"Ain't This The Berries?" Challenge Day's #3, #4 (so sorry, forgot to push the publish button)

 

I grew up in a time where I never heard a foul word. Really. I think the first one I heard was really mild these days from one of my father's brother, who exclaimed about every other word. I was about 7 or 8 at the time. I was schooled and cautioned after that visit to understand that he had a "problem" and not to ever repeat the worlds and phrases he used. Instead, my mother used the title phrase to exclaim her disdain of a situation. That little bit came to me while working on my strawberries the other day. 

Such could be said for the challenge. It most certainly has to be "the berries!"

A quick little salad after doctor visits yesterday and right to work. I forgot to mention that I switched two days in my schedule. Because I needed to move patterns to put fabric in those drawers in the small chest, I made day 2 my pattern day and thread day on day 4. Hope I didn't confuse anyone.

My favorite parking place in warm weather. Cracker Barrel Oak rocker, 10 years old. One season outside during Winter, big, big mistake. It will need to be refinished. The quilt is my first log cabin, quilted on a domestic machine.

Watching the basil grow, nicely I might add.

We planted this rose the Summer after we moved into this house, 1974. Maple Lane House has been a bit finicky with roses, this and one other have survived all this time. Note the black edges.

Patterns: The Pattern Drawer; garment sewing only. In the early 1980's my MIL worked for a local department store. They decided to update their fixtures and I became the recipient of several of the "base units" that were used to store inventory. Ha! I might have a bit of inventory as well. Anyway, these are not pretty like the ones I see posted in my Facebook Sewing Room Group. However, storage is the quest here. These have been in my laundry room all these years and holding everything from curtains to yarn, barbeque equipment and broken clocks. I have cleared the drawers over the years and stored sewing supplies as the stash has grown. Soooo, about 100 garment patterns had already been removed a couple years ago. I am still sorting window curtains that I no longer want even though they may have only been up once or twice. Husband has embraced the naked window esthetic so I have attempted to agree. That is a yes and no right now.

 
The craft patterns have been whittled down to a plastic shoe box. I know, that is a real sacrifice but they are unopened, aprons, toys, etc. all to the resale shop. 

 

I still have a collection of in the queue garment patterns in a basket, another collection of patterns that are deemed for tote bags, zippered pouches, and home dec items that will be partially or totally made on the embroidery machine. I have a collection of sleep wear patterns that need tested. I suppose I am the most picky PJ person alive. I have such sensitive skin that I must have natural fabrics, the neckline fit must rise above my clavicle (collar bone) and the fit is close but not too close. In addition, I have mostly elimiated anything with a button front. With my spinal curvature seemingly becoming more pronounced, those buttons shift and slide. Can't stand it. 

 

And the Style Arc collection. These patterns are stylish, the block fits me well with minor alterations, and mostly easy to sew...if you have some sewing experience. The instructions with these patterns are minimal.

 

Quilt patterns are gone. I only ever make them one time. Any other pattern I need I already have in one of many, many books.  

Sorting Scraps: While I have studied and attempted a few famous scrap sorting systems. My favorite, don't. I have adopted a simple system. I have one cart, that's it, one that is dedicated to larger scraps or pre-cut squares, triangles etc. It also has left over Jelly Roll strips that I combine in any random order sewing the sort ends together and use them for bindings. The bindings are stored in a plastic container ready to go. That's it. 

• Sorry this post is so long. That was not my intention but these two days have been about 6-7 hours each in the studio. Dinner was pizza one night and a casserole that was a quick put-together. Of course, I took a tea break and a bit of time here and there in the rocking chair with Miss Lola at my side. She has been painfully curious during all this. She discovered a costume, made for older son in grade school for a Christmas play where he was a cast member for the Nutcracker. It is a large piece of red velour, she has been dragging it all over the house and sleeping with it. 
• Tomorrow I will post the itinerary for next week if you are interested. Of course, you do not have to do every day. Do what you need to do. This is inspiration only. 
• Now to my heating pad, elevated legs, and a cup of tea, have a lovely day.