Normal life returns, almost!

Peace and tranquility have returned to the North Country. One good thing about all the Escapepeepalooza is that it did bring attention to our area. I bring this up because it has a direct effect on my sewing. It is beautiful wilderness up here, peopled with many many Amish and English dairy farmers, and a hunter's paradise. Hunting is a HUGE part of the culture, not so much personally, but it is the way of the North. Families save to buy those forty acres and put up hunting cabins way before they buy a boat, camper or put on a new porch. Its just the way it is. Life is laid back and dressing for success or to impress just really doesn't happen here. That's a trade off for living in such a beautiful wildlife paradise. What's needed up here are good functional casual clothing,  a la LL Bean, a great pair of winter boots, not dress, and an ever present bottle of bug repellant, although this year has not been too bad. I save my more fashionable moments for visits to my daughters near Boston.

I am glad you got to see where I live as it motivates much of my sewing often in a sort of opposite way. You can see how I so enjoy "milestone" sewing, for weddings, christenings, baby showers, all sorts of special events, as that gives the opportunity for my skills to shine. But I am also always challenged for the every day type of wear needed here which is motivating my next project. Over the past year or so I made a jacket for the Fall Jacket Challenge by Threads (won), and made my Ikat jacket. I wear these jackets constantly. Nights are cool here, all summer,  and nearly every morning one of those jackets is on my back on the way to work.  I have learned I can't have enough lightweight jackets. This brings me to my next project,---another jacket!

And since I need everyday wearable jackets (and I love to sew them) the next one won't be couture so much as artistic in its look. What's that mess above? It's five pair of white jeans I got at the thrift shop, St. Vinnie's, for 2 dollars a bag and I didn't fill my bag. But not being 100 % sure of what I will do artistically to this pile of flotsam, other than bleach it to kill cooties, I also bought this jacket last week. It is H U G E.

It's a man's XL and has way more than enough fabric to convert to a jacket for moi. It is in "never worn" condition. OK, who wants an out of date washed out denim look? Well this and/or the white jeans will be the base only. The plan is to cut up the pieces, rearrange them, and paint them beyond recognition but emphasizing the detail. Fessing up, my inspiration is this fabulous jacket by Katherine Tilton.   I will use the same anorak pattern that I did on the Threads and Ikat jackets but with some simplification. It fits.  I know I will get tons of wear from such a garment up here and can't wait to start!

In the meantime I am starting today on window cushions for DD#1's bay window in the family room. I am on a deadline for those so they shouldn't take long.

This debacle is what used to a lovely stone walkway and lush part of the shade garden. Believe me when I tell you it was far worse looking than this and is cleaned up a lot. I will do more yard cleaning, moving of stones and lumber, repositioning plants today. The decks are looking really good and it will be worth all the aggravation and missed sewing time..........Bunny