mental health day after a long long time of not sewing

It's been entirely too long since I've taken any time to sew. I'm in the 5th year of PhD studies. I just took a break today. It felt so good.

10 Tips for Americans Traveling in Rome Italy

10 Tips for Americans Traveling to Rome Italy

1. If you go in the summer, expect heat. But don't expect air conditioning. The absolute only place that was air conditioned during my stay in Rome this summer was my hotel room. Even if your hotel advertises air, make sure you ask on the phone if it works! Nobody cares if you sweat because everybody sweats. Take a water bottle with you wherever you go. There are free fountains around the city where you can fill it. I drank the water and did not get ill, and I have a very sensitive stomach.

2. Don't expect Italian women to dress like American women. Unless you're Californian. No offense, Californians. Italian women don't always wear bras or slips. If they have a bra on, they don't see the need to cover it. Apparently there has been an evolution in Italian women that has not hit American women. They can walk anywhere anytime for any distance on any surface in heels and never ever stumble or fall. They also always look perfect. I don't think they sweat.

3. Don't expect American chain food. The city centre of Rome has one or two McDs and a BK. No starbucks, no subway, and definitely no American pizza places. Restaurants are locally owned and WONDERFUL. The food is the best in the world. You will never want to eat American food again.

4. Buy the Roma Pass for museum entrees. It was worth it to get into the Colosseum with no line. It gives you transportation coverage: busses, metro (subway), but honestly no one cares if you pay on the busses or not. I scanned my pass once to activate it, but my friend who lives in Rome says no one asks for money on the city busses. Oh and only take the white legal taxis.

5. Buy Vatican museum tickets online and skip the line! If you do not buy ahead of time, you can be in line for half of the day. If you buy online, you will probably wait less than an hour.

6. Beware of scammers, street vendors, and pickpockets The pickpockets may be the easiest to avoid. Wear a money belt under your clothes. This is an absolute must. If it's in a pocket, you're gonna lose it. If you carry a bag, keep it close to you or don't put anything of value in it. Street vendors will get in your face. They will physically put hats or scarves on you and ask you to pay for them. Tell them NO. Sometimes you have to physically push them away. Try not to let them catch your eye. There are scammers for EVERYTHING. If you trying to buy a train ticket, they will come up to you pretending to be employees, help you and ask you for money.  At the Vatican and most tourist places, they will pretend to be tour guides and take your money, even wearing fake name tags. Book ahead online and ask for ID for a tour guide. If you decide to buy something from a street vendor, never take their asking price. Haggle with them; they expect it. They even seem to enjoy it. Beggars are everywhere as well. They will notice you are American and come right up to you and ask for money. They sit outside every church.

7. If you're a woman, especially a young one, expect comments from men constantly. And in English. Complete strangers will walk up and tell you that you're beautiful; or walk past you and yell back at you.

8. Ask for help until you find someone who speaks English. In Europe almost everyone under 30 can speak some English. If you're lost, someone will usually help you. Buy an international plan for your phone; most companies will let you do it just for the month. It is worth it to have data, etc. You can buy a go phone when you get there, but I've always preferred to have my own phone; then I have GPS if I get lost or so I don't get lost.

9. Plan on walking.  A lot.  If you have any sense at all, don't rent a car. If you plan on staying in the city, you won't need it. There are busses everywhere.  You can walk anywhere in the city center in an hour or less. Even if you plan to visit Florence or Tuscany, you can get a bus or train. The traffic in Rome is what nightmares are made of...

10. If you are going to visit churches, be respectful. Many of the churches have a dress code. No clothing above knees and shoulders must be covered. If you have bare shoulders walking into a church, the street vendors will find you and try to sell you a scarf. Keep a scarf with you. Men are usually fine if their shorts go almost to the knees and not wearing a tank top. If mass is taking place, you will not be be able to walk around taking pictures. If mass is not taking place, there will still be marked places only for prayer. Do not walk into these places unless you plan to kneel or sit quietly.  Even in St Peter's Basilica, there are large roped-off areas for prayer only. If you get out your camera, the guard will ask you to leave or put it away.

Six Ways You Can be Understanding of Your Friends with Food Allergies

1. Understand they can't eat just anywhere or anything. I have multiple food allergies, and they change occasionally. A restaurant I could eat at last month I may not be able to eat at today.

2. Understand they can't always predict their reactions. Sometimes I just itch, other times I wheeze and my tongue swells. Sometimes I vomit.

3. Understand they sometimes feel burdened by the social aspects of their allergies. Honestly, sometimes I hate having to explain to someone why I can't eat something. I get weary of asking constant questions about ingredients.

4. Understand that they will always have to ask you about ingredients in anything you offer or cook. I really don't expect you to cook something special just for me if you are having a group over. I can always bring my own food, I do not mind. And please don't be offended if you thought you were making something I could eat and it turns out I can't. I wish I could eat it to be polite, but it is not worth a hospital trip to keep from offending you.

5. Understand that having a reaction in public can be embarrassing. If I start to wheeze in a restaurant, I will get up and walk outside. If you are my friend, please follow me. I can't stand to be in public having a reaction, but I can't be alone in case I pass out. I may need you to get me a drink of water.  I have never not been able to administer my own antidote with food allergies, but I have with my insect allergies. I cannot predict what might happen. But if I'm wheezing, I must have benadryl fast. If that doesn't help in 5 minutes, I need to be injected with my epipen.

6. Understand that if you or a restaurant cannot tell me exactly what is in a food, then I cannot eat it.

Tips for Americans traveling in the United Kingdom England Great Britain

Grocery Stores and Food 

1. Aldi is nearly the same as it is in the US, and it is the most economical. You will need a pound coin for the shopping cart as you need a quarter for the cart in the US.

2. Tesco is everywhere. It is reasonably priced.

3. Marks & Spencer has good food, but more expensive. Try their fresh carry out dinners at the front of the store. They are microwavable like our Healthy Choice, Banquet, etc, but they are never frozen...much fresher and oh so good. They also have a great selection of chocolate.

4. Eggs are not refrigerated in the UK but it doesn't seem to bother anyone, so look on the shelf rather than the freezer.

5. Fish and chips fish and chips fish and chips.

6.  You will find a wide variety of Indian food. Curry is everywhere.

7. Don't expect to find any Mexican or Tex-mex food, not even to prepare. There is one chain called Bar Burrito but it does not taste like our burritos.

8. Don't expect to find BBQ.

Clothing and other purchases

1. If you find yourself lacking in clothing items, shop at a Charity store. They are everywhere. They are like our thrift stores but usually well arranged more like a consignment shop. The prices will be way more reasonable than buying new clothes. You can even find shoes and jewelry and bags/ purses/ luggage. Some well known charity store names are Oxfam, Naomi House, Cancer Research UK. And you will feel great knowing your purchases go towards helping a charity.

2. The UK clothing sizes are different than US sizes. Women's sizes run smaller. If you wear a woman's 7 in US, you will wear a 9 or 10 in the UK. Shoe sizes are different...but usually they have the European and UK size on them, not the US size. I have found that UK women must have smaller feet over all because I wear a 10 in women's US and have not found many women's shoes to fit my feet in the UK. If you wear a women's 10 in shoes, it's a European 41 or 42.

3.  Most large cities have big chains like Primark, TK Maxx, and some you may even recognize like Nike.

4. Tax. The VAT or retail tax (sales tax) in the UK (and other European Union countries) is figured into the price of the items. Rick Steves, a well known European Travel expert tells how to get a refund for your VAT Rick Steves vat refund.

Odds and Ends

Remember that in the UK they drive on the opposite side of the road than in the US. When crossing the street look left/right/left. 

Rules for Pedestrians in the UK

The rules are different. Read the above link. 

10 Tips for Americans traveling in the United Kingdom England Great Britain

1. Public transportation is everywhere. 

but be prepared to walk

Busses

If you are staying at least a week in one city, you should be able to buy a bus pass for Ł12-15. There are different bus companies, however, so make sure you ask the bus driver which bus lines the pass will work on. Some passes are only for a certain route, so do your research. Almost every bus company has their own website.

Public busses are way cleaner and nicer than in the US.

The front seats on the bus, first floor, are reserved for handicapped and parents with strollers. If you are sitting in a front seat, you may be asked to move.

Don't expect the driver to wait for you to sit before they start moving. Hold on to the rails going up the stairs!

You can purchase a bus ticket at the window when you walk on the bus. The bus drivers have change but they prefer you to have the correct change. Most do not take credit cards.

It is perfectly acceptable to take a suitcase on the bus. It is also acceptable to be seen rolling a suitcase down the street.

Trains

Usually more expensive than busses but much faster if you are traveling city to city. Buy your tickets ahead of time.
www.virgintrains.co.uk is a good place to start.
Usually a train from Manchester to London is Ł25-Ł35 if you buy it months ahead of time. To walk up and buy you will pay Ł75-Ł125 or more. But a bus ticket from Manchester to London will probably be Ł12-Ł20.

If you walk up to buy a ticket you will pay up to 3 times as much as buying 2-3 months ahead.

There are different train stations for travel inside a city and outside of a city. This confused me at first. For instance in Manchester  the Metrolink is NOT the train that will take you outside of the city.

For Manchester transportation Manchester Travel
For London transportation London Transportation

2. Personal Space

In England there is less space than in the US.  Expect to sit and stand physically closer to strangers than you ever would in the US. People will keep getting on a bus or train until there is no more space and then they will keep getting on the bus or train. Take a deep breath and hold on. 

In restaurants and pubs the tables and chairs will be closer together than they are in the US. You will not be able to get up without others having to move. They usually don't mind because this is just what you do. 

People will probably stand closer to you to talk to than you are used to.  Sometimes Americans perceive this as a threat. It is not. It's just what you have to do when there is less space available. 

3. Shopping

The line is a "queue." The cashier/cash register is the "till." Your American credit or debit card should work.

Sign the back of your credit cards. I know in the US we don't sometimes because then they will ask for ID. But in the UK they WON'T take your card if it is NOT signed. And make sure you sign a signature that looks like the one you have on your card.

Way more people in the UK provide their own bags while shopping. This has to do with walking and taking public transportation more than driving. I never go anywhere without my backpack. I just put my purchases in the backpack (after I pay for them of course!)

There are no one pound notes, only one pound coins. Your cash will weigh more than it does in the US because way more coins. Take a change purse.  

Vending machines take the one pound coins. 

Dollar to pound exchange has stayed around 1.5-1.6 to 1 for a few years. This means your US dollar is NOT worth as much as the pound, and most things are more expensive anyway. 

4. Weather and Heat/Air conditioning 

Most rooms will have a radiator. Make sure you ask the hotel manager or host/hostess how to turn the radiator on and off. If not, you may find yourself freezing in the middle of the night. Radiators do not blow air, they 'radiate' air. They take a while to heat, so don't think you can immediately warm a room like you can in the US. 

It will be rare to have air conditioning. It is rare for you to need it. If you find yourself wandering around in July heat and are about to wilt, try a Costa (coffee shop chain similar to Starbucks). They are usually air conditioned. But your room will probably not be unless it is very expensive or an American chain. Few houses have air or ceiling fans. Hopefully you will have a small electric fan. If not, you can buy one at Marks & Spencer, Primark, or TKMaxx (Yes, it's TK not TJ). Walmart in the UK is Asda, but you will not find one in town centers.

If you open your window at night you should be fine. It cools at night even if it is warm during the day.

5. Clothing

Buy a light rain coat to for summer travel. By light I mean something you can always have with you in purse or daypack/backpack. I always keep one with a hood so I don't need a head cover or umbrella. Umbrellas take a hand and I like to have my hands free. Frogg toggs sells a light rain jacket that folds up small and light. I don't like the ponchos because my arms get wet. 

For winter, take a coat that will keep you warm in sub-zero weather. Even if it doesn't get that cold, it's a wet cold. If you are from the Southern or Western US, you are not used to this. I also advise long underwear also known by its politically correct term "base layer." I prefer a polyester mix but some people swear by silk like Wintersilks.  How to choose a base layer of clothing is helpful. Hats, gloves, scarves, yes.

Wool socks. Cotton will not keep your warm. Icebreaker socks are my favorites. The ski socks last at least five years with 2-3 times a week wear. I advise wool socks even in spring/summer/fall. You will be walking way more than in the US unless you are a marathon runner/walker. I promise. Wool prevents blisters better than cotton. Put Vaseline or a clear diaper rash ointment on feet before you put your socks on to prevent blisters. 

Walking sandals are great in summer. My favorites are Chaco Unaweep. I wore these walking 6-8 miles a day in London. In shoes your feet will swell more, especially when it is hot. No one cares if you wear these with dresses, ladies. If you are walking 6-8 miles a day forget the cute shoes, even flats. 

Women---many places in the UK you will not see women over 25 in shorts, even the longer bermuda shorts. You will see women of all ages wearing shorts in London because of the large tourist population. But in Manchester, Bristol, and Oxford I have rarely seen a woman over 20 wearing shorts no matter how hot it is. They wear skirts and sundresses in the summer. 

6. Waiting

A bus might be delayed. A queue for the till may be long. Americans complain when they have to wait. We are impatient. We expect everything to happen now. But it won't. So don't complain. Just wait patiently like those around you. 

7. Noise level

I never believed 'Americans are the loudest' until I left the country. We are. Fact.

Be aware of this. You will find the British being loud in pubs late at night watching a football (soccer) match or at the football match, but not many other places.  A bus might be louder after midnight when it is full of drunk college students, otherwise way quieter than any American public gathering.

8. Scots are not English, but they are British, and other details

Once upon a time the United Kingdom was a bunch of little countries and even though it isn't today, they have kept their separate identities.

The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (Ireland) are NOT the same country. 

The Republic of Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom. So if you go from England to Ireland you will have to show your passport. 

Scotland is part of the United Kingdom and it is included in Great Britain, and has been since 1707. However, many Scots still think this is wrong and assert for separation from Great Britain. Do not call a Scottish person or Scot, "English."

People from Wales are Welsh, not English, and they may even speak Welsh. They are British, however.

Think about it like this. If you are from Texas, do you want to be called an Oklahoman? If you are a Georgian, do you want to be mistaken for a Floridan? 

9. Food

Dairy is way better in the UK than in the US.  It is one of the few products that cost less. 

There will be more types of cheese in the stores than you have ever dreamed. And they are all wonderful.

Chocolate. Ah, the chocolate is way better. Try Dairy Milk Chocolate. 

Do not leave the UK without trying Scones and Clotted Cream with Strawberries. 

Mushy peas are peas that are mushed. They even eat them cold. You will find them in fast food restaurants.

In a pub, you order food at the bar. They rarely wait on tables. Waiters are paid a living wage. Don't leave the tip on the table, but if the waiter has been great you can put a pound coin or two in their hand when you leave. 

Free refills are almost nonexistent unless it is an American chain like Subway. Even then, the cups are tiny. Their large is our small. Most cups are what we call child sized. 

Ice. Ah Ice. I spent my first summer in England searching for ice. The next summer I packed an ice cube tray.  If you want ice in a restaurant you have to ask for a cup of ice AND a drink.

Ask for 'tap water' in a restaurant or they will bring you bottled water and charge you for it. 

Leave your desire for iced tea at home.  Even Starbucks will not serve iced tea. If you are really desperate, ask for tea and a cup of ice and put it together yourself.  

'Puddings' means dessert. 'Bread and cheese' may be on the dessert menu. 

10. A few suggestions to keep you from looking like an idiot.

Don't raise two fingers for the number 2. It is like putting up your middle finger in the US.

"Fanny" means something you don't want it to mean so don't say it.

"Pants" mean panties or underwear. Say Trousers. "Baggy pants" means "big butt." 

"Knickers" also mean panties.

You will never hear or see the word "restroom." Say "Toilet" or "washroom."

Beds do not have box springs. 

The beds will not have top sheets.

French fries are called chips and chips are called crisps. Chips are eaten with fork and knife.

Leave your camouflage at home. 

You can exchange money at a pawn shop. But check the exchange rate online before to make sure they are giving you the going rate. 

Buy an international plan for your cell phone.

Google maps will work with data disabled if you turn it on when you have wifi. 

I have seen many travel experts say to travel light which means washing out clothes by hand and letting them drip dry overnight. However, the UK has a humid climate and clothing does not dry fast. Even the clothing that claims 'quick dry' may take up to 3 days to dry. Take this into consideration when packing. Jeans will NEVER drip dry even if you hang them outside. 

Buttonhole hack or How to sew a buttonhole without a buttonhole function on your machine

Actually I do have a buttonhole function, but I hate it. So I taught myself this method & find it it much easier. Always try anything new on scrap fabric first!

1. First, measure and mark buttonholes as usual with chalk or disappearing ink. I like to use a chalk pencil.

2. Set machine to a small zig zag. Thus is what I set it to. I have a Brother machine.

3. Stitch from one mark to the next, the length of the buttonhole. Backstitch the length, and sew the length again. You should have sewn over the same length 3 times.

4. Pivot and sew 4 stitches, back stitch 4, sew forward 4 stitches again.

5. Pivot and sew the length of the buttonhole again, repeating what you did on step 3 for the other side of buttonhole.



6. Repeat step 4 for other end of buttonhole.

7. Remove from machine and cut inside buttonhole with seam ripper.

8. Insert button!

Butterfly quilt

This is a simple panel, used high loft batting, a quick blanket binding, & tied it. I painted big sister on it & gave it to the five year old sibling of the baby at a shower. She loved it.
Her name was painted where the pink blob is.

Baby boy travel theme quilt

Made of themed flannel with high loft batting
the back is a sea theme of orcas and sea lions

The trucks are appliquéd of my own design.

Finished Lemon Tree quilt top

Techniques: piecing & applique

Lemon tree quilt

Modifying a pattern from Quilting magazine

Added yellow print strips around the appliqued piece

Pieces in place, before sewing

close up of a lemon

Finished pics of Ella's Wishes quilt

Finished

The most beautiful baby quilt ever

Even if I do say so myself. The fabric collection is called Ella's Wishes from www.connectingthreads.com. Stitched in the ditch, machine quilted with thick batting and flannel backed. Ready to snuggle with a new baby girl.

Puppy help

Awww my Remy is helping me quilt today

Pumpkins!

I realized I had never posted the completed product! This wallhanging is 3 3 ft by 4 ft, hand and machine pieced, hand appliqued, and hand and machine quilted.