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Saturday, October 18, 2008

Overwhelmed makes a tasklist

When I feel overwhelmed by everything I need to get done or feel like I need to get done, I make a tasklist. First I break it down into tiny little steps so that I can accomplish "more" or I write down things I've already done and cross them off the list. Either way works wonders! :D

Last night I was feeling quite overwhelmed by the sewing that I need/want to complete before I leave, so I made a tasklist.

Ball gown:
-Handstitch lining
-Handstitch hem
-Gathers on sleeves

Overskirt:
-Cut netting
-Sew netting to waistband
-Complete ties
-Handstitch waistband
-Gathers at hemline
-Finish bows and attach

Wool skirt:
-Sew front and back seams
-Check fit
-Serge side seams
-Install zipper and complete side seams
-Check that I like alterations I made
-Attach waistband
-Attach waistband facing
-Handstitch facing

Corduroy skirt: (finishing)
-Serge seamlines
-Install zipper
-Sew side seams
-Attach waistband facing
-Handstitch waistband facing
-Hem skirt

And on it goes....I feel better already!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Fall - A changing of seasons

Fall is the changing of so many things. Not just the leaves, grass, trees, etc. As I think back on the last few autumm's we've had, it was the season of the biggest changes for my family. If you had told me five years ago where I would be today, you could have knocked me down with a feather! :0

Fall 2004 - We were entrenched in politics. We lived, breathed and ate politics! My eldest sister worked for an official campaign and my dad worked for a state party in a tech position. The rest of us were volunteers. The late nights, the long hours. More often than not, we were in the depths of despair when each election came around, and while that election was no exception, it was somehow different. Our presidential candidate won, though he did not take our state and most of the good candidates statewide lost.

Fall 2005 was the culmination of a tragedy that began in January. It was with the heaviest hearts that we realized we could not do anything more about it. The healing and rebuilding came next. Yes, I could say it was a long, painful process, but it's not over. We are still suffering the devastation. But, God is merciful. He is our hope! We can look back and begin to see the blessings in the aftermath.

Fall 2006 was a joyous time for my family! My oldest brother "brought a girl home to meet the family"! In actuality, she flew to our town. :) Wanting our yard to be perfect for his girl, he supplied us with sod to lay in the backyard that he'd sprayed out a few months before. While we still jokingly resent the work we did, we had such a good time doing it! The excitement of gaining a sister-in-law grew for all of us. They were engaged and began wedding plans in earnest!

Fall 2007 brought the most dramatic change for all of us. We packed up the entire house, loaded it into two trucks and three vehicles and we were off for a new place, a new town and a new state. It was thrilling, hard work, and slightly frightening. We'd been in one place for over eleven years. One becomes attached to the same old; the familiar. I headed back "home" for a month to finish up my job and then I joined the family on Thanksgiving Day. Thus began life without my three oldest brothers within a few miles.

This Fall is an exciting time. I'm finally an aunt!!! I've longed to be an aunt for many years and now that it's finally happened, it's as grand as I'd imagined. And will be even grander when I get to meet my little nephew and the second one arrives! In just over a week, my four sisters and I are flying to West Virginia to visit my best friend and her funny sisters. We'll be attending our first ball, too! So, we are making ball gowns and learning dances.

My younger sister arrived home after six weeks living with my brother and sister-in-law and helping take care of the nephew, the house, canning, etc. That is the longest she has ever been away from her parents and we are all adjusting back into somewhat of a routine. She came with my older brother when he moved all his belongings up here in anticipation of moving here next month. I am very close to this particular brother, so I'm completely delighted that he will be nearby again! Plus, it's just strange doing some things without him!

Stay tuned for more fall memories...

Friday, October 3, 2008

Plans

In the not too distant future I hope to really "start" this blog. But, I'm too busy sewing, trying to keep my creations blog updated, and tackling Fall tasks and projects. For now, it will have to be content with quick-y things until I can feed it something of more substance.