Sewing for me...

Here is the beginnings of my banner hanging in my sewing room.

Every 20 days I tend a flame for Brighid.  Brighid is one of the old Celtic gods that became a Catholic Saint and priestesses/nuns/devotees have been tending her flame for centuries.  While she is more commonly known for being the patroness of healing, poetry, and smithcraft; she is also associated with the arts and crafts. Usually I get a lot of my harder sewing done during that 24 hours, this time due to the inordinate amount of stress I have been experiencing, I wanted to work on some small things that I've been putting off for a while because - well - they aren't costumes and I didn't need them for an event.

So I always save any left over fabric from projects.  Some folks make quilts out of their scraps.  I make banners.  Its a relatively new thing for me, but I'm liking it.  I use left over ruffles and other bits to show off what I've made...

I also took the time to make myself a huswife (aka a sewing kit).  I made mine so it holds specific tools and keeps them together.   As you can see it wraps up neatly and can fit into my purse if needed.  It holds some more modern tools like a seam ripper, pencil, scissors and other items.  The pockets can hold buttons and thread while the little flap at the center top can hold pins and needles.  This one is fairly simple, I got the idea from Jane Austen's Sewing Box, which a good friend gave me for Christmas.  Then I kept and eye out on Pinterest for other versions until I figured out what I wanted.  Then it was a matter of having time to make it.  

I'm glad I did.  A lot was sewn by hand for both projects. I was able to work away a lot of anger and stress.  While its still not all gone, that's why I keep sewing!

Yule gifts

so a couple of things happened after Thanksgiving. Hubby and I went to SUPER Walmart. Its super big and super crowded. While walking around showing him what we haven't been missing all out lives, he picked out presents for the kids in NM. So I call up my friend in NM to see if said chosen presents would be a good pick and after talking a bit, I'm making the kids ritual wear. woo-hoo! I would have suggested it first off but I wasn't sure they would want it.

So a tunic for each of the boys and a little dress for the girl. Hopefully I'll have a photo soon of them wearing it. Which I'll post as soon as I have it.

The tunics are very simple although (i hope) I made them on the long and wide side so they will fit longer... The dress is a simple white dress with a lined bodice and skirt. The outer skirt has three (?) 2 inch tucks sewn in using pink thread so that K can lengthen the dress when she needs to. (see photo at left, for reference Victoria is 4'10" tall and wears a girls 14 slim @ Old Navy)

They all have patches that I purchased on ebay - a dragon, a griffin, and a phoenix - the kids mythical creatures!

Luckily it only took me a week to make them all (around work and such) and the patches got in just in time to ship it all off for Yule.