2020 sewing plans

Oh hello 2020, you already here?

So, what became of the 2019 sewing projects?

I have to admit, I didn't do much sewing in 2019. Because of work and family time I didn't have much time left for sewing so I reduced it to what needed to be done. And I also didn't need that much really. And it was good the way it was.

- I made some jeans/trousers (Ginger Jeans Pattern and pattern taken from old linen trousers), also for summer, which was good and useful.
- I made the Mahina Cardigan as part of the Scroop Pattern Pattern test. Which was great.
- I made some Jade Skirts from Paprika Patterns, which was a great quick and easy project.
- And I made another Otari hoodie (Scroop Patterns).
- And my biggest project was a tango dress (which I still need to write about, otherwise nobody will believe it actually exists...)
- Oh, and I managed to make comfy pants for myself, too. I also use them for yoga.

I managed to make some clothes for the kids (comfy suit and comfy pants).

The Satsuki Dress and the Vogue Dress 8728 are STILL waiting to be made.

Initially I had wanted to make a winter coat and t-shirts as well as Jeans shorts and a cardigan, but I happened to be able to buy all of those so I didn't have to make them, which was good because I didn't really have that much time for sewing this year.  I also didn't manage to make a pullover for my natural minimalist. Also the idea of a dress for dancing is still only an idea, because making the actual mock-up is going to be so time consuming, that there is no way at the moment, that I can make it.

My historical sewing ("Project 1908") is still on hold because of lack of time and patience (a lot of research work still needs to be done before I can even start with the foundations...)


My modest Sewing Plans 2020

- Really really using up stash material.

- Pumpkin dress (Heidi and Finn) for the girls

- Satsuki Tunic (Victory patterns)

- Vogue 8728 dress

- 2 ginger jeans (fabric already cut!) (Closet Case Patterns)

- pillow cover from old t-shirt

- maybe yoga trousers (if necessary) (Milchmonster Mama Frida or Lolle Longlegs by Katjuschka)

- Bethioua shirt (Ellepuls)

- another tango dress (already cut!)

- Bronte shirt short sleeved (Jennifer Lauren)


Oh, and I've got sooo many dreams about sewing... but well get to that when these 10 plans have been put into action.

Goodbye 2019, welcome 2020

Photo by Nicola Fioravanti on Unsplash

2019 was a very busy year for us. It has been very full of activities, new and old, private and work, alone and together. And it was full of surprises and change. 

I wish everyone A Very Happy New Year 2020, may it be full of love, happiness and blessings. 

Christmas window decoration

So Christmas is here and as we traditionally do, we put up the tree and most of the Christmas decoration on my husbands birthday. This years, I've tried out this "christmas twig" decoration for the kitchen window (hanging is really the ony ways to decorate our home, because we have no windowsills!- apart from the one in the kitchcen, which is so close to the sink, that it is unsuitable)

I got the idea from one of the neighbours and despite my inability to take fancy photographs, I find it is really pretty. :)

The Paradox of our Age

I hope we can take the chances that we're given and change to the better.
Especially in December things seem to speed up in commercialism. And around Christmas everybody is so stresses about what to buy for your loved ones. But do you have to by. Isn't it enough to be? Be there for each other, spend time with each other and tell each other what moves us. And get to know them again?

Seasonal table October 2019

I actually did have this ready in time for the first of October but it's been really busy here so the picture had to wait. All around us the colours of the leaves are changing and it's been a beautiful October so far. We've been flying kites and collecting leaves and are currently enjoying a warm weather situation with temperatures up to 26 degrees celsius!
We've also found an awful lot of fly agarics and other mushrooms that didn't look edible but very pretty. And on another walk we discovered stone age caves that people were using as a shelter about 13000 years ago! Amazing! (obviously we didn't discover them first, but it was a first for us...)

And I find this month's Elsa Beskow calender leaf most endearing!

Being compassionate

Don't let a single day pass without trying to be compassionate! 

Even if it is not easy. An interesting and personal essay about what compassion is and what it isn't and about a little bit of buddhism. And about trying and failing. And trying. 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/happiness-in-world/200911/what-compassion-is

Never stop asking questions

An interview With Edward Snowden

https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/dlf-interview-with-edward-snowden-what-would-a-society-be.2907.de.html?dram:article_id=458853

Live your life virtuously!

Photo by Ahmad Odeh on Unsplash

I'm interested in what factors contribute to a happy or content life. I think I've established quite well, that I don't believe in shopping to be a safe and reliant source for happiness. A couple of days ago I stumbled across the "Six-factor Model of Psychological Wellbeing" by Carol Ryff. So thought I'd share it with you.

a quick overview http://livingmeanings.com/six-criteria-well-ryffs-multidimensional-model/ (also other interesting stuff, food for thought and inspiration for further reading)
wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-factor_Model_of_Psychological_Well-being
Further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicomachean_Ethics

Original articles:
http://aging.wisc.edu/pdfs/379.pdf
http://midus.wisc.edu/findings/pdfs/830.pdf

Questionnaire
https://web.archive.org/web/20150122104922/http://www.karger.com/ProdukteDB/katalogteile/isbn3_8055/_98/_53/suppmat/p192-PWB.pdf

Seasonal table September 2019

September has begun, this time the meteorological beginning of autumn is also on the 1st of September and I managed to put up the table in time AND get it online in the beginning of September, too. :) Yes, I know, there are no flowers in that little vase, but I am waiting for the children to find some.

The nights are certainly becoming  a little chillier, even if daytime temperature can still be up to 32°C. I am looking forward to "Zwetschgenkuchen", which is one of my favourite (it's a special kind of plum, but basically it is plum cake with crumble...). In fact there is one in the oven as I am writing this. :)

The Else Beskow card for this month reminds me of our little apple tree, which is already (despite being quite a young tree) growing a few apples. We've been cutting the hedge and everywhere you find little hints at autumn coming. But for the moment, we are enjoying a warm and pleasant late summer.

Seasonal Table August 2019

Wow, this took a looong time to go online! Although I had even managed to put it up on the 2nd of August. Anyhow, that's what out August table looked like. :)

And isn't the Elsa Beskow monthly card most adorable?