Monday, November 7, 2011

October wasn't for wimps.

I hardly know what to say for myself or where to start.  After my birthday on the 8th, I feel like there was an avalanche of life, and I got buried somewhere along the way.  Sewing went from being my therapy to being more like a "job".  Much less therapeutic in that regard!  Nonetheless, I was plugging away on various projects here and there throughout the month.  I feel like dumping them all right here, right now, and then just starting into November with a clean and optimistic approach.  Let's see...

There were baby gifts:

via The Handmade dress
size 12 months 


Another attempt at the hooded-towel.
I don't even know which tutorial I used, there are like a million.  


I may have morphed two together, but I really liked the fact that this one suggested doing a french seam on the hood, so that it was completely enclosed, and therefore you don't see any unfinished, or serged seams, even on the inside of the towel.  Kind of cool.  


Another diaper clutch. 
This time I just followed the tutorial straight.  My brain was tired, and I couldn't find my pattern pieces for turning it the other way.  


Then, right before Halloween, we had a little birthday party to go to.  This party girl was turning 10 and loves to read.  I knew we'd be getting her a gift card to Barnes and Noble, but something is wrong with my head, and I can't seem to get over the idea that my hands should contribute to most gifts around here...


An easy, peasy, scrappy linen zipper pouch.  


Then, there were visitors to the sewing garage!  That was an October highlight! 

There was Halloween bunting making, a zipper wristlet, and a black little mini-skirt all going on at the same time.  It was intense and great.  


Action shot!


Here, Summer (from Seven Pretty) is showing when things were going great. 


Here I captured a moment when things were really intense.  


Here I am with my two little sisters!  Love these girls.

I spent most of my time that weekend sewing with things that were black, shiny and slippery.  If I never sew with satin again, it will be one of life's greatest blessings.  Not likely to happen though, given that my ladies already have lots of satiny dreams laid out, given the success over Halloween.


I helped create one Hermione, and one Witch Princess!  The Old Guy was totally pulled from closets, and mostly great because of the perfect wig and cane, courtesy of Amazon.com!  Since I put so much effort into making Ruby's Witch Princess dreams come true, I may make her do another photo shoot with that dress to make sure it gets properly honored.  Maybe next year I'll remember to make the Halloween costumes in August?!

The best part of the Hermione costume, was that I decided she needed a cute little black skirt to go with her robe.  I knew I could do that many different ways, but realizing that a black skirt could be a really great wardrobe staple, I tried to make it worth the effort.  It's my favorite Halloween memory:

A fine whale corduroy, black, Little Mini Skirt, as seen before here, here, and here...




It's such a great skirt, she's already worn it about a half-dozen times.  That's when sewing is totally worthwhile!!

Of course, how could I close-out the month of October, without remember the night I texted Liz a question about a sewing pattern we both had.  And before I knew it, we were in a sewing race, to see if we could both sew a Halloween peasant style dress within two hours or less.  All communications during the exercise, via text.  It was one of my favorite nights of the month.  Liz, you should insert your finished product here too.  Here's my iphone photo that I texted to Liz when I was done:


Which in turn ended up being a great outfit for Jane to wear to the NC State Fair:



So anyway, I guess that's all I have to show for myself and the month of October!  Not to mention that I was fitting in my longest marathon training miles for the Richmond VA marathon which I'll be running this weekend.  Not making any excuses for myself, but just trying to cut myself some slack for having been so totally and completely absent.  

I've already started my first non-Halloween or gift related project.  It might get finish by the end of the week.  But it might not.  I don't have any expectations anymore.  

XOX

October = Closed Out.  Done.

8 comments:

Liz said...

I knew this would be epic! October was certainly a very busy month for you.

I kind of think my favorite thing you made was the corduroy mini skirt. That just might need to be put on my list of things to make.

I'll find my Halloween dress and add it. That as my favorite night of the month too!! Oh, and for the record, we sewed those dresses in ONE hour.

Glad you can close the books on October!

Teresa said...

You forgot to mention that you put on a Halloween party for 150 people on top of everything! Pretty amazing, when did you sleep?! I love the little outfits you created for your girls, and am loving your hooded towel ideas...My girls are using some Rudolf Christmas towels year round, maybe time to retire :).

Robert Christensen said...

Dang girl! No apologies or excuses necessary!! You pulled off an amazing number of projects and they all look awesome.
--Flori

Annee said...

Teresa, I hardly threw that party alone! We had a lot of worker bees who helped along the way. It was fun. I hope you get a chance to make the hooded towels. For some reason I always kind of dread making them, but when they are done, I wonder why all of my own kids don't have cute hooded towels.

Hi Flori!

Shan said...

You are so amazing! I wish I could harness the talent just out of your little pinkie toe!! You are inspiring, we need to powwow someday!

molly said...

Your girls don't know how good they've got it!

Annee said...

Molly, when will our girls ever know how good they have it?! That is my question!

Sarah said...

Wow, what a whirlwind of great things and events. Good luck on your marathon this weekend! I'll have to try that cute baby dress.

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