Sewsable’s Weblog

I’ve made a few more changes.  Cut my hair on Sunday morning; I’m growing my fringe out so I thought I’d get the rest a bit shorter to allow the fringe to catch up.  I’m happy with it, DH hates it when I do it as he has to trim it; but I object to the cost and time spent at the hairdresser.   Much quicker doing it myself.

Love the new bed, definitely more comfy than the old and it’s spurring me onto cleaning the house up too.   I’ve almost finished the bathroom and bedroom; hope to finish that today.

Knitting up a storm too, got to the pattern on Ian’s jersey, it’s a combo of knit and purl stitches and cables.   I’ve never done cables before, but I think I may well do them more often in future as they’re easier than I’d anticipated.   I’ve also been sewing too.  Hemmed curtains for my brother and his wife; turned a flat sheet into a fitted sheet and got started on trousers for DH to wear on hotter days.   I was bad today though, bought some more fabric from Spotlights clearance section.  2 t-shirt cuts of vintage style prints and some furry fabric (not fake fur, just like a furry polarfleece).   Credit card is definitely being put away.   I had it out as I needed a vacuum bag which I found, also got some more storage at the same time.    No more CC purchases!    I want to be able to save for my sewing machine and some other things too; if I keep spending I won’t do that, nor will I be able to pay for the bed when that comes up.

Definite pledge of no more credit card purchases until it’s paid off!  I’m also putting stuff on TradeMe to help clear clutter and pay debt.   Wish me willpower!!!!

I made up a Simplicity dress this weekend using some quilting cotton I had.  I’m happy with the style, but it’s a little wide in the back and it brought to my attention just how big my tummy has got.   I made this dress because I had a similar one I bought years back which I love, but it’s past it’s best.   It’s sent me back to the gym, once I’ve got my figure back I’ll do the adjustments I need to do for the back fit and maybe make up another one as the style really suits me.   I had already made one adjustment, I dropped the bust point down 3cm so at least that’s right!

We get our new bed tomorrow (or at least I haven’t heard anything to the contrary). In preparation today I tidied the lounge so we could shift the bed in there. It looks amazingly tidy, the bedroom is still a little messy aside from the area the bed is going but that’ll get fixed in the morning. I’ll be putting the old bed on TM and hope someone is looking for a bed for the spare room. We now have a duvet and valance for the new bed which is good, I hate having the base showing.

It meant of course that I didn’t have time to bake so I’ll have to do that tomorrow. Probably make chocolate muffins for the boys for next week.

We had a visit from Ian’s new Occupational Therapist today too, she was very impressed with how he’s going. Seems it’s unusual to have a child on the Autistic spectrum as close to toilet trained at his age as he is. He surprised me this evening, DH saw him standing up and peeing into the toilet the same way as his older brother does! Very impressed and I suspect the OT would have been too. Anyway, he’s going to be reassessed in six months before being discharged from their care, but we get to keep the carseat they supplied until it’s no longer required. I’m hoping he’ll start talking soon, he’s showing some signs, but not quite there yet.

Until we get a new bed; so looking forward to that.   We found a $2200 bed for $1200; it’s  a King and we currently have a Queen so had to get new sheets as well.   The sheetset we got will mean I have to convert the flat sheet to a fitted, but I’ve done that before.    I think I’ll keep our old sheets and dye them and then make them into shirts; they’re 600 count egyptian cotton so I’m not getting rid of them!

Tonight we’re passing some of the time by playing Talisman with the family; I might try knitting when it’s not my turn but I’m not sure how that’ll go.   I’d like to get a bit further on with Ian’s jersey.

I’ve also been looking into bench mixers; I’m currently leaning towards the Kitchenaid ones, they’re not cheap ($899) and the accessories are also not cheap, but once I’ve paid off the Visa I think it’ll be worth doing.    Talking of paying off the Visa I spent more on it today; got 3 metres of cotton fabric to make DH a pair of trousers for the summer.  Unfortunately I didn’t have anything suitable in my stash.   I prewashed it today so as soon as I’ve finished my dress I’ll cut them out for him.  I’ll be dropping a size in the waist for him as the last pair were a little loose.    At the same time I’ll patch the knee of the moleskins I made him a few years back.  This is the second patch on this knee, he loves those pants.   I don’t know what he’ll do when they are irretrievable.

Got all the usual chores done this morning; buying milk, putting washing out etc.   I also stripped the boys beds and did some more pruning.   Next time I see the neighbour I might investigate if they are willing to cut down that tree; it’s interfering with my Pears!

This afternoon was very busy.   Made some GF choc banana muffins.   Added a bit of ground ginger; yummo.    I also cleaned the laundry, this wasn’t the standard lick and a promise; this was floor washed, everything put away, all surfaces vacuumed and wiped down.   As a result I am feeling very proud and the jam has found a home.   Found an old tin of catfood too so Dennis the Menace is happily chowing down.   The boys have been watching TV or on the computer for the afternoon which I’m not so proud of, but it’s too hot to be outside and at the end of the day I prefer children to lobsters.

I have recovered the boys’ computer chair. It’s gone from this

to this

I have to say it’s much more pleasant to sit on now and had the added advantage of using a piece of polar fleece I didn’t know what to do with! I fitted as I went and stapled the underside as well.

I’ve also done more jam making

This photo is of earlier in the week which was a bit messy (read 1 hour to clean up afterwards and that included cleaning the floor). I’ve made 2 batches of strawberry jam now and have one more lot of strawberries in the freezer for later as well as some raspberries and boysonberries. We’ll be good for jam for the next wee while and I can cook the rest up when it’s cooler. I’ll also freeze some of my peaches when they are ready for later jam making as well as preserving some and drying some others.

My garden is looking good now too, we’ve had our first zuchinni and one of the broccoli plants are ready too. Carrots are a bit of a worry though, eldest wants to try them and he’s of the opinion that you need to pull one to see if they’re ready. At this rate by the time they are ready there’ll only be one left! We are getting beans too, some of the plants didn’t really come up properly but the others are being fairly enthusiastic. I’ve got spuds and corn out back and they’re growing really well. The corn is earing up quite nicely and I’ll have to dig up the spuds soon.

I finished a little hat in Naturally Yarns Vero the other day, it came out smaller than expected, but still really cute! I’ve started a jersey for Ian as my next project. It’s using Utiku Bazar. I figure this is my last opportunity to choose what colour he wears for the winter as he may well start to get picky after this; the following winter he starts school and I’ve noticed they tend to get a little opinion of their own (and their mates) then.

Well, up until now I’ve been blogging occasionally on blogspot as Raciebaby.   I feel it’s appropriate to change to a new host as I’ve definitely decided not to start up the business that was originally set up for.  I’m just going to stick with working for WEFT doing handwork on their Merino-Possum jerseys for 24+ hours a week.

This blog is going to be about several things; my family, my sewing, my knitting and crochet and my efforts to be more green.  There will be updates on my sons and their health.   My youngest is ASD but improving and my eldest is speech delayed but improving.   We’ve been gluten free for a while now, will trial wheat again and if it works out will go back to a normal diet, but no bought biscuits (crackers are ok)

There will be sewing projects; I’m currently working on a dress for me and a seat cover for our computer chair that the boys use.

Knitting and crochet projects, the current ones for that are a DK jersey for youngest (just taken his measurements and eldest insisted I take his too).  That’s a knitting project.  I’m also working on a dishcloth and fingerless gloves for me in crochet.   Next crochet after that will either be an Animaguri (sp?) or a shrug.   Will keep you posted.   May also be adding spinning and dying to this section.

Green projects; there are a few that are already done.   We are growing our own plums, peaches, raspberries, veges, apples and pears.    Unfortunately the strawberries didn’t do much this year and I had to shift them so I’ve had to buy some.   I did make jam with those and it’s delish!  I’ll be making peach preserves and possibly jam later.   I also have a dehydrator so will make my own dried fruit etc.    I also want to get a benchtop mixer if I can to help with all this baking; having it to hand on the bench will help a lot.  Need to tidy the bench to make that a possibility.

I also have some resolutions for this year.

1. Reduce spending  and pay off the credit cards (this will not be helped by the fact that we need a new bed)

2. Eat more healthy and homemade food; no more premixed junk and give up sweets

3. Reduce clutter

I think that’s it for the moment; will start posting piccies etc as I go.   The knitting is only 2 rows in so not much to show yet and the sewing is only at pattern stage.

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