The Last Gift

The new year is upon us and I am excited about what lies ahead.  I've enjoyed reading many "Year in Review" posts from fellow bloggers and it's good to see that so many plan to continue on in their sewing and blogging journey.  I am happy about this because, I am constantly inspired by what you create, profusely grateful for the tips you share, and frequently entertained by the humor entwined along the way.  If you are not blogging about your sewing experience, perhaps this is your year!  On-the-other-hand maybe reading and commenting is what feels right at the moment.  That is okay too!  I read sewing blogs for at least 3 or 4 years before I started writing one, and I was too shy to ever comment.  Maybe this is your year to introduce yourself by saying hello to one of your favorite bloggers.  Thank you for being a part of the journey wherever you fit in!

I have two more projects to show you from Christmas sewing, but before I do I'd like to say thank you to every one who chimed in on the previous post with advice about how to get my bulky seams to lie flat in my Butterick skirt.  I think I may need to add a clapper to my sewing tools.  It was great to read about some other alternatives too, because I don't currently have one.  I also wanted to address Janine's question: "Do you need to wear cooler weather clothing in Hawaii much as I got the impression that the temperatures were always well perfect - not too hot or cold."  I don't have to wear cooler weather clothing that often.  However, because I live upcountry, the temperatures are cooler in the morning and evening, and I do have to wear a long sleeve shirt or pants until the sun warms things up.  The outfit I showed you would be one I might wear to church or to a building where there is air-conditioning.  Living here for the past six years, with no air-conditioning, has made me less tolerant to slightly cooler temps.  Ha ha, I've become a cold weather wimp!  

Okay, back to the latest project.  These bags are made from a pattern called The Essential Bag by the Country Quilter.  I think I mentioned this pattern back in March or April of last year.  I love it because: it whips up quickly, you can use all kinds of fabric for it, and the bag is useful for many things.  I decided to fill my bags with stationary supplies.  I was thinking the bag could be a nice wall decoration in a home office, and the recipient would know right where a pretty pen and cards are.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the one bag I gave away, but I made these two to have on hand for future gifts.

Hand-stitched sparkly red beads along the flap edge.

I have also been tracing off a couple of Burda patterns.  The March 2009 issue has got to be one of my favorites.  Can you tell by the torn cover?  I am finally going to make skirt 105 and blouse 106.  These are my next two projects.  I have also ordered some fabric for comfy, warm clothes, sewing.  I am still taking my youngest son to soccer practice, and it is down right cold at night in the location where he practices.  It's been windy and rainy, and I have been freezing to death waiting for him!  I loved the Jalie hoodie that Andrea made.  I will be ordering that pattern and using some of the new fabric that arrives to make one or two of them.

Finally, I thought I would try to post occasional pictures showing how I wear the clothes I've made throughout the next year.  Some items I don't end up keeping very long, but there are some that I go to time and time again.  Here is an example of what I wore yesterday.  I love this knit top.  It is such a great layering piece.  I definitely want another one this year.  It is blogged about here and the pants here.