The Return of the Plan... and the Blogger

MakeNine2019 plans, part one. This is my year; I can feel it.

Well, well, well, look who's blogging again. I started putting my 2019 #makenine plans on Instagram, but I realized it was rapidly turning into a essay worthy of an actual blogpost. So here you have it: my first post in over a year.^* Let us glory in its length.

This is part one of my Make Nine, actually -- the Make Nine quickly morphed into a Make Twenty-Seven -- but I'm only allowing myself to get to part two once I've finished at least 2/3 of part one. As always, these are more project/fabric/yarn-based than pattern-based, although I usually have patterns in mind when I buy fabric and yarn. The goal is to seriously sew down the stash, because somehow during the move 5 bins turned into 15 and I've been steadily adding to it since; I'm getting antsy and the DC is climbing the walls because the piles are getting bigger, not smaller. And I am seriously on a fabric ban until next August (unless I need some underlining -- see #5 below).

This is a very small portion of what I need to sew/crochet up.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.

I volunteer as tribute!

Hang on, let me set the mood...


Okay, now we can begin.

The recently revived Sewcialists blog decided to kick off its revivification with a tribute month. I knew exactly who I would be copying using as my inspiration: Lauren from lladybird and her many Butterick 5526s. Given my fabric choice, this one seems the most likely culprit, but honestly back in May I was catching up on her old posts and finally found the princess-seamed button down of my dreams (meaning that it was a) still in print and b) on sale). Scooped that right up.

And then waited until August 30 to start making this top. Because obviously I could make my first button down in two days when I really should have been getting ready for back-to-school.

(Spoiler alert: I couldn't and didn't.)

Sheer effrontery

Things have been busy at la maison PhysicsGirl. We're all moved in and (mostly) unpacked. The new apartment is amazing. There is so much light and space. And kittens.


Note: the kittens did not come with the apartment. I miss my Lucy a lot and she was irreplaceable, but we had a big spot in our hearts for kitties that needed to be filled. Meet Hector (the gentleman with the white mask) and Cassie (the elegant lady in grey). Follow me on Instagram (@aem2_) if you want to be utterly spammed with kitten pix.We got them just over a week ago from Toronto Cat Rescue and they've already wormed their way into our hearts.

Before we could let them worm their way into the apartment, however, I needed to get the sewing room/study unpacked. It was fantastic impetus to get it done. As was the @SewWeekly The White Stuff challenge. Which means I have finally checked off something from my #2017makenine list: a white Tilly and the Buttons Mathilde blouse^*.

Ow.: MMM17 weeks 2 & 3

I didn't get around to posting my week 2 wrap-up because Lucy the Defiler sent me to a walk-in clinic for a massive two-week antibiotic prescription because apparently she's not keen on my trying to brush out her matted fur. Then I had exams due, including lab exams. Blogging fell by the way-side. But the wearing of clothes went on. So this is a super-long post because I'm doing two weeks in one.

A wet beginning: MMM17 week 1

The first week of MMM was really rainy. As in, maybe we should be building an ark.

Lucky number 13: Errandonnées #11-13

My last three errands covered the rest of the categories and took place in more spring-like weather. But the wind, my friends. Nothing comes near to breaking my bike mojo like the wind.

Out like a seriously cranky lion: Errandonnées #6-10

The penultimate day of both March and the Errandonnée saw me go through 4 errands and 4 seasons. If one of the seasons was a really cold summer. I might be stretching the imagery a bit.

Sidelined: Errandonnées #4 & 5

I had to bail on some plan this weekend because 1) the restaurant was closed for a private party and 2) I couldn't go to K's for dinner because I got sick. Blah. Not half-done, and there are only four days left.

However, I did get to wear my wedding dress again and got new shoes, so there's that.

Springing forward: Errandonnées #1 - 3

It's the first day of spring, which means two things: Jour du Macaron and, this year, the Errandonnée. I got off to a good start. I posted the photos on IG, which means I actually documented my controls in real-time, while the blog posts will all be timey-wimey (this one, for example). My goal this year is to hit every category.

Errand the first: commuting. Category: work/volunteering. Distance: 6.1 km. Obs: seasonal temps... But for how long? #errandonnee #bikeTO

A post shared by Andrea M (@aem2_) on Mar 20, 2017 at 3:12pm PDT

I've been thinking I should make another bike-to-work video to the changes along my route (such as new lights and protected/separated bike lanes) this month.

It's baaaack: Errandonnée 2017

It is that time of year again. To see the month of March out, the chasing mailboxes biking challenge I usually manage to finish (if not to finish blogging): the Errandonnée.

There are rules, because rules make it more fun. I will probably be mainly Instagramming this one (did I mention of course I haven't mentioned because I haven't blogged in forever, so now I will say that I finally got a smartphone and an Instagram account. Not in that order.) Perhaps coincidentally, this year's Errandonnée begins on Jour du Macaron. Because that works out nicely.

As a pre-Errandonnée errand in the category of "You carried WHAT on your bike", I had to take Lucy to the vet because she's ... not well. I promise that the carrier was level when we were actually moving, and the tilt is only from getting the phone out of the purse after we got home.

I was framed. Framed, I tell ya! #sickkitty #youcarriedwhatonyourbike?

A post shared by Andrea M (@aem2_) on Mar 16, 2017 at 12:23pm PDT

What a smashing, absolutely dashing spectacle

Another weekend, another opportunity to dress up — and inadvertently complete a Vintage Pledge make. I mean, it being a Vintage Pledge make was inadvertent; I only realized that the hat applied on my way home. Yay, planning. Handy, since it's #VPJuly and all. Scroll down if you're only here for the food clothes, because here be horses.

All I know about horse racing comes from Dick Francis mysteries and The Sting but I've always wanted to go to the racetrack, so I was happy to join in when a bunch of pals decided to go to the 157th running of the Queen's Plate at Woodbine on Sunday.


I lucked out by getting this handsome lad to go with me. First stop: the Hats and Horseshoes Party where all the food and beverages were tasty but seriously overpriced. Also? There was croquet. Just like the Gatsby Party, right?

Why math is important: A 20s dress

I've pledged to make 2-3 things for my vintage pledge. One is this 20s dress gleaned from Loran's World's Art of the 20s dress challenge.

Update: Loran got it from The Midvale Cottage Post (specifically this post, but check out all the amazing 1920s stuff at that first link); I thought I had the original source can't believe I didn't click through. The pattern is from Ruth Wyeth Spears.


It's not a terribly useful dress, but it's oh so pretty. Chiffon. Floaty. I kept thinking this dress was familiar from somewhere...

Nine days a week: MMMay16 week 4

This week is a little long, yes? It feels like it kind of went to hell for me because in the middle of getting ready to leave for New York, I had to deal with an issue that wound up not being an issue but still wound up taking too much time because somebody didn't bother to tell me they weren't coming by after all thereby wasting said time and not letting me get on with all the stuff I was supposed to be getting on with. Plus I got a bit sick on the weekend. No UFOs finished, no new makes.

Sigh: MMMay16 week 3

Wow. So this week, I failed the "no-more-than-one-repeat-a-week" part of the challenge. Twice. First because I have been way too lazy to actually, you know, go outside my apartment — the deck is technically part of my apartment, even though it is outside. I've been rereading Robin McKinley books and some higher-class historical romances^* and didn't really get out of my pjs for three days. It is officially late Spring (people are calling it Summer already, but I'm not going to risk it) and I think it is finally time to take all my warm-weather clothes out of hibernation.

Once I finish that chapter.

Make up your mind, May: MMMay16 week 2

It's Spring in Ontario: one day slightly chilly, next day beautifully warm, then we plunge down to near-freezing with threats of snow and actual hail. Good times. Clothes were worn. It's halfway through Me Made May!

Eight Days a Week: MMM16 week 1

This year's MMM will be interesting because I'm not going into to work so I have no real reason to get out of my jammies other than to go outside and take pictures. Which, I'm hoping, will help get me out of my jammies. I've committed to wearing at least two me-made or refashioned items every day, with no more than one repeat per week, and make at least one item per week while finishing all my UFOs. This will be no problem, right? I'll be posting photos daily in the Flickr group and going into more detail on my weekly wrap-ups here. This week has eight days because for me, the week ends on Sunday. As always, I'm following Fat Mum Slim's photo prompts.

I've also been taking the opportunity to catch up, timey-wimey wise, on some old blog posts and I've linked to a bunch of them below. Really, my aim is to keep you from doing whatever it is you should be doing by taking you on a kind of wiki walk.

Bike, food, and charity: Errandonnée #4

Danielle has been going to the weekly charity lunch at the Palais Royale for a while and thanks to the errandonnée (and being on leave) I finally got off my duff and went. I even finished my Mathilde top for the occasion.



The Palais hosts this lunch every Wednesday, unless notified. For a minimum donation of $15, you get to eat good food in art deco splendour. It's quite stripped down: you pick up the food buffet style, there are no linens, and you bus your own table, but it's a good place to hang out with friends and I'll be back for sure.

It's fairly easy to ride to but I have to complain about the utter lack of bike parking, even though it's right on the Martin Goodman trail. We really shouldn't have to ask for it.



As I left, it started sprinkling rain, but I made it home before I got too wet. Rain, not snow! Exciting!

Errandonée tally
Social Call: Charity lunch at Palais Royale (7 km)

Total Mileage: 18.8 km/11.8 mi
Total Categories used: 4

Jenna, Jenna, who can I turn to?

Hey, remember how I've been wishing for a merino fairy-godmother? Well, bibbidi bobbidi boo because Kat from Muse Patterns is having a super generous contest where she is giving away a tonne of merino wool. What a perfect opportunity to let the Jenna cardigan jump the stalled sewing queue.

When Jenna first came out last year, I loved it immediately for its vintage styling. As usual, I forced myself to wait out the crush, but I finally succumbed a few months ago. Even then, I wasn't planning on making it until sometime next year. But I also really like merino wool and I'm jealous of you New Zealanders having easy access to it. Enter merino fairy-godmother and PhysicsGirl's first Jenna. *Bats lashes hopefully and hopes that she gets this in before she turns into a pumpkin*

Fashionably late, but still dressed to the nines (updated)

Update: I entered this as part of the Dressed to the Nines contest. Vote for me by clicking the link and then clicking on the little heart on my picture.

I really, really like Lauren's Sugar Plum. I mean, I want to copy most of her outfits, but that dress really had visions of my own Sugar Plum dancing in my head. Fortunately, I came across this awesome polyester green/blue/cream/brown print at Downtown Fabrics that I thought would be the perfect top. I knew I wanted brown ponte for the skirt, but I couldn't find any locally. I finally bit the bullet and bought some online when I bought the Snug Hug for my wedding dress -- although I wound up not using it and you'll just have to wait for that story. Patience grasshopper.

Where it began...: Coffeeneuring #1

I married my favourite person in the world today. It was really lovely, and I'll write a blog post about it when I get the pictures back, but we couldn't pass up the opportunity to coffeeneur. And post some teaser pics.

We rented the tandem, which the DC decorated; I feel we got the true @Coffeeneur experience. Just a short jaunt around City Hall, then to the restaurant, then to Grange Park to shiver while we had some photos taken. People along the way kept congratulating us.

Must have been the flowers.

After we returned the bike, we crossed the street to the Red Room, where we had our first date. We even sat at the same table. I had a very large, very welcome hot chocolate. Plus they gave us free wine!



So this year's coffee bikeventure started off on a really high note.

Mileage: 3.2 km/2 miles (or thereabouts, but cut me some slack cuz I'm the bride.)