**Update on My So Called Life**

It has been approximately 152,640 minutes since I have posted on this blog and about 100 days since I have touched my sewing machine! 

So what brings me back?

My husband sent me some material about rekindling my passions, as in creative passions.  As we've heard before... life just simply happens and when we are not careful, we just lose touch of things that matter.  I am happy to say that I have not lost touch with my family and my home and if anything, it has gotten so much better even though I thought things could not get any better.

Since February 2010, a lot has happened.  In March, my daughter turned 3.  In April, I gave birth to our baby boy.  In mid-May, my classes for a possible degree in Consumer Sciences were finished.  All in between, I have been cooking and making our home as hospitable as it can be.  I have been schooling my daughter with whatever learning materials we can afford and acquire.  Before turning 3, she was able to read and months after, she was finally pottytrained.

With my school over and the husband currently living out his goals, I though of setting out to do the same.  So in the recent days and today, I have been thinking of goals and what to do.  There are plenty of things to do with two kids but I mean what to do outside of everyday life?

I came up with ten things and one of them will be sewing and blogging on my sewing.  I really do miss sewing but it has not and cannot be THE TOP priority at this time and was #10 on my list.  The sewing room has gone into some transformation due to the new needs in space for the new baby.  I still have everything but my sewing things just aren't as open or laid out beckoning me to sit down nor is allready for use.  But my hope and goal is that I plug in the machine before the month is over.  I only have 4 days to do that but I shall set it as a goal... or it will be another month before I even think of sewing again.

What shall I make next?

Free Nursing Cover Pattern

I used this as a guide to make one for Baby Isaiah early this morning at 2 am.  I finished past 430 am because I was real meticulous as it was my first nursing cover of this kind: instead if the D-rings, I attached a big button and made 3 button holes on the neck strap for mommy to choose from.  What took the most time was the double-sided bias tape binding I attached with hidden seams and then top stitching it on the 3 sides and the bottom.  It was a great color that accented the pattern of the fabric.

I was so tired from making it that I forgot to take a picture before gifting it.  I will see her again and will take a pic while in use =)

The moms ooohed and ahhhhed over it and one said that i win "the cutest gift" contest - there wasn't one but that was sweet to say =)

I see making this for all the upcoming baby showers.... there are 2 currently on my calendar, not including mine.   It is just a matter of finding the time with school work and life.  Will I have to make them at 2 am?

How to Choose your Sewing Needles

Free Booklet here:

http://www.joann.com/static/project/0704/PA00223.pdf

Free Sewing Classes start January 27, 2010

some start at later dates.... 1/28, 2/1, 3/6, 4/10... it goes on and on..... averaging 16 weeks per topic Take a look at all the classes they offer! http://www.sandiegocet.net/classes/clothing-textiles-fashions/ I have never been to these classes. I have heard that they are crowded in the beginning but as time goes on, people drop out and there is more space and more comfortable learning environment.  


The price is right and there are many different types of sewing you can choose from. has someone in this group gone through this system? reply below and tell us about it. I say, just get there early for a seat and bird's eye view.I do not know if they have a required textbook for the class. 


I did the traditional route: Community Colleges @ Mesa College and Palomar as they offer them during the semester. I have gone through them both. Mesa in 2000 and Palomar in 2009. They fill up fast with Fashion major students and only recommended if you are up for a challenge as there is a lot more work required in these college level and college transferable courses than the Continuing Ed classes.  


The cost of community college courses is $26 per unit x 4; they count the apparel construction class as 3 units for lecture and 1 unit for lab. Consider also the cost of books. Mine was $140 when I took the sewing class at Palomar.

Mexican-fiesta Pillowcase Dress - using left over fabric

I had a bit of fabric left over from MIL's apron so i made something for my daughter, our little Mexi-Pina.  This time, I used bias-tape for the arm holes and no serging.  I am relying on the pinking shears and the finished edges of the fabric for it to not fray.  I was in a rush to finish this, doing it at 6 am before the baby woke.  She did wake when I was sealing the neckline and she was just not having it!  But after some tears, the dress was done =)

A side-tie apron with no pattern needed!

only an existing one laid on top of fabric as a pattern will do.  the only difference is that instead of following the outline of the armholes, i went down diagonally to the waistline - around the area where i wanted the ties to be BECAUSE i traced a very stretchy apron to a flannel material (don't do that! like with like material!) that had no stretch and it was necessary to make the change for the finished project to lay better on the body. Initially, before the alteration and tie repositioning on the side, this was not wearable...

but now as you can see here, it is wearable and here she is:

A new book for me: Patternmaking for Fashion Design 4th edition

I was so overly excited as I got a response to my ad looking for sewing knick-knacks that people were wanting to get rid of or throw away and she mentioned having a pattern making book. I had told my hubby that other than an advanced sewing class, I wanted to take pattern-making if i was to really have the basics and hone in on my sewing skills.

Upon picking up the book, she also had patterns from the fabric stores - which is great as i never want to cut the ones i buy for myself, as well as an older sewing machine. It appears to be running at first glance as the machine is threaded and all with fabric currently in the feed, but have yet to plug it in and try it for myself.

I probably will be passing on some of the stuff I received today or have them ready for use as i start up my sewing group again in 2010 - only days away! I am always willing to share and always thankful for people's generosity.

She said she might not be home when I dropped by and her home looked empty as I walked up to the stuff on her porch, but after I heard some movement inside, I rang the doorbell to personally thank her for her kindness. She was very sweet and seemed very grateful that I was thankful. She said that she too had taken some sewing at Mesa College, as well as the pattern-making but had to stop because of a coming baby. Her hope is that I can make great use of the stuff and even apologetic for not having more. Apologies not required at all and i will be forever thankful!