This weekend is for fancy new cat litter and dressmaking

Okay, this may not be as exciting as I think it is. But anyway:
We have new cat litter. Very fancy cat litter.
Apparently the cats recognized the bag from the pet store and thought I brought home food. But it was our new Fresh Haiyu Crystals. Stupid name.
It means I will only have to remove the poop.
And with a very fussy Siamese boy who sings songs on his way to the litter box to have me ready to scoop the second he's done, this will be an advantage.
And I'm tired of carrying home not only big bags of food, but also big, heavy bags of litter.

The two bags I've bought are meant to last a month, and thus they cost the same as, if not less than, the usual super market variety.
The bags have been thoroughly examined by the cat boys, with a good deal of rubbing against and sniffing and jabbing at them.
But when I brought the bag to the bathroom rather than their food bowls, I think I saw traces of disappointment.
They have both done a quick test pee, though. So there'll be no need for an adjustment period as it kindly says on the back of the bag (which I didn't read until after replacing the old litter with the fancy crystals.)
I think we're happy with the change.
Less waste, less carrying things, less scooping - and I think it's actually nicer for the cats to use.

Far more interesting is next weeks trip to Stockholm with the Big Investment Bank, for a day of getting to know our colleagues from the other countries and such things.
And there's a big party in the evening. I like parties.
But having nothing to wear I've spent an hour or two going through fabric stores today before deciding on a lovely heavy satin in an oystery colour. I have pretty beads and rhine stones and a very clear idea of what I want to make of it.

It's always a bit difficult dressing for work functions such as this, especially when the only hint at dress code is "festive", which can be interpreted in a myriad of ways.
And the first time you find yourself amongst all your colleagues and the big bosses you do not want to stand out for being under or over dressed.
So I'm aiming for something elegant and fairly simple - but not too simple.
And something to match my gold dancing shoes.

From tablecloth to tunic

I have not had much to show these past months with regards to the Pledge, but I hope next semester will be more refashioning-friendly, timewise.
While the thrifted tablecloth was much smaller than the tag said, I have now a finished, albeit shortish, tunic top, with the help of a very old Burda pattern.

I actually think finding the pattern sheet took me longer than the actual sewing.
I am (at times) both lazy and practical and thus let the woven edge of the cloth be to form the edges of both body and sleeves.
And the subtle woven pattern shows itself beautifully in the simple shape. But does not photograph well.

And while it is a bit big I love the way it has turned out, and I'm sure the linen/cotton blend will keep me cool and comfortable on the hot summer days to come.
I like the thought of the table cloth having been witness to (hopefully) many happy family dinners.
And now it will come out with me to see other parts of the world.

Of the two white shirts one has found a new home with a friend of mine, who was quite terrified I had thought of "doing things" to it as it was
A. his size
B. a very expensive brand.
And I've just started using the other one to sleep in.

Thrifty goodness

I have not had time to do much about The Pledge.
But as I'm still waiting for the verdict on the hard drive, while still swearing at Vogue Knitting and, more important, still pondering whether or not to start the great rewriting of exam papers, I may get just a little bit done in the sewing department.

I brought home a bag full of goodness from the local thrift store yesterday.

Two men's shirts, in luxurious white cotton, which I intend to turn into something much less masculine and much more suitable for the hot summer days ahead.

And I found a white table cloth which may become a dress or maybe just a tunic-like thing, as it is a bit smaller than I thought (cats helpfully wandered in to indicate scale).

And if this wasn't enough I also got a set of bedlinen, with one stripey side and one blossomy side. This is now destined to become a pajamas.

All for the Danish equivalent of $10. Benefiting the Red Cross, and thus making me feel a little bit guilty for not paying more, but the lovely little old lady insisted that was the price.
I hope to get something done about it this weekend.
Starting with the first white shirt, once washed and ironed.
Even if laundry these days is something done in a bucket in the shower.

The jacket gone bag

The bag is finished! I can barely believe it, but it is!
I had the old leather jacket, as already mentioned.
In addition to this I had an old thrift store bag, made from a strange, slightly greasy piece of crochet but with a gorgeous handle.
And when the handle met the bits and pieces salvaged from the old leather jacket, this is what happened:
With lots of lovely little pockets inside for keeping me organized. Or attempt to.
And breaking only one needle in the process.

Four needles in one day

I have the day off sick and even if the cats would very much prefer I stay in bed, I thought I would try to use the day well.
So I started on the from-jacket-to-bag-project.
Mostly because I could use a bag other than the Hayden Harnett wonder I carry around everywhere I go, but also so that I can show off something to prove that I live up to The Pledge.
Not having bought anything new isn't really enough.
The leather jacket I bought in New York 10 years ago and have worn spring to autumn ever since is no more.
It was torn and worn and had more than done it's duty.
Still there were patches and bits of leather here and there not worn to paper thinness.
And since parting with the jacket completely would nearly break my heart, I thought those bits and pieces could become a bag.
But four broken needles later all I have is a very pretty lining.
And all this is to become a lovely bag:
Once I have more needles.
So I'll just return to my knitting.

The python pencil case

One of the Christmas presents I made this year was a python pencil case, lined in silk.

The python I had bought at some time, without much other purpose than mere owning, and it was longing for a reason to be (somewhere else than around a snake).
I was also lucky enough to find a beautiful plaid silk remnant in the same box as the python skin.

The past year I have been very appreciative of my store-bought,slim, black leather pencil case. Big enough for the pencils I need and use - but not much else.
And so the python and silk pencil case was born.
I cut one strip for the bottom, and another two, each half the bottom width, for the top, from both the python and the silk.
I sewed in the zipper between the two top strips, and I added the lining for the top before sewing on the bottom. I then sewed the ends closed and turned it out, grateful I had remembered to open the zipper before adding the bottom.
The bottom lining was sewn in by hand.
And for at bit if a finishing touch I cut a narrow strip of python to knot around the zipper-pull.
And it turned out much more delicious than my own pencil case.
I hope he'll appreciate it.

The old fur project

I once inherited an old fur.
I do not quite remember when, where, or who. Could be my evil stepsister's husbond's stepmother.
Black astrakhan. Strangely cut, with narrow shoulders, narrow, illfitting sleeves, and too much bulk everywhere else.
I've never worn it. And while I would not buy a fur coat, I've never wanted to get rid of it either. The fur was first worn by a warm, breathing, living animal and as such should not be discarded because of bad tailoring.
So I've always thought that someday I would turn it into something else, someting fitting me a little better.
And now that it is growing increasingly chilly outside, now is the time. Especially as this week I have two full days off.
Which is such a rarity.
And should be put to good use - some of that good use will involve friends and fresh air, but also the old fur project.
I am in the process of taking it apart. Making it possible to see how much I have to work with.
I'm planning a short, fitted jacket. But how I'll cut depends on the result of the cutting apart.