09 June 2013

Guilty of rambling and being a loving a parent

I am guilty of being a mother who cares too much and would like to be  involved more in my daughters daily decisions. Fortunately for her, she lives out of the country, which is probably one of the reasons that I wish I could be more involved in her daily life.  I'm glad she's travelling, I'm glad she's experiencing school far away.  I worry that I'm unable to come to her when she needs comfort, or feels homesick. The times between coming home are few and far between.  I don't think any parent is ready to be apart from their child when they begin to grow into adults.  Life doesn't prepare us fast enough for that but seems to encourage them to leave the nest faster, and without looking back.  I worry about challenges that seem to hard, and failure. I worry that she might give up on herself. I worry that her dreams aren't enough. 

I make my daughter mad, when we have type written discussions sometimes.  Wording is not perfect, going across the internet, it misses some part of the inflection and meaning. I hurt for the challenges she meets with. I want to pick her up like a 2 year old dust her off and say tomorrow will be better and the in the next 5 or 10 minutes you will forget about that which caused you pain, or being uncomfortable or whatever. Obviously the distance can be a good thing foregoing the interference I would want to do. As proud as I am of my daughter as she schools outside her home country, I always wish she was here. In a place where she could visit, come over for dinner, share the day.  Where we could see her succeed just a little closer to home. 

04 June 2013

Stymied by moving

OK, I know it doesn't make a bit of sense but I'm still searching for things since I've moved.  Simple things like my sewing box that I took everywhere with me, and kept all  my goodies in. You know the things you constantly are grabbing while sewing, the seam ripper, certain tools, etc, Oh How I wish i could find what box this went into. Just little things but it can be such a B---ch to not have them.

I have done minimal sewing or crafts since we moved last august - yikes almost a year ago, because I never know where things are.  But a couple months ago, I watched a web cast done by Peggy Sagers of Silhouette patterns and I totally got enthused to do some sewing for myself.  Now I'm one of the people who usually hold out on sewing for myself, by saying when I lose that 20 lbs, or when some other event occurs. Meanwhile I don't want to shop at the store because I don't like tailoring clothes, and if I'm losing weight, or changing shape by exercise, it seems to tedious to go there, spend more than I want and not really be satisfied,  But Peggy got me inspired, so ordered a pattern, got the alterations made on the pattern I wanted  and went to town. I loved the top I made. My only complaint, I didn't serge it to begin with, which I always have better luck with on knits. I sewed, at her recommendation plain straight stitch elongated to accommodate the knit fabric, but the stitches popped where I color blocked it,when I was putting it on, so I'm like time to get that serger out.
 Cut out and ready to go is a simple swing dress. Sleeveless with white ribbing on the armholes and neckline.  I'm looking forward to having it done soon!  But I keep running into little problems.  Somehow, I misplaced the bobbin cover to my sewing machine the last time I used it. After cleaning out the entire area around  the machine searching the crevices under the table, my drawer in the sewing desk, I'm completely stymied.  No idea where I've place the blasted thing.  Went through the trash etc. So off the sewing machine dealer, to purchase another cover.  ARGH. Come home, start sewing and realize I would do better with the serger for the seams.  Take off the cover for the first time since moving, and realize the tiny special screwdriver for changing the needles is missing. All I can think is REALLY?  I mean this dress is a truly a 1/2 hour project from start to finish IF I could find my stinking tools.  I'm feeling like the straw man from Wizard of Oz -If I only had a brain.
.  I'm hoping that the screw driver is in my missing my sewing box kit, But I'm slightly discouraged because the little screwdriver has a home inside the serger, I'm worried it has escaped.  I may have another visit to the dealer's store once again in the next day or two.  Once this travesty of finding my tools is accomplished, and my cute little summer sun dress made, I plan to make a coral waterfall sweater from the Silhouette pattern 211 Nina's top seen here.

I'm totally into Coral , Navy, Turquoise, Black and White this summer and hoping to expand my wardrobe a bit.  Since I spend my work hours in athletic wear to teach I'm looking for some fun off work wear. Hopefully this weekend I will have some photos of these projects