Me-Made March

I, Erin at Mama In Progress sign up as a participant of Me-Made-March '11. I endeavour to wear 1 handmade item each day for the duration of March 2011.


As I discovered back in September on this challenge, I didn't have enough to really mix and match beyond a few outfits! The September challenge really made me aware of some of the holes in my handmade wardrobe! That experience really helped me to focus my crafting into items that are needed if I'm really going to transition to handmade the way I would like to. Since finishing up Christmas things I've been working on a  few items for myself to fill those holes and I thought I'd let you know what the plan is for the next few weeks in case you'd like to join in!


:: 3 (THREE!!!) sweaters that are one sleeve or less away from being complete. It's quite ridiculous and it's time I get over my weird little "allergy" to finishing sleeves. Sleeves are going everywhere with me over the next few weeks!


:: I have 2 skirts in the sewing plans for next week, which is an off-week in the studio. I'm only teaching for about 5 hours that week, so I have extra crafting time!


:: A pair of Khaki pants that I'm going to re-cut. When I originally made them last summer I made them wide-legged but they just don't look right on me, even though I like the cut on other people. So . . . time for a re-do.


:: I've been collecting 50's dress ideas for most of this fall/winter and I think I might be ready to try a muslin for one and then hopefully make the dress. I don't know if it will make it in time for MMM, but it's in the sewing plans for the end of February. It kind of depends on how many more snow days we might acquire!


:: What I'm desperately in need of is some great fitting shirts. I haven't found a pattern that I think will be versatile but I need some great shirts. And honestly? They scare me to sew. Another weird crafty fear to get over.


:: I'm also going to try to plan ahead a bit this time and plan to post 1-2 times a week about sewing/outfits rather than having a giant long post at the end of the month.

In a Week

It's been strange to not write here the last few days, but it's been for good reason.

It feels like life exploded a little, but in a good way

So my nightstand looks like this after a week in a row of very full evenings instead of the quiet we usually enjoy.

We're taking on something new

A step toward the intentional life we'd like to lead

And on top of already wondrous opportunity is the possibility of 50F temperatures starting this weekend and going into next week even though it looks like this outside today

Ezra has been marking his name everywhere in the house this week (and I mean everywhere. I might as well follow him around with a Magic Eraser scrubber!)

And we'll share more when everything is official. God is so good!

Celebrate Winter: Soul Refreshment

Last week was a long week.

The blizzard moved through here on Tuesday, which meant a cuddled up snow day here but the rest of the week was a frantic rush of making up lessons to students who had missed for snow, a few extra hours for work with the worship department at church, my nephew's first birthday party, and family in from out of town. Oh and did I mention that Brian and Ezra were sick most of that time and I lost my camera?


I don't know about you but the colder it is the more I want to cuddle up in blankets and promise to come out when spring returns. The truth is that getting up, getting out and doing is an important part of keeping those spirits up, even when the effort to get out of the house takes a lot more energy. Doing makes a big difference in attitude, and for me having creative time to knit a few more stitches, to cut out new pajamas for little boys, or to write new words makes the difference between "worn down" Mama and "refreshed for the next day" Mama. Too often though that is the time I choose to drop after a long day and I feel the difference after a few days in a row without making *something*.

* * * * *

This Celebrate Winter endeavor is all about changing my mindset about this season- to search for the great activities found only in this season, to beat the winter blues that often come on in February, and most of all to choose joy during this time, resisting the urge to curl up and hibernate.
 

What do you do to feel refreshed through these colder months?