Adventures in Patternmaking

I am taking patternmaking this semester as my last sewing class in my college career. I was terrified of this class...seriously. I had just taken Advanced Clothing Construction during Spring term....aka 14 weeks worth of classes in half the time, but not half the work. It was a little bit (read: completely) miserable. Thus I was wary of taking another advanced studies sewing class so soon - especially one I didn't know much about. But I have LOVED it so far. It is still a lot of work as all sewing classes at BYU are, but I don't live in the sewing lab now and I am loving that.

We just had our midterm last week and boy, am I glad it is over! The midterm consisted of this: Professor gives you a picture of a dress or skirt/bodice and you make all the pattern pieces for said picture. You may or may not have seen/learned specifically the techniques used in the picture but it's all in the book. You have six hours over two days. Good luck!

Yeah, you tell me that you wouldn't be scared if the following was your midterm review:

But I survived and it went pretty well. I messed one section up big time - which made me really sad because I did it RIGHT and then I thought too much, apparently, and I re-did it WRONG and turned it in. Sigh.... We got our tests back today and I showed the professor after class my CORRECT pattern that I had not turned in and she gave me this anguished look...which made me feel better even though I couldn't raise my grade.

We have just passed the midway week and I feel like the semester is practically over! That is a great feeling. Cuz' you know what comes at the end of Fall semester? Good Things.

A thought for the Sabbath

You know, sometimes I think we all need to remember that we are constantly being watched - and not only by our peers.

My little brother is the greatest. Anyone who has ever met him knows that he is incredibly nice, humble, sweet and talented. I love that kid. I always wonder what it must be like for him to have grown up with an entirely different family than I did. My brothers and sisters all went to school with me and we were kids together. His brothers and sisters are old and almost all are married and the oldest have several children. What must that be like?

As I have watched him grow up I have come to realize that he just may be the best kid in the bunch. I hope I have boys just like him. This picture is from a family Disneyland trip last year at the end of the long, fun day. My nephew says he wants to be just like his uncle. He couldn't have picked a better role model.

Blogless

I want to post, I want to post! Unfortunately...I won't have time, literally, until later next week. But after that, watch out! I'm going to be a regular poster and have a blast with my blog. Until later...

This is my adorable nephew savoring the harvest of the citrus trees in my parents backyard a year or so ago. I love that the grapefruit is as big as his head!

Happy Birthday Dearest!

Sheesh...it took me FOREVER to post this. Apparently the internet in the library only works when you are using it to study. ;)



My man turned 24 today! We can't believe we are at the beginning of the mid-twenties. (My B-day is 3 weeks from today!) Mid twenties...that sounds old. I tried my hardest today in our busy schedule to make Tylan feel special and loved and I hope it worked.

Tyger, you are the most wonderful of friends and a terrific and loving husband. I appreciate all you do for me and how hard you try to improve yourself and become the person you desire to be. I love how excited you get when you are trying to figure out what present I got you. I think you might enjoy trying to get information out of me more than the present! I appreciate your kind words and big hugs. I love cuddling with you before I fall asleep and how you pounce on me in the morning. I love you and I can't wait to kiss you after we finish our homework for the night.

Happy Birthday, Darling. Happy Birthday.

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday I finally had some time to start the decorating of my house for Halloween. I don't have much Halloween decor (yet) but I tried to make do with construction paper, tape and thread. I now have a delightfully "spooky" living room and it makes me happy.

Note:
scary bats hanging from the ceiling

creepy spiderwebs spanning the pictures

delicious candycorn adorning the switch plate

Someday I will get to decorate to my hearts content and have an awesome house just like my beautiful mum.

My mom loves Halloween. Nephew Joshua thinks their new friend is pretty cool as well.

I Want to Go Here

I want to go to Disneyland! It is the perfect time of the year to go - it's off peak season, the park isn't crowded and the weather is beautiful. Right now it is Halloweentime at the Happiest Place on Earth and I have always wanted to see the 16-foot-tall Mickey Pumpkin on Main Street, USA. The whole park gets a makeover from September 21st - October 31st before the Christmas holiday season. As a lover of Fall and a lover of Disneyland I would be in my own little heaven to be there right now.

Wouldn't you love to be the Disneyland Pumpkin Carving Master and create beautiful masterpieces like this? My pumpkin efforts have never looked that good. {I wonder how many times they have to recarve pumpkins throughout the season?}

Anybody want to come with me?

The Flu = Stress

I had a nasty case of the flu most of last week and I am paying for those 2 days I felt justified to miss classes. (aka...I couldn't even sit up in bed). However, as one of my teachers said in a reply to my explanation email for my absence, "good luck, getting sick during school is a killer!" How true that is. Hence, I will not be concentrating on blogging and getting pictures up this week for I will be spending countless hours trying to catch up. I think I am more sad about that than anyone else. :)

The Future Mr. & Mrs.

Friday night I had a delightful surprise. My little sister and her wonderful boyfriend got engaged! They drove up for conference weekend and stopped at our apartment to pick up some things. They left to attend Mr. Fiance's mission reunion, made a little detour up Provo Canyon and *surprise* he popped the question! Much to my excitement, (and hers), she said yes! I have been rooting for this boy for years. They went to high school together and everyone knew there was something special there... When my sister called to tell me she was newly engaged, I told her I was so happy for her but slightly upset at him for doing it after they stopped by because I wanted to see the ring! Luckily for me, (and for him), they were already planning on coming back to change and get ready for the reunion (did I mention it had been raining ALL DAY long?) The ring is sparkly and they are very happy. Right after Christmas, we get an awesome new brother-in-law in the family and a great singer as well! Welcome to the family!

I don't know why, but I know it will be ok

A good friend of my family died in a car accident this morning. This vibrant young man was loved and adored by all who met him. No one could help but love him! One of his most dominant traits was his love and real concern for everyone. It didn't matter if you had known him for years or you had just met him - you soon found yourself pouring your heart out to him. Oh...but he was so young! He is so wonderful. It's so sad and tragic. I pray that understanding and peace will come soon to all, but I know, at least for me, that it is still too raw. Even knowing that he is in a good and wonderful place, it makes me a little afraid. What if this were to happen to me? Am I ready? Is my life in order? Am I living my life how I should be?
My thoughts and prayers go out to his wonderful family. I'll see you on the other side, Tim. Save me a place in the choir.

To read about my beliefs on the afterlife, visit http://www.mormon.org/ and specifically http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/heavenly-father-s-plan-of-salvation/life-after-death

Brand New

I have decided to finally sit down and create a blog after talking about it and thinking about it for a looong time. I LOVE reading my friends' blogs (I affectionately call myself a blog stalker) and I just had to start one myself! Hopefully it will be up and running soon with fun posts to read.

Don't be surprised if the look and the title change all the time. :)