New Years Resolution

Yes, I am one of those people who makes New Years resolutions.  They are usually the normal ones, eat healthy, exercise, and all the others.  A few years ago we made our resolution to just have more fun during the year.  We now refer to that as the "Concert Year."  I think that we went to four or five, "Wow, glad we finally got around to seeing them while they are still preforming" concerts.  This last year was going to be our big travel year, but sometimes real life interrupts.  The past year has been a really rough one and each day is a struggle, but at the same time we have been blessed beyond words.  We could not foresee that our sweet little granddaughter would be living nearby, little cousins now have the chance to become best friends, or that a husband would have a life changing medical diagnosis.  What we did know ahead of time was that God would be with us each and every day and that he would use it to strengthen each of us and our family.

And so what is my resolution for this year?  The necklace that I picked out for Christmas says it all.  "Focus On The Day."  I will be making the conscious effort to focus on the special moments in each and everyday from a hug, to birds at the feeder, or the smell of bread baking.  

Do you have a resolution for the new year?

Michie'

A Christmas Break

I'm planning on taking a little break until after New Years to concentrate on what is really important.  An intentional slowing down and giving myself permission to go for more winter drives, visiting with family and friends and to watch more Christmas movies.  What brought this on you may ask?  The dream that I had last night that I had forgotten to complete my Christmas shopping!  As I lay in bed at 4:00 AM, I was relived when I remembered that I am finished, but maybe wrapping those gifts would be a good idea and starting the grocery list for Christmas baking.

So, it is now time to do a little of this.

And a lot of this!

Hope that you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Michie'

Sequin Sequins Everywhere!

1978 Stocking

Most of us are familiar with the Christmas stocking kits that are made out of felt and trimmed with sequins and beads.  My mother made them for my kids and our little guy needed one this year. I bought the kit at Hobby Lobby, I have no idea where Mother and I were finding them over 30 years ago.  Anyway, never having worked with felt, sequins, and tiny tiny beads it was quite the challenge.  As I finished the project I had the hang of it and things were going smoothly.  The main difference I discovered between the new and the old kits were the amount of "sparkle" that they now have which means A LOT more beads and details.  Sounds about right for our times doesn't it?  I'm confident that I will be finding beads and sequins in the couch for the next 5 years. 

Do you have special Christmas stockings made with love at your house?

Michie'

Are You Layering?

 #135 Bishop

Have you noticed that layering is all the rage for the kids?  Since I remember layering long sleeve and short sleeve from my middle school years, let's just say that I have been a little slow on jumping on board.  But when one of my blog readers commented that she has been putting long sleeve tee shirts under short sleeve bishops for years I wondered why I hadn't thought of that!  A couple days later we were out and I spotted a little girl in a navy gingham bishop and sure enough she had a long sleeve white shirt on underneath and white tights.  What a cute outfit and a great way to get a dress though another season.

#120 Sundress

Or how about a long sleeve shirt under a sundress.  I did think of that on my own!  :)

Michie'

The Christmas Dress Rerun

Sometimes you just get extremely lucky and the dress that was a little big last year works this year with a major hem let down!  We are going to pretend that the sleeves were intended to be 3/4" length and with a white sweater, she is ready for a Christmas party. Click here for the free smocking design.

Michie'

A Little Corduroy Tutorial

A little tutorial about cutting out corduroy. Corduroy has surface texture which is referred to as the "nap."   If you run your hand along the fabric in one direction it will feel like you are stroking a cat.  If you run your hand in the other direction it will feel like your are rubbing the cat in the wrong direction.  If the top of the pattern pieces don't all face in the same direction the garment will look like it is made out of different color fabrics.  I was taught to have the nap running down and just assumed that was a sewing rule.  I was recently looking through a sewing book published in 1964 which stated that the nap of the fabric should run up so that the fabric will have a deeper color.  So just like that, I found that there is not a set rule and we can do what whichever we prefer!  

A few days later I was getting ready to cut out red corduroy for a Christmas outfit and was not totally happy with the color.  The red just wasn't quite red enough.  Fortunately I remembered that there is no longer a "nap rule" and when I turned the pattern pieces in the other direction, the fabric was a deeper red and did not look as washed out.   I often tell my students that there are few right or wrongs in sewing, but many different ways to do things.  This time that saying worked to my advantage. :)

Which direction were you taught for the nap of the fabric to run?

Michie'