Basted and already partially quilted. Done on the spur of the momentwhen I realized that there really was nothing to stop me from starting abig project.

I didn't realize how much I missed this until I was wrestling it under the machine.

It feels good to be back to making.

Really, really good.

This month is getting away from me! I have done no sewing at all since I finished the Tova dress. I did, however, finish my first painting and start a second one. I'm really liking that. But, back to the sewing....Last year I made a small list of projects that I wanted to tackle for our house and it was good inspiration to get sewing. Also, I loved checking items off the list. Who doesn't? I thought it would be a good idea to jot down what I hope to accomplish this year. As I made the list, it occurred to me that I have all the fabric I need for all of these projects on hand so I really have no excuses. I should just get sewing.

And so, in no particular order of necessity or preference, these are the sewing projects I hope to complete this year.

- Baste, quilt and bind quilt from the Denyse Schmidt workshop I took one weekend last July in Portland.

- Baste, quilt and bind the blue crazy star quilt.

- Make a sleeveless Painted Portrait dress in rayon.

- Make new bedskirts for Kate's two twin beds.

- Sew a shower curtain for the clawfoot tub.

- Sew a table skirt for the round table in the sun room.

- Make a quilt with the Liberty prints I picked up in London last October.

(That pile up in the photograph? Top to bottom: projects three, one and two.)

What do you hope to sew this year?

I purchased a few yards of Chicopee corduroy in the fall with the express intention to make myself a Tova dress. After my failed attempt at a sleeveless Tova, this seemed a little foolish, but I just couldn't get the idea of a super soft corduroy frock out of my mind. I sat on the fabric for a couple of months and, finally, this past weekend decided to go for it.

After the sleeveless shirt didn't fit, I decided to take a closer look at the sizing. The first Tova I made was a size L and ended up being too small in the bust so I had gifted it to a friend and made myself a size XL. I wear that shirt all the time and because it was an XL, I made the sleeveless one an XL, too. The problems I had with the sleeveless one (gaping under the arms in particular) pointed to it being too big. A quick text to my friend later, I had the L in my possession to try on. Lo and behold, it fit me well! That made the dress decision easy - size L. (As an aside, I have lost a few pounds, but I think the real difference in fit is from new bras. As silly as that sounds, it made a huge difference.)

I cut the dress out on Friday evening. This is the process of garment sewing that I dislike the most, but it went fairly fast as I had all the pattern pieces other than the front and back already traced. I added 4 inches to the length as I am a tall girl and the dress as designed looked like more of a tunic on me. The sewing happened in two sessions on Saturday - about two hours in the morning and another hour and a half later in the day. I even managed to keep the nap running in the same direction throughout. Success! I should add that this pattern is extremely well written and easy to achieve if you take your time and go step by step. I have made it six times now and each time I learn a little something new.

I wore my new dress out on Saturday night. It was so satisfying to complete a project in a day! It's not always possible, of course, but starting 2013 with a garment sewing success is a good feeling. Now to finish the numerous other projects sitting around here half completed and start the ones that are just ideas floating through my brain. I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

Over the summer, I took a one night painting class in a local artist's studio with some girlfriends.  Almost immediately I wondered why I had ever stopped drawing and painting. Sitting there, with paints in hand, I felt creative for the first time in a long while. My brain was stretching, being used in a way that it hadn't been in a very long time. Before I left the studio that night, I talked to the teacher about it, got her card and declared that I would be back in January.

And Friday was that day.

I am excited to see where this will lead me. Right now, I am copying a painting instead of working from a photograph or memory or the like. During the first class I was able to get a first, light coat of paint finished and I began painting the background. It was completely enjoyable and I'm a little antsy for Friday so I can go back and do some more.

Two days into the new year and I feel like I need to look back a bit. 2012 was a good year for me - a really good year, in many ways.

I started off the year with a word as my focus: make. It was about making time, making memories, making choices, making things, making friends, making food, making a home. And while it was not at the forefront of my mind at all times, I do feel that it was the guiding, and sometimes driving, force by which I lived in 2012.

As the year got underway, I felt like I needed a purpose other than being a wife and mother. I needed something for me, something to do, something to focus on. I said that bit out loud, to Fatty and a few friends, and the universe listened. An opportunity presented itself shortly thereafter and it felt right.

We tackled some long and overdue projects around our house. Rooms and woodwork were painted, light fixtures swapped out, wainscoting installed, carpet removed, the basement and garage trashed out. I admit it kind of snowballed, one project turning into another. In the end, though, I feel like this house we have lived in for 7+ years is finally feeling like us. 2013 will see more painting, more carpet removing, more organizing and less stuff.

We traveled. Some trips included the kids and extended family, others were just the two of us, one was by myself. We like to go places, see new things, eat and drink our way through cities. Many of my favorite memories of the year were made during our travels. Meeting friends I have "known" for years because of this blog and hanging out with our loved ones invigorates me. Still, I like home best. And I know that to be grounded, I need to be here more than anywhere else. I'm glad I finally realized that.

Sewing-wise, there were a couple completed quilts and two quilt tops that are waiting to be basted and finished. I sewed some clothes for myself and the girls. I finished a dress I started in the fall of 2011 and it has become a favorite. I finished a sweater that was started around the same time as the dress and I don't love it. Granny square fever struck in the summer. As with every year, there were some real winners craft-wise, and some real losers. Many of them not blogged. It's my intent to go back and chronicle some of these in the next month - stay tuned. I also took a one-night painting class with a group of girlfriends. Immediately, I knew I needed to get back to art. It felt good to play with paint and I wondered why I had ever stopped. Top of my list for 2013 is more art, both sketching and painting. I'm also continuing to focus on moving my body every day. It became abundantly clear that exercise, like making, is crucial to my mental well-being.

I made a definitive effort this past year to be present with my family when I am with them. This involved me saying no to some opportunities and leaving work to weekday school hours. I don't regret it one bit. My days had structure and I was very aware of what could be done in the number of hours I had. I think it helped me get beyond my procrastinating ways, as well. In the end, these girls are only home for a limited number of years and I am lucky that I get to spend a good part of my day with them. I want to be able to look back and know that I did everything I could for them and with them while I have the chance.

I'm in the throes of documenting our days from the last year using Project Life. I had started out 2012 strong and steady, but stopped sometime in April. This is one project I don't want to let go so I am back at it, halfway through August at this point. I will be continuing for 2013, too. With my fifth year of 365 under my belt, I have developed a strong habit of taking photos every day and I can't imagine not doing that. Recording these moments helps cement the memories. This is really important to me and the girls love looking back. So do I.

So, onward! I'm happy to be in 2013, feet firmly planted where I stand with lots of room to continue to grow. At 41 years old, I feel like I am finally settling into my own skin, my own being in ways that have escaped me previously. Kind of exciting, if you ask me.

Ok. I know that's a big statement - best. But truly, I haven't made many gifts this year so I'm going with it. Mama Cat and her skirt dwelling kittens were made last week and promptly given to my eighteen month old niece (which explains the bad quality photos - sorry). Evelyn would not put the kittens down during dinner - she calls them "meows" and was hugging, patting, and kissing them. She (and the cats) were killing me with cute.

You still have time to make this, if you can string a few hours together. The pattern is straightforward and easy. Plus, cute overload! Seriously, that little baby cat is under 3" tall. Tiny, tiny. Perfect for little hands. I used a lightweight, chocolate brown Italian wool (repurposed from a pair of Fatty's work pants) for the cat bodies. In theory, it was a good idea. But, woven wool = F R A Y I N G. And a fraying 1/4" seam allowance was a bit tricky to work with, but I managed. Next time I'll stick with quilting cotton or flannel for the bodies.

I hope that everyone has a nice, blessed holiday season. I'm taking a week or so off from everything to spend time with family and just be. I'm looking forward to 2013 - it looks to be a good one.

Merry Everything, Happy Always!

Look. I made something.

This is a Christmas gift, but since the recipient is only a couple months old, I figure I won't ruin the surprise. If his parents are reading, I'm sorry to blow it. But only a little. It felt really good to make something. I need more of that.

The quilt is on the smaller side - 33" x 44". It's the snake trails pattern from Denyse Schmidt's book, Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspirations. I really like making this one, curves and all. So much easier, for whatever reason, than the single girls I made for Kate. I cut the trail pieces from a jelly roll of Chicopee - each strip gave me 14 pieces, although you could maybe eek out 15 if you are super careful when cutting. Regardless, the small size is due to the fact that I only had 12 blocks to play with. Still, I like it. The background in Kona Snow, my favorite white. I bought 20 yards of it in one fell swoop last year and am down to my last 3 yards. Time to re-order.

I quilted it with straight lines, 2" apart on the diagonal. I couldn't think of another way to do it that I liked and that I had time for. If I had hours to spend, I would have tried to echo the curves in some way, but I didn't. I think this works nicely, though. I totally copied what Denyse did in the book so it has to be ok, right?

The binding is Moda Bella Solids in Marine. I bought it from Pink Chalk Fabrics - I totally adore them for taking the time to pick out the solids that go with different quilting collections. It makes internet fabric shopping a breeze. I used the leftover bits from the jelly roll to make a patchwork strip across the back, flanked by Kona Snow again. All of the fabric in this quilt was on hand - I just had to pick up batting. Score!

I have one more gift to make if I can find the time. Tiny cats, anyone? I'm feeling pretty optimistic about it, actually. I have adopted "all is calm, all is bright" as my mantra this holiday season. It's working.

We had a doozey of a week(end). Last Sunday (the one before Thanksgiving), Kate came down with the stomach flu. Jane was home on Tuesday with a migraine. Wednesday had Fatty in bed with the same bug as Kate - he surfaced on Friday. Thanksgiving morning, I had a fall at the beginning of a trail run complete with split lip, black eye and other scratches and bruises.

I am thankful it is all over.

Beyond that, Thanksgiving day itself was nice. My parents were here along with one of my brothers and his family. Our friends who were planning on coming stayed away (I would have, too!) and I was feeling lucky that I had two 12 pound turkeys so I could give one to them, along with a pumpkin pie and some other fixings. The food was great, the wine wonderful, the company good and the blessings bountiful despite all the illnesses.

The rest of the weekend was spent going to basketball games and hanging out, both at the house and elsewhere. I woke up this morning completely exhausted, but happy to return to some semblance of normal. There is another holiday coming right around the corner, and a certain someone is turning 13 later this week, and I am desperately trying not to lose sight of the magic of this season. Twinkle lights, anyone?

I'm wrapping up a big project in the next few weeks so bear with me if my posting continues to be spotty. With so much going on right now, something has to give and, at the moment, it is the blog. But! I want to be here - I miss making things and blogging about them. Soon.