Saturday, November 7, 2015

AWOL a long time, but hoping to correct that this upcoming year!

Well, I’m sorry I’ve been AWOL so long. It’s been a most interesting year. I thought that it would be easy for me to get through a year and a half with my husband about 1,600 miles away, but it hasn’t been so easy. I miss him a lot! 

Despite being widowed for more than 5 years before I met him, we have been married for 13 years. I’ve gotten used to his presence in my home and in my life. It’s a little lonely without him, I have to admit. Add to that I’ve been working very long hours this year trying to build up a slush fund for all the repairs and updates we need/want to do, and I haven’t gotten nearly as much sewing done as anticipated. I was picturing myself as I was during the first years after I was widowed, sewing many hours a day. That just hasn’t happened, although I have done some sewing this year. Not blogging about it, but sewing did get done.

Fitting remains the challenge, and with the help of some wonderful people, I’m actually getting better at it. Thank you Mrs. Mole. Learning HOW to start was a huge help. By learning to measure my body separately front and back in multiple areas… including shoulder to bust, shoulder to waist, width between apex, and similar things on the back area, I have cut my muslin process down from as many as 8 to many less. Jacket I’m working on now, just took two tries to get it right! HOORAY!

I’ve been lurking, watching most of the blogs I follow, adding a few more throughout the year, and checking in on Stitcher’s Forum at Artisan’s Square at least once a month, and lately about once a week or more. As we got closer to the release of the rules on November 1, it became a few times a day! I’ve been watching the palpable excitement over the discussions of SWAP 2016, and even more so at the announcement of the rules.

As we all know, life can get in the way, but I’m sticking my foot into the water and anticipating going for a full SWAP collection this year. I don’t anticipate any big life changes like I’ve encountered in the spring the last few years, and am very hopeful we have a very uneventful 2016.

I need new clothes, and the rules fit into my lifestyle well. My lifestyle will be changing over the next year, as I am starting the countdown to my retirement, with (for now) an anticipated move at the end of August 2016. In the interim, I still need to have workable clothing that looks business casual and is easily laundered. So it’s going to be a mish-mash of a year for me sewing wise.

I’m thinking my retirement looks like gardening, continuing with remodeling and updating our home, sewing, perhaps a bit of quilting, walking, and biking, a comprehensive exercise program and some exploring of the amazing country we’ll be living in. I’m also anticipating a bit of volunteer work, and getting involved with the community. Perhaps a foray into a new and different part time career to keep me interested.

So far, the photographs and the visits have convinced me that New Mexico truly is the “Land of
Enchantment.” It will be my first time living outside the State of California, and I’m anticipating a bit of weather shock when I first live in an area with four seasons, and a bit of culture shock too. It’s exciting to start thinking and planning my next phase of life.


I’ll be sharing my ideas about the SWAP as I get my planning put together. 

More later!



2 comments:

  1. Glad to hear you are near your retirement date. It really is hard living away from your Spouse. I did that the last year I taught.
    We have moved to the city, fixed up the basement of our house and are starting upstairs. I am working and walk between 4 and 5 miles a day on the job and put away a lot of fabric which has helped my strength. I really get paid to work out.
    I look forward to seeing how your SWAP turns out. I may follow along doing a basic wardrobe plan for a semi retired person. Mostly casual wear.

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  2. I follow you and keep up with what you're doing. I've been very impressed with the amount of work you and your hubby did on the last house and what you're doing with the new one. By using the Willow Curve faithfully for the last four months, I'm just about out of pain, and am walking almost normally for the first time in four years. I just started a Pilates Reformer class with a trainer that does rehabilitation medicine and am excited that it's already making a difference. I am really, really excited about the future. Hope your work days go well. I'm kind of jealous that you get to work in a fabric store, but know I'd probably spend my whole paycheck each week before it ever reached my bank account! LOL Thanks for checking in!

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