not exactly couture

We get to take training classes at work once a year. Unfortunately these classes often present their material in the most basic fashion possible, and unfortunately it ends up being extremely simple and boring. So I take a notebook along and sketch quilt blocks and make lists. (Side note: I love lists. I have so many notebooks with so many lists for everything. And checking things off a list - so satisfying!) The training I took this year was a little better, but there was still time for me to cover a few pages in my notebook with sketches and check boxes.

This time I made a list for clothing I need to alter or make.

1. Damask Jacquard skirt based on this tutorial
2. Royal Blue Shantung silk skirt, using same tutorial but with a fuller skirt
3. Lace shirt (using another shirt for the template)
4. White crepe skirt
5. Brown and white pin dot skirt
6. Take in brown pants
7. Take in grey and maroon shirts
8. Pink print shell top with tie (pattern)
9. Finish hem and belt for purple knit dress

I've finally started to loose more pregnancy weight and all the clothing I bought when I returned to work is now way too big! I'm not complaining; I'm so glad to be loosing the weight. But I don't want to buy new clothes now since I'm only one size away from fiting into my wardrobe again. My experience with clothing is limited and it's been several years since I've made anything major (pants!). At the very least I'm hoping I can alter some of the items I bought last November and make a couple of skirts to get me through this "transition" phase. I also need to go through my pattern collection and maybe try my hand at some basics for work. It'd be nice to not look like the kid who has to wear her older sibling's clothes and maybe be a little more put-together again.

garden wall

My Garden Wall quilt is finally finished - I started this in 2012, but it'll count for 2013.

cozy

Spring only just arrived in DC. This was the first week I was able to take off the extra comforter and blankets on our bed. To remind myself it was still winter and I couldn't pack away my coats yet - no matter how ready I was for warmer weather - I started on a ruffled scarf.



I am thankful that once I finish it, I can finally pack it up for the season with the winter coats.

spring ahead

I'm not entirely sure where the last year has gone, or the last three years really. They've been filled with big life events: a cross-country move, graduate school, marriage, our first baby, and a significant family loss.  It all just seems to run together when I try to think back. But now I'm catching up and since Spring is finally here in the District, I'm looking forward and thankful for everything I have in my life right now.

This little gem is 7 months already. 

Look at that face! Happy, happy baby. I'm trying to tell her to stop growing, but she's already not listening to me.

And I'm back to my sewing table more often. I started with a conservative list of projects for the year and a good plan, but it's already snowballed into nine dedicated quilts, a sew-along and possibly a quilting bee. But my goal is to make a dent in my stash and to actually use some fabrics I've been saving (hoarding) for too long.

We'll see how this plays out.