BeStrixed

So, it’s been so long that I cannot even begin to find the right place to pick up where I left off ; and I have loads (LOADS, I tell you) of pictures and subject matters that should have been posted since — what? July!???? So, instead of the overwhelming-ness of it all, I’m simply going to start somewhere…any ‘ol where!

So let me just apologize for the jumbled nature of this post (okay, nonsensical rambling-ness), the non-thorough-ness, and the general poor structure and grammar to boot!

Sewing

Aprons I made from some awesome retro-looking rooster fabric:

Had enough fabric to make another one (another plus to being an ETLer ) — this one is reversible:

Autumn is my favorite time of year; I just LOVE it. It also brings more sewing projects :^). I did some easy-breezy summer sewing — dresses, cool cotton drawstring pants, lotsa shorts, etc. I made a few aprons, too;The above apron(s) is my favorite because of that fabulous fabric print.

I‘ll try to post here-and-there some projects I’m currently working and some I did earlier this year. I’ve got LOTS of things I photographed… i just gotta get it all sorted!

But, seriously, just the sorting and choosing of the photos is labor intensive,  haha.

I’ve read several interesting sewing blogs and some of these major-major sewists are incredible. They often have these fun projects going where whoever wishes can join in making a project for that month — aprons, purses, skirts, etc. Some beautiful, beautiful work being done out there. And then there are times when people just post what they’re working on or their latest discovery — notion, technique, pattern, etc.
I’ve been thinking…there should be “Sewing Porn Day” and a “Fabric-Porn Day“  Perhaps, in this day of “promises” — ya think I can convince the next President to advocate for such a day? Ooooh, don’t get me started on poli-tick-nitpicking! (say that fast 3 times…)

Serious!  Set me loose in a fabric mart and I’m comin’ home with a motherload. I love children’s fabric…I know, I know! I love the cutsie patterns (not pacifiers and rattles, though!!) of little animals, etc. Oh, that reminds me I should post some of my jammies, lol. I’ll post some of my porn-worthy fabric cache at some point

Now, as far as adult-print fabric, well, I just adore Japanese imports. Gorgeous. I’m not too fond of loud, bold colors. I like old-fashioned colors and patterns. Oh, give me some vintage fabric and I’m in sewing heaven!

Okay, here is an example of drool-worthy Japanese fabric I purchased:

Ooh, La, La, a French seam…(I’m a serious French-seam Queen!) Just love ‘em. Yummmm…

OMGosh I really AM an edge-sewist! (a friend dubbed me so. Or was that “on-the-edge” sewist…

HA!)

DANGEROUS!!

Okay, okay…whew.
So any hard-core sewists out there want a Sewing/Fabric-Porn Day, too?

Oh, Come, now, you KNOW you want it
Link me summa yer “stuff,”  Y’All
Okay, ‘nuf-a dat! (I’m so easily distracted, no? )

Speaking of vintage…a little sneak peak: I’ll be working on this (soon!). I’m hoping to wear it ’round Thanksgiving:

I love it! I like the third view (far right) best. The middle is very vintage looking, however, I’m not too sure how I’d look in that style…I may be too short
Anyway, I am thinking maybe linen…I don’t wear animal products, so no wool; but there are fab alternatives out there. I bought some hemp “suede” earlier this year (yet another fabric run I didn’t post!) and that just might be perfect…anyway, I’d better hurry-the-heck up!

I have the pattern already; I just have to get started on a muslin. It looks easy, actually; however, from experience, I know I’m going to need a muslin. I read a few reviews to see how others got along with it and all seem to be favorable. The issues were about the armholes being a bit too small (to accomodate a shirt underneath) and the bodice being a bit too short, making the empire waist slightly too high…this is common stuff, though. Everyone is shaped differently. If only the pictures were how the dresses looked on us all! I love the fabric this blogger, Frosty772, used. Came out really nice.

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This weekend I didn’t work on any garments, but felt like something simple…so I made a few (very easy-peasy) booties . Most you find are for babies! I decided I needed some. It’s one thing to make things it’s an entirely different thing to make a tutorial — and a decent one, at that! and, as for these it was the same: I just sort of worked out a pattern and way to go about it from various techniques I’ve learned (very much like I make my “recipes”! I rarely write them down….!)
I’ve got some other booties/slippers versions in the works, but these I can bust out in about 15 minutes:

These are snuggly fleece!

And they are very sturdy .

I added batting (stuffing) to some to make them warmer.

These are felt, I think (faux, of course)…

<e

Well, Halloween IS upon us…

Here is the bottom:

Speaking of witch… A reversible one I’m working on:

Here is one with a different bottom; this one is just a proto — Pattern just needs to be altered to accomodate the extra bulk, really. Easy enough. But, right now, warped and messy –  not quite ready to wear

These are one of the first ones I made, and they came out a bit too round-ish — I call them my “duck-feet booties These are made of (vegan) flannel:

Made several others…

Sewing is definitely work; However, have fun, I say…sewing IS fun…

… any way you look at it, no? :

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Okay, next…

Cultured Vegetables

And, my continuing love affair with nutrient-rich food and optimal health through Eat To Live continues, unabated

Here are some cultured veggies I threw together recently:

Ingredients: Yep, I added my beloved Sprouts!!

Result:

In fact, the ones I’ve made with sprouts taste best.

This one I added Arame, a black (when dried) Japanese seaweed you can see:

Ultimate survival food! Cultured veggies are super nutritious, GREAT for the digestive system, and not the least — yummy   I made my own since purchasing it premade is EXPENSIVE, IF you want organic, raw, and salt-free!  Pasteurized would defeat the purpose anyway; so buying it raw is a no-brainer; however, it’s difficult to find salt free and organic.

In my previous post about digestion , I mentioned Rejuvenative brand of raw cultured veggies. Very good and definitely my go-to source now. However, making this myself is SO easy peasy, it’s downright foolish to purchase it regularly, anyway, especially in this economy.

I most often add it to my dressing and it acts as, say, a vinegar might; however, it’s not “vinegary” or sour at all. Much better than any ol’ vin

I also add a few huge spoonsful to mix into my salad sometimes. It’s a good way to stretch a dressing!

Apparently, the juice is traditionally a prized food. I have found it excellent as a pre-meal digestive aid (similar to why one would take a probiotic supplement or digestive enzymes, etc.) or in-between meals — “digestive conditioner, I guess, ha!

This juice is also a fabulous “vinegar.” The difference is this is MUCH better. MUCH less harsh from even the mildest vinegars. With small amounts of fruit added, it becomes a delicious flavored vinegar. I LOVE IT!!!

I’m a big believer in the pivital role of digestion to optimal health.

Cooking season too

Haven’t cooked in ages — since last time this year, I think! But I will do a bit, I’m sure, soon. I have something in the works right now that I actually started earlier this year, made a draft post, and never got around to posting it! Good stuff, hopefully, coming soon!  So, like the 10 others I have unfinished (and the who-knows-how-many-more-waiting to be born) I have to go back and refresh it, add this-and-that, and, of course finish it. I sometimes forget much of the info so I have to redo whatever it was … Sooo much to post!

Okay, I gotta stop now…Yikes. Posting takes up so much time…

But, here I am, a small step back into the posting game   Hopefully, I can tackle some of my older non-posted ones this season as my indoors status resumes for the season ahead So much to post so little time…Sigh.

Oh, did I post this one already?

Tis okay; it deserves another gander

_Strix