And Sew It Goes...

Mom was in Chicago most of this week, so we didn't go to the studio Friday. Dan works Saturdays and most of the T and I will go to Mom and Dad's to hang out. With Mom gone, I needed something to occupy me. I decided I'd get back to sewing. I'd finished a bunch of hours during the week for one of my freelancing jobs, so I didn't want to be on the computer.

I first made Troy a lounging outfit. It's out of this precious bug and lizard double knit. It was my first time dealing with knits, but it was pretty easy. The t-shirt turned out to be waaay too big (I always forget that you can't count on a pattern's sizing charts). So, I made him a sleeveless shirt, instead. I did it all my hand - I didn't have a pattern. I looked over a tank he already has and then I just cut out my pattern. Well, I turned the fabric around and found there was a square of fabric missing. Great... So, I had to do some adjusting. It wound up making it look more like a girls' top, but who cares. It's for hanging around, not for entering a Manliness contest.

I also made him a button-down shirt and shorts. I never thought I'd be able to do the shirt without Mom's help, but I did it! I couldn't believe I did so well. The collar-setting was actually really easy once I read the instructions over a bit to figure out what they're saying. It fits perfectly. I'm thrilled with it and now know I can do lots of things if I can make a shirt like that and it doesn't look like the one Vanessa did for Theo on The Cosby Show.

On a sadder note, we also got some terrible news from my Uncle Bill. It seems that my Ant K's cancer has come back, full-throttle. It's ravaging her organs and is now terminal. My Uncle Bill's diabetes is also to the point where he is most-likely going to have his legs taken very soon and his heart is functioning only at 50%. This devastates me, because the Whitlocks are a very, very special family to me and my family. Ant K has always felt like "the future me" - like she is what I'm going to be like when I get older. Uncle Bill is the coolest, too. And their kids, Billy and Christi, are great. They're all such kind-hearted, good people that are also tons of fun. Even though Billy and Christi are quite a bit older than me for being 1st cousins (Billy is the beginning of our generation of the Moody-Joneses and I'm the end, with a near 20 year gap), we share a special bond. I can't imagine the pain that they are dealing with seeing their parents going through so much. I love them all dearly and the pain in my heart just grows and grows as I think more and more about it.

Well, here are the pictures of the new outfits. I hope you enjoy.

Love,

Casey

A New Camera

So, we haven't posted in a while, because my camera either got lost or stolen on T's birthday. Grammy and Pap gave us one of their cameras, so now we are FINALLY able to take pictures again! Thank you, Grammy & Pap!

We had a nice visit from Aunts Becky & T (Theresa), but since I didn't have a camera when they came in, I didn't get any of Becky. I hope someone did and, if so, please send me some.

We had a fairly grouchy boy while they were in, unfortunately. We've been out of our normal routine for over three weeks and he was tired and moody. My parents were in London for two weeks and my boys and I moved into their house to take care of things. Shugar wasn't at the studio like she normally is, then as soon as they got back, Becky & T came into town. THEN, on that Monday Troy got a new little cousin, Karter Ann. She's the daughter of my brother Cody and his wife Kim. Troy was pretty jealous when I would hold her... On top of all of this, he seems to be getting a new tooth.

Now, we are back to being at the studio on the weekdays and not leaving to sit in a hospital waiting room for 4 hours and aren't traveling around. He's getting to be back to his old self, which is nice for all of us. I'm glad he can get back to "reality" - I know he's much happier.
Well, here are some new pics. I hope you enjoy!