Making The New Year Pledges

Since I went back to school in September, I haven't had much time to sew, and, I have sorely neglected my etsy shop. But tonight I made some time to tidy up and add a few more items I made before the craft show. I still enjoy making drawstring backpacks. Theyare my favorite bag to make. They were the inspiration, or I should say, my daughter was my inspiration, about four years ago. She wanted a drawstring backpack in seventh grade. But she did not want just any one off the rack at the store. She wanted Disney Tinker Bell, specially handmade by Mom, and I had so much fun making it and seeing her use it and love it. Her friends also loved it, so she started taking orders, for backpacks as unique as each and every friend, and that renewed my love for sewing. I eventually opened an Etsy Shop in March of 2007.

Wow how time flies. She is a junior in high school now, and she drives, which frees up more of my time, and though I would love to be spending the time sewing, I decided to use the spare time and go back to school. I love it though. I would have never guessed ten years ago that I was destined to become a 21st century middle-aged nurd. I am finding that I love to dig for information now, writing research papers and speeches, and creating power point presentations. It is indeed, very time consuming, and does not leave me much time to sew these days.

But my heart is still in it, and today I made time to spend in my shop, and regain some inpiration to add some new backpacks, and rearrange things to spruce it up a bit.

I work a full time job during the week, too, then go to school three nights a week, and now my new years pledge is to set the organizational skills up a notch and allow time to sew at least one new bag or accessory for my shop each week.

If you haven't visited my shop, please take a minute to browse, and let me know what you think. I am always open to feedback. I have categories for many types of purses and accessories.

• Clear Vinyl Purses


• Backpacks


• Fabric Purses


• Business Card and Credit Card Holders


• Tote Bags


• Home Accessories

I thank you for taking time to look. And thank you for fueling my passion for sewing!

If you are a handmade products officiando, as myself, here is a link to take the "Handmade Pledge" http://www.buyhandmade.org/

Because Handmade means made with love!

Milestones From 2008 and Beyond

Milestone-an often-used term to indicate an event that ends one phase or begins another:
"Within the framework of project management, a milestone is the end of a stage that marks the completion of a work package or phase, typically marked by a high level event such as completion, endorsement or signing of a deliverable, document or a high level review meeting."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milestone_(project_management)

To say it simply, I want to begin my new blog and end my "old year" with some thoughts and revelations to share, with some new perspectives on the journey into the new year.

I am most thankful to God, who's spirit has always been there to tap me on the shoulder and show His presence when I really wanted to just throw up my hands and throw in the towel. I have done a lot of soul-searching and heart-mending in 2008. Without Him I would not be able to sit here and share what I feel inclined to share. I have a strong sense of optimism now for 2009, in the midst of the chaos and turmoil that the radio, newspapers and TV hurl at us daily. When I feel the urge to sulk and go all negative, which I have done a time or two, I read the word or even better, I listen to the Bible via free downloading to my mp3 player.
If you have a hard time understanding what is going on in the world, all you have to do is read and/or listen. The truth is there. You can really have hope, joy, comfort, and peace. The evil forces of the world just want you to believe that it is impossible. But I pray that you will read, study and fellowship with other believers who will help on your journey. This pretty much covers my number one priority-God.
"Jesus is the answer for the world today"

My number two priority is family, and right now it is just my teen-age daughter and myself, a very small family, but BIG on challenges. She is definitely a teen-ager with attitude. She doesn't understand just how important she is to me. And when it is just two of us, we clash. When we are with other people, things are copacetic for the most part. Single parenting has given me many of those moments that for a time seem like they will never end, but are mingled occasionally with moments that I want to just snatch up and paste on the pages of my memory book with a vengeance. And I know that in just a couple of short years, these tears of frustration will turn into tears of joy mixed with sadness as she goes off to college, leaving the nest empty and me to my own devices. I have launched three other beautiful offspring out into the world and now am looking for and cherishing all the beautiful and memorable moments with my youngest.

#3 Priority is Work
I love the company I work for. Both of them. The first being a job that has allowed me to accomplish one somewhat insignificant goal that I have had on the back burner for quite a few years, and that is to learn ten-key. I always was amazed at people who could get their fingers to go that fast on numbers. I have a regular alpha typing speed that is average, of 45 wpm, and was so intimidated by the numeric part of key-boarding. But data entry has allowed me to get the practice and experience to now key up to 9,000 kph on a good day. This task is required to index and verify data that is acquired within projects being scanned for data capturing and storage.
I also have a part-time retail position that serves two purposes: I have fun helping customers, and I need to make up for a serious wage deficit.
I know I should have to work only one job, with having an Associate Degree in computer programming, but mostly for the sake of my highest priorities, time has not allowed me to persue that route on my career path. But that hopefully will change in the new year. I have been tossing around the idea of going back to school, and even have applied for financial aid, but have to go to school full-time for financial assistance to help and that is the glitch I am dealing with concerning that.

When I manage to squeeze out an extra few hours in the week, I love to sew. I started a hobby a few years ago making purses and bags and now have a much-neglected Etsy Shop, which I am now working on to add more merchandise. That is if those few extra hours might present themselves. My specialty and favorite bag to sew is fabric drawstring backpacks, which are ever-popular and available in many different fabrics. Most of them I make by special request, for friends and co-workers. Via my shop on etsy, I sell world-wide and accept payments through pay-pal for convenience.

I also have a crib quilt and accessories in the works, for the new grand baby that is on the way. I will be welcoming beautiful grandbaby #4 in April. I know that will be one of many blessings to look forward to in 2009. I am so excited this new years eve to see what all the new year has in store. I pray you have the same hope and excitement as your new year unfolds as well!

To you and yours!

Free Pattern For Drawstring Purse

The tutorial for the gathered purse is finished, and has step-by-step instructions with photos. Click on a picture to go to the directions. Have fun!

Sew For Today's News...

Within the short space of 4 days, I have succeeded at starting and finishing a new dress, and a pair of curtains for my bedroom. I had this wonderful fabric in my stash, and decided to make it the focal point for a decorating make-over. Now I will find some fabric for the bedspread and make some decorator pillow from the curtain left-overs.

When I was in high school, my entire wardrobe was handmade by me. Over the years the time and motivation escaped me somehow, but today, with a renewed passion and enthusiasm, I am making it a new goal to make my daughter and myself our clothes from now on. Such a feeling of accomplishment is to be had from finishing something you create yourself. I believe what the bible says "in His image he created them" Genesis 1:27 He is our creator and the creator of all the beauty in nature that is given to us as a gift. We also are given the talents to create things and in turn give a gift to our family, our home, or our friends. To plant the seed and get the motivation growing, You can do a google search for "free_____________patterns" (you fill in the blank) for whatever you want to make, and you are most likely to find a free pattern out there to try. I did this with this cute little clutch purse: made from a remnant left over from some curtains, and a swatch of denim.

When I googled "free clutch purse pattern" I found this one at about.com.