Shiny and Blue

J was off to a "super hero" birthday party on Saturday. Princesses are superheros, don't you know? We weren't arguing. J and I went to Fabricland on Friday for things I needed (i.e. pattern for the DKNY-like wrap sweater) It could have been tedious for her but she also enjoyed exploring the new store, finding this shiny blue fabric in the 50 per cent off Halloween fabric as a cape for last year's pink princess costume. Even though everything must be pink for J, the Cinderella dress she wants for Halloween needs to be blue.
I decided to put a rolled hem on the shiny blue fabric. I had never-used-before metallic thread in my stash that I thought would be perfect. But after breaking two needles, the machine jamming, I decided my serger does not like metallic thread. Or more likely, I don't yet know how to use metallic thread. But this wasn't the time to learn! So out came the rayon thread and J's cape was done.
A few items are lining up to be sewn. Fleece sleep sacks for my niece, one for the Ujamma Grandma sale, the finger labyrinth and of course, Cinderella's dress. In the meantime work's been busy and I'm battling some bug -- either the flu or got a bit of food poisoning. Hope it goes away soon.

Saved by the Server?

I was all set to spend money buying more Fabric from Fabricmartfabrics.com. Today their 20% off sale ends. But after perusing their website, deciding on my purchases, I went into the cart and got booted out. Forbidden access from my server. Not sure what that means but I suppose it will be a relief on my pocketbook. Except there was some really nice knit wool for a cardigan I'd like to make. Rats!

Post Script - Sept. 8. Received a nice email from Fabricmart and was able to access the website to put in an order -- including the fabulous chocolate brown 100% wool knit. So much for the pocket book but Fabricmart always has such great fabric. I'm hoping to use the wool to make this DKNY, very versatile cardigan.

Meditation by Hand

We spent a great week at Naramata where I took a course on Fabric Collage from an Edmonton artist. But I came with two goals to apply here: I wanted to learn how to draw out a labyrinth because eventually I'll need to tape one on a gym floor. And secondly, I wanted to figure out how to make portable labyrinths to use with folks in the local seniors' residence.
One of my classmates took this photo of me -- concentrating on winding strings of embroidery whilst gluing it on the pencilled lines of a seven-circuit labyrinth.

The idea for the bright, starry pink cloth came from reading The Spirituality of Labyrinths and Mazes by Gailand MacQueen. MacQueen describes a hike along the Northern Cornish Coast of England and encountering St. Materiana's Church which was founded by "excess, unmarried Celtic Princesses." The phrase tantalized me because of J's delight in anything princess. While I enjoy her delight in pink, I get a bit nervous about the whole princess waiting for Prince Charming, concentrating just on looking beautiful. But here were princesses who looked beyond themselves to help others. About two miles away from the Church is Rocky Valley where there are two labyrinths, each about seven inches wide, carved into a rock cliff face. MacQueen discovered the labyrinths in an area surrounded by a stream, waterfall and bluebells. He described the experience as profound and magical. Now, I'm sure it was a man who took the time to carve those laybrinths into stone because men like to do things that will last. But I wondered if the women founders of the nearby Church had also experienced walking the labyrinth. So I chose bright, starry pink cloth as the basis for the finger labyinth.

I'm pleased with the look of this finger labyrinth. But the glue detracts from the feel of the fabric and some women love to do is run their fingers along fabric.

I knew MJ would have a solution and of course, she did. She just looked at it and told me what to do. Here's some leftover wool that her Mom, dyed. Then she helped me find a dark green remnant that will be the background. More on that in weeks to come!