This last day of 2008 found me sitting on the floor surrounded by stacks and stacks of patterns making some shaky attempts at resorting and re-filing things that have been sitting here waiting patiently for far too long.
The long past due lists of things that needed to be redone, resorted, made and remade are not going to be resolved this year but I was having a blast looking at the patterns, and then letting my eyes wander beyond the piles of inspiration all around me to the fabric in the cubbies and on the shelves.
The pattern sortie was inspired by the new Threads and the new Vogue Patterns, both of which arrived yesterday. As I flipped through them my mind began to fill up with ideas and dreams and wishes, and I began also to think about all the projects I have dreamed about in the past, many of which have been posted here. They are not forgotten.
The piles of patterns still need to be sorted and filed away. There are many piles of things that have been waiting for my attentions to wander back to them. But there must be creative activity along with the sorting and filing and I am looking forward to doing some of each in 2009.
I am not making any sewing resolutions this year. My record has not been good in the resolution department and I prefer to look forward with acceptance of open eyes. With the close of 2008 I hope to say goodbye to the frustrations of wanting and try to embrace accepting. It may prove to be a much more rewarding path.
I did finish 2008 with a sewing promise fulfilled, small promise though it was.
In October DH bought an Alpaca Jacket at the NY Sheep and Wool Festival. The price was ridiculously low and it was COLD that day. We have no regrets and the fabric is warm and snugly although the construction left something to be desired. The zipper too was sub-par, as it broke on the second or third wearing.
As usual I waited until the last possible minute, ripping out the old plastic separating zipper and threading up the machine on New Year's Eve. As I threaded my trusty old Elna Carina, I realized that it still had the test fabric under the needle from the last time I had it repaired, early in 2007 when I met Carolyn and Ann in NYC, as I was planning my sewing come-back. I wondered if I was pushing my luck, expecting the Elna to just start up with nary a stutter as if nearly two years had not passed. But the Elna has rarely failed me. And I plowed ahead.
This year no promises. No grand plans. Just determination and acceptance. I think they will see me far.