The Day After

We had a nice and quiet Thanksgiving. My mom shared the meal with us and brought her famous sweet potato and marshmallow casserole (we still haven't found anybody that doesn't like it). I tried a new recipe for the turkey this year, the biggest change was that I used convection baking. Instead of basting with my standard butter/wine mixture I used a Cuban-style recipe and basted with butter,olive oil and spices; I also used a rub the day before to marinate. This is the best turkey I have ever made!It was so juicy and flavorful that I will repeat the recipe/cooking technique next year.

I was tempted to go out and do some shopping but it was so crazy the day before Thanksgiving that I didn't want to be in the middle of it again. Maybe tomorrow...

Colonial Day

Today was Colonial Day at fifth grade. I made the outfits, mine and my son's four years ago when my oldest was in fifth grade. After what I thought it was going to be a long time I got to wear my outfit again...I can't believe it has been four years. Of course I did wear the same dress a couple of Halloween ago when I went as Marie Antoinette.


Marie Antoinette has a date with Doc Oc

I wrote a review of Butterick 3071 in PR. The links for the pictures don't work anymore so I'm posting new pictures.

The kids have a great time they get to play games of the period, make candles, practice cross stitch and make toys. My son was the only American Indian representative; my oldest had not wanted to dress up as a colonist ("those clothes are ridiculous I want to be Native American!")and my youngest agreed.

Burda WOF 8/2008 118 Tunic

Well, here is my long sleeved version of this popular pattern. I finished it a while ago just as the temperatures rose so it sat waiting to be worn. The fabric is a very stretchy knit from my stash, I have no idea what the fabric content is, but it does wrinkle really easily. I extended the sleeves because I'm always cold although I really like the short sleeves. This was a very easy top to make. I probably won't make it again but if I do it will be the short sleeve version.

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I have been working on the jacket from Simplicity 4500. I had made a muslin a long time ago, corrected the pattern and then put it away because the weather turned warm. I now finished interfacing all the pieces and wanted to keep a record of how I did it so that in case I wanted to change the techniques used in my next jacket. I followed Paco's great tutorial (here it is in English translated by Tany). I have also been reading Tailoring Ladies' Jackets by Mary Ellen Flury and I followed her suggestions for the kind of interfacing to use in the armhole: on the curve I used a fusible straight tape and the upper section towards the shoulder a fusible bias tape.
I highly recommend this book if you are interested in tailoring techniques, the book has excellent, clear illustrations and just as clear explanations of all techniques.



The interfacing in all pieces except the sleeves is fusible tricot, I used up all that I had in black and white.

I now need to find the time to cut out the lining and then I can start on the fun part: sewing!! This jacket is to go with the skirt from the same pattern that I already made

Pictures from the Appalachian Trail

Two weekends ago we went out to Western Maryland to pick up a trail that connected to the Appalachian Trail. The trail sort of ended at Annapolis Rocks where a great view awaited us from an altitude of 1500 feet. The walk was about 2 miles and it took us about 2 1/2 hours. I found out I need better hiking shoes that my Nike sneakers, believe me my knees and ankles were asking me to please stop. We got some unexpected rain at the end but all in all it was a great walk. I wish I were a better photographer, my pictures cannot capture the beauty of this trail.

WOW

The 44th President of the United States and his family.

Did you vote?

I had to stand in line to get my free Starbucks, but it took me all of 10 minutes to walk in and cast my vote. The waiting is killing me...

Halloween and our family addition

I was able to finish my oldest costume, cape with hood and mask (he was a World of Warcraft Rogue)by staying up late Thursday night.

The cape is from Simplicity 5512 view A. I have used this pattern many times now. It is a nice cape with shaped shoulders and the hood drapes nicely on the head. I had to lengthen the cape (my pattern goes up to child size 8) and widen the shoulders, all easy alterations.


The youngest costume was a blending of patterns. The pants were pj pants from a McCalls pattern that I removed a lot of ease from to make them straight pants with an elastic waist (my son who doesn't like home made clothes told me he can wear these all the time!). The top, from the Simplicity pattern, I shortened and added the hood from Simplicity 5512. The vest I lengthened it from the original.




My husband carves our pumpkins following the design we each pick. Don't they look good?



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Look who joined our family!!






These cuties come from Small Angels Rescue, a non-profit organization that rescues little critters, fosters them and then finds permanent homes for them. We drove out to Frederick to pick them up this morning. So say hello to George, Jink and Houdini.