Diabetes and Low Carb Livin'



My husband Jack


Until now, all of my blog posts have been about sewing.  Not a surprise since the title of my blog is "Sew a Fine Seam", but sewing is not my life, and this blog is about sewing and my life in general. 

Ever since December 9, 2010, one of my non-sewing activities has been counting carbohydrates.  I spend a fair amount of time counting carbohydrates now, for myself, but mainly for my husband who has Type 2 Diabetes.  Jack has had diabetes for over ten years, and for the most part, we pretended that he didn't have diabetes.  That's bad.  Very bad.

On December 9, Jack went to his doctor for a regular appointment and the obligatory lecture on controlling his blood sugars, but what he heard that day were two words that struck fear in his heart.  What two words, you ask?  NURSING HOME  Apparently, Jack told Dr. Z. that he feels good and doesn't see the need to worry about a trifling issue like diabetes.  "What's going to happen if I continue as I have been doing for these past ten years?"  Jack asked.  The answer was not what Jack wanted to hear.

Jack came home from the doctor that day, and he was determined to make a change.  He was ready to take charge of his health and beat his blood sugar level into submission.  How would he do that?  By dumping the responsibility for his health and well-being in my lap, of course.  That's not entirely true, but seriously, at that point, my husband could not distinguish a carbohydrate from a darning needle.  That was all about to change. 

Equipped for this monumental task by a lifetime of reading about and experimenting with every diet known to man, I was ready to shave the carbohydrates from our diet and watch my husband's blood glucose levels return to normal.  

I had a plan based on the advice in this book, The Diabetes Solution by Dr. Richard Bernstein.  Dr. B himself has Type I diabetes, so he knows of what he speaks.  We followed Dr. B's advice to strictly limit the carbohydrate intake in the diabetic's diet, and guess what?  It worked!






Take a look at today's dinner:  roasted chicken thighs, summer squash with bacon, and a fresh tomato. 

It's difficult for most dieters to understand that the  foods on this plate that my husband has to weigh and measure are the squash and the tomatoes.  He can eat freely of the chicken and the bacon.  Believe me, it is not hardship for him to limit his squash intake, but homegrown tomatoes are a different story!  They are one of his favorite foods, but it is true that tomatoes are a fruit, and fruits are high in natural sugars and therefore carbohydrates.  I use my old Atkins carbohydrate counter to determine the number of carbohydrates in a serving of tomato and serve Jack accordingly. 

Overall, the change from indiscriminate eating to a lower carb lifestyle has been a positive change for us.  Jack's blood glucose level is nearly always in the normal range now, and both of us have lost some weight.  It's an adventure that we have been on for over eight months, and we have no plans to ever go back to our old ways!

A Few of My Favorite Things

I use my sewing studio nearly every day, so it is important to me to create a pleasant, well-organized room where I can be as productive as I need to be.

Today I'm going to highlight a few of my favorite things in my studio.  Some of these things are organizers while others are just things that make my space fun for me. 

First up is this tomato pincushion.  If you've done any sewing at all, chances are you have seen these tomato pincushions in stores or in drawers. This  particular tomato lives in the top drawer of the cabinet right beside my sewing machine.  I used a hint that I found in this book by Nancy Zieman. 

Using a permanent marker, I divided the sections of the tomato to correspond with the most popular sizes of sewing machine needles.  Now, when I use a certain size needle for just a short time, instead of replacing it in its case with brand new needles, I stick it in the appropriate section of this tomato.

You can probably see the yellow head of a straight pin.  I use that to mark the size of needle that is currently in my sewing machine.  This one hint has saved me countless sewing machine needles over the years, and has made it easy to always use the correct needle for the project on which I am working.

Here's a handy item for anyone who uses an iron.  (And I do hope your iron is more presentable than mine is in this photo!)  This iron caddy has saved me a lot of money over the years.  Before strapping this onto my ironing board, I broke two or three irons by knocking them off of the ironing board onto the basement floor.

This is also great for those who iron with children around.  I don't know many people who iron besides those of us who sew, but if you do use an iron, you should have one of these!



Plastic Shoeboxes!  What's not to love about this multifunctional marvel?  I use plastic shoeboxes for storing all of my fabric scraps.  You can see them in the photo above on the left.  These containers cost just $1, and I have enough to conveniently sort my fabric scraps by color.  I don't do a lot of scrappy projects, so when these containers get full, I toss some of the scraps that are least likely to get used. 

In the photo on the right, I have some deluxe plastic shoeboxes which cost a bit more than $2 each.  I use these babies with the locking lids to hold cut out sewing projects.  I can fit the fabric, batting, pattern instructions, and any notions in one of those boxes, and that helps me to stay organized.  This is a tip I got from the same Nancy Zieman book that I linked earlier. 

Enough about organization ..... I want to show you some of the fun things in my studio that make me smile.  On the shelf, you can see one of the latest photos of my mother who is no longer with us, and a small pitcher that was a gift from a friend who lost her battle with cancer.  Hanging from the shelf is a special fingertip towel cross-stitched for me by my sister-in-law Pam with the words "So many projects, so little time." 

The sewing basket that you see there was a gift from my oldest sister Joyce when I was just a child.  I'm not terribly sentimental, and this old basket doesn't hold much, but I just can't part with it!  I remember when all of my sewing equipment fit into that small basket.  

The light beside the basket has been fashioned from a large butter jar.  I won that baby at TOPS one summer when I lost more weight in three months than any other TOPS member.  Fortunately for me, the jar was not repossessed when I regained that weight. It was originally filled with potpourri which gives me a sinus headache.  I tossed the potpourri and filled it with old sewing notions.  I love the way it coordinates with the other sewing items in my studio.  

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of my workspace.  If you have any questions or comments, please respond below.   

Organizing Your Craft or Sewing Space

This is my favorite mug!

If you are a crafter, you know that there is never time enough to complete all the projects that beckon you to your craft room or area. 

Nothing eats up our precious sewing and crafting time like a lack of organization.  I've got a few tips today to help you get your space in great working order.

Here's a shot of my sewing area, and I will show you my organization techniques in detail.  I have three tips today to help you get the most from your craft space, though these tips will work equally as well in any kind of work space, even a kitchen.

TIPS FOR A TIP-TOP WORKSPACE:

1. Like with like
2. Label, label, label
3. Location  matters

Allow me to explain all these "L" words.

On the right is a small set of drawers that sits to the right of my main sewing machine.  That is prime location since everything in and on that stand is at my fingertips. 

On top of the stand, I have a pad and pencil to make note of sewing notions that I need to purchase, my drink with a LID, my thread snips, and my pin box. 

In the cabinet drawers, I have my most used sewing supplies and all of my thread.  I like to keep like items with like items.  I never have to guess the location of my thread, my bobbins, my sewing machine needles, or my machine accessories.  All of those things are contained in this one cabinet.

All three lower drawers in this cabinet hold thread that is sorted by color and use. 

When it comes to storing and using other sewing and craft supplies, labeling is vital.  I used to spend an inordinate amount of time searching for my supplies when I was sewing.  Not anymore!

Check out this small bookshelf.  These shelves contain items that I use often, but not every time I sew.  This bookshelf is directly behind me when I am sewing, and I can easily get to these items by wheeling around on my office chair.  Notice how the items are grouped in containers like items with like items, and they are clearly labeled, and in a convenient location.   Here's a couple close ups of some of the storage containers on the shelves.

Zippers are sorted by length into small drawers.

Even my magazines and sewing books are sorted and labeled.

The bookshelf houses zippers, buttons, serger and secondary sewing machine supplies all sorted like items with like items and clearly labeled for easy access.

Being organized will save more time than you can imagine though it does take some time to actually get organized.  Organizing a craft or sewing space can be fun, and the rewards are so worth the time investment. 

An organized space does not have to cost a lot.  I have completely organized my sewing room on a shoestring budget.  I have repurposed furniture to make room for my sewing supplies.

Here, an old dresser holds a myriad of sewing notions.  The dresser is so old, that I was free to attach sticky labels to each drawer so that in a few seconds, I can have in hand whatever I need. 

I have used plastic baskets, cardboard boxes, thrift store finds, and inexpensive containers to keep my sewing room in Tip-Top order ... just the way I like it!   

Stay tuned for more organizing ideas that will help you gain control of your time and your crafting space.

"To Succeed, Fill a Need"

This title is a catch phrase that I heard long ago when I was in a direct sales business, and the phrase has stuck with me.  Today's sewing project reminded me of this phrase, "To succeed, fill a need." 

I was chatting with a fellow frugal friend last night, and she expressed a need for an apron that would hold clothespins while she was hanging laundry to dry.  She showed me a picture of the kind of apron she had in mind, but she wanted her apron to have "really deep pockets".  I understood her need since I, too, line dry all of my laundry.  It is tedious business picking up pins for each piece of laundry. 

She was not particular about the fabric choices but was partial to flowers and birds.  I sifted through my fabric collection which you can see on the shelves in the picture, and found a lovely piece of fabric in a bird print.  I paired it with a large scrap of denim which I thought would add stability and durability to the apron. 

In my pattern stash, I found this pattern:  Simplicity 8720, a collection of retro aprons.  For this project, I chose view F, a half apron with a rounded bottom edge and pockets.  I decided that I could achieve even deeper pockets by drafting a different pocket for this apron. 

For my pocket inspiration, I turned to a cute purse pattern that I have made in the past: the Margo Handbag from Lazy Girl Designs.  I like the look and the functionality of these deep front pockets on this purse (which, by the way, I do not make to sell since the Lazy Girl patterns are copyrighted designs).  I knew that if this pocket style worked on a purse, it would work on an apron.



After making my own pocket pattern and cutting out my project, I just had to put it all together.  This was not a difficult project, but as always, the first run of a pattern always takes longer than the repeat performances.

Here's the completed apron with "really deep pockets" for my frugal friend Michelle.  This apron will be on its way to Kentucky on Monday. 

I will certainly be making myself one of these aprons in the near future.  I will probably make mine in pink or maybe I'll use a rugged manly print since my husband sometimes helps with the laundry duties.

If you need a clothespin apron, you'll be happy to know that I will be adding these to my list of items that I make to sell.  Don't forget that I can mail any custom made items anywhere in the U.S.A.

IT'S A SNAP!

A zipper is not the only kind of closure for a handmade purse.  I sell a lot of bags with magnetic snap closures.  I even carry bags with magnetic snap closures and have never yet lost any valuables.

This bag on the left is from a pattern called Bow Tucks Purse.  The pattern includes instructions for a button and fabric loop closure, but I much prefer a magnetic snap closure. 

In this photo on the right, you can see the magnetic snap in the center of the top lining pieces.  These snaps offer a secure closure for these purses and totes.

Here's my favorite fall purse which was made using the Bow Tucks Tote pattern.  Instead of the patch pocket on the front of the purse, I added a zippered pocket in the back of the purse.  I use this zippered pocket to hold my matching wallet to keep it safe and secure. 

Magnetic snaps are also useful on purse designs which include a flap.  Take a look at this messenger bag which is one of my original designs. 

This pattern makes use of a magnetic snap to secure the flap and also a zipper to create a secure pocket under that front flap making this a great purse for shopping or traveling.


Below is another purse with a magnetic snap closure on the flap.  This pattern in The Classic Purse from Palm Harbor Patterns.

Obviously, zippers and magnetic snaps are not the only methods of closing handbags and totes.  I have used hook and loop tape, buttons and loops, and ties. 

The bag closure should look stylish, provide security, and ease of use.  And for the seamstress, any of these methods can be mastered with some patience and practice. 

Zip It!

Anyone want to guess what today's sewing topic is?  That's right:  ZIPPERS!

That "Z" word is enough to strike fear and panic in the hearts of some home seamstresses, but it doesn't have to be that way.  Anyone with some sewing experience and a sewing machine with a zipper foot can learn to install zippers.

I make a lot of purses these days, therefore knowing how to set in a zipper is a must for me.  Personally, I prefer a handbag with a zippered top mainly for security reasons.  I don't like the idea of someone being able to reach inside my purse to remove items that belong to me.

If you've ever had your non-zipping purse topple off your car seat spilling your contents throughout your car, you may have come to prefer a zip top purse, too. 

Here's my current summer purse.  This is my large zip top purse pattern.  This purse is based on a Palm Harbor pattern, but I've made so many changes to the original pattern that it no longer resembles the original design.

For this purse, I used a contrasting bright green zipper.  It may look like a design feature, but actually it was a necessity since I did not have on hand a zipper that blended with the backround color in this fabric. 

Check out this example of a zippered pocket on a tote which has a magnetic snap closure. 

For this particular tote, I also added a zippered pocket in the lining of the tote. That way, a wallet or coin purse could be securely tucked into that zippered pocket.

BTW, this particular zipper application is explained clearly in most of  the Palm Harbor Patterns . It is well worth learning how to insert a zipper this way if you like to make handbags or totes.

Here are a few pictures of other zipper applications that I often use in my custom handbag business. 

 

Stay tuned as I show you some non-zippered purses tomorrow!

Baby's First Dress

We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new great-granddaughter in October.  I've accepted the challenge of working up a wardrobe of hand-smocked dresses for the little one.  The dress you see here is a white baby bishop smocked in a pink and white geometric design.

I used Imperial white babywale pique since she may be needing something warmer than batiste.  My pattern is Tiny Bishop Baby Layette by Kathy Crisp.  I love the pattern and have used it more than a dozen times. 

Hand smocking is one of my favorite kinds of sewing.  It makes a baby garment extra special, but it really isn't hard to do at all.  And I love old-fashioned baby clothes so much better than some of the baby girl clothing that is available now. 

Here's a shot of the dress after the smocking was completed but before the construction had begun.

You can still see the pleating threads in this picture, too.  The fabric is drawn up using a pleater like this one  http://www.sewingmachineoutlet.com/aj24pleater.htm .  The threads are then drawn up to the appropriate size, and the smocking stitches are made by hand on top of the pleats.  When the smocking is complete, the pleater threads are removed, and the pleats are held in place by the smocking. 

This bishop style dress is perfect for tiny babies, and this is nearly always the pattern I use for a newborn baby gift.  Since this new baby is so close to my heart, I'm hoping to make lots and lots of handsmocked dresses for her. 

And just in case one of her baby friends tries to take her dress, I've added her initials to the hem of this garment.  This is the first time I've used the monogramming stitches on my new Janome Memory Craft 6600 sewing machine, and I am pleased with the results.

ACR,
I can't wait to meet you!