sew along

Ok...I'm attempting to sew some clothes again. My Japanese Tunic was alright...haven't worn it in public, but I feel that I'm on the right track if I try again.

Sewing bags and quilts and all that other fun stuff makes life a little easier because it's one size fits all - which is really nice! This round, I'll be sewing the Lisette Portfolio Tunic. I've been admiring the Lisette Patterns for some time and then recently found out that they have a line of fabric at JoAnn's. Yesterday I stumbled upon a sew-along for the Tunic/Dress through Pickup Some Creativity's Blog and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get that sewing machine sewing and whip up a new top, which my work and life wardrobe are in desperate need of. Luckily, JoAnn's seems to put everything on sale, so I picked up the pattern for $11 and the Lisette fabric for $6.29/yrd (1/2 off!!). The sew-along starts on the 25th, so I better get to cutting my fabric.

Here goes nothing (again). I'll post as this top takes form!

april update

First, The Makerie was simply the best investment in life that you can have. I'll have a post up soon (promise) to tell you all about it. But, in the mean time, stick April 19-22, 2012 on your calendar because The Makerie 2012 is going to be incredible! So much to tell about this wonderful experience.

Second, my insanity of a class is wrapping up next week! That means 16 more weeks and that MBA will be done!

Third, I'm busy cutting mass amounts of 2" squares for The Tokyo Subway Quilt-a-long that I'm doing with the Denver Quilt Guild! We're getting all the color squares this week - and here's what the final product should look like!

Fourth, thanks to The Makerie, I'm more motivated to get my craft on in the little crevices of life that we have - a few minutes here, a few minutes there (I'll tell you more about this during my post on The Makerie). A few of the fabulous ladies I met there are actually going to get together for some Makerie Mondays once a month in honor of teaching each other new things and having community all the while! I'm hosting for May and we'll be making Amy Butler's Swing Bag! Woo hoo...fun times ahead.

springing forward. in more ways than one.

The Spring Equinox has arrived! I'm delighted.

The longer days and so good for the soul. The warmer days are equally good. So are the bike rides to work, the long walks with the pup. I'm getting close to being done with the utter madness that work has been for the past three months. There is hope.

I'm looking forward to The Makerie, a fantastic craft retreat I'll be attending in a few weeks. To have time to turn off all the craziness that follows me past normal work hours will be just what I need. I haven't sat down and just spent time creating in awhile and there will be nothing better than getting to do this in a beautiful setting and with a whole bunch of new friends.

In other news, I'm inching closer to finishing my MBA! I've learned so much and even though it does take me away from sewing/crafting/free time, it's been 150% worth it. After a long day at work, the four-hour class is something I look forward to. Strange, right? The program has been an incredible opportunity and not to overuse this term, I am blessed to be able to be in the program and to be wrapping it up very soon.

Heading into my last few classes, I'm thinking of venturing out on my own, to be my own business, a goal I've always had. Since day one of ever having a job. The goal - do something I love. It will be worth it...more to come!

she's getting hitched

My little sis, Kayla is engaged!

reverb10 :: december 17

December 17 Lesson Learned

What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year?

And how will you apply that lesson going forward?

I think I've known this for sometime, but I need to keep knowing it, being reminded of it, and having it reinforced. That lesson or rather that thing about me is that my goal needs to be to start my own business. I've known this since the day I started working in the toy store right after I turned 16. I'm not satisfied with a desk job. At all. Class after class, business plan after business plan this last year, I'm getting closer to be ready to do this. What exactly? I kind of have an idea that I blogged about a little bit ago. It will be a tremendous amount of work, but something that I think I can find joy in. I'm not trying to be picky about my job, it's just I know that there's one out there that can be fulfilling, even it means not making as much money, which doesn't bother me at all.

Throughout my classes, I've realized what a control freak I am about things. I'd rather take on an extra work load in groups so that I can make our presentations beautiful and our paper fabulous. I can't say all my group members have had this same "passion" or desire to have our deliverables pretty or in perfect APA formatting. For example, in my presentation last night, although I offered many times and even started a incredible-looking powerpoint, my other team member wanted to put our presentation together. And I didn't say a word. It looked great. I'm still a little stressed thinking about it. I have to give up some of that OCD control I tend to have. In a team environment, I'm able to practice this more and more. And I have to know - it will be ok.

reverb10 :: december 15

December 15 5 Minutes

Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010.

• Seattle Trip in May: sisters and sisters-in-law, bridesmaids, co-workers, bainbridge, longest walk ever, sunshine
• Sean & Lauren's wedding in Hawaii: hot malasadas, lane calling kayla a can-indian, dolewhip, wild cats at the beach, coffee bean
• Craftfest 2010 with Darcy: gluttony, buying crafts, crafting, degrassi marathon, laziness, missing liz!
• Ashly & Jay's wedding: lovely ceremony, fun with family, silly dad & uncle, dancing the night away
• How wonderful it is when your puppy is healthy! (and not sick, like he was in May)
• Being involved with the Horseshoe Market
• Having visitors come to Denver!
• Jury Duty for an 8-day case
• Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
• Waiting to see Eclipse with good friends (including getting there early to wait in line)
• 60% done with my degree!

reverb10 :: december 14

December 14 Appreciate

What's one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year?

you can purchase this print here

Biking. And I don't mean that I bike all the time. Or often enough. But, this time I do spend on my bike, I enjoy it and I feel like I need it. It took me about two years to get my bike tuned up and re-inflated, and I wonder why I waited so long. I love every minute on my bike - it gives me time to think and take my time. You can't be rushed on a bike because it (I) can only go so fast. Also, I don't have to worry about the 20 mph school zone speed trap on the way to work.