A blouse I designed

This started out as a square-necked top with a plain front. I took the front pattern piece, copied it, then drew a line from the bottom of the neck to the hem. Then I cut the extra piece away. I added extra seam allowance to each of the two pieces I now had. I doubled the length of the long, middle piece, then shirred it up to fit the side front pieces. For the record, shirring is just long gathers. Being sorta frugal, I made a mockup of the original blouse in cheap muslin. I am tired of all the work and money I put into sewing garments only to find they don't fit me. Better to make something first with $2/yard fabric, and do any alterations, before cutting up the good stuff! Well, this isn't really 'good stuff.' I bought it on clearance, LOL!

Pocketbook cleaning

What do you call it by you: handbag, purse or pocketbook? I cleaned out mine this morning, in the hopes of finding the receipt to an MP3 player that has already kicked the bucket (since Christmas!). Alas, I didn't find it. I wouldn't have thrown it out, so I'm hoping it just fell behind the drawer where I keep such things. Anyway, you know you haven't used (or at least cleaned) a handbag in a while when you find a coupon that expired in 2005, LOL! Speaking of MP3 players, the cheap one I bought for $40 is still going strong after about a year. You know what they say about bells and whistles...

My Dog Watches TV

My husband and I were watching "Nature." The episode was about wildlife photographers who shoot images of big cats in Africa. Well, Shadow caught sight of one cat (I believe it's a cervil, but I don't know how to spell that) stalking an antelope in the night. He sat up, alert, and started whining! He sat on the end of my chair and watched the whole show! It was so funny, I had to take a picture.

Weasel Words

I majored in Advertising and Communications in college, and one term I remember learning was "weasel word." It's a phrase or word meant to trick you into believing something. Example: "Enriched Cereal." Sounds like something full of vitamins, but in actuality they've sprayed on a few goodies after they removed the real good stuff! (And I love cereal--but this isn't about that.) I'm not sure they use the term any more, but I've noticed something a lot lately that fits the description perfectly. Didja ever notice that those credit card applications always say: "You've been pre-approved?" Uhmmmm...isn't that like something that's pre-cooked? As in NOT? I think those envelopes should say something like: "Maybe we'll give you a credit card, and maybe we won't...but you have to fill out the annoying form inside to find out!" Me...I just put the darned things through the shredder...