Trenabdc

We're back to podcasting after a three-year break! In this episode, we catch up on recent sewing projects, sewing machine accumulation, and life changes that impact our sewing.Trena's Blog:The Slapdash SewistRenee's Blog:Miss Celie's PantsPatterns:HP WindcheaterJalie 2327Sewing Machine RepairStadham SewingMachines:Singer 301Brother CoverstitchBlind HemmerBabylock SergerBernina 930Fabric:Under Armour Cold GearSuzi Plex

Despite a two year break, we weren't beefing. We just hadn't podcasted. In this episode, we discuss changes to Burda (the magazine and website), what we do and don't like in the May and June 2011 issues and what we're working on. For line drawings, please visit Burda's non English sites: June (Italian) http://www.burdafashion.com/it/index/1270777-1000019.html May (French) http://www.burdafashion.com/fr/index/1437260-1779883.html Our Blogs: The Slapdash Sewist: http://theslapdashsewist.blogspot.com/ Miss Celie's Pants: http://missceliespants.com/

We were so excited about the June issue of Burda that we had to our podcast right away.

We had a couple of issues of BWOF to catch up on, and we also talk trash about bridezilla cable shows.

In this edition Cidell and I discuss the January and February issues of BWOF, what we're currently working on, and our mantras.

In this episode we talk about our recent exotic travel and the October and November issues of BWOF.  We were in the same room so forgive our exuberance!

Cidell and I chat about the August and September issues of Burda World of Fashion.

Trena took the Amtrak up to Baltimore over the weekend, where she and Cidell engaged in a variety of sewing and non-sewing related activities.  Here's a podcast with us in the same room!

In our 4th installment Cidell and Trena dish on the latest issues of BWOF and what is going on in our sewing rooms (and our lives).

In this issue of our podcast, Cidell and I discuss the April BWOF and what it's like to buy fabric in a language you don't speak.

This time Cidell and I talked about how we started sewing, the sewing that our grandmothers did, her trip to PR Weekend in LA, and of course lots of other random stuff.  We also propose some names for the podcast for you to ponder.

Our first sewing podcast together!

A new (to me) youtube discovery

I am in no way qualified to offer a language lesson. My only qualification is I'm doing it for free. If you can figure out how to download the podcast to your iPod, have at it. You can find lots of more comprehensive language lessons on the internet. The BBC has excellent traveler/beginner lessons for many languages, including Greek. However, I didn't find the Greek as useful as the Italian had been; it jumps immediately into complicated sentences and you must first learn the alphabet and pronunciation on your own. The sentences are too complicated to actually retain for longer than it takes to go through the unit and its quiz. Though I got 5/5 right on most of the quizzes, it didn't significantly increase my knowledge of Greek. It is fun nevertheless, with lots of pronunciation to listen to. No means...yes? Yes and no, very basic language building blocks, and easy, right? No. Or do I mean yes? Yes is Nai. No is Ohi, sometimes transliterated Okhi. So yes is no, and no is OK. I tried to get these to feel right in my mouth. I practiced saying "ohi" while frowning and shaking my head. I practiced saying "nai" while smiling and nodding. Eventually I got Ohi to feel right because at least it has the same vowel as no. I tried to get Nai to feel right by rhyming it with "yeah," but it really doesn't. It's just "Nay." I never did get used to Nai meaning yes. Hopefully you'll do better than me. Greetings As in most languages, there are many, many ways to greet someone in Greek. Allegedly, "Herrete" is the all-purpose greeting. The Pimsleur tapes were big on Herrete, and the other tapes I listened to also purported that this is the all-purpose greeting. These people have never been to Greece. I *never* heard it on the street, ever. And I traveled through a fair bit of the country so I don't think it's a regional thing. I tried it out a few times to gauge reactions and did not get an enthusiastic response. I mean, people knew what I was saying but they didn't say it back. If you say Kalimera to someone they will always say it back. Another all-purpose greeting, one that is actually used, is "Yia sas." This is less formal than (the alleged) Herrete, like Hi as compared to Hello. It comes in two forms, "Yia sas" and "Yia sou." Like many languages, Greek has a formal and an informal "you." Yia sas is the formal (and the plural) you, Yia sou is the informal you. As someone coming from a language without a formal/informal you, I have never had a handle on when the informal is appropriate. It is my philosophy that you can't offend by being too respectful--think of how awesome it was when you were a kid to get a card addressed to Ms. Such and Such--so I just skipped Yia sou altogether. Good morning is Kalimera, and it is liberally used. Say it with a smile to the people you pass on the street (within reason of course) and you'll get a smile and a greeting back. Good afternoon is the dreaded Herrete. I just didn't say anything in the afternoons. Good evening is Kalispera, though it is used less often than Kalimera. It's a nice way to greet the host of a restaurant before you ask if you can sit. Good night is Kalinichta. I had occasion to use this only with hotel front desk personnel, but maybe you'll have a more amorous adventure than I. The Lonely Planet phrasebook's "romance" section will come in handy if you do. Niceties Please and you're welcome are both "Parakalo." Thank you is "Efharisto." I never got a good pronunciation on this one. It is sometimes transliterated "Efkaristo," and I couldn't work out whether the "k" was added to make it easier for the English speaker to pronounce, as "h" is not a hard consonant for us. I was understood either way I pronounced it. Signomi means both "excuse me" and "I'm sorry." Eating and Drinking You can always order your food and drink in English with no trouble. If you want to get fancy you can order your Greek salad as a "horiatiki," your w

Some information to help you plan your trip to historic Harper's Ferry in West Virginia.  You can see photos and read about it if you'd like.