Summer Vacay in a Day: Rockport

Secret Water View

Hitchin' Post

Lawn Chair Conversation Pit

Local Legend

Dinner

Dessert

My Chariot

Well I'm on lobster number four for Summer 2011. Here's to future day trips as successful and delicious as this one was!

XO Terez

How Brewster the Rooster came to roost - here

Brewster the Rooster

Today laundry and other basic necessities drove me out into what was surprisingly balmy 45 degree sunshine (yesterday my walk to work was 14, RealFeel -1 degree!). I plodded along to my favorite laundr-o-mat, too tired to rush but wanting to get home as soon as possible. While things bubbled and whirled in the wash I crossed the street to Thrifty Threads at United Parish in Brookline to see what was new.

I didn't even need to try too hard to find my treasure; he was looking at me from the front door:

What a flirt!

I scooped him up--he was quite a bit heavier than I anticipated. "How much for the chicken?" I asked the ladies behind the counter. "Oh, it's a rooster, and he's not really for sale, hon." Sigh.

"Oh, okay. It's just that I collect chickens and I just sewed a hen and he would be perfect for her...."

"Well, in that case, you can take him for one dollar."

One dollar.

I could not believe my good fortune. A Christmas Miracle!

I tucked him under my arm and finished up my errands in Coolidge Corner. I was stopped by four passersby:
"Lady, that's an awesome chicken."
"Where did you get that chicken?"
"Great chicken!" and my favorite:
"What a radical chicken!"

All the excitement tuckered me out. I took a few photos of my new friend and went to roost in my own down nest. Later I did some research online and it looks like he is from a pattern in the 80s by McCall's. Ebay to the rescue! I lurve my original little guy but I can't wait to make a friend in the Folksy Flannels I've been sewing with.

Brewster the Rooster settling in

I'll keep you posted on how it turns out!

XO Terez

Dangerous curves ahead

Good news bear pin cushion

....I have a secret. I am not a very good seamstress. Yet.

I am afraid of curves! Zippers=nail biting. Buttonholes: I can barely type the word.

This must be remedied.

Ever since I learned to sew, I've only worked on projects with straight seams: totes, napkins, table runners, pillow tops, quilt blocks. I tried making a curvy, ruffly apron, but my fabric kept getting away from me and I didn't like it thank-you-very-much.

My sewing teacher, Miriam, told me I needed to stop over-correcting, that it was like steering a car: a little goes a long way. Guess what? Living and working in Boston, I don't drive!

So I packed away the dreaded apron; it's still balled up in my sewing bag. I am sad I ruined so much Anna Maria Horner fabric trying to make it.

But, I am determined to change. I want this year to be a handmade Christmas. And I really, really, really pretty please want to make my flock of nephews (four!) and niece (one!) something soft and cuddly this year that could also be an ornament. I remembered some cute little bears Mamacat used to sew for her nieces and newphews around the holiday. I called her up:

"Mamacat. When you come to visit me, could you bring me that little bear pattern?"

She couldn't find it. But she did bring an old prototype and we made up our own pattern:

Reverse of good news bear

These are attempts seven, eight and nine. My own three little bears. Not perfect yet, but that's why I love them. And I am getting much better at the curves. Stay tuned!

XO Terez

Three little good news bears