Mine!

I finished my clutch bag this week!



It's the most complicated project I've done yet. I got the pattern from Amy Butler's In Stitches.



The bag didn't come out quite like I expected it to. The sides aren't as stiff I thought they would be, but I love the fabric and I can't get enough of the flower. It's my favorite detail.




I have to repair the Velcro closure. I accidentally ironed it while finishing the bag, and that makes it not sticky. Also, it ruins irons.

But now I just need the right occasion to bring this baby out!

Slowing it down

I went to Montana to visit Melissa and crew for 4th of July weekend. As usual, my trek to the north was relaxing and inspiring. Highlights

• Meeting 4 month old Ella. She is full of smiles.
• Playing with 3 year old Aspen. He’s charming, sincere, imaginative, curious and pushy all at once. I even got some cuddle time. I had a blast with him, and it required several naps.
• Making enchiladas for 20.
• Drinking cocktails and talking with Jay, Mel and their amazing friends.
• Sharing the RV in Jackson with 7 other people and 2 dogs.
• The amazing weather.
• Soaking in the Jackson Hot Springs.
• 4^th of July fireworks.

See all pics on Flickr.

2 more down

I've been on a sewing rampage this week. After all that time off, I finished 2 projects this weekend.

First are the place mats & napkins from Amy Butler's In Stitches book that I started working on last week. I finished them on Friday, and am really happy with how they came out.



This is the biggest project I worked on. All in, I spent 10-12 hours on these - maybe more. I learned I have about a 2 hour threshold to work before I get tired and need to do something requiring less concentration. I also learned if I push it, I make mistakes.

I worked with a new type of interfacing. It is material you sew or iron onto the back of fabric to give it shape and comes in many variations of strength/thickness. I did a bit of improvising for this project, which came out fine though next time I will use thinner interfacing that doesn't require ironing.

I finally feel like I am getting an intuitive knack for interfacing use, which is nice. I'm collecting me some sewing knowledge!

So the place mats have the same fabric on the back as in the front middle (Amy Butler pattern).


The napkins are reversible.


For the first time ever, I like these so much I actually want to give them away. Usually, I am sad I am being so generous with making items for others!

Yesterday, I took the Monsters, Dolls and Plushy Toys class with the fabulous Leslie at Stitch Lab. I haven't had such a fun 3 hours in a long time.

I made this Owl!



And I am very sad I am not keeping it. The class was great because the options were endless. I basically showed up with a bag of fabric. Leslie had lots of felt and buttons for us to use, and more patterns and ideas for stuffed toys than I thought was possible. This class really was all about imagination. And I definitely will be using this inspiration for new projects.

One woman drew her design from scratch. Another woman did a very adorable 2-headed dog, and the fourth woman did a camouflage squid for her son that was just amazing.

I totally want to have a plushy doll party! Like that place in the mall where you make stuffed animals, but they will have more personality. Cause you can't get eyes like this at the mall.



As for my plushy owl, she is destined to watch over a cute little Montana baby girl... if I don't try to sneak her home with me, of course.

Next up is a clutch bag from the Amy Butler book. A bag I have every intention of keeping, and assuredly won't change my mind when it's finished.

Productive!

So I bought myself a brand spanking new Kenmore last week after my night of frustration. The problems are very possibly user error, but I need to give Liz her machine back soon, and Sears had the model I wanted on sale. It was just time to get it.

I love my new machine!

It has speed control, a feature I apparently desperately needed. I can sew straighter lines when my lead foot doesn't take over. And it's working like a dream!

Thursday, I hemmed up some of Brian's curtains and finally finished my pillow for my couch!

This project was fun because I really didn't follow directions. I combined a couple of sets of instructions to make what I wanted, which of course gave me lots of opportunities to make mistakes.

I started this pillow with a red trim. Corners are tricky! However, I also mis-measured the pillow form, and the pillow case ended up being too big. Whoops.

So I cut it down and decided to make it with a zipper instead. I had no more trim, and didn't love how it looked anyway.

I love how this pillow looks on my couch and in the room!

Yesterday, I got started on a new project. Placemats and napkins from the Amy Butler: In Stitches book. With such detailed instructions, this round should go better than last year's attempt.

I fell in love with the fabric, and think it will make great placemats. They won't match a single thing of mine, but they sure will be pretty!

Yesterday I cut out all the fabric, and today I hope to finish the machine sewing of the placemats.

Sewing, Interrupted

Two months ago I bought a lot of fabric for new projects and not a single one is complete yet. This is mostly due to travel and tri training, but a recent sewing machine malfunction contributed.

So last night I got back to the sewing. Everything was going smoothly... right up until it wasn't. The machine suddenly started jamming again in the exact same way I just spent $50 to fix. The bottom thread bunches up and doesn't sew at all. This makes sewing impossible.

Tonight, I tried a new bobbin hoping it would fix it, but it didn't. (The guy at the repair shop indicated it might.) These constant problems with sewing machines are unbelievably frustrating. I just walked into Kent's house and dumped a slew of curse words on him. I bet Martha Stewart doesn't drop f-bombs when discussing her projects. Well maybe she did in jail. To be tough.

I just don't know what is going on. I got rid of the first sewing machine assuming it was a bad apple, but now I've had the same problem twice on the second (which is actually a loaner).

Am I doing something wrong? Is there some special threading trick I am just missing? Do I just need a better machine? Is there some magic wand I need to wave to get through more than 10 minutes of sewing at a time?

Tell me sewing god(dess), why is this happening?

Am I being punished for that stuffed animal I refused to finish in 7^th grade Home Ed just because it was expected of me? I was 13, just discovering my angsty defiant self (and punk music).

But now those numbers are reversed, and defiance holds less thrill. Sewing god, I would like to finish my accent pillow, and I have more onesies on deck. Oh, and I have that stuffed animal sewing class coming up next week.

At this point, I am favoring the option where I throw money at the problem. Tomorrow, I am most likely going to buy a brand new mid-range Kenmore that comes recommended by Leslie, my local sewing teacher/expert. And if that one has trouble, I am putting out a call for hired guns. There will be a sewing god with a bounty on her head.

Finished!

I completed my second Danskin Triathlon this morning, though I didn't do it faster than last year's 1:58:51, as I hoped.

I think this was for 2 reasons.
- WIND! My tailwind had me cruising up at 26 mph. And the headwind had me fighting to get up to 10 mph. Going downhill.
- I pegged my heart rate really high, really early and it just stayed there. By the time I started then run, I was tired! Usually I try to stay in my aerobic zone of 155-165. I hovered between 170-192.

Of course, I finished, and it was just as awesome as last year, but I was more wiped out from this race. I barely could stay awake to eat brunch!

We were totally fortunate to not have blazing hot weather. All that wind came with some clouds, and that was definitely a good thing.

I'm not sure how much my extra training helped me out today. I don't think I've ever biked in wind like I saw today. But it did get me into better shape overall, so I'll take that.

If I do Danskin next year, I might join a training group to really push my time, and have some event buddies.

My times this year were
Overall: 1:59:38
Swim: 25:07
Transition 1: 6:49
Biking: 48:35 (Avg: 14.8 mph)
Transition 2: 2:54
Running: 36:11 (11:40 min mile)

Best part about today - 80 year old woman competing. I passed her (barely) on the run. I hope I am in good enough shape to think about doing a tri when I am 80!

Almost. There.

The Danskin Triathlon is next weekend! After getting into great shape for it last year, I followed it up with a slow decline into the worst shape I've been in years. Without a goal, I floundered, then got bored, then got busy, and then just stopped.

So I started pre-training in Jan, and actual training in March. I modified last year's program to be harder. Frankly, it was a little too easy for me. This year, I took the training and basically doubled distances and ramped intensity faster, with time off for my travels last month.

And at this point, I can kick your ass. Well at least if you are small and exercise less than me. OK, so maybe I can kick a pre-teen girl's ass. Or that small grandmother I see at the gym, but I'm not down with grandma beatings.

I digress.

My point is not beatings. My point is that I feel really fit and healthy, and it feels great. I thought I was in the best shape ever last year, but I have definitely progressed this year. I bike faster. Swim faster and longer. And hate running less, though haven't made much headway on increasing my plodding 12 minute mile. I don't get wiped out by my work outs, and they are long.

Last week, for example.

• Tues - Ran 3 miles than swam a mile intermingled with funny dances to shake out a crippling Charlie Horse in my foot.
• Wed - Biked 16 miles home. It took too long, but I hit like 40 lights and some headwinds.
• Thurs - Swam a mile. Skipped "walking" portion cause that is boring.
• Ended up taking Friday, Sat and Sun off due to camping and camping recovery so....
• Monday - Did 15 mile hilly ride on stationary bike in 50 minutes, followed 4 mile run. It would be really nice to do a tri in the A/C. Also I would appreciate if the Texas rain would be more attentive to my training schedule.
  

Today I biked home from work again. This ride was a million times better. Longer - 18 miles - but better roads and less lights so I finished significantly faster than last time. I averaged 12 mph, which Brian tells me is really good for that route.

I'm not going to end up on the cover of any fitness magazines any time soon, but I gotta say, I look (and feel!) pretty damn good. Though I am really, really looking forward to having my evenings back. And dialing back this work out routine. Think I can keep this well sculpted ass with a a diligent routine of aimlessly trolling the Internet in the evenings?

My goal for next Sunday is to beat my time from last year - I need to swim 1/2 mile, bike 12 miles and run 3 in less than 1:58:51. I feel ready!

Packing it up

Australia and the US share similar histories. In the grand scheme of things, we are young countries. We do not have centuries of protecting our land and people from warring neighbors. We were founded by white Europeans determined to crush indigenious people. The expanse of our land is vast. Waves of immigration have shaped our populations and diets.

And in many ways, my time in Sydney and Melbourne has felt familiar. There are no cobblestone streets leading to decrepit castles here. Many people have cars. The cities sprawl and lead to vast suburbs with big houses. There is no lack of good Italian or Asian food. I see Weber barbeque grills on many apartment patios.

But Sydney is distinctly different than say New York. It’s cleaner & safer. The people are much more friendly, and don’t carry that grim determination of bustle and rush that American’s tend to have.

And of course there is the lovely accent, the backward driving and those pesky doorknobs, which I’ve narrowed down to possibly being an attribute of this cool old brownstone Liz lives in.

New cities and countries are always measured with the “how much would I like living here” stick? I think Australia would feel most like home, which puts them pretty high on the stick.

While I barely had any time in Melbourne, I think I would prefer it over Sydney. It’s smaller, and has a pronounced streak of community around art and music that is specific to the city. Like Austin, but bigger! Though Sydney has miles and miles of swimmable ocean beaches, which is awfully tempting.

Sydney

Any band who says that Austin is their favorite city to play in (and there have been many) are lying. Or haven’t played in Sydney.

Sunday night, Liz and I went to see Architecture in Helsinki at Metro, a medium sized venue with good sound. When the band came on some people screamed and ran in from the bar. And the dance floor was teaming with bouncing, joyful, dancing kids. The reckless abandon was infectious, and makes a much better show then the overly-reserved self-conscious head bobbing hipsters at Austin’s indie rock shows.

My time in Sydney was fantastic. We had perfect weather and my jet lag wasn’t crippling at all. I got home last night, and still feel mighty out of it, but that’ll pass….. eventually.

Friday night, Liz and I grabbed tapas in the Sydney Harbour and ogled the bridge and opera house. Saturday morning, we went running in a gorgeous city park complete with an equestrian area and several sport fields. We followed this up by stuffing ourselves silly at a packed dim sum restaurant.

We headed back to the harbor to catch a ferry to north Sydney to go on a gorgeous walk along the coast line, and followed that up with more eating, and then some drinking in Newtown. Liz’s hottie boyfriend met us out for a bit and watched me shove falafel in my mouth on the street. It was lovely. Really.

Sunday, we had a leisurely breakfast over some Internet, and then headed down to Bondi Beach for the market, lunch and another gorgeous coastal walk.

Monday, I hit up a local breakfast spot for some coffee and a tasty ricotta, pumpkin, sun dried tomato omelet, and then stared at tall buildings on my way to the Art Gallery of New South Wales. I was lucky enough to catch the exhibits for 3 annual painting prizes. One was for portraits, and was endlessly fascinating. Afterwards, I wandered through the immense Botanical Gardens mesmerized by sizable spider webs and wombats!

Tuesday, Liz and I hit the Fish Market, which is the biggest market outside of Tokyo. We got ourselves some fresh off the boat sushi at 10 am, and then headed to The Rocks to wander around. We hit up the Modern Museum of Art. After lunch we headed to Paddington for window shopping and dessert. My time was cut short by an urgent need to hang out in the bathroom. We missed our fabulous dinner at a Thai place, but otherwise I was fine. At this point, my various travel illnesses are comedic.

Quick

Coffee shop is getting ready to close so here is a quick post.

PICTURES!

I fly back tomorrow. More then.