tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184146462024-03-12T23:48:16.396-04:00mermaidsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger495125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-391175390703228982017-07-09T21:16:00.000-04:002017-07-09T21:16:19.050-04:00Operant Conditioning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOM3ivgxDfgEhZeUsD5MssSjl0l4ywLsYYXu3aMW7ON_bNDCLHZhCkAvK1pip5b0Uv8yOMGJ3pccl0D9rqZxCs0YW-DlZcX0_8Y-y8d05nSC7FEAz-U1eaUA0P5t6R0HhHQZA/s1600/IMG_20170707_184838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="879" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOM3ivgxDfgEhZeUsD5MssSjl0l4ywLsYYXu3aMW7ON_bNDCLHZhCkAvK1pip5b0Uv8yOMGJ3pccl0D9rqZxCs0YW-DlZcX0_8Y-y8d05nSC7FEAz-U1eaUA0P5t6R0HhHQZA/s320/IMG_20170707_184838.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>
To get that sewing mojo back, I am totally going for the positive reinfocement of instant gratification. Can't get much more instant than a "no pattern" elastic waist skirt. The fabric is a silky somrthing or other that I've had forever. To keep the lightness of the fabric, I did French seams instead of serging the side seams. It's perfect for this very hot summer weather.<br />
<br />
Because so much of my life revolves around all the medical garbage, having cute (yet comfortable) clothes helps me feel better about my day. People often tell me, "but you don't look sick," Good! I work really hard to not look sick. I need things that are easy to wear and easy to care for. Right now, "easy to make" is also a good quality.<br /><br />It feels good to work in my studio again. It feels good to chip away at the mountain of fabric in my stash. All that fabric was taunting me... unfulfilled dreams.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4e9fMWDQYdz_-7eswNPju2s9ZFA2CAC-p2sSjpYLCpTkzLIDuunuR0ONKo5IRK-DQzv32BEz0lJ8f0mUx7BF4kKxDJ6-BrQ2FWXIyNN9jBA1d4GcB8CyBVJdZ-ZyM93WvkSJ/s1600/IMG_20170707_185121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4e9fMWDQYdz_-7eswNPju2s9ZFA2CAC-p2sSjpYLCpTkzLIDuunuR0ONKo5IRK-DQzv32BEz0lJ8f0mUx7BF4kKxDJ6-BrQ2FWXIyNN9jBA1d4GcB8CyBVJdZ-ZyM93WvkSJ/s320/IMG_20170707_185121.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-875455009322484032017-06-30T23:46:00.000-04:002017-06-30T23:46:25.148-04:00The Party's Over<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByT6wO_CanL2V11ltKu1DvYTn_MgoAg5hzzxrZm0ajni9_3s_M7SD0BycULTgJRdEnzH9_Au6fcr3Cq_R5OBgTUS0XSXo5DFHKaJxr9BItgMXaXbNnLneDv_l4l3DO9iHkr5Y/s1600/IMG_20170626_182441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="wrap skirt with gathers" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1025" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByT6wO_CanL2V11ltKu1DvYTn_MgoAg5hzzxrZm0ajni9_3s_M7SD0BycULTgJRdEnzH9_Au6fcr3Cq_R5OBgTUS0XSXo5DFHKaJxr9BItgMXaXbNnLneDv_l4l3DO9iHkr5Y/s320/IMG_20170626_182441.jpg" title="" width="205" /></a>The Pity Party is over. For those who insist that I am so strong, that last post proves that I have bad days... weeks...<br /><br />I am a maker.<br />
<br />
I make much more slowly these days, but I still make. I simply have to make things. It's like breathing. I am gradually learning how to carve a little time and energy to spend in my studio. I am learning to accept that it is okay to not finish a project in one session. For example, this fairly simple skirt took weeks to finish, but it is finished!<br /><br />The pattern is a long out of print Vogue pattern and the fabric as been in my stash for so long that I don't remember where I bought it. Chicago, maybe?<br />
<br />
This skirt will get a lot of use. The smooth elastic waist and stretch fabric make it extremely comfortable to wear. Comfortable is extremely important these days. With a nice top and heels, it would be great for an evening event. With flats and a tank top, I am ready for running errands.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgRfU8tJ6mZxtvAWhvK-3DGyuNlGFpUUiGYifiIsN-ceCJ6ExDiha-w2tS14WbQSHbmXgxAxxwEL5IMOtswANN-aKUQZiCtUecFAi0mjgOQ1r38B4R771X0d3QJRwcZ-QiFAI/s1600/IMG_20170626_103854_798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="skirt inset" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgRfU8tJ6mZxtvAWhvK-3DGyuNlGFpUUiGYifiIsN-ceCJ6ExDiha-w2tS14WbQSHbmXgxAxxwEL5IMOtswANN-aKUQZiCtUecFAi0mjgOQ1r38B4R771X0d3QJRwcZ-QiFAI/s200/IMG_20170626_103854_798.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></div>
Now, I have to show off a little. Instead of darts, this pattern uses some interesting shaped panels to give shaping at the waist. Matching up the seams, through layers of stretchy fabric, is not easy. This is an example of having to wait for a day when I had the energy and focus to do precision sewing.<br /><br />Even if no one else notices, I feel better wearing things that I made... because I am a maker.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-35916494319148934102017-04-16T17:59:00.001-04:002017-04-16T17:59:56.975-04:00New Direction<div dir="ltr">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBSb0aTZqH8d1xtx3Rccj7Nd2HsAaV_jnnCWmc3HEi_vOgzPtO8CajcU2BjZOuxoyFZ_3pWz_eDnYh5Gn8gae82Fz800wfIQb1v9ajnK2DHrvLXa8X4sLV-GOtFEn9MMOYYeH/s1600/weathervane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBSb0aTZqH8d1xtx3Rccj7Nd2HsAaV_jnnCWmc3HEi_vOgzPtO8CajcU2BjZOuxoyFZ_3pWz_eDnYh5Gn8gae82Fz800wfIQb1v9ajnK2DHrvLXa8X4sLV-GOtFEn9MMOYYeH/s320/weathervane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When the winds shift, the smart sailor knows how to adjust the sails. It seems I am constantly adjusting the sails. My body continuously finds new ways to challenge me. Why can't I find a calm spot in the sea?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
For so many years, being a "maker" was a huge part of my identity. I could whip up a new dress in hours. My list of completed projects was constantly growing. For decades, I made <b>all </b>of my clothes. I made everything my boys wore for years. It was a source of pride. Then the surgeries came in rapid succession. My energy was consumed by recovery and rehab. Making things became harder and harder. After one of my surgeries, I rediscovered knitting. I taught myself to knit a sweater by watching videos online. I was still a Maker! Then my hands decided to not cooperate. Knitting became harder. Shoulder surgery meant no sewing or knitting for almost a year. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
If I am not a Maker, who am I?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Projects still happen but at a much slower pace. And that makes me angry. I need to let go of who I was and accept who I am, but it is hard. When other people lamented that they couldn't sew as fast as I could, I always encouraged them to keep trying, one day they could learn to sew fast too. I sincerely meant it. But how do I accept my new slower production rate? I should be grateful that I can still sew at all. I guess I haven't hit that acceptance of grieving the loss of who I was, and not just in terms of being a Maker. Years of surgery and Ehlers-Danlos have changed who I am in every aspect of my life. It has changed the way I look at life. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I'm trying to adjust the sails and set course for a new direction, but I still feel somewhat adrift.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-27444735071783443512016-12-01T15:48:00.000-05:002016-12-01T15:48:20.493-05:00A Girl Needs Glitter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyZKSPr8jJ4YYK7Y6jPNj6HqNi1ugYQXoqNFySei6JYhhKKIDiThDQEE-lt-YGfcFuOiu0hACfCPaVZRlRT06Uo8SLU7i9q5S94iIULM0ifHDyOVBHC6RVD8Hf_gsrBG7jOh9/s1600/red+glitter+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyZKSPr8jJ4YYK7Y6jPNj6HqNi1ugYQXoqNFySei6JYhhKKIDiThDQEE-lt-YGfcFuOiu0hACfCPaVZRlRT06Uo8SLU7i9q5S94iIULM0ifHDyOVBHC6RVD8Hf_gsrBG7jOh9/s320/red+glitter+dress.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
This wedding had been on my calendar for months. As I recovered from shoulder surgery, I scanned Pinterest for inspiration. I designed dresses in my head, mentally drafting the pieces and planning the sewing sequence. As my shoulder healed, even small sewing projects were exhausting and painful. The thought of making an intricate dress was overwhelming. I procrastinated. I flipped through the dresses hanging in my closet hoping one of them would be just right for the occasion. Everything felt too summery or too serious or too casual. I tried to tell myself that I didn't need a new dress because all eyes should be on the bride.<br />
<br />
Back to the closet. Still unhappy with my choices. Then I watched an episode of Project Runway with a cocktail dress challenge. A designer used a very simple silhouette with a really pretty fabric. Hmmmm, simple sewing that let's the fabric do the work. Folks, this is when a fabric stash comes in handy. I had a great piece of fabric, a red stretch velvet with glitter!!! Pain levels had been pretty high and some glitter would give me a festive boost for the evening.<br />
<br />
Red sparkly fabric certainly doesn't need a lot of intricate patterning to make a statement. I decided on a simple draped neckline with a bit of ruching on side so I didn't have to suck in my tummy all night long. From cutting out to snipping the final threads was about two hours of work. It was worth it! I felt appropriately festive, yet comfortable, and left a bit of glitter on everyone I hugged.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-37725921463759393312016-08-27T20:04:00.001-04:002016-08-27T20:04:44.542-04:00Socks of Kindness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMH2SJ_oHuJBDMiV4DQ3RWKOHPf-FzDuF-d8v82uhA8i4gwlzc6K0QP7Z0zZ03ucJao-9vzUZNWNwhH1UWWvnUlm0gerPxETR5eW-Cu7sTC_nzqjUPWbfMt9G0Vu5Uwl0ecmok/s1600/KindnessSocks1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMH2SJ_oHuJBDMiV4DQ3RWKOHPf-FzDuF-d8v82uhA8i4gwlzc6K0QP7Z0zZ03ucJao-9vzUZNWNwhH1UWWvnUlm0gerPxETR5eW-Cu7sTC_nzqjUPWbfMt9G0Vu5Uwl0ecmok/s320/KindnessSocks1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After knitting a rather intricate project, I wanted a quick, immediate gratification project. (I will share the intricate project soon...)<br />
<br />
Socks!!!<br />
<br />
After scrolling through the eleventy billion sock patterns on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/mermaids103" target="_blank">Ravelry</a> and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/mermaids" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, I decided on "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/socks-of-kindness-a-recipe" target="_blank">Socks of Kindness</a>." The yarn, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/premier-yarns-deborah-norville-serenity-sock-weight-prints-merino-bamboo-blend" target="_blank">Deborah Norville Serenity Sock Weight</a>, was gifted to me ages ago. I am on a serious mission to get my yarn stash under control. Yes, donating it would be faster and easier, but I have a hard time taking the path of least resistance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq8fwPDkcHAI8mvGnP2Df6ZHWjJ3-v4eWmhSjIrmKQrso6XDu0XKJsqFclop7TqMyW2Df45rA20aglsO_Tt-DY7WsH182njIQ2f0OJ3EefHmV0bn2hYMzerpHl6LrDJdYQAZu/s1600/KindnessSocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq8fwPDkcHAI8mvGnP2Df6ZHWjJ3-v4eWmhSjIrmKQrso6XDu0XKJsqFclop7TqMyW2Df45rA20aglsO_Tt-DY7WsH182njIQ2f0OJ3EefHmV0bn2hYMzerpHl6LrDJdYQAZu/s320/KindnessSocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There was a wee bit of panic when I realized there were no actual directions for doing the heel flap and turn. Then I remembered that I've made many pairs of socks and I could do this! And I did! I've made enough socks that the heel mechanics are now intuitive. When I got to the toe, I didn't even <i>look</i> for directions. Toes are easy peasy. I guess that means I'm a real, grown up knitter now. Watch out, I might go rogue and start making up my own sock patterns.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfbWABjgY-gi50gbiiGgjv_sqXA6FCc-0tYJKh_PQ7mh4epu6euZQvhrAz-ycBAONqJpv7U6uwRODruNgIQ0Rl1eofEmpuxaKh2szoywdlH-jR3sRXidisCpauyNd6bbAFahx/s1600/KindnessSocks3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfbWABjgY-gi50gbiiGgjv_sqXA6FCc-0tYJKh_PQ7mh4epu6euZQvhrAz-ycBAONqJpv7U6uwRODruNgIQ0Rl1eofEmpuxaKh2szoywdlH-jR3sRXidisCpauyNd6bbAFahx/s320/KindnessSocks3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Socks of Kindness are very kind to knit. Aside from the lack of heel directions, this would be a great pattern for a beginner. The knitting is fast and results are lovely.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-qKlVtkeqn7ZMQEPYPXgf65iI0w_J1H1ojJcMW0zcIFIMn4RMq6lOhypumnWoqpnfBiu25J1PvjLIthaau1AsYHCWq-VONvT764OwH7im9uLU6gx2llr42wCMXmMZn2c9VHX/s1600/KindnessSocks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-qKlVtkeqn7ZMQEPYPXgf65iI0w_J1H1ojJcMW0zcIFIMn4RMq6lOhypumnWoqpnfBiu25J1PvjLIthaau1AsYHCWq-VONvT764OwH7im9uLU6gx2llr42wCMXmMZn2c9VHX/s320/KindnessSocks2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">Sigh... now figure out what I will do with the leftover yarn.... baby socks??? What's your favorite way to use up leftover yarn?</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-45169895476671197452016-08-15T22:01:00.001-04:002016-11-26T00:29:49.009-05:00The Zen of Knitting <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsho-Ps-QPc7OWM-nYmrdf2-4LGPJys5YFZ2iMd6EUyfmx3yisvCJUpOufycQaVS-SJ26QaDytbpeOAc9QruvlVAr6TdP-QGwHDrFvccqlhfW2UFAd3TMob4kzDaTlgKVTQgj/s1600/knitting+pier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsho-Ps-QPc7OWM-nYmrdf2-4LGPJys5YFZ2iMd6EUyfmx3yisvCJUpOufycQaVS-SJ26QaDytbpeOAc9QruvlVAr6TdP-QGwHDrFvccqlhfW2UFAd3TMob4kzDaTlgKVTQgj/s320/knitting+pier.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
During our trip to Charleston, I would wake up before daylight, grab my knitting and coffee from the hotel lobby on my way down to the pier. Watching the sunrise and attempting to get the perfect photo is my favorite way to start the day when I am near the water. This pier had wonderful porch swings where I would knit until it was time to join the others for breakfast. Peaceful. Calm.<br />
<br />
Yes, I love seeing the sun come up over water, but I don't use an alarm clock to get up early. Insomnia is my alarm clock. For years, I fought it. Now, I embrace it. However, my lack of sleep troubles my doctors and physical therapist. Ehlers-Danlos can cause excess adrenaline, which throws off the nervous system and impacts sleep. Lack of sleep makes it harder to tolerate pain, which increases adrenaline. Lather, rinse, repeat. My medical folks search for ways to calm my nervous system to help with pain and sleep. Since drugs don't work, meditation has been suggested more than once.<br />
<br />
Meditation has been tried more than once. "Clear you mind"? How does one do that??? I don't have a <i>stream</i> of consciousness. I have a raging, flooding river of consciousness with ideas, thoughts, things to do spilling over. Sitting still makes it even worse. People tried to teach me about centering, breathing, letting the outside world melt away. Trying to meditate was stressful.<br />
<br />
Thanks to my torn rotator cuff, there was no knitting or sewing for about seven months. The insomnia spiraled out of control again. I attributed it to two surgeries in a very short period of time. Then I started being able to do some knitting, and I noticed something interesting. My heart rate slowed down, my breathing was deeper, calmer. Counting stitches pushed back the flood of thoughts. The soft yarn running through my fingers was soothing. The quiet clicking of the needles created a relaxing rhythmic beat. Knitting is my meditation!<br />
<br />
Knitting has not cured my insomnia, but it does calm me. When I can't sleep, curling up with a quilt and knitting makes the pre-dawn hours more peaceful. Sometimes, knitting for a while can clear my mind enough to attempt sleep again.<br />
<br />
What is your favorite non-meditation form of meditation?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-21373796826364199592016-07-24T08:44:00.000-04:002016-07-24T09:15:17.348-04:00Be Kind<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6n5nv_X4B6O3MN13PSIJGFg6nYpRMLSA87Gw7jaZrWqqy3njMmxuyWINyKkntWtIEEoi70XhJ73LvMokpfadlqW0u7PLVP3NXHA42wTiuRn14vrRDZU511tnpyrZ-Dbi-NHh/s1600/aquarium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6n5nv_X4B6O3MN13PSIJGFg6nYpRMLSA87Gw7jaZrWqqy3njMmxuyWINyKkntWtIEEoi70XhJ73LvMokpfadlqW0u7PLVP3NXHA42wTiuRn14vrRDZU511tnpyrZ-Dbi-NHh/s400/aquarium.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Over the last decade, I’ve spent a great deal of time on crutches and have used a wheelchair a few times. You would think I would no longer be shocked by the rudeness of others. But, no, each time it is a surprise. I guess this is because I have always gone out of my way to help people who using some sort of assistive device. Their life is hard enough. I can spare a few seconds of my day to help someone who has to work so hard to simply get from Point A to Point B. Why wouldn’t I do that? Apparently, many people do not share this belief. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
When we visited the aquarium at the end of our Charleston visit, my body was rather weary from lots of walking in very hot weather. I swallowed my pride and asked for a wheelchair. Being able to enjoy the aquarium was more important than my pride. They made it super easy. No questions asked, just had to leave an ID to make sure we returned the chair. When I saw the long, long ramp to get into the aquarium, I was instantly happy with my decision. I'm not sure I could have walked up that ramp.<br />
<br />
The stares started immediately, but I was okay with that. A<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;"> little girl asked, “Momma, why is she in that chair?" Absolutely legit question from a small child. The mother snatched her daughter away, "I don't know what's <i>wrong</i> with her," the response dripping with derision and judgment. The word <i>wrong</i> suggests that I am somehow "less than." My body just doesn't work sometimes. My ears certainly still work. Hey, Momma, next time try saying something like, "I don't know, sweetie. Looks like it might be hard for her to get around so she's using a wheelchair to help." Less judgment, more understanding. </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><br /></span> <span style="text-indent: -0.5in;">I’ve always had the challenge of being shorter than the average person, which means I have to wriggle my way to the front to see anything. On two functional legs, I can usually do that without being annoying. A wheelchair takes up a lot of physical space. So we would wait patiently at the exhibits for our turn to move to the front. My boys would push the chair close to the glass so I could get a good look at the fish and take a couple photos. I was always cognizant of the time I monopolized the front and center space, yet parents allowed their children to push into the 6 inches between my chair and the glass. One child was standing between my legs. No, that's not awkward at all. Teach your children about personal space!</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><br /></span> <span style="text-indent: -0.5in;">When maneuvering between exhibits, again, we gave everyone else the right of way, waiting patiently for a break in the traffic. As we attempted to move forward, invariably, someone would jump in front of me. My "driver" had to be on high alert at all times. FYI, wheelchairs do not stop on a dime. No anti-lock braking system. It was stressful for me to feel as though I was hurtling towards a collision with a full grown adult at any time. </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><br /></span> <span style="text-indent: -0.5in;">Doors. Ugh. Not one single person offered to hold a door open for us. As one of my boys went ahead to open a door, other people took this an invitation for <i>them</i> to zip through the door ahead of me. </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><br /></span> <span style="text-indent: -0.5in;">However, there is a silver lining to this tale. The aquarium staff was so helpful and kind. <i>They</i> held doors open. They pointed out the elevators before I even asked. A young woman was holding a turtle for people to touch and check out. Again, we held back, waiting for a clearing in the crowd. The woman saw me, stepped away from the crowd and brought the turtle over to me. She was patient, answered all my questions, and let me have as turtle time as I wanted. That small act of acknowledgment meant so much to me, not that I care all that much about turtles, but she saw me and did not ignore me. </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;">Deciding to use a wheelchair at the aquarium was hard for me, not because I feel using a wheelchair makes a person inferior. For me, the wheelchair was admitting that I'm not getting better, ever. I had surgeries, did my time on crutches, did my physical therapy. I should be getting better. Using a wheelchair is regressing in the healing process. That is something I need to get over and deal with. I'm still working on the acceptance phase of this process. I still have moments of thinking "if I just work a little harder, I can be whole again." </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;">During my brief times in wheelchairs, it is the invisibility that is hard. People don't want to make eye contact. People don't talk to me, they talk to the person pushing me. Why do they do this?? Does seeing illness frighten them? Do they assume physical disability equals mental disability?</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -0.5in;">When I am able, I hold doors open for people in wheelchairs, on crutches, pushing a stroller, carrying bags, etc. If I see someone who appears to have trouble walking, I allow them to go ahead of me. Waiting a few seconds is not going to shatter my life and it will make their day just a bit easier. </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
What can you do when you see someone using an assistive device?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Be kind</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Give them extra room</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Open the door</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Smile</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Make eye contact</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Speak to them just as you would if they were standing on two good feet</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Teach your children to do the same</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If your child asks questions, remember that we have ears and can hear your answer</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Be patient</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In a crowded place like a museum, be a trail blazer by clearing a path in the crowd</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In a store, offer to reach things on high shelves</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Be kind</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-indent: -24px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-32858264803927115472016-07-17T01:51:00.001-04:002016-07-17T01:51:35.010-04:00See C Sew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_c95gbuXgJeINMyz4POPEW6cijESO_ViVzT4rf2Ok3stiQN6jAhNCDGRLRRLK9qozcgXWclCcI_Ucyb0g-slTvSl1RYfuA4zQEv8tvh6nMHrOOhS94RN1cPo1wM3Tl2AnuJN/s1600/IMG_20160704_113532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_c95gbuXgJeINMyz4POPEW6cijESO_ViVzT4rf2Ok3stiQN6jAhNCDGRLRRLK9qozcgXWclCcI_Ucyb0g-slTvSl1RYfuA4zQEv8tvh6nMHrOOhS94RN1cPo1wM3Tl2AnuJN/s320/IMG_20160704_113532.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
My posts have been rather heavy lately. Time for something lighter and fun. I may not be able to do much sewing, but my boy can! I had a fitted sheet that just would not stay on the mattress. As C was taking the sheets off my bed to wash them, I told him that we should give up on that fitted sheet. But the fabric is sooooo soft. He said, "It is an epic fail as a fitted sheet, but it would make some fabulous pajama pants. Would you help me?" How could I say no to the boy who has done my laundry for months?<br /><br />C has always been good at finding new uses for discarded items. In kindergarten, the school's playground was used as a community soccer field on the weekends and evenings. He would come home from school with his pockets full of "treasures" he found during recess. The bottle caps, bits of plastic, and pieces of paper would become parts of his art projects. He watched our recycling bin for potential art materials.<br /><br />We spent an afternoon in my studio while he converted the fitted sheet into pajama pants. C really didn't need my help because he knew exactly what to do. He used our tried and true pajama pant pattern from <a href="http://www.ottobredesign.com/" target="_blank">Ottobre Design</a>. We've altered it over the years to get the fit just right. Of course, there is a pocket for his cell phone. The waistband is a combination of elastic and drawstring. The elastic is cut about 80% of the waist measurement with drawstring ties added to the ends. You get the comfort of elastic, but the adjustability of a drawstring. The best of both worlds!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1vZzUSwDFD8Z5uUjtL9PMIuUEaYJQ9nF0SiXVTY0PV6Yj5fStKj4Z1RH05bTboOQT2iIAR3FiYtQHUupcPDjcJccnbTrY28yVxdSi4YVO5Q3wFXxrB7C4HZPQkhTC26WzKGy/s1600/IMG_20160704_113542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1vZzUSwDFD8Z5uUjtL9PMIuUEaYJQ9nF0SiXVTY0PV6Yj5fStKj4Z1RH05bTboOQT2iIAR3FiYtQHUupcPDjcJccnbTrY28yVxdSi4YVO5Q3wFXxrB7C4HZPQkhTC26WzKGy/s320/IMG_20160704_113542.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
<br />It does my soul good to see my boy so comfortable in the sewing studio. I hate that he inherited the Ehlers-Danlos gene from me, but he also got some good genes from me. He is super creative and crafty. He has a deep passion for good design, be it fashion or computer code. It was a delightful afternoon. He is pleased with his incredibly soft pajama pants. We are both pleased that fitted sheet found another use and avoided the landfill.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-29000245016639802232016-07-02T22:18:00.000-04:002016-07-02T22:18:20.790-04:00Believe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5STgPAx-Z0bBfui3SG-7AmGD6oakRBMLjIv-cjDe_DSrkShCeNwVOL2mrBkD-ZSbBjbrwsGW2-uUaI13Y5SnOUcreWxn-9nxXNSmNAXlpALwSd4m9bM-Ew2EYoDAKY2Qbx_p/s1600/Believe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5STgPAx-Z0bBfui3SG-7AmGD6oakRBMLjIv-cjDe_DSrkShCeNwVOL2mrBkD-ZSbBjbrwsGW2-uUaI13Y5SnOUcreWxn-9nxXNSmNAXlpALwSd4m9bM-Ew2EYoDAKY2Qbx_p/s320/Believe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The first time someone mentioned "connective disorder" or "Ehlers-Danlos," I did what any 21st century girl would do. I dived headlong into the internet to look for answers. What I found was so depressing. In addition to a list of symptoms and complications a mile long, every story seemed to carry the common thread of "no one believes me."<br />
<br />
In that respect, I'm lucky. My friends never doubted me. Many friends actually pushed me to not give up on a diagnosis when I was willing to "just live with it." My doctors did not doubt me, despite being unable to figure out what was wrong. They have always taken my pain seriously. They have searched for answers outside of their fields, at conferences, on their own time. Except for one very strange rheumatologist, no one suggested that it was "all in my head."<br /><br />Many, dare I say "most," people with Ehlers-Danlos go through years of having their pain and symptoms dismissed by doctors. The symptoms can be so random and could be so many other things, that most doctors do not connect the dots. They try to treat the symptoms as they appear. However, because collagen is everywhere in the body, people with Ehlers-Danlos have lots of medical issues that send them to the doctor's office on a regular basis. Many are accused of being drug seekers or hypochondriacs. I cannot imagine going through this kind of pain on a daily basis and have people think I was faking it.<br /><br />I've always had more than my share of weird medical things. I can't tell you how many times a doctor has said to me, "Hmm, this is odd...." Strange reactions to medications, strange allergies, strange symptoms that just didn't line up. But no one doubted me. I doubted myself at times. Why was I always sick, but not like "I have the flu" sick? Why did my body hurt so much all the time? I assumed that I just needed to toughen up, push through the pain.<br /><br />Doctors wanted to run tests, do scans, do surgery. They tried to find answers. They offered treatments. I tried everything, every medication, treatment, surgery. I wanted to be fixed, to be whole again. Each time, I went in with the attitude of "if I just get through this, then I will be well and I can live my life again."<br /><br />I am grateful for my friends who never doubted my pain. The advice they offered came from a place of truly wanting to help. The advice was usually prefaced with "I'm sure you've already checked into this, but have you tried...." That was, and still is, huge. It is a sign of respect for my ability to make intelligent decisions about my health.<br /><br />Even after being diagnosed, I had moments of doubt, not my doctors or friends. Once diagnosed, my doctors all said, "YES! That makes total sense. Everything fits now." Even though the diagnosis fits so well and explains so many things, there are still moments where I question if maybe it is just "all in my head." Maybe it is denial on my part, refusal to accept that my body is truly so defective and will not get better. There is a not so small part of me that wants to believe I will be better one day, I will be normal one day.<br /><br />Most Ehlers-Danlos patients fight an uphill battle to be taken seriously. They know something is wrong and struggle to get doctors to believe them. In my case, everyone else has known something is wrong, but I am the one who didn't believe it. My medical team is trying to convince me to accept that I can't keep waiting for the day when the pain goes away. They want me to accept that I need to live my life like someone who has a chronic illness. That doesn't mean never leaving my bed, but it does mean accepting that I need to rest more, respect the pain, and be more realistic about how much I can do in 24 hours a day. It is hard to believe that I am sick and will not get better. This is not the flu that will pass in a week to ten days. There is no surgery or medication that will make Ehlers-Danlos go away, but learning to respect the limitations will actually improve my quality of life.<br /><br />Having friends and a medical team who support me is huge. I cannot imagine feeling like this and having everyone telling me to just "get over it." I would push against the pain ten times harder, which would only make things worse. It's hard to cancel plans with friends at the last minute. Knowing that my friends understand makes it a little less horrible for me. I still apologize profusely and feel guilty, but I also feel grateful for their understanding and support. That understanding and support are what will help me accept that I have to adapt my life to include Ehlers-Danlos.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-76039858485399690312016-06-28T19:07:00.000-04:002016-06-28T19:07:30.637-04:00Taking the Easy Way OutThe waiter's description of the special, a New York strip, took me from "I could eat..." to "I must have a giant slab of meat." In the back of my mind, a nagging little voice said, "Don't do it." The wonderful aroma arrived moments before my steak did. I looked down at that beautifully, perfectly grilled steak and suddenly felt ill. "How will I eat this?" Literally.... how will I eat this?<br />
<br />
I managed to cut up a few bites. Then I poked at the veggies for a bit, hoping my friends wouldn't notice. But how could they ignore the giant uneaten steak sitting on my plate? Between my hands and my shoulder, I couldn't cut up my own steak. They offered to help, but I insisted that I was full. Honestly, I had lost my appetite at that point. Being unable to feed myself tends to be an appetite suppressant.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
When I scan a restaurant menu, I look for foods that are already in bite sized pieces or will be easy to cut up. Meatloaf would have been a better choice than steak.<br />
<br />
So much of my day has become about looking for the easy way out, the path of least resistance. But there is a positive side to this. I have cut the useless out of my life. When energy is limited, you learn to use it wisely. I politely decline invitations to those events we don't really want to attend but feel obligated to attend. When I am up to going out, it is with friends who truly count. I look for easy to prepare recipes. The crock pot is my new BFF. My brain stays in overdrive to make every step count. If I must go upstairs, what can I bring with me? What are all the things I need to do upstairs?<br /><br />Lists. So many lists. Part of chronic pain is brain fog. Lists keep me straight...and efficient. If I have an appointment or meeting, I check my lists to see if there is an errand that can be tagged onto the trip. If someone asks, "Do you need anything from the store?" I know exactly what I need. Amazon Prime is also my friend. My outdoor lights are set up on timers that I can control from my phone so I don't have walk all over the house flipping light switches twice a day. My thermostat is can also be controlled from my phone.<br /><br />Taking the easy way out is a lot work. </div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-64774529481782464702016-06-04T21:17:00.000-04:002016-06-30T07:22:23.835-04:00FOMO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVROMAHz_O4MuW8FEV2hpmIWXRy9EIaeiE9zsu7RLHKJijW8XMwZ69bj_QdQUBw2uFUFcPgo-TUGEPSEmJ7jFjFKW5J8WlbkDn-XFbvovqW2PzNpPW3QQyupLS1UDm_ooNp5zV/s1600/20140806_065248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVROMAHz_O4MuW8FEV2hpmIWXRy9EIaeiE9zsu7RLHKJijW8XMwZ69bj_QdQUBw2uFUFcPgo-TUGEPSEmJ7jFjFKW5J8WlbkDn-XFbvovqW2PzNpPW3QQyupLS1UDm_ooNp5zV/s400/20140806_065248.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
FOMO = Fear of Missing Out<br />
<br />
Social media is abuzz about FOMO, which, ironically is caused by social media. The idea is that by seeing all the social media posts of your friends' exciting adventures, you can experience anxiety or depression because you are missing out on all the fun. The idea has become fodder for memes and satirical advertising, but there is a basis in reality, especially if you have a chronic illness. Through all of my surgeries and chronic pain, social media has been both a blessing and a curse.<br />
<br />
Social media has allowed me to stay connected with friends when I can't get out. It has allowed me to reconnect with old friends who live far away. I have discovered a wealth of information from support groups. My friends' photos allow me to see things that I don't have the energy to visit in person. Social media is my window to the outside world when I can't leave my bed.<br />
<br />
Social media is also like being a small child with his nose pressed against the window of the bakery shop. You can see all the goodies, but can't taste them. Some days, it is just too hard to scroll through the photos of my friends laughing and having a good time without me. I don't begrudge them having fun, but it is hard to see how much I am missing.<br />
<br />
When I see photos of beautiful projects, there is that twinge of jealousy. Why can't I post photos that will cause my friends to press that little red heart or the thumbs up? Pinterest was a visual delight for me. I pinned madly all the things I would do one day. Why collect pins of projects I will not be able to do?<br />
<br />
Two surgeries in less than three months has been a particularly rough patch. The fatigue has been crushing. Going out for coffee can leave me too exhausted to anything else for the rest of the day. I have to plan so carefully how I will parcel out my energy for the day, for the week. Everything is a trade off. If I go out tonight, tomorrow I will be useless. Is it worth it to go out? I can no longer push myself. Rest is not a luxury; it is a necessity.<br />
<br />
I see my friends doing fun things, amazing things. In my mind, I can still do those things, but my body disagrees. It is a challenge to keep jealousy and resentment at bay. In an effort to be supportive, some tell me, "Don't worry, you will be able to do things again soon." No, not really. Hopefully, as I heal from these surgeries, I will be able to do more, but I will never be able to do all I want to do. There will always be limits now. Outings and activities will always have to be weighed and evaluated. Things willl be missed.<br />
<br />
Chronic illness is a thief. It steals your life. It steals who you once were.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-85177626875622561312016-04-11T22:51:00.000-04:002016-04-11T22:51:58.261-04:00the sound of one hand typing<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve started this so many times, but typing with one hand is as slow and painful as shoulder surgery.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-e7f5f52f-0860-43f3-f8c4-38986943c58c" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The pain isn’t that bad, but everything is just so hard and exhausting. The brace has to be worn 24/7. I’m not allowed to use my arm or even my fingers at all. I’ve tried to think of inspirational or witty things to say. I’ve got nothing. I’m tired, frustrated, and did I mention tired? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After rotator cuff repair, you have to sleep sitting up. Super comfy. I drift off for an hour or two, but then I lose circulation in my arm. I wake up, massage the arm and hand to get the blood flowing again, attempt to rearrange my nest of pillows, and try to drift off again. Getting dressed with one hand takes forever. Did I mention tired?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three surgeries in less than a year takes the wind out of your sails. I can't sew or knit. I’ve watched just about everything on Netflix. Pinterest just reminds me of the projects I can’t do. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My life has been reduced to the basics: trying to sleep, trying to eat, trying to dress myself. There isn’t time or energy for much else.</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will get through this because I always do. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-36096449932751892142016-04-07T17:21:00.000-04:002016-04-07T17:26:24.050-04:00CountdownMonday, 8:42 am<br />
<br />
While I was in the shower, I got a voicemail from the anesthesiologist. "We need to discuss a few issues with your surgery. Please call me back on my cell." When they give you a direct number, skipping the gatekeepers of reception, it's not good news. Normally, to do a rotator cuff repair, my surgeon does a nerve block, which minimizes immediate post op pain. The drug used for this is awfully close to lidocaine in chemical composition. The anesthesiologist felt it is too similar and could kill me.<br />
<br />
Since they will not be able to flood the area with local anesthetic during surgery, they will now use general anesthesia instead of deep sedation. Honestly, that part was a relief. Deep sedation made me uneasy. What if it wasn't deep enough and I woke up during the surgery???? So, yeah, stick a tube in my throat and knock me out. I can handle a scratchy throat for a couple of days. Bring on the ice cream!<br />
<br />
The bigger concern is managing the post op pain. The nerve block stops the pain for the first 24-48 hours, when it is most brutal. Without a nerve block, waking up from surgery could be rough. My surgeon told the anesthesiologist, "She's a tough girl. If anyone can handle it, she's the one." I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I hope he's not overestimating my pain tolerance. If the post op pain is unbearable, they will admit me to the hospital and hook me up with a morphine drip.<br />
<br />
Tuesday, 3:52 am<br />
<br />
Awake, not from nerves, just my usual insomnia... and a wee bit hungry. I get up and watch Bates Motel. Nothing like a creepy psychopath to lull me back to sleep.<br />
<br />
Tuesday, 6:17 am<br />
<br />
Hunger is gnawing at my belly. Under normal circumstances, I would have had a snack during my pre-dawn viewing of Bates Motel. "No food or drink after midnight." Surgery isn't until 11:30am. It will be a long morning with not food or COFFEE. I feel sorry for those around me. It could get ugly. I won't lie. There is a bit of concern about the potentially horrific post op pain. I hear stories of people waking up from surgery, crying uncontrollably due to pain. I don't want to be in a drug-induced haze for days. Through all of my surgeries, I've been extremely fortunate with minimal post op pain. Has much luck run out? Is this one that will kick my ass?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-73150070841538169352016-04-02T22:32:00.001-04:002016-04-02T22:32:35.322-04:00Becoming a Mermaid<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFla1LFQtg9iUF-8JrjwfL3z35n26fs-X6CAkJrHAW2gu5LegYmonTFVZVGFgB1Yg5ZOOBdZ1-hIMk5ELB3bV3j1y9mvtSRz2mZalKcZ8QySIt9QE3T1P26SzF1KylgYVkJa18/s1600/mermaid1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFla1LFQtg9iUF-8JrjwfL3z35n26fs-X6CAkJrHAW2gu5LegYmonTFVZVGFgB1Yg5ZOOBdZ1-hIMk5ELB3bV3j1y9mvtSRz2mZalKcZ8QySIt9QE3T1P26SzF1KylgYVkJa18/s320/mermaid1.jpg" width="320" /></a>So many people sent me the link for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ladies-mermaid-tail-lapghan-cocoon-blanket" target="_blank">this pattern</a>, I just had to make it. Besides, who doesn't want to be a mermaid? Finding out that I needed yet another hip surgery (number 3, in case you lost count) required a fun and whimsical distraction.<br /><br />The directions were easy to follow. However, the yarn requirements were way off. Knit Picks had the <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Special_Buy_Acrylic_Multi__D5420290.html?buy_individually" target="_blank">perfect yarn</a> on sale, which meant I couldn't get more when I discovered the directions were not correct. Because it is knitted with two yarns together, I was able to find a solid teal of <a href="http://www.yarnspirations.com/yarn/simply-soft.html" target="_blank">Simply Soft Caron</a> that blended nicely with the variegated yarn from Knit Picks. Yes, I know yarn snobs are groaning because I used acrylic yarn. Get over it. These yarns are super soft and will be easy to wash.... and I didn't want to spend $300 on yarn for a mermaid tail.<br /><br />The stitch is easy but looks complicated. I would use it again for another project.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8HWWwCW_OV7PPutMjhyphenhyphenEhXGOkQH0Twr9KCKz7Buvrphm2hn2bu-kKduNWkfWuRQ5h4zE7fitj5fFXrLjaEQt-rcU4r2Try32LZpIB6s9ECsGmxVBsFS-EEO6v5BKGBmE4Ubc/s1600/mermaidstitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8HWWwCW_OV7PPutMjhyphenhyphenEhXGOkQH0Twr9KCKz7Buvrphm2hn2bu-kKduNWkfWuRQ5h4zE7fitj5fFXrLjaEQt-rcU4r2Try32LZpIB6s9ECsGmxVBsFS-EEO6v5BKGBmE4Ubc/s320/mermaidstitch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br />The mermaid tail has been delightful to wear after my hip surgery, so cozy and warm. I highly recommend a mermaid tail for everyone to wear while lounging on the sofa. "I would love a beverage, but I can't get up because I am a mermaid right now." People will fetch things for you when you are a mermaid.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMSKKyBmKGSrf0CPXPmlAbZuLC-6sk1j3PVXyquqGxJlwbHAa1KLAmaiUrBbZ9jdiI4uyKOz7iFqemKyIx5221YKpoV1VYENvgDd3Q779ITX8PIDBYjkAHlFmYDkoq7jtuf72/s1600/mermaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMSKKyBmKGSrf0CPXPmlAbZuLC-6sk1j3PVXyquqGxJlwbHAa1KLAmaiUrBbZ9jdiI4uyKOz7iFqemKyIx5221YKpoV1VYENvgDd3Q779ITX8PIDBYjkAHlFmYDkoq7jtuf72/s320/mermaid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
PS: Apparently, there is some controversy with this pattern, the photos used to promote it, who originally wrote it. I learned of the controversy after I finished the project. So, if I bought the pattern from the wrong person, my apologies to the original designer. I tried to give proper credit, but the internet can be murky waters. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-1405348904485136902016-03-25T22:52:00.000-04:002016-03-25T22:55:00.624-04:00No Fee from Fi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielAMOVMLPggU8aL1D4aMgtaciDj4wbQjjionOv8Pu7WgUdOrk1VNhd1sJLSjfIaphj_PhFUYTyZXQXAMHUhPBREA_t_ChC48gyBzjFBcXRVClM9PVJHzi8RK7MIi8Vg2i3VQT/s1600/google-project-fi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielAMOVMLPggU8aL1D4aMgtaciDj4wbQjjionOv8Pu7WgUdOrk1VNhd1sJLSjfIaphj_PhFUYTyZXQXAMHUhPBREA_t_ChC48gyBzjFBcXRVClM9PVJHzi8RK7MIi8Vg2i3VQT/s320/google-project-fi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I may be old, but I'm not afraid of new technology and ideas. I also loathe Verizon Wireless, especially my 152 page bill, filled with charges I don't understand, yet add up to an astronomical number. That's why Project Fi by Google instantly appealed to me.<br />
<br />
I read through the <a href="http://fi.google.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. So simple, both visually and in concept. $20 a month for unlimited talk & text and $10 per G of data. You get a refund for unused data each month. So if you use .75G of data, you get a refund for $2.50. Only pay for what you use?!?! Madness, people, pure madness!<br />
<br />
How does it work? Project Fi attempts to use WiFi whenever possible to keep your data usage as low as possible. Instead of investing in the infrastructure of building their own towers and network, Google partners with existing cellular services to use their infrastructure. The absence of brick and mortar stores also saves a ton in overhead. Reviews seem to be quite positive.<br />
<br />
What's the catch? Well, you have to buy a phone and Project Fi only supports a limited number of phones. So that means an initial upfront cost. You can purchase the phone through Google and split up the cost over 24 months. I went to <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/" target="_blank">Best Buy</a> because they had the <a href="https://store.google.com/product/nexus_6p" target="_blank">Nexus 6P</a> for $50 less than the Google store. It was very odd to walk out of Best Buy with a phone that had not been activated.<br />
<br />
If you are a die hard iPhone fan, sorry, no iPhones here. Honestly, I don't understand the draw of iPhones at this point. Androids are just as easy to use, there are a million and one cloud storage options, other phones take <i>better </i>photos, and iTunes is dreadful.<br />
<br />
Activating the phone still confused me, despite reading through the website. As I read through the site, a chat box popped up. "Do you need help?" Why, yes I do! I explained to Serena that I was a little confused about porting over my current phone number from Verizon and cancelling my Verizon account. I didn't want to screw it up due to ignorance. Serena was delightful and a little bit sassy, which I adored. Since I didn't buy my phone through the Google store, they need to send me a SIM card. I admit that made me a little sad. Shiny new phone will have to sit on my desk until the SIM card arrives in via FedEx. However, the sassy Serena walked me through a few things I could do now to speed up the activation process when my SIM card arrives.<br />
<br />
So now, I sit and wait.... impatiently.... Stay tuned for the rest of the story<br /><br />PS. As I was typing this, I received a follow up email from the sassy Serena with links to help docs to guide me through activating my SIM card when it arrives. Verizon has never done that!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-91917821128286926402016-03-13T22:32:00.002-04:002016-03-17T22:58:34.801-04:00Letting Go<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbAp5-dd3wpRSyZnsMDFv1cxeFqr5hU8R1X1y4ycKtLSkFk-knltzvt0q-m8uJdC1-nhvV2x2lpT65_h-RbzUKCpX5CK2ZxYCVwHpwa1e7bIoFEuUzFOxzkg1Dh_svddvoN1D/s1600/20141201_122917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbAp5-dd3wpRSyZnsMDFv1cxeFqr5hU8R1X1y4ycKtLSkFk-knltzvt0q-m8uJdC1-nhvV2x2lpT65_h-RbzUKCpX5CK2ZxYCVwHpwa1e7bIoFEuUzFOxzkg1Dh_svddvoN1D/s640/20141201_122917.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stubborn, tenacious, persistent, determined. I’ve been labeled all of these. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes not. I have a hard time giving up, admitting defeat. If I work a little harder, push a little more, work a little longer, it will work. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the last 10 years, I have lived with the mindset of “after </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> surgery, my life will get back to normal.” If I just push through </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> recovery, my life will get back to normal. As I prepare for surgery number eight in eight years, I am starting to acknowledge that it is time to let go of a few things. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-f665cf8a-72f3-6a39-34f4-d49a582d8b34" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s time to let go of subscriptions to pattern magazines because I won’t be able to sew for months, haven’t been able to sew for months. Having those magazines show up in my mailbox just makes me feel sad that I can’t make all the pretty things. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s time to let go of the clothing line. Last year, I helped a friend put together a line for a fashion show. A local boutique wants to carry the line. I postponed things for Surgery #6, and again for Surgery #7. Well, Surgery #8 was scheduled at my second post op appointment for Surgery #7. I can’t keep postponing. I had to step away from the project. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s time to let go of people who are only my friend when they need me. I can’t be the helper anymore. There are people for whom I would turn my schedule upside down if they needed me. Through the last seven surgeries, I was lucky to get a text from these people. I don’t like hovering and clucking around when I’m sick, but show up with a casserole, take me out for coffee, or send me funny cat videos because you know I hate being stuck at home. I love being a helper, but sometimes the helper needs help. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s time to let go of the idea that this will be the last surgery. When the fabulous Dr S read the MRI that revealed a significantly torn rotator cuff, I teased, “Ok, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">one</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> more surgery, then I’m done.” He put a hand on my shoulder and said, “We both know you won’t be done. The Ehlers Danlos is not going away.” I know he is right. No amount how stubborn or persistent or determined I am, Ehlers Danlos is not going away. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s time to let go of what doesn’t work anymore. My energy is too limited to waste on things (and people) that don’t work anymore. I will get through Surgery #8 because I am tenacious and I do have friends who are excellent helpers. I will get through Surgery #8 because all of this mess has forced me to focus on what is really important. The distracting, fluffy bits are brushed away. If/when there is Surgery #9, I will be ready for that too…. Because I am stubborn, tenacious, persistent, and determined. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-37854380980482071262015-10-18T23:03:00.000-04:002015-10-18T23:04:22.909-04:00One Day Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31Od9eg_8_pxJc9WpMIfCLa1Y_uWLyLI_YdBo023MXEOoX6_mOOGEIhx_lDVry3t9-Uz6L-NGKiIXSZf_JcpSdolIkVZPc2BUAm4nkVC6euQNMhSZbGBsa9BmNFZ7JjgGLL2D/s1600/20150913_090653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31Od9eg_8_pxJc9WpMIfCLa1Y_uWLyLI_YdBo023MXEOoX6_mOOGEIhx_lDVry3t9-Uz6L-NGKiIXSZf_JcpSdolIkVZPc2BUAm4nkVC6euQNMhSZbGBsa9BmNFZ7JjgGLL2D/s320/20150913_090653.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
I <strike>needed</strike> wanted a new dress for the launch party of The Spoonflower Handbook. As usual, despite knowing about the party for weeks, waiting until the last minute makes it feel more like an episode of Project Runway. "Designers, you have one day to complete this challenge."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/cotton_lawn" target="_blank">Spoonflower's Cotton Lawn</a> reminded me of cool, crisp summer dresses to wear while sitting on a veranda overlooking a sparkling sea. The hand is light and delicate, perfect for soft gathers. <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/2182248" target="_blank">Spanish Tiles by Eliza Jane Curtis</a> made me think "Mediterranean vacation." The fabric sat on my desk for a long time while different designs danced through my head. I needed that deadline swinging within inches of my head to stop all the dancing and partying.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GROe4MkdhGIOTvt4WmFIYA9yKzqcNx3y55-jWIZ_ILekokG-5vWWBQhyphenhyphenCK_IwQsvZN5GBWuXf-FycjtqPIFfvOmvJFFHwjalTnkBX0JqRRxVU9M7-a0fW8Rt5B6VOnsR5Rd-/s1600/20150913_090749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GROe4MkdhGIOTvt4WmFIYA9yKzqcNx3y55-jWIZ_ILekokG-5vWWBQhyphenhyphenCK_IwQsvZN5GBWuXf-FycjtqPIFfvOmvJFFHwjalTnkBX0JqRRxVU9M7-a0fW8Rt5B6VOnsR5Rd-/s320/20150913_090749.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4jvYVaJBmAM_gF71fX6e2O5iZMIWezXo3Mi5h1AaKvHvTYuRd09D1uHBnyKUFK13LxFevg1VAYhPX4Vs3Xa1TC1CYRQasV-btOEgtcBcdsWCQKO9CFu0iGfo5B80QFJjN-Ga/s1600/20150830_102819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4jvYVaJBmAM_gF71fX6e2O5iZMIWezXo3Mi5h1AaKvHvTYuRd09D1uHBnyKUFK13LxFevg1VAYhPX4Vs3Xa1TC1CYRQasV-btOEgtcBcdsWCQKO9CFu0iGfo5B80QFJjN-Ga/s320/20150830_102819.jpg" width="180" /></a>With the party so close and so much else to do, I flipped through patterns, but nothing seemed quite right. Oh, wait... I should drape my own! Sometimes I forget that I know how to do that. Draping is magical. A fold here, a twist there, and suddenly you have a dress! Well, ok... it's a little more complicated than that, but it's really easier than you might imagine.<br />
<br />
I love this neckline because it is bare enough to feel summery, but not too exposed for a lady of certain age. Deciding where to place the closures took some thought. I opted for a side zipper and a button at the back neck. Of course, there are pockets! I knew I would need to keep my cell phone and business cards handy.<br />
<br />
It is no secret that I am a major fan of <a href="http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway" target="_blank">Project Runway</a>. So often, people say, "There is no way you can make an entire dress in just one day." I decided to give it a try. (Well, I also only had one day to make the dress due to that little deadline issue.) From draping to sewing on the final button, six hours flat. Boom. Granted, some of the garments on Project Runway are more elaborate than my dress, but they also get more than six hours. More importantly, they are actual designers, many of whom have gone to design school. If nothing else, it was fun to see if I could do it.<br />
<br />
The party was fabulous and the dress was the perfect blend of style and comfort for a very busy evening. Wearing something that was entirely my design was quite a thrill. I want to do more draping. I have more ideas dancing in my head.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-10535884285402422272015-09-28T21:59:00.000-04:002015-09-28T21:59:02.115-04:005 -ish Hour Baby Sweater<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl400eUXbA6ci2GFSEv6KQyZXCr-kljtOkmqjxGgEdXtaJWspWonfiHc-Kpe46P_zuFFwibFVDfcyU9TM4a-CnHY3GPdd1X0_2SlRAaOL6MhXI6H6jf4yvbTYKo-EO-rp41Uyz/s1600/20150825_083455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl400eUXbA6ci2GFSEv6KQyZXCr-kljtOkmqjxGgEdXtaJWspWonfiHc-Kpe46P_zuFFwibFVDfcyU9TM4a-CnHY3GPdd1X0_2SlRAaOL6MhXI6H6jf4yvbTYKo-EO-rp41Uyz/s640/20150825_083455.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My physical therapist and I go way back. I met him<span style="text-align: left;"> when he was still a student. He is now a wickedly smart physical therapist, married, father of a two year old, with a baby girl due next month. Of course, I seize any opportunity to make baby girl things... and I am terribly fond of this young man. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My first project for this wee one was the "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quickie-5-hour-baby-sweater" target="_blank">5 Hour Baby Sweater</a>." This was my second time to knit this sweater and, yet, it still took more than 5 hours. I'm not a super slow knitter, so I would love see how fast one must knit to finish this in 5 hours. The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/premier-yarns-serenity-worsted-weight" target="_blank">yarn</a> came from the depths of my stash. It is quite soft, despite not being a natural fiber. Synthetics are also easier to launder. A mom of two doesn't need laundry complications.<br /><br />It is an easy and sweet little sweater. The next time I make this, I will use double pointed needles to knit the sleeves in the round. I don't like sweaters with unnecessary seams. It is a pattern I will use over and over again because it makes such a great little baby gift.<br /><br />Here is a close up of the yoke pattern:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL9lU4AWbKQVR2mKTAQzgVrV6aCi6BOzpzH7hjVMuM-aqeC6wRAF5p1jyzLXZR67IRN40uRvZx_HJqri9YJkDnYgVo7rlKIOlmPa84NgqRUT8NDGRUMxRkzQLvXkWGEd7eH6X/s1600/20150825_083516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL9lU4AWbKQVR2mKTAQzgVrV6aCi6BOzpzH7hjVMuM-aqeC6wRAF5p1jyzLXZR67IRN40uRvZx_HJqri9YJkDnYgVo7rlKIOlmPa84NgqRUT8NDGRUMxRkzQLvXkWGEd7eH6X/s320/20150825_083516.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br /><br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-32086357634661959002015-09-26T07:20:00.000-04:002015-09-26T07:20:09.405-04:00Worst Blogger EverRemember LiveJournal? I started blogging way back in the day when LiveJournal was the hip place to be. It was a way to share my sewing adventures with far away friends and a way to keep a digital scrapbook of my projects. Boy, has blogging changed since my LiveJournal days! Now it's all about branding and monetizing. People set up spaces in their homes specifically for photos. They bring in their spouse, friend, cousin who is a professional photographer with a fancy camera and expensive lights. Long gone are the days of the selfie in the bathroom mirror. Except for this little blog. I'm keeping it old school... because I don't have access to an even semi-professional photographer, I don't have a brand, or the energy to try to "monetize" this thing. Just going to keep it real for my three loyal readers.<br /><br />So, where have I been since I last posted, like maybe a year ago??? I've been fighting an uphill battle and didn't know it. In the last 8 years, I've had 6 orthopedic surgeries, some of which I shared here. At some point, I stopped sharing because it felt like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/" target="_blank">Groundhog Day</a>. It's a rather long story, which I might or might not share here. (Fair warning, this blog has no "brand" and who knows what I will write about from day to day. Maybe my brand is "random stuff.") So, long story... short version. Recently, I found out why my joints just won't stay together and why I have several other seemingly random, but strange health issues.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ednf.org/learn-about-eds" target="_blank">Ehler Danlos Syndrome</a> is a rare (or perhaps just under diagnosed) connective tissue disorder. Follow the link if you want really dive deep into the details. In a nutshell, on a genetic level, my body does not know how to produce collagen correctly. Since collagen makes up a lot of our body, it affects everything. No cure until they figure out how to alter genes. Treatments are based on symptoms and not particularly great. A fun little fact, people with EDS often have tremendous joint pain, yet, our wacky collagen does not allow our bodies to process pain meds properly. Isn't that just a cruel twist of genetic fate? People did not believe me when I said I could take 3 Percocet and still be stone cold sober. My body is like "Narcotics? Tic Tacs? pffft... it's all the same."<br /><br />For years, I've been waiting for the next surgery to be the ONE that would make me better. If I just pushed through the pain of surgery and rehab for the next 9 months, then I would be better and I could live my life. Thanks to my faulty genetic code, that's not going to happen. All the surgeries in the world are not going to put this little Humpty Dumpty body back together.<br /><br />In a weird way, it is a relief. Ok, it totally sucks that the joint pain, insomnia, etc will never go away. However, at least I know now. People often say "don't give up," "keep the hope alive." Yeah, well Hope was dragging me down a dark rabbit hole. I would get so pumped up for each surgery. I attacked my rehab programs with everything I had. I pushed through the pain, lived at the PT clinic, did a million reps of the most tedious exercises. I pushed through because Hope told me there were better days ahead. I would be better for a short time, then something else would fall apart. Hope was a big, fat liar.<br /><br />Yes, it is possible we can come up with some collection of drugs and treatments that will make my symptoms less invasive, but I'm not being seduced by Hope again. I've been told that I shouldn't be "so negative." It's not negative. It's realistic. I'll keep looking. I'll try any new treatment that looks promising. I'm not crawling into a corner and crying. Haven't shed a single tear, no matter how many dreadful things they poke into my flesh. Some "friends" think my attitude is negative. Every one of my doctors think my attitude is great... pragmatic, no nonsense, realistic. When I got the diagnosis, I didn't bat an eye. My immediate response was, "What do we do next?"<br /><br />That has always been my attitude when presented with a problem. "What can I do to fix it?" If I can't fix it, I don't spend a lot of time worrying about it. I can't fix EDS, so how do I live with it? A lot of things in my life have changed and will change. I'm okay with that. Life changes. Those who can adapt will survive.<br /><br />The future is uncertain with EDS. The pain may make me want to stab someone, but EDS won't kill me.... unless the aortic aneurysm turns out to be a thing for me. But I could also get hit by a bus tomorrow, so I won't spend a lot of time worrying about those things. I'm assembling a good medical team, and it's going to take a team to keep this train running, geesh. When I asked one doctor about the future, specifically the mobility issues, his advice was "party like rock star while you can. That's my advice to all my patients, no matter what their diagnosis is." He and I are going to get along just fine.<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-51067358284473631262014-07-04T09:46:00.004-04:002014-07-04T09:46:57.104-04:00Octopus for the Office<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My oldest doesn't ask me to sew for him very often, but this project was an absolute must. He has a super sweet internship for a major, major software development company this summer. The dress code is pretty casual, but he's trying to step it up a bit from his usual college attire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/Kc27HJxdw3eNU5TdQDTxKzoV82dMqUbNJLmbY0lJ_BI=w983-h553-no" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/Kc27HJxdw3eNU5TdQDTxKzoV82dMqUbNJLmbY0lJ_BI=w983-h553-no" height="180" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/">Spoonflower's</a> Performance Pique is lovely for polo shirts. The wicking property makes it so comfy to wear in the blistering heat of the summer and it feels soft and smooth next to the skin. After searching the bazillion octopus and squid prints available in Spoonflower's Marketplace, he decided on this adorable little<a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/2734954" target="_blank"> steampunk octopus print</a>. For the collar, placket, and sleeve bands, I used a piece of solid black interlock from my stash. The dash of contrast gives it a more RTW look. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xhjt1dLkBuY/U7P_VfA7B9I/AAAAAAAAHhU/TvkkxLpviMo/w311-h553-no/20140702_084249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xhjt1dLkBuY/U7P_VfA7B9I/AAAAAAAAHhU/TvkkxLpviMo/w311-h553-no/20140702_084249.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly, Kwik Sew 2530 is out of print. It is a great basic, classic pattern. I have no idea why they would discontinue it without another polo pattern to replace it. There are not that many varieties of shirts for men. That means I will guard this copy with my life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Because <a href="http://www.kwiksew.com/">Kwik Sew</a> patterns tend to be a little boxy, I compared the pattern to an existing polo shirt that fits well. I took out a bit of width because he is such a slim guy. I also reduced the shoulder width to eliminate the dropped shoulder seam for a more fitted look. There are still a few little tweaks I will make next time, but overall, we are both pleased with the fit.<br /><br />He has a large collection of squid and octopus t-shirts. Looks like there will now be a growing collection of squid and octopus polo shirts.<br /><br />PS. This boy does not allow many photos. It was liking getting a shot of Big Foot... no time for staging or multiple takes. It is was a one off, on the fly shot. This is a rare treat, dear readers. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-33934829794123584742014-06-24T17:06:00.000-04:002014-06-24T17:06:08.091-04:00Who Wore it Better?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A dress form is only helpful if it closely matches your measurements. Dress forms are always perfectly proportioned, perfectly postured fantasies. After taking my draping class at the university, I was committed to padding out my dress form to more closely match my measurements. One of the grad students had a dress form padded out to her measurements, primarily using the <a href="http://fabulousfit.com/pfs-dress-form-system.html" target="_blank">Fabulous Fit</a> system. Impressed with her results, I decided to sink $80 in a bunch of polyurethane pads and a lycra cover.<br /><br />It is a good thing I know how to take measurements. The directions are sorely lacking. There is a list of measurements to use, but it is rather incomplete. Again, my draping class experience was a huge asset. There was very little guidance as to how to properly take measurements. It is a tad more than just wrapping a measuring tape around yourself. First of all, it is super helpful to have a friend do the measurements for more accuracy. I was too impatient to wait for a friend. (Imagine that... me? impatient???) Extreme flexibility and good mirrors compensated for the lack of a measuring partner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Measuring Tip: Stand with your normal posture. When being measured, people have a tendency to stand really straight and suck in the belly. The garment won't fit the same when you relax into your usual posture.<br /><br />The polyurethane pads are pretty awesome. There are lots of them which can be combined, and even cut, to customize the dress form. I also added a bit of quilted fabric to smooth out transitions from pads to dress form. The lycra cover is quite lovely. It really smooths out all the lumps and bumps of the pads and holds them in place, with the added advantage of being pinnable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a test of the accuracy, I tried several dresses on the form. The fit was pretty close! Here are two photos of me and the dress form wearing the same dress. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYsXn0SkXWOsJX3bCRYLIXbN1WxhOhQam4882ucQvhneW3CbSB1IDMC6jHJjjEFzRxvEb4Vzxlj7oWuObdBOedcYoEG8DmbtEW53OUKQ79uQzYaewkKcIX3ov_NifWxmzvviX/s1600/20140624_151721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYsXn0SkXWOsJX3bCRYLIXbN1WxhOhQam4882ucQvhneW3CbSB1IDMC6jHJjjEFzRxvEb4Vzxlj7oWuObdBOedcYoEG8DmbtEW53OUKQ79uQzYaewkKcIX3ov_NifWxmzvviX/s1600/20140624_151721.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYecZEhalLu1k1glIqa4BFLhVrhFpWkTs49C6kt65ZrrWUMaJuG0GlyZmoqWTPsURlOYR6wj01P9LBJUNg3lSqU3f76cZBHpu4zbkQTrDbNTySpN9uQ6b0JLYHwmZFl1Q758D8/s1600/20140624_152202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYecZEhalLu1k1glIqa4BFLhVrhFpWkTs49C6kt65ZrrWUMaJuG0GlyZmoqWTPsURlOYR6wj01P9LBJUNg3lSqU3f76cZBHpu4zbkQTrDbNTySpN9uQ6b0JLYHwmZFl1Q758D8/s1600/20140624_152202.jpg" height="400" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So who wears it better? Me or the form? There will be some tweaking as it gets used, but it will be used a lot! In the past, I was reluctant to do too much draping because I didn't have a form that fit. Trying to drape on your own body is craziness. I know because I've done it.<br /><br />Was it worth $80? It was for me in terms of convenience. I could have sculpted the necessary pieces from foam and batting, but this eliminated several steps. As established earlier, I'm a little impatient. Measure, measure, and measure some more. To get a good fit, you will need more than measurements listed in the directions.<br /><br />Here are a few that I added:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Along the princess seam line, from shoulder to bust apex, from bust apex to waist line</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shoulder width - from neck to shoulder point</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Under bust - measure just under the bust, along the bra band. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Front waist and back waist - measure along waist line to side seams in front and back. Most people have more weight in the front or the back. Seldom is the waist measurement evenly distributed between front and back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mid waist - measure about halfway between high hip and waist<br /><br />Shoulder width front - measure from arm pit to arm pit across the front of the body</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shoulder circumference - measured around the armscye area</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://toolmonger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/flexible-ruler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://toolmonger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/flexible-ruler.jpg" height="137" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also used a flexible ruler to copy the curve of the back, the belly, the bust line. More measurements equal a better fit.<br /><br />(PS There is an added bonus for this blog. My photos will be better because I'm not that great at taking selfies. Now my dress form can be the model.) </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-33607746126653637532014-06-07T15:41:00.000-04:002014-06-07T15:41:21.511-04:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's the old Catch 22. I am so busy sewing that I don't have time to post photos or write about it. I suppose that's a good problem to have, right? But I want to share the cool things I am making so you can "oooh" and "aaahhh" over them... all three 0f you who read this blog. So, things are going to be kind of random, sort of like my photo storage method. I have photos on my phone, on my camera, some are on my hard drive, some are various cloud storage sites. I would like to say that one day I will organize them, label them, categorize them. That would be a big, fat lie. So, things will be kind of random as I stumble across photos of past projects and get around to posting them.<br /><br />This dress is one of my favorite projects and it is sad that it has taken me this long to share it with my friends on the <a href="https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ottobre-english/info" target="_blank">Ottobre-English sewing group</a>. The pattern is Design #19 from the 02/2103 women's issue. The fit is amazing. It's Ottobre and they know how to draft an awesome pattern. Those little gathers hide a wealth of middle aged issues. The fabric is <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/717081" target="_blank">Spoonflower's</a> modern jersey, heavenly to sew and super comfy to wear.<br /><br />Overall, the pattern is quite easy to sew, despite the oddly shaped pattern pieces for the twisty part. Have faith in the directions; it will be okay in the end. This is a pattern where pinning or basting the bodice together before sewing can help you understand how it will all work out. The neckline isn't as plunging as it appears. The stretch of the fabric helps it hug the body nicely so there is no gaping when you bend over. If you really think it is too low cut, it would be easy to close up the neckline a bit with some hand tacking or add a modesty panel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66AdxaCcHcjAjvvpcaICny2a5y8q9ORo3fK4a1nuJrgISNCq5YW7Vhyphenhypheny6O0VsrwuIFOeEo_Tbun1ZdoxpOEroPt0mL6eGRTFWlyMfOVVXDhuLHz2cbz_NSVy5iGPKDEFSWv2A/s1600/IMG_20140113_083550_137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66AdxaCcHcjAjvvpcaICny2a5y8q9ORo3fK4a1nuJrgISNCq5YW7Vhyphenhypheny6O0VsrwuIFOeEo_Tbun1ZdoxpOEroPt0mL6eGRTFWlyMfOVVXDhuLHz2cbz_NSVy5iGPKDEFSWv2A/s1600/IMG_20140113_083550_137.jpg" height="640" width="291" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only change I would make is the belt that goes all the way around. The directions instruct you to baste the front part of the belt to the bodice at the side seams and the back part of the belt to the back bodice at the side seams. That makes for a LOT of bulk in the side seams. My suggestion is to sew the side seams without the belt. Then sew the belt together and hand tack it to the side seam. Joining the ends of the belt will require a little bit of origami twisting and turning, plus some dreaded hand sewing. However, it would be worth it to get a smoother side seam.<br /><br />While on display at Spoonflower, this dress received a lot of attention. Yes, I admit that it made me feel good, but I was also very happy when I got to take it home and finally wear it. This was the perfect match of fabric design and pattern design. Planning and careful cutting were involved to get the orange in just the right areas. On my very long list of things to sew is a sleeveless version of this for summer. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-58704684215798159992014-02-27T17:22:00.001-05:002014-02-28T11:13:46.829-05:00Consolation Prize<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AUFulr3CjIYAx15d8QiNvU8r2CGKWn0Cbg0JZQvziCV8RdjltMDPKKUsBr_gmzg3gmgGV1tTt2hcriCCQIkzL1tX0qX9OIARjGPJYxjJIVXnCA74bI4qIKi7kO0WrH2sfcBm/s1600/IMG_20130830_171226_788-749266.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AUFulr3CjIYAx15d8QiNvU8r2CGKWn0Cbg0JZQvziCV8RdjltMDPKKUsBr_gmzg3gmgGV1tTt2hcriCCQIkzL1tX0qX9OIARjGPJYxjJIVXnCA74bI4qIKi7kO0WrH2sfcBm/s320/IMG_20130830_171226_788-749266.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5985207650437202658" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Near my sons' university, there is a small, independent fabric store. I never had a chance to stop in during J's entire freshman year. (Not that I was lacking in fabric inventory!) Moving two boys into dorms in one week warranted a little retail therapy.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The store was worth the wait. The selection wasn't huge, but it was interesting. There were several unusual (in a good way) knits and a nice selection of dressier fabrics. The cottons were not things found at JoAnns. Prices were not cheap, but not outrageous. I am willing to pay a bit more for interesting fabrics. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Having just left both of my babies at COLLEGE, it was hard to think clearly. I opted for the safer choice of cottons, a skirt and a dress. They are truly lovely to touch, nice weight and soft. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Determined to not add to the clutter of the tiny, temporary apartment, the fabrics were immediately washed upon my return. Surprisingly, both pieces of fabric were sewn up within a few days of my return. <br /> <br /> The dress is <a href="http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6318-products-13859.php?page_id=96">McCalls 6318</a>, a pattern I first noticed as a sample garment in JoAnns. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is currently out of print, but this pattern would be worth the effort of a search to find a copy for resale. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The dress is fully lined with a very lightweight cotton to keep it cool for the hot summer weather. Lining a dress can be like sewing two dresses, but it is worth the extra effort. In addition to avoiding a see through dress, lining gives the dress more structure and support to the style lines. The higher waist line and a few tucks make it super comfortable to wear. This dress got a work out over the summer. I look forward to warmer days so I can wear it again. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-25273545815104417862014-02-16T18:27:00.000-05:002014-02-16T18:28:04.292-05:00Oak Park Scarf<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif">After I finished <a href="http://mermaids103.blogspot.com/2013/11/squiddly-scarf.html">Squiddly</a>, it was C's turn to select a scarf pattern. He opted for a more sophisticated style, one that would work well his assortment of blazers that he wears to class on a regular basis. He chose the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oak-park">Oak Park</a> pattern, but in a much different color palette, using Wool of the Andes from <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com">Knit Picks</a>. It was simple, fast knitting, but not the most interesting project I've ever done. Just straight knitting with lots of color change tails to weave in. However, it was totally worth it because C loves his scarf and it is keeping him warm during this exceptionally spring semester of college. </div> <div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7I_y6yfFAgGs6Bc9lw7Zm5M36D8mM_j3xpF5tlYyH6ClIS8bFDxZpqKAhSMGXc58UMs4td58mDnT2iHYi0UNPTNZWkru9t48ZvvkiWJtFVAxKoOPYRlCNHBSF80jwJp_SuEx/s1600/IMG_20140111_193910_169-784292.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7I_y6yfFAgGs6Bc9lw7Zm5M36D8mM_j3xpF5tlYyH6ClIS8bFDxZpqKAhSMGXc58UMs4td58mDnT2iHYi0UNPTNZWkru9t48ZvvkiWJtFVAxKoOPYRlCNHBSF80jwJp_SuEx/s320/IMG_20140111_193910_169-784292.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5981142612952637954" /></a><br></div> <div> <div></div></div> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18414646.post-71711199961540678302013-11-10T23:40:00.001-05:002013-11-10T23:58:21.220-05:00Big Girl Twirly Skirt<div dir="ltr">
Have you ever seen a little girl in a skirt that twirls? Pure bliss. Some of us never outgrew that phase. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-5886-misses-dress-or-top-suedesays-collection.aspx" target="_blank">Simplicity 2220</a> has a fabulous twirly skirt. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf8pAwl5BDX4NUeIHgk9dGb7tySCDQHZY1EyQ_O3jghk2HrZ4NguQiRUvtVhmi4QIgdG_RzBGSzOQDOgI4_cnfeSWPoYSl4c53jx_20vqGV2iqkQk9fh7RPX-puDPykJVUS-Z/s1600/IMG_20131105_104245_604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf8pAwl5BDX4NUeIHgk9dGb7tySCDQHZY1EyQ_O3jghk2HrZ4NguQiRUvtVhmi4QIgdG_RzBGSzOQDOgI4_cnfeSWPoYSl4c53jx_20vqGV2iqkQk9fh7RPX-puDPykJVUS-Z/s320/IMG_20131105_104245_604.jpg" width="133" /></a>The fabric is a gorgeous silk from Japan. I was a little disappointed with the fit. I had to work with the top a great deal and it still doesn't fit that well. A well placed snap is required to prevent over exposure. The skirt, however, is simply divine. I will consider making it again, after doing some more work on the top. I don't like wearing things that require a lot of attention. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I wore this dress on a recent trip to Miami. It was 40 degrees when I left for the airport... and 85 when I arrived in Miami. I didn't want to drag a coat around Miami so I decided to travel sans outerwear. I wore a coat to drive to the airport and left it in the trunk. I sprinted (as well as one can sprint in heels) to the terminal. It was chilly, but I lived... and got a lot of odd looks from people bundled in jackets and scarves. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
Usually, comfort is a priority when traveling. This was such a last minute, frivolous trip that I decided it would be fun to arrive in Miami looking fabulous, silk dress and heels. It was very interesting how everyone treated me differently... TSA agent, Starbuck barista, ticket agent, flight attendant, other passengers. I didn't get upgraded to first class, but they did make me feel like a celebrity. I definitely felt glamorous when my friend picked me up in a convertible and whisked me off for a lovely meal overlooking the ocean. Some day, when you take a trip, dress up and see how it feels. I may never travel in "comfy" clothes again. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskATTIbsjyb_SKhh7rdrFmJqKeDkap4Pj2pr0glRgTLqy2OtE_IzFkPVBTkvlzLsPDstEo5qlFkK1anJlE_WT_afTJttMJajPZw5VqZc9aE2hOh5vpfkivf4vdwBwxyHPzmMX/s1600/IMG_20131106_171842_433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskATTIbsjyb_SKhh7rdrFmJqKeDkap4Pj2pr0glRgTLqy2OtE_IzFkPVBTkvlzLsPDstEo5qlFkK1anJlE_WT_afTJttMJajPZw5VqZc9aE2hOh5vpfkivf4vdwBwxyHPzmMX/s320/IMG_20131106_171842_433.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1