Oh Dear December is Upon Us.

Hello lovely readers. I'm a bit behind in the blogging but then I feel I'm a bit behind in everything. December has that effect on me. I hate it and try to fight it because I just love Christmas. I do not want to feel stressed about it. Truth is there's always a moment in there where I do feel overwhelmed but it usually passes quickly. This year is different as I've been battling major anxiety. It's so weird and scary and makes me feel guilty which, I think, adds to it. I finally talked to my husband and my parents and that helped. It helped a lot actually.

I cut back even more on my pie-in-the-sky ideas of what to make for whom and made a list and spent some quality time in the bathtub. Now I feel back to myself, excited for the season. All that to say I don't have much to share with you...yet but it's coming.

Our Thanksgiving was lovely and my very pink barbie cake was well received. How is making pink frosting you ask? It's glorious!

Not bad for a first barbie cake and using only
a sandwich bag to decorate with.

I was pretending the S&P shakers were
her dwarf friends.

 I also realized I had never posted about this skirt and bag. Not the best picture which is why it's cropped funny but you get the idea. The skirt is from the "Colette Sewing Handbook" and the bag is from Alicia's book "Stitched in Time." I like the bag and already have a bunch of ideas on how to improve it. I am also very cautiously attempting to sew the skirt from you-know-where that I never finished last year. I would love to wear it to the Christmas Eve Service, I'll keep you updated on that. The pattern is labeled "intermediate" and I had to regrade it since my waist measurements and hip measurements are nowhere close to each other. Wish me luck!

So how is your season shaping up? What are your tricks for enjoying the season rather then stressing. Apparently I need all the help I can get.

A New Stocking.

Years ago when I first got my sewing machine I made some stockings. A couple were for Brian and I and I sold a few in my Grammy's shop, I gave a couple away as gifts and that was that. Then I had a son and it was cool because I had an extra stocking, then I had another son and then we were short a stocking. Of course that means that mom goes with out. Really Santa doesn't always fill a stocking for me and Brian so it's no big deal but still a girl needs a stocking don't you think?

Enter Alicia Paulson's book "Stitched in Time" which you've heard me blather on about many times before. I had so much left over fabric from the dress (remember the baby hat? Still going strong) But, I thought it could make a cute plaid stocking that was just a little different b/c of the color. I got the lining fabric at my favorite sewing shop Sew Unique. The lining makes the stocking for me. I picked it because I wanted stripes and the colors were perfect.  However it's a bit unique. I'll let you figure out why on your own. Let me just say it's "uniqueness" kind of grew on me in a "Nightmare Before Christmas" sort of way.

And, why pray tell, must I make a stocking for myself in October? Well, I got bit by the Christmas bug and I thought if I did a small project it would keep me from decorating the house and getting out the Christmas CD's. It's worked so far...