Hello old friend

I created this blog ages ago (I'm talking years) at a time when I was sewing a lot of clothing for my children. Then life got in the way, distracted me and I promptly abandoned it. Lately though, I've been feeling that old pull. I really am a garment and accessory sewer. It's really what I love best of all.
So I'm dusty of my alter ego, Serena (that's the name I game my dressform) and getting my groove back. Don't get me wrong, I like quilting...especially the quilting community, which is vibrant and inspiring, but I love nothing better than to slip on something I stitched myself. And as my sweet sweet boy told me just today, " I like it when you make me stuff, there's just something special when you make it for me". Well, if that just doesn't tug at your heart, I guess you don't have one.
Anyway, I'm dusting off my pattern box and getting back on the garment sewing boat, I hope you'll come along for the ride.

To stash or not to stash

I have an INSANE amount of fabric. I mean I-N-S-A-N-E. It's really my only vice. I love being able to go out in the garage (you see it won't all fit in the house) and pick out a beautiful piece of fabric and being able to make whatever I'd like in that moment. The problem is I keep finding more fabric that I like. I just purchased 5 yards of this gorg. linen to make a Collette dress for myself. And of course I picked up a few of the DSQ prints from Joann's (only the green and blues...the red seems too much like 4th of July to me), I have tons of precut fabrics and plans in my head. I wish I could sew as fast as I come up with ideas...alas, I don't seem able to manage it.
One of my goals for 2012 and isn't it one every year is to sew from my stash and stop shopping. I'm putting it out there...again. I've been doing better. I've only added a few yards (ok, maybe a few more than a few) to my stash last year, but I did make a point to make many items just from what I already have. That's also bled over into other parts of my life, which is a good thing. Anyway, I've been commissioned by friend and family to make 4 quilts in the new year. I'm making a point to use fabric I already own. I'll be sure to share the results of the stash quilts.

The Knitter's Almanac

I love a project and learning new things. I've had this book for a while, but never got around to really making much from it. I've decided that I will spend the next year making the projects and building up my knitting skills. Want to knit along with me?

An annual event...new year's resolutions

A new year looms, all bright, shiny and new, full of possibility. I'm super excited about 2012. But of course I can't embark on the new without giving some thoughts to the old.
While 2011 was full of changes, heartache, and tribulations, I can say as we end it, I'm probably happier personally than I have been in ages. New things are happening and I'm excited about the future. School has been fantastically hard, but enjoyable and challenging. I'm excited about the possibilities it will offer me professionally.
The family is in a good place, each child coming into their own. Soon, We'll have a senior among us and then he's off to college (fingers crossed).
Fitness has been less than a home run, but I'm going to get it together, I'm determined. Baby steps and no excuses. It's a gift to myself. I feel better when I'm active.
My crafting is keeping me sane (isn't true for so many of us). I've completed 5 quilts this year, which doesn't sound like a ton, but when you have my life, 5 quilts accomplished is monumental. I've made some quilty friends and joined a guild and a bee. Fun times.
I have lots of plans for the coming year.
1. Show and tell my kids how much I love them every day
2. Continue to live, laugh and love
3. Move more and make my health a priority
4. Sew more for me and my family
5. Continue to do well in school, you can do this girl!
6. Sew from my stash (you don't need to shop for fabric!)
7. Try new things
8. Let the past go
9. Do something fun every day
10.Finish one project/month (Get rid of the UFO's)
11. Live more frugally
12. Destash and Declutter

Hellmann's you rock!

Disaster averted! Not only did I neglect to take my 12lb turkey out to defrost until Tuesday, but I waited until the absolute last minute to get my go to brine packet from World Market and they were sold out. What's going on with me? I'm never been a last minute Nelly. Anywho...been loving the Hellmann's chicken challenge, so I jumped over to the Hellmann's website and found a recipe for Super moist roast turkey. Yummo! There is nothing worst than dry turkey, and thankfully this ain't it! It moist and delicious and can I tell you it was so easy to do. I can see myself doing this again. You know Christmas is just around the corner.

Shopping in your pj's

I am a die hard devotee of black Friday shopping. I love it. I search the web and scour the ads before hand, planning out my trip. I always get the item that I want and the price I want to pay. Can I just say again, I love it. However this year, I've been doing quite a bit of shopping before hand from my laptop in my p.j.'s and I have to admit. I kind of like it. That was until this morning when I went to purchase coats for my children from Sears. What a frustrating and fruitless experience that was. I've always loved Sears, but I'm going to have to rethink our relationship. On the website the coats I wanted were advertised as 60% off and the price was $38.00/each. An incredible deal, but when I put them in my cart and went to check out the price had risen to $47.50/each. WTF! So I call (all the way to the Philippines, apparently ) thinking this was a computer issue. They see the same thing I do, two prices. But, here's the kicker, they tell me too bad, the price in the cart is the price. Can you believe it? I couldn't. Needless to say I didn't buy the coats. I'll check around and I'll find them at a price I'm willing to pay and now when I look into the empty aisles at my local Sears in the mall, I now understand just why that might be. Sears, you might want to do a better job in the future.

Holy Smokes....has it been that long?

I haven't blogged in ages, but I'm happy to report that summer school is finished and I rocked it with an "A". Woohoo! I have two weeks off and I'm ecstatic to be tackling some long neglected UFO's. First I'll be finishing up the binding on a string quilt. It was suppose to be for one of the ladies in the office at my son's school, but she quit over the summer so I'll just tuck it away until I decide who to give it to. I need to pin basting Shane's quilt. It's so hard to come up with a quilt for a teenage boy. What to do, what to do? Oh I know, 5 inch solid squares. Boring, but perfectly appropriate for him. I also had planned the zig zag skirt for Moda Bake shop for O as a back to school outfit. Let's just say I didn't get that done, but now I have time. I already have the front done, and just need to finish the back. I have blocks for two flickr bees to finish. And then I want to start working on some Christmas gifts. I've really missed getting to stitch and I'm glad to be back in front of my machine. I'll post some pix of the completed project just as soon as I can.