2008 Year in Review

Collage 4
Originally uploaded by katieskrafts

I started this blog last New Year's Eve in the hopes that it would encourage me to sew more and to give me a place to document the items that I created. I have done all of that and I have really enjoyed it! Here are some of my favorite creations over the past year. I hope to continue sewing and blogging and to branch out even more over 2009. Thank you to everyone who has commented and lurked on my blog for the past year. Please keep coming back and leaving me notes! I love each and every one!

Christmas Wrap-Up

All the gifts have been given and all of the recipients of my handmade presents really seemed to love them -- including Boogie -- here he is in his new coat!

Below are a few of the gifts that I made for Christmas presents that I hadn't shown yet. The pincushion was part of a gift for my mother and the gift set was a present for my aunt -- I had a lot of fun making everything and it really put me into the Christmas spirit!

As for gifts that I received, I was really lucky this year. My parents bought me a fancy Rowenta iron -- something I would never have bought for myself! I can't wait to use it for pressing :-) I also got the Sophia pattern I have wanted - I can't wait to get started on this one too!

Merry Christmas to Me!

I love to treat myself to presents, and this Christmas was no different. However, I am trying to watch how I spend my money, so I gave myself a gift that didn't cost a thing! The storms in the Northeast made it possible for me to just hang out at my house this weekend and tonight, I spent some time making myself a present in the sewing room (made all from stash items!). It's a pretty cute little set, I think -- it just needs a snap on the card case. You can see a few more pictures on my flickr page.

I love those YKK zippers, they are easier to install than the one's I get at Joann's. Since I'm going to New York City in February (and I'm planning on hitting some of these stores), I'm going to stock up on them!

On Baking

I was a domestic goddess today (although I didn't clean -- by domestic, I mean, I sewed and baked). I have really enjoyed being "snowed in" this weekend and today I took advantage of the stormy weather to do some Christmas baking. I made some peanut butter blossoms, pumpkin chocolate chip breads and a batch of brownies (with peanut butter chips) are in the oven as I type this. My house smells fantastic and I had enough will power to only test out 2 cookies :-) And, my poor, old oven really stood up to the task!

I'm in pretty good shape for Christmas. I need to purchase a few pairs of kids pajama's and that is it. I need to insert snaps on my niece's dress as well as on another gift I have made. Most gifts are already wrapped as well. I think I will be done before Christmas Eve, which would be a first! I need to make a beer bread and dip for work, but that is simple and I can whip that together Tuesday morning. Then I need to make spinach and artichoke dip for Christmas Eve, and I have already purchased all that I need for that. I should be able to get it all done -- what did you get done this weekend?

Tools of the Trade

Aaaahhh - this is me breathing a sigh of relief that the semester is over and I have done well. I was actually excused from my afternoon final because my grade was so good! That gave me a little bit of time to work on a Christmas present for someone :-) I love unexpected weekday sewing time!!

When I was putting my project away, I saw on the edge of my ironing board that I left out the tools that I use the most. These are the items that are the MVP's of my sewing - my fabric scissors, my thread cutting scissors, ergonomic seam ripper (my favorite!), pins and magnetic pin cushion, 2 sided mark be gone and disappearing ink pen and a clear ruler. Not pictured but it deserves an honorable mention is my rotary cutter and mat - very important to the sewing production! What are your favorite sewing tools?

Hello There

I was beginning to think I was losing my motivation, but I just cranked out a little cozy for my bank. I rolled over $80 in coins last night, which made me decide that I needed to dress my bank up to match my room :-)
I also churned out this table runner today. It's too wide, but I just folded it over and put it on the table. I keep telling myself - it doesn't have to be perfect.

I find that I really enjoy quick and simple projects. I would love to be a garment sewer, but I need to remind myself that I would quickly lose patience with something complicated so it's best to start simple. Since New Year's is coming up, I plan on adding some *simple* garments to my New Year's Sewing Resolutions. These resolutions deserve their own post though, so that will be coming up soon. I also plan to post a review of my 2008 sewing, since my goal when I started this blog last New Year's was to sew more. I have definitely achieved that goal and I want to keep it up and expand upon it in the New Year. Note to self - fix the serger!!!!! Hope everyone's Christmas sewing and shopping is going well!