Awake

Thanks to Than Chai and Fa Sing (quarrelling over a mouse) I'm awake at 3:00 a.m.

The poor mouse got away; I hope it's relatively uninjured and can find its way outdoors, but I have an awful feeling that we're going to "nose" it in a week or so. Urk.

The antiques sale was wonderful. DH finally found an oak desk, 30s, I think, or a little earlier. It fits nicely into his office, and is working out very well.

My big find was a wonderful 1920s evening coat. Black velvet with black satin geometric inserts and a huge fur collar. I'm not sure what kind of fur. Normally I can tell, but this appears to be upscale rabbit! Back then they used a lot of furs that are no longer popular.

We got a very Art Deco mirror; round, with a 3/4 circle of wood around it, and demi lune shelves. I'm painting the wood white, and will use it above a 30s office cabinet I found at the Salvation Army. Those will go into the upstairs bath, which I am finally finishing. The fabric for the curtains is washed and shrunk and ironed, too...I need to measure and see if there's enough to make an outer shower curtain as well as window curtains.

Another deal was a huge stack of 30s magazines, most in near mint condition. Primarily Yankee magazine and a few different house & garden magazines. There were a couple of knitting pattern booklets too, including a couple of good ones from the 1920s, with patterns more sophisticated than usual for the period.

The rockabilly show was a bit of a disappointment; the first band was a no-show, and the last band not so great, but the middle band was very good, and we picked up their CD. I am glad that we went, in any case.

I'm looking for Art Deco stencils to use on the cabinet...does anyone have good sources?

Springing along

It's lovely here. 70+ degrees F, sunny and there's a bit of a breeze. The cats keep parking themselves in front of the sliding glass door (open, with the locked screen between them and Prey and the Evil Outdoors). Cat TV at its finest.

Yesterday I did what appears to be spring cleaning, and I have actual, concrete plans for finally doing something with the bedroom and the upstairs bath.

Went for a run this morning, and driving back from shopping (sales & coupons, oh my!) I almost wanted to go again this evening.

Tomorrow we're going to an antiques sale and then a rockabilly show. There will be three bands at this one, and I am really looking forward to it.

As for the knitting, I am still working on DH's cable socks. They're looking very good. The 40s sweater looks good, but I am seriously considering a trip to the frog pond to re-do the back. I'm afraid that even with blocking on 100% wool it will be too small, though it's meant to have relatively little ease. This might have something to do with the fact that I need to loose 10 pounds (more. i lost one this past week. must stop sampling all the baking....)

There's a pair of cardinals singing from a neighbor's yard!

I still live here

...but am currently masquerading as a Hausfrau.

And doing it rather well. It's a good thing I like to cook, and mend and even (sometimes) do laundry.

The jobs aren't out there right now. Not at the pay I was getting, which was good, but not great, either. The only things that have come my way so far are temp jobs at $11/hour. And if I'm in the middle of one of those and can't make it to an interview for a permanent position I won't be a happy camper.

I did start myself a new sweater; it's based on a pattern in one of my hardcover knitting books from the 40s. The directions are scant, even for the period. I'm glad I've got some experience behind me, but I'm still puzzled about the collar. It's not a case of picking up and knitting; the trim on the fronts is knitted in conjunction with the rest.

There's no photo of the back of the sweater, but it would appear that the collar is an extension of the fronts trim, folded over and sewn in place, though the folding and sewing up is not mentioned in the directions for making up.

The yarn is nice, a 100% wool worsted from Brown Sheep. We found it at a Five and Dime in West Concord, MA. Really! It was $4.99 a skein, and the yardage is crazy...something like 250+ yards per. The back took less than one full skein. If it turns out too small I just might frog and start over, with an additional pattern repeat here and there. There will be enough yarn.