Saturday, January 16, 2010

A Christmas Gift - part 3

This was an interesting gift. I had heard of the Dead Sea products from Israel, but never had access to them before. This is a nail and body care set. I have used it and like it very much. It has a cuticle oil - I need to use that several more times to fix some of my cuticle roughness, but I have already seen improvement. The kiwi lotion is very nice. The shaping stick is much gentler, and faster, than an emery board. But my favorite item is the buffing square. It puts a really great shine on my nails and evens out the ridges. 

Friday, January 15, 2010

Reclaiming Christianity by AW Tozer

Another Christmas Gift. Two of the subheadings on the cover say "Never Before Published" and "A Call to Authentic Faith".  Tozer never disappoints me. He is to the point and blunt - qualities to which I react favorably. Subtle always goes right over my head. To date I have avoided marking in my Tozer books - why? They seemed so neat and pristine - but then I can't easily find my favorite parts again. So I am going to begin marking this one and then do re-reads of the other titles I own from him and just mark away. 

My favorite quote from this volume so far is right in the introduction on page 10: "Until we have a Reformation, all of our books and our schools and our magazines are only the working of bacteria in the decaying Church."

Thursday, January 14, 2010

A Christmas Gift

I was asked what I needed for Christmas - and I desperately needed a new magnetic pin holder. I am so glad the thoughtful child got me this - it makes my sewing easier ~ and helps keep pins off the floor! 

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Knitted Baby Blanket - Finished!


It has been over a year - but I did finally get this project done. At the top is a full view of the blanket. Directly above is a close up of the border pattern. It is very simple - but I still managed a few errors here and there - but only I would probably notice them.   


Saturday, January 9, 2010

Almost Snow...


An uncommon site here in west central Florida. while the kids did make an ice/snowball - these aren't actual snowflakes, more like ice crystals. You could hear a soft rustle-y sound as it fell. All the roofs look like someone sprinkled powdered sugar over them.  Maybe by tomorrow we will have actual snowflakes? 

Friday, January 1, 2010

SWAP 2010


Vogue 7359, originally uploaded by fourkidnubians.
Happy New Year! One of my goals this year is to complete the SWAP 2010. I entered the '09 version last winter, but only did 4 of the 11 required garments. I did get 4 nice skirts from the effort - and I learned about pacing. I also learned a great deal of new sewing techniques this past year, including how to better fit what I am making.  You can click the link above in the title to see the requirements of entering SWAP - but here are my ramblings on it for my particular entries.
Title: Fourkid's Florida Winter
I chose to do Option #2:
2 dresses -single pieces consisting of top and bottom that can be worn alone.
6 tops - t-shirts, shirts, blouses, or camisoles
2 bottoms - jeans, pants, shorts, skirts or kilts.
1 your choice (not an accesory)

1 will be a matched print or stripe.
1 will feature embroidery, beads or sashiko
1 will have buttons as the star feature OR use unusual or alternative closure(s).

So far I have begun working on my first item - the (yellow) jacket pictured above. It is my "choice" item. I am making it in a black wool boucle. Though the pattern is unlined, I will be underlining it with a gray rayon lining fabric.  I am still in the muslin fitting process - but hope to have that ready to go in the next few days. I am formulating plans for the other pieces and will post and update as I progress.