Pillow Talk and Musical Chairs

WM and I will be hosting a BBQ in early August, and we're hoping for the summer to arrive before then so we can just put loads and loads of cushions in the garden instead of have people sit on chairs (of which of course we don't have enough, but more on that subject later)! This past weekend, after shopping around for -but still not buying- a digital camera on Saturday, we went fabric shopping on Sunday. The curtain factory outlet once again proved to be the perfect place: we came home with meters and meters of fabric for gorgeous cushions; all very different in style, and all very colourful, some beautiful, some truly ugly, but fun nonetheless. I would of course have posted a picture if our hunt on Saturday had been successful, but now you're just going to have to wait.

Immediately after our decision to host a party, the subject of seating arrangements came up. We used to have quite a few chairs around our table in the kitchen, but mysteriously they started to break down one after the other (it must have to do with WM's great cooking). My WM wouldn't be a WM if he didn't find a solution: two pink chairs sitting outside a bar that was being refurbished. So now we're lounging at the kitchen table! A few months after, he found an armchair on the pavement and decided that it would have to come home with him. Fact that it was too dirty to sit on was not a deterrent, and once I got used to the idea, I actually started liking the chair. Of course I have my own idea of how to make this chair part of our interior: it will have to be dressed up as a cow (mooooh!). Hopefully I can get this done before the party, but I'm not entirely sure of that; it's quite a project. If not, then maybe the chairs WM found outside a few days ago (which are an exact match to the chairs we used to have in the kitchen before the pinkies moved in), will come in handy...

Sewing With A Procrastinator (SWAPminus)

A few months ago, my Wonderful Man and I went to Holland to visit my family and pick up my Husqvarna 1140 sewing machine that has been lovingly taken care of by my mother for the past two years (don't worry, I made sure she got a new one). We also took back with us the wooden case that once held a Magnum bottle of wine but that I transformed into a sewing box, and that is now filled with all kinds of sewing goodies. With the expert help of my WM I built a desk for my machine in the guest room (that I secretly call My Sewing Room), set up the sewing machine and -after doing a few minor repair jobs that were waaaaaaaay overdue- just left it sitting there.

Then, some weeks ago I went fabric shopping at The Curtain Factory Outlet with my friend Esther. As well as buying some gorgeous dark brown velvet for curtains, I bought some lovely grey Irish linen that I was planning to make into a suit for work. And a dress. Or a skirt. And a top. I didn't make anything, but I planned to do so. After that, WM and I decided we will go to The Gambia for two weeks in September, and with nothing to wear for that climate and culture; I started thinking I also need to make at least one long-sleeved blouse. And trousers. And another dress. Then I remembered that two weeks before we go to The Gambia, we may be going on a trip to Champagne, France, with WM's colleagues. So what to wear there? How about sewing a few nice tops for that weekend, to wear with my jeans? And of course something a bit more dressy, for when we go out to dinner (with champagne, of course). And, and, and...You see where I'm going with this?

Right, erm, don't panic. Aaaaaaargh! Too late. Okay: I need to find patterns, tracing paper, fabrics, and all sorts of notions (okay, I don't need them, I just really, really want them, as I'm sure you recognize). Lorinda wrote a great tip on how to make a brag book to prepare for shopping for fabrics, and instead of getting my patterns and stuff together, I'm focussing on finding that little book first now. Because I know I already have one. I just can't remember where it is.

Meanwhile, WM is asking when I will repair the hem of one of his suit trousers. Well, darling, as soon as I have built the large table I designed for drawing and cutting in the guest room! Too bad my design has so many flaws that the table could actually be a danger to the guests that do occasionally stay in My Sewing Room. Oops, I mean: our guest room. So today I will admit that, if I pull out the leaves of the antique table in the living room and cover it with a heavy plastic table cloth to prevent it agains my violent drawing, that might just work. Sounds like one problem solved. Sigh.

So now all I have to do is find my brag book. And heavy plastic table cloth. And patterns. And tracing paper. And fabrics. And, and, and...