sarahnucci

White Oak stays

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:27:39 GMT

After yesterday I thought I would post a picture of the white oak I use for my stays.... First a pic of the stays:

And just so everyone can see white oak I took a picture of the oak slats with the reed behind it. You can see how much stiffer it is than the reed, and thicker..... It's really fantastic.

EDITED TO ADD:

"The next best is pounded ash, it comes on a roll is smooth, strong
and you only have to cut to length. The con is that it is pricy and
boning one set of stays can cost up to 75.00. Available from Nates
Nantuket Baskets http://www.basketshop.com/index.php It is not on
the website, you need to call. It is 25.00 a roll for 25 feet."

From the 18th century woman's list - a link to buy it!

I would like to share my pain.....

Thu, 28 May 2009 01:58:14 GMT

I'm not perfect, but this is just disrespectful of anyone elses house even when they tell you to make yourself at home!

I blame her!

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:02:00 GMT

It's all Katherines fault - I've ordered 7 yards of 10oz wool/silk grey/brown plaid and 4 yards of medium brown tropical weight wool to make my 1850's walking dress. Yep walking dress for May but I think the tropical weight will be nicer than most of the other weight/fibers out there. Right now it looks like a plaid skirt and a solid jacket. I'm not much for fluff, so I'm not planning on putting tiers in the skirt but I got enough just in case. Turns out that York Woolens (just found them) was 20% off orders of 100 or more. I would have ordered 88 dollars worth and gotten 10% off, or I could up the order and get 20%. I took 20%. At 60 wide I might be able to make a different bodice as well. I'm so fabric-evil. And I blame Katherine and Twila!

makes you think

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:07:44 GMT

Have you ever noticed that you think you have a ton of research/info, etc. but the second that you go to try and find something specific you can't find it? Yeah - it's the 1855 walking dress. My brain is telling me a nice jacket and petticoat - I already have the corded petticoat - over and under petticoats, shoes, corset (well, it's an excuse to make one I have the pattern for), muslin body etc. I can't find a picture now of what I want. It probably doesnt' help that my poor computer at home is less than the nicest at operations right now.

I've check Kyoto, Costume in Detail, Janet Arnold. Nothing is quite like what I want. Any chances that anyone on here as seen a walking dress from the 1850's that is like that? Or am I just going to have to make a same color ensemble????

Mt. Charleston

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:34:19 GMT

Believe it or not - You can get to snow from Las Vegas within about 30 miles. So Twila, Katherine and I had been planning on playing in the snow for several weeks now - but it kept snowing so hard that we couldn't make the drive (snow tired required). Today we finally it made it up there. Compleaty wet and sloppy but we got to take a fantastic sleigh ride!!!!

I am still here

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:40:03 GMT

There was sewing this last weekend - a new tropical weight wool skirt and then finishing the cotton skirt I had started a week or so before. I need to track my shift pattern from Sewing Central because I haven't seen it yet. I'd like to say that somehow I'm sewing a ton but I think that Saturdays are being eaten by my long run (it will be 17 miles on Saturday this week) and then Sunday I chill and sew/clean the house.

I did find this great site - Joes New Balence Outlet - for super cheap New Balence stuff - from shoes to clothing. LOVE. I spend way too much time on that and fabric websites. I also own way too much clothing and shoes. Not that it will be changing any time soon.

Hmmmm, yeah, my littlest sister is preg. and they think it's a boy. So they've been picking out names. Ronin (pronounce Ro - nan) Michael Unklebach. I'm pretty sure that all of my nephews and neices on that side of the family are going to be wacky. Why would you do that to a child?

Eeeekkk no wait, YIPPIE

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:25:00 GMT

So they finally had managment forum at work yesterday. In other words, we were going to find out how bad the economy was going to be on our jobs. Boy was I relieved that it looks like we won't get a COLA raise this year (we normaly get about 3-6% raise a year to adjust for the cost of living) but we will still get merit raises. And they are asking for one day of furlough this year (unpaid day off). The the furlough - OPTIONAL. I have to say as someone who has been laid off before, and who makes a decent amount of money, I'll willingly give them three or four over the course of the next year. Really. It's designed so that those who are very close to retirement, and those who live paycheck-to-paycheck won't be hurt by it. I'm counting myself very lucky because the state museum system just got a furlough of one day a week (so a 20% drop in salary there) plus another 6% loss on top of that. And they've laid people off. Sigh... that takes care of some strees.

And it looks like it's going to be a nice day today - aka, I don't see any rain. I'm looking foward to the 16 mils - I'll probably start prepping in a bit - but for Valentines Day Ben out-did me. I guess it's probably retailiation for me out-doing him for Christmas. I got this cool "running coach" that records lap times and if you wear this sensor deal it will track your heart rate as well. I'm thinking that the lap deal will come in handy - especially at the gym because it will let me track how fast I'm going with each lap, but it will at least time me on the long runs.

Katherine, you will be thrilled that Ben also got me a new camera. Yeah - he got the Guitar Hero with all the parts and pices - but he got me a elph (different model than you and him) and an 8 GB card. You'll be very happy when snow day comes and the zippy camera is here!

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:43:35 GMT

So what I've learned here is that I'm terrible at posting - almost as bad as uploading pictures. I have been around - and back alive. Not too much on the crafting front. I've started a spring skirt but then we got a cold-snap. I'm perfectly fine with it - and this weekend I'm going to try and finish that and make one of the tropical wool skirts.

Thanks to Katherine I'm also going to try and work on some gaiters for my civil war stuff. YEAH! I need to do that, snow in boots is never fun! And we'll see what else I am motivated to do.

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:44:05 GMT

yeah, so I haven't posted so much lately. Not too much on the sewing front. I finally cut out and started a spring skirt - then it got cold. As in last week I had a training run of 15 miles - it was 45 degrees and raining. Then this Saturday looks to be a little drier but more of the same.

The cold is almost gone. I have to love that z-pack.

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:29:32 GMT

I think Fashion Fabrics Club/Denver Fabric can eat my shoe. Do they not know what they are selling or maybe they should email you that the fabric you want is sold out!

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:11:29 GMT

I'm now onto day 5 of being sick.... at what point do I break down and call the dr? Most likely it would mean needed to go to the emergency room on base - which I can't really do since my car 1 - is not yet registered since I just got part of the paperwork yesterday and 2 - is not registered at base and Ben is at work - 45 miles away.

Notes from my weekend

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:33:11 GMT

1. 14 miles is a long way to run - it's even longer when you are getting over a cold. And especially when you are getting over a cold, and you know it will take longer to run the distance, you should make sure to load up on the sunscreen.

2. Nothing is better than new running shoes. Two pairs because Under Armour just came out with running shoes and I replaced my New Balence ones with the upgraded model because I definatly wore out the old ones.

3. NyQuil is good - It does't seem to last that long but it makes it possible to at least fall asleep. As a side note I just took some so I expect this entry is probably a bit interesting to read.

4. I love my new body pillow. Ben took pity on me being sick and I got to pick out the pillow and then the pillow case and it's lovely!

5. Making cables when knitting isn't so bad. When I'm not medicated, over exercising and sunburning myself, or laying comotose on the couch, I'm knitting the blocks that I like from the Great American Afgan. It's a bit of a challenge but it's kinda fun to learn new techniques on without messing up a big project.

6. I want to know why all my sisters are having at least one boy. Let me rephrase that. One sister has a little boy, one is expecting a boy, and the other is expecting twins - one boy and one girl.

7. How do cats seem to throw up their body weight in half-digested food and hair balls. She's not a small cat. And yes, I'm blaming just one of them for all of todays festivities in that department.

8. I'd say that I sewed this weekend, I'd like to but I know better to cut or sew anything when I'm sick or don't feel well. It always backfires. On the other hand I did order the Reconstructing History pattern. I'm hoping that next week I'll make some progress.

9. NFL refs are a bunch of crap. The Cardinals should have won.

And now it is bedtime!

I was doing so well!

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:39:25 GMT

Past Patterns has a new pattern!!!!!!!

http://www.pastpatterns.com/038.html

LOVE!

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:58:05 GMT

I have Virginia parents - if I've never explained this before. Derrick and Donna have helped me out with everything I have needed since I met them - they've given me a place to say, room and board, and the loving support of parents when mine lived thousands of miles away. I can't say enough good things about them.

Today we recieved our Christmas box from them - yes, I know, it's late January but we decided that we didn't like the post office enough to go during the holiday rush and we enjoyed streaching the holidays as much as possible. I am so amazed. Not only did I get a copy of Corsets (Salen) and some kitty toys, a cute night gown and a two discs of godey's fashion plates - I have a new pair of Silk Stockings!!!!! I love them - they know me so well. And it's incredibly nice to know that someone does this crazy costume stuff (plus Katherine and Twila) since you really have to know it to go and buy the stuff. YIPPIE! I'm off to go and enjoy my book, and maybe some wii fit!

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:06:20 GMT

ahhhhh! This was posted on another board - I'm so disturbed that the second from the left looks like me!

http://www.stmarys.nsw.edu.au/photos/history_archive/slides/1965%20Up%20the%20Street%201965.html

so excited

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:56:23 GMT

I very rarely get pictures of the exhibits I work on - but this time around one of the artists, Heather Protz, took a ton of images and then posted them to her blog. Not really the most flattering ones of me, but the images are really cool and you can see some great shot of the show.

Enjoy!

http://pixelnrg.blogspot.com/

try this agian

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:33:59 GMT

I'm actually starting to look at this project - and Lucy Walters. I'm a bit of a rebel sometimes and I don't want to do the duchess satin so many others are. The original of the jacket I plan on making is of silk moire. Of course now I can't find any anywhere! I've found a whopping two very nasty colored pieces on ebay. Does anyone know where I could find moire (if not 100% silk, very close to it?)

zoom zoom

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:07:07 GMT

So the new car is now off with Ben to work. The rocker-panel is in and painted for his car, so I'm taking it in this morning. I'm actualy just sitting here eating orange cinnamon rolls and drinking coffee, then a quick shower and I'm off to have that taken care of. After that, today is my day. Maybe I'll even clean the sewing room a bit and work on a project?

So I was going to take a picture - so everyone can see this zippy new car (Ben has named her stormy since shes dark grey mica) - but all I had was my camera phone - so here is the pic from yesterdays breakfast date so that Twila could be the first non-family member in the car.

Sorry, I don't think it's very big since it's a cell phone image. It is a Mazda 3 Touring Value - so I have cruise control, power windows/doors, audio controls on the steering wheel, and the ability to play my MP3 player through the sound system and sattelite radio ready. Ben tells me I can listen to radio stations from home if I get the sattelite radio - I must check it out.

I feel pretty guilty about now buying an american car - espceially a Saturn but I found that the price of a new car with the incentives and really low interest rate was a whopping 30-40 more a months than a used car, and I could get what I wanted. I test drove a bunch of cars and this one is by far the most fun to drive. Ben made up two excuses so far so that he could drive it to the store/to get ice cream. I guess it passes - plus after all the research this is definatly the car that is currently holding it's value the best, and the best value out there. All the Mazda owners I know love theirs, so I guess it's time to just have fun and drive. I've never bought a new car before, but I bought gap insurance and extended my warranty to 5 years 60,000 miles. After the last maintaince bills from hell, I think it was well worth the money.

That's probably enough rambling about my car - and I should probably get on with my day - sewing and knitting?

Sigh

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:03:16 GMT

It's over - as of 5pm today I will be the proud owner of a 2009 Mazda 3 touring value in dark grey. It was really frustrating to deal with them - but I finally got the trade-in value up high enough, the price low enough, and the interest rate better. I think that whole car shopping thing is over rated.

Really

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:09:12 GMT

I must say that when the lady in charge of the Southern Nevada Living History Association decides to offer classes as a back to basic type re-enacting costume thing - and then offers to teach Twila, Katherine, and I "advanced" costuming it's pretty funny. As of right now this person manages to wear a hand-me-down dress that I gave her and told her to put a collar and cuffs on. Neither has happened. It's compleatly driving me nuts.

What you you think - Twila and Katherine?

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:29:58 GMT

Ahhhh - it's the first time at my desk all day - more hanging the new art exhibit - not bad until my supervisor and a co-worker were called away. Sigh.

And in car shopping. The really good deal I HAVE to go to San Diego- the one that said they would match it hasn't replied even though I emailed and asked him to send me the link to the car he is saying he has. I think he's trying to sneak me into a lower level car. On the other hand the dealership I had pawned off said he could probably beat it but at least match it so I am going there on Saturday morning. The other local one I have been dealing with I am supposed to be there in the afternoon but if they don't have the car they can kiss my big toe. We'll see how that all goes.

insert evil laugh here

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:42:14 GMT

My day started out pretty frustrated at buying a car. I want a Mazda 3 - I also want a stick shift with the standard AC/Power windows and doors/and the ability to play my MP3. Nothing too fancy - no 6 cd changer or sunroof - just pretty basic. Of course they have one like that but with manual windows/doors. Forget that - I could deal with the windows but it's a no go on the doors. Crazy, I know.

Well one of the guys at work told me to go to Cars.com - now if you are in the market for a new car I would highly suggest this. You can not only put in the car that you want, but add options and find the current price most people are paying for it in the area. You can also send your specs to different dealers in the area and get quotes. Following suggestions I also put in a dealer in San Diego because I have family there and if the price difference is that drastic - then I'll drive there for it (or asked to have it shipped. It also means that

Well I put in the nicer of the car options - the i-touring value - with power stuff but the manual transmission I want. Typically a 17,500 car - with rebates it's now down to 15,600 from San Diego. YIPPIE! - So I sent that bid to the better of the dealers here - well one dealer won't make a deal but the one in Henderson that I really liked has said that he will honor that price. So with my trade-in and payoff that leaves me at financing 13,000. YIPPIE! That was my goal - my Dad most definatly didn't think I would make it but as it stands right now it looks like I might just manage to do it. Plus if I confirm the price I will set it up for Saturday to go and let Ben test drive it as well and probably walk away with it, and get my financing set up (it looks like they have a better deal on new car finanacing, which I'll check out, but the back up should be a pretty low rate - read 2% below the going rate).

Right now this makes me giddy. Now, they may email me tomorrow and act like they don't know what I'm talking about. And I might manage to go down there and they won't have the car that I want. But for now I'm going to bed being very happy - and hoping they aren't saying it's a hatchback but a sedan with the options I want at the price I want. Happy Sigh.

EEEEWWWWWWW

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:35:46 GMT

So that toe injury a few months ago - I've had a toe nail - just a white stripe across the middle replacing the dark stripe there before. Today I took a bubble bath and just noticed that the "top" layer of the nail has seperated from the bottom. Sorry - it's kind of gross. Ben claims it's nothing to worry about - if it falls off, it falls off, and it's obviously growing out. I have to say I've never had anything like this - so for now it's kinda weirding me out.

Sorry if that was TMI.

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:40:09 GMT

Happy Birthday Madamekat!

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:50:41 GMT

I'm up early for my 9 mile run (the good news is that this will break 1/3 of the marathon distance!) and then some car shopping. Is it bad that since yesterday and the latest car repairs I'm giddy to go and get some trade-in quotes and test drive a few cars?????

Not so much on the sewing front. I want to. I made a modern skirt over Christmas, and I've knit a block and a half of the Great American Afgan - but then the Tudors arrived. Some of the costumes are terrible, others are really beautiful. I think there are 4 episodes left and some extras to finish before I go back to my regularly scheduled life.