Sunday Stuff

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Today I continued with my sewing and sorting our some more of the stuff that was on my sewing table.

I have all but finished the apron I am making.  Just a bit of handsewing on the waistband and buttons and buttonholes to attach the neck strap.

2012-04-15 01This is what the neck strap and buttons will look like.

2012-04-15 02Finally, the pocket detail of which I am rather proud.

2012-04-15 03I really hope my apron partner likes it.

The next things I am working on are 2 summer tops for myself.  I know I will not need them for several months but it will be nice to have them finished and hanging in my wardrobe, rather than cluttering up space on my work table.

Now that the space is cleared I can see exactly what else I have to sew.  There are several Christmas gift bags as well as fabric for a reusable shopping bag (I am going to copy an existing one for a pattern).  I have other fabric earmarked to make a skirt for my niece, summer pyjamas for my granddaughter, a dress for Belle and a couple of polo shirts for The Duke so there is plenty to keep me occupied.

My plan is to do some sewing at least one each week and gradually work my way through the ‘To Do’ list.

On other matters, I have done a menu plan for the week for both lunches and dinners.  I have been rather slack lately and although we have not resorted to takeaway or eating out, my planning has been a bit haphazard.  I am back on track and hopefully this will make the morning rush a bit less rushed.  Tomorrow we are having leftover lasagne and salad and this is all prepared and in the refrigerator ready to grab and go in the morning.

I like to spend some time on Sundays getting organised so that I can have a headstart on the coming week.

Are you prepared for the week ahead?

Sewing on Saturday

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As I promised to myself yesterday, I have been sewing today.  I started with the pile in the mending basket.  The socks and shorts were first – straightforward.  Then I progressed to the more challenging tasks.  My methods are far from orthodox but I usually get results that mean a garment can be worn for a bit longer.

This is a maxi-dress that belongs to Belle.

2012-04-14 01The tie at the back had pulled away from the seam so we decided on something a bit different.

2012-04-14 02I removed the tie and using some black satin from my collection I made a band and threaded it with wide elastic.  It is secured at both ends and has enough stretch for the dress to be slipped over head and shoulders.  This is much sturdier than the original flimsy ties but still in keeping with the rest of the dress and the black satin halter neck ties.

2012-04-14 03Here is Belle’s pink cardigan with a hole in the sleeve.  There was no matching thread when the item was bought and the hole was too big to darn successfully.  Since it is not suitable to be worn as is I decided that any repair would be better than the alternative fate – the bin.

I found a bit of material with some flowers the same colour as the cardigan so cut out a bit and fused it on using double-sided iron-on interfacing.

2012-04-14 04I fused some fabric on the wrong side.

2012-04-14 05The final step was to zig-zag around the patch.

2012-04-14 06Whilst it is definitely not invisible it does make the cardigan wearable.

I have finished all of the mending apart from some hand-sewing on Missy’s skirt and I will finish that this evening.

2012-04-14 07I then turned my attention to the bag I am re-fashioning.  I showed you the patchwork strap the other day and here it is all finished and ready for use.

I am also making an apron for my buddy in the apron swap that I am participating in.  This was from Rhonda’s blog, Down to Earth.  I should have it finished tomorrow and then will be posting it later in the week.

The weather here has been cool and showery all day so it was perfect for a day of sewing.  Maybe I will do some more tomorrow.

The Mending Basket

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One of the advantages of Project 333 is knowing exactly what clothes you have available to wear.  When you have a limited selection it is important that everything is in wearable condition.

If something is worn out or simply unable to be repaired it is time to turn it into a rag or otherwise dispose of it.  This then frees up a space for a replacement item.  I tend to remove anything that might be useful, such as buttons.  The fabric may be able to be salvaged for re-fashioning purposes.  On the other hand, often all that is required is simple maintenance.

The mending pile quickly builds up and so this will be one of my jobs for the weekend.

This time there is very little of my own clothes.  I have The Duke’s socks, Belle’s dress, Missy’s skirt and Si’s (Belle’s partner) shorts.  I do have a shirt of my own to deconstruct to create a pattern.

There are numerous other sewing projects – either half done or still in the pipeline so I think a weekend with the machine is in order.

Watch this space for my progress.

Working Smarter – Laundry

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Increasing productivity and working smarter seem to be a constant catchcry in many of our workplaces but have you ever thought about working smarter at home?

I have been doing the laundry in our home for over 30 years but a few weeks ago had a ‘lightbulb moment’.  Who said that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

We have 2 laundry hampers in our home.  This one in the bedroom.

2012-04-12 01The other one is in the cupboard in the laundry.

2012-04-12 02These are not for any specific items.  They are located for convenience, depending on where you are.

We have a front-loading washing machine and have done for almost 20 years.  The only downside that I find is bending to load the clothes into it.

I have realised that I can easily upend the first hamper of clothes onto the bench.  The hamper is easy to lift as it is nylon mesh.  The second hamper has a cloth bag liner which lifts out and I tip the contents on to the bench as well.

2012-04-12 03I can then easily sort the clothes on the bench with no bending.  I then toss the pile to be washed onto the floor, kneel down and load the machine.  This way there is no bending to drag clothes out of hampers or bending and twisting to load individual items into the machine.

I cannot believe that I had not thought of this before.  Simple, effective and kind to my back.

What tips do you have that make a difference when you are doing physical tasks around the home?

Project 333 – The Ripple Effect

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I have been contemplating what to write tonight when it occurred to me that reducing the clothes that I wear for the next 3 months to just 33 items is really the tip of the iceberg.

The concept of living with less stuff can be applied to many other areas of your life.

I find myself thinking critically about all of my stuff and wondering what we really need and how much is enough.  The concept of enough is an interesting one and it is very personal.  Each individual’s circumstances and experiences can lead to very different ideas of enough.  It is important to find what is right for you.  Books, backpacks, pens, CDs, glassware are all on my radar.  I may not actually get rid of anything but I am certainly giving thought to our needs.

In the meantime, back to Project 333.  Here are some other blog posts about the project.  If you find any others that interest you, please add them in the comments.

Crosswalk

Zero Waste Home

Chi Garden

Project 333

The Gardener’s Cottage

Wardrobe Planning

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Even though it is still a little over 4 months until we head off on our trip to the US I have started planning the clothes that I will be taking.  We will be in Maine and Vermont in early September so am expecting that the weather could be getting quite cool.  Although I have a parka I do not own a lightweight fleece top so I bought this jacket online last week.

2012-04-10 01I bought it from Wilderness Wear and it is actually made here in Australia which is a refreshing change these days.  I bought it on special ( half price) for $75.  The sleeves are too long for me but that will be easy to alter.  It is very light yet warm and is quite fitted and looks stylish.  It will wash easily, dry quickly and be suitable to wear for a variety of occasions.  This makes it perfect for travelling. The colour I chose complements most of my existing clothing which makes it a versatile choice.

The next thing I need to get is another pair of lightweight travel pants.  I have 2 pairs at the moment which both have zip-off legs which effectively gives me 2 pairs of trousers plus 2 pairs of shorts.  One pair are Mont brand and I love the fit and feel of them, whereas the other, much cheaper pair are nowhere near as comfortable.  I would really like another pair the same as my Mont ones.

By thinking about what I need and buying wisely without any last minute rush I have my best chance of getting good quality clothes that meet my needs at a reasonable price.

Crafting in Progress

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Tonight I wanted to show you 2 craft projects I am working on.

First, the patchwork strap for the bag I am refashioning.

2012-04-09 01I have chosen colours that will complement the existing bag.  These fabrics are all scraps from my stash of bits of fabric.  I have fused the lining to the patchwork using double-sided iron-on interfacing.  I am going to make my own bias binding from some black fabric and bind the edges of the strap before attaching it to the bag.

Next is some knitting.  I am not the world’s best knitter but this simple dishcloth can be finished in a day or two.

2012-04-09 02I am using a pattern in the book, ‘Down to Earth’.  I plan to make several of these so that I always one on hand.

My handcraft projects are generally of a practical nature.  Craft evolved as a part of homemaking and this is the way I view it rather than some of the expensive and impractical pursuits which are currently promoted by retailers desperate to sell more materials.

Do you have a favourite craft?  What do you create with your craft skills?

Project 333 – On Holidays

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We are away for a couple of days of the Easter break and going to a music festival.

The clothes I am wearing are pretty much my standard casual wear and I have taken a couple of photos to show you.  Unfortunately, my laptop and camera and not ‘talking’ to each other at the moment so the photos will have to wait until I get home.

2012-04-08 01I brought a pair of jeans and my my charcoal grey travel pants as well as two 3/4 sleeve t-shirts – red/white stripe and black/white stripe with a rugby top for the cooler evening as we have been outdoors until well after midnight.

2012-04-08 02My footwear is a pair of red lace-up casuals from Ecco.  I did also bring my sneakers (not on the list) just in case there was wet weather and the shoes got wet on the first day.  The weather has been absolutely gorgeous so the sneakers have stayed firmly ensconced in the bottom of my bag.

A look around the festival at other attendees reinforces that there was no particular dress-code – it really is a matter of anything goes!  My priority was comfort and that suited me nicely.

Information Request

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I hope some of my US readers will be able to help with tips and information for our upcoming trip.

We will be spending 4 weeks in the north-east  of the United States later this year.  It will be be late August and into mid  September.

We are flying into Washington DC and spending 4 nights there .  Our accommodation is booked for those nights.  The rest of the trip is still flexible so would love your ideas.  I am thinking of 2 nights in Philadelphia, 4 nights New York City, 2-3 nights in Boston.  From there we hope to hire an RV and have about 15 nights touring.  We hope to travel as far as Bangor, ME as well as travelling through New Hampshire, Vermont and New York State.  Other things I have heard/read about which interest me include lighthouses along the Maine coastline, Mt Washington and fall scenery, Woodstock and Watertown,NY.

We have never been to the United States before and would like to make sure we maximise our time there.

Thanks again for your help.