Instant Gratification

I love knitting, but it's such a slow process for me. It seems that it takes me such a long time to produce a garment.

Sewing on the other hand is instant gratification. I love that I can have a new outfit in a day or two. Since I have started sewing again I have been concentrating more on quality than quantity, but I can still whip out a TNT skirt in a day, and a TNT blouse in a couple of days.

With both my sewing and knitting I have been trying to be more thoughtful about my choices. I know what looks good on me and what doesn't. I'm not knitting or sewing the latest trend anymore just because everybody else is. I'm also more realistic about my clothing. First and foremost I am a mom, and my clothes need to be easy, multi-functional, and wash & wear. I work in a very casual environment so the mom clothes translate pretty well. I don't have the time or energy to have a work wardrobe and a mom wardrobe.

So........here's the latest addition to my mom wardrobe. I started the skirt last weekend and got everything done except the waist and hem, but then I got side-tracked by the other skirt that I wanted to wear yesterday! I finished this one last night. It's a 6 oz. denim from Fabric.com that I've had in the stash for a while. You can't really see but I double top stitched the seams and hem with white thread. A friend of mine had a similiar skirt that I tried to copy. It's a nice weight denim and really comfortable.

The blouse is once again one that I made before my trip. I bought the fabric from Fashion Fabrics Club. They were not related fabrics and I just kept my fingers crossed that they would match.....and they do! It's one of my favorite blouses and I always get a lot of compliments when I wear it.

I don't know what's next on the sewing front. I have a Teacher's Installation Service at my church/preschool next weekend and I'd like to have new outfit for it, but I don't know what it will be.

Horsing Around

Noey has recently started taking horseback riding lessons. (just another drain on my fabric and yarn funds!) It was supposed to be a one time deal. She went
with her best friend Sophie a couple weeks ago, just for fun, but when she came home and told me all about it, and I saw how excited she was, I just couldn't say no to more lessons. What 8 year old girl doesn't love horses?!

It was my turn to carpool last week, so I got to watch the lesson. I was so impressed! Noey, Sophie, and another friend, Jacqueline, are so full of confidence with their horses. They are responsible for their horse from start to finish. They get their horse out of the stable, groom him, clean out his hooves, put on the bridle, and even carry out the saddle and put it on. Then they lead their horse to the corral, and work on riding skills. When they're done in the corral they lead their horse back to the stable, take off and put away the saddle, take off and put away the bridle, and put their horse back in his stall. It is just so cool to watch these little 8 year old girls so in control of a huge animal.

Yesterday, while Noey was at her lesson I was able to sew up this skirt. From start to finish it took me two and a half hours. That's the beauty of TNT patterns. Alterations have already been made, I knew it would fit, and I knew I would like it. I've had the fabric in my stash for some time. I originally bought it to go with the old yellow Cotton Ease, (I think the color was "Pineapple") which I still have quite a lot of. I'm thinking of making the February Lady Sweater, and now I have a skirt to wear with it!

The blouse is another one I made before our trip. It is plain white broadcloth that I got at Joann's for $1.49 a yard! Gotta love those sales!

This past year my good friend's 3 year old son was diagnosed with Diabetes. It's been a rough couple of months. Another good friend, Karen, has battled Diabetes all her life. Karen will participating in the American Diabetes Association Step Out Walk to Fight Diabetes. Please stop by her blog and donate if you can.

Can You Have Too Much Lavender?

I don't know.

I didn't think I would like these two pieces together, but the more I look at it, the more it grows on me. I never really intended for them to go together.

I made the blouse early in the summer before our trip. The fabric is a cotton broadcloth that I got on sale at Joann's for $1.49 a yard. Even with the buttons and thread, the blouse cost less than $5.00! :) I used my TNT blouse pattern with tucks and elasticized sleeves. I love this pattern! (Simplicity 2854) I have a couple more waiting in the wings.

I don't know the origin of the skirt fabric. It's been in my stash for years. It feels like a challis, but I'm not sure. I used my TNT skirt pattern (Simplicity 3827) and whipped it up on Saturday. Noey made a deal with me. If I took her to Kaybee Toys and let her buy a Barbie toy, she would play by herself for the rest of the afternoon. Done! If I had unlimited funds, and I didn't care if she became a spoiled brat, I would buy her a toy every Saturday!

Third Grade

Today is the first day of Third Grade. I don't know about Noey, but it feels like a huge rite of passage to me. Noey is officially a "big kid". She has recess with the "big kids", lunch with the "big kids", gets dismissed with the "big kids". Nobody asked me, but I don't want her to be a "big kid!"

So off we went to Third Grade this morning. Noey was so excited. She packed her new book bag, and new lunch box, and wore her new school clothes. (aaahhh, the memories!)

I haven't had much sewing time lately but I was able to sew up a skirt last weekend, and cut out two more this past weekend. Cutting out is always the challenge for me. I don't really have the space to cut out, but once it's cut it goes pretty fast.

I'm plugging away on Noey's poncho. (to match her best friends') I'm almost done with the body, and then on to the hood. I'm also working on a tie front cardigan for myself using some Cherry Red Cotton Ease from my plentiful Cotton Ease stash.

Oh yeah, doesn't my mom rock??!! To look at her you wouldn't think she had it in her to be a superhero! She's 70 years old for goodness sake! I just hope if I ever have to save my family's lives I'll be able to. (and always keep a bottle of Diet Coke in your car!!)