tidbits

A lot has been happening so quickly, that despite the slow pace of life here, I've been getting caught up in the new season! Here are a few tidbits of the past week or so -

We got our first blizzard of the year. this picture doesn't really show the amount of snow that was blowing around, though winds were gusting between 50 and 70 for the whole day. I was happy to stay home sick for the day! 

 I made it out to sewing the night after the blizzard, ready to get started on the pattern I picked out for the top of my kamiks. I spent most of the class tracing the pattern and cutting it out. 

By the end of the next class, I had this.

 And 2 classes later, I have just one more top to sew on and then I'm finally on to my duffles! Almost ready to wear them, and it's almost cold enough, too!

On this particular day, I was obsessed with the ocean freezing over and how beautiful it looks to me. Also obsessed with showing how early and quickly the sun is setting these days.. While these were not all taken on the same day, they were taken within the same week.

10:50 am

12:30 pm

4:30 pm

5:00 pm

I made the most deliciously frothy hot chocolate, which ended up being way too much for just one mug, so of course I had to make 2 of them... and drink them both. Did I mention the double layered marshmallows???? 

 Another blizzard!

 And a really lousy picture of the walk back to work after lunch today (4 pm) (why isn't it as dark as the 5 pm picture from earlier, you ask? Well, daylight savings time, sillies!). That light in the sky is the moon.

And for anyone wondering - yes! I have seen the Northern Lights and they are absolutely stunning. Walking home from work last Monday (5:30 pm), the sky was clear of clouds but full of trillions of stars and dancing green lights. I nearly had to pick my jaw up off the frozen ground. Unfortunately (and quite obviously), the camera I have is not nearly high enough quality to catch the beautiful lights, but my birthday is coming up next week.... (hint hint)

kamiks

Now that it's fall, many of the ladies in town (and occasionally a guy or two) will get together Monday and Wednesday nights for sewing class. They provide all of the materials, teach you how to make whatever you're making, and you pay for your project when you're finished. 

I was looking around town for someone to make me some kamiks (mukluks), but then I went to sewing and found this gorgeous seal skin: 

Just the right size to make tall, stylish kamiks.

 After finding the right size pattern for me, I traced it on the back of my hide.

Then one of the instructors showed me how to use the ulu to cut out the pattern. Using scissors would damage the fur on the other side.

To making cutting easier, it's best to put your foot or knee on one side of the hide to keep it taught.

The finished tops of my kamiks:

The patterns for the toes:

All of the pieces cut:

I decided to do a silver toe instead of continuing the spotted pattern - to add a little bit of excitement and contrast.

I finished sewing the toe on one, and half of the other. Next will be to stitch the back!