Sorry, Monday, but Sunday had it going on

So that was big news. I had been thinking, very quietly, about picking up and moving back to Canada for a little while now, but I hadn't really said it out loud. But when I mentioned it to Matt it took him all of three seconds to say agree that it was a gone idea.

But more about that later. If I don't stop talking about moving I'll never get to tell you about the amazing Sunday I just had. In the rank of Sundays, it was definitely in the top two or three, after our wedding and maybe that really amazing Sunday brunch I had this one time. It was looking to be a good day from the minute it started, since it was only the night before that we had decided on Canada. I certainly awoke with a bounce in my step. I started the day by taking Alyce out for pancakes, just me and Alyce, and it doesn't get much better than listening to her chatter with a mouthful of pancakes. It was seven in the morning and the 24 hour IHOP that just opened up down the street (presumably to cater to hoards of drunk students at three in the morning) was completely empty. The food was terrible, but the company was divine.


My breakfast date was quickly followed by my escaping to Philadelphia for my first sewing class. All by myself. Without children. Just me. I can't remember the last time I drove for more than five minutes without a child in the backseat. Being the party girl that I am, I picked up a coffee and cranked NPR. My sewing class, inspired in part by one of my mother's thoughtful gifts, was incredibly fun. How could it not be at a store like this:


This is the fabric I chose for the reversible tote we're making over a two-week class. The walls of this store are lined with bolts of the most beautiful fabric I've seen, and we were given the task to choose any fabric we wanted for our first sewing project. I know I've faced some difficult decisions lately, but this was one of the toughest. I think I made a good choice. The class was taught by a woman with years and years of experiences sewing and designing textiles, and in addition to her being a very patient teacher, she reminded me of a wonderful friend I haven't seen in three years. She had the not only the same mannerisms, but seemed to possess the same general bad ass-ness as my friend. It was a lovely treat. I even bought the pattern for a dress I'm going to make for the Children. I'm sure it's way beyond my skills at present (that is, if it requires more technique than threading a machine), but by summer I'll be all over this pattern. I think you'll agree that this dress is adorable:

Image from Spool

Sunday got even better after my trip to Philadelphia. We had booked a sitter and had planned a date. An actual date. We don't do this very often (usually only when my mum is around to look after the girls), so this was a real treat. Alyce was over the moon at the possibility of showing off her room and baby sister to Carrie, our sitter, and Matt and I were over the moon about leaving the house alone. Everybody was winning! Dinner was fantastic, but my date was even better. We spent two hours making plans for our move, making each other laugh, and only talking about the Children for a few minutes. It was one of those nights we used to have all the time and that I had been missing lately. This needs to happen more often. It's good for me to be around such a handsome guy.



Like I said, it was a great Sunday.

An Important Introduction

I have a very special introduction to make.


I am very excited to announce that I am now the proud owner of my very own, shiny, fantastic sewing machine. As usual, I have been very spoiled by my mum. Thanks, mum. Now, to be clear, I don't really know how to use a sewing machine, but I'm not letting that stand in my way. My mum showed me how to thread the bobbin, the needle, and how to turn the power on. I'm all set!

I'm actually lined up to take a couple of sewing classes at here, so I'm hoping to learn a bit more. What's my sewing dream? I'd like to make some clothes for myself and the girls, maybe some curtains, maybe even a quilt (gasp)! I don't quite understand the evolution of it all, but it seems that finally making the decision to leave my Phd has unleashed my inner craft. I have been drawn to working with my hands, maybe in response to all those years working inside my head and arguing on paper. Whatever it is, I'm loving it.

I discovered my first project on The Purl Bee:

These barrettes are exceptionally cute, and the are modeled here by my Shira and our good friend Scarlet. Once I got used the feel of the felt, they didn't take long at all--maybe 30 minutes per barrette. I've been making them here at my mum's so it's hard to gauge how long they take amidst the coffee drinking, treat eating, the celebrity gossip and chasing after grandchildren.

Any suggestions for a good craft blog? I've found a few great ones (see reading list), but I'm sure these are the just the beginning.