I Was Knit Together In My Mother's Womb

 It was nice to notice some Christmas Red around the house these past few days:

I found this top at Walmart! I bought a silver one also. They have a really pretty metallic sheen to them, which makes them perfect for this time of year. Topping the red blouse is a vest I made from Simplicity Project Runway 2633. Instead of buttons ( I have NOT been able to determine placement, so I left them off. Instead, I used some vintage rhinestone pins.

   Festive, don't you think?

The decorating progress:

 
So, every night, I'm coming home from work covered in silver and gold glitter. Sparkly. Like the makeup counter at Rite Aide.

And, thanks to Keri, for being the first to send those drawstring bags!  You are a blessing, Keri!

 

 

 
 
 

How did you spend Black Friday?  I was awake at 3:30 AM with hot flashes, and seriously considered driving to Old Navy to get Birdie a dog sweater at 50% off. Then I decided against it. Instead, I stayed in the comfort of my own home, making Black Friday dresses.

First is an everyday, casual dress, HP 1090 Classix Nouveau Uptown Downtown Knit Dress. Which, by the way, is an "absolutely fabulous" and "easiest thing in the world" dress pattern, just like Trudy says.

 
I followed the HotPatterns youtube tutorial, which was sort of like having my own private sewing lesson from Trudy! It went together like a charm, the fit is sensational, and I will wear this again and again.

 
I wore it Friday night as you see here, then I washed and dried her, and wore it today to church with a wide black belt, a chunky necklace and some berry colored tights. I think it would also look great with a long knit vest over it.

 
I plan to make it again in a red tone, with the cap sleeve, which could be worn over a thin turtle neck this winter.

 The two piece raglan sleeve is flattering, and gives a nice fit over the shoulder. I cut a straight size 14 all the way, and it works for me.

 Mine was made from Lands End french terry that I found on Ebay for about $12 ( that was for over three yards of hugely wide fabric...I think I cut this dress from about a yard and a half of it!) And the ribbing was just a baby rib from Joann's. It doesn't match exactly, but it really doesn't matter to me...it's that kind of casual dress.

I'll share my other Black Friday dress with you later...think dressy and silk and Donna Karan....mmmm, pretty.

Oh, and Birdie did get her new sweater this weekend.

I wish you could see the back of my car! It's LOADED with gold and silver ornaments for decorating the Atrium for Christmas.  And there's lots more where that came from!

  Which may explain why I have Blog Deficit Disorder the past few weeks. I have this tree to decorate:

 
 and about a bigillion 6' wreaths to decorate in the week ahead. But you know what? I LOVE doing it!  There is just something about a Christmas Tree that makes people smile. Whether it's  a 16' Colorado Spruce or a 3' Charlie Brown tree, Christmas Trees make us happy.  I'll show you the wa-la finish when I'm done, but before that, it's Thanksgiving!

Jon J and Augie spent the night last night, and we had a great Thanksgiving breakfast this morning... I teased them that we were having pumpkin pancakes and turkey bacon, which didn't go over well. So, Mimi settled for thick french toast and real bacon...later we made caramel apples and ate them, too!

So, what am I thankful for this Thanksgiving day? Where to I begin?

I'm thankful for:

Jon J, Augie and Sofia, my  three grandchildren, and the one on the way.

my mom, who continues to make life interesting and full.

my children, whose birthdays were the three best days of my life.

the ability to laugh and cry every day...to share the burdens and joys of the people that I love and that come across my path daily.

friends who love me even though I'm not always lovable...they don't expect perfection, but celebrate how life's journey changes me... even when that journey is difficult.

being able to decide each day that no matter what life brings, I can be blessed.

my husband, who is the only one, other than the Lord, who can make me feel safe, secure, loved, and important. JR makes me better than I could ever be without him.

I am thankful for truth and freedom.

Happy Thanksgiving ! 

Thank you for your responses so far to make drawstring bags for the ladies at Cornerstone! If you missed the post about that need, you can read it HERE.   I would like to get the bags by December 15th. They can be mailed to me, I will enter your name in a contest drawing and you will get a wonderful something from me!

Lynne Brundage

500 CrossPoint Parkway

Getzville, NY   14068

 

 

This is how I made my Easy Drawstring Bag, using 100% cotton fabric and grosgrain ribbon.

Cut 2 pieces of fabric, 19" X 26"

Mark the openings on the top edges of both bag pieces. The first will be 1 1/2"  down from the top and the second will be 2 1/2" down from the top, like this:

Sew a seam down the two long sides and across the bottom,  leaving an opening between the marks on each side.

To make the casing, fold down the top edge 1/2 " and press. Fold down another 1" and press.

 
 
Sew the casing in place, along the folded edge. 

Turn the bag right side out.

Cut two pieces of 1/2" grosgrain ribbon, each 46" long . Insert one piece in each casing opening like this:

Stitch the ends together of the grograin ribbon together like this:

 
Bury the stitched ends of the drawstrings in the casings.

And the result????? I very simple drawstring bag! Finished measurements are 18"x24" 

Some other excellant tutorials are available online:

http://sewbunnybum.blogspot.com/2008/05/drawstring-bag-tutorial.html

http://community.livejournal.com/craftgrrl/3786894.html  (although our bags do not need to be lined)

http://happythings.typepad.com/happythings/2006/04/dsb_101_simple_.html  ( super easy)

Thanks again for your help!

Happy Sunday!  The best part about today? I get to feed my friends a big turkey dinner, with all of the sides, including:

Mmmmm....roasted brussels sprouts

 
corn

squash and apple cassarole

coleslaw   ( I have made this recipe for years...leaving out the peppers)

 
stuffing

roasted garlic mashed potatoes and gravy

dinner rolls AND sweet rolls AND

pumpkin bread.

When you get a turkey for $3.68, and there's no room in the freezer, you just have yourself an early Thanksgiving dinner...complete with an impromptu dried bouquet from the garden.

We love Jon and Lisa and Jipp and Rhonda...and I'm so glad they finally got to meet. 
 

A Thanksgiving meme:

I'm always interested in knowing what other people make for Thanksgiving dinner...

1.What are the traditional favorites?

2.What new  recipes will you try  this year? 

3.What part of the meal do you never compromise?

4.Who gets to carve the turkey?

5.Family style around the table or buffet style and everyone sits wherever there's room?

6.How many will be at your table this year?

7.Three best pies for Thanksgiving dessert?

8.Cranberry sauce...yeah or nay?

9.What time do you eat Thanksgiving dinner?

10.Favorite leftover?

Go ahead! Answer here or on your blogs....I'll be watching for your Thanksgiving meal traditions in the week ahead.

Thankful Thursdays

1. First, I'm thankful that it's Friday, and that I can be thankful on Friday as well as on Thursday. It's been a busy, busy week, and I'm looking forward to relaxing with JR this weekend.

2. I'm thankful for  my girls, and that they love each other deeply... and they love their children and husbands deeply.

3. I'm thankful for stretch pants.

A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE AT THE END OF THIS POST.

What a bonus weekend this was! Gorgeous weather with  nothing to do, really, but enjoy it.  I was glad to be able to work on a few projects.

I know it's not easy to get excited about a basic t-shirt. What could be so hard about finding a basic t-shirt? I've spent $30 on them, I've spent $4 on them. Every year I search for the perfect tee. One that's long enough, fits well, has some lycra in it to hold it's shape, and is versatile enough to wear on its own or as a layering piece. I have a drawer full of mistakes...purchases that never quite made  the grade, and will end up, like in years past, being donated or used as cleaning rags.

I get SO tired of spending money on clothes that don't fit.

This weekend, I made the perfect tee.

Awhile back, I found some Land's End cotton lycra on Ebay, and snatched up a few yards for about $6.00. Using  Simplicity 4076, a made this up in about an hour. And it fits perfectly!  The only adjustment  I made was adding about 3 inches to the length.

  I love this wee bit of gathering at the neckline.

Since I was on a roll, I made another top. McCall's 5853. 

This is made with more of the Land's End cotton/lycra. My modifications? I raised the neckline in the back, added three inches to the length,  and inserted the same cap sleeve as in the Simplicity tee. This shirt is so stinking cute!  I wore it today with a black pencil skirt and some boots, and a little black denim jacket. I was accused of looking like a rocker girl...whatever that means.

       
 
 
 I have to call upon my blogging buddies for a need. You all were so responsive with sending mittens for the past few years for Pastor Angel....it was an overwhelming response for which I will always be grateful.  In fact, we continue to collect them as "Hearts to Hands" for this year as well, and not only for Pastor Angel's kids, but for many other children in the Buffalo area.

The needs are great in  Western New York. Buffalo is considered one of the more depressed areas of the country. Like many other industrial cities, Buffalo's working population has declined steadily in the last several years, and we hold the distinction of  being one of the poorest cities in the US. The result?  A region in desperate need. Crime, drugs, joblessness, poor public education and  an ever increasing refugee population leave children without proper parenting, families that are hungry, women who are desperate and men without hope. This creates an overwhelming  outreach opportunity for ministry, as we endeavor to reach every man, woman and child with God's love and assist to provide for the needs in our community.   In fact, our church is excited to be a part of an Extreme Makeover Fifty States Tour project this week, rebuilding a home and repairing and renovating an entire neighborhood in Buffalo!

Well, on Friday, there came another plea for help. Such a simple thing. Cornerstone for Women is a shelter for women and children, which is under the leadership of Dr. Laura and her ministry team, providing temporary shelter and longterm assistance to women and children. Upon intake, the ladies are given their supplies ( like toiletries and personal items)  in a drawstring bag. Dr. laura has asked for drawstring bags.

I am working up a very simple pattern and tutorial so that the women of our ministry can  provide the 30+ bags that are needed each month for Cornerstone. It will take me a few weeks to get that information together and then make it available to the various women's ministries.  But Cornerstone needs  them now. So I am appealing to my crafting buddies to send me bags.

They are basic cotton  bags, measuring about 18" x 24."  They are made flat and  have a drawstring at the top. Pretty easy, right? In fact, I'm sewing them from two cotton dishtowels.  I'm making some as fast as I can,  and I would do all of them myself, but I believe in sharing the blessing of giving.

I'd love it if you could make a bag, or two or more and send  them me. Include a sentiment of encouragement  for a broken and desperate woman,as well .   If you do, I will have a contest with a drawing in a few weeks,  and will bless YOU with something wonderful in return.

Let me know if you are willing to kick-start this bag collection for Cornerstone by leaving me a comment so that I can respond with my mailing address. 

 
 

Thankful Thursdays

Linking up with Carole to share thankful hearts on Thursdays in November.  I'm never quite sure how to narrow it down to three, though, since I really want to live a life which is thankful in all things.

I can't begin a post like this without expressing my thankfulness to God, who extends new mercies every day. I fail utterly in my humanity on a daily basis. A thousand graces are extended to me each day, undeserved... so I must extend mercy and grace to others.

That said, I have to be thankful even for the trials and difficulties in my life, since they are all an opportunity to learn, change and be challenged to be the woman that God wants me to be.

And, I am thankful for this day. I woke up this morning knowing I have  a plan for my life...a reason to take the brokenness that I was and I am, and turn it into something with meaning and purpose.

 

The Tale of Two Tops.

or

A Lesson in Line.

or

Which Top Makes me Look Pregnant?

According to Fashion Experts,

"A tailored cut accentuates your waist and enhances your bust."

"Baggy clothes will disfigure your shape."

"Going for clothes with vertical lines can help you define the top half of your body."

“A woman shouldn't wear anything that resembles a tent of any kind, because that makes her look bigger. Instead, what you should do is look for clothes that have great fit and structure.”

"Rule one of looking slimmer is to not fool yourself about your dress size! This applies if you tend to buy sizes that are too big as well as sizes that are far too small."

Last week, I finished two blouses.  I wanted a basic white tunic length blouse, and another more casual tunic top to wear with leggings or jeans on the weekends. I am amazed at how  these different styles can make a body look so differently.  You be the judge:

  
McCall's 5433. I made this tunic from a lycra stretch shirting that has some subtle vertical striping in the pattern.  I really, really love this shirt. The only modification I did was to change up the spacing of the buttons...they are paired in twos.

 

The second top is  McCall's 5943. Cute top, fun construction, interesting details in the pin-tucking and ginormous sleeves.

  I'm not sure that this was the best choice for me, though.

   

The neckline is waaaaay too big, the sleeves are not at all flattering. In fact, I look pregnant.  Maybe my daughter Meghan should be wearing this top. Since we're going to be grandparents again!

That's right, grand-baby number 4 is on the way!  And it's another boy!

 

 

 

 

 

It was cleanup time at our house this weekend. Outside, inside....a good nesting weekend, really. There is something about those last leaves falling that makes me want to nest.

  The gardens get raked, a room or two rearranged, and a chicken pie baked.

I was also caught dead in the act of knitting outside this weekend.

 
I'm hauling out the yarn and patterns to figure out what sweater I want to make next. But then I wonder what to do with all the other knit sweaters that I am not wearing.

 
 
A Sweater Auction?

Frog em? I'm never afraid to rip out a knit.

Charity ? What if that wool sweater gets washed and dried?

What DO you do with knits that you don't wear?