New Strategy for the New Year

Not a resolution but a strategy.  Here's what I'm thinking:

• I set a monthly budget of $100
• One hundred dollars is the maximum I can spend each month for any and all sewing/crafting related stuff  -  to the novice, $100 might sound like a hefty monthly budget, but when I consider that includes sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, scrapbooking, card making, baking, jewelry making, quilting and quilling (just to name my main hobbies) I'm really going to have to practice some serious discipline
• If I'm honest with myself (I really do try to be), I have most everything I could ever need in my stash/collection/treasure chest/etc. already
• Report to myself each month how much I spent and on what - that's one way to get myself to blog at least once each month
• This will also force me to actually think about my purchases BEFORE I make them (what a concept, right?)
• What I don't spend will carry over to the next month (unlike my PTO days at the end of the year....but that's a whole other story)
• Who knows, perhaps by the end of next year I will have wittled down my stash to something that can be contained in only three or four rooms AND maybe, just maybe, I will have saved enough money to splurge on something grand

I'm feeling hopeful. Let's see what happens!!!!!

A Sew Along

I purchased this pattern as soon as it was released, and I was too excited to find this Sew Along. So maybe....just maybe I will actually complete this one since I had already planned to make this anyway. We'll see.........

SHOULD'A BEEN EASIER

I like most Tracy Reese designs for Vogue, and #1405 is no exception. I like the fit and flare style of the dress; I like my fabric choice and I like the way it moves with me when I move. But I gotta tell ya - it took so long for me to put this thing together. The pattern instructions were pretty clear, but there were soooooooo many steps. I omitted the zipper because it just wasn't necessary and because there is quite enough bulk around the waist as it is. I don't know about the rest of you, but my waist is not exactly screaming "MORE BULK PLEASE". Also, the pattern calls for the lining/slip to be sewn into the dress. I wish I had made a separate, standalone slip because the built-in slip was just a little too fussy for me. But I still think it is a lovely dress. I need to hem it but I need a break from it first.







Monday Meditation

Yesterday, in our worship service we were reminded of the fact that the Lord has blessed each of us with a wonderful body. My body is used to carry my soul - to house my spirit. I must learn to properly care for my body. Even as much as I love and appreciate my body, I must not be slave to it. My body was designed to be servant to my spirit. Therefore, I must fortify our spirit in order to rule our my body. Otherwise my body will reign and will give itself over to every desire and passing thought. One thing that helps me to continually work on keeping my body pure and free of sin is to remember that it holds the soul where God dwells. For we are labourers together with God: you are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.    I Corinthians 3:9 (KJV)

Finally, a cape for me

I have been wanting to make a cape for quite some time now.  As usual, I am late to jump on the cape-making bandwagon.  I made the very popular Simplicity 1775.  This a very quick and easy pattern - for me, it required no alterations.

When I saw this fabric, a boiled wool with a fused on lace overlay, it screamed "I want to be your cape" and it kept screaming that from my stash for well over a year.  Finally, here we are.

Who knows, I might actually get around to making a maxi dress one day.  Dare to dream.

 

Monday Meditation

If you were of the world, the world would love his own:  but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  John 15:19

This is a very familiar verse of scripture that most believers know, but it seems we still sometimes forget that we are not of this world.  We are pilgrims on a mission.  We have a message to deliver while we are here in this world.  But this world is not our permanent home.  And just be virtue of the fact that we are different from those that are of this world, we will be hated.  The world will hate us just because of our position and relationship with the Lord.  But that does not give us license to hold back the message nor does it allow up to not love those that hate us. Go, love and tell.

My posting commitment is weak

I joined the Make a Garment a Month Challenge back in November and have successfully completed at least one garment every month since that time. Yay me!!!!  But herein lies the problem.....I apparently needed to also join the Post What You Have Made Challenge.

I will be posting all of my makes soon.  In the meantime, I joined the Myrtle dress sew-along.  So please stay tuned, more posts are on deck.

 

Here my garment for December

I have joined the Garment-Per-Month Challenge, and I already have my garment for December done. Yippie!!!

This is a vey simple and very comfortable two-piece set.  It's Vogue 8935.

This fabric is a nice and warm ponte knit.  I like this shade of red.

The skirt is pretty plain and there's not much to say about it except I installed a near perfect invisible zipper.  No matter how many zippers I sew, I am still excited when they turn out fine.

Up next is a Claire Schaffer cardi/jacket.  I am still trying to decide if I will use the couture techniques or the regular sewing approach.  We'll see.

Since I am now officially on a roll....

Yeah, one in a row is a roll (for me anyway).

I was successful with the Fall Essentials Sew Along, completing nearly five pieces, I am ready for another challenge.

Therefore, I am joining this challenge:

I think I can.....I think I can......I think I can (you get what I'm saying.)