My new winter coat...

So, instead of trying to come up with new projects to post about, I realized I have several items that I can share already.

I needed a new winter coat - beyond wearing my sweatshirt jacket that I stole confiscated from my 17 year old son last year.

So...I searched the stash...both patterns and fabric (corduroy with polyester lining)...

and here is what I choose...

Simplicity 2508

The front - which fits me much better than Suzanne...



The back...



The lining (which was not in my stash - I ended up buying it from Hancock's Fabrics - it is a polyester blend - which is starting to shred a little - not good...)



The buttons...(from JoAnn's with a coupon!)



It is actually quite warm - because it stops the wind - which is mostly what makes Arizona cold in the winter.  In all, I think it cost me $12 to make...

Busy Week ahead...

• Legal meeting for our 17 year old son (um...he did something really stupid and is now having to fix it!)
• Embroidery work on 25 handkerchiefs for a friend.
• Computer certification exam on Thursday.  Along with shopping and lunch out with my mom that day (I have to travel to Phoenix for the test.)
• Start reading for business management and leadership class.
• Sew 2 new green tops for myself.
• Make bread - everyone likes my homemade bread better than the storebought stuff.
• Work on laundry - again.  This is the bane of my exsistance.

What I wear daily....

Erica B posts today about what she wears daily.  She sews about 90% of what she wears.  I sew about 70% of what I wear daily.

Unfortunately, I don't also dress up daily.  I have several reasons why:

1. I stay home almost every day - without leaving the house.
2. I homeschool 4 of my 6 children (the other 2 are in high school) - thus requiring much attention for science projects, art projects, and reading on the floor.
3. I work/intern from home. 
4. I am finishing my BS in Health Informatics from WGU.
5. I only can walk/exercise at various times during the day - sometimes morning, or afternoon, or after dinner - it all depends on the children/school/work/errand/church schedule.
6. It's too cold right now to wear all my skirts!

During the summer (over 80 degrees) I tend to only wear skirts with matching knits shirts.  With ballet flats or slip-on Keds.

During the winter (under 80 degrees), I wear blue jeans, yoga pants, or long skirts with 3/4 sleeves or long sleeve shirts.

I find it hard to wear fitted clothes without lyrca in them - because I spend my days on the floor, bending over to pick up many things, or snuggling with my children while I teach them.

I spend my afternoon/evenings sitting in my office/bedroom studying and/or working and/or researching for work. Which is much more comfortable in yoga pants, sweats, or long skirts!

I do dress up when I can - mostly on Sundays or date nights. 

Neccessity overrides being stylish at home everyday.  Everything I wear, sew, or buy is current - but comfortable for my lifestyle - which is being a mom to 6, a student, and an intern. 

Birthday Girl!

Me!!!!!

Today I am 37. Yep. 37. I don't think I am old enough to be 37.  That would be like saying that I am middle age.  I.do.not.think.so.  I.am.not.that.old.
Anyway, instead of whining here about it, let me tell you about me birthday presents!

We went out to breakfast at Cracker Barrel with all the kids, my parents and my sister who is in town.
I got a gift certificate to a great sushi place from my sister!

I got a Bias tape maker! from my parents!

My younger children got me this sewing basket...only mine is better - it has a vintage print on it!

My older children got my Wii Fit Plus!  More fun exercising - because I have almost unlocked all the games on Wii Fit!

My husband got me a beautiful red leather purse from Stone& Co with silver buckles! 

And now I go to a friend's surprise birthday party - because she is turning 40 - and I am not!

Snow Day!

It very rarely snows here in southern AZ. However, it does tend snow in the mountains that is about an hour away.

So we can see the snow-top mountains from our home. And everyday the kids ask to go up the mountain to play in the snow.

We had time today and Husband was home. So we went. We borrowed sleds from our neighbor and took some snacks and went up the mountain.

We had a blast! The kids had a small snowball fight, made a snowman, and sledded all up down the hills. Thanks to our neighbor, we had an off the way place with no one else there.

Here are the pictures from the snow-day.











And because this is my sewing blog...and I love to sew...this is the winter coat (yes, it does get cold enough for a coat from about Novemeber - February) that I made the 4 year old. I embroidered the cupcakes and used some leftover cupcake material for the facings and covered buttons. It is pink fleece. Just a basic coat pattern for a little girl.