Dreamy Paisley Skirt

Romantic, dreamy, four-tiered, comfortable, boho, gypsy skirt. How's that for a description? It sort of qualifies as a refashioned or repurposed project as well because the material I made it out of was originally being used as a table cloth for a round end table and as sofa pillow coverings. I love paisleys; so I didn't want to throw out the fabric. There was enough fabric to make myself, my daughter and her doll a skirt. If you are wondering what that is peaking out from beneath, it's pantaloons. It kind of added to the romantic feel.

I am so sorry, but I can't find the pattern. I believe it is out of print. If I find it, I'll be sure to add it to this post.

Being a Mom is a Pretty Cool Job - National Honesty Month

I hope I didn't give you a negative view of having children in my post on searching for balance. Having children is one of the best things you could ever do for yourself. It is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do for yourself. Also, when you get old, you won't find yourself alone in the world; you'll have family there for you. When you're a parent, you find out so many things about yourself that you didn't know; you grow in so many ways as a person; it stretches you; you expand your horizons and learn new things.

Having a family takes you from being a self-focused, self-centered person and gets you outside of yourself and you become other centered. Your life becomes bigger and with more purpose, and it's not just about you anymore. You want to do more and be more for them. It is so amazing because you get to play a part in the shaping of a person, a character. Through this little person, you can affect and change the world. You can make the world a better place with this one life. You will send them out like arrows; and they and their offspring will make a difference in the lives of thousands, good or bad, depending on what you poured into them. So when you are home with them, every diaper changed in love, every drink of water you pour, every meal you serve, every nose you wipe, every story you read, every walk you take, you are not a slave, these are not just menial little never-ending, boring, drudgery-type tasks, you are making a difference. You may not see it now. You are not some insignificant person. You are doing more for the world than the woman out in the work force. You are doing the behind-the-scenes work that no one ever sees. You are rewarded when they wrap their chubby little arms around you, when they give you a fist full of weed flowers, and when they go out into the world and you see who they have become because of you.

Children take a lot of time and can be very exhausting and exasperating at times, but they can also be very inspiring and bring so much joy. They are so cute, and it's amazing to watch them grow and discover the world around them. And fortunately, they usually come one at a time to get us used to the idea.

If you do not have children already, do not be afraid and do not deny yourself the great gift the world, God, could give - A Child! You will be changed for the better and you will be so blessed and you will rise to the occasion. You can do it!

Below is such cool song about moms. It's called The Mom Song by the Fish Boys. As mom's we do so much. We are tireless. Our job is round the clock. We wear so many hats. We are doctors, cooks, teachers, mediators, and the list goes on. We work all day without pay. Going to work would seem like a vacation. But there is no other job in the world where we can make such a difference. You will love this song. Share this with all of the moms you know.

No doubt that being a mom is hard work, but it's also heart work. We want to reach their hearts. We want to mold them from the inside out, to shape their characters in the direction we think they should go and ensure that they do not rebel. If you have any wonderful tips and advice for parenting and shaping these little ones, I would love to hear it.

My Sewing Machine and I - Poem - National Honesty Month

What I am about to share may seem really weird. It almost sounds like I idolize and am in love with my machine. It sounds like something I should be saying to God. I promise you I am not putting my love for sewing above my love for God. I love God even more than this.

But sewing is a way for me to express my creativity, It enables me to develop my artistic side, being the artistic mother like Shona talks about on her blog and in her book coming out in March of 2010. It brings something out in me that nothing else does. It is a gift and desire that God has given me. So all of the glory and the credit goes to Him. When I sew, I am transformed into a creative artist using fabrics' colors and lines to express my own personality. God is a creative being, He is the originator of creativity. He made me the creative being that I am. Sewing is also very therapeutic and relaxing.

So I wrote a poem expressing how I feel. I am not a poet. I have never written a poem in my life; but I woke up one morning and was staring at my machine as the morning light was coming in through the window and it was almost as if my machine was calling to me, that deep urge to want to sew and create and so these thoughts and feelings just came to me and I wrote them down. I read it to my family and they just started rolling on the floor in laughter and they thought it was so corny and that I should not post this. But this came from the depths of my heart, as deep as you can go with your feelings about your sewing machine. So I am taking a big risk letting you read this. I hope I don't lose any followers over it. It's okay if you laugh because it is pretty silly. I can be like that sometimes.

So as part of National Honesty month, here goes:

My Sewing Machine and I

By Trudy Callan

Oh, Sewing Machine, you beckon me,
in the morning light,
to come and sit awhile
and work together on beautiful
creations of delight.

I enjoy our times together,
you are a faithful friend.
Always there when I need you.
On you, I can depend.

You enable me to relax and unwind
and free my mind to soar.
I am so glad I have you;
because with you,
I am so much more!

So how about you? Do you ever have any kind of feelings similar to this about your passions or art, or is it just me? What does sewing a creating art do for you?

* If you do actually like this poem and you think it's cool, you are welcome to use it. But could you please put a link back to my blog if you do? Thanks so much.

Searching for Balance -National Honesty Month

I am going to be honest and open up to you and share with you some of the secret parts of my life and my struggles as part of October's National Honesty Month, instituted by Gretchen of Gertie's Blog for Better Sewing.



Help! I'm drowning in a sea of never-ending housework and clutter. It is closing in on me. How did it get this way? I so desperately need to find a balance with all of the things in my life I am trying to juggle. How does one balance it all? I must find a way. I'm not talking perfection here. I am not aiming for a perfectly clean home. That's impossible with five children, with one of them being an 18 month old tornado; and we are home all day. So when I am in one part of the house doing something, my sweet little tornado is in another part of the house pulling everything out and throwing it all around. I know this stage will quickly pass.

My list of things I am juggling are: Being a wife to my patient husband and looking for time together; a mother who actually plays with her children; a home educator; the home which includes cleaning bathrooms; kitchen with the sink piled high with dishes each day; mounds of laundry every week, general straightening, etc.; nutritious and maybe even yummy meals sometimes; exercise (What's that? Gotta find a way to fit it in before everything turns to jelly); time in prayer and meditating on scripture; sewing and blogging. Whew! I just don't know. I'm trying out different things trying to find a good routine that will work for me. I think if I can get on a routine, that will help. I don't expect that I'll get everything done every day, but maybe close?

The problem is that when I pour myself into something I don't want to stop. Instead of sewing for 30 minutes or an hour, which is all I really have time for, I want to continue on for two or three. Actually, I could sew all day if I didn't have other things I needed to be doing. Or when I'm reading, I want to keep reading. .....or playing with my children, organizing or whatever it might be. Once I get involved with something, I don't want to stop. I am trying to implement the discipline of time limits and schedules. I've never liked schedules, but I am realizing that it is very necessary for me to be successful in accomplishing a balance. I need to take care of myself. I need to spend time with my family and God. My home needs attention. And I have this driving need to sew! I don't even know where it came from? I sometimes wish it wasn't there because that would be one less thing for me to do, and I would have more time to focus on all the other things that I should be doing. But it is there, nonetheless. So it must be dealt with. It is something I do for me. I could wait till my children are grown to indulge in my hobby, but I'll be in my mid-60s before my children are grown. I really don't want to wait that long. I find so much enjoyment from sewing. It is very practical, too, because I can mend things, I can make something that we need if we can't find it in the stores, and it is something I can teach my children and pass on a skill; so I don't think it's totally self-indulgent. I can see that it is a help to my family as long as it is kept in its proper place and doesn't take up all of my time.

My laundry has gotten out of hand. I am really behind. I have several loads that need to go in the washer. Things have gotten piled up around the house and need to be organized, straightened, thrown out, etc. The kids have outgrown most of the clothes in the drawers; so we can't find the things that actually fit them. This happens about every four to six months. So what I am doing to get a handle on this big monster is I am taking a two-week break from sewing and just going room to room and getting each room in order. I am going through the kids' clothes and pulling out the things they have outgrown. I'm putting some in bags labeled "giveaway" and some in plastic tubs to be passed down to the next child for when they grow into them.

Then I am going to try to implement some of Fly Lady's suggestions on routines. There are certain things she has you do for your morning routine. You do one load of laundry each day. Shine your sink, etc. She sends email reminders of what to do and when if you want them. Anyway, I don't know if it will work for me, but I thought I would at least give it a try and maybe tweak it a little to fit my needs. I really, really hope this works.



One other thing that might help me get some great ideas is my friend, Shona, of An Artful Life, is writing a book called Artistic Mother - A Guide to Fitting Creativity Into Your Busy Life. It is coming out March of 2010 and is being published by North Light Books. Shona is an artist, a homeschool mom, and a beautiful person. We go to church together; so I know her very well. She does art every day. She writes articles for publications. Her work is featured in art magazines. She's incredible. She has found a way to fit art into her every day life along with her family and keeping the home. She shares in her book how others can do just that and keep it all balanced. She really believes in doing something artistic for yourself each day. This book will be so perfect for me. I encourage you to go to her blog, look through it, book mark it and put March on your calendar for the release of the book. You may find that this is just what you need as well. And please share her blog with your friends on your own blog, through emails, word of mouth, etc., and tell them about her upcoming book. It may be just what they are looking for.


If anyone has any neat little tips or advice they would like to share that you think might be helpful, please do. I am open to all ideas right now. What do you do to balance it all?

Thanks so much for listening to my ramblings. Below are some pictures of the messy living room with toys spread about, laundry waiting to be folded, bags of clothes labeled "giveaway" and tubs of clothes to be passed down to the next child. I've been cleaning now for about a week; so I have another week to go then I can do some sewing again. Yea!