Things from my Washer

Chistmas stocking
Large marble
Tank
Ski Pass
Four yellow foam dots
Chain from a fibre art piece (shoudl still be ON fibre art piece!)
African elephant
Silver bit
Orange thing
After Bite pen

I know I am making excuses here, but I have been busy. I have been working days and then from about 8pm -12 or 2 am depending on deadlines. I usually do not have many orders in July and need to make up for that in May and June in the leadup to the North American Championships. Then I get to relax a bit and only work days.
The end result is that I have not been emptying pockets before I load the machine. Now, I am sure I wouldn't forget if I were like Marjie and had nine kids. I have only two and so am missing 7 kids worth of practise.
I did about 5 loads of laundry yesterday to try to catch up. These items were all collected from the bottom of the washer in one day. The orange thing is a Polly Pocket's doll skirt. I haven't figured out what the yellow foam dots were from yet. I notice that there is about $1.25 missing from the top of the dryer. Also missing are the Kleenex bits that went right into the garbage and a black cat, who didn't go through the cycle, but managed to get in when I wasn't looking.
Maisie collected rocks in the boy's school yard on the way to daycare this morning. I better be sure to check the pockets of those purple shorts.
Anyone else care to share what weirdness (or volume of things) they have found in their washer?

My New Favourite

Done and gone-winging its way to Pennsylvania as I write. I think it is my new fave. The dancer has red hair. I hope she send photos of herself wearing the dress. The headpiece was gold with black velvet fold over elastic wrapped diagonally to mimic the piping at the neckline, sleeve edges and bottom of the black skirt panels.

Almost as exciting (to me) as getting another dress finished is my new hook on the studio's french doors. No more hangers adhered to the wall with packing tape!

Stoning

Just another quick little post about rhinestones. Look at how much they enhance the look of a dress! They end up being a design feature in their own right.

The first picture has the bodice front on the left showing the embroidery with stoning started and on the right is a sleeve panel before any sewing or stoning. What a difference!
The second photo shows the dress pieces laid out before sewing has been completed. I ended up taking it all apart, lengthening the bodice by an inch and shortening that gold sequinned lace pleated panel by an inch to improve the proportions. Altering an already stoned dress is not the easiest thing in the world.

I like to use a variety of sizes on the dresses. This one has both AB and crystal in stone sizes 20, 30, 34, 40 and 48. I have added far more since these photos were taken, so will try to do an update later on.

Sources I have used and like include:
http://www.rhinestoneguy.com/
http://www.suessparklers.com/
http://www.johnbead.com/

A Hosta Takeover

We have a tall, narrow, East facing 1920's brick house on a long narrow lot with a plenty of mature trees. Our frontage is only 33' and that includes half of a driveway (we share the drive with our neighbours). On the South side the neighbour has very tall cedars that form a fence between our properties. His tiny yard has a large-ish maple centered in it. We have a large-ish deciduous tree in ours as well. The tree canopy blocks any rain from hitting the ground. As a consequence of these feature we have a tiny yard that is perpetually dry and in shade. Not surpisingly, we haven't had any luck keeping grass growing there.
Last year we planted hostas. Little tiny hostas from dividing the ones I had as well as a few that a friend brought over (along with 10 bags of soil and some muscles) for my birthday. We dug up an "L" shape that goes along the stone pathways and built up the soil.
This year a neighbour brought over a few wheelbarrows of mulch he didn't need.

(The above picture was taken from the driveway, so you can imagine how small the yard is.)
Another friend donated the large hosta from her own garden. Last year it was a single leaf. Look how well it is doing!
The grass still isn't doing well, despite the wet weather. Maybe next year the entire yard with be hostified! Who needs grass anyway?

For Gail

The dress just before shipping. It made it to Ohio on time and was worn on Saturday.

Saved?

Sometimes you don't discover a goof up until it is too late. The motif in the first picture looks a little large for the scale of the design and the size of the dress, but the bodice was already sewn together and ready to put onto the skirt. I added a lot of crystals to the knotwork on the applique. I am not sure whether it was a save or not.

Also, the hearts on the sleeve look like the have antennae coming out of them. Ooops! Some crystals will distract from that though.

Thank you Gwen!

Gwen of All My Seams has given me this award. Thanks so much Gwen! I have enjoyed seeing your projects along the way and really appreciate your comments and support of me as well as so many others in the sewing blog community.

I am going to need to get back to this one though due to some computer problems.

Rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award on to other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Wow- thanks Ann!

I would like to give a big Thank You to Ann for giving me this award.

I am going to name just a few people, but there are so many I could name. I am not sure if any have received this one before, so sorry if it is a repeat.

Carolyn - An enthusiastic sewist who takes the time to describe her processes, answers questions and isn't afraid to point out the odd "Ooops" moment

Wendy- who sews a LOT and does a little bit of everything.

Angie- who blogs about her kids, books, TV and work as well as sewing.

Attitude of Gratitude - The Rules of Accepting and Sharing this Award
1. Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate a few blogger's that show an attitude of gratitude
3. Link to your nominees within your post
4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award.
6. Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

I have an Attitude of Gratitude because I have a job doing something I love that supports my family. I am grateful to all the bloggers who share their projects and their challenges. Also, I am so grateful for my family. I have a couple of great kids who keep me busy and keep me inspired with their creativity and enthusiasm.