A break from previously scheduled programming

I will be taking a break until next Monday or Tuesday, while I do this wedding. We are now expecting a cyclone which may impact on the outdoor ceremony, although the bride says it will not rain, and she is pretty tough. Brothers are trying to negotiate surfing time off during the day and the husband is up to his elbows in buttermilk biscuits. Have had to change around cabin occupants because of different political views (who called this election, either election anyway).

Full report and back to sewing next week.

I'll miss you.

In praise of my sister Nancy

OK to bring those hanging on the progress of the wrap-that-looks-like-a-baby-blanket (we are not even going to discuss what could have been made if Mom had been given more time and access to internet fabric sources) yesterday's trip to Fabricville produced nothing in the way of a trim to dress this thing up. Trim a couch I could have done, a bridal wrap no.

After about six calls from intense extended family in Winnipeg, I finally got on the phone with my sister Nancy was was just unpacking from another family wedding on her husband's side in Baltimore last weekend.

"Not to worry," she said, "we have the fifth best bridal store in Canada here in Winnipeg, I'm going over there now"

Next call was from Nancy and staff at the fifth best bridal store in Canada.

"Who is the designer of her dress? OK we have the dresses by that designer here and we are matching the satin. Pearls? Silver or gold beading? OK we have six wraps here. Fringe or no fringe? 24" X 70" OK? "

"OK I am buying a wrap here, should be a perfect match, will bring it in Thursday."

I love my family. They are crazy and over-involved and workshop the death out of anything but they never let you down. As we are hosting a three day event we have a lot of work to do and I have lists with names on them right on the table by my front door. Thursday my husband is taking the day off to cook for the crowd that flies in, in three shifts, that night. One of my dear stepdaughters is renting a car and going down four hours before everyone else to advance the lodge for us to make sure everything is OK. Her sister is getting up Saturday morning early to make coffee for everyone's cabin. My sons are polishing speeches and someone is getting the dogs ready. The hairdresser has in fact decided to come out of retirement for us and trek through the woods to do our hair.

This family has tremendous back-up and the groom's family are exactly who we would want to be spending the weekend with. In a challenging world, with all we have gone through together, on both sides, we have so much to celebrate this weekend.

Oh and even though I couldn't find trim, guess what Fabricville did have? Pant weight crepe, 2 meters for $1.00. Unbelievable. The gods are with me.

A busy week ahead

I really enjoy posting to this blog but I can tell that with The Wedding six days away and guests starting to arrive today that it may be hard to post for a week or so until the dust settles and I can set up my machine again.

Yesterday's project was a wrap for my daughter who has been resistant to considering the possibility that it might be cool in the evening in Canada at the end of September. Being the ideal mother I did not say I told you so once as we raced around town trying to find something Saturday, our one local fabric shop having turned up nothing. Nothing in the stores either so in the end we bought two wool pashminas and some off white satin for lining. I sewed the pashminas together, then sewed a tuck on either side in a sort of an attempt to make the seam look like a design feature and stitched a satin border around the edge and lined it.

"Looks like a baby blanket" said my husband who is the last person on earth to make a fashion commentary, so this means it really, really looked like a baby blanket. So off came the border and we decided to wear it satin side out and I am off to Fabricville this morning to see if there is some trim or appliques to add.

Not posting a picture as you can imagine how it looks, two pashminas sewn together lined with satin.

I told you so.

Anyway a small bump in the road and lots to do today, am teaching all week of course but have delegated remaining house jobs to my husband and son. So far my husband has pitched in and spent the weekend building a rotating compost bin and my son has been moving surf boards.

The prime gender differences in relation to major events I have decided is that women say "Oh my god six days we don't have any time" and males say "No worries, six days we have lots of time."

Let's hope Fabricville produces excellent trims this morning.