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Olive Ginger Cords
2022 was a good year for me to work on the gap in my handmade wardrobe that was pants! After I made my Black Ginger Jeans, I went right into sewing these next (so yes, I have been sitting on these photos for about a year). I have sewn quite a few pairs of Ginger Jeans, but never with corduroy. In fact, I don’t think I’d ever sewn anything with corduroy before this! Details Pattern Closet Core Patterns Mid-rise Ginger Jeans Fabric Stretch cotton corduroy in dark olive from Blackbird Fabrics Size traced and sewn Size 14 View B (skinny legs) Pattern adjustments Added 3″ to length (I’m 5′ 10″)…
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I got a new job!
Some people change jobs all the time, so getting a new job may not seem like a big deal. I was at my last job for 10 years. That’s longer than I played derby (5 years), longer than Matt and I have been together (7 years). So for me, leaving that job was a big deal. At my last job, I worked as an e-commerce photographer for a national corporate retailer. 10 years ago, e-commerce was a new thing for this company. We were a small studio, only about 10 people, so it was an exciting time. We were charting new territory, so it felt creative. As someone with an…
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Chicken Coop and Urban Farm Tour
“Rake and Make Ranch” (as I so dubbed it in this year’s application) was accepted to Seattle Tilth’s Chicken Coop and Urban Farm Tour, listing it as one of Seattle’s top 25 urban farms! I’ve been a host before in 2010 and 2012, but I’m especially excited about this year, as Matt and I have been working really hard on our coop and garden lately. The coop got a new fence, paint job and concrete pad and Matt built a new hops trellis, so everything is looking tip top. If you are in the Seattle area and have been wanting to see our urban farm in real life, now is your chance! For more info and to purchase…
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Bachelorette Party Weekend
T-minus 12 weeks until my wedding! Since our wedding is in Vermont, we live in Seattle and we have friends coming from out of state, Matt and I decided to have our bachelor and bachelorette parties early, to break up the traveling people have to do. Plus, it is nice in the Northwest this time of year. Matt had his in Portland, OR and mine was in Cle Elum, WA. Yes, we both had party “weekends”. His was 4 days and mine was 3! Hey, we don’t get out of town often and neither do some of our friends (with kids), so I think everyone involved was happy to get…
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Remembering my Mother
I don’t even know how to write about this right now, but my dear mother passed away last Friday, after a two-year battle with liver disease. Words can’t really express the grief I am feeling right now, but one thing that has been giving me comfort is a photo album that my mother made for me, several years ago. She made one for each of her three daughters, of which I am the youngest. The album is very telling, as it’s full of photos of the people she loved and the places and events that were important to her. There are photos of all of the houses we lived in, places she and my father…
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Sugaring Season- 4 days of Maple Syrup Making
On our recent trip to Vermont, Matt and I were fortunate enough to be there during sugaring season. For West Coast city dwellers like me (or anyone not living in the Northeast or Canada), who may not know what that is, it’s the short span of time where maple trees flow with sap and maple syrup is made. While I still don’t take it for granted, Vermont maple syrup is a staple in our life. We put it in baked beans, use it as glaze for meat and roasted veggies and let’s not forget the waffles. Whether it’s brought to us, or we bring it home from a visit, a…
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Merry Christmas from Rake and Make!
Happy Holidays everyone! We have spent the last couple of days doing all of my favorite things; visiting with family and friends, cuddling with the dogs, cooking, baking, eating, and sharing homemade food and gifts. I couldn’t ask for a better holiday. I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday as well!
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Radio Silence- Where I’ve been…
I haven’t posted for a couple of weeks and some of you may have wondered where I’ve been. If you have been reading this blog for a while, you may have read a post or two about my mom. I gotta admit, it’s been a crazy couple of years, with my mom getting sick and going into a nursing home, but now there is some good news! My mom is doing so well that she graduated from skilled nursing and into assisted living! The folks at her nursing home took such good care of her and are a huge part of why she is doing so well (I can’t thank…
