WaferManeuver

I recently purchased a used piano, and currently I am taking weekly lessons. My concentration is on learning theory, sight-reading, and, of course, technique. Below is a picture of my new piano, as well as an audio recording of the first little piece I’ve been able to play all the way through, “Red River Valley”.

Listen: Red River Valley

Yesterday I received a quilt that my Mom kindly created for me. Photos below. Thanks Mom!

Now I just have to figure out exactly where and how I’m going to hang it…

Recently I undertook a project to create kitchen curtains. My kitchen windows face my neighbor’s driveway, and often they pull up in there car, and there I am chopping vegetables or sipping a glass of water, all exposed. Well, I picked out some great material from Cool Cottons on Hawthorne, recommended by the woman working there. Since my kitchen features green walls and red cabinets, the colorful leaves and flowers in the pattern matched up perfectly.

Originally I hadn’t planned on doing the whole project myself, but while at the store one day I saw a sewing machine for under $70, so I figured, why not? The sewing machine came with a DVD with instructions on setting up the machine, what the different features were, and how to actually sew different hems. This DVD was invaluable, as I would sit directly at my computer with my sewing machine right there, then quickly go back and forth between pausing the video, following along, then rewinding to catch something I’d missed. In the end I had it all set up just the way I liked it.

I made the smart move of making a sample curtain using some other material before starting on the real project. This was essential as I made many stupid mistakes which I was able to correct for the actual curtains. I learned the importance of getting exact measurements, pinning everything down, ironing my edges, and carefully watching the material feeding through the machine. I’ve posted some pictures below of the intermediate process, as well as the final product. Who knows what further sewing awaits?

So I was getting all geared up to build a fence. I’d thought through most of the planning, I had a workforce prepared to assist me, I just needed to sit down and start drawing up the plans. Then I noticed that the lot next door to my house was being flagged for construction. Today I came home from work to find an earth-mover and the ground dug up (see photo).

I guess I can’t get started on that fence quite yet - although I’m now hoping whoever is building the skinny house next door will also build a fence, thereby saving me the work!