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Custom Wedding Dress & Kimono Upcycled Clothes | オーダーメイドウェディングドレス&着物ドレス

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Mommy’s Diary 36: Surviving First Sickness

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My baby had been very healthy. No cold, allergies, diaper rash or anything for the past eight months, so when she caught the norovirus right after Christmas, I was caught off guard.  The morning after Christmas, she threw up a lot when she got up. Then she had a couple of diarrhea.  I first thought a food did not sit right with her, perhaps the carrots I fed her the night before was old? (I wasn’t sure when the carrots were bought, since I was at my parents’ place). I checked her temperature and it was normal and she seemed okay. It was not until when she threw up all over the car, that it dawned on me that she got some kind of stomach virus. It was late at night but we took her to a doctor, and it turned out that she got infected with norovirus. The doctor prescribed some medicine and we went home. For the amount she was throwing up, I thought she handled her first sickness very well. Not much whining, just sleeping a lot more than usual. The next day the vomiting stopped and all was well.

On the other hand, I did not handle the sickness very well. I must have gotten infected with the same stomach virus, cleaning after her poop and vomit.  The next morning I started to shiver uncontrollably. I decided to take a bath to calm the shiver and chill, fell asleep in the bath (very dangerous!), but woke up with a sudden urge to throw up. After that I slept about eight hours straight. Thank God Andy was there to watch Kiko. Right when I felt a bit better and started moving around, Andy got infected and he had the same thing.

I can’t imagine what happens to families with more children! If one gets infected, the others will as well like a domino effect? I wonder if there is a good way to stop spreading the virus within the family..

Golden Gloves to Hemline: Pt. 3 Remedial Class

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Happy New Year! Many men ring in the new year with drunkenness and debauchery, others with time spent in holy reflection at church. Andy however, sits in the Vivat Veritas lab sporting a nice new DUNCE cap! My first day of working through the bad boy Burda behemoth bible (Andy you English genius! Master of alliteration!) was a titanic and mythical success. Not only did I read the first few pages with no problem, I was even able to slyly and coolly write about my exploits into the sewing world. I was truly a King among men (or at least among Michael Korsesque men).

But then…Day 2. I tried to transfer my ever increasing knowledge of notions, sewing space and flat surfaced pattern drafting areas onto BS’s (both meanings are indeed meant) hands on with the sewing machine experience. I was set, I had time, I had a quite house with a sleeping baby, I was locked, loaded and ready to thread my bobbin and sew using both correct all-purpose needle and all-purpose zipper footses. Then, sadly then, I sat in front of the beast herself, that unforgiving task master known as Chie’s sewing machine and engaged in a battle I could not win. We struggled for hours, and I ended in tears having lost a life and death struggle to MAKE….THE…..DAMN…..THING…….WORK!!!!! Sadly, my years of education and my years of boxing training were no match for that vicious beast from Hell. I could not thread my bobbin correctly, nor could I thread the needle in an appropriate amount of time (it took me 30 minutes). I, for all my desire, could not even conceive of how the bobbin thread should run through the face plate. I drank heavily that night knowing that Chie would soon come and mercilessly mock, scorn and ridicule me. True to form my loving wife upon he arrival home proceeded to, with not an ounce of sympathy, do the “Andy is a moron” dance in conjunction with the “Andy is a moron” song. I now know the pain of generals defeated in war. It was a sad night.
Perhaps the most neutering experience is yet to come. Tonight, I will sit with Chie and have basic sewing setup skills taught to me. I am in the remedial class. I have failed day 2 and now must have a personalized program to catch me up. On tonight’s plate is 1)Bobbin threading, 2)Needle threading, 3)Pushing appropriate levers and buttons (whatever the hell that is officially called) and sewing my first straight/curved lines.
After much scolding, yelling, swearing and crying I have completed the assigned duties. You can all see photo evidence of my remedial class completion. Chie kept repeating  (while she hit me) “This is for your own good dummy!”
Ladies, will the shame and failure end? Those of you have learned how to sew, when does the joy begin? When, as Allison says, will I take pleasure in sewing spaces and when oh when will I  take fabric pieces and form them into something resembling a garment?
Off to bed now to lick my wounds and pray for an end to my misery!

Happy New Year!

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Hello 2012! Did you know that January 2nd in Japan is similar to Black Friday in the States? I didn’t until today. I went out shopping in the city today, and was caught off guard by the amount of people out shopping and the massive sales going on! I was even more surprised when I received 40% off my purchase at a craft store, Yuzawaya. 40% off! That’s almost half the retail price. I was ecstatic. I felt it would be an appropriate way to start a new year by picking up some long needed new sewing supplies. I went ahead and grabbed supplies that I’ve been wanting but reserving myself from buying (because I’m cheap).

As a starter, I bought a cutting mat. I had a rottery cutter but didn’t have a board. I would occasionally use the cutter on a table with newspaper. But I decided that it’s just silly not to spend 20 bucks to make my sewing life easier, so I got it. Also bought a tailor’s ham. I’ve had a seam roll, and using the top round part of the seam roll to press darts and curves, but I often found myself frustrated, because obviously a seam roll is not meant to be used that way. I also got french curves to replace various plates and cups I’ve been using to smooth out curves.

I bought pliers for snaps. I’ve been wanting one after seeing what Jue’s got from her father. I’m thinking of using this for cardigans or dresses with front openings. Another clever item I found was this metal plate to make round corner of pockets. I was making a pattern with thick paper to iron the round corner of pockets before, but this mini metal plate will make my life much easier. I can now make four different degrees of roundness on a pocket corner!

I also bought new tailor’s chalk and tracing paper. I’m so excited to have these new supplies around me!

After that little excursion I went to a bookstore and splurged on these two sewing books: Drape Drape 3 (ドレープドレープ３） by Hisako Sato　（佐藤ヒサコ） and Men’s Shirts Book （男のシャツの本）by Ryuichiro Shimazaki　（嶋崎隆一郎）. I’ve been wanting to lay my hands on the Drape Drape book series. I have not bought 1 or 2 but I decided to jump in on 3 since it is the newest book. I’m going to make myself some stuff from the book to take on my Guam trip this month.

That’s it for today. I’m overly excited now I don’t know if I can sleep tonight!