Dear Friends,
Yes, the rumors are true. Not only did I actually finish my mother’s 2009 Christmas present, but I actually produced a podcast about it, too! No, seriously. I did.
After all sorts of misadventures (you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out what they were), I finally sat down and sewed them up this weekend in no time.
I highly recommend Simplicity 3935 as an easy to sew pajama pattern.
I needed to add about 4″ for ease at the waist, so I slashed the pattern along the extra-small cutting line.
Is thirty-year-old bias tape that I used on a dress for my youngest sister considered vintage?
The finished top
and a close-up where the yoke and front meet:
So…tell me…what was the latest you’ve ever been on a Christmas present (or any other present/project)?
Click here to listen to podcast via direct download
Click here to subscribe via iTunes
Podcast feed/URL to subscribe in a player of your choice: http://grandmassewingcabinet.libsyn.com/rss
Hey, I have that pattern AND I do need some new ‘jammies’. Maybe that’s next up in the queue – after that danged mending, I mean.
Excellent! The pajamas came together beautifully. I hope your mother had jammies to fall back on while she waited! I try to avoid stress. I usually don’t undertake projects that involve deadlines.
I enjoyed visiting with you through the podcast last night, Dr. J. Of course, the conversation was one-sided. (LOL) I, too, discovered that taking on difficult sewing projects interfered with the pure enjoyment of sewing. Your studies have improved your sewing skills, though, and the life-lessons have yet to fully blossom.
I particularly enjoyed the different ‘casts about sewing Mama’s jammies, because I can relate to all the almost-started-so-many-times stories. It’s nice to be reminded that other people’s sewing projects, often don’t go any more smoothly than mine, even people – like you- who are focusing on sewing as a big project (along with all your other big projects).
What I PARTICULARLY want to thank you for today is that … you regularly refer to the excellent classes we here in California can participate in at our community colleges. I only began to regularly take advantage of our great community college system in my late 40′s. Now I’m in my early 50′s. (before that I thought they were just for young scholars and maybe the occasional art or exercise class for me)
But they are also for people, like me (and you), who aren’t working towards our first bachelor’s degree. There’s the continuing education for personal fullfillment (sp?) aspect – in my case I’ve taken a number of music classes and have plans for another set of those (the heavy duty effort 4 semester music theory set). A community without music, as we all know, is a community without a soul. I’m sure your music-playin Mama would agree. (What instrument does she play btw?) Oh and I was able to take Italian, which I wanted for solo voice work, too. But that’s been dropped by the state as a non-essential now. Good thing I managed that when I did. My arias have profited.
And then there’s the career retooling. I’m working on my third career. My second career (12 years of elementary and secondary teaching) took my away from my first career skills (20 years as a programmer). In order to return to my programming career, I have a lot of catching up to do. And am I ever getting great classes for doing that in my local community college system . There are some things I find awfully hard to do on my own. These classes really make it possible for me to go back into my first career, which I found I missed a lot, with the new skills I need.
Also the professors I have in these classes are hands-down the best teachers I’ve ever had. I’ve had lots of excellent teachers in my U.C. education and my state college (teaching credential) as well. But these teachers are BETTER. And they really put time into helping students too.
I will get off my soap box now. Thank you for letting me park it in your shade for a few minutes.
Laurel
BTW I need a f.a.q.
Yes, you can laugh. But because I only found your podcast recently, and have been listening in mixedup historical order (based on topic) I’m unclear how it’s best to connect to you on facebook.
It seems like maybe you have a G’Ma’s page and maybe that is separate from another page you have? Also you have multiple blogs.
So what is the most general way to connect with you on facebook, and pull in all the THREADS of things going on with you?
Thank ou for all your work. I have a relatively recently started podcast (4 epoisodes under my belt) and a slightly under a year old online art-journal (blog – such an unROMANTIC word) and I get a lot out of your creative and personal delivery style.
Thank you
Laurel
Hey Laurel~
It’s okay that you’re a bit confused. I like to think that I’m constantly evolving instead of a bit erratic
There is no one way to pull in all of the threads on Facebook. The best way to connect with me on FB is to simply “Like” the fanpages for the blogs that interest you.
And, congratulations on your blog/journal and podcast and thank you for the kind words about my personal delivery style (you’d be surprised at how many people feel compelled to write to me telling me how much they hate the way I write or speak!).
Dr. J.