Vespa Love

Pin It I named my scooter. Her name is now Rosie, and you will see why in a moment. First a before picture.

Please excuse the poor lighting. Notice the 300 on the side. It came with the scoot and I never really liked it. So I took it off and added......

A Rosie the Riveter decal on the side instead of the 300. I think it suits both my Vespa and myself. I'm a real life Rosie, although I don't rivet. I do work building airplanes for a company that made many of the famous bombers during WWII. I work on a daily basis inside the wings of large commercial airplanes. I'm immensely proud of the work I do. And I do a job that few people can perform.

Here is a close-up of the decal. I ordered it off Amazon, and it is advertised to go on the back of a laptop. But I think it is perfect on my little Rosie.

Now I just need to lose 20 pounds and I'll go get some pin up photos taken with me and Rosie.

No Sewing Excuse #2

Pin It Meet my new baby. She doesn't have a name yet.

Isn't she gorgeous. I took my Basic Motorcycle Training class Labor Day weekend. Tuesday I left work early and got my motorcycle endorsement added to my license. Then I went home and anxiously waited for my Hubby to wake up (he works 3rd shift). He drove me down to Scooter Barn in Lynnwood, Washington and I bought my little beauty.

I just got back from my first group ride. About fifty scooters met up in Duvall and rode a 63 mile route. I put almost 100 miles on my scoot just today. It was SUPER fun. OMG. I had breakfast and then didn't eat all day because I was having so much fun. This scoot might turn out to be a great diet. LOL.

Composition Notebook Cover

Pin It Yesterday I started a basic motorcycle riding class. I want to get my motorcycle endorsement so I can buy a Vespa GTS 300. I made this composition notebook cover for my class notes.

I can whip one of these up in less than 1 hour. I've made them for a couple of years now for my son's teachers for their end of the year gift.

Anyone interested in a tutorial on how to make one?

No Sewing Excuse #1

Pin It I realized that I never posted about my new toy and my #1 reason why I don't sew when it finally gets nice outside in the Pacific Northwest. Ta Dah!

This is my Electra Gypsy Cruiser bicycle. The trail I am on is the Centennial Trail. Very popular trail made from an old discontinued railroad. It runs between the City of Snohomish and the City of Arlington. The mountain in the background is Mount Pilchuck.

We can also see this mountain from our living room.

I got this bicycle last year for my birthday. I have since put a different basket on the front and added a front disk brake. It originally only came with coaster brakes which work fine until I go down steep hills. Then the brakes heat up and have an ear piercing squeal.

Also along the Centennial Trail. The tree in the background is covered with shoes. I have no idea why.

The Centennial Trail runs through a very pretty valley with many small hobby farms on either side of the trail. See the big ass mule? If you look closely, there are two more horses under the bridge. This is a farm that has property on either side of the Trail. There is a pass through under the bridge for their animals to access either field.

This is the trailhead in Machias where we parked. It is designed to look like a railroad depot. Closer to Snohomish there is a former railroad depot that has been converted into a private house. I didn't get a photo of it because it is a private house and it had a large privacy fence running around it. Clearly they wanted privacy, so I respected that and didn't take a photo of it.

Another bicycle trip we like to take is from our house down to the Everett waterfront. There is a trail behind the Port of Everett, Pigeon Creek Trail. It parallels some current and well used railroad tracks. It ends at a little beach.

In the background you can see the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier that is based in Everett.



Last picture. This is a funky wall that is on the way down to Pigeon Creek trail. We have nicknamed the wall the Fish Cracker Wall. I find this wall ridiculously amusing.

Quilt Retreat 2013

Pin It Last year I attended my first quilt retreat and was disappointed because I spent my whole time cutting out and putting the blocks together. I wasn't able to finish my quilt top during the weekend. So, this year I was determined to complete something during the weekend. To do this, I assembled all the blocks for three different quilt tops over the past 4 months. I was able to finish all three quilt tops by lunchtime Saturday.

First top is Wooden Spools. A kit from Connecting Threads. I loved this kit and it went together really quickly.

Next, a top I made for my 11 year old son. Wrenches. Another quilt kit from Connecting Threads. I don't have as much love for this pattern although I really like it now it is done. What I didn't like about it is the pattern had me make umpteen half square triangles. When it could have had me make flying geese and saved a lot of time. If I ever do a block like this again I will redraft it using Electronic Quilter program and make flying geese instead of the half square triangles.

Last up, and my favorite, my first attempt at using a jelly roll. The jelly roll fabric is called Mod Century by Moda. And the pattern is from a book called Jelly Roll Quilts.

Now I need to pick out backing fabrics, which will probably be minkys. I love minkys for quilt backs. Although I don't like the bumpy minkys. I did one quilt with the bumpy minky and I can feel the bumps through the top sheet and it annoys me. I swear I'm not a princess though.

Elf on the Shelf

Pin It Is anyone else caught up in the Elf on the Shelf trend? I think they are adorable especially when they are doing something naughty. For example:

Here is our Elf getting into the Voyager Gin and Pacifique Absinthe, again. Naughty Elf.

Vogue New Book

Pin It My son's school puts on a Octoberfest type carnival every year at this time. It is called The Everett Sausage Fest. As part of the vendors, they have a rummage sale that has all the typical stuff including books. On Friday as I was walking my Mother-In-Law around the Fest, we stopped in the rummage sale and I noticed a lot of sewing books in some boxes under one of the tables. I went through them and accumulated quite a pile. Including............... drum roll ................... The 1952 Vogue New Book for Better Sewing! And here is the best part, for $2! I looked it up and there are no current copies for sale on Ebay. The only copies I found were on Amazon for $298. Oh, and I already have a copy, so I can easily and guilt free sell this new copy.