Search This Blog

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Pain is Getting Better

Going to start working on a valance and cafe curtains for a client's master bedroom and bath. She finally found the fabrics she wanted. I met with my web developer last week. We went over the site with a fine tooth comb and found several errors. He will be working on correcting them while I finish writing some more copy for the site. Soon it should be up and running.
In sewing class, Anna and Sammie have dropped out temporarily while they work with the costume crew for their school play. They are so excited to be doing it. Grace finished her peasant blouse and started cutting out a nightshirt. Meghan finished her pajama pants and is eager to start on book 2. Lauren will be joining them next week while Anna and Sammie are busy.
A lot of the snow melted but then on Monday we got freezing rain which really made a mess of the morning commute. Then Tuesday morning we got another couple of inches of snow. I can't wait for spring to come.
My hip pain wasn't getting any better even after a deep tissue massage so I went to the doctor finally. She sent me for x-rays (all normal) and started me on some anti-inflamatory meds and a muscle relaxant. They are definitely helping as I can now move and walk without pain. I still can't run and that is really getting me down. I am hoping I will have enough time before the race in Nashville to get up to speed.
I have gone to two embroidery classes since last week. The first was on Friday at Sewing Source to learn about Floriani's products. The second was embroidery club at Sew 'n' Save yesterday. Pattie Otto's class was about using Texture Magic and the embroidery designs she digitized. The photo here is a pillow I did with the center being her design and the Texture Magic. I really like how it turned out. I can't wait to try some of the other designs and applications. I have also included a close up photo of the center.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Pillows

These pillows are for a client's living room. She had picked out some great fabrics and trims for these pillows and also some for her family room. Next up on the table is some window treatments for a master bedroom and bath. Today I am meeting with my web designer. Hopefully we will be putting on the final touches to my site and will be live soon.
Yesterday both Anna and Meghan missed class. Poor Anna has the flu and Meghan had a concert that had been rescheduled due to the bad weather two weeks ago. Grace is almost done with her peasant blouse, she just needs to do the hem and take out some basting stitches. Sammie has just the hems on her nightshirt to do. Lauren finished her sport shirt and started on a drawstring bag from some leftover fabric she had.
The weather has been warming up and the snow is starting to melt. I can see the patio furniture which had been totally buried in a drift two weeks ago. I hurt myself though doing more snow shoveling on Saturday. I finished clearing the final 3 feet of width on the driveway so I wouldn't keep scraping the car. The problem was that the snow was over four feet tall and the piles on the sides of the drive were over five feet tall so I was lifting and throwing the wet snow up and over it. I think I twisted one too many times and could barely walk the next morning the pain in my hip was so bad. It did ease up some and my daughter and I were able to do a 9 mile run, very slowly. On Monday my trainer said no more running for now and to ice and rest it as much as possible. It is still tight this morning but loosened up some doing an easy 45 minute elliptical workout. I just want to get back to training for the race in Nashville on April 30th.
Last Thursday I hosted our ASG meeting that we had to cancel from the previous week. We cut out bibs for Clearbrook Center and will be sewing them at home plus doing some more cutting out. Next month at our meeting we will be learning how to make a magic pinwheel table topper. It looks like a lot of fun.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Go Pack Go


Well the Super Bowl Party went well at the house. My sister-in-law and her fiance, a Steeler fan, were able to get here. They brought with some great brats for us to enjoy. Unfortunately we couldn't grill them because the grill is buried in the snow. Things got a little tense when the pizza nearly burned but it was all eaten anyway. It was a great, close game with my Packers finally closing it out. Now it is time to look forward to baseball season. Will this be the Cubs year?
In class, Anna is working on her tank top, Grace is working on her peasant blouse, Meaghan is almost done with her pajama pants and Sammie is putting the sleeves on her nightshirt. Sammie is talking about making her homecoming dress next fall. I think she could do it if she does some work at home.
Barb picked up her dozen pillows this morning and really liked them. I think they will really add a lot to her living room and family room. Too bad I didn't get them done before her open house, the weather had me spending a lot of time outside shoveling snow instead of sewing. Next up is a window treatment for a client's bedroom and adjoining bathroom.
Did a 6 mile run Friday afternoon and a 7 miler on Sunday before the game with my daughter getting ready for Nashville in April. She bought us matching tops so our hubbies will be able to spot us easier. Should be fun. Did another treadmill workout this morning. They are not fun but I know I need to do them in order to get faster.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Snow, Snow and More Snow

The weather has really taken a turn for the worse. Right now Lake County IL is shut down. If you are out on the roads the police will issue you a ticket. This is serious stuff right now. It has been snowing and blowing for almost 24 hours. Right now the sun is trying to come out. I have done a little shoveling but currently my husband is in the attic trying to remove the snow that is in there.


What a mess. It might be a few days before we can get back to normal. Sub zero temps are to follow.
Fortunately the Packers made it down to Dallas before they were snowed in. We are planning on having a party to watch the Super Bowl but I don't know at this point what will be happening as my sister-in-law's fiance just posted pictures from where they are snowed in in their house.
Class yesterday was cancelled yesterday due to the snow. I thought there is no way I want those moms and girls out driving in this mess. Lauren's 1 1/2 hour lesson went well. She is making a sport top from a knit so I decided to teach her howto use a serger. After threading it up, she did a little practicing and then pretty soon had most of the top sewn. I finished up the alterations I was doing and started on the pillows I am making for another client. She is having an open house on Saturday to show off her new basement so I am trying to have them done by then even though they are for the upstairs rooms. Maybe she will need a few things for her basement.
New Years Resolutions: Just no time to do a daily walk, too many other obligations. Recovery week is over so Monday was a 4 mile run followed by weights, Tuesday was a computrainer ride at 150 watts, my threshold and now today I need to do a treadmill run of 5 miles with varying speeds followed by weights again this evening. I will see if I can get to the fitness center to get on the treadmill and then wait and see if they open the roads so I can get to functional weights class at The Fitness Pursuit.