Still here, still sewing......

.......slowly!!! I have to confess that I haven't been sticking to my 30 minutes a day - are you surprised??? :-)

I have been doing more than I was though, both knitting and sewing. Yesterday I got my blouse to the try on stage and I am quite pleased with it - pleased enough to be enthusiastic about finishing it off and wearing it next week. I think I will let the darts out just a little but other than that I am very happy with it. It also needs to be shortened slightly, but I already knew that.

I am thinking about moving my sewing "stuff" to my eldest sons room (well, ex-room!). It is considerably larger than my current room but not as well lit - especially after my DH installed a very bright flourescent light for me! That won't be possible in the new room as the ceiling is too high, so I will have to rely on my daylight lamps. As my hubby is an electrician it would be easy to put in other lights but I want to make sure it is easy to reinstate the room to a bedroom when we eventually sell. I will have to think about that one. Also, we are expecting two lots of visitors in April and will need somewhere for them to sleep - I thought I would have a spare bedroom now that both my boys have moved out but the eldest is on his way back home at the end of Feb!! Probably just for a year while he studies, so maybe I will just stay where I am for now :-) I was told that they would be back! Not that I mind, really!

We are busy in the shop at the moment, working on our newsletter and class list and samples for the next 6 months. I am working on an amazing quilt designed by Judy Niemeyer which will become a Block of the Month. Not difficult at all, just time consuming and very detailed - just the kind of quilt I like - the more piecing the better :-) I also love foundation piecing!

Our colours are similar but we have made a few changes, I will post a pic when it is finished - it could take a while :-)

Daily minimum required.

Ok, I am going to try a different approach to my sewing/knitting in the hope of locating my lost mojo. Summerset has often used the '30 minutes a day' rule to get extra sewing done when she is busy - and I am shamelessly going to copy her :-) Although for me, it is going to be the basis of my sewing and knitting for now. So, I am going to remind myself that I love to sew and commit to spending a minimum of 30 mins a day (social and class activities allowing) in my sewing room. I figure that I could probably get at least one simple garment finished in a week, especially if I spend a little longer than the 30 minutes. But, if I don't get a garment completed, I am not going to fret about it - remember... I enjoy sewing, it brings me pleasure not stress!

On that basis, yesterday I decided to bite the bullet and just start something - anything!! So I cut out New Look 6407, view D but with sleeves from view E. I am making it up in a white cotton voile with daisy print. The fabric is quite transparent in the areas where there are no daisies, but I think I will get away with it if I wear a skin toned under garment.

Monday: Cut out pattern pieces after making decision about what size to make. Cut out fabric and mark darts etc.

Tuesday: Stitch darts in fronts and back, stay stitch neck edges, cut out and fuse interfacing to pieces that require it.

Here is a close up of the fabric. The blue you can see underneath it is my magnetic pin cushion. the centre of the daisies has a different feel than the rest of the fabric, almost rubbery and I can feel it when I sew over it on the machine.

Next tonight, I plan to sit on the sofa with my hubby and watch a bit of tv - with my knitting of course! 30 minutes of knitting is about all my hands can cope with anyway so that isn't a bad thing. I am going to try to use this rule for my other crafts - I have been stamping and card making for a year now but never seem to make anything at home, only when I go to Stamp Club at Sharlenes or when Debbie suggests a card making get-together! Sometimes when I think of all I want to do it is a bit overwhelming, if I break it down into small chunks it isn't quite so scary :-)

Reminder to self............... sewing and crafting makes me happy, I do it because I enjoy it!