The Happiness Project

Hello Dear Friends and Readers… I must say it has been a busy week at the Sew Exhausted households. Between finishing up Carnivale costumes (which we will blog about next week), kids, cleaning house and all the other myriad things we have to do- WELL, let’s just say we have been pretty swamped.

I wanted to share something we have implemented that does not directly have anything to do with sewing- although Kerrielee and I both agree that sewing makes us happy. But a few days ago Kerrie posted one of those little pics with a cute/funny/true saying and it got me thinking. A LOT!

A few of you may remember I went through a breakup 4 and a half months ago that really hit me hard and I teetered on the edge of some pretty serious depression. (OK- I wallowed in it for a bit) But to keep my mind from thinking (that sounds kind of funny but that is what I mean because My Mind sometimes won’t SHUT UP!) I started sewing again and blogging. I had not sewn in FOREVER and it has really helped me get back on my feet emotionally and mentally. *Side note- I love you guys! I feel so inspired when I read your blogs and see what you have created, when I chat with you on Twitter and FB, and I feel like I have a wonderful circle of pals and I hope I am not that annoying new friend you just roll your eyes at each other about ;)!

Anyway- Back to The Happiness Project. I want to be happy. I think we ALL want to be happy and many of you ARE already there. I am happy at times now. I am not one of those up and down people at all and I am generally content. But I wanted a list of WHAT I don’t have that is still preventing me from that full on state of happiness we all desire. And guess what- it was not THINGS. 🙂 I mean- SURE- that state of the art sewing machine may make you happy, or that new car, or that $50 a yard piece of silk (pleeeease) but I came up with something different. (Oh- and it is NOT a new man in my life- lol)

The thing I currently struggle with the most is my weight. I have ACCEPTED that I am the same person regardless of what I look like and I need to feel good about myself, BUT I am not happy with the way I look and feel. As a matter of fact, I am NOT a Spring Chicken anymore and I do not want to shorten my life by being heavy. I want to keep up with my future grandchildren! (WAY in the future children of mine!) I want to make myself some of the styles and clothes I have in my head that I avoid now.  I want to be able to take a Saturday morning hike up a mountain and not want to cry half way there… and I don’t want the bottoms of my feet to hurt when I get out of bed in the morning.

I have lost weight before. Years ago I was VERY heavy and I lost 100 pounds. I kept it off for 8 years. It is only in the last 2 years or so I have seen it start creeping back on. I want to stop it before I get back up to that miserable weight I was at. Being heavier does NOT make me happy, it makes me miserable. And so that is at the top of my list for my Happiness Project. I listed a few things that I want to accomplish and HOW I was going to accomplish them and now it is time to make them happen. Because ultimately I truly believe someone else is not responsible for my happiness- I am!

All this said- I am not unhappy. I love being a mom and I adore my kids. I have been blessed with a job that lets me work from home and although more money would be nice there are many with less. I manage to scrape by! A few years back I moved from a “mobile home” to a house with a yard and I love living in a nice neighborhood. I have great friends I don’t see often enough but that is another “list” item. I have my health and I have both my parents… LOTS to be thankful for. But now I want to work on losing some of this excess weight that is creeping up on me.

This week I hiked a mountain, bike rode to Kerrielees house and home IN THE RAIN (had tea with Kerrie in between 🙂 ), walked and ate right. I am 47- starting to go through that “oh so wonderful” time in my life and it is going to be a lot harder but I am determined to not let the exercise and eating right slip away this time. I do not need to be skinny or perfect but I want to look and feel good.

And so I am on it! I have other things on my list that I will mention later- and Kerrie has a great item at the top of her list we will share. (I just want to share it because I love how she is going to get there!) But I really want to know if there is anything in your life you are working on that will help complete your happiness? Is it something simple or something that is going to take some work? Or are you already at the peak happiness in your life?

If you have something you want to work on or towards I encourage you to make a list of the steps that are going to help you get there! 😀 One of things on my list is a trip to Ireland– has been for years. I am going to make that happen and have the steps listed to get there! (And I am going to have a made by me wardrobe to bring along with me and look darn good in it!)

On another note- The Wellington Pattern Pyramid has arrived!!! Thank you Anne at Pretty Grievances. I will blog about it in a few days after I add my patterns and send it on to the next winner! And I have my Polka Dot Frock half finished. I think I will make it by the end of February! And Kerrielee and I want to share our Carnivale costumes…AND I am expecting my 1940’s sew along pattern ANY day (all the way from the UK) and I will be sharing that too… So see you all soon!

~Laurie

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Drink and Sew Thursday

Tags

clothing, fabric, fabrics, fashion, New Look 6165, patterns, projects, sew exhausted, sewing, Thursday, Vogue 8792

Kerrielee and I have been focusing on getting more sewing in together each week- because we all know sewing with a pal can be more fun! Or at least WE think so! Kerrielee and I are cousins and although I am a few years older (JUST A FEW OF COURSE!) we have gotten along extremely well forever! As a matter of fact I would venture to say we are as close as sisters. 🙂

We have sewn together off and on for years- and used to sew every Saturday. Then we had a few years of nothing and in the last few months we have hit the ground running with our sewing again. And along with Saturday, we added Thursday, which we now call Drink and Sew Thursday! We make an easy meal so all the kids are fed, and we have drinks.. and sew. This last week we had some beer. It WAS Valentines Day and I had found a nice “My Bloody Valentine Ale” from Alesmith, a local Craft Brewery. It was delish… And we followed it up with a Stone Cali-Belgique. (One of my faves and also another local Brewery)

Oh, and Kerrie and I LOVE Hot Wings but Kerrie is now a vegetarian, so we eat Hot Wing Cauliflower. SOOOOOO yummy!

Now I bet you all are wondering if we actually get anything done. And the answer is YES! I made a new top and a pair of hip hop pants for Kadi, and Kerrielee made a new skirt. Kerrie has more little ones running around so gets pulled away a little more often than I. But isn’t that skirt darn cute? It is New Look 6165. I need to get myself that pattern.

 

I like this pattern. It is Vogue 8792 although I made a few changes, (I ignored the extra piece and made the front as one piece) and I really like the burnout. I used a red tank under it, but can switch up the color! 🙂 I am going to make myself another. As I am on the seamless pledge I am thinking I will make some shorter sleeve ones for summer in some nice solid knits.

It can be complete chaos. The baby is at that age where he likes to run around nekkid. Kids get hungry or thirsty. But it’s fun and we are together, and we get stuff done. So, we will continue with our Drink and Sew Thursday.

So, remember- Thursday is Drink and Sew Thursday… and Saturday- well we are going to call it Stitch and Bitch! Yesterday, we worked on our costumes for Carnivale for 12 hours!! And still had time to enjoy fish tacos and a few drinks. You are all welcome to join us if you ever feel inclined! 😀

It’s All About Me!!

Tags

clothing, dress, fabric, fabrics, ITY Jersey, sew exhausted, sewing, Vogue 8489, Vogue Patterns

I notice something new creeping in to my sewing. Something I am not used to BUT something I am having a great time doing. After all these years it is All About Me… Selfish Sewing! Bring it on.

I will be honest. I stopped wanting to sew for myself ages ago. Pretty much after baby #2- who is so not a baby anymore. The reason? Well, I figured I would be really honest about it- and the major reason is weight gain. I did not like the way I looked. And I ESPECIALLY did not want to see any pictures of myself. But ever since my Jungle January Jammies I have been expanding my sewing from quilting and sewing for my girls to sewing for MOI. And I am having a pretty nice time doing so.

My latest “thing” is ITY Jersey Knits. It was the fabric I made Kadi’s Hip Hop pants with, and I fell in love with the feel, the drape, and the simplicity of the fabric. (I can shove this dress in to a suitcase and pull it out wrinkle free and ready to wear. It is also a pure delight to work with!

I bought my Jersey knits at Fabric Mart. On sale. At $3 per yard. Cha Ching! That means this dress cost me $9.

I used Vogue 8489 and I will use it again. Because I love the fit, the cut is flattering, and I sewed it up in one evening. The neckline is EXTREMELY low cut. As a matter of fact, when I initially put it on for pictures I forgot my cami top and Kadi was alarmed. She informed me I could not go out like that. (Ohh how the tables have turned!) I told her the movie stars did it all the time and she gently reminded me I was NOT a movie star- Siggghhh)

Anyway, I am going to make myself another one. I bought a deep dark cherry red solid ITY Jersey Knit from Fabric Mart the other day. YAY! (Another $9 dollars well spent).

My final thoughts? I am not completely happy with myself at this time- I am walking and eating right and actively trying to lose some weight. BUT for the first time in a long time I am enjoying wearing clothes- clothes made by me! And just like Maria sang in Westside Story, “I feel pretty.”

Its been 8 days since my last post

Tags

carnivale, clothing, costumes, crafting, dance costumes, fabric, fabrics, fashion, patterns, projects, sew exhausted, sewing

Forgive me friends… It’s been 8 days since my last post. I REALLY wanted to do better than that this year- truly. Some of you are soooo prolific and I enjoy reading everything you are up to. But I have been swamped with “joyless” sewing. You know – those things you HAVE to do. And that sort of (ok- NOT sort of- most definitely) takes the fun out of sewing.

I wanted to add a picture of a grumpy/ angry/ unhappy sewist but when I googled it I just discovered there was some horror movie out called “The Seamstress.” I think I missed that one? And I do NOT want to frighten you so I will not post the image that came up with it. (Sewing needle nails- that’s all I gotta say!)

Both Kerrielee and I have been sewing costumes for the dance studio our girls dance at. First the circle skirts (SIX of them), then the booty shorts and tops. Kerrie has more on her plate with alterations and making duo costumes. (She even DYED the lace to match the fabric of one!) I still have 6 little “carwash” overalls to make but thankfully those don’t need to be finished until next month, which means I don’t need to start right now. (LOL)

See that awesome purple dyed lace Kerrielee made?

Next week, we WILL be sewing our Carnivale costumes. And frankly folks, THAT is exciting! Kerrielee is going to make a mermaid dress… and I am just going to be some chick in a fancy royal blue dress and mask. 😉

We have more going on- but frankly I am working at a conference, and Kerrielee is madly finishing costumes so I am going to save that for another day!

Have a great and productive weekend and I promise to post soon!

~L