Bad Habits are Hard to Break

 What's my bad habit? Istagramming more than blogging.

I'm @the_daily_stitcher on Instagram.

Lately, I've been trying to improve my breadmaking skills. Bought a few tools to, hopefully, make that happen.

First off, new stir sticks. 

Not sure about this one. I was using a skinny wooden spoon for this part, but, well, it was too skinny to get a good grip on. This one, well, it looks a little phallic and the wood is a bit rough.

It works, but I'm not loving it. 

This one is great when things are very liquidy but it's a little awkward when the dough gets stiffer.

It's not bad though. The wood is smooth as buttah.

The hubs likes the slices to fit in the toaster. I've used a standard loaf pan, but the bread gets really tall. 

I love the way it turns out in the cast iron dutch oven, but it isn't toaster friendly.

This came up on a really good sale and I had a gift card so I went for it. 

I'll use it on my next bread day, probably tomorrow. 

It hold a 4-6 cub recipe, so I should be okay, or I can add an extra cup.

It's been very busy around here. I've been playing my bass A LOT. I just had a concert, and I have 5 coming up from now until July 15, 2025. Luckily, I am familiar with all the patriotic pieces and some of the concert pieces.

The hubs wanted a work apron, so I followed his specs. I think it should've tied in the back, but he's the one wearing it. Yeah, it doesn't look right on this dress form. LOL

For mother's day, the hubs is building me a chaise. We are trying to get the design just right, but this is essentially it. It will have arms and a turquoise cushion. It will be either white or a very, pale, butter yellow. I am undecided.

Some fun, new straight pins, pink unicorns from Tula Pink.

Jus finished off a week with the grands and the dot. I'm tired. LOL

There's lots more, but that's it for this week. 

Playing Catch up

 It's been a minute since I blogged. It will take me a little bit to get back into the swing of things. Not gonna lie, Instagram is faster and easier. Not as informative, but........

Been protesting the bread aisle. First, my favorite bread is nowhere to be found: San Luis Sheepherder's. It's literally the only non-sourdough and non-sweet white bread out there. Factor in the cost of a loaf and it's crazy. Here are a few of my attempts. I've had a few flops too. 

They were all pretty tasty, but they weren't quite my favorite. 

A tad bit of sewing for a baby gift.

Just a few burp cloths and wash cloths to go with a bag full of clothes.

It's officially fall. Pulled out the big tea mug, the warm house shoes and had the first fire. 

Still on the hunt for this pattern: Simplicity 2245 

The Lisette Portfolio Dress

She has one on her site but because of copyright and simplicity owning said rights, it's not the same and I really don't want a v-neck and I really don't want to fiddle with it and make it round. 

Anybody out there got one they are willing to part with?

Let me borrow and trace it?

I've contacted Simplicity Patterns about a PDF release but I've yet to hear back. By the time I discovered this pattern it was already out of print. I hate when that happens, don't you?

I voted. Pretty happy with the outcome. There is a ballot measure or two I wish didn't pass. My poor state is cra cra and so is my governor. 

He can't be reelected so yyyyaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy

Finally, a little Saturday morning love

What's going on at your end?

cute little finish

Quite some time ago I started a little starry night type of embroidery project by Stitchin Along with Jen. I only worked on Sundays in-between services. I'm the tech chick. 15 minutes at a time I worked on this little guy. I turned it into a pillow for this little girl who would watch me every Sunday while her mom checked her into the kid area.

First thing I did was some teeny, tiny top stitching to 

hold my threads in place 

Picked my backing fabric and made a little insert.

 

Made the cover in an envelope style 

Ta-daaaaaaaaaa

I think it turned out kinda cute.

I'm never going back!

I tried a new thing: large format printing or A0.

I've read about it before; I see it when I get a pdf pattern. I saw a little blurb on an account I follow so I thought I would look into it.

I checked some local places, and the price was a bit much. I then looked into the places I saw in the blog post, and they were a much better price, even with shipping. I picked two patterns I've been wanting to make and placed an order. I've actually printed and taped up the Eva Dress and made a toile a couple years (and a couple of pounds) ago. 

What a revelation!!

I went with Tape Free Patterns. They had the best prices and options.

The packaging was pretty darn cute.

Each pattern came in its own envelope.

What I paid.

What it looks like.

I am beyond pleased. I will definitely be doing this again!

I may do the Darling Ranges first in a wintery fabric that will look good with my winter boots. 

Technology Bites

 

I knew this day would come. I hoped it would be farther away than it is, but here we are.  OY and a half!

My old desktop, which works perfectly fine for what the hubs needs, is not supported by any browsers...any of them, any longer.

Just tried Firefox, which said it was supporting the platform until September....no freaking luck!

All that's left to do is, gasp, upgrade to windows 10.

I abhor upgrades - with a deep burning passion.

The backup, the time, the installation, the reinstallation of all the apps and data, the stuff that won't work with the new OS that needs upgrading, the expense, the headaches. It's not like a little seam ripper, it's like a seam chainsaw that leaves gaping holes.

What can you do? 

My son the techy will be busy. 

Yes, I can do it, I'm the one that started him on his tech journey, and I used to speak html, but I haven't had to practice in forever. Said computer is from 2010 and I bought this laptop at christmas time because I just knew, I jjjuuusssstttt knew, time would finally catch up with my legacy tech.

Here's hoping I can find a stable windows 10 and not kill my old computer and that my windows publisher will still work. The hubs prepares all his invoices on that program and it is super easy compared to word.

Wish me luck!

Tragedy Averted

 Well, it was bound to happen. I have a long term project that I fell WAY behind on. My mom passed and I just didn’t have the heart to continue since I knew her passing would play a big role in the finished product.

I want to enter it in the local fair in August so I thought I should pull it out and try and get my mojo back. 

WWWWeeeeeelllllllllll, unbeknownst to me, my pen had leaked something fierce and made its way to my fingers. Sooooooo while adding my icon to the project, I inadvertently smeared green gel pen on my fabric. Oh yeah, this here mama freaked.

A lot of scrubbing, soap, oxyclean spray, peroxide and rinsing commenced.

I have prevailed!!

Time to redraw the icons that rinsed off and get to stitching!!

                                              The smear

                                               All wet

                                                 All dry

Finished project

Just finished a fun little project from cozyblue. 
It’s called ‘Guest House’ cute, fun little embroidery. 

It was a nice break from a long-term project and it’s fun to have a finish.