The Week In A Photo Blast

Most of my week was spent being a mother and a housewife. My husband was away on business, but the house still needed me. Yes, I am wife to the house, I believe I am married to the house. Early morning sunrises were seen from the window of my car.

Most of my drives were spent arguing with the newest licensed driver in our household. She has her license, and she is doing the actual driving, but I am just not ready to let her do the driving all on her own yet. I am praying and hoping the day comes soon when maturity takes a solid hold in her.

I spent my swearing quota for the year on this Butterick pattern. It says "Fast & Easy" ... they lied.

I am not to happy with the results, but I did photograph myself in it so you could see what I mean.

I was attempting to figure out how I can sew clothing for myself with all the bright colored fabrics out there and yet look ... mmm... not fruity or like I am wearing a quilt. I have a ways to go, but will continue working on the concept of wearing bright colors and having neutrals play a role in them.

I talked at length with my tree guy. His wife is dying of cancer.  Seeing him up there on one of my trees this week made me think about heaven. 

It was a very sad week overall as one of my dearest friends is also dealing with a difficult cancer.

I bought myself flowers to lift my spirits.

I must say, even though they are expensive to buy and not very "green" when you know they are being shipped from thousands of miles away, they do help.

Having the colors in the house propelled me to forget my Butterick disappointment and create my own pattern. I made a couple of dresses from it. I will try and photograph myself in them soon.

When the flowers started dying, I started thinking about just how short our lives really are and that there is beauty in all of it ... every step of the way.

I went out and did what any sane person would do. I bought more flowers.

It made cleaning the house an easier task. I must add here, cleaning my girls bathroom (below) made me question my parenting abilities. My little "ladies" are a bit more on the "piglet" side when it comes to bathrooms.

I put a few flowers in my bathroom too. We had the bamboo sinks crack and they needed to be replaced. Think internet purchases, delivery, plumbers ... "fun,fun"... NOT. When it is grey outside and there are flowers between our sinks, I don't dwell on the bamboo sink fiasco as much.

Melissa has been blogging on steroids lately, all her colorful projects made a quick side trip to Sew Be It in Georgia and the ensuing purchase inevitable.

Back and forth, back and forth to school.

Thinking, contemplating.

Realizing that with all the suffering there is in this world, it still is a beautiful place to be.

Hope you enjoyed seeing my week in photos.

See you next time,

Carolina

Comments

[Melissa P]

Love all the photos. I'm sorry that pattern was giving you fits. I can't wait to see what you came up with for the dresses.

I'm happy you got yourself a stack of fabrics to play with. They will keep you inspired on those long drives.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

[Elizabeth]

I made something from that very pattern. It turned out kinda nice, but for some reason I don't wear it very much. I have it somewhere in my archives under sewing. I'll go back and see where it is, and give you the date, incase you want to see it.

Love taking a look at a slice of your life :) Your house looks like such a restful place to be, and oh my goodness those beautiful windows in your living room area!!!! I'm sure you see such amazing views from it.

I went fabric shopping the other day, and found nothing I really wanted :( I mentioned in my last post that I spoke with Nicole about fabrics and what she has been seeing in the London area. She got all excited and showed me one of the shops that she said was "so you mom." We are going to do a supply swap soon.

I hear you with the driving! Nicole never wanted to learn how to drive, so to this day does not have a drivers license. She would be a terror on the road, and I'm glad that she saw this in herself enough to not get one. Caitlin got her license when she was 18. She herself said she thought 16 was too young and didn't feel ready to drive, plus we live in a much more congested area with plenty of public transportation. I almost think the driving age should start at 18, then the maturity is there a bit more.
Last night Caitlin drove into the city with her boyfriend and some friends, and I was still afraid, and she will be 22 in a few weeks!!

[Elizabeth]

I found the date I posted on that top. April 9th 2009, if you click on the "sewing" link on the right hand side, you can flip through some old projects also. I made a Tracy Reese dress with the Anna Maria Horner fabric you have pictured in your ninth picture down. That too is on the sewing link. I love the feel of that fabric, and I wear that dress a lot in the summer months.

[The Muse of The Day]

Elizabeth's version is actually on April 1, 2009. Here is the link:

http://www.elizabeth-mackey.blogspot.com/2009/04/more-projects-and-finnished-top.html

I really prefer hers as the choice of fabric under the bust accentuates the whole piece better. I don't know if it is my weight or what, but when I put mine on it feels like I am ready to work as a nursing assistant at a hospital. Perhaps it is the color. I don't really know, all I know is I did all that work, put it on, looked in the mirror, and the first word out of my mouth was "yuck". I am glad you enjoyed the pictures, Elizabeth. The picture of my tree guy is the view from my living room window- the reason we live here. Carolina

[Elizabeth]

That is the hardest part in sewing for yourself. In a dressing room you can try on a million things and say yuck, and put them back on the rack, but when you put in actual labor, money, and heart and soul into a garment, and it not turn out like you thought it might, well..... you just want to cry!!! This has happened to me more that once I must say!
I always think I choose the right silhouette, and then bam... something still goes wrong with the fit or the fabric, then I get mad, and sometimes I don't even finish it. I think the last two things I made for myself was that Vogue Tracy Reese pattern with the Anna Maria Horner fabric, and a the Liberty of London top. Those came out rather nice and I actually wear those. It boosted my confidence a bit, so we shall see if I attempt to make something for myself anytime soon :)

[Elizabeth]

Oh, and I would love to sit on your living room couch with you and have a cup of coffee and look at that beautiful view!!!!

[Elizabeth]

One more thing...Have you ever gone on "pattern review.com?" That is such a great site to research how a pattern is going to look on real live person. http://sewing.patternreview.com/news

You can look at patterns that you like and put them into the search to see if anyone has made it, and what they liked or didn't like about it. This lead me to the Tracy Reese pattern, and the Cynthia Rowley top I made.

[Elizabeth]

Happy Valentine's day. Yes, I think Caitlin should start doing cards, they are always so darn cute. My sister is obsessed with them, and wants one every year for herself and my nieces and nephew. I have saved all of the ones she has made me. She said to tell you thanks for the lovely compliment.

[Amy]

love the week in photos and the message you closed with. very touching.

ps I may be a little partial, but what a great shot of the power lines!