Western Winter Weather Woes

It looks as though BreyerWest is going to have some real challenges this weekend - Denver is expecting as much as 17 - 20  inches of snow today! Flights have been canceled and schools and roads have been closed.

Denver isn't the only western town that has weather woes. Mountain Mama Jessica has had a strange weather challenge that is connected to wind.

A tumbleweed invasion!***

She lives in Santaquin, Utah and these pictures were taken in a town north of her.

If you have ever been around tumbleweeds, you know they are covered in sharp prickles. You can't just pick them up bare-handed and move them. How do I know that?

I once boxed one up and took it home to Indiana to share with my students. We had a wild and crazy recess one windy day! (With a few slivers in our hands but the fun and learning was worth it.)

Here is one man's solution to tumbleweed clogged roads.

You can just barely see the roof of his truck in that mass of tumbleweeds!

***Photo screen shots taken from a video made by Little Wedgies and posted on social media.

I hit a MAJOR issue yesterday while working on the robe a l'Anglais. I could not figure out how to implement a step in the garment's construction. I read and reread the instructions, I pinned and unpinned, I looked at the online tutorial... Finally, after two hours, I emailed the women who created the pattern and asked for clarification.

With just two days until Kalamazoo, I was in a bit of a panic. In order not to waste time while I waited for an answer, I worked on other things that needed to be made for the gown.

I ironed the petticoat and was pleased to see that I'd been able to match the pattern of the fabric so well that the seam down the middle could not be seen. I had to run my fingers over the fabric to find it.

I cut out and stitched  the stomacher, making two changes. I added interfacing inside for strength,

and instead of doing a white cotton lining on the back, I used the dress fabric. Now the stomacher is completely reversible should Lisa want to do so.

The cuffs for the sleeves are not necessary, but I got started on them. If I run out of time to add them, Lisa can go cuff-less to this event and still be totally period correct.

If I get the robe a l'Anglais finished in time to take it to Kalamazoo, there are a lot of separate parts that cannot be forgotten and left at home.

I began gathering them in one place so that they can be packed. 

When I went to bed last night, I still had not heard from the pattern creators as to how to do that sewing step that had stymied me. I was pretty worried and told Lisa I wasn't sure her gown would be ready. She was really nice about it and said she would just wear it to The Feast of the Hunters' Moon in that case. (Thanks, Lis.)

Heading into the sewing room now - wish me luck!