Week #3 Challenge - progress

Just a little teaser of what I'm working on for the menswear challenge. I bought a couple of silk ties and a tweedy wool sportcoat at Goodwill yesterday, and immediately tossed the coat into a hot water wash for felting. I'll tell you, cutting apart a jacket to get at the usable pieces is NOT a fun task. Had I been thinking, I would have looked for a wool skirt with a similar pattern -- easier to deconstruct -- but I rarely think in instances when it would be helpful.

Anyway, I had no plan for this piece (and really still don't, if you want to know the truth). I thought I might be able to make another piece for the Priority: Alzheimer's Project if I kept the dimensions small. I started thinking about a man walking on a windy day, with his tie flapping up, maybe over his shoulder. This piece surely won't be a realistic interpretation of that idea, but I still like the image!

These are just 3" pieces of wool, with the patterns running in alternate directions. I joined them edge-to-edge with a decorative stitch, and ended up with this approximately 9" square surface. Then I took apart the tie (another fun project) and cut some strips, and grabbed some silk ribbon from my stash. I don't really know if it'll look like this, but thought you might like to see my mind at work on an abstract piece. (Don't forget, I warned you I was eclectic in my quilting tastes!)

Goofy, I know...

but I had to show you anyway! This is a picture of the landing on the stairs to the second floor. Behind this lovely fabric is a layer of plastic, some duct tape and a cute little door that opens to a small storage space. Luckily, I use that space to store fans when it's not summer, so it was a no-brainer to cover this space when The Batman suggested it might be a security breach for the bats in the attic.

If nothing else, this exercise has reminded me how much I like this particular fabric, although it doesn't go with anything. If I don't completely hate it by the time it's safe to open the attic doors again, I might make a new curtain to replace the one shown on the left.

Week #2 Challenge -- FINISHED!

Here's my diptych for the Project Runway Week #2 Challenge. I traded the wool star on the tree for the cute button that says "Believe" (leftover from some other project) -- gives it a little more character and a much-needed darker hue.

The snowman (well, it looks more like a snowgirl to me, with the button snowflakes) has hand embroidery for the eyes, eyebrows and mouth, then I hand tack stitched the cheeks and nose, too. That was more a function of not having the right color of thread for machine buttonhole stitch!

I photographed the pair atop the book the pattern came from... I decided that way I wouldn't forget to tell you source! The pattern is actually for coasters, with an additional layer of felt on the back, but I decided to make ornaments instead. I just have to add a hanger of some kind. But I'm still calling this one finished :)

Sophie's Week 2 Challenge

Go see Sophie's great week #2 diptych challenge here, if you haven't already. It's still a work in progress, but who am I to judge? Neither my week 1 nor my week 2 are finished. (Apparently I chose an obscure thread for the quilting of the feathered star, so that one may languish until I can locate more.)

Anyway, I love the free style of these pieces, and the day/night contrast. I can't wait to see how she finishes them.

Chiroptera Defense System

It only took an hour, 600 staples, several yards of red duct tape (the color was important -- to me!), the 4mil plastic and some Jenny Beyer floral fabric from my stash. I securely stapled the plastic to the door frame all the way around -- a killer for the woodwork, but I decided it was a worthy trade off -- and duct taped it to the floor. I also reinforced that around the bottom third of the door on both sides... My George has a serious fetish for vinyl and plastic, and I know he'll be tempted to munch on this.

I then covered the plastic with fabric and stapled around again, but less close together. The plastic itself was less obvious than I expected, but as I said, it's George's favorite snack. I'm hoping by coving the plastic with fabric, he won't be tempted -- or at least able -- to chew through our defense system!

Lather, rinse and repeat for the little storage space door under the attic stairs (access through the landing on the second floor). Return plastic to bag and store on top shelf in sewing room, well out of George's reach. Pretend everything is normal as to not attract any more of his attention than I already have...

The Batman

Seriously, you may not want to read this post. I'm writing it mostly to chronicle what I learned today (and wish I hadn't!), because I'll need to know it again in the future, I'm sure.

The Batman came today (he's the bat-proofing specialist, of course). His first stop (after making friends with George the cat) was my attic. I have a full-height walk up attic -- tons of space, although unfortunately it's not very nice up there. All I did was open the door, he turned on his flashlight, and said "You're not going to like this." The further he walked, the worse it got!

Apparently, I have bats living in my attic (probably my belfry too, but that's another topic!). What my dad and I thought were mouse droppings in February 2006 were in fact bat guano. No wonder the traps never caught any mice!

The good news is that it's getting colder and generally bats go into hibernation for the winter.
The bad news is that they're hibernating in my house.

Even if one could rustle them up and out (and put in the one-way exit doors), the products The Batman uses to seal the entrances and exits (and any other place that looks like it could become one) only work when it's at least 60*. Hopefully we'll have a warm, early spring, since I basically have to live with the bats until it warms up.

According to The Batman, bats like drafts, so he advised me to try to wedge towels or fabric under the attic door to stop that cold -- and inviting -- draft. My mom and I decided I should take it about 35 steps further... I bought some 4mil plastic and a staple gun, and I'm just going to seal off that door completely. That way, I can stop the draft (a good thing in general, since it's cold -- my attic isn't insulated) AND keep any bats upstairs who feel the need to stretch their wings! I've decided there's nothing up there I need that badly anyway. I'd much rather sleep at night than have Christmas decorations.

One other thing -- bat guano is very toxic and can cause the lung disease histoplasmosis, so should you ever need to remove some, wear a respirator and have fresh air and open windows. Do I even need to explain that I'm paying The Batman to do that for me?!

So, think brave thoughts for me and sleepy hibernation thoughts for my houseguests, and hopefully we'll make it through the winter without seeing each other :)

How could I forget...

Christine Thresh's wonderful paper dolls, from her pattern Kate & Friends. She's done men, women, boys and girls for your paper-piecing pleasure.