Brain currently booting in Safe Mode

My kid came home from school today soaked and carrying his shoes (they go to and from the school in his bag), his coat askew, his backpack gaping open.

Why?

Zippers.

Zipper malfunctions all the way down.

First, I fixed his bag. I tried to do it the easy way (ripping the seam at the bottom of the relevant side, pulling out the ends of the zipper tape, replacing the slider, stitching it closed), and soon discovered that the zipper slider was starting to disintegrate. Since the main pocket has two sliders and the other looked okay, I pulled that one off and closed it up and considered it good enough for now. I might need to replace the zipper in the future, but I have a number that I've pulled from my old packs over the years, so that's not going to be an issue.

His coat, though. UGH. I had already fixed it, so no shit, there I was, fixing it AGAIN. Except my fix wasn't going to work, because the slider broke into two pieces and that was that. Had this happened last week, I would have put off the work until tomorrow, when there's daylight and it's easier to see what the fuck I'm doing. BUT, it's cold and the weather is going to get colder and damn it.

I had two zipper candidates in my stash: a gray one that was the perfect length and a black one that was about 5cm shorter than the zipper in the coat. Not egregious by any stretch of the imagination, and not the first time I've put in a zipper that was a bit short. The winner? The black zipper. Why? It wasn't a two-way separable (you know, two sliders so you can unzip it from the bottom to access the inside of the garment without undoing the zipper), which was the commercial zipper put in when it was made and it has caused nothing but headaches.

So.

I fixed his coat, because that's the cheaper/easier option for me. My hand, though, it fucking hates me (I think I'm developing arthritis at the base of my thumb on my right hand - good times), because I made it pinch and hold and pin and do all of that other fine motor control necessary for sewing. It's one of the reasons I've made myself some tea, so I can wrap my hand around the mug and use the heat to ease some of the ache. (The other reason is I just want a cup of tea.)

Is it the best zipper replacement I've ever done? Oh hell no. Replacing zippers is one of the things that I do not enjoy doing. I do it because people pay me to fix their winter coats and sometimes it's necessary. I'm always happy when it's done, though, so there is that. And yeah, not my best work but that's okay. For an emergency replacement that would not wait for a day or two? It's good enough and most people won't even notice that the stitching is wonky in places or that the zipper isn't quite the right length. It will outlast the kid's use of the coat, which suits me fine.

Happy Birthday to me!

I am now officially older than my father was when he died. Yeah, odd milestone, but it certainly feels more personal than, say, a decade marker like 40 or 50. A few years ago, we were getting lunch at a Wimpy's Diner before heading to Toronto for Christmas and I spied an old advertisement on the wall that dredged a memory of my dad up from the depths of my brainmeats, so I sent it to my sister to see if she also remembered and she did!

My dad used to roll his own cigarettes. Not using a pinch of tobacco and papers, but a machine. I can't remember what it looked like now, but I have, in my head, an image of something akin to the old credit card imprinters. I can see him sitting at the kitchen table, newspapers laid out to keep the excess tobacco somewhat corralled. Anyway. Weird memory to have crop up.

Here's the ad that brought that up to the surface:

+~+~+

I have finished my first week of work. It was...work, but I did it and am going to have to adjust to the tiredness that comes with it. (I am still very proud of myself for getting outside and working, even if it was only 8 hours over two days.) On my first day, waiting for the bus home, I got to use my new emergency hat because it was too cold and windy to be standing still. I found the UGLIEST yarn while out thrifting for overalls for Declan's Hallowe'en costume. Then I googled hat patterns and found one I really liked the look of. It's ugly and cozy and I LOVE IT.



(Pictures don't do it justice. It's more vibrant in person.)

+~+~+

Yesterday, we all had a spot of very successful errand running! First up were flu shots for the lot of us. This year, we went to an independent pharmacy and it was quicker than it is at a chain.

While we were waiting the 15 minutes, we wandered through the dollar store and found gloves for the boy. His mitts died an ignoble death last year and he needed something new. I asked him if he wants a string (idiot strings are the best way to keep kids from constantly losing mittens and gloves, because that can get expensive and fast); he declined. Well, at least they weren't THAT expensive.

The longest errand we ran was buying winter boots for the boy. He has adult sized feet and sensory issues, so it makes it challenging. As a woman with hard-to-fit feet, I completely get it. BUT, after much gnashing of teeth and beating of breast, we found a pair that are a good size, didn't cost a gajillion dollars, and should do for the year. Added bonus? Not having to deal with the craziness that will be today (the store was pretty quiet when we went). The weather is turning and that reminds parents that they need winter gear for their kiddos.

It was dark when we came home, but the sky was FANTASTIC. This is the best shot I got from my cellphone:

+~+~+

I haven't been reading much lately. I'm still editing my book, and I was thinking that writing is taking enough energy that I don't have much to spare to create new worlds from the words of others. While that does impact on the time I have to read, it doesn't really explain why I have been buying books and not reading them. Maybe things will settle out in a week or so when I get myself used to working for someone else again. Maybe.

Or maybe I should start reading something today, because it's mah birfday.

This week, it was a lot of good, bad, and WTF. The good? I made a thing! A bit of garb for carolep.livejournal.com using a different patterning technique. I was worried that it wouldn't fit AND it would be too wonky. Cotton gauze sews beautifully and has great drape, but it's a bitch to mark or cut cleanly because it's very wubbly.

The underdress? Turned out really well. She loves it and I like money, so yay! I do have one more to make for her, without the pressure of a rushed deadline. Now that I know what I'm getting into, I will be able to try slightly different things (like the chalk I use and the size of the head hole) to see if that yields better results.

Part of the WTF of this week has been I have a YUGE head. Not huge, YUGE. And yes, it's a problem finding hats that actually fit my massive noggin. Macroencephaly FTW! :P

Another bit of good news? I bought new shoes this week. I know, doesn't sound great, but they're RED! Red. I've wanted red shoes for YEARS and knew that it wasn't going to happen because a) I wear men's shoes and b) I wear men's shoes. My current pair look fine on the outside, but are not comfortable for long term wear 'cause the insides are shot. So new shoes. Red ones. :D

The bad? My tablet is very close to bricking. I am...unimpressed. For some reason, it does not like to hold a charge, which is never a good sign. I have spent more time this week than I wanted to just trying to get the damn thing to turn on. And while I am loath to turn it off, I know I will have to at some point. I have been spending the time backing it the fuck up, getting copies of the downloads I have and making sure I wring out every last bit of booky goodness from the damn thing.

I was getting so frustrated with the Kobo that I ordered a new Samsung Tab A (along with a screen protector and case). After that? This one decided to behave. ARGH! I do know that it's only a matter of time before the old tablet goes the way of the dodo. Probably much sooner than I would like, too.

Family Easter today. Last week, we were at the in-laws. I really did not enjoy it. Everyone talks over every one else and I found it especially draining this time. So much so that I was still feeling the effects two days later. Paul's family is fine. They're good people, if a bit...conventional. It was more than I could handle and really needed quiet alone time with nothing more demanding than ambient, everyday home noises, like the ticking of clocks and the sound of traffic through open windows.

Today is my family which should be easier. I can always escape outside since the weather will be lovely. They already know I'm weird and a bit of a loner, so it won't seem odd or leave me feeling guilty when I need some breathing room. And I managed to get my brother-in-law's sewing mostly done (one small hand-stitched seam left), which is awesome, because it's his Christmas present from me to him. Making a gift of my labour and time is something I can get behind. It really takes the pressure off me and my (often) lack of available funds.

Oooo! I think I shall dig out a Christmas-appropriate gift bag and hand the sewing over that way. I'm fairly certain I have one (or a lot) that are big enough. :)

The skirt portion of my costume turned out better than expected, despite the setbacks yesterday and some frustrations today. It looked damned cool and under the black lights of the club, a lot of it glowed (including the veil and wig). So I'm pleased. I even won a prize tonight, so it just validates the work that much more.

Oh, and I promised the_daily_rant that I would wear red fishnets on Saturday.

It's late, and I should really go to bed now.

The weekend was quiet. After being social every weekend since mid September, it was time to just hang out together and reconnect. We even (a little foolishly) ventured out to KW Surplus and Dollarama for some last minute Hallowe'en props yesterday. I still have to finish (start) sewing my costume, but it's mostly straight lines, so it shouldn't be too bad.

Being out of work, though, is becoming the sticking point. Okay, I left because it was better for my overall well-being and while I'm much happier, conviction alone doesn't pay the bills. If I don't find something soon, I don't know what we're going to do (and this town lacks a decent port so I can't blow sailors for spare change and bubble gum).

Financially, we're beyond up the creek and into "no map and no canoe" territory. I'm running out of time and options. Any suggestions? (No, I'm not kidding.)

I don't think I'll need fuzzpsych's services in the bedroom any longer.

My new sewing machine makes button holes in one step!

I'm in love!

*swoon*

At some point earlier in the evening, I noticed that my cords were torn. I have no idea how that happened, or even when, but they started to split right where the fabric was thinnest around the knee area. Damn. I really liked that pair of trousers, but they are beyond repair. I guess that means that I'll just have to make do without.

I've finished cutting the jacket pattern out of velvet. I'm reminded of purple fabric that, years ago, I made into a pair of very funky trousers for the Coyote Priest. After I had sewn them and given them as part of a Christmas gift, I found little purple fuzzballs for months afterwards. The black velvet is already doing the same, so now it will be black ones instead of purple. :P

Anyway, now that the pieces are cut, the first thing I did was embroider the TOB symbol onto the left side.



I used a technique called Blackwork, which is basically a running stitch. It's not as neat as it could be, but it's not bad for a first attempt at the style. My apologies on the picture. Between the scanner and the resizing, it's not very clear how it turned out. You'll just have to take my word on it.

This also means that over the next couple of nights, I will be attached to my sewing machine, finishing the Rabbit Sabbath outfit for Tabula Rasa.

I can't tell if I'm amazing or just really lucky.

Two years ago at this time, I was working at LSC (I miss the books...) and feverishly trying to finish two sets of robes (one for hare_mengele and the other for his wife, who I'll call by one of her old nicknames, Sparkle) in time for Rabbit Sabbath. I didn't manage to complete the hook-and-eye detail on hare_mengele's coat, but for his wife, I finished without a hitch.

The dress I made for Sparkle was black taffeta (ye gods, why didn't anyone ever tell me that taffeta was so freaking easy to work with!) with belled sleeves lined with hot pink polyester (?) fabric. The dress came together beautifully. The lining fabric was a bitch to work with and even though I had lots left over, I was pretty certain that I would have it for years before doing anything with it.

Fast forward two years.

So now I'm working on a complete outfit for Tabula Rasa for Rabbit Sabbath. It will consist of black cotton pants, a tulle overskirt (black with sparkles) and a black cotton velvet jacket with rabbit ears. I'm lining the jacket in the same freaking hot pink stuff that I hated using two years ago!

Why, you ask? Well, it's in my remnants box. It's the only pink fabric in there. And, to be blunt, I'm broke. So I have to use what I have on hand for this. Even if it means using something that is already giving me a headache.

And as for being lucky or amazing, I couldn't tell you. I made the jacket pattern by tracing one of Tabula Rasa's sweaters onto kraft paper. As I was doing it, I was convinced that the sleeves would be all buggered up (I hate sleeves, and it takes me a long time to get them right). Turns out the sleeves fit perfectly (I did a quick pin to get an idea of sizing and if the pieces fit together...they do) in the armholes. But the proof will be when it's finally sewn together.