Quick update

[mellymell]

In the interest of not getting too bogged down on the computer, I'll try to keep this short. . .

Of course Halloween is upon us, and once again, I'm attempting to finish my Blood Red gown. At least a lot of the work was already done. I did opt to scrap my overgown (will be used for an "inspired by" version using a gold/cream brocade for sleeves and a gold cream trim that I'll add faux pearls and other beads and maybe embroidery to, at a much later date). I've got some of the syfabrics navy silk velvet that everyone else has used on the way. Although more work for me, there's good news in that I have to take in the undergown pretty much everywhere. I started working out daily (well, weekdays at least) the first week of September and in that month lost 4 inches from my hips, 2 from my waist and 2 from my bust, also lost 2 inches in bicep girth (speaking of, I need to hurry this up and stretch and run my mile for the day before Jonah passes out on me for his morning nap). I still have a lot of work to do on myself, but I'm making good progress. I guess it's better to have to take something in than let it out (especially since I had already trimmed the seam allowances and there's no way it could be let out without adding extra fabric, which I don't have). I put together the sleeves yesterday and am still so enamored with that brocade from Bindu. I'll be plowing forward on it today, after my run. If I have the undergown done by the end of the week, I'll be ecstatic.

Anyone remember the cartoon David the Gnome? Guess what Jonah's going to be for Halloween, heh. I think I can find most everything in store bought clothes (hitting up thrift stores for a blue coat, or even one I could dye the right color and brown pants). We've got a pair of shoes I think could work, I just need to color them tan. I have a black leather narrow belt I never wear that I can cut down to size easy enough and probably find a little buckle somewhere (come to think of it, the 1.5" gold ones we used on the groomsmen's vests for our wedding would be perfect, and those were at Hancock's). Then just make a red pointy hat out of felt with some starch to it, add an elastic chinstrap to keep it on and maybe even attach the beard to the chin strap so it's all one piece and maybe a bit more comfortable too. I wouldn't even think of trying to use any adhesives, that's for sure! Find a large stuffed fox to work as Swift, and there you have it, our 10-month-old son as David the Gnome. He's probably going to hate me for this one day. I originally thought a hobbit, but that can wait until he's bigger, maybe next year.

My wrap shirt is still in progress as well, though so freaking close to finished. I stopped working on it to put away all my sewing stuff when we were hosting a brew day back in the last weekend of August. Unfortunately, I didn't drag my sewing stuff back out. Fortunately, I worked on the office enough in the month of September that I can sew in there now, meaning that unless people are spending the night here (it's also our guest bedroom), I don't have to put everything away when people come over now. Unfortunately, the shirt too is subject to some sizing issues now that I've lost some inches (don't have a scale so I don't know if I've lost weight) but for the most part I think I can take it in at the shoulders on the front panels and fix all the fitting issues. It's just a matter of doing it. Then once I get that done, I need to put in the neckline and the sleeves, then sew the trim on and it's done.

Well, before I waste anymore time away from my sewing machine and the many other things I'm juggling right now, time to get off the computer and get something tangible accomplished.

Comments

[lordofhaladin.livejournal.com]

good to see you heere again!! and yay on working on the BR! :D and totally awesome you get to take things in, I usually ahve to take things out and hope I didnt tim the SA! ;p

how old is Jonah now? it seems like just yesterday you posted you were pregnant. :)

[mellymel-cos.livejournal.com]

Good to be here, even if only occasionally. :] I think one day I'll be a regular here again, it's just that right now I kind of feel like the work I'm doing is more important than writing about it, especially if I only have time to do one of the two.

Jonah just turned 10 months old last week. Doesn't time fly!? Seems like just yesterday he was this tiny lump of flesh that couldn't smile or make much noise except a cry. Now, he's trying to walk on his own and chatters away all day in his own little language that I like to call Jonahese. He's been responding to some of the sign language we try to use with him too. Not signing himself yet, but like if we ask him if he wants out of his high chair, he'll giggle and reach toward us, things like that.

[lordofhaladin.livejournal.com]

too true. :)

yes it does!! he really sounds pretty drend smart! :D arent babies (well I guess he woudl be a toddler?) amazing with thte way thire brains work to communicate?

[mellymel-cos.livejournal.com]

they're amazing in all the things they do. I'll sit here and just quietly watch him play sometimes. The way he figures out how to solve problems (like, hmm, if I use this toy to grab at that toy I can get it out from under the couch where I lost it). The communication is really fascinating too. My brother and sis-in-law used the baby signs with their son, seems as though it made his terrible twos a lot less terrible (since he could communicate what he wanted instead of just pitching a fit) and now at age 3 he's speaking in complete sentences. They say the advantages disappear by the time the kids are in school (not like it gives them a permanent leg up on anything), but just to be able to get through those toddler years understanding each other is worth it to me. And at this point, it's not difficult for us. We look up a few signs we think he'd need to use, like hungry, sleepy, eat, drink, out, cup, please, thank you, yes, no, etc. and then we can add to them later with things like animals and toys that are familiar. He's really starting to imitate things we do too. The other day he was scarfing down Cheerios and I looked at him and asked "Are those good? Mmmm." and he said back to me "mmmmm". Or yesterday we were working on the word ball and I would point to the ball, make the sign and say the word, then he would spit out at least a b sound as an attempt at the word. It's just so much fun to watch how they think. At this age, they're pretty transparent as far as what's going on behind those eyes. And the first year they make the most massive strides they'll ever make in their lives both mentally and physically. I've even started to notice development slowing as we near the end of his first year. Our neighbor has a little girl who was born about 3.5 months after him, so it's really fascinating to see the different stages of development side by side.

[lordofhaladin.livejournal.com]

isnt if fun to see? I actaully am gonna go to school to study how brains work with communication and such, its facinating. really it is. :) and actaully I woudl think that if you teach them to say please and thankyou since they time they are born then I think it would seriously affect them even -easp in school. they really are amazing.

[tongarii.livejournal.com]

Do post up photos when all is done. Blood Red is one that I want to make too and I have most of the fabric as well.

Congrats on the weight/size reduction! That is fantastic and takes so much dedication. Happy for you.

[mellymel-cos.livejournal.com]

Will do for sure, this is a big project for me, 2 years in the making so far. Not that it's taken the whole time, just I started it 2 years ago, then put it away, not happy with where it was going, but then found a new brocade and rekindled the project. I'm going to be so happy to have the pieces of this thing out of my sewing stash and put together in a garment that I'm probably not going to be able to wait to post finished pics.

And Thanks, it really is hard work. As I told a friend of mine, you just have to make exercising everyday not an option, at least that's what's worked for me. If I don't get my run in before Jonah's morning nap, I just have to make time for it somewhere else in the day. Of course I've still missed a day or two and last week I was under the weather and not running then (hard to breathe heavily when it's already so hard to breathe normally) but at least I did some yoga to make up for it (which I think is harder than the running).

[lecourtisane.livejournal.com]

Good to hear from you! :) And yay for progress! You must show us pictures of Jonah's finished costume. It sounds absolutely adorable.

[mellymel-cos.livejournal.com]

Will do! I've got the pants and shoes taken care of, will be working this week to gather the rest.