Goodbye...Finally!

Hi all or whoever reads this blog.  I have decided not to post any longer on this blog.  Maybe in the future, when I have time to make, photograph, edit, and write, I can then dedicate time to blogging.  But for now it is not the season to be contributing to the blogosphere.  The main reason for not blogging is that I have accepted an engineering position about 45 minutes away from where I live.  So with the 10 1/2 hours that I will be away from home, cooking, cleaning and sewing for fun, I don't want to make the time to write.  Thanks to those of who have read this wierd little blog. 

Peace out,
~ Leslie 

Miss Sock Monkey

Fall is coming early...I am not complaining...I love fall...probably because my birthday is in the fall...and maybe some other reasons.  I had plans to settle down this summer and sew, but trips took the place of sewing.  Fun road trips to visit family and friends.  Pictures are coming soon.

I always wonder if my homemade presents will last (ahem...insecurity), and seeing this sock monkey years after it was given is very encouraging.  This is Monkey and I made her for my niece's 2nd birthday 5 1/2 years ago.  Monkey has been repaired a few times, but she is still being enjoyed by her owner.  I have seen Monkey sleep in, twirl and dance, use a hammer, and be lovingly carried around by her best friend.  A couple of weeks ago the pretty little owner asked for new clothes for Monkey so that Monkey can dress up a bit.  I will have to see if I can make that happen.

I want to encourage those of you who like to make presents:  One, When you make a gift for someone you not only create something for a person, but you actually think about that person while you are making the gift.  Two, Making a gift allows you to put your personality into the gift...a little bit of what you have to offer is shared with someone else.  Three, You enjoy yourself when making the gift.  So, with these little pieces of advice...Christmas is in less than three months, so start making your gifts now.  Trust me.

~Leslie

Hello...Is Anyone There???

Bye Bye Boo

Hey all!  Sorry I have been absent as of late.  I am trying to come to some sort of balance in my life...you know...cooking, cleaning, painting, working, then sewing.  I love blogging, but I need to figure out the priorities of the blog and what exactly I want to write about.  Also, I kind of need projects to write about and those projects have come to a complete halt.  Since we met last:

I passed my Professional Engineer's Exam!  Yes, I am a licensed engineer.  Passing the exam is Insane, Crazy, Surreal, and yet nothing has changed.  Eight years of hard work and I am done with that season of my life.  I am excited for what comes next...I don't know what is coming next...but it will be something new.

I painted most of my kitchen.  I am the slowest painter in the world...and I don't enjoy painting.

I have acquired a Serger.  A wonderful lady totally blessed me with a Serger; but unfortunately it has to visit the Serger doctor for servicing.  I started making a 10 minute bag (that took me well over an hour) and I broke two needles.  Grrr...

My dog died...Sad.  (Yes, that is true...my life is not a country song). 

I had my second running injury running this year (the first I landed on my knee when I slipped on ice and was out for 3 weeks).  This time I sprained my ankle which turned out to be a more serious sprain that I first thought.  Hopefully by week 6 I will be out running again...with an ankle brace.

We went camping for a few days just below Mt. Whitney.  No hiking for me (see above), but we hung out in nature, ate lots of food and saw a spaghetti western at the Lone Pine Film History Museum.

I learned how to spin wool with a drop spindle.  Did you know that you can spin dog fur into yarn?  My first thought...that's disgusting...I hardly ever bathe my dog.

Shelves have been added to the Make Space, but I am still trying to figure out the layout, storage options and how to make room for Hubby because we have to share the room. 

How are you all?  Let me know...good or bad.

~Leslie

My Name Is Leslie and I Am A....

PROJECT HOARDER.  I have a terrible habit of starting projects, putting them down when I make a mistake, walk away to think a while, forget about the project and start another project.  Basically I see something shiny, which in this case is anything fabric, paper, scissor, marker or glue related, and I abandon my harder projects for something easier.  Then the easier project becomes harder and then...well...you know the rest.  To date (and that is what I can see in the piles of crap on the floor, table, chair and ironing board), I have 12 unfinished projects.  These are the projects that I actually want to finish.  I guess this is where a list of priority projects would come in handy...which is defined as organization.  Everything comes back to organization.  I can't help myself. 

Here are some of my unfinished projects:


Overnight Bag that I thought I could finish on a Sunday afternoon.



A Vest made out of lace and knit.



Two Skirts that I have taken upon my self to refashion.

A Wreath that needs more flowers.

My other projects include the Crescent Skirt and Renfrew Top that I have sewn once and unpicked once, an Embroidered Creation, the Sorbetto top that I am currently dismantling, a pair of shorts that I started at least 2 years ago, and of course Organizing my Sewing Area.

Are you a project hoarder? What type of projects have you left unfinished? Maybe you should try and finish them... ☺

~Leslie

10 Week Craft Marathon Projects

Thank you Katie of Punk Projects for hosting the Craft Marathon.  It was fun to participate in a group where I had to create something different on a weekly basis. 

Here are all of the projects that I submitted for the 10 week Craft Marathon.

Apple Green, Lemon Yellow, Eggplant Purple, Tangerine Orange, Chocolate Brown,

Aqua Blue, Fire Engine Red, Barbie Pink, Royal Blue, Mint Green

Congratulations to all of the Winners!

~Leslie