Sunday, September 16, 2012

This and that

Where did August go?  And for that matter, where did the first half of September go?  Life has been crazy and somehow (as usual) blogging suffered.  I have the greatest plans for what to write, then the post doesn't happen, and the longer I stay away, the more difficult it becomes to actually start blogging again.  I have been "lurking" a bit, but I have come to realize that a lot of my inspiration for sewing actually comes from seeing and reading all the lovely blogs, and I really, really do miss the interaction.
I believe I left off last time as I was leaving for camp.  I made my daughter a few pairs of elastic-waisted shorts, with promises of "we'll take pictures in camp".  Right!  This is the only shot I managed.
Not much to see of the shorts.  Coming off a 12.5 mile hike, we're just not in the mood for picture-taking.  And later - I had my hands full feeding the crowd.
My niece was getting married the week-end after we got home.  We had a shower to host.  I made an apron and a hot pad that masquerades as a cherry pie.  (Of course, I was making these the night before the shower!)
I promised to "bake" more cherry pies, just as soon as I get to them.
I made the wedding cake.
 Never again will I make cheesecake for a wedding!  We almost had a disaster.  My eagle-eyed cousin noticed that the cake was starting to lean.  Turned out that it had started to melt, and the bottom layer could not hold the weight of the top layers.  Cake cutting got moved up the schedule to RIGHT NOW, and we whisked the cake off to the refrigerator.  Disaster averted.  I was lucky to have my two chefs from Vancouver on hand to help with this fiasco.
And then there was the issue of what my daughter was going to wear to the wedding, since nothing that she brought with her was even remotely a possibility.  Can't look worse than the cousins from Montreal, now can we?   I remembered that I had a dress hanging in the basement that had been sewn for a class sample (make your own prom dress, or some such thing).  I was going to give it away, just as soon as I stripped off the antique jet beads.  Good thing that didn't happen.  I took in the side seams, added straps (my daughter will not wear strapless), which also required stripping beads then adding them back and was done three hours before the wedding.  (Not bad?!)  And again - too busy with the cake and all, and no picture was taken with my daughter looking gorgeous.  She was kind enough to pop the dress on the day she was leaving, so the overall look is less than spectacular.
On the day, she certainly did not have bra straps showing!  Oh - even had a matching bag.

This week I need to head over to the sewing store with my camera and take some pictures of my class samples.  Perhaps by October I'll be able to actually concentrate on getting my wardrobe needs taken care of.

12 comments:

  1. Great to have you back Irene! You did a beautiful job on the cake and so glad the schedule could be changed to avoid a "meltdown". The dress is also very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Welcome back! It's nice to read your update. The dress looks lovely on your daughter in 'try on' mode, I can only imagine she looked spectacular on the day.
    The cake looks amazing!
    You are a very multi-talented lady. Did you make the rose on the bag as well?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely to see you back Irene. I went through exactly the same thing with blogging and have come back with a promise to myself "there is no pressure, once a month is fine!" gosh you have been really busy over the last few weeks, your daughters dress is really nice, what a lucky girl she is to have a talented Mum - and the cake looks so pretty. You are a very talented lady!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well done you! Your daughter looks fantastic in the dress.
    Your cake reminds me of my own wedding. My mother and I made the cake ourselves. It was my mom's amazing cheesecake recipe. Luckily it was only two tiers, so not so tricky. I like a wedding cake that not only looks good, but tastes good too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, have missed your blogging but you've still been sewing this summer. I know what you mean about avoiding blogging and then struggling to get back into the routine. Glad you too started up again. The dress and bag made a wonderful wedding outfit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Irene that dess is beautiful and so was the cake. Glad you're back . Happy Sewing. Fall is such a great time for our craft IMO.

    ReplyDelete
  7. You have really been busy and super creative as well as a great mom!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Welcome back, you have been missed!
    Oh dear, the cake story made me chuckle, thank goodness disaster was averted :D Your daughter is so lucky to have such a talented mother willing to create that magnificent dress; I hope she appreciates how wonderful you are!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mom to the rescue! It never stops, does it? Beautiful dress and bag. And the cake! Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I understand now why you were missing! Wow! all that stress ... in the end everything went well and your daughter looks splendid with the prom dress and wedding cake looks great! You are fluent in all creative aspects in the sewing room and in the kitchen, and of course in the organization (I'm a bit of a mess in this sector). Irene, I tip my hat to you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am so impressed with the beautiful cake! The dress is very pretty, doesn't it feel good when things like that happen?

    ReplyDelete
  12. WOw you are amazing. THe cake!! the bag for the dress.....
    Im so impressed. A sedding has such importance to it and the cake...oh my gosh....you are a permanent part of their wedding memories because of that cake.

    ReplyDelete