For the first time in seven years of blogging, I have no year end recap. I haven’t sewn this little since I was in college. This year was an emotional roller coaster. From the Ravens winning the Superbowl, taking a new job, getting engaged then married within seven weeks to losing my mom within three months of her diagnosis and the Ravens not even making the playoffs for the first time in like five years. I’m feeling kind of… battered to be honest.
Over the weekend my friend Liz came over and we started folding fabric. And folded. And folded. While what is on the shelves represents about three bins of fabric, you can see I have many more to go (and two aren’t even pictured)! I’m going to need to buy a second shelf shelf about three feet wide from Costco/ Sam’s Club. And convince Jordan that folding is fun.
Oh, I was in NY for work yesterday and bought a some necktie material at Mood. Yes, I’m going to make neckties again 🙂 But, I managed to leave $75 worth of fabric on the train!! After several frantic calls (starting at 12:30 a.m.) to Amtrak’s lost and found in DC, Baltimore and New York, my bag turned up! Trena’s going to swing by Union Station in Washington and get it for me. I’m considering this my Christmas miracle.
Anywhoo. My dad is here visiting for the holidays and we’re off to the movies then drinks with friends and dinner with more friends. I can’t believe how much my life has changed from this time last year. And, who knows that 2014 has to offer? I’m hoping many more weekends at home with my sewing machine.
Happy New Year my friends.
Miss Celie's Pants 
Happy New Year! You inspire me to organize my sewing equipment, fabrics, and notions, but my husband wants me to focus on other areas first. Thanks for sharing your insights, inspirations, joys, and sorrows. I am blessed to call you friend.
Interestingly I was one of the first commenters on your 2012 post and here I am again. First can I tell you that there are times when life just overwhelms sewing. My productivity was never as high as it is now when I was married and had young children. The life changes you’ve experienced this year though new and challenging now will enrich your life in future years.
I am sure that more sewing will ensue in that wonderful new sewing room during 2014. I’m glad that you found your fabric…that you will be spending time with your Dad, Jordan and friends…and that the New Year will find you surrounded by love.
Happy New Year!!!
Don’t feel bad, it wasn’t a very productive year for me either. Life just gets in the way sometimes, and we have to just roll with it. A lot of things happened this year for you, and I think we can all understand how sewing got shoved right past the back burner and off the stove. 2014 should be better year for you, and I’m sure you’ll get back into the sewing groove soon! Good luck convincing your hubby that folding fabric is fun though!! 😉
I agree, life just gets in the way sometimes. It’s been a hell of a year for you with some good highs thrown in. I laughed when I read that you were going to make neckties again. Hopefully this will break the ‘curse’. My husband does help fold fabric, but I’ve got to admit, not the amount you’ve got sitting there. Nice that they found your fabric; sometimes good things do happen. Have a lovely New Year.
Happy New Year! Hooray for Trena rescuing your fabric. I didn’t sew for long periods when I had new babies, or had sickness or other emergencies, but I am glad to always come back to it. It calms me and makes me happy to sew. That’s all it has to do.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year! I know that life twists and turns in ways we can never expect. You are a sewing inspiration to me, and I hope that it brings you happiness again in the future.
I want to wish you a very Happy New Year, Renee. I know this year has been hard, but now it is done. Nothing ever stays the same, as I am sure you have realized this year. Just when you think you have it figure out, well, there it goes! I hope you settle into your new life and find joy and peace, and oh, and lots of sewing time.
I go through a lot of ups & downs in my sewing as well. It’s nice to know that it’s pretty much impossible to forget how to do it, no matter how long you stay away. 😉 Have a wonderful new year!
I think there are lots of us who are glad to see 2013 in the rearview mirror. My year was quite off in many other ways and I feel like I’m about two years behind.
Wishing you a healthy and happy 2014. Maybe I’ll even do some sewing that I can blog about!
You have had a roller coaster year. Not surprising that sewing projects were set aside while you dealt with everything else you had going on.
About 12 years ago I set sewing aside because life was too hectic to fit it in. Or maybe I just lost the mental and physical energy to fit it in. Anyway, about 6 years ago, I somehow stumbled across your blog and started following you. Your posts reminded me of how I used to feel about sewing – pride in making something yourself and occasional frustration when things didn’t go well. Then you posted about a Burda WOF dress, and suddenly I HAD to find the magazine and make the dress for myself. My sewing mojo was back!
Thanks to your blog leading me to other sewing bloggers, I’ve improved my sewing skills. I now pay more attention to alterations, seldom make a new pattern without a muslin first, and have regained a dedicated craft/sewing area.
I realize this is a long comment, but I wanted to let you know that several years ago you inspired me to get my sewing butt back in gear. If you need to take a breather to recover from a difficult year, I understand. I just advise that you don’t wait as many years as I did to get back into the sewing room.
So nice to hear from you!!! Wishing you the best in 2014. And folding fabric can be soon therapudic.
What a year for you! It’s been so fun to follow you on your blog — you’ve done so much, even if you sewed less. Can’t wait to see what’s coming up for you in 2014!
You have had an emotional roller coaster of a year. I bet by making the ties it will jump start your sewing and this time next year you will have an amazing year-end post.
Reading your list, it’s surely been a monstrous year of peak high and valley low events and emotions. And you keep on plugging. That’s the blessing of a strong, core inner flame ..your maternal inheritance of grit and dogged spirit that will continue to sustain you. This gorgeous new sewing haven and most importantly your darling sweetheart will bring pleasure, peace and serenity back home to you, and that you well deserve. God bless you and yours in this New Year.
Happy New Year! I’ve had a similar year to you and have so little to show, sewing wise, too. Sending hugs to you.
It wasn’t a very productive year for me either, for obvious reasons… You’re not alobe 🙂
Happy New Year, wishing you all the best!
Sorry, I meant “alone” and not “alobe”, lol
Happy New Year. I hope 2014 brings you peace and happiness. And some sewing 🙂
Whoo the fabric is safe…lol just kidding. Same for me here but you can’t tell that by my blog I was thinking about you and what was going on. Hopefully nice/good things to come this year.
Of course you haven’t had time to do a round-up or sew. You’ve been living! That takes every ounce of creative energy, endurance and gumption you’ve got, but the result is a loving, rich tapestry of experiences that spurs deep growth. Sewing is a wonderful creative pursuit. It can be a healing escape that also serves to satisfy our need to create, but it will never have the depth, risk and richness of living fearlessly.
Kudos to you for facing and embracing an incredible year.
Forget ’round ups’ and don’t feel bad about not sewing so much. You had one hell of a year – I hope 2014 will be good to you.
Happy New Year, you had a year of highs and lows. Take the time you need to recover, and I am glad that your dad and your husband are with you this holiday season.
Happy new year! I hope 2014 is great year for you and the new hubby.
Happy 2014, hope it will be a better year for you. When you are ready for it there will be sewing time again. So many things have happened, good and bad, that sewing got to the backburner, only natural.
In the meantime you have reminded me that I need to fold my fabric!
What a rollercoaster of a year you’ve had. I wish you and your family all the best in 2014 – you deserve such happiness!
I find my sewing at home goes in spurts, sometimes other things come up and it sounds like you got up to lots of other lovely things so here’s to all the sewing you’ll get up to this year with it all displayed so nicely on the shelves.
So lucky about your bag of fabric being found!
Just wanted to say I’m glad you are setting yourself up in a great sewing room! It’s so good to make your space nice for yourself, especially when you have a lot of change in your life. I am so sorry for the loss of your mom. Take care and much happiness in 2014.
I wish you a wonderful new year, fulfilling in every way!
I want to wish you and your family all the best for the New Year. Thank you for sharing your sewing experiences with us.
Wishing you a Happy and Blessed New Year!!
You’ve had a hell of a year, good and bad. I hope 2014 is a peaceful and bright year for you.
Happy New Year friend in my head! Life does take many twists and turns, and we usually can’t see far enough ahead to know what’s coming next! Thank goodness for that sometimes. Being a bit older than you, I just try to enjoy the good times and weather the bad with family and friends. I think that’s what life is all about.
Happy 2014! I’m crossing my fingers that 2014 is a calm and happy year for you. You’ve had a tough one, but I’m so glad for the highs– you and Jordan look so cute together! Enjoy your visit with your dad– hope it’s a sweet time together.
Happy New Year Lady! Sending you much hugs and good vibes for 2014. Sorry 2013 was so tough for you!