I have not blogged in a bit.
I guess this might be a long picture filled post…
It was Jen Beeman from Grainline Studio who stated in her recent blog post that “photographing yourself and blogging is a muscle that atrophies fast if not used”. I agree! Once you fall out of the habit of blogging and posting, even the haphazard uneven pattern of blogging and posting that I have, you tend not to post. Since my last post, I didn’t even do Instagram good. And no tweet was Twittered. Oh well…
I would add that this past winter was just too darn long for me!! I was ether preoccupied with starting my post Masters degree life (besides working my regular job , I am now adjunct faculty a local college..) or I was sewing just what I needed to keep myself WARM or mildly entertained during the winter months. That means I did not do much of anything, and I also did not do much “pretty” or profound with my sewing machine- just practical. And yet they are all pretty to me!
Now that Spring seems like it has FINALLY ” sprung”, and I am thinking that I might not see anymore snow, I may take the #MeMadeMay theme and run with it. Or at least do a slow mosey walk, with it. I can use some of the new patterns I bought online while I was cooped up inside from the cold.
What follows is me making my own pictorial record on my of what I made or did during the fall/ winter months 2017-2018. It’s purely selfish documentation of very little sewn, but me keeping memory that I did SOMETHING related to sewing during the winter besides feeling too cold for too long.
I did not make the dress but I made the hat pictured for Easter Sunday 2018 thinking it would be something nice for the Spring- but wouldn’t ya know it, we had 4 inches of snow– day after an early April Easter in my town. Cray Cray weather! Anyway , if you’re looking, enjoy the pictures.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017
Camp Workroom Social 2017: Good friends. A time to assist w/ teaching class. Beautiful upstate NY Fall foliage..
Some practical sewing…
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017
Snow and cold in my home town..
Hangin’ with friends at the grand opening of Gotham Quilts in Manhattan….
Taking inspiration from Gotham, sewing to stay warm, and a start to a Christmas tree skirt to keep entertained…
I wanted a yellow quilt, so I made one…


Attempting to clean out my stash( and stay warm..) made a simple rainbow strip quilt from various yard pieces…


DECEMBER 2017:
Started a Christmas tree skirt from my own design in December to be finished for Christmas 2017 ( Yeah- that WAS the plan….) Actually did not complete until April 2018. I comforted myself by thinking that in April it’s Christmas SOMEWHERE in the world, and the tree skirt would be right on time. For the few who might doubt my Christmas tree skirt color choices out there… I’m a New Yorker. Black goes with everything. And if Black and red is good enough for Santa’s boots and suit, It’s good enough for me. Merry Christmas!

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2018
Winter still in fill swing in Jan / Feb, but at least I have quilts keeping me warm. Visited a fairly popular bronze statue temporarily located in the city (named “Fearless Girl” ) and got another glimpse of a more full exhibit of Downton Abby costumes temporarily located in Midtown.

Never wanted to live in “Downton World”! Not my thing. ALWAYS wanting to be as goodly skilled a tailor and dressmaker as Downton World. ALWAYS my thing !! That’s why I always go and look…
MARCH /APRIL 2018
Busy months working and teaching for me. Had the moment to spend the day in Edison New Jersey to do charity sewing for an organization called CINDERELLA’S CLOSET. This is a national organization that has local chapters and volunteer organizers. Businesses donate EVERYTHING a young woman might need to wear to go to her senior high school prom, but could not otherwise afford it. The girls meet certain criteria set by their teachers or schools in accordance with criteria from Cinderella’s Closet organization. They come to the site by the bus load and chose gown, shoes, everything- in order to look good for their upcoming prom. I joined up with sewing friends from the New Jersey chapter of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. Once per year they volunteer to do on the spot sewing alterations for Cinderellas Closet. We set up a sewing shop ( machines sergers, iron etc..) and do simple alterations on site , but then some of the ladies do take gowns home to complete the more involved alterations. We had a men’s tailor onsite as well for the boys and the suits they were able to pick from. This year the event was held in Edison High school gym. It was a busy day. We did the sewing ,laughing , shared sewing skills and tips, and sewing stories. Felt good to donate sewing skills to support young people.
AND LASTLY—For Spring , I enjoyed my hand made tea cozy with tea. A simple quick sew item made to enjoy the simple things in life- like a hot cup of tea on a chilly day. Really I just wanted to use another piece of fabric and extra quilting batting and move it out of my fabric stash and into LIFE use.
And then there was the fresh cut flowers and white ribbon I used to create my Easter bonnet for 2018. I did this THINKING Easter would mark REAL Spring arriving. I was wrong —4 inches snow the next day after Easter. Anyway….
AND NOW IT’S MAY 2018 !!! Yay !!
Weather is finally turning warmer and staying a bit more consistent with the change in season.. That is a boost to my mood and possibly my sewing endeavors.
Will try to get my blogging/ Twitter/Instagram muscle to have more exercise. PEACE !
I’ve been thinking about you and here you are! you’ve been busy. Busy. Busy. Flex those social media muscles and have some fun.
Thanks Teri. Yeah- after this break- now it’s all about fun and enjoying my sewing room! Again- thank YOU for the quilting inspiration 🙂
Are you going to the Northern Star Quilt Show this weekend?
It is so great to ear from you again! I love your post and the variety of all the different things you’ve made. I keep thinking of trying quilting, you are such an inspiration, your quilts are beautiful! I hope you’re coming to camp again this year, I’m looking forward to see you again! 🌷🌷🌷
Thank you so much for your kind words. I would say to anyone to try quilting- it’s fun, and a refreshing creative break from garment sewing. My next thing get to is to try to add some quilting techniques to a garment or two. One sewing step at a time. Yep- I plan to be at Camp this year. Jennifer has graciously invited me back, and looking forward to supporting all the creativity and the fun that happens during that weekend. Keep sewing and see you then. TC
Thanks for the update.
Thanks for reading…