i like it

this is my 2000th picture on flickr. wow. i took this on my old pentax K1000, just your basic work horse 35mm. and i like it. i like everything about slowing down with film. i started back in may (really only in may??) because i was inspired by a pretty amazing lady. who isn't really though? anyway, i have all kinds of thoughts about beauty and life and everyday, but mostly i just wanted to share this picture with you. and tell you that i like it. which is sometimes hard to admit. we really should do it more often dont you think? admit we like our own creation? the answer is yes.

and we're out

i havent done a darn thing. a darn thing since the last post. why? because our whole house was struck with the sick this week. the stomach sick. all five of us have been throwing up. four on the same day. that was not a good day. not at all. pretty much one of the worst days i can remember. oof. but we are all on the up and up. actually doing normal things again like eating and drinking. a few pounds lighter, a little bit grey in the face, but that's ok. right? i know i am feeling better because i can finally use my brain in some other capacity than intense focus on every gurgle that happens in my stomach. also bread sounds good.

but lets talk about other things people. like how fall has finally arrived in kc. that picture was from last weekend which was just gorgeous. that perfect combination of sun, wind, and a bit of cool all whirled together. we went to my parents house as i was hunting for some fall colors to shoot a roll of film. sadly, things were still quite green as you can see. i did manage to get out on tuesday before getting struck down, which was nice. hopefully i will get them developed today, until then, how about some fall goodness from flickr eah? yes. you look at these and i will nibble this pretzel very very slowly...
from hanne
from jördis
from melissa
from meg
from liz

ps. tracy, blair, and meg thank you for the good mail! i havent been in a state to enjoy it yet, but i was definitely happy to see it!

tubes & bags

yeah, i guess that title sounds all medical. like i am dragging around oxygen and a catheter. not so. no worries. i just made some tubes. or footless socks, or half leggings, or faux socks. faucks? what are we going to call these things??? melissa, that lady, made some a few days ago. she assured me that it was a cinch. she does not lie. it is true. i literally wrapped the knit tight around my calf, pinned it, peeled it off and then sewed two lines of stitching. done. slap on a skirt, some socks to keep your toes warm and some smart shoes and away we go. i predict i will start seeing cute knit fabrics everywhere. you know, like when you find out you are pregnant, but you cant tell anyone and suddenly the world is only populated by women shuffling around in their third trimester. no? well, i think it will be like that for me anyway. here is a little secret, these look even better because i got to borrow my friend donna's fancy camera. oh yes. it was fun. i was going to take team pictures for eliot's soccer team tonight be we got rained out. looks like i will have to spend some time with the fancy camera again in a few weeks. shucks. thank you donna. so fun.

the bags! i did make two more bags for sarah to take to uganda as gifts. thank you for all the helpful hints in the last post. i used allison's method which i had completely forgotten about. duh. much easier, but still i am not completely happy with it. i need to work on it some more. or maybe just hand stitch that part. maybe. lets not get silly.

here is a quick photo kerry snapped. my monitor at work is total crap, so it looks really dark for me, but i just wanted you to see the fabrics. it felt good to use up large pieces from my stash. these are all floppy and easy, which i like. it feels good to be back in front of the sewing machine. and jenny asked me if i wanted her old serger. uh. yes. hello! so, back to work for me. i have a ninja costume and two woodland fairies a la chicken to get crackin' on. with serged seams thank you very much.

a bag for sarah

so my friend sarah is again heading to uganda. on tuesday as a matter of fact. for a year to work in kampala with bishop zac. she ever so sweetly asked me if i would make her a bag like the one i made for her friend miriam the last time she went to uganda. what? of course i can do such a thing. so here is her bag, a bit floppy, but ready to leave the country. i used the same tutorial from tiny happy. i actually have two more to make because sarah wanted to surprise miriam's two sweet daughters with bags of their own. so quick question for all you sewers, the final step on this bag, the sewing together of the straps at the top, gives me some grief. anyone made this before? any tips on this step? this whole bag is sewn together straps and all as one piece, and you slip stitch the lining closed at the top. anyway i feel as though i cant even describe my issue and i was just wondering if anyone else has tried it. man. apparently i cant marshal my thoughts this wednesday.