Wednesday's Sewing Group is So FINE

Spiritual - So many of us are hurting. We are surrounded with so many blessings and we feel guilty because we're concentrating on the hurt and pain. Remember - God wants our WILL, not necessarily our feelings. When, in the midst of the hurt and pain, we still take care of the ones around us and try to connect with Him, then we are doing His will. That is all He asks. He can, and will do the rest. Trust in Him.

Sewing - I wouldn't give up Wednesday sewing with my wonderful sewing friends for anything! We are a group of 10 women who LOVE fabric - touching, collecting, sewing, talking, dreaming about, ... And, of course, we are getting to know and love each other. Yesterday we talked about our first cooking experiences when we were first married. The winner - "I embarrassed myself before I even cooked my first meal. I bought a pack of 7-steak and when I opened it, there were only 5!"

Thank Goodness prom is over!

Spiritual - Without an active prayer life, you cannot advance spiritually. Of course, I tried to do it my way - the lazy way. About 15 years ago I decided to get serious about setting aside time everyday to get connected by reading and praying. Although it has been an up and down process, it has begun to pay off, especially when I am consistent. I guess it's like communicating in marriage. When you persevere, you become intimate friends with your spouse. And, after learning how to communicate well, you don't even have to talk. God is so good.

Sewing - I have been up to my neck in alterations - prom dresses, slacks, graduation dresses. I have even made a couple of wedding veils. But, hey, this pays for my habit - which currently is sewing and photography software/tutorials. I am also trying to develop lesson plans for a couple of classes making projects using some of the newer techniques on the Designer Diamond. This morning I have to complete the muslin/pattern for a graduation dress, cut it out, and begin construction. This afternoon I'm giving private sewing lessons. This is so much fun!

Men's Short Sleeved Shirts

Spiritual - I have been very distracted during prayer - thinking about sewing, etc. -and it has been harder to bring my mind back to God. This morning, while reading Divine Intimacy (Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.), I read this account from St. Theresa: " You should consider [before praying] who it is that you are addressing, and who you are, if only that you may speak to Him with respect..." This, she concludes, is already to make mental prayer. That helped me a lot.

Sewing - Last summer I started making DH's short sleeved shirts - lot's easier than heirloom sewing! I bought several pieces of 100% cotton checks and chambray from Brambleberry Lane to make these shirts. I just finished the last planned one. I use Kwik Sew 2777. When I first began, I compared his favorite shirt to this pattern and made a few changes. The method for the stand up collar I use is from from Gigi, an "Internet sewing buddy"s tutorial rather than the method used in the pattern - look for stand up collar # 1, 2) . DH loves the shirts because he says they fit better. I'm not quite satisfied with the collar interfacing I'm using. Here is a picture of one of the first ones that I made:

I love Embird!

Spiritual - I really liked this quote from Martha Pullen's newsletter: " ...Think about David's words when he wrote 'You formed me in my mother's body.' We are not accidents. God, Himself formed us. We are not mistakes but we were carefully planned by God. We are valuable not because of our talents or accomplishments but because of our Maker. We were selected with love and God oversaw the process as he did the forming. I glory in knowing that all of my days were planned for me and written in God's book before I was one day old. The length of my life, my joys and my sorrows, the length of my life, my birth date and my death date, my trials and their solutions, what could be fixed and what could not, my strengths and my weaknesses--all were planned for me by my maker. That is reason for great joy in all circumstances I believe. I love waking up every morning and knowing that I belong to God and that He is sovereign, perfect and in complete control."


Sewing - I really love using Embird for my machine embroidery. Embird is software that can be purchased in modules. I have purchased Embird Basic (managing, resizing, converting, and changing designs), iconizer (designs are pictures and not just numbers), three wonderful pre-digitized alphabets, and Embird Studio (digitizing software). I probably paid $89 for Embird basic, $15 for iconizer, $15 per alphabet, and, $132 for studio. I purchased in first module about 4-5 years ago and added studio this past year. There are several modules that I haven't felt the need to explore. I keep up with Embird through Secrets of Embroidery . Updates to the program are free and upgrades cost about $15-30. IMHO, the designers (a family) keeps up with, and often surpasses, what other big name sewing machine software.  Some other software, I admit, can be more user-friendly. 

The new Archbishop Dolan of New York

Spiritually - This morning I listened to the homily of the new Archbishop Dolan of New York during the ordination mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was full of the truth of Catholic values and principles. It gave me hope for the future in spite of these rapidly changing times. He talked about the road to Emus when Jesus explained the Scriptures to the two disciples (Liturgy of the Word) and, later that evening when Jesus was recognized in the breaking of the bread (Liturgy of the Eucharist) - the first mass.

Sewing - I've been making matching dog harnesses/leashes, pillows, and pincushions to place in my sister and her daughter's new antique/coffee shop to open in September. After sewing outfits for the grandchildren and lots of prom alterations, this is a welcome change.

Bella, my miniature Dachshund, is recovering well after being spayed. Now that she is five months old, my husband is looking for a puppy of his own - a red female doberman. They ought to get along!