catching up

Thanks everyone for your sweet words on the Lady Susan dress! And thanks especially for all the advice on cleaning the machine - I'll definitely be trying your ideas!

It feels somewhat ridiculous starting a new year playing catch-up, but heh - story of my life. Here's a glimpse of what I've been up to:

Christmas here was quiet, but lovely. Spent at home with the few family members still in the area - and plenty of long-distance phone calls! Many lovely gifts were received by all, including some books and a new camera for me (whee!).

My sister's birthday. She's a jazz musician (vocals and guitar), so I made her an Irving-Berlin-themed bangle which I love, and I hope she does too. Made with Casey's tutorial and an old music theatre encyclopedia - it was too much fun picking out all our favorite Berlin tunes and finding space for them! (More pictures here.)

Lots of outings, movies, and theatre. Our parents took us to see Wicked, which was very entertaining (and talk about getting a soundtrack stuck one's head!). Hephaestus was, like everything Lookingglass does, fantastic. It was more circus than play - think Cirque du Soliel woven into a story, and happening only 20 feet away (often closer). Excellent choice, using circus arts to tell the story of the exiled cripple god . . .

And here I am, left only slightly dazed and confused after all the activity and inspiration of the past weeks. There's a lot of work I've been neglecting - organization and paperwork stuff, business stuff, portfolio stuff. I'm slightly daunted but energized for the work ahead, ready to get down to business. Happy new year, all!

tidings

God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Merry Christmas, all! Wishing you all a holiday of remembrance, comfort, and joy.

(Expect regular posting to resume sometime within the next week, including more pictures of the Jane Austen bridesmaid dress!)

Christmas time is here . . .

Note: I had this post typed up last Thursday night, and then I fell off the face of the earth. Actually, it was hardly that dramatic, but almost as stressful - company, unexpected weather, and lots of work (subbing and a last-minute dress commission). Sorry for the absence!

Christmas time is here . . . Happiness and cheer . . . Isn't that such a great song? For me, it perfectly captures the soft, subtle excitement that creeps over me as the Advent season approaches. And links like these only add to the excitement!

• Simple and elegant gift wrapping ideas from A Little Hut (3 separate links). Keep an eye on this one, she's promised more!
• Lime and red: a fresh twist on the traditional color scheme
• I've always disliked earmuffs, but one look at these was enough to stop me in my tracks AND change my mind. The store offered a much wider range of cheery tweeds. Way over priced, but these shouldn't be impossible to make, right?
• Easy and adorable stacking trees. It doesn't get much easier than that, does it? Check out Calvin's version!
• Last year I was fascinated by 3D snowflakes, this year it's paper ornaments that are just as cool and even easier
• And finally, isn't this photo from Jenny enough to get you into a creative Christmas mood? If not, check out her one-hour challenge!

Note2: At this point in the post, I began to innumerate my Christmas project ideas, along with a slight musing on how busy life gets and how little I actually accomplish. I consider the events of this last week proof of that musing, and shall henceforth not tell of my projects until they are DONE.

Merry Christmas crafting, all!

happy thanksgiving

A few of the many, many things I am grateful for this year:

• an agile mind, a creative eye and able hands
• a family that loves and encourages me
• dear friends, spread around the world, but a delight to the heart
• new friends, willing to work past the kinks of first acquaintances
• realized goals
• the promise of tomorrow
• cranberry sauce. and pumpkin cheesecake.

What are you thankful for just now? Even if you didn't celebrate this American tradition with cranberry sauce today, what reasons do you have to be grateful?

scheming

Thanks everyone for your comments, emails, and phone calls of encouragement! My first day of substitute teaching went well, with very little to report. Each of the two teachers I subbed for had scheduled tests or quizzes for the day. So it was essentially like babysitting, just bigger kids and less to do. Highlights of the day: the student who said she liked my scarf and the young man in the faculty lounge that initiated conversation during lunch.

So what do you do sitting at the front of a classroom for an hour with nothing to do but tell teenagers to be quiet? If you're me, your make lists. And at this time of year, most of my lists involve - Christmas gifts! Here are some links to get you ready for the season:

• Sew, Mama, Sew is hosting Handmade Holidays: 100+ sewing tutorials compiled and presented over the 30 days of November. I've already found ideas for people on my list . . . better start crafting!
• Creature Comforts' Holiday Gift Guide. Her blog is already proof of her excellent taste - now she lets us in on her sources!
• As long as you're making/buying all these handmade items, why not take the Handmade Pledge? (Unfortunately, I'm not taking the pledge myself - there are too many bibliophiles in my family to make that feasible!)

And while we're on the subject of handmade, I'm thinking (hoping?dreaming?deluding?) of opening my own handmade shop by the holidays! I'm going to see how much I get done this week and update you by the end of it! (I may also be asking some opinion polls, so start getting opinionated!)

P.S. I'd like to apologize to my mother, whose favorite holiday is Thanksgiving and who (with me, actually) hates to see the Christmas hype starting earlier and earlier each year. Sorry, Mom.