Bringing in 2010

Good Morning Everyone,
Today is the morning before the 1st of the New Year. I have so many things to say about the past year.

2009 brought very different changes: THE BAD
1.) I have lost my job.
2.) This has provided problems for me paying the bills that I have accumulated.
3.) I am feeling very sad about my situation.
4.) I have not sewn much this year as I had promised and regret that I let too many things get
in my way.
5.) My health got in the way because I was suffering (in silence) with iron deficiency anemia and
a low vitamin D count.

THE GOOD:
1.) I had a healthy family(children, husband, family and extended family).
2.) I have my OK health .
3.) My faith is strong.

2010 will bring about many changes:
1) My birthday is next week and I will officially be at the mid-life point.
2) I am thinking about starting my own career(business). I am at a point in my life that I just '
am tired of interviewing with people and graveling to get a job that I hate(just to pay
the bills)
3.) My family(husband and children, extended family to include in-laws) will stay healthy and strong.
4.) My spirituality will continue to grow.
5.) My joy in life will increase.
6.) I will sew a new wardrobe for myself.

I look forward to interacting to some sewing buddies on a more personal level. I want to attend at least one PR event.

I look forward to hearing from the sewing world.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!

Back to school

Today is the first day back to school for the teachers in my district and I am not joining them. I was a Special Education Teacher last year and decided that after three years and countless numbers of children (overloaded) that I need to take a break and try a new field. I know that this is not the best time to change careers, but I really had no choice. I needed to leave. I still have the ability to substitute teach (no pressure)and I will until I get myself another job. I am sad because I miss my co-workers, but I will move on. The children do not return until Sept 8th so my three are still at home to keep me company. I hope that I can get a job soon after they leave because I will be bored. I cleaned up my fabric from boxes and in storage bags and I have found that I cannot buy another piece of fabric until I sew something in my stash. My stash is beautiful and I need to use it. I have organized everything. I am going to make a list of my patterns and organize them. I will try to sort out my next project. I think that I am going to try to make a suit. A 2-hour jacket from a MacPhee pattern or Simplicity pattern. Then I will make a funnel neck top to go underneath and find a good pattern for a skirt. I will post information as I go. The material is a polyester material for the jacket and the skirt(gray). The top is a lavender-purple color. If all goes well it should be very pretty.

New Skirt Made

Well, here is the first skirt that I have made since I was in high school. I cannot date myself but let's just say it has been longer than 20 years. I know that I need to get a better photograph, but I am trying to prevent having a boring blog. This pattern is McCalls 5140. I think that this is an out of print pattern. I did iron this along the way but I folded it up to prepare for guests and I just want to add it to my blog so that I do not still look like a loser in the sewing blog land.lol Tell me what you think.

As promised a while back here is a picture of the wadder shell that i made. I put it on my dress form. Tell me what exactly I did wrong. Forgive the picture. I used my webcam on my computer.

Happy Belated Birthday to my Youngest Princess

Happy Birthday to my sweet litle princess. I am sorry that I did not write to you on that day but I did not use the computer. I missed the time by 10 days. I hope that you too have a fantastic life and obtain all the great things that life has to offer. Enjoy each and everyday of your life and go to the stars with your dreams. I believe in you and your siblings. I know that you are capable of doing wonderful things. Stay strong and be easy. I love you mommy!

Wadder Completed

I have finally completed the shell I talked about on July 13th. I finished it on July 18th. I have been trying to post the picture on the internet, but the cameras are having a bit of technical difficulty. What I may do is post the picture on my blog with my phone camera, just to give you an idea on how badly this simple shell was made. I am not sure of where I went wrong, but it was horrible(like Denise on the The Cosby show when she made Theo a Gordan Gartrell Shirt:)). Well, I am not going to throw in the towel just yet, more wadders to come and possible a great time to be had by me. I am starting to figure out that nothing is lost in making wadders as this is increasing my ability to do what I like to do and that is to sew:). I know that with more practice I will increase my skills and eventually(two or three years) I will be able to produce something that I can wear. I do not know where fear comes from, but I know that once you become afraid of things( such as messing up good fabric) you never take a chance any more. It over takes your life and you do not experience the good life that God has planned for you. I think I am working through my fears. Keep me straight!!!

Sewing Again

Well, I guess I need to say I have finally threaded one of my machines and began sewing a simple shell. I did not pin it needless to say and I had to rip the seams out, so now it has a hole in the knit. I was totally upset, because it is not perfect and my DH had to remind me that I have not really sewn much in the last 4 years.
I feel that I am going in the right direction, but I think that I am so scared of failing to be good at sewing that I am now wondering if I should stick with quilting only? I love fashion sewing, but with three children, I find that it is not relaxing to me because I want to hurry and get finished. I would like to know if anyone one else feels this way?
I need to relax and not worry about one more thing. I love to look at fashion sewing, but I do not want to take my time. I want everything done now. Quilting was much more relaxing because I could see subtle progress each time I worked on a project. Fashion sewing requires more fitting than I am accustomed to at this time. I would like to have as much feedback on this topic as possible. I feel like a new beginning home sewer I know that it will take time for me to get back on track, but if it is not relaxing now, do you think I should give it a rest or when do you think someone should throw in the towel?

Happy Birthday to My Oldest and Youngest

Today is my oldest princess's birthday. I want to wish her a Happy Sweet Sixteenth Birthday. I love her and wish her all of the joy and success that life can bring her. With GOD sweetheart all things are possible. I would also like to wish my little prince a Happy Belated Birthday(June 22). I wish him all of the joy and success that life can give him. I will be giving my youngest princess a shout out in August for her birthday. She is a sweetie. I really love all of my children and they are the reason that I get out of bed each day. I hope that they will always know that they mean the world to me.

Happy Belated 4th of July

Hi Everyone,
I have been away for a while, but have lurked on other people's sights. I hope that you all had a great holiday. My family came into town and we have had a great time. We ate some great food and talked about some old times. I have just been off of work for 1 week now and I have not really started any new projects, but I feel that mojo starting any moment with pictures to follow. Thanks to all of you that have sent me nice comments to get the mojo started. I think that my job was depressing me and that is the reason for the lack of work(ha, ha). I hope to update my blog this week with a project. Please pray for me:)

First blog for March

Today is very cold and snowy. I have been mulling my decision to sew or not to sew and I think that I have found my problem. I have been researching other people's websites for inspiration, but they are sewing at a level that I cannot attain at this present moment, so somehow I feel inadequate. This is a new phenomenon to me. I need to just get started. Today I will get started on something. I will let you in on my surprise later in the week. Listen to my new music player, enjoy the tunes.

Day Off !!!

Well today is a free day off and the last day for me until after April when spring break begins. I still have not sewn anything yet. I am not sure that I will be sewing anything at this point. I went to Joann Fabrics today even though nothing has passed my sewing machine since last year. This store just opened up and I found it disappointing. I like the feel of smaller-homey stores(the mom and pop variety). I am sad that my sewing mojo is not here because I really have the desire to sew. I cannot tell anyone what the block is. I am at a loss. I guess I have become so lazy that I cannot enjoy sewing. I think that I have gotten lonely in my sewing. I go to the store with my DH who is the sewest guy. He tries to get me pumped up to sew and was even talking about purchasing a new machine for me. I told him I wanted a covestitch machine and he said he would get me one, but I said"why would you do this? Our daughter was teasing me before we left the house about my lack of sewing." My DH just laughed. Has any one else felt this way and what did you do to get out of this funk?

I am a Marilyn

What are you? Do you feel that this test is a true representation of you? Take the test and see.

You Are a Marilyn!

You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical."

Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Be direct and clear
• * Listen to me carefully
• * Don't judge me for my anxiety
• * Work things through with me
• * Reassure me that everything is OK between us
• * Laugh and make jokes with me
• * Gently push me toward new experiences
• * Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Marilyn

• * being committed and faithful to family and friends
• * being responsible and hardworking
• * being compassionate toward others
• * having intellect and wit
• * being a nonconformist
• * confronting danger bravely
• * being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Marilyn

• * the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind
• * procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself
• * fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of
• * exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger
• * wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right
• * being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Marilyns as Children Often

• * are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn
• * are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger
• * form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent
• * look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel
• * are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

Marilyns as Parents

• * are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty
• * are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence
• * worry more than most that their children will get hurt
• * sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz

Still no sewing

Hi there fellow bloggers. I have not done any sewing this month, so I feel that I need to express what it is that I am doing. I have been too busy to sew(I am a special education teacher- with 18 children on my caseload, also I have my own 3 children). I think that I need to set up my sewing area again to facilitate immediate results to get my sewing schedule together. My sewing table is in the family room, my cutting table is in the guestroom, and my other machines are in the guest room on various tables. Nothing is in it's proper place and I feel that I am scattered about. Everything that I have read on various sewing blogs is that I need to set up my sewing area in one small spot. I would like to sew up my sewing space in my bedroom as this is the place I spend most of my time because it is warm in my bedroom. I hate being cold and I am always cold outside of the bedroom. The guest room has no more space in the room because of the bed in the room and the cutting table that cannot be extended. So I am looking for a better place to set up. The family room is not an option because it has vaulted ceilings and is cold this winter. Can someone help me figure out how to set up a cozy area to get my mojo back? I like hearing your opinions.

Sewing :Backstory

I began sewing in high school with my Sewing Teacher(Home Ec). Her name was Mrs. Riechle. She wore the most beautiful Pendelton Wool Suits. I was into the Prep Look at that time(80's), so I was well aware of the materials associated with fine clothing. We took sewing every other day for one school year. We had a fashion show mid-year using the clothing that we had made in this class. Each person had to make their own wardrobe and model the clothing made. Mrs. Riechle encouraged me to make my own graduation dress for High School. She believed in my talents even when I did not. I told her that I could not make my dress look pretty enough to wear for graduation, but I did because of her faith in my abilities. I did not sew while in college, during my military years on active duty. I began to quilt when my oldest daughter turned 9 and I enjoyed that. I have moved away from my quilting circle and decided that I want to sew garments as I have always wanted to make my own wardrobe. I found PR and the rest is history.

My Birthday

January 6th is my birthday. I am a little older and wiser(I hope).

Good Afternoon

Fellow Bloggers I have a problem that I need help with. I spend too much time on the net reviewing the posts of others to sew. I have had S3627 pinned down since before Christmas and I have yet to cut it out. As I mentioned on another post that I went and purchased a cardboard to cut on, but I've become obsessed with reading blogs. I need help!!! Can someone give me ideas on how to check the blogs and move on? I need to get started on this item now.

New Years Day

This has been a great New Years Day. I went to Hancock Fabrics today to purchase a cutting mat with a friend, but they did not have the large mat so I just picked up one of the corrugated boards to place on my cutting table. The board was half-priced so I was elated. My friend was anxious to go, because she checked out before I had time to look at the pattern book. The simplicity patterns were $1.99 today.
I really have to get some sewing buddies. My friends do other types of needlework, but they do not get the enjoyment I receive when I sit in a store for hours, touching the fabric, looking at patterns and dreaming. This is an experience that only a sewer would know.lol
Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get started on an item to post. I know that a girlfriend wants to hang out tomorrow, so this will probably stall my efforts. Let me know how your New Years Day was spent.