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What Happened to Spring?

5/13/2013

1 Comment

 
It's been crazy weather the last few days!  Yesterday it was so windy, and the dark storm clouds showered us with ice pellets and wet snow, and the night temperatures are down to freezing.  On Mother's Day! That's definitely a first - at least as far as I can remember.  Delicate flowers are having a hard time. My lovely irises that were open yesterday suffered from the ice pellets. 
Picture
Fortunately, the crabapples are still mostly buds, so they shouldn't be affected.....
Picture
....and the late tulips haven't suffered either. Thankfully tomorrow we start 
heading back up to more normal temperatures.
Picture
Doll-wise things have been less than ideal as well. I'm continuing to have issues loading photos in Weebly - except here in my Blog. I've gone to their "Help" site and did the things they suggested, but to no avail. I contacted  Weebly Support and they thought my problems were really strange, so suggested I make a video of me trying to make a doll page. I thought for sure nothing would happen while my efforts were being recorded - isn't that always the way? -  but all the problems I've been having materialized and were documented for them to see. But then I couldn't upload the video so I could give them the link and see it. Okay, then contact my son on the other side of the continent, who is still connected to my computer by Internet. He made a link to the video. So this morning I thought I'd try finishing the doll page I'd been having so many issues with, and everything worked just fine. What a relief!  But it was short lived. Buoyed by my success, I had started another doll page, and when I loaded the second photo, the first one magically disappeared, and the second one popped into it's place. I hoped it was just a glitch, so tried again, and made it all the way to the end. Then dragged in a text box, and poof! All the photos except two disappeared leaving just empty image icons, and the two photos that were left had moved around. Okay time to quit. Next thing to try is a new browser, but I don't know how to do that, so will wait until Jan comes home this evening.  Computers!  It's a "love-hate" relationship!

And then there's the sewing. I'm working on eight little long-sleeve T-shirts to go with the sundresses. The light and dark pink ones are done, so that meant white and yellow ones next. I thought the yellow with white stripe fabric would be easier to sew than some of the other tops which were of stretch jersey almost as thin as Kleenex. But I was wrong. The machine ate the nice sturdier fabric. I replaced the needle with a brand new sharp one, and it got a little better, but the fabric wanted to stretch so badly as I sewed. What is it with stretch fabric??  I've never been good at sewing it. You'd think my $2,000 sewing machine with special stretch stitches and a stretch needle installed would sew stretch fabrics nicely - but you'd be wrong.  Sigh.  Anyway I got the eight tops mostly sewed, but need to do all the finishing and hemming by hand in order to avoid too much distortion. And that, of course, takes WAY longer. And after I sew those I have eleven slips to sew out of nylon tricot - more stretchy fabric! I can't wait until I'm done these sundress outfits. Then I'm going to make a nice easy Victorian outfit for Peach for when she comes back. Give me those rows of pleats and fancy hats any day!  I hate stretch fabrics!
1 Comment
Mystic link
5/13/2013 11:56:41 pm

Have you tried using something to stabilize the seams while you sew it? Dryer sheets (used) placed between the two layers of fabric will keep them from stretching while you sew it. After you are done it is easy to tare away from it.

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    Martha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes.
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