Guys With Fish

My brother Doug, fishing the Kennebec River in Maine.

Here's a link to a little article from the fishing guide's website:

http://www.kennebecriverangler.com/articles/fishing-report/september/2012/kennebec-gorgeous-time-year

Doug and his high school buddy, Joe McColl, are in Maine this week on a fishing trip.  My brother and his son (also Doug) have been making their own fly-fishing rods.  I haven't seen one yet, but understand their craftsmanship is pretty amazing.  Anyway, I just wanted to share the report and photo.  Doug, you look like Teddy Roosevelt in that hat.  Are you on the River of Doubt?  Yikes!!  --cds

Smile!

Is this just not the funniest thing you've seen all day? I probably saw this on Pinterest where I don't usually save photos of interest, tho I couldn't help myself with this one. I like apple slices dipped in peanut butter, but I'm not so sure about the mini-marshmallows.  Reminds me of the scene in the Dennis the Menace movie when Dennis broke Mr. Wilson's dentures and substituted the broken tooth with a Chiclet.

Are Chiclets sold anymore?  Grandmom D. always had Chiclets in her purse, didn't she. 

I'm off to the sewing room.  I only wanted to check in because I've been so blog-absent lately.  I'm itching to make a quilt, so I'll be in my room fondling fabric.  --cds

And Snow White

Snow White is just about complete - just need to trim up the bottom of the tulle and put some fasteners on the back.

The pattern instructions for that big white collar Ms. White wears is a separate, unattached garment that looks like it would be a pain in the neck (ha!) to wear and would be unlikely to stay tucked in. And since I can't imagine our little Roo wearing this without a turtleneck underneath anyway (Vermonter!), I think I'm going to leave it the way it is.

I need to get busy with some apron sewing and quilting for a while now. --cds

All Done!

That's what Ruthanne says when she hops out of the tub all by herself.

 

I had this dress all finished up yesterday.  The tricky part will be to see how well it fits Miss Roo since I don't have her near-to-hand for trying on purposes.  

 

 

I made a size 3, but also had her specific measurements to work with, so it is adjusted here and there.  

 

I don't have a serger, but my machine has an easy overlock stitch and I like to make French seams (nice and neat inside and out).  

 



 

Tulle is a pain to work with, but easier, I found, when it's got a narrow ribbon band sewn on - gives it some oomph (technical sewing term).

 

 

The little Minnie Mouse applique is just a photo transfer because I couldn't find what I wanted commercially and I embroidered the "Minnie" in white floss.





Had so much fun that I'm starting Snow White this weekend. And Evie now wants a Minnie dress because she caught a glimpse of this one hanging in the background when we were skyping yesterday - either Minnie or Daisy Duck (Daisy Duck has a dress??)--cds

Minnie Dress

As in a Ms. Mouse style dress, and bloomers. The real Minnie Mouse wears polka-dot bloomers, too.

 

Ms. Ruthanne is a big Minnie fan so I am having such a good time constructing this dress. 

 

 

There was a time in my life when I despised garment sewing - nothing ever fit and messy seams  were just left as messy seams.  But now I really really love it and I've figured out why.  The answer is leisure time (and a good sewing machine).  I've been able to devote my whole day to stitching this up, interrupting myself only for lunch and tea.  It certainly would help if I had the actual toddler-person right here with me for measurement sake, but then I wouldn't have leisure time, would I?

 

Next up is a Snow White dress for Halloween.  I feel I've come a long way since the year when Josh was 3 years old and I made him a crow outfit out of black fake fur (Jamie was a scarecrow).  So pitiful.  --cds