Have You Seen My Mojo, Baby?!

It has been a rough month, but finally it seems things are looking up.  We are due to close next week on our previous home after having two last-minute setbacks over the past couple of months.  It has been stressful, to say the least... and until it's said and done, I'm not rejoicing too much.  It ain't over til the fat lady sings, the ink on the paper is dried, and I've had a glass of celebratory wine.

All of the tension over the house has definitely killed my sewing mojo.  Every night, all I wanted to do was walk right past my sewing goddess "Pearl" and curl up on the couch or mindlessly peruse craft blogs. 

Sad, I know.

Since it seems things are finally going to happen, I feel a little sewing excitement mounting once again.  I don't think it's quite enough to finish a project in time for Purse Week over at Lemon Squeezy Home, but it might be enough to work on a certain little coat and an autumn tutorial for you this weekend.

Yay.

And even better?

We found a house! 

Stay tuned for the details...

Update

We are still waiting...

to close on our old home, to put the house we want under contract, to be able to sleep peacefully for a change.

In the meantime, I did get started on the School Days Jacket.  Hallelujah.

La Da Dee, La Da Dah

Cause she's homeless.

Sorta.

We have been trying to close on the sale of our house for the past two months, and thanks to Stank Bank of America, it looks like we'll be delayed even more.  Our buyers have been diligently trying to stay in touch with their lender to assure we were good to go for closing tomorrow, and once again, the day before closing they decide to communicate that the underwriter still needs more information.

I am so frustrated I don't even feel like sewing.

You know that's bad.

Even worse is that we've found a house we absolutely love but can't really commit to a contract since our closing is so uncertain, and I'm scared that someone else is going to snatch it out from under us while we're in limbo.

*sob*

My dh keeps telling me to think about the Serenity prayer, but I'm just not feeling it right now.  I know it's out of my hands... I've put it in the Lords' hands... but I am a gal trying to plan out the next twenty years of her life (and how to decorate for Christmas)!!  I'm a gal who is so certain about this house she's ready to order her return address stamp!

I'm praying it all works out and we can close on our old house and get a contract for the one we want our girls to grow up in.  Until then...

Of Wine and Women

I was so blessed this weekend to spend Sunday with some wonderful gals.  One of my high school friends won a wine-tasting session at an auction and invited me and six others to join her, and it was such a good time.

We first met up for a fantastic lunch at the Gristmill, where we enjoyed sitting outside in the first taste of fall weather we've had this year.   We shared monstrous onion rings as we made cracks about the name of a particular dessert that will remain our secret, but happens to rhyme with Mudge High.  *heehee*

 

(That's me in the middle, looking quite squinty-eyed!)

Then it was wine-time and we headed to Dry Comal Creek Winery.  We giggled our way through nine different wines as we swirled our glasses to capture "the full aroma of the bouquet", which wasn't always a pleasant aroma.  Being the normal chicks we are and not being wine connosieurs, it was fun to taste the wine and not take it so seriously.  And seriously, some of the wine just wasn't very good *cough* Mongrel Bastardo *cough*.  I believe Tammy said it best:  Toilet water.  Pure toilet water!

Thankfully, they provided us some stronger flavors to help wash it down.

(A little cheese and sausage with your wine perhaps?)

The best part of today was simply this:

spending some quality time with a sisterhood; some old friends, some new friends, but all wonderful women.  One of the things I love about girlfriends is that, no matter how much time has passed, a conversation can pick up like no time has passed at all.  And one of the things I love about my girlfriends is that they know who I truly am... and love me anyway.

One of the things we talked about between sips is how sometimes the people you think are your friends are the first ones to do or say something to break your spirit.  That's something I just don't understand about the female gender - why is it that women are like this in relationships (cause trust me, men don't do the two-faced thing)?  What good does it do you to break someone's heart and stomp on their feelings?  Aren't we all in this together, and isn't it our duty to each other, as sisters, to support, and love, and lift up each other?  I know I feel this way - and I know that a person who knows what being a friend is would feel this way too.

For that special newfound friend, I give you one of my favorite quotes ever:

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” ~ Dr. Seuss

Made to Match

I whipped up one of Lil Blue Boo's twirl skirts this weekend for Lil Sis from some leftover jersey knit... when it didn't ellicit the usualy happy response, I made one for her doll to wear as well!  Boy, did that change everything.  Before I knew it, they were matching... and I could see an American Girl doll obsession entering into my life in the near future.

She's still wearing that happy smile... love it!  The skirts are so quick and easy, I might be making some more matching ensembles soon.  My doll shirt definitely needs work though - it was a quick little hand-drawn pattern that needs some tweaking.  Anyone know of a good tutorial for this?

I'm actually at home today with my youngest, whose daily tummy ache turned out to be the real deal this morning.  I was almost at work when I got a call that she had showered the classroom with her breakfast.  Poor baby.  She's been fine since, fingers crossed.  Seeing as I really didn't feel well myself this morning, it's not half bad that circumstances made me stay home today.  I've been fighting off this viral respiratory crud all weekend - my voice is nearly gone... and Lil Sis thinks that's kinda funny. 

Update on School Days Jacket:  I've cut out all of the pieces for the outer jacket.  All that's left is cutting out the liner pieces and getting to work on the sewing... whee!

It's School Days Sewalong Time!

I've been looking for a sewalong for the Oliver & S school days jacket - and I found one!  Jemelia from JemJam will be hosting a sewalong beginning soon, and I can't wait!

I've already got my fabric in  - purple microfleece and a fabulous little owl print for the liner.  I'm hoping the fleece works okay, seeing as the pattern calls for using wool.  I just couldn't do wool - both for my fear of cleaning it after my three year old gets ahold of it and because, hey, I live in Texas.  Wool isn't cool, literally.

I'll start cutting out my pattern pieces tonight, and I might even begin cutting out the fabric pieces if I get a chance.  I know the sewalong hasn't started yet, but with the pace of my crafting lately, I can use the biggest head start I can get.

Plus, this weekend is the county fair - so we'll be spending some time there taking in the rides, the animals, the petting zoo, and I'm certain lots of carney treats.  (Funnel cake anyone?)

Have a great Friday!

A Sign of the Times

My kindergartener came home the other day and told me about what she learned at school that day...

Lockdown.

I listened in amazement and fear and she described to me what she and the rest of her school are supposed to do in case "a bad man comes into our school who wants to hurt us."  She told me she's learned that they have to hide in a certain place and stay very quiet so "he can't find us" and then have to stay there until the policemen say they can come out.

Wow.

Makes me want to homeschool her just thinking about it.

Makes me want to cry just thinking about the possibility. 

And the sad thing is, something like that is probably more likely to happen at a school than any of the natural disasters I remember doing drills for at her age.

Fire, Tornadoes, Bomb Threat... and let's just add in Lockdown.

Wow.