The Amazing Kenneth King

During the American Sewing Expo, I had the opportunity to meet and work with Kenneth King. I had spied him on Friday and wanted to ask him to take a photo with me but decided against because he looked to be in a hurry and because I thought he might be stand-offish or even stuck on himself. Boy was I wrong! Kenneth one is the most humble, non-pretentious, awesome people I have ever met. He's like someone you've known and been friends with your entire life. He is a great instructor and story-teller. He likes his coffee with lots of cream and only one sugar. Not only is he a master of all things sewing, he is also a master of drywall and can mix any paint color you cold image. I even increased my vocabulary under his excellent tutelage! Beware...don't even mention camera or photo. He is always on the ready for a photo op posing like a runway model.

Can't you tell he's enjoying himself??

Kenneth was gifted the fabric for his jeans. He said the fabric retails for about $300 dollars a yard! He has 65 yards of it. What a great friend.

I talked with both Kenneth and Lorraine Henry about the problem I have with nothing fitting since my 25lb weight loss. Kenneth's suggestion is to have someone else do the alterations since he, like I, hates to do alterations. Lorraine's suggested only altering those garments made out of fabric I absolutely love. They both suggest making new wardrobe pieces. Sound advice from both.

The American Sewing Expo

Luckily my boil burst in time for me to attend a couple of days of the American Sewing Expo. The first day I just went for a few hours still in my bowling attire. I never actually attend classes because I am usually working as a part of the expo staff. My main goal was to purchase a copy of the PR book.

I wasn't feeling the greatest it so it was my intention to purchase the book and leave...no such luck. Almost immediately upon arrival, I ran into to my PR cyber-friend Tina. Here we are are with Deepika at the PR booth.

Tina was such a bad influence on me that I wound up buying much more than just the PR book!

Here I am with Leslie from Austin, another PRer! After a quick dinner with Tina (it was her birthday) I made the hour drive home to rest up for Saturday's events.

Vicks Vapor Rub and Boils

I want to thank everyone for their boil remedies but the winner is the Vicks Vapor rub. Almost as soon as I applied the Vicks to the boil it started to weep and sometime during my nap it burst. Thank goodness I followed everybody's advice about covering it with gauze because it was a gross mess. I've changed the gauze about three times now and can't began to describe the relief  feel. I hope I never get another one.

Now I can get back to sewing. I hope to finish my latest project and be able to photograph it by tomorrow. Thanks again!

Slow boil

I cannot believe that I still have this doggone boil and it hurts like hell! When I did go to the doctor, he said that it wasn't ready to lance and probably wouldn't be untill Monday. Yikes! He did give me antibiotics for the boil and some Vicodin so that I can get some sleep. I am not a believer in old wives tails and  am not superstitious, but this boil has driven me over the edge and I have been reduced to using every hair-brained cure that is offered for relief. I've tried

• membrane of an egg
• egg white
• alcohol
• alcohol and Epsom salt
• slice of tomatoe
• skin of a white potatoe
• piece of pork
• damp tea bag

I've tried them all and the only thing I have to show for it are the ingredients for a good breakfast!

Black Martha Strikes Again

I've been at it again but this time decorating cakes. Today we had a birthday party for my husband's 2 year-old granddaughter so of course I had to make and decorate the cake.

I had a local decorator print out the photos for me but everything else is my own handiwork. I can tell I'm out of practice because I was not able to get the icing as smooth as I normally do.

I ate too much of all the wrong stuff and the worse part is I can't even exercise to get myself back on track. "Why?", you ask. I have a boil on the lower part of my rib cage right where my bra sits. I can't even began to explain how painful it is. If you have any old home remedies for bringing a boil to a head please share them with me. I'd hate to miss a weekend of exercising and sewing on account of a boil. How do you mention cake and boil in the same post anyway? Inquiring minds want to know!

Pink plaid was a hit

Just want to let you all know that the pink plaid blouse was a huge hit. As you predicted compliments abounded from co-workers and customers. One boss commented that I looked like Mary Ann from Gulligan's Island. I took it as a compliment. Once I actually looked at what everyone else was wearing, it was clear what made mine different.

• It wasn't a dull color
• It wasn't styled like a western shirt
• It fit
• The tie really took it up a notch
• Finally, I was working the style like you work a borrowed mule!

The fabric is so comfortable that I will be making a trip back to JoAnn's to see if I can get my hands on some more Homespun. Who knew??

Pretty in plaid

I don't know why everybody at my job is so eager to wear jeans to work. We can only do so on certain occasions. Well Wednesday is special--for some reason. Not only are we supposed to wear jeans, we're supposed to wear plaid too! Me, in plaid...say it ain't so. The pattern is McCalls 6122.

 Actually I like it a lot and it's extremely comfortable. Call me a plaid convert!

I made my usual wide back adjustment and FBA. As part of my FBA I added a horizontal bust dart at the side seam.

FYI I never leave home without my sunglasses or a purse that matches my outfit. A diva's gotta do what a diva's gotta do! You can read the full review at Pattern Review

Black Martha

My mother called this morning and asked what I was doing. I told her I was making fresh banana bread for my husband as well as canning some jalapenos.  She commented rather earnestly, "you're the black Martha Stewart!" Coming from my mom it was a major compliment. I wonder if she expects me to wind up in jail too?? As you can see I had to shell my own pecans. Talk about cooking from scratch!

 

 The husband couldn't wait for the bread to cool so that he could dig in and enjoy it with his coffeee!

Next up was the canning.

I imagine I could buy these in the store but I wanted to do my own. My mom didn't even know I knew how to can. Guess she forgot that my uncle's wife taught me about 15 years ago. Does anybody can any more?? Did you notice the gloves.

They taste great already. Just imagine 5-6 more weeks!
I did finish my McCalls blouse 6122 but will say that for tomorrow. From this point all you all can refer to me as Mrs. Stewart!

Houston, we have a problem -- BOLO

Remember my fabric haul from a few months back? Well I can't find it. I'm putting out an APB. Be On the Look Out for it. I've searched high and low and it's no where to be found! Just when I have my pattern all adjusted, the sewing table cleaned off and am raring to go...my fabric is missing in action. Gosh I hope I don't have to empty out my entire sewing closet to find it. Do you have it? Are you holding it for ransom?

Beautiful Blogger Award

Michelle over at Cheap and Picky nominated me for the Beautiful Blogger award.

She is truly a cyber friend and we have so much in common:

• Our names rhyme
• Share the same birthday
• Share similar fit issues
• Are both frugal
• Share some OCD tendencies
• Like the same styles and often use the same patterns
• We're both without children by our own choosing

So the rules are that I have to tell you 10 things about me that you would never guess, and then nominate 5 friends.
First the five friends

1. Lisa at SewOn and SewOn
2. Reethi at Weekend Crafting
3. NuJoi at Seams Enjoiable
4. Elaray at Another Creation
5. Christy at Christy Sews

Now the 10 things

1. I play the violin in a community orchestra.
2. I used to be a competitive roller skater and still have quite a few moves!
3. I worked for 32 years in the automotive industry. I retired and now work at an auto auction.
4. I'm a breast cancer survivor along with my mother and aunt but I don't have the cancer gene...hmmm.
5. I'm an avid bowler and bowled a sanctioned 300 (a perfect game) on October 3, 1998. I have the ring to prove it!
6. I love watching and attending rodeos.
7. I like watching westerns. My favorite modern day western is Open Range with Robert Duvall.
8. I like old movies. My favorites include Imitation of Life, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Mildred Pierce, Hush Hust Sweet Charlotte, and 12 Angry Men. I'm noticing a pattern here. Maybe I just like black and white movies!
9. I have a tattoo on my lower back! Yeah I know...kinda skanky, but so am I!
10. I'm a hoarder of original packaging. If I buy something, especially something in a large box, I tend to hang on to the box much longer than is normal! I still have the box to a sewing machine I purchased over 20 years ago and haven't had the machine for eight!

Biker Babe

I'm not sure when it happened but I have become addicted to exercise. My first thought every morning is, "is it too early to get up and workout?" Weird. For the most part I get up and do step aerobics because I love, love, love it. Since I got the new bike for my BD I've been incorporating biking into my regime. Today I didn't do aerobics but let the husband talk me into going on a bike ride together. Well 10.25 miles later, yes I have an electronic speed/odometer on my bike, here I am...

Talk about invigorating. No sewing today. Will be going to a scrapbook crop that starts at 5 and ends at midnight. I'm not sure I've done any sewing this week but starting tomorrow all that will change. My next projects include Vogue 1192, Simplicity 2451, and McCalls 6122.