More fun with my Sew What! Skirts book. This is the basic wrap skirt, but I didn't round the edges, just left them angular. It's a different look, I like it!

Having more fun with my Sew What! Skirts book - this is the basic a-line skirt, I made it with some cotton fabric I got in a barter. I made it a wee bit bigger than I need, but that's okay. It's got a drawstring waist so it's still perfectly wearable, and I'll know to cut down the hip measurments a bit next time.

Getting my sewing mojo back on! I made this skirt using no pins, and no pattern - just the most EXCELLENT instructions from the Sew What! Skirts book. I LOVE that book!! This is a basic wrap skirt, it wasn't hard to make. But I still feel like a freaking genius. :)

This is the SECOND huge and wonderful box full of yarn I've gotten this week. I love barter. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I use all these crazy odds and ends to make the sideways scarves (see post below).


Also, I am sewing again! This is a wraparound skirt - or, well, the beginnings of one. I am using some funky chinese-inspired cotton, and the "Sew What! Skirts" book for a pattern.

Yesterday, I learned to sew a french seam, thanks to this fantastic tutorial. I stretched my sewing skills a bit, helping construct this. Which is good, I really want to increase my sewing skills. Although I must say - I never thought I would be working with lame!!!


I also made this fantastic "Apple Pied" - A delicious apple-cider based liqueur, perfect for cold, windy, rainy/snowy afternoons like yesterday. (Just rain yesterday, no snow....but snow will be here before we know it). I did make some modifications - here's the recipe I used, based solely on what I had on hand:

1/2 gallon local apple cider
3 cinnamon sticks
3 large sliced candied ginger
5 cloves
a generous pinch mace bits
2 tbsp. local honey

Place all ingredients in pan, bring to simmer. Let simmer until it smells really divine. Cool; add 1 cup vodka. I would have added more booze but, all I had on hand was really cheap vodka and I didn't want this to taste like, well, apple cider with cheap vodka. I'd love to try this recipe again with brandy. And, I WILL be making it again, as it is delicious and really does go down very, very smoothly. I like it warmed, in a small mug, with a cinnamon stick. YUM.

It must be my lucky day. First, I find a printer-paper-box FULL of fabric, for $4.0o. Yes, four bucks. I could not be more delighted. Most of it is cotton, and some really cool vintage prints. Overall it is perfect for me. I'm re-learning how to sew, and doing a bit of quilting, and while I do like quilting, it seems a *bit* ridiculous to me to spend lots of money for brand new big bits of fabric when you then spend ages whacking up into little bits and sewing them back together. What I love about quilting is the idea of using leftovers and scraps, to make something gorgeous and functional. So this box of random fabrics is PERFECT.

AND? Then, I win 2 skeins of amazing yarn from the nation's first Fiber CSA, of which I am a proud member.

lucky lucky me!

Make yourself cute cotton underwear out of old t-shirts.

LOVE IT.

I just finished 42 quilt blocks in the classic log cabin pattern - this was a "strip club" from my local quilting shop that I should have finished about a year ago. Better late than never, hmm? Anyway. This is my first real quilt, and to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to do next. i know that there are MANY ways you can lay out the blocks of this particular pattern, so I guess I'll just lay them out on my living room floor and hopefully find a pleasing arrangement.....