Staying on Task

The July socks are finished! The pattern is Twinkleberry just like the previous pair. This is the best sock pattern ever!

I also sneaked in an extra project. I made napkins with some of the fabric I bought at the Good Will Bins. When I saw the blue fabric, I just knew it would be for napkins - it is woven, so looks the same on both sides. I dislike cloth napkins that only have the pattern on one side - bleah! These look rather 4th of July-ish, but there you are.

If you are counting, you will notice there are only 7 napkins in the photo. I have No. 8 ready to go, but need to make a little extra bias tape.

Progress

This is my favorite time to try on a sock - it looks like a sock, only the toe is left to knit, and with all those knitting needles sticking out - it has a dangerous, ninja look to it! Sock no. 1 is finished and sock no. 2 is awaiting a heel. July socks look to be finished on time!

On Saturday, El Guapo, Sunshine and I drove to Medford to pick up the vintage trailer. It was a beautiful day and a long enough drive to explain why sock no. 2 is ready for a heel!

First stop: Medford Les Schwab for new tires and packing the bearings.

$$$

At home Saturday evening, I couldn't stand the contact paper covering the table, so I sat out in the trailer and peeled it off. You can also just see where I pulled back a corner of the top layer of carpet.

Sunday. I've stripped two layers of carpet and got to the original vinyl tiles. I pitched the cushions, curtains and bed out.

I am discovering that over the years, people have spent quite a lot of time ruining my trailer (the bottom layer of carpet was screwed down about every 8 inches) and I find myself offended!

But, I am down to bare bones and . . . no nasty surprises!

I've vacuumed top to bottom and front to back. Later today I plan to take a bucket of hot water and some Dr. Bronner's soap and clean top to bottom and front to back again. Then I will feel comfortable about camping in the lovely trailer.

Unable to locate the VIN thus far.

Some Hard Truths About Me

I hate being told what to do.

I've known this for a looooong time.

What I have only recently discovered, is that I hate being told what to do - even if it is me telling me what to do.

Apparently, I will rebel and start new projects that aren't on the list, just because I said I had to finish the list first.

Pictured above is the dress I bought at GoodWill and wore to Migi's (the offspring formerly known as Cheerleader) high school graduation. I paid $7.99 for the dress and told the girls I was planning to shorten it as I felt frumpy wearing it. Both of them said I should leave it as it was - and admittedly it is a very nice dress, so I left it.

Until last night, when El Guapo told me he had seen our 68 year old neighbor lady wearing a dress that looked very similar! I immediately cut off 8 inches and used those inches to make a sweet little ruffle along the bottom. Turns out I was right all along and should have gone with my instincts. The dress was very nice, but now it is darling!

Oh, and I did finish the Urban Outfitters knock-off shrug - just in time for the summer's first 97 degree weather! So I did do one thing on my list.

I bet I'm very difficult to live with.

My Folly

I bought this yesterday on Ebay! I didn't for a moment think I was going to win, I only bid $5.00 over the previous bid of $250.00 and I won!!!! Crap!

I've been wanting a camping trailer for a loooooong time. For many years, I thought I wanted to buy a tent trailer, travel around the USA one summer, then sell it. Over time I have decided that tent trailers are too expensive and prone to problems from all the folding and unfolding. Also, I wanted a place to put our camping gear and leave it! I only want to haul food and clothing out to the trailer to be ready to go.

Recently I became aware of the cuteness potential for vintage travel trailers, and - if you are prepared to do some restoration - the low entry level cost. Also, many of these oldies have no titles, they've passed too many years and hands. So a new title can be obtained, with a little effort, but it makes the price much lower.

So, for $255.00 I am the proud owner of this tired little trailer (12 ft). But oh, the plans I have!

New exterior paint job, new red and white checked vinyl floor, red and white cushions with aqua accents and white lacy curtains!

Too Cute!

Edited to add: I figured out my crap by the pound price for the trailer - .17 per lb.!

I've Been Canned . . .

Cheerleader (need to get a different name!) and I dropped Sunshine off at her friend's house in Monmouth this afternoon so Sunshine could spend the 4th of July with her other family. On the way there we saw a yard sale in progress and stopped at it on our way home.

Looky at what I found! 14 Wire Bail canning jars for $10.00! There are 11 quart sized jars, 2 pint sized jars and one that must be 1 1/2 quarts. All but one are very old and the newer one has French writing on it. There is even an unopened vintage box of rubber gaskets! I frequently shop for this type of jar at the second-hand stores and haven't found any for less than $4.50 each, so I considered this to be a major score!

Now I can't wait to get canning!

Here is the lavender wrap-around skirt. I made it from a rayon scarf/shawl thingy that my friend gave me. I think it is a souvenir from Mexico. It had some nice bead work on the two ends so I used those ends to make the bottom of the skirt beaded. Much more useful in skirt form!

I am so disappointed

After posting my list of works in process and projects I want to start and sternly saying I could not do anything new until I had whittled away at the list, I did finish the wrap-around skirt and I did work on the July socks.

Then, this morning, I cut 120 3 1/2 inch squares of scrap fabric - apparently with the intention of making a patchwork blanket! Is that on the list? IT IS NOT!

Do I care?

The List

NO new projects will be begun until the majority of these WIPs are completed!

1. July Socks

2. Lavender Wrap-around Skirt

3. Celtic Knot Bag/Scarf (can't decide what it is going to be yet) frogged

4. Scrappy Quilt

5. Crocheted Edging on Pillowcases

6. Circular Shrug

Once I have knocked back the above projects to a manageable level, I may begin these projects:

1. Doll with Carrying Case and Clothing

2. Apron

3. Union Jack Cushion

4. Cushions for Outdoor Furniture

5. July-and-a-half Socks

6. August Socks