February 8, 2010

Shelter-in-Place

Day 3. I tried to go to work today, but after waiting for the bus for a while in the 21F cold, I came back home. Of course, the semi-trailer sprawled across the main road may have had to do something with the bus not arriving. Nevertheless, I tried.02-07-10 003For someone like me, who is used to being busy, this enforced confinement is making me nuts. I can only walk Connor around Pigtown so many times. The snow is above his shoulders, and now that it melted a little bit in the sun, it’s refrozen and it is very hard to walk on. 02-07-10 015

In Baltimore, there’s a tradition of leaving lawn furniture in the space where you’ve dug out your car. After all, if you’ve spent the time (or money) to free your car, you don’t expect someone to come and swoop in and take it. In a neighbourhood as small as ours, everyone knows each other’s car, so you’re in for it if you take someone’s space.

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Or, if you’re my friend David at McLainWiesand, you can showcase your wares as you save your parking spot!MW in the snowI bought a sewing machine last week, and I am sure glad I did! I’ve been wanting to learn how to sew for a while now, and this enforced sheltering-in-place seemed like the perfect opportunity to teach myself. My first project was to make a little stuffed pig. 02-07-10 025I got the directions from Martha’s website, but she seems to have left out a couple of key steps, so I ended up with something that looked more like an armadillo than a pig. I used a paisley from DeBois Textiles and worked to use the paisley pattern to its advantage. 02-07-10 023 Perhaps I should have started with something a little less ambitious!02-07-10 020

17 comments:

  1. Meg,
    I want to know more about the sewing machine. Is it portable? How did you choose what type to purchase? I'd like to give sewing a try, especially after seeing how happy it seems to make Connor. I'm sure my pack would like me to sew them some goodies.

    Like that paisley fabric. Nice work.

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  2. Meg, too cute! I am proud of you taking on these new endeavors! We are expecting another snowstorm in Kansas City today!

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  3. Martha Stewart has the worst instructions for sewing projects! She/her staff seem to think that we are all pros so they leave out lots of steps. I found this to be very true of the hair flower that I made for my wedding - they listed three steps but it definitely needed more instructions. My first one came out a total disaster and thankfully I had enough fabric to make another.

    Hope you're enjoying your day off!

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  4. such a great idea to leave lawn furniture in your parking spot..wish i could do that in DC. Someone would think I was giving it away. Haha.

    I heard you all got more snow than us. Stay safe and be warm. :)

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  5. I had to walk the 2 1/2 miles to work this morning -buses aren't running before 9am and only on a very limited schedule. Way too many businesses, especially here in Georgetown, did not shovel the sidewalks: I hope they get big fat tickets for nearly breaking my neck!

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  6. I love your pictures and your pig! And Connor is too cute!

    Kat :)

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  7. Meg, you are so creative! I think that little piggie/armadillo is very impressive -- and Connor clearly seems to like it! Daughter of a tailor here, and I'm lucky I can sew on a button.

    (too depressing -- 12 more inches likely coming tonight -- I can't stand it)

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  8. It so does not look like an armadillo. Poor you. Poor Connor.

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  9. Great parking lot "claiming tip" - but I love the snow sale going on in that picture! Don't freeze!

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  10. I knew I could stop by for some fun. The yellow pig is fantastic! Tell Conner to bite gently, because his new friend is so cute! I can not sew anything except for a button...pathetic I know. I love the chair line up...think you should snag the one far right and recover it in one of your great fabric finds!

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  11. Meg- I think you did a great job of the pigadillo. Connor can not be bored with you at home, don't we always project our frustrations on to our little ones. Baltimore with its lawn chair etiquette may be the last civilized city in the country. pgt

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  12. it's pretty! and so is lil piggy! but i hope it stops soon- enough is enough.

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  13. Meg, The pig is amazing! and for your first try! I have a sewing machine that I am trying to learn. you are motivating me...

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  14. Made me smile. I'd forgotten about the lawn furniture (same thing in Chicago). I remember living in Mt. Washington during the storm of '86. Our "reserved sign" of choice - our oh-so-stylish molded plastic chairs from ikea. Good luck and hang in there. The hubs started to get cabin fever 2 hrs into the storm on Friday night. Fortunately, shovelling out took all day Saturday and part of Sunday (plus had a 15-hr power outage in there). We feel pretty lucky, though. Neighborhood across the road is still out of power. Our street is actually plowed already, although the main roads out of here are like hell. Bumpity bumpity slide slide slide.

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  15. I think Connor may have liked a matching scarf.

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  16. Everyone does stuffed pigs, how creative of you to do a rare stuffed armadillo, in paisley, no less! It is fabulous!

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  17. I love your pig, errrrr armadillo, and the baby likes it too. :)

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