Life changes, and it's hard....................

I didn't know what else to title this post. My heart is very heavy for a cyber friend who has battled cancer for almost a year. She is a shining example of a faith-filled/warm/friendly/loving/helpful/strong, etc person. I first met (online) Shannon Gifford at the now defunct SewingWorld site. I followed her to PatternReview where I continued to value her expertise and took online classes which she taught. At one time we had a Google email group where a few of us would share sewing and life in general with each other. She also kindly excepted my friend request on FaceBook, and she was quick to encourage me when I was working and going to school full-time. We shared a mutual love and admiration for Ronald Reagan. ;o)

She is losing her battle with cancer here on earth, and she is preparing to meet our Lord, while saying goodbye to her best friend (husband Mike) and her wonderful family and friends. Cancer is trying to win and diminish her bright and shining light, but the cancer will never truly win. A light and warmth such as the one Shannon shares with the world, cannot ever truly be diminished.

This is the blog she and Mike started to show how they are actually conquering cancer, and have not allowed the cancer to conquer them or their love for each other. http://www.acoupleconquerscancer.com/ There is a clickable link in my "other sites of interest" area at the bottom right side of the blogroll.

Reading about Shannon's journey makes me feel ashamed for my whining about work. There are many aggravating changes going on there which none of us have any control over. Many make me very angry, but I have a job (for now) and a wonderful, warm and loving husband. Losing my mother last year just about broke my heart. But her warmth and shining light, just like Shannon's, will never leave. Although, I felt abandoned for awhile, I do know that she would never, ever actually abandon her only child. She is with me always.

Now, onto happier subjects. ;o)

It's been a bit over a year..................

Since it has been so long since I've posted anything, I doubt there is anyone left who bothers to look at my blog. ;o)

I looked through my last several posts and noticed a theme, "write about anything that has nothing to do with sewing, so I didn't have to admit to not sewing anything". I still haven't been in my sewing room. At least this time I had a good excuse.

1. I was working full-time and attending school full-tme. How does one do that? Take an accelerated program, with a new class every 5-weeks and you are considered full-time. I barely had time to think and my weight ballooned up another 15-20 lbs.

2. If that wasn't enough, my dear mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer around June 15th, and she passed away August 15th. Any Catholics out there would understand the significance of August 15th, at 3:00PM. If you are not Catholic, I won't bore you with the details. Needless to say, it's been a tough few months, and the holidays are even tougher. But, I feel her support and presence with me, and that helps.

Now, most of the extra weight is gone. I can go back to getting off the regular extra weight I carry around. ;o) I don't make New Year's resolutions, but I'm going to make 2010 a different year. 2008-2009 I went to school, and attained a 3.963 GPA (darn history teacher, who gave me an A- and blew my 4.0) ;o)

In 2010 I'm going back to the gym, and I'm going to look up the lady with whom I had planned to take fitting and sewing classes. I'll just sew for the size I am now, and stop planning to sew when I lose more weight. Maybe this attitude will make me actually lose weight. Murphy's Law, you know.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I'll be back in 2010.

My heart belongs to Dallas...................

The Cowboys are playing the Browns tomorrow, September 7th. We have the NFL Network and I'll be watching.....on Fox! ;o)

Cowboys are ahead so far................Change that to "They won" !!!!


GO COWBOYS!!!!!

Happy 4th of July

I've been AWOL from my blog for the past couple of weeks as life has simply taken over all my good intentions.

Today I'm taking the time to pause and think about our great nation, founding fathers, and what today really stands for. I also felt the need to re-read the Declaration of Independence. I tried copying the document here, but the format didn't copy correctly. Here is a link to the document if you too would like to read and ponder the words and meaning. http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/index.htm

Happy 4th everyone!!! Stay safe and enjoy the day!

Back to sewing and my JCC.........Knit fabric book reviews

The last 2 posts were not sewing related unless you think of self-tanner as a way to wear/make more skirts and chocolate as a way to "grow" into another size, hence the need to make larger skirts. ;o)

Back to my JCC, which I've hardly started.
I did change the pattern for the cherries fabric. I realized the gathered skirt, combined with no longer having a small waist and not wearing a crinoline would just make me look BIG. I've now chosen Vogue 2267, which is a remake of a 1954 design. I will still have the vintage 50's dress, which I feel my cherry fabric was screaming for, without the added weight-gain of the gathered skirt. I also think the little jacket included is darn cute.

I also changed the skirt pattern I was using to Simplicity 4091, view F (teal skirt in the middle left). I still plan to use the denim fabric. This skirt I can wear on "Jeans Fridays" as an alternative to crawling into a pair of jeans on a hot summer day.

I need to go to the post office again this Saturday. Last Saturday my Knipmode magazine was waiting for me. This Saturday I should find the much sought after and coveted May Patrones issue waiting for me. (YEAH!!!)

I also purchased 2 knit sewing books last week from Amazon. The first was recommended by Ann (Gorgeous Things blog) Sew U Home Stretch and the second by Gigi (Behind the Seams blog) Designing and Patternmaking for Stretch Fabrics.
I am not a fan of Built by Wendy patterns from Simplicity as they are not my style, BUT this is a fantastic book for anyone wanting more information on sewing with knits. The book is intended for beginners and I feel it does a good job helping a beginner get their feet wet in the knit sewing arena. The one caveat is the author zeros in on using a serger. If you don't own a serger you may want to after reading this book. But (again with the "but") you can sew knits easily on your sewing maching using a stretch stitch. I've done it and lived to tell the tale. Just don't ask me about the "fun" I had ripping out every single seam in those pants since I was sewing challenged the day I made them. The book also comes with t-shirt and dress/skirt patterns to get you started, and I think the patterns are rather cute. I will probably try the t-shirt and maybe the dress, with the sleeves (lengthened).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is my new favorite book. No, I do not intend to create patterns at this time in my life, but if you want invaluable information on stretch fabrics, pattern layout and beyond, grab this book. I learned a lot last night when I started reading. Basically, this is a textbook (and the price reflects that it's a texbook...OUCH!!). The material is well layed out and organized. I think the author, Keith Richardson, is a perfectionist and this is reflected in his writing style and explanations. He is not boring, but factual, and you will learn just about everything you need to know about knits from him.

Both of these books are available at http://www.amazon.com/. I know the textbook was in the FIT bookstore when I went to NYC, but I wasn't carrying it around with me through the city.

What your taste in chocolate says about you.

I had to take the chocolate quiz I found on Gorgeous Things blog. How could I resist with a name like, "Sewing is Like Chocolate"? ;o)

Hmmmm..... I'm not so sure I completely agree with the analogy. Maybe this is directed at my younger days...but we won't go there. ;o)

What Your Taste in Chocolate Says About You

You are sophisticated, modern, and high class. Your taste is refined, but you are not picky. You are often the first to try something new. You are passionate and full of life. You fall in love easily, and you tend to have whirlwind relationships. Your passion sometimes does get the better of you. You have a crazy temper! You love to be in love. You crave romance, whether you're single or not. You feel lost when you don't feel passion... you need someone to adore.

The Chocolate Oracle

http://http://www.blogthings.com/thechocolateoracle/

Jergens Natural Glow Express self-tanner (thumbs up)

ETA: I too have scary white legs and believe me today (Monday) you'd never know it after using it twice.

I have a love/hate relationship with self-tanners. I need them in order to bare my transparent white legs to the world, but I hate the smell and that it takes so many days to get a decent color. Enter my new favorite product. NAYY!!!!! (not affiliated yada, yada) I bought this new Jergens product a couple of weeks ago and finally decided to try it.

I'm shocked and amazed at how quickly it works. The color started to develop in about a 1/2 hour or so. After one application I can bare my legs to the world. 2 applications are better. The lotion goes on evenly (does need to be rubbed in) For once my feet have even color. I'm more than impressed.

The negatives that I can live with:

• The bottle is smaller. BUT, once I get to the color I want (2 days vs several with other tanners) I can maintain with the other Jergens or L'Oreal which both are in bigger bottles and are better values.
• The smell is not great, but it is an improvement over the original Jergens. (which I hate) I just use it at night and by morning the smell is gone, even before my shower.
• I give this a 5-star rating...................