Radio Silence

Holy cow!  School started about a month ago, and believe me when I say this is my first gasp at a full breath in about five weeks.  It's pretty usual for the start of a new school year to be pretty helter skelter, but this year in particular feels like I'm only holding on for dear life!  I'm not going into details here, mainly because a) that'd be like reliving all over again, b) that would take a whole 'nother bottle of wine, and c)  no one wants to read about someone complaining about work.  Isn't that why we read blogs?  So we don't have to think about work?

Since I was last here, this child, this one right up there, started preschool.  

How is that even possible?! 

This one is back for second grade.

(Sorry for the grainy phone pic, but that is seriously the best smile I've gotten photographic evidence of for quite some time...)

And me?  Perpetual 7th grade.

I'd apologize for the post-work, post-dinner, post-homework, the-sun-will-set-in-20-minute photos, but you know what they say, 

"You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit." 

Also? 

Life's too short.

The Details

Fabric: something cotton canvas-y I purchased at Hancock's about 8 years ago, tried to make into a failed skirt, and recently resurected. It may, honestly, be light home dec.

Pattern: Simplicity 1419, but just the skirt part. 

 I'd say I drafted a waistband, but really, I just cut a really big rectangle.

Notions: interfacing, a zip from the inherited stash

Notes:

Because of limited fabric, I knew I wouldn't be able to match across seamlines.  I didn't care so much about the sides, but thought it might be too much craziness across my butt.  I decided to cut the back pattern piece on the fold, and added an exposed zipper into a slot, basically following this tutorial.  

They had me at "The Full Monty".

Also, can I say I'm impressed I had a zipper that exactly matched that blue in my inherited stash?

(The zipper may look/feel/actually be 175% labratory created, but hey, it's basically a free skirt.)

The sweater is also a perfect match, but I can't claim that.  

I can claim, however, being asked by a student if I'd put it on backward.

Hmm.  

Kid must be working with my husband.

In other news, I've been working on a new coat for the last I don't know how long.

It's hot pink Sangria wool, not nearly as eye-blindingly bright as pictured below.

I'm including this "proof-of-life" photo in order to help motivate finishing.

 If you don't hear from me in a while, it's because I decided to try bound button holes, and haven't yet worked out if I should finish bagging the lining and THEN hand finish the button holes, or if I should attach at least 1/2 the 16 buttons before finishing the lining and buttonholes, or if I should finish the top stitching along the front, then cut buttonholes, and then finish the lining.  Feel free to weigh in. 

Also? I don't intend there to be nearly as many Legos on the floor 

when I finally get to wear it out of the house.