So, with what should I bore you, nice people, today? I am a bottomless fountain of nothing-interesting-to-say every time I log into my blog’s admin page to write something for my hoards of one or two readers. I bet you’re on the edge of your seats right now. Let’s see how it turns out.
School has started for my daughter. Happy times for her. The toddler is not that glad, though, left at home with just this boring old mother and her no, no, no don’t do that, not allowed, dangerous! To which he responds smiling and then seriously: no, no-no, no! And after which he goes right ahead and does it anyway. This is going to be a long winter!
Yes, I am already dreading winter. Winter with a toddler trapped at home. What does one do? I don’t remember from last time. I guess we succumb to buying stores worth of toys that the kid never plays with. I am going to try my best to avoid that pitfall, but can I already see myself stumbling somehow unavoidably right into it.
The blog has been terribly neglected because … still no sleep over here and because mister Busyfeet needs to be taken out all the time or he throws a fit. So I’ve seen a lot of my yard this summer. Not my favorite activity. (You do remember, I’m sure, the ticks and the poison ivy that lurk around waiting for me–and apparently only me, but that’s another story–right?). Yeah. I did try a few times to get my laptop outside, because I’m by nature so overly optimistic (laughing? you should be!). I’m delusional. That sure I am. Of course Busytwoleftfeet needs me to run after him all the time or he gets into various sorts of trouble.
When I can escape for an hour or two on my own, I visit thrift shops. I have bought several fun things lately, but I need to take photos so, that post is going to come later. One observation: linen is the most pleasing of fabrics. But linen designs can be so bad and dowdy most of the time. There are only a few designers who can (care to?) do linen well. I have noticed (this time on the Internet, not in the shops) that the Japanese designers know linen better and make beautiful clothes and other utilitarian objects with it. I especially like this apron which looks like something I’ve seen in a Japanese sewing book. I tried to replicate it yesterday out of an old bed sheet and it turned out cute, although not really perfect.
(Please forgive the terrible photos. I really need to learn to use this camera better. The first picture of this post proves to all naysayers that I could potentially do it, though, right? One day. Sit tight!)
Anyway, when I make it from linen (yes, I’m back to the apron sewing story), it’s going to be just right. I don’t know if you wear aprons in the kitchen, but I discovered that I need to. Since my philosophy is to use all my good clothes all the time (and get rid of the bad ones–so no lounge clothes for me) I cannot really bear to see splatters of tomato sauce, oil or, even worse, turmeric-infused oil, all over my beloved shirts and skirts. My old apron fell victim to a fatal leather-dyeing incident, and I haven’t been able to buy another one that was both cheap and aesthetically pleasing, so after finding about four yards of beautiful navy linen in Savers, I decided to make my own. (Although I’ll probably end up cutting my old linen curtains for that purpose and keep the new navy linen for another project. Although, and this is a distinct possibility, I might not cut anything, because I’d feel terrible to ruin that beautiful linen, and then I’ll just use this one that I made already, which is not all that bad.)
All right. Let’s hope the next post will come sooner than this one, and it will be slightly interesting. What? It doesn’t hurt to hope, does it? For example, I am hoping that my smallest of children will sleep through the night tonight. It’s not going to kill me if I hope. (Although it is going to make me slightly more frustrated when again it doesn’t happen.) Here’s to wishing for the impossible! It’s better than … something, probably, I just can’t think of it.
I would wear your apron as a dress, far too nice to splatter with cooking goo. I have no nice clothes, so everythign I own is, essentially, an apron inferior to yours. I generally tuck a tea towel into my waistband if I think I may need something to wipe my hands on, but otherwise I’m a mess!
You’re doing better than you give yourself credit for, Lori.
Get the kid a little wheelbarrow or push along cart, next time one turns up in a thrift shop – or make one! Ha! And give him a broom – that’s autumn in the garden taken care of. My son’s first word was garden, followed by go, followed by repetitions of the two…
I know, the apron is pretty nice. But really, it’s an old, thinning bed sheet, not really something that will last for a long time. Plus, I’m afraid it’s so thin than any splatters will just go through and reach other clothes anyway.
And you’re right about the broom: he loves brooms! I have a tiny one that my mom got from Romania years ago for his sister (she had similar interests) and he plays with it too. He also loves the vacuum cleaner. I wished these interests lasted beyond toddlerhood.
I would wear your apron as a dress, far too nice to splatter with cooking goo. I have no nice clothes, so everythign I own is, essentially, an apron inferior to yours. I generally tuck a tea towel into my waistband if I think I may need something to wipe my hands on, but otherwise I’m a mess!
You’re doing better than you give yourself credit for, Lori.
Get the kid a little wheelbarrow or push along cart, next time one turns up in a thrift shop – or make one! Ha! And give him a broom – that’s autumn in the garden taken care of. My son’s first word was garden, followed by go, followed by repetitions of the two…
I know, the apron is pretty nice. But really, it’s an old, thinning bed sheet, not really something that will last for a long time. Plus, I’m afraid it’s so thin than any splatters will just go through and reach other clothes anyway.
And you’re right about the broom: he loves brooms! I have a tiny one that my mom got from Romania years ago for his sister (she had similar interests) and he plays with it too. He also loves the vacuum cleaner. I wished these interests lasted beyond toddlerhood.
I admit that I didn’t embrace the apron easily. I don’t want to feel like a 50s housewife, so I get pretentious and I think of my kitchen as an “atelier” and myself as an “artisan.” Maybe that’s why I’m looking for a certain aesthetic in an apron: it should look like it belongs in this scenario. Well, life is more fun when you embellish the reality a little, isn’t it?
As for my thrift store savviness, I’m always happy to share it with you, although I’m not really sure I possess any. Whenever you want to go out thrifting with a buddy, give me a call!
I admit that I didn’t embrace the apron easily. I don’t want to feel like a 50s housewife, so I get pretentious and I think of my kitchen as an “atelier” and myself as an “artisan.” Maybe that’s why I’m looking for a certain aesthetic in an apron: it should look like it belongs in this scenario. Well, life is more fun when you embellish the reality a little, isn’t it?
As for my thrift store savviness, I’m always happy to share it with you, although I’m not really sure I possess any. Whenever you want to go out thrifting with a buddy, give me a call!
I’m not an apron person, though, even when I’m wearing my “nice” stuff. I’ve got several, but I just don’t remember to wear them and when I do, they’re hot and unpleasant. One like the one you linked could work, though.
I’m going to have to tap into some of your thrift store savvy. I find good stuff there (I bought two unopened puzzles there yesterday), but not as good as the stuff you find.
I’m not an apron person, though, even when I’m wearing my “nice” stuff. I’ve got several, but I just don’t remember to wear them and when I do, they’re hot and unpleasant. One like the one you linked could work, though.
I’m going to have to tap into some of your thrift store savvy. I find good stuff there (I bought two unopened puzzles there yesterday), but not as good as the stuff you find.