@sewblue@sfba.social
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

sewblue

@sewblue@sfba.social

My life and interests in bullet points.

  • mother to a severely dyslexic kid. I do a lot of advocating, as severe dyslexics get shut out of the written internet so you do not see their viewpoints expressed.
  • long covid suffer, but able to manage it
  • Engineer, except math and science jokes.
  • Crafter, mainly sewing. Love any kind craft and art.
  • Lover of history and architecture
  • old house lover, love my 90 year old house.
  • black cat affectionado. So cats.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

sinituulia, to random
@sinituulia@eldritch.cafe avatar

Reminded of this feature of Roman architecture, and 1700s European milk parlour or cheese house architecture that I vaguely recall and am too tired to currently re-look into: The Roman villas would have an open air room inside the walls of the house, shaded by overhanging roofs, and there would also be pools of water. The combination of circulation, shade and water evaporation would keep it one of the coolest rooms in the building.
(Vague recollections, please link a good article if handy!)

sewblue,
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

@sinituulia That is partly because the pace of building in the US greatly out paced deep knowledge of the local environment. Sometimes in spite of it too.

My 1935 home has wildly inadequate foundations because they didn't understand that the soils here are expansive and will cause differential settlement. A modern foundation would be almost 2x as deep.

It's knowing which parts of the country benefits from white roofs vs have it be a drag on heating costs. And be willing to use that info.

I'm an engineer, and live in the professional space of gathering that experience and applying it. The "local architecture" that suits the environment simply didn't have time to get a foothold here.

sewblue,
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

@sinituulia California isn't that old. The San Francisco Bay wasn't discovered until 1769. We weren't really settled until 1850 due to the gold rush.

The 1906 earthquake in San Francisco resulted in no code changes for earthquake safety. Authorities were far more interested in blaming the fire than making sure homes don't collapse. Rich people buildings started getting reinforced for quakes, but not normal people's homes. Took another 70 years and 2 more major quakes to get serious about earthquake safety, but they did outlaw building in brick around 1930.

To learn what works, you have to have seen generations of failure. It can take 30, 40 years before it is clear that a design isn't good long term. Like early highly insulated buildings rotting out from mold, because they were poorly sealed.

Building for the local environment is surprisingly complex. We will all be gone before it is clear what works from today.

sewblue, to diy
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

In a week's time I will a dirt back yard instead of this mosquito generating monstrosity. I will have a usable (if just dirt) back yard rather a field of concrete and cinderblock, with a gaping 12 ft drop. The natural slope of the landscape will be restored.

By then though, I will be out of money to hire it out. I will have to phase new landscapingfrom scratch, DIY.

I'm weird that the hardscaping and drainage don't really worry me. Used to dealing with construction.

But not killing every plant I put in? That is the challenge. There isn't even irrigation here right now.

Any tips for helping me learn to have a green thumb?

View of the deep end of the pool, with bathtub rings of pond scum and leaf litter. The pool is surrounded by white cinder block retaining walls. A pump sits at the bottom to keep drained of water.

mythologymonday, (edited ) to greece
@mythologymonday@thefolklore.cafe avatar

Hello, Myth Lovers! To celebrate International , we'd love to see your posts about ! Which museums have great mythological art? Which are your favourite artifacts? Do you have a favourite ? Where have you seen an amazing work of art related to mythology? Use the hashtag for boosts!

๐ŸŽจ Kos Archaeological Museum,
๐Ÿ“ธ Dionysis Kouris

@archaeodons @mythology @folklore @TarkabarkaHolgy @juergen_hubert @curiousordinary @wihtlore @FairytalesFood @bevanthomas @FinnFolklorist @Godyssey @GaymerGeek @starrytimepod

sewblue,
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

@mythologymonday @archaeodons @mythology @folklore @TarkabarkaHolgy @juergen_hubert @curiousordinary @wihtlore @FairytalesFood @bevanthomas @FinnFolklorist @Godyssey @GaymerGeek @starrytimepod I took my daughter and her best friend to the Getty Museum in Santa Monica. Both Percy Jackson nuts, so we did their Percy Jackson tour.

Watching the two 12 year olds have an absolute blast naming the Gods off the Greek Vases was amazing. Far far better than me.

Mom. It's Asclepius, not Hermes. His staff has 1 snake, no two, so it isn't the cacaduceus.

drahardja, to random
@drahardja@sfba.social avatar

Clean 1989 Honda CR-X.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-honda-crx-17/

sewblue,
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

@drahardja I drove an 87 in high school. Very tempting and I am so not a car head.

sewblue, to FiberArts
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

This is why commercial patterns drive me nuts.

Proportionally I have tiny shoulders and a small overbust, and large bust. Carry more weight in my midsection than I would like. A combination that makes fitting difficult.

There is no correct measurement to size from. If I use my bust or waist, the shoulder will have fit issues, and I can't guess the right size to fit my shoulder with no measurement for overbust provided or marked.

A good chunk of this is the ridiculous 3 inches of ease that Simplicity builds in.

Really need to shift to using a sloper and doing my own designs. Fighting commercial patterns for fit isn't worth the headache.

@sewing

quixoticgeek, to random
@quixoticgeek@v.st avatar

When did people forget how to pronounce niche properly? I keep hearing people pronounce it to thyme with itch. It makes no sense.

sewblue,
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

@quixoticgeek oh, autocorrect. Thyme with itch.

sewblue, to FiberArts
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

Fitting help please! @sewing

Faux wrap front. I sized to my bust with. I've already swung 1.5 inches out of the upper bust to the waist, but still have extra fabric and tension issues. Also have trouble keeping the neckline(which is on grain) tight against my bust.

Am remembering why I swore off certain commercial patterns. Every time I have major armscye issues. I initially did a full bust adjustment, but the crazy amount of ease made it a tent. Tried something else.

Have half a mind to just drape to get the look, using the armscye from a size down. Was hoping to do this via pattern manipulation.

sewblue, to random
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

My grandfather was born and raised on Maui.

My great grandmother visited Maui with a friend who lived there in 1919, age 19. She met her future husband there and stayed.

When she arrived, she stayed at the Pioneer Hotel. The building on the left.

I grew up hearing stories about Maui. My grandfather took me when I was 9. We visited Lahaina, to take me to the tree. I have memories of playing in the Banyan tree.

I took my daughter in 2019. She also fell in love with that tree, playing hide and seek and exploring it as the sun set.

I can't get my head around that it is gone. All those people who couldn't escape.

A root structure from Lahaina's Banyan tree glowing in the setting sunlight. A child is visible, hiding in a gap in the roots.

sewblue, to random
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

My daughter is 12 and has worked for years to get to a 1st grade reading level. Severe, 1st percentile dyslexia. Deficits in all subtypes, so she struggles recognizing letters and struggles to break down sounds.

She has worked so hard to get where she is. She tries, but reading to her is like waking after a spinal injury.

What I didn't expect was how awful the ed therapy process is. Every tutor has basically restarted with the alphabet, using slightly different techniques that take her ages to master because of her severity. Like training a new set of muscles to walk with.

Moving out of state, retirements, her dyslexia school closing means she is on her 6th tutor in 5 years.

Am just so exhausted and burned out. Yet she keeps trying, she wants it so badly.

New school this fall with yet another unique approach to dyslexia. That doesn't have a summer program to get her started with.

sewblue, to FiberArts
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

More Christmas ornament embroidery. Just having fun with stitch designs, what ever strikes my fancy.

The square with a square is amazing because it almost glows with beadwork, while the grid pattern catches the light all at once and just dazzles.

sewblue, to random
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

win!

I just had a coworker seek me out because of my dyslexia. Asked for my special dyslexia powers. They were working on engineering concept that needed to be clear to construction workers for safety. Stuff that can kill you.

With my dyslexia, I make the same kind of interpretation mistakes the field often makes. I just don't have the working memory easily process (badly written/presented) written material, doing so by force of will rather than ease.

Through experience am able to diagnose and articulate where my working memory screws things up. Mainly by "how much am I needing to study to understand it."

Was able to quickly help them figure out what was wrong. This info here needs to be clarified so it isn't conflated with that info over there. This is the mistake people can make.

And poof, a plan to fix.

Always feels good when you know you may have prevented someone else's screw up that could have killed someone.

Neurodiversity for the win.

sewblue,
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

@thepoliticalcat In a 2D sense or a 3D sense?

A lot of dyslexics are so strong in their 3D world view they struggle with 2D representations of the world.

It's why b and d get confused. Same shape in 3D.

Am sure you've tried, but does Google Streetview help?

With my severely dyslexic kid, making sure they can orient themselves to landmark helps considerably.

sewblue, to FiberArts
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

Found this needle in some inherited sewing supplies. Any ideas on what it is for?

Needle next to a penny for scale

sewblue, to random
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

Hoping the next set of storms might push the Lake Berryessa glory hole over the edge! Looks like about 6 inches to go. We need a dam spill!

I had no clue the glory hole existed when i first saw it, spilling. My brain simply could not process the hole in the lake. Like it was some kind of distortion in the fabric of space, a perfect circle of water just falling into nothing.

Last time it spilled was 2017.

A graph of Lake Berryessa's water level since the start of the year. It starts at 422 ft, stays relatively level, jumping up with each series of storms. It has been hovering at 438 ft for a month, and is now at 439.58 ft.

sewblue, to TwitterMigration
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

Can I say how great it is to be able to subscribe to hastags? I love getting to find new people with shared interest!

If you only/mainly use a phone app like me, you do need to log into your server's website. Just search for root favorite hastag and hit follow!

sewblue, to FiberArts
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

More embroidery progress.

I went simple on the back of the blue biscornu. Love laying lattice work, you can cover big areas quickly.

sewblue, to FiberArts
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

Need help! Am playing with lace trimming/shaping. A bit of fun just because.

Do I:
A) match the lace scallops on each side, making them overlap each other when closed
B) do I off set them? So each scallop nests between the other, target like a zipper.
C) cut then off and just go straight edge because my 13 year old won't even notice the detail?

B) offset lace scallops. No overlapping lace. Same partly finished cape.
C) trim lace scallops straight and forget about it.

sewblue, (edited ) to random
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

@vickyveritas as I followed the Mineral Cup because of you. :) Based on my very limited knowledge of geology, I may be teaching my kid to collect decent rock samples. Monterey CA.

Was just very surprised to find this much granite this far from the Sierras. As your can see under kiddo's feet, there is a local source.

Lots of man made stuff, lots of natural. Have a new granite door stop. :)

sewblue, to Cats
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

Getting yelled at this morning by a cat who is mad that it is very wet out. The rain stopped not to long ago.

You expect me to go out in this? Get my paws wet?

TheJen, to random
@TheJen@beige.party avatar

I put down my more involved needlework projects while I'm doing heavy work on the house in favor of quick and dirty cotton string grocery bags. Fed up with the ones I can buy, it's much easier for me just to make them. They're mindless, in the round, net bags that I can just unwind with while waiting for sleep. I'm also hoping that if I actually make them, I won't forget them at home. ;)

sewblue,
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

@TheJen We keep our bags in the trunk of the car.

You don't normally need to bag your stuff in the store if you use a cart. Bag your stuff once you get to your car, not in the store. No need to remember your bags.

For small, single bag shopping runs I keep a foldable one on me in my purse.

sewblue, to random
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

Our washing machine is (finally) on the fritz. It is top loader that is into year 15-ish. Switching to front loading for the water savings.

Anything I should look out for? Brand/model recommendations?

sewblue, to Bloomscrolling
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

My garden right now. Heaps of flowers. Hard to believe this was a wasteland of lawn a year ago.

The California poppies were volunteers. I love how many bumble bees they attract.

sewblue, to FiberArts
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

Sigh.

This is the 4th time I have attempted to put this pocket in.

It is upside-down.

sewblue, to Starwars
@sewblue@sfba.social avatar

shirt I made for hubby a few years ago. @sewing

Love how the chaos of this busy print gets balanced by orderly cutting.

Doing the pattern matching was a lot of fun - down to the "Rebel" insignia on the collar and game of chicken on the yoke. And yes, there is a pocket.

Only one I didn't plan out as well as I should have was the sleeves. Happy accident there! I was putting a fighter dead center on the sleeve head. The lines of the print just happen to line up near perfect the front.

He wore this to visit Star Wars land at Disneyland a couple years ago, and had people asking about it all day.

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