cool people? Really? Wow!

Everything happened at GAS Studios. It is gorgeous. And the owner and his family are gorgeous too–and saying they are hospitable, is a major understatement.

So Saturday and Sunday we worked on our projects and chatted and generally just enjoyed the process and people. We were also spoiled silly by the cooking workshop participants. The food was just amazing and steeped in Southern tradition.

Here’s a ton more photos. These are food related.

These are sewing related.

And here is my finished corset! Yep–it is done and I’m wearing it as I type this.

So all in all I had an amazing time.

Peace,

^_^ Katy

News from the NYT

March 27, 2008 in running, sewing | No comments

In the NYT today, there is an article on the getting a “runner’s high”. Explain why when I cut my workouts–it is usually with running. Is it because I’ve been there, done that? Yes, I’ve completed a marathon, but I have lots of room for improvement. I’m not pro–my 5 hour 25 minute time will attest to that. Crazily enough, last Thursday I was looking forward to and completed an 85 minute run. Although there were difficult times, it felt really, really good to finish–the runner’s high perhaps? Is it because I get greater pleasure from trying something new and mastering it instead? Hrm. I think in some strange way this phenomenon of not finishing things, like sewing projects, is related. Hrm..

Also, there is an article on Bottega Veneta. I loved, loved, loved their dress from last season–in fact that is one of my UFO dresses. After reading the article I have a lot more interest in finishing it! I think for me, fashion moves too fast. I want to keep up with it all, but I just don’t make time to sew that quickly. So I stop that project and hope like hell I’ll finish the next one before a new idea comes to me. The Alabama Chanin corset is definitely teaching me the joys of slowing it down, and hand-sewing. I wonder if I can hand sew some of that silk–would that even help?

Well, there you have my musings for the day.

Peace,

^_^ Katy

UFO Update

March 25, 2008 in patterns, sewing | 5 comments

I sewed a stitch or two on the corset–I hope to be well on my way to sewing up the side seams and other finishing touches really soon. I stitched a bit on the unfinished shower curtain.

I also worked on the back for my Balenciaga inspired shirt. I can say that I hate working with silk. I don’t like cutting it. You can see that the back center seam is off kilter–I don’t like ripping it out and re-doing it. I don’t like how it frays. So–I am thinking I’ll actually re-cut the back as one solid piece and work on draping on top of it. Maybe?? Or I can shove it to the back of the closet until I take a draping class.

I really just want to burn it all–but I’m not because silk stinks when you burn it. Darn natural fiber.

Don’t you think that Maud’s butt cheeks hanging out are cute?

Peace,

^_^ Katy

UFOs

March 23, 2008 in sewing | 1 comment

UFOs are UnFinished Objects. I have a lot. My goal is to work on UFOs and finish a bunch before starting something new. Last week, I wore one of my favorite shirts. Until last fall it sat in the UFO pile. I picked it up and decided to go on a whim with design changes and completed it with maybe 4 additonal hours of work.

Here’s the shirt.

So here are my UFOs in the order I’m currently planning on finishing them. I’ll keep you updated on the progress.

1. Alabama Chanin shirt and photos/thoughts about the weekend organized.

2. Khaki shirt that has the same pattern as the one in the photo above, but different styling.

3. Blue tonal striped shirtdress.

Wish me luck!

^_^

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