Vogue Skirt Slowdown & Swiss Steak

I have managed to work a little on my skirt today.  I sewed up the side seams and got the interfacing on the waistband .  Then I sewed the waistband on wrong-so sad! I had to rip it all out and my head was killing me from wearing a crazy headband all day, so I haven't sewn it back on.  I did help my hubby with the shed a little today as well.  He cut some tin siding to fit the back of the greenhouse and I cleaned and caulked and painted it.  Still have some painting to go, but atleast the back is covered now.  It just takes a long time to do projects of any sort around our house.
Made easy swiss steak for dinner tonight.  I took 4 pieces of cubed steak (beaten thin with mallet between wax paper if thick) and placed them in a greased 8 X 11 pan. I mixed a packet of dry onion mushroom soup mix with some of our canned tomatoes.  Added about 2 Tbsp cornstarch, salt and pepper. I just shook it all together to mix.  Poured over meat and covered with foil. Baked at 350 for 1 hour and then at 375 for 15-20 minutes longer.  Served over egg noodles.  Pretty good-Very easy!

Thread Bare

I almost laughed yesterday when I had to buy thread. I have this enormous amount stashed and yet not enough of the color I was using on my Vogue skirt. I inherited a small trash bag full of thread when I bought my serger-(yay for me). I ran the bobbin and the white spool started showing. Oh well, problem fixed with a little trip to Hancock. I was only able to get the darts sewn in the front and sew up the front center seam, but it is progress. Now I have plenty of thread if I decide to tackle the scary jacket part of this pattern (my sweet friend Michelle has graciously offered to help me with this daunting project). We will see how the skirt with snaps goes first. This pattern has a side zip or snap option. I am going with the snaps mainly because I have never done them. I am in this "teach yourself something new" mode of life right now. Might as well go with it while it lasts! Probably won't get too far today due to the fact that my son has much school and an art class this afternoon. The high school art class is working on reproducing this Guernica panel. They each received a square grid with a section for them to draw. My son got the big foot area in the lower right corner. We have such amazing teachers in our Tapestry group!!!! School for my 7th grader beckons as well. It is all so interesting to me, although there is so much to study. Reading about Hoover's administration right now and I don't guess I ever realized that 1-he was a Quaker and 2-how important and wealthy a business man he was. He didn't get such a great rap as president, but he had an incredible career before and after. So much history-so little time to read it all. Have a blessed day and learn something new!

Vogue Pattern Progress

Well I haven't done as much as I wanted to today.  Mainly because my serger was ill.  Actually it is probably operator error.  I threaded and rethreaded that crazy machine today and it just kept getting tangled.  I finally fixed it and managed to serge all my skirt pieces.  Now they are ready to be put together.  My goal would be to have the skirt put together by the weekend.  We shall see.  Life has a tendency to throw you curve balls.  I am going through the Psalms with my kids in the morning and we are on Psalm 119.  It is really amazing how many times God has to remind us about following His (laws, precepts, statutes, commands, commandments, testimonies, Word, etc).  We are such a fallen people.  My serger problem was a good lesson today.  We are so easily entangled by sin.  I tend to give up way too easily and lean towards frustration or despair, but I kept at it today. I kept rereading my manual and starting from scratch each time and it finally worked!  He is reminding me to keep my eyes on His Word and that His mercies are new every morning-Amen! He gives us the strength we need to perform the deeds He has for us. It always works better when we trust Him and we don't give up.  Life lesson for the day and I am glad I listened to it.

New Skirt-Old Skirt Vogue 2885

Did you ever read "Old Hat, New Hat" by Dr. Suess? That is what this title made me think of. Going through all of the new hats in the store and discovering in the end that his old hat was perfect. It is almost that way with vinatge patterns. While there is a lot to be said for the comfortable, easy-fitting garments of today, there is nothing quite so flattering as a slim line 40's skirt. Vogue must have realized that. Most of the pattern companies have multiple RETRO patterns for sale now. I love getting these rather expensive patterns when they are $0.89 or $0.99. What a steal! I don't know that I am brave enough to try the lined jacket yet, but I am going to attempt this fabulous skirt. I found two nice large remnant pieces (that were normally pretty expensive) for $2.99 a yard. It is a beautiful teal, turquoise and cream. I won't feel so bad if the project doesn't go so well, but I would hate to ruin this lovely material. I plan to cut the pieces out today and hopefully get started on it this week.