Dear Wendy Mullin,

Built By Wendy Herring Handkerchief Top

I have a suggestion for you. How about offering a variation of this design as one of your next Simplicity patterns. I love the look of this top! I can see a pattern offering this version as View A; View B could be with a collar finished with bias-binding instead, View C could be B extended to a tunic-length dress. In addition, you could offer a slim pencil skirt pattern to go with the tops and to wear under the tunic. What do you think?

If you do end up manufacturing this pattern, all I ask is that I receive a free pattern and perhaps, if you feel like calling it something, that maybe you will consider calling it the "Lisa" top, OK? Thank you.

Sincerely,

lsaspacey


If anyone agrees with me about this being a great pattern, please express your support in the comments. Thanks!

Plans and dreams for the future...

not necessarily resolutions. This post sort of goes along with this one. My focus changed a bit after I put together that mosaic.

In the future, I want:
to bring more color into my home. (pics 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12)

to alter my store-bought clothing or adapt store-bought patterns for my own designs (pic. 3, 10, 11, 15)

to one day take both a draping and pattern-making class.

to piece together and finish a quilt. (pic 8)

to use my imagination more.

to enjoy taking a class again. I miss the pure joy of learning.

to see my friends more in casual "hanging-out" settings. I would love to invite people over for meals, board games, and Chex Mix. (pic 9 &14)

to feel comfortable and motivated in my home again, instead of becoming a couch-potato as soon as I hit the sofa. (pic 2)

to exchange books with friends (which means I want to read more AND get to share and discuss books with OTHER people)

to learn at least one song on the piano.

one day to sing a song on a stage. There are a few I wouldn't sound bad doing.

to fall in love. (pics 13 & 16)

How did I spend New Year's Eve?

Well...I slept through it. Not on purpose, mind you.

I got off of work, did a few errands, (in fact returned college textbooks and made $59!) Then I chased restaurant closing times around town looking for a place to have a late lunch. When I got home, I turned up the heat, had soup and toast, and laid down for a short nap.

I woke to see on the clock 8:20 PM, vowed to get up but the next thing I saw was 3:20AM on the clock! Oh well...

I sure hope this doesn't mean I'm doomed to sleep through 2009, because I already did that for 2007 and 2008. This year, I want to be fully awake and fully engaged. That's my biggest goal for the new year right there.

My New Year's Resolutions...

1. MIFFY, 2. Blue House Front Sept 08, 3. Circle Applique Skirt, 4. Alabama Chanin Skirt, 5. Small. Happy. Home., 6. Untitled, 7. LR 64 -domino, 8. quilt top: done!, 9. Dinner Party, 10. some green leaves, 11. finished product, 12. Farm-fresh table., 13. ntf002, 14. my 70's lamp, 15. Vintage Dress Pattern, 1968, 16. Wedding

To be continued...

End of the year meme

When I first saw that new meme here and here, I became discouraged. I was so sure I would come up short. However, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Instead of listing all 99 things in the meme, I'm only listing the ones I've done (in bold type) and the ones that I want to do.


1. Started your own blog- TWO!

12. Visited Paris - Can I substitute Italy, which I have a better chance of seeing soon?

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - knitting and sewing.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - Doesn't everyone for their my mental health?

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

35. Seen an Amish community

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - for two short months, then I lost my job!

41. Sung karaoke – I'm sure I have but can't remember the details. I guess that could be a good thing?

47. Had your portrait painted - I had my portrait photographed twice; once for work and once as a birthday gift.

52. Kissed in the rain - will get on this as soon as I find a willing participant!

53. Played in the mud - When a child, I made many a mud pie.

55. Been in a movie

57. Started a business - one day...one day

60. Served at a soup kitchen - want to do this so bad, 2009 will be the year!

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma – once, the one time in my life I wasn't anemic or borderline anemic. Must work on that

67. Bounced a check - Luckily always with bank protection - so only my bank knows.

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - Many have been saved and all are at my dad's house still.

71. Eaten Caviar – not a fan.

72. Pieced a quilt - WANT TO DO SO BAD!

75. Been fired from a job - Yes, but then they gave me a going-away party at my favorite restaurant and a $200 gift certificate to IKEA. Confused? Me too. Still.

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle – with a sadistic friend who liked to see me scared.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person - when I was fourteen in 111 degree temperature (but it was a dry heat)

84. Had your picture in the newspaper - Twice: in seventh grade as part of an after school program and when I was 28 as a new hire in the Business section.

90. Sat on a jury - many times, including two murder trials.

91. Met someone famous - Bill Irwin, Leonard Maltin, Tony Curtis, Amy Van Dyken, Jo Dee Messina, Vince Gill, and even a contestant* from the debut season of The Bachelorette (Yes, all but the first one were job-related.)

93. Lost a loved one - many, and there are many ways to lose someone besides death.

98. Owned a cell phone.

Twenty-one out of ninety-nine items on the list means that I have a lot more to accomplish in the year(s) to come.

*Charlie Maher