I feel like I have to do something productive today… I’ve had the worst cold for the last few days. Each day I wake up expecting to feel better, but just end up feeling worse. Yesterday I hit the couch at 4:00, Dan put on the the 3 original Star Wars movies and I dozed in and out of consciousness, until about 7 this morning. I’ve done a grocery shopping trip, tidied up some christmas presents, after Dan packed up our tree and decorations, and I think that’s about all I’ll accomplish today. I just feel absolutely rotten and so incredibly exhausted. Being sick really sucks because I can’t stand being unproductive! And laying around all day is just so painfully difficult for me…
Anyway, over the holidays, my uncle pulled out a box of treasures from my Grandmother who passed away two years ago, January. I grabbed a few things that had gone unwanted, like one of her high school year books. She is pictured above, Lorine Miller (though her first name was really spelled Loreen). I like this picture, she looks so serious; I can just imagine how responsibly she would have handled her job in the Senior Literary Society… I am so much like her.
I also found a scrapbook of cards, newspaper clippings, and writings, a charm bracelet, a pendant filled with little gold pieces her and my Grandpa Jack had panned in the Yukon, a small gold watch with an inscription from my Grandpa, and a little metal thimble. I am so grateful to have these things; I miss my Grandma so much, I really wish I could share with her all the little details about my business. She would be so proud and interested in the things I do, and I know she would be able to impart on me wise advice, as she was always an entrepreneurial spirit and successful business woman, especially for her time. I am happy to have these little mementos, it makes me feel like I have a part of her near me all of the time. Though I have to admit, at times it makes me a little sad…
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about Gram lately. I dusted off her recipe box to make cookies and coconut strawberries before Christmas. Her writing was always so scrawling and hard to read, much like mine. The cards were missing ingredients, and it made me laugh because that is totally something I would do. After mixing all of my cookie ingredients, carefully spooning out the dough onto my old baking pan and popping it in the oven, I sat at my kitchen table and surveyed the mess. All of my kitchen cupboard doors were left open, the counter top covered in coconut and stray chocolate chips, I felt my face streaked with flour, and thought, “I am just like my Gram…”
Driving home from the in-laws last Sunday, I saw on twitter that the Lingerie Addict had posted a Best of 2012 list. I clicked the link to see who had been mentioned and was absolutely shocked to see that I was on it! I felt so incredibly honoured to be mentioned among such talented designers & brands. Check out the full list HERE!
I am sick again with a cold this time, but am starting to feel a little better this morning. I am itching to get back to my sewing machine, though to be completely honest, Christmas was so exhausting I feel like I need a vacation just to recover from it. We traveled around a lot, had some Christmas morning drama with an unexpected “burning” of a Christmas gift (don’t even ask…), did a lot of forgetting things, then having to turn around and make trips twice, I did a day of baking for a Christmas event we were hosting only to have half of the guests arrive… By the end of it, I was in tears from sheer exhaustion (has that ever happened to you, tired tears?) and have now wound up with a cold. Definitely was not the best Christmas ever, but I suppose it also wasn’t the worst! But, I am incredibly glad it’s over for another year! 🙂
My shop has remained pretty busy over the last few weeks, and I’m still catching up from my Cyber Monday Sale. I wanted to remind people that if they are wanting to order goodies for Valentines day, now is the time to start thinking about it!
I am preparing a few things for the next month… there will be a sweet give away soon, a photoshoot I am super super super excited about, and I am busily hording corset supplies so I can add two corset styles to my next collection!
Tis the Season… to be under the weather!
Ugh, I have had this icky stomach thing for the last few days. Totally unpleasant! Overall I’m feeling ‘ok’ but no food seems to be agreeing with me… so that has been frustrating and annoying. My pants fit too loose now!
Christmas seems to feel busier and busier every year. I remember Christmas as a kid, it was so relaxing. Just good food, family, very little traveling. Now it feels like we are somewhere nearly every day… this year, starting on Sunday we have 5 days of ‘festivities.’ I am usually so exhausted by New Years Eve that we just spend the night in. I feel like I still have a lot to do to get ready for Christmas… AND a LOT of sewing to do!!!
I hope everyone has a very special holiday and is able to spend it with friends & family!
I’ll leave you with some new items I am working on for… SPRING!
Tilly, from Tilly & the Buttons, is a blogger & seamstress that I really admire (she is probably the neatest seamstress I have ever seen!), so I was absolutely honoured when she asked me to contribute to her A Day in the Life Series. This series chronicles designers & seamstresses, their day to day schedules & challenges. I had so much fun writing this post and reading the comments!
Read the Post HERE |
This has been such a wonderful year, lots of challenges, lots of successes, lots of learning, and lots of changes! I am really looking forward to 2013.
I really like how my stockings turned out. I used a piece of fabrics I had bought off Etsy to make cushions out of. I lined them with scrap broadcloth, and used some scraps of burlap and ribbon to dress them up. I cut and braided regular old twine to create a loop to hang them.
I got quite a bit of Christmas crafting done this weekend… I also made some salt dough ornaments, which took me back to being 5 years old again and hanging out with my grandma. I painted them ivory yesterday, and am just waiting to string some ribbons through them, then will use them as gift tags on my presents.
Are you up to any Christmas crafting this year?
One of my favourite bloggers, Tilly, is having a super awesome AMAZING giveaway on her blog! The contest ends Saturday 8th December 2012 at midnight GMT. This is an amazing give away for sewing enthusiasts! She has so many prizes, including one of my pdf patterns. Head on over to her blog for more details on how to enter 🙂