Friday, August 29, 2008

Living in the Moment

I can't beat myself up anymore that I don't blog as often as I'd like. That's just the way it is right now. I'm chalking it up to living in the moment. I am doing whatever I'm doing at this very minute, does that make sense? Hehe. Probably not but I swear I haven't had anything alcoholic to drink this morning.

On the knitting front, Clapotis is still on the needles. However, I'm determined to get this done by the end of September! It's close - just a few more repeats in the last section. Until it's complete, I vowed not to start on anything else.

Well At least, not knitting-wise.

I started sewing this tote bag last weekend. Sewing has always been an interest but the process is very intimidating to me. All that pressing and pinning and marking and cutting. I've sewn hems and small things like that before but I've never used a pattern. Patterns scare me. I found the tutorial for the tote bag and it didn't seem so hard. And I didn't have to worry about a pattern.

I started by not selecting the proper fabric. Instead of a stiffer canvas-type fabric I chose something flimsy. The saleswoman at Beverly's talked me into using a fusible interfacing that is literally as stiff as cardboard. I was afraid my sewing machine needle was going to break when I seamed the little gusset corners. The handles are all that are left to do this weekend. I promise to post a picture regardless of how the bag turns out.

Speaking of photos, here's one my aunt took in my parents' backyard in April. Karalyn can look quite different depending on who she's with. In this picture she favors Karl more than me.





















Here's my little devil looking positively angelic.

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

A Little Bit of Summer

The dog days of summer are here. I love this photo of Karalyn and her "boy friends" because it makes me think of simple summer pleasures that only kids can truly have. How I wish it could be like this forever for her.

Last Sunday we went on a short hike somewhere between Placerville and Mosquito. This was Karalyn's first time when she hiked on her own rather than being carried in a pack. Don't you love our hiking clothes?? REI catalog here we come.