Saturday's Slices of Thankfulness

I've decided to start a new feature this year. Every day I am going to write down one thing I am thankful for and on Saturday I'll share a recap.
I so often get caught up in my life and what is missing or what I have not accomplished instead of all the good things around me. I am truly blessed and want to remember that. So even if it is trivial I'm going to keep a record of those moments that touch me and I recognize God's blessings. I hope you'll chime in each Saturday too, sharing what you are Thankful for that week. So here I go, 365 days of Thanksgiving.

January 1st: Ice skating parties and friends to play ice hockey with.

January 2nd: Turkeys in the yard and a warm house to watch them from.

January 3rd: Watched a great old black and white movie, Driftwood, with my Mom.

January 4th:

Ya gotta love these crazy kids!

Very proud big brother

Very Proud big sister.

How amazing to hold a two day old bundle of life!
Hello Ryka Kate!

January 5th: My new pattern came in the mail in time!

Does Exercise Help Your Sewing?

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

After completing another marathon quilt top I made a decision to start "exercising" this year. I love to sew and I don't stress about the seams but after about an hour at the machine my shoulders and back tense up and when I am rushing to finish a project I push through the pain and keep on sewing. 

So I have been doing some research on stretching and here's the plan I've come up with.

1. Find simple stretches that I can easily memorize and do without looking at directions.

Enter Pinterest! I'm loving this site and I started a special board with my ideas.

2. My focus seems to be on two areas. My shoulders and lower back. Both get fatigued after long hours at the machine and ironing board. (I guess I'm not used to sitting up straight.)

3. My Goal is to spend 15 to 30 minutes every morning doing some stretches and see if it improves my sewing endurance. I want to strengthen what I have, not gain muscles or get ripped. (ripped means lots of defined muscles, right?) 

I'm nervous about this since insulin is best absorbed in fatty tissue and needles hurt less going into fat than into muscle. It's because of this that I've had an aversion to exercising for years. But I want to be strong and not be a sewing hunchback by the time I'm 30 so I've decided to start small and see if it has any effect.

So how about you? Do you exercise regularly? Do you have any secrets for beating sewing fatigue? 

PS. My favorite stretch for relieving cramped shoulder muscles after a long time at the machine was best described in this video here.

It's A New Year!

Hurrah! Congratulations you have made it to 2013! It's a new year full of new possibilities. I have been doing a lot of thinking on what directions I want to take in this year and have been making lists to help me accomplish my goals!! Yeah, this is about New Year's Resolutions.....

In No Particular Order:
1. Blogging! I've loved being part of the blogging community and plan to continue that in the new year.
   a. Continue posting 3 times a week.
   b. Introduce some new topics and figure out ways I can contribute and give back to this rich community.
   c. Make more connections!! I'm going to be a part of

It's my first sew-a-long. I am also already preparing to take part in Me-Made-May!
   d. Improve blog with better photos and formats, etc.

2. Organization! Be prepared for many posts on this. You are forewarned.
   a. Right Brain methods of dealing with clutter and organizing leading to cleaner workspaces for me.
   b. Figuring out a daily schedule that works for me with flexibility for life. (I can't wait to hear your thoughts and ideas on this!)

3. Health?!
  a. Not sure what to title this section but finding an exercise plan
  b. Living and working with a Chronic Illness
  c. Gluten Free recipes for Diabetics (really excited about this)

4. Business!
   a. Lots of big plans including starting my own website.
   b. Teaching Localish Sewing Classes (ecstatic and nervous doesn't even begin to describe it!)
   c. Begin to create an amazing story doing what I love.

I hope you'll stick around and chime in with your thoughts and ideas in the coming year. I'm looking forward to growing with you!

A Year of Firsts

Looking back it has been a year of firsts for me.

I started selling my baby boots and vintage patterns.

I joined the best team on Etsy, Pattern Patter.

I got off of facebook... twice.

I joined WeSewRetro and it didn't take me very long to realize I loved the interaction blogging gave me!

I started Tumbleweeds In The Wind.

I joined Pinterest!! (Still excited about that.)

I started sewing vintage dress patterns culminating in a dress from an unprinted pattern.

I've started to make friends around the world and have already learned so much from them.

I participated in my first craft show.

I made my first pair of real pants conquering a big fear in the process!


I am thankful for so much this year too!

A dear little friend who sews with me.
 This was her Christmas outfit.

Privileged to be a part of these amazing kids lives!
(and their parents too :)

A super special night with my mother at our first
Broadway show. One of my favorite stories!

Living in a place with some of the most stunning skies!

There's so much more but so little time! I am already making big plans for 2013 which you'll be reading about shortly! I hope you'll hang around in the new year to share your thoughts too! In fact I'll end with a question for you! What are you most thankful for in 2012?

After Christmas Parties

This morning is a brief moment of sanity amidst the blood sugar insanity going on against my will and best efforts in my body. While I'm waiting for the Dr.'s advice I thought I'd quickly pop on and let you know of some great things going on online. *(Cause we all need ideas for spending all that Christmas money;) 

I'M SO EXCITED!!! If you haven't heard of Cake patterns you need to hop over to Steph's blog and website to check them out. Her Tiramisu dress pattern was at the top of my Christmas money list BUT she was running an amazing treasure hunt on her new website and I managed to find all 8 pieces of cake and plan to claim Tira as my prize! There are still a few days left to join in the hunt if you want to take on the challenge!

Buy Your Copy!

On a side note: I'm delighted to be able to "eat" cake with others and know it is gluten free and isn't going to affect my blood sugars.

Next up: The 12 Days of Christmas!

Made By Rae is having 12 Days of giveaways on her blog. She also makes patterns with an emphasis on Boy stuff. Today is the cute Charlie Tunic! If you don't win the give away you can purchase it here

Pattern Patter is having their own 12 Days celebration in an effort to clear out inventory before the new year. Check out this thread to see the list of those having sales and scoop up all the coupon codes.

 


Last but not least there's me!! I too am having a sale. It's a special One Day Only sale on the 31st. I am offering a whopping 40% off all patterns and fabric in my store. I've set it up so the discount is already applied so you can just shop to your heart's content!

So that's it for me now... off to take care of my blood sugars!

*Parentheses in italics mean loud whispers in case ya didn't know.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas Dress Sewing

Lots of playing

More fun and games!

I finally gave in to the Christmas mayhem, let go of my goals and started to enjoy the people surrounding me. I hope everyone is having a lovely time and I'll see you all in the new year! I have lots of big plans!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!!

Christmas Creatives

As Christmas quickly approaches the the blogosphere has filled with two sorts of posts. Most are full of ideas and showing off handmade gifts, the others are on why creatives are NOT giving handmade gifts.

So this got me wondering why do I create and what is it about Christmas that makes me kick it into overdrive?

1. I make things. I do it all the time regardless of holidays. There is something in me that must come out, if I can't sew I cook or play music.
2. I love people.
3. When it comes to gifts I have more supplies and time than I do money.

At Christmas time this gets kind of crazy because I keep finding more and more people I would love to give gifts to. After living with a lady with Alzheimers and dealing with some health issues of my own I have realized my time is limited and there is only so much I can accomplish within a certain timeframe. So here's some guidelines I've developed for myself on how to stay sane and happy while Christmas Crafting.

Do they need/want this? Has it been requested? 
The first gifts I made for this Christmas were for my not-nieces and nephew. Since they are small and have a ton of toys I asked their mother THIS SUMMER what they needed for Christmas. She requested vests.

All cut out and ready to be sewn

She wanted solids and basics that would go with whatever they were wearing. I jazzed them up a little bit with some fun appliques that expressed their personalities a bit. I got them finished the end of November.

Does this gift scream someone's name?
One thing I have noticed is the closer it gets to Christmas the less I can creatively think. If I don't already know what I am making for someone they don't get a handmade gift. Unless a project jumps out at me screaming their name. (am I insane? I can't be the only one fabric talks to)
Last year I saw the Koos loop infinity scarf pattern and some fabric in my stash demanded to be made into the perfect gift for a friend. This is a great quick project that allows me to use some of my vintage trims. This year, I was visiting with my good friend from college and she mentioned infinity scarves were very popular in her area, so I asked her about colors and whipped up this.

Surprise!! It's a bit stiff since I used some iron on fusible but it
should break down and be more fluid with wear.

Do I already have all the supplies I need?

 As Christmas draws ever closer I am running out of time but still have people I want to give something special to. I'm not going to run out and buy more supplies to add to my bunny-like stash so it either comes from there or it doesn't get made. I've come to realize I would rather take the time to make something that fits the person instead of pouring my creative energies into something amazing that they wouldn't care about.

Christmas acts as a huge deadline in our little creative worlds, where we so often work at our own pace to deadlines we set. It is a time where our focus is switched from sewing mostly for ourselves to focusing on others. Christmas is a time to gather together with those we love and care about and if the stress of Christmas creating is keeping us from that then maybe we need to rein it in. After all the world isn't going to end if we don't get that tote bag made for G-ma Zee! I had to remind myself of this very fact this week, when some unexpected events came up. It's the little things and the Love that matters.

My parting thought for you is also one of my gifts to another good college friend. She is a creative, people loving, crazy like me. I found this quote in a fortune cookie and LOVED it! I turned it into a pin for her to put on her bag. So enjoy this crazy time of the year my creative friends!

She wins the ugly gift award. I need to work on my embroidery skills!