Deborah Fillmer's » DK

Doing My Part To Stimulate The Economy // Cheaper Than I Could Make It

DK — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:20:24 +0000

Today I broke down and purchased a petticoat for my costume this year. I was browsing for a pattern for a petticoat (free, of course). You wouldn’t think they would be that hard to make, just a bunch of gathered tulle and some elastic…wrong. So, anyway, while I was browsing the internet for a pattern I found a site that had the exact petticoat I was looking for and it was less than half of what I would have had to pay for the materials alone! Here is what I purchased. Let’s hope it fits and doesn’t require any “modifications”.

Speaking of costumes, I am almost finished with my shirt for this year and finished my vest a week or so ago. Once the shirt is finished I will get a photo posted of both together. My father’s shirt I took to the local embroidery shop here and chose a simple design from one of their books. I will post a photo of that when I get it back as well.

Many of you have asked about the next Secret of the Stole KAL. I am currently working on two patterns right now. The first is a secret knit a long that will begin in June for the Atlanta Knitters Guild. I am speaking at their monthly meeting on the topic of secret knit a longs and have been designing a pattern just for them. If you are anywhere near Atlanta and would like to meet me or participate in the knit a long, please come to the meeting. It should be lots of fun. The pattern will be available for purchase when the knit a long is over.

The second pattern is for the Secret of the Stole IV. The yahoo group for this stole exists, but is NOT open for membership yet. I have the pattern pretty much completed, but not test knitted. Realistically, starting school and designing the other pattern is going to set back the timing a little. Hopefully, the Secret of the Stole IV can begin sometime in June or July. Keep your fingers crossed…

Fair Winds

How we spent this Friday // Georgia Aquarium

DK — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:27:41 +0000

Have a look at this awesome video Mr. K put together of our visit to the Georgia Aquarium on Friday. Cool, huh?

A Whole New Chapter

DK — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:32:37 +0000

For the past month or two I have been working on the first page of what will be a whole new chapter in our lives. Today the final i’s were dotted and t’s crossed and I am now officially a student again. I will be starting the first of many classes in mid-march in an effort to complete my Masters of Divinity at Liberty University. The final objective will be a doctorate in history, if I haven’t gone insane by that point. (Some may say that I already have…)

It is truly amazing how things come together. I would not be able to do this if it were not for the recent job that Mr. K just landed (which he loves) and the fact that the courses are offered online.

It is my intention to continue to do the Secret of the Stole knit-a-longs, just not as frequently. I am tossing around the idea of combining the knitwith.us website with my blog so that all the patterns and instructional videos are in one place.

Of course, I am still going to work on the Czech costumes and the photos of Ebby and Blazer will continue to grace my blog pages as well. In face, here is a funny, yet not so funny, video of Ebby and her brother, Blazer.

After I filmed this video, I put some Bitter Apple on Blazer’s tail. It turns out that Ebby likes Bitter Apple… So next we tried vinegar and she does not like vinegar…but Blazer does. So, we alternate between Ebby chewing on Blazer’s tail and Blazer chewing on Blazer’s tail….not a win/win situation…Time and training will eventually produce good results, we hope!

Fair Winds

Czech Kroj – Men’s Vest

DK — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:27:21 +0000

Finally, I am off and running on this year’s costumes. I have been procrastinating about the construction of this year’s costumes, partly out of a lack of time and partly out of a lack of enthusiasm. But now I have the first finished piece to show you and I’m back baby!!

Here is the vest that I asked you all to help me with choosing the trim colors and configuration. I went with option #2 and then spiced up the configuration to give the vest a “look at me” quality, an essential quality when involved in a dance contest. Let me know what you think…good or bad, constructive critisim is always welcome!

Front of Dad's Vest

Back of Dad's Vest

KeyWest via Honda Shadow

DK — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:00:07 +0000

For those of you who want to know a little bit more about me, Scott has written a great blog post that I have to share with you all. I could not have said it better myself…when are we going again????

Cool!!

DK — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:59:34 +0000

Available March 2009!!

Thanks for the input!

DK — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:45:51 +0000

Thanks to everyone who commented on the vests. I think I have decided which way to go and will post the finished vest photos in a week or so.
I thought I would share with you how I am destined to do my computer work for the next 10 to 15 (possibly more) years…Seriously thinking about sewing a baby sling for this creature!!
Enjoy!

Ebenezer helps me with my computer work!

Opinions Needed…Please

DK — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:55:05 +0000

As many of you know I am working on the costumes for this year’s National Polka Festival. I have completed the construction of the men’s vests and now I need to embellish them. If you look at the costumes from last year you can see how the ribbon, sequins, etc. go around the outer edge of the vests. Please help me pick out which trim to use on this year’s vests from the photos below.
I have numbered them and you can just leave me a comment letting me know which one you would pick. Also, if you have any ideas on variations, let me know that too!! The vests are black and lined with silver. All the trims are silver and some of them have red in them. My skirt is red and I will be dancing with my father who will be wearing one of the men’s vests. So, the ones with red might blend the costumes together…I just don’t know…Which one do you like the most? (Remember, these are costumes, not everyday attire, so flashy is not a bad thing…)

A Small Bit of Cuteness

DK — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:47:20 +0000

Just thought I would share a little bit of cuteness with you today.

Ebenezer at the Beach

New Socks and Ebenezer Goes to Orange Beach, AL

DK — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:03:57 +0000

I have started a new sock pattern called “Updraft” by Melanie of Pink Lemon Knits. This pattern has cables in it and so this will be a first for me. Wish me luck…progress photos will be forthcoming…

This week we headed to our favorite local beach for some much needed R&R and some seafood. During one of our pit stops for gas, a lady actually rolled down the window on her (Huge) Cadallic and asked me if I would consider selling Ebby!! I declined and let her pet her for a minute and then we were on the road again.

Thursday we rode our bikes on a trail here in Orange Beach. It was interesting getting on a bicycle for the first time in 10 years. I had a motorcycle recently, yes, but this thing you have to power yourself. Ouch!! Anyway, it was the first time for Ebby to experience the terror thrill of riding a bike trail with her momma. She was cold, terrified, excited, happy and exhausted.

Today we took the bikes to the National Seashore Park at Perdido Key. After riding, we took Ebby out to experience her first sand and sea adventure. She loved the sand, was not so cool with the water. It was too cold to go in and she was basically uninterested in the incoming waves. The seashells and other floatsam was way more fun!!

Mmmm, Salty!!

Big, Big Ocean!!

Tomorrow we head home and get back to work. My muse has been stirring lately, so you can expect to see another knit a long coming very soon. Fair Winds