Fresh Clean View

linking up with Wordless Wednesday

{TH}read

Stacks of summer reading are scattered all over my house . . . 

I'm working on two new crochet projects,

finishing a sewing/quilting project,

and started new bathroom curtains

linking up with {TH}read

A New Nightgown for Me!

When I was a kid, my mother sewed a lot of my clothes. Actually, she sewed for all of us, and professionally for clients. Her mother had been a professional seamstress and I guess it just came naturally to her. Money was frequently tight, so she'd use whatever she had or could find on the cheap, especially for her own clothes and ours (the kids). 

Frequently mother use bedsheets to make loungewear and play clothes. She'd use a flat sheet from a set where the other pieces were ruined, or she pick up sheets on clearance and use them.

Recently I acquired a set of king size sheets from my FIL's estate. We don't have a king sized bed. So I've been using the sheet set for various other things. The pillow cases (along with some pillows from his house) became the new cushion for my swing.

The fitted sheet became a new summer gown for me. I love cotton gowns, but don't love paying $40 plus dollars for one, so I found this pattern, and made myself a new gown.

I'm in love with it! It's cool and comfy, and of course washes like a dream since it's made from a sheet. 

The ultimate recycle.

linking up with Made by You Mondays

Hobby . . . Hobbies?

Do I have a hobby . . . 

Why yes I do. As matter of fact I have several of them. 

1. Reading -- for years it was nothing but fiction. Lots of escapism through mysteries and crime novels. I think I liked the way the pieces fell into place, and the bad guys got caught and punished.

2. Crochet -- I picked this up again a few years ago. I always have at least one project going, but usually it's more like 5 or 6.

3. Cooking -- I've mentioned before, I'm not a frou-frou cook, but I do love good, basic, comfort food. I'm a little bit of a food snob, and avoid most things prepackaged (although I do have a few guilty pleasures!).

4. Sewing -- I have a love hate relationship with sewing. I am a perfectionist and so I am frequently disappointed with my finished projects, but I'm working on cutting myself some slack, and finding projects I enjoy doing just for the fun of it.

I'm sure I could list another 5-6 hobbies depending on you choose to categorize hobbies, but that should give you a general answer to the question. 

How about you? Do you a hobby . . . or 2 or 3?


linking up with 31 day blog challenge

Wordless Wednesday -- Sewing

see more at Wordless Wednesday

Thankful Thursday #9

Receiving gratitude is difficult for me. 
Over the past couple of weeks I've been helping two high school students learn about sewing. They each chose to make a vintage clothing item as part of their history projects this quarter. Neither one of them knew much about sewing. 
I am apparently one of a dying breed of moms who knows how to sew garments and owns a sewing machine. I didn't mind them using my equipment, but I didn't really want to get pulled into doing the projects for them.
Of course they waited too late (from my perspective) to start the projects and hadn't read through the directions on their patterns until they were ready to sew (12 days before the project was due!). I explained about laying out pattern pieces and grain of fabric. I showed them how to pin the pieces in place following the layout on the pattern, and left them to it.
They did well with the cutting, but the sewing was a bit much for them, and truth be told for me as well. These were duplicates of vintage patterns -- read: bad photo copies with little or no instructions! I learned a lot right a long with the kids.
Tuesday night they came over to put the finishing touches on the garments and finish the presentation they had to do in class. They walked in bearing gifts -- for me! I was floored. A beautiful arrangement of flowers

A gift card to my favorite restaurant and another to Joann's Fabric, and a new pair of sewing shears! I was stunned. These are nice kids and so I figured they'd express gratitude for the help, but this, well this, was just too much. Included in it all was a note that said in part . . . 

I think you'll believe us when we say there

is no way we could have done this 

without you!

It made me think about receiving gratitude. We tend to brush it aside, but truth be told we all need the opportunity to show gratitude. I had gone out of my way for these two, so it was appropriate for them to show thankfulness, but I felt unworthy of this much gratitude. Learning to receive gratitude is important in helping me learn to show gratitude.

I want God to feel overwhelmed by my gratitude. He has done so much more for me than I could ever express. All I have are my words and my life to show my gratitude. I know it's not enough, but I also know it's all He asks.

link up at Women Taking a Stand

Wordless Wednesday -- American History Projects

for more images go to Wordless Wednesday

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.


If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

for more moments visit SouleMama

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY . . . November 22, 2011

Outside my window . . . it is cloudy and rainy. Again. And it's warm. Again. Mid 60's already this morning.

I am thinking . . . about my bestie and her husband who leave a week from Thursday for a mission trip to Simferopol, Ukraine. You may read more about it here.

I am thankful . . . for the whole family's improved health. I am feeling much better. Ds and dh seem to be over their colds, while dd is finishing a round of antibiotics for a sinus infection. I hope we are all done with sickness for a while!

From the learning rooms . . . no school this week!

In the kitchen . . . last night was hot ham and cheese sandwiches with chips and baked beans. I told the kids (21 & 18) I was on strike for dinner this week, since I haven't been feeling the love regarding my cooking lately.

I am wearing . . . my summer weight robe?

I am creating . . . a poncho using the Coming Home pattern from Lion Brand yarn. I am using a variegated Sensations yarn in shades of purple.

I am going . . . . for a "female" check-up today. Oh joy!

I am wondering . . . again about the lasting effects of childhood abuse. Another flashback last week caught me completely unaware. Initially I felt completely out of control, but I began processing much quicker than I have in the past. There is much work to do, but I do feel more hopeful.

I am reading . . . not much. Nothing seems to be holding my attention lately.

I am hoping . . . that the scuba trip dh and I have planned for December is successful. I finished my enclosed water training on Saturday. Hopefully the open water dives will fun and less stressful.

I am looking forward to . . . Thanksgiving with dh's aunt, uncle and cousins (and doing very little cooking!)

I am hearing . . . the washer buzzing, dog shaking their collars and ds horking down breakfast before heading off to wrestling practice.

Around the house . . . much work has been done in the bonus room over the last few days. I am moving my sewing machine in there in the hope that having more room will encourage me to sew more.

I am pondering . . . . helping my husband do the communion comments this coming Sunday. I want to find the right words.

One of my favorite things . . . yarn! (I'm sorry. I keep repeating myself, don't I?)

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . continuing the cleaning and purging and then heading out of town for Thanksgiving.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing . . .

Before . . .

After . . .

for more visit The Simple Woman's Daybook

Made by You Mondays -- Hobo-inspired Bag

A hobo inspired bag made in a variety of Asian fabrics.
I found those adorable children faces and just
knew I had to have them in something!
I think next time I make one, I'll shorten the
entire bag and the strap and use heavier
interfacing. I may put a cell phone/iPod pocket on the
inside as well. I really enjoy using this bag for 
a variety of different purposes.

for more go to Skip to My Lou

3 in 30 First Week

I'm not a fan of New Year's Resolutions. I avoided them like the plague, because my experience with them has been they are nothing but guilt inducers. When I happened upon 3 in 30, I liked the idea of setting goals a month at a time. It was easier to set small, manageable goals.


So my goals for January are:


*Exercise 3 times a week.


*Journal my food 5 days a week.


*Complete 3 (specific) sewing projects.


It's Friday of the first week and I have exercised twice and written my food down 4 days. Wednesday I went to Jo-Ann's to get the fabric I needed to complete one of the sewing projects, so even though I haven't actually sewn anything, I have started on that goal. 


I'm feeling pretty good about this! Hopefully I've set realistic and attainable goals, so that completing them will make me feel good and I can avoid that guilt thing all together!

Feel Good Friday -- November 19th

It's Feel Good Friday!

The sun is shining.

It's 45 degrees heading up to 63!

Dh and ds have ALL of next week off.

My nasty appointment is behind me!

The new Harry Potter movie opened last night.

I'm having Cranberry Blood Orange Tea!

I'm going to sew today.

And maybe bead!

How's your FGF shaping up?

Blessings!

Feel Good Friday is hosted by The Girl Next Door Grows Up

Simple Woman's Daybook for August 24th

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...there is dew on the grass. The sky is pale blue. It looks like it will be a lovely day!

I am thinking...of all the blessings in my life.

I am thankful for...all of the wonderful thoughts and wishes we received for our anniversary yesterday.


From the learning rooms...ds was sick yesterday, but it's back to school today. Hope there's not too much makeup work!

From the kitchen...not much activity there lately.

I am wearing...my summer weight robe.

I am creating...a stuffed animal from the book Plush-O-Rama: Curious Creatures for Immature Adults.

I am going...to swim this afternoon and lay in the sun reading.

I am reading...The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson. I can't tell if this one is a "harder" read; if I'm just less intrigued; or if I just don't have the time.

I am hoping...for good news regarding dd's visit home in September.

I am hearing...ds showering and getting ready for school.

Around the house...things are still a mess, but progress is being made. We picked out tile for the bathroom last week.

One of my favorite things...is learning to do things I didn't think I could.

A few plans for the rest of the week...dh has another business trip this week, so I'm going to sew a lot I hope!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...this is the tunic I finished for myself over the weekend. I'll be wearing it later today!

Hosted by The Simple Woman's Daybook

Fun Fabric Finds

I needed something happy to look at, so I pulled out some fun summer prints and I'm going to try a little "selfish" sewing.

What do you think?