Well, that's one thing finished!

Yesterday I took a little time off getting things sorted outside and finished my Renfrew top

Not too bad, but room for improvement.

I think next time I should try the size smaller everywhere except the hips.   This is a touch wide in the shoulders and body, but about right in the hips.

No work done on the historical costuming at the moment, it's a low priority while all the garage stuff is happening.   I did get the heel turn done on Ian's socks though.

Instead of the usual I've been moving wood, dismantling the woodshed (with help), moving earth etc.   Still have a heap of stuff to move and tomorrow's supposed to be raining.

Busy busy!

Getting ready for the new driveway is making a huge impact on how much I am getting done craftwise.   Gastro hasn't helped either, but luckily it's a mild dose.  The last 2 days we shifted the wood pile from the shed onto the covered deck.    There's still more to go, but we're probably over halfway there.    Still got to shift the two concrete laundry tubs (currently full of raspberry canes); I don't think we thought that one through properly when we planted them.

The drainage for the garage has been done, so that's good.   Hoping the gib will be put in on Monday as it didn't happen on Friday due to hold ups at another job.    I'll be painting after the stopping has been done, we have all the paint ready to go, and hopefully I can find the brushes and roller sleeves as well!

I've got a little sewing done, cut out a Renfrew top, and have put the neck facing in, hoping to get it finished this weekend all going well; kind of have to as you see from the above list of things to do

The colour is more blue than showing here.

I've also dabbled in designing; I have an idea for a tam, but there's a lot of maths involved before I pick up the needles; not to mention a change in the yarn as the one I'd planned to use has disappeared into the ether.

Almost finished the leg on Ian's second sock.

Travel knitting tends to get done a little slower.

Today is baking day as well as moving wood day.    The banana cake is done, will get the chocolate muffins done next and then it'll be time to put on the roast. 

Caramel icing I'm thinking.

Exciting enough to squee!

Our garage now has all its doors and windows!   The leaky door now has drainage holes which should make a huge difference in the next storm, the only thing we're still missing is the keys for those doors which should arrive in  couple of days all going well.   Also the drains are in which will also help.
Insulation is in, and the best bit is that it's wool!!!!   Forgive the overabundance of exclamation marks, but that makes me very happy indeed.

Thursday is the next council inspection, then Friday the gib goes up if it passes with the gib being stopped on Tuesday we hope.   Then I can start painting that weekend so it's ready for carpet and the electrician.

2nd week of April the driveway gets done, will have to find out how long before we can walk on it, and how long before the car can use it too.    I'm hoping that we'll be able to use it come Easter and if that's the case we'll then get all our stuff from storage and bring it home.

For your viewing pleasure:

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The view we'll see when we drive up, well, aside from the bins and the weeds

Still working on Ian's socks, winding wool for Strokkur and have cut out a t-shirt for me using the Renfrew Top pattern by Sewaholic.

A thank you

Last weekend my friends Joanne and Paula went up to Rotorua for the Majacraft Camp; I was (and still am) a little jealous; but couldn't fit it in the budget with the garage at its current stage.
I did ask Joanne to pick me up something nice from the traders instead with the idea that I'd reimburse her.   That didn't go quite according to plan, she did get me something, but she won't let me pay her for it (isn't that nice of her?).

So yesterday, my spinning plans got hijacked when she gave me the lovely fluffy, in just my colours!
I had been planning on continuing with my corriedale; instead I started prepping this:

From Fibre2Go on a base of 50% merino, 30% alpaca and 20% silk in the colourway Mediterranean.

I didn't get started spinning it, that's about to start in about 5 minutes, but I did get it all prepped for spinning.   I'm hoping to spin this very fine and Navajo ply it to get something under fingering weight.   It's only 34g so the finer I go the better.

Our LA-Z-BOY is back

I'm really pleased to get our chair back.  this was originally my grandfather's chair but it's upholstery was shot (it was actually disintegrating due to age).   Normally in today's dump and replace age we'd have bought a new one, but this has personal value to me.    Instead I got it reupholstered for about the same price as a new one.
Originally it was mustard and I put dark brown on the arms to cover the original fabric when it started going there.   Now it's this:

A little more stuffing I believe, but in general it's internals were in the best order he's seen in one of these.

Garage Photo's for Mum.

Garage from house end; that's my sewing room on the end

Garage from front.

Worst weather in 50 years

That's what they're calling it anyway.   Personally I don't think it's as bad as the one in the winter, but the officials say the last one this bad was in '75.   Wonder if it's because of the wind in with the rain as the wind was pretty impressive.    The street behind us flooded again, but it's going down now thank goodness.   Now they've updated it to the worst in 100 years, some really bad flooding elsewhere in town.   Friends across town had it higher than in the past, but it's all gone now apparently which is good for them!

End of driveway, higher than my gumboots (no, they're not the short ones)

See that wee street sign opposite the green car?   Whole street is under water.

This is our drain, not quite as high as last time where it was lapping at the top, but still high enough IMO

Funnily enough our very sensible builders didn't come today; there are a couple of things they'll have to sort once things dry out, but I'm actually glad for this weather as it means we found them before the build was finished.  This is most definitely a good thing.    Downside with the weather is we now know that the boys need new gumboots.   I have one pair that sort of fits both boys; not ideal.

No crafting done today, been fighting a headache and yesterday was spent tidying the craft room.   Ian's first sock is almost done though and George is showing every sign of trying to grow out of the socks I knit him a few months ago.    That boy needs to stop growing!

Challenge #4: Under It All

What the item is: 1770's linen shift

The Challenge: #4; Under it All

Fabric: Handkerchief line from Fabrics-store.com

Pattern: Used the diagram from Costume Close Up and some information from http://www.marquise.de/en/1700/howto/frauen/18chemise.shtml

Year: 1776

Notions: Linen thread, beeswax

How historically accurate is it? Pretty good really. The fabric is pretty accurate. All seams are handsewn and flat felled. Lots of running stitch and some whipstitching on the hems.

Hours to complete: I don't know, but it was a lot; so many seams with little stitches took forever!

First worn: Not worn yet, but made to go under my 1776 outfit once finished. I did have a nineteenth century shift, but the sleeves were wrong and so was the neckline for this period.

Total cost: $45US for the fabric and shipping, plus about $8 for the thread I think.

I was talking to my photographer when this was taken

 I should also show off my Red Hot Shawl on Bonnie

I think I should have blocked it harder

But it still looks good on Bonnie and it's lovely and warm too!