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<\/a><\/p>\nMaking good progress on my winter themed quilt<\/a>. \u00a0 Here’s where I’ve got to with it. \u00a0 Three more rows to sew together, plus the borders still remain. \u00a0You can really see the weaving effect once the alternate blocks are put side by each.<\/p>\n I’ve finished all of the individual blocks and have started sewing them together. \u00a0If I had a diagonal bed, I could just call it a day, but I guess I’ve got to keep going and finish things up, eh?<\/p>\n I was also able to fix my backward blocks that I mentioned in my last post. \u00a0I had to rip right back to the centre square, press them and reassemble. \u00a0It wasn’t tons of fun but it wasn’t as onerous as I’d feared, either.<\/p>\n But of course, I haven’t just been working on quilts. \u00a0Hallowe’en always looms large in my fall sewing plans. \u00a0The boys’ big night was successful (the ability to secure your body weight in sugar, chocolate and fat defined as ‘success’). \u00a0David, who’s coming to the end of his trick-or-treating career went as Hiccup from How to Train your Dragon. \u00a0 I drew the line at making him a dragon, too. \u00a0He thought this was a perfectly reasonable request. \u00a0However, when I told him I’d do it, but I’d charge him 50% of his candy haul, he reconsidered. \u00a0Negotiating tactics are so critical in the pre-teen years \ud83d\ude42 \u00a0I made the pattern for the tunic and the leather jerkin, and cannibalized a thrift store leather purse for the hardware.<\/p>\n \u00a0 And Andrew? \u00a0He went as a Gashlycrumb Tiny.<\/p>\n No? \u00a0Not ringing any bells? \u00a0Edward Gorey<\/a>, 20th century American illustrator, is best known for his macabre ink drawings of vaguely Edwardian children, in an alphabet where everyone meets a terrible end.<\/p>\n A is for Amy who fell down the stairs.<\/p>\n B is for Basil assaulted by bears.<\/p>\n You can see the fate of all twenty-six ill-fated tots here<\/a>. \u00a0My kid went as one of the soon-to-expire kids (he was torn between Hector, who’s done in by a thug, and Edward, who choked on a peach. \u00a0My fav is definitely Neville, who dies of ennui). \u00a0Completely obscure but he loved the suit and that’s what counts. \u00a0 He had to wear rainboots while he trick-or-treated because of the weather but at school he’d just worn black shoes.<\/p>\n The funny part for me was the costume. \u00a0It really *is* a vintage design.<\/p>\n I picked it up on ebay for $8 bucks, got some really cheap acrylic wool-look a like, and then banged out the suit (handwork on a Halloween costume! \u00a0Not in this lifetime). \u00a0Then we completed the look by pairing it with an old pair of soccer socks and a shirt and tie we already had on hand.<\/p>\n There’s something very amusing to me as an heirloom sewer when this is what I end up putting my skills into. \u00a0 \u00a0He had a blast – the hardest part for him was to look suitably dour – he doesn’t do mournful very well. \u00a0Loud? \u00a0Excited? \u00a0Full of enthusiasm? \u00a0Yup, but not mournful.<\/p>\n And finally, in a brief toot-my-own-horn moment, my teal and ecru wool dress<\/a> is gracing the cover of the latest issue of SAGANews. SAGA members can expect to get their issues shortly – I understand from Julie that they were mailed out this week.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n