I sent a few pics over to Tie One On of some of the aprons I love so much. I like using florals - they are abundant and appeal to my love of the random and asymmetrical. I have a nice closet full of aprons from a sewing frenzy last fall. I pull more and more of them and want to keep them, but I want them to find other loving kitchens, too. So I am determined to do an etsy site this Spring - which is right around the corner.

I have been home for two months now and I am so glad - so very content to have time to do all those things mentioned below - and more and more sewing. Working on patterns for Indygo Junction and making things for my daughter - my own Mad Men Joanie to sew for! I am also determined to get a dress form in here that is me-sized and sew for myself.


Free Counter

Well, I did it. I went for the courageous route, and last night I quit my job. I have been thinking about it for some time, and I finally distilled the "reasons" down to the truth - discarded the unsupportable motivations and realized that I really WANTED to not be there anymore.

I want to be home to make home again.

I want to work on my dreams and sew more. I want to be able to nurture my neglected friendships. I want to make dinner regularly and not wear a uniform. I want to choose how I conduct my days and evenings.

I am elated because I have such wonderful support. I wrote the email (supervisor's fav communication method) and saved it as a draft to show Harold. He read it, said it was good. "Do you want to send it?" "YES." He hit send and we high-fived. It was a terrific married moment.

All day I have been so light. Immediately (as in 16 hours after the "send" including the sleeping time) I got offered more work doing what I love - pattern design.

So yes yes yes, I did it - I am doing it.

BIG ol' grin.




Free Counter

First I will finish a thought - the vacation/trip to Turkey pictures:

The trip was about food, history, and the Mediterranean Sea, and as trips usually are, impossible to adequately describe. Summary: Delicious, Overwhelming, Stunning.

And now to other thoughts.

I have become a different person in some ways. What I mean is, I am noticing that I am more ....polarized, maybe that is the word. I like opposite things equally but I have more definite preferences for when I want these things to be present or to participate. For example, I am finding myself more willing to cocoon myself in a small and private world for formerly obligatory events (holidays, for example) but I am quite eager to be very expansive with my borders when there are no knowns - like foreign travel. This is confusing to me a little. I am not unhappy about the changes, just a little mystified.

I am putting this down to ponder. I also am finding myself delighted to spend time with brand new people but have the oddest "nervous-ish inside myself" response to getting started - like hesitating to do the self-introductions but easily move immediately into the storytelling. I am weird about getting in the car to go, but fine once I breach the fortress of the destination door.

????

Hormones, maybe.



Free Counter

And tomorrow we are off.

It is a reality - which has not actually sunk in yet.

Am I so much older now that I am comfortable in the world - and my own skin - enough that I am less than 24 hours from the airport arrival and I am 1) not packed 2) planning on making a skirt still 3) getting a pedicure first and 4) not even listing things - yet?

That or delusional about the quickly passing time of this one final preparation day.


Free Counter

And yes, yes, indeed the freedom feels wonderful.

Today I am off during the day and I am doing a small list of trip preparation things - returns of un-tried-on purchases (always dumb), getting a packing list made, paying bills, and a short work shift this evening.

I am so extremely excited to experience a different culture with my dear husband. He is a joy to me.

I watched a movie last night, ate a leisurely dinner, and did not sew, decorate, glue, fit, tweak, repair or draw up a pattern for a single thing. Ah yes, it really is done....

...except the four gigantic bags of costume laundry, which will wait until I return from Turkey.


Free Counter

Tonight is final performance. Everything is done. All that is on the to-do list (tablet) are repairs, minor disasters, tweaks, more jewelry, and some tears at the thought of being absent from the fun parts next year. But the sense of freedom to have my life back is bigger and more delicious, by far. So I expect to cry tonight copiously and enjoy tomorrow immensely.

I will post a picture or two - it really is beautiful and I am proud of the work.

Look at that post from November - the one about not sewing 50 hours a week.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah.

That much sewing was necessary and more - but it is now a finished product. I even asked people I love to come see it.


Free Counter

I have been totally absent here. I have a crazy life.

And it is my own fault.

I am making changes, oh yes, I am making changes.

Watch me practice:
"No, I can not help you with that."
"No, thank you."
"No, I am not available."
"No, thank you for thinking of me, though!" (getting some enthusiasm in there with the no, even)

Okay - let's see how that works.



Free Counter