Wrapping Up the End of the Year?

Everyone is doing all of these posts where they are reviewing everything they have done in the year, or the goals that they set for themselves.  I'm kind-of scared to go back and review what I said I want to do  ...  I know I have accomplished a lot, but it might not be what I planned, I guess.

I am sitting here, typing away on a new laptop, feeling very spoiled blessed.  I've been wanting a laptop for a while now and even though we could have afforded to purchase it at any point, my husband was wanting to wait until closer to the end of the year.  It wasn't even really a Christmas gift, either.

In the last 24 hours, I've managed to sew up a few small projects:  four pillowcases (one for the husband, and three to go to various other homes), and a pair of pajama pants for myself.  I've had the pattern and the fabric for quite some time now and just finally made the time to sew up the pants.  I used the Sweet Dreams pattern by Make It Perfect.  They came out fine (I know you can tell from the super flattering photo...).  They have a ribbon drawstring that can be inserted in the waistband, in addition to the elastic and I haven't done that yet.  The pattern recommends a 1" wide ribbon, but the buttonholes that you make for the ribbon are only 1/2" and I don't really get that.  I'll eventually put some ribbon or twill tape in...just haven't done it yet.  I don't quite like how wide the cuff trim is... Of course, I don't know that I want to go the minimal effort that it would take to lengthen the pants leg so that I can make a narrower cuff trim.  I just don't hate it that much, I suppose.

I just realized that I have another whole week off of work before I have to go back...that's a definite blessing.  The last couple weeks before break were mentally taxing and I'm grateful for the time off.  I am hoping to get quite a bit of sewing done the rest of the time off.

Oh!  I made some cinnamon rolls from scratch last night... ended up being up until 1:00 a.m. finishing them up (I'm almost never up that late anymore!).  They turned out really well! I will NOT tell you how many of them I ate today...  Anyway, I recommend the recipe.  

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Another "Gift" for Myself

Last week month, it seems like I had a frenzy of sewing, and I was making things that were just for me.

In fact, when I showed my husband my most recent finish (Two Zip Hipster by Erin Erickson), he said, "Honey...you've been making a lot of gifts for yourself lately!" (I guess I was on a roll of making things for myself!)

I love how the little frog face ended up peeking out on the top zipper!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

***The winner is:  #95 (I have a screen capture, but blogger is being fussy about pictures again)

And #95 is:

95

Sarah_L_N said...

Oh I love your pouch! I've been following the Happy Little Pouch Hop too and have found so many I want to make! I'm a sucker for anything with gathers and ruffles :) Now I just need more time in every day, I want to give up sleeping, but it's making me sort of tired ;) I'm trying hard to think of something interesting to tell you, but have so far been called away from this short reply twice, once for rice cakes and once for dry cereal (it's nearly 5pm...), my toddler is making it hard to concentrate!

December 6, 2012 10:54 AM

This week Today is Sew Mama Sew Giveaway "Day"!  If you have never experienced this giveaway day, head on over and see what it's all about.

I haven't participated for a couple of times now.  Of course, I didn't realize it was coming up so soon and nearly missed it! 

I'll be giving away this gathered coin purse that I am making from a pattern in the most recent Stitch Gifts magazine.  I saw it on Charise's blog (she's the pattern designer) and had to run out and buy the magazine just for her pattern.


Plus, I've really been inspired to make a lot of pouches this past week, since my friend Emily is co-hosting the Happy Little Pouch Hop.  Never mind that I really need to be finishing up some Christmas gifts.... 

So, this clutch is a work in progress... (I took a nap yesterday, and then didn't have time to finish the pouch before I went to bed):

I will definitely finish this up as soon as I get home from work this afternoon and then post a completed photo!  Done! It'll be even cuter when I finish it up and take some decent photos (battery was dead in good camera this morning, too!)

  ugh! Blogger is not letting me upload a new photo right now...but I'll get it on here as soon as it lets me.

This giveaway is open to all readers, since I will ship internationally.  PLEASE (I can't stress this enough...) make sure that you are not a "no-reply" commenter.  If you are not sure, please read this link. You would be really sad if I pulled your name and then had no way to contact you and tell you that you are the winner. ETA: I have already had multiple no-reply commenters with no link to a blog or any way to get in touch with them...this makes me sad :( The giveaway will stay open until Friday, Dec. 7, after I am home from work (which means sometime after 3:30PM CST). 

I'll make this really simple.  One comment per person, please.  Tell me something about yourself or a funny story... something to make reading the comments through my day a little more interesting.  While you are here, if you feel so inclined, take a look around at my other blog posts. 

Thanks for visiting!  I hope you'll stay a while!