Dispatch no. 57 - Updates Podcast

Nail caps for cats can really make the difference in protecting your furniture, but oof! They are not easy to apply on a rambunctious kitty.

I have used the Contact Paper brand of adhesive made to mimic a frosted glass appearance on windows. I was pleased with the results. I used this on the bottom half of an upstairs bathroom for privacy, while still allowing plenty of sunlight in. It was easy to install because this window had smallish panes, so I only had to deal with one square at a time. I never took it off so I don’t know about removal. I also used a static cling stained glass design on my entire basement bathroom window, which did not have panes. Very easy to put on and a lovely effect.

We keep making art, living, finding and sharing joy. All of that is its own resistance. Glad to hear the reno videos are doing well - I'd say rather than thinking people don't want to see the sewing it's just more and more people amazed by your art

I would suggest an anti- inflammatory cream for your hands. I use prescription strength duclofenac (brand name Voltaren). You can get an over the counter strength. I have arthritic hands. Get knee pads - knees are really handy joints.

tinted window film is cool in theory, but i worry that it will affect your work in the space. assuming it is the main natural light source in that room, changing it will alter your perception of colors — eg of the fabric, thread, how colors pair together— and you need natural light for that. even if the gauze white curtains are contrary to the vision— i think it will give a better quality diffuse light to work and film in.

For sewing supplies I use Wawak.com. It is located in Upstate NY. They are very quick with delivery.

Could you perhaps make a prop window frame to stand on the windowsill in front of the window, not full size, but enough to cover outside for camera . Acetate could be stapled to it with a coloured film stuck to that… or just the coloured film, beautiful original glass still in tact .

I hope you get a chance to have a wander thru the old cemeteries nearby. The really old ones sometimes have poems. I wrote one down in my little book: "Remember me as thou pass by, As thou art now so once was I. As I am now so thou wilt be, Prepare thy way to follow me."

One of the good things to think about with spring and after the snow melts, Salem, Mass is just a little over 3 hours away and Wethersfield CT is a little over 2 hours away. If you need to take a break for some inspiration, the off season for both would be a nice day trip. I'm looking forward to warmer weather here too.

Sliding in to give another mention for Rachel Maksey. She did something similar to that windows treatment of many names out of industrial foam. But it's a lot of dremmel work, and with the cats, I imagine you would have to be outside, waiting for spring.

More power to you, CQCL 🤭😊💋 🐈 🐈‍⬛💙

The window valance things might come together using foam sheeting or thin insulation, al la Rachel Masky or even like your sets. Make it light and it will be less weight on you.

I love all your videos; you taught me to self-draft and that's been invaluable, and your renovation videos have been giving me ideas for my own space. Make whatever you want!

We LOVE your sewing vids!!! That's what brought us to you. I think people are so into what you're doing, they forget to like the vid. I know it happens to me.

When you go to Lowes or Home Depot they usually have a bin of scrap wood that they decided wasn't good enough to sell or was damaged in some way and they will give it to you for free. My husband and I used that scrap wood for firewood for years. Free is always the best option. Honestly, I would love to see you make something that makes you happy. Whatever will be best for your life and brain.

Love to hear your updates, thank you for sharing so much of your life. And may I just say your closing comments on world affairs reprisented exactly how i feel and made me laugh out loud in my very quiet work office. I needed that

Pelmets. The day we moved into our house, i closed the curtains in the living room and the pelmet fell down - it was just sitting above the curtain rail, had never been attached! (Oddly enough, the same thing happened to the mantlepiece in the same room.)

I'm living my best life vicariously through you. Take your time, have a little fun.

I love watching all the things and I’m looking forward to the stash unpacking. I love your sewing videos and drafting tutorials. I’d love to know how to draw the design figures. I very much appreciate the updates. Take care of yourself. I hope you can start meeting likeminded people soon. I would totally go pick up chairs with you if I didn’t live in Canada and on pacific coast.

I’d love to see those fancy ass curtains you were talking about in the last video!

You mention being near Albany, you might want to check out what you can rent from the Tool Library. We have one locally, they are a terrific resource. https://www.historic-albany.org/inventory. (ooh, they also have not for profit architectural salvage too!). I really enjoyed the freize painting video, watching the colours seem to change as you progressed was amazing. HOWEVER, We do not want you to injure yourself meeting some arbitrary deadline; those pins and needles are a major warning sign of serious injury. Seeing Ollie loving on you was wonderful. You may need one of those cat slings to tote him around while you are working. Or, as for a sewing project, the current chaos makes me wish I had a Universal Anxiety Protection Suit. What would yours look like? Mine will have a custom insulated pocket to keep my emergency chocolate from melting.

If you want any more fireplace inspo, the Driehaus Museum in Chicago (housed in the former Nickerson Mansion built in 1883) has some gorgeous fireplaces. You would also like the library, where all the ornately carved woodwork is painted black. My favorite feature is in the reception room: the upper half of the room is covered in decorative tiles featuring bas-relief passionflowers that are glazed in a dark, moody peacock blue.

We used a frosted geometric/craftsman style pattern from Decorative Films that are held to the window with a spritz of water. We LOVE it, it was simply to install. Hasn’t ever peeled away (on its own) and it’s been there for almost a decade! They seem to have new designs all the time … well worth the effort!! Enjoy the process and while, of course, your sewing/crafting videos are your bread and butter, but I’d watch ANYthing you do because your are just that talented and creative. Can wait to see the finished product!! Way to go Bianca!!! (And Bianca’s Mom for helping move all the big heavy pieces!!)

Purple sofa!!!!!

It's good to hear from you. Although I love any and all updates, with these busy days you're having, I totally get it if patreon exclusives get skipped once for a few months (but don't pause! I still want to support!) You're working so hard on your home. Don't forget to enjoy it/ the process too

But if you got a laser level you could eventually true hems with it ...

I’d suggest foam board for the cornices….

I ordered the nature's miracle no scratch spray from Amazon and it works for my 2. It's in a red bottle you do have to respray once in a while, and it has like a nice rosemary-ish scent? but totally safe for the babies. Also, keep scratchers near the sofa and when you catch them, move them to the scratchers. I am loving the house videos so much!!! I know that you are probably itching to get back to designing and sewing, especially with such a gorgeous space to create in. I know I keep saying it, but I am so thrilled that you finally have your own beautiful home to make your own!

You might be able to defend the sofa from the cats with scent (I'm thinking citrus?). My cats eventually made some fetching designs on my old Chesterfield after i gave up on it but I was so anxious about it when it was new.

I actually would love a video showing how you make your ironing board. Mine is terrible and would love a good one.

Dig the idea of the moth above the keystone - it's such a visual thing in the room, so you should highlight it

You could make a house dress appropriate for 1, the age of of your house, 2 , the decor.

If you could post some close-up images of the mantle we could better make suggestions for blending missing stain (not finish) finish is what goes on top of the stain. You can make your own wipe-on polyurethane for that and use as many coats as needed. I can share recipe if you are interested. It could nes in handy for warn through bits on floors etc as well.

If you take 220 sandpaper to the mantle in the rough areas, you can use tinted shellac VERY easily. It's easier to remove later, and dries very quickly. It will change the color, but also refresh the finish. You can repair/clean it later with denatured alcohol. Much easier and faster than gel stain, with better results. Also, have you considered putting a fireplace looking heater in the fire box?

I used your cowl neck top video to make my own and it worked wonderfully! I made it for a fundraiser and it was perfect. You might try corrugated plastic for your cornices -- it's light and pretty stiff, as well as easy to cut. Does your mantle smell like rosin? If you dab the finish with denatured alcohol, does it get sticky? If it does it's finished with shellac which is super easy to redo; you don't have to strip it, you can just go over it with a new coat.

I have sticky back vinyl "frosted glass" on the bottom panels of my french doors to the patio. It keeps the cats from freaking out if a raccoon waddles by. They don't care if the see critters from an elevated position (like top of a kitty condo). Anyway you can easily remove leftover adhesive with acetone. It won't hurt the old poured glass (or modern glass.

As a person who works in a shop that makes custom window treatments, I'm especially interested to see how you fare with the black velvet. 💖

I'd like to see you with you dolled up, feet up , sipping tea and trash talking about your neighbors 😁

You can buy super wide double sided tape specifically for kitty training. Cover the areas of the couch the like to scratch. It will not harm the couch. When the cats try to scratch the couch and encounter the tape it will be sticky. They will hate that. You then spray their cat condo/scratch pad with aerosol catnip so they learn to love scratching there. The tape will also work for curtains should they decide to climb them.

The most helpful videos for me are when you illustrate vintage pattern drafting by taking vintage pattern art and making a version of it. I would love something with shaping moved into unusual seam lines (rather than easy to see princess seams), so I can gain more confidence in drafting myself. Also, dresses with asymmetrical front-buttoned bodices would be fantastic—though you don’t seem to care for shirtwaist dresses for yourself, so that might not be something you are interested in. Thank you.

I would love to see you do some vintage "work wear". Clothing to wear while painting, digging in the garden come spring etc.