I have been quietly working through Michelle’s Just Five Things prompts this week. The started out easy with gratitude and I found the lists just flew from my pen! Quiet, warmth, and comfort started out easy enough, but for each of these prompts – that last list was a struggle!
And, then today’s prompt – receive
It took a long time to write anything down and I have been thinking much about the personal struggle I have with receiving.
You might be wondering what all this has to do with my TGIF post…
Well…Everything!
Thinking About – Receive… from advice, to help, to compliments – these are things that I struggle with. I am that 3-year-old standing there obnoxiously shouting ‘I can do it myself!’ My thoughts today will revolve around improving on being a more gracious receiver!
Grateful For – An early Christmas gift! (THANK YOU, Steve!!) In my prior sewing life, I had a lovely serger, which I used all the time. Sadly, that serger went to the Great Serger Heaven years ago but then one day Mary planted a seed… and voilà – Welcome to my new Brother 1034D serger! I am so glad that Steve noted this Amazon Deal of the Day and then gifted it to me early! It made sewing the Carseat Poncho much easier! The hood was a huge challenge. Perhaps it would have been easier if it was not lined – but my daughter lives in the great white north of Traverse City and Genevieve is in the “refuses to wear a winter coat camp” (Just like her mother was, btw – lol!) I also struggled with making “arm slits” and solved the less than perfect attempts with some smart little flaps! All in all, this is a huge win! Although, my suggestion if you are making one and don’t live in the arctic circle, you might want to line it with flannel! The serger got more of a work out with my Dress No. 2! I used it to finish the edges – and while they are harder to see than Mary’s – I too want to just show everyone how lovely they are! Also…I LOVE the alterations I made on Dress No. 2! I did inseam pockets vs. patch pockets on the front and I also did a modification of this sleeve hack. I sewed the smallest size of the nested pattern I have, and honestly – I could have made it a bit smaller. But, the fit in the shoulders is perfect and it hangs beautifully – I will try and get some shots wearing it this weekend and share them with you all next week!
Inspired By – All the RÅSKOG cart ideas! (Thanks, Honoré for the heads up on this idea! The new serger is going to require a bit of a craft room reorganization! So, I have been looking at ideas on pinterest. Maybe this weekend I will drag Steve to IKEA for another RÅSKOG cart!! Haha!
Fun, fun, fun – We are in the midst of a bit of cold weather and that kind of weather just screams for the perfect cocktail… I am going to give these a whirl this weekend – if you watch my IG feed you will see how they turned out later today!
Also, Amaryllis Watch has begun…
That is all I have for this week. And, honestly… it makes me so sad that there are only three more Friday’s in 2018. Have a good weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!
Where has this year gone that we have only three weeks left?
I wonder if the difficulty with receiving is part of a natural progression. When we’re young, I don’t think we have any problem with it, but then at that age, we tend to be very self-focused. As we get older, I think its normal to focus more on giving to others, especially as we gain the ability to get for ourselves the things we want. Plus we don’t want to seem greedy. Something to ponder, anyway. Enjoy your weekend!
I’ve often thought that Christmas would be more enjoyable if I just gave gifts, but I don’t exactly know why. It does look like Steve has given you a terrific gift and you’ve received it quite well with that great car seat poncho and your dress. I love to see those amaryllis getting a great start. Enjoy your weekend and your cocktails!
The fabric you used for the poncho is adorable.
Nice early Christmas gift!! And already put to such great use. The poncho is adorable and can’t wait to see shots of you in dress #2. Enjoy those warming cocktails this afternoon! Happy weekend!!
Love the dress! I think a warm cocktail is going to be in high demand unless you live in south Florida. It is already cold, dark, wet and yucky here. Happy Friday.
THe perfect gift and that carseat poncho is amazing. I love when bulbs begin to show life!
If I get a gift card I will buy myself an Amaryllis. I have enjoyed amaryllis watch over the past couple of years. 🙂
Great job on the sewing! I still have my amaryllis in cold storage, I want them to bloom in January or even February.
Great job on the sewing! I still have my amaryllis in cold storage in my mud room – I want blooms in January or even February instead of December.
I know “receiving” can be hard, but when you think about the JOY of the giver … I’m sure Steve is beyond delighted how happy you are with the serger (and oh my … game changer #amIright?!) those ears on the poncho (and great job on the lining!) and the flannel tunic. It is certainly easier to give than say Thank You, but when we say Thank You, two people are happy (I’m noting this for myself, too:-)
Have fun with your serger! And enjoy your weekend.
XO
I was going to say what Mary said. Just “Thank you” goes a long way to bringing joy to the gift giver. Enjoy the serger! I have 5 amaryllis in various states of progress (just starting progress) and my Christmas cactus is going to bloom ANY MINUTE! Have a super weekend.
I struggled with that prompt as well. I am great at giving but not receiving! Love your new gift!! and reorganizing a craft room sounds like so much fun!
Oooh, exciting!! I feel that if you get the shoulders to fit right, you’re about 95% on your way to a great garment!!
Your sewing is spectacular and I can’t wait to see that dress! And embrace the receiving…it feels great! (I always tell Doug I’m a caretaker not a caregiver! 🙂 )