I 'get' that very few people 'get' my office.

Many of my coworkers are not just colleagues, they're friends. We work in a very pleasant atmosphere (yes, of course there are ups and downs) and I like going into work. I like my job, the people, the atmosphere - and I'm not the only one who feels this way. There is no short term turnaround in our place, we have many people with 20+ years of service - even a few with over 30 years. I'm up to 14 years, myself. There is no massive exodus at 4pm many times you gab your way out the door 1/2 hour or more after your finishing time. There are socializing events outside of work, retirement parties, birthday parties, we have each others phone numbers, speak on weekends, know the husbands, wives and kids.

Yesterday we went into work to find out that one of our friends passed away Friday. I've worked with him on every single project since I started with the company, we had many things in common and lots to talk about. After the shock hit, I verbalized it with another one of the guys (as it happens, he's now one of the owners). I felt like I'd lost one of my brothers. It sounds ridiculous that you can feel that kind of closeness with someone you work with but there it is. I got through the day right up until DH asked me how my day was. I told him, the waterworks started, and he understood immediately 'oh no, your friend Steve'. They had only met once but DH had heard plenty of 'Steve stories' over the years. The emptiness will not go away quickly.

Rest in peace, Steve - I'll miss you ...

Some finished items

WAY past due LOL but here, finally are the finished BWOF 04-2009-119 pants. These were started back in November (or was it October?). Anyhoo, I fit and adjusted a muslin 3 times and after all that, these pants don't fit ! Smiles in the front, and extremely snug in the back and over the front of the thighs. Actually, the picture looks fine - I just can't sit down :-)

I've asked for a bit of help over on PR and while I had already done some of the suggestions, I did not give myself 1" seam allowances and also did not allow that the muslin may have stretched during the fitting process.

So for my next pair I'll recheck the measurements, both me and the pattern, give 1" SA's AND use a stretch fabric.



Since I'd started these as part of my 2009 Wardrobe I added this pic to that album. Wardrobe Pics

This week I also finished my third pattern from Wendy Johnson's Socks from the Toe Up (SFTTU) - Diagonal Lace. I really love the orange.


A few more sock pics here

Next up -

Sewing - adjust the pattern and start another 04-2009-119 pants. I have 2 pieces of stretch bottomweight fabric I picked up off the discount wall at Fabricville a while back - They were about $1.50/m & I ended up with 5 meters. I 'could' get 2 pants and a skirt from them.

Knitting - I cast on the Skew Socks this morning in a pink/white/grey yarn I picked up in Toronto last summer. It has quite a wide striping, so the sock doesn't have the look I was expecting but I think I'm going to like the finished pattern - I just hope they fit. The pattern is for a size or so smaller than me so I went up 2 needle sizes and crossed my fingers. I put off starting this project because I couldn't make heads or tails of the pattern while reading it and thought it would require sitting still and only concentrating on it and so it would be only doable at home. Well, the pattern is broken down into manageable sections and I'm now on the foot, a 2 row pattern repeat for another 4 inches or so. These will travel with me after all :-) They will also be finished one at a time - I didn't want to attempt mirror image, diagonal patterned socks 2 at a time !
Have a good week everybody...

I can't decide...

if it was a good day or not.

Reading the local paper this morning, there was a half-page notice that my local Fabricville is having an 'end of lease' sale and will be closing...not moving, CLOSING ! That's why I can't decide good day or not. I really don't like to see our local shops closing especially fabric shops. BUT, they ARE having a sale and I had to check it out.

Most things were 40% off. Not bad, but they don't have the one specific thing I'm looking for so I was saved from buying fabric. I did however, pick up two patterns.

B5247 has been in my hands and put back in the drawer more times than I can count. Why ? I don't know but today Buttericks/McCalls are $2.99 so I finally picked it up.
The Vogues are $5 and I picked up the one I mentioned in my last post, V8633.

From what I could gather, they will be closing sometime in June. It would probably be a good ides to short-list my pattern wish list and see what I can find. There is a McCalls shirt (have to find that number again) and a couple of dress patterns.

In weather news, the normal daytime temp in Montreal is +6°C. Today we had +25°C ! and tomorrow ? Forecast is for +27°.

I guess overall it was a good day after all :-)