December 2008

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2008… Was it Great?

December 31, 2008 in Musings | 1 comment

Clearly, my rhyming skills need some help. I am notorious for terrible pun-induced rhymes. Fortunately for y’all only Eric is subjected to them. Let’s just say if one day my musical is preformed on Broadway, I’d die a very happy lady.

I’ve been reading oodles of year end report blogs, and felt the need to fit in. So here’s my wrap-up.

I didn’t really have any stated goals for 2008 so I must have succeeded somehow. I did, however, start this blog in late ‘07 hoping to get some more sewing done.

I’ve sewn

  • self-designed purple skirt-January
  • Blogway bag-January/February
  • Alabama Chanin corseted top-March/April
  • top for my pregnant friend-July
  • Alabama Chanin tee for Eric-August/September
  • Self-draft top, and pattern skirt-September/October
  • self-draft skirt block-November
  • baby kimono-November
  • pj pants (2 pairs)-November/December
  • kleenex holder/coin purse-December

So I did do some sewing, but not much. But I’ve also had a lot of change to deal with–and let’s face it. I should be an expert with change, but I’m not.

Other Notable Accomplishments in 2008

  • I completed two triathlons!
  • I went on my first business trip solo
  • I wrote two articles for Fashion Incubator
  • I won the Alabama Chanin scholarship–and you should go to a workshop even if you have to pay!
  • I won first in a Quilting Arts challenge at the Long Beach Quilt Show.

So now as I look forward to 2009 here’s some of my goals. They are still a bit rough around the edges.

  • Random goals
    • take an improv comedy class
    • clean out all of my undergarments that I’ll never wear/don’t fit and splurge on some really nice ones
  • Nurture my creativity–I have a few ideas about this and hope to share them in the upcoming months.
  • Eat like the French. We spend so much more time cooking dinner, than eating. We eat meals in front of the TV. So sitting at the table, and having a cheese plate at the end of the meal is something Eric and I are planning on doing more regularly-at least once a week. (We’d try it more, but he has a lot of evening obligations)
  • I want to go on a vacation–that is more than 2 nights and doesn’t involve going to see family. We love our families–it is just we’ve never taken a “grown up” vacation. :)
  • Journaling daily.
  • Completing another TNT event. Hoping to do Tahoe Century Ride–but the bike still scares me A LOT. And Eric’s stories about the hills make me sick to my stomach. I also want to do the Nike Women’s event again. It is A-MAZING!

I hope 2009 brings you lots of joy!

Peace,

Katy ^_^

Sewing Date

December 31, 2008 in sewing | No comments

Yesterday, I had a sewing date with Eric’s aunt, and her “adopted” niece. I was named after an aunt and uncle that weren’t biological–so I’m hoping you all understand those types of aunts. They might as well be family they are so close.

While embroidering several motifs on a zip-up hoodie, I helped make “fuzzy men,” yes that is a technical term, for a jean jacket. They turned out super-cute.

Here’s the back. Essentially you sew on strips and make your own chenille. Below is the jacket front.

Here are the supplies before sewing.

And of course, our favorite helpers!

Peace!

Katy ^_^

Christmas

December 31, 2008 in family | No comments

Our Christmas celebration started with a skype session with my parents. Our gift to them was a web cam and once we were able to set it all up, they were able to watch us unwrap gifts. Our router kept crashing–at least ten times. But other than that it was BIG fun to “feel” like they were there with us. I even got to give my dad a tour of our “new” place. They were supposed to come out and visit, but no one expected my grandfather would get sick and what-not.

Then Eric helped with his first “working” Christmas Day service. Next we headed off to San Jose to be with Eric’s mom, dad, brother, aunt, uncle, and grandparents. It was our first time celebrating Christmas all together for me. It had been several (probably more than 10) years for them.

Here’s some photos of the unwrapping extravaganza.

Grandpa was using the back scratcher on the dog. Smart dog!!

Eric sporting a new polo. He must have gotten 6 or 8 polo shirts! Polos and jeans are his work uniform and everyone of the parents was encouraging his “dressing up.”

I hope y’all enjoyed your families and time with them and friends this holiday!

Peace,

Katy ^_^

It Is Only Fair…

December 24, 2008 in cats | 1 comment

That Scotch get some limelight too. Enjoy!

Thankfully, Eric comes from a family of florists and these were left-over flowers. Still stinks, but the family understands how “special” Scotch is. When we were staying with them he had their Corgis submitting to his every whim.

Have a very Merry Christmas.

Peace,

Katy ^_^

Heat Whore

December 21, 2008 in cats | No comments

We always joked that Sake was a “heat whore.” As in she is only interested in your lap if she is cold. I think she just validated our nickname for her. Sorry the photos aren’t the best–I had to move quick–she didn’t want this documented.

And yes, the heater was on full blast, high heat.

Peace,

Katy ^_^

Sewing Space Re-Vamp

December 21, 2008 in creating, sewing, spending | No comments

I’ve been busy putting finishing touches and finishing Christmas gifts. They are already wrapped–I forgot to take photos. I promise I will get better at that.

Remember the photo jewelry from a while back? Well it was causing all sorts of fits last night. I managed to spill the goo all over my workspace and then had to wash my hands 800 times to get the feeling of them being super-glued to go away. This morning when I got up I was brushing my hair pre-shower. Opps! There was a chunk of hard plastic in my hair. Eric suggested I just use conditioner in the shower–he didn’t realize what was up right away. Thankfully, it wasn’t a big area and it was around my face, so I just have a few more layers. I’m most thankful the cats didn’t get covered in the goop. They like to be in the middle of EVERYTHING. Maybe I’ll have to start shutting them out of the studio…

I rotated the desk in my studio and now it works sooo much better. I have a dedicated area for the machine and a large area for cutting, layout, general putzing around. Here’s the new look.

I was working on the scarf from Stitch. It is not as cute as the photo–though they look exactly the same. I think the issue is I purchase polyester, not silk. Gotta love trying to help out the ole budget. Oye vey. I also made a tissue holder–but alas it was wrapped and is awaiting being shipped at the moment. Needless to say, I enjoyed many of the projects in Stitch. It also makes me realize how visual I am. I still have issues with the directions–i.e. they don’t make sense until the 20th time I read them. I guess diagrams are my friend. I look forward to the next issue.

In other news, I finally–just now–managed to link my Twitter and Facebook accounts. Thanks much to Lauren, aka Stellaloella for her help. And this blog for the visuals.

A week ago Tuesday, the third graders let me tag along on their field trip to Lawrence Hall of Science. They studied slime in relation to liquids, gases, and solids. It was my first trek to Berkley and I’m in love. Check out the view from the building.

Well, I’m off to see if I can salvage any of the photo goop mis-hap and then off to see an a cappella group caroling, lunch, and checking out Christmas lights tonight!

Peace,

Katy ^_^

Home

December 18, 2008 in Musings, family | No comments

I’ve been home just under 24 hours. It is good to be reunited with Eric–even though he’s still under the pressure of Christmas season. My kitties are silly and annoying as usual. I “missed” the popping of our heater in middle of the night. I am so glad to have more than the two pairs of pants that I alternated between daily in Texas. It was nice to fall back into the rhythm of school and hyper-active third graders dreaming about presents under their trees.

This also means that I get up and get going before Eric wakes up or gets out of bed. Lucky me. Here’s a video–I can’t see the image that well on my monitor–but the sound is dead-on.

I hope you are enjoying the holidays with those you love.

Peace,

Katy ^_^

Sadness and Celebration

December 14, 2008 in Musings, family | 2 comments

Good news first. Eric was unanimously “called” (aka asked to stay on) at the church in Redwood City. He heard many affirming things in the process. Congrats honey. This transition has been very difficult for us in different ways–but I have a way of making those around me miserable–because misery loves company, right? We’ve gritted our teeth and stuck it out and things are improving.

Sad news time–My grandpa died. He was my last living grandparent. He had a stroke and  never recovered. I’m sad, but mostly numb. My first grandparent died at age 60, when I was in third grade. My dad will be 60 in two years. Life is going way too fast.

Peace,

Katy ^_^