T-Shirt Memory Blanket

I finished this a few weeks ago....just forgot to get pics of it before Daughter left. She was thrilled when I gave it to her. It's the best feeling in the world to have your child smiling up at you with pure happiness in her adult face because of something you did for her.













DD sent me the pics; the second one is a sock :o). The third pic was taken after we figured out how to lay it out. None of the 'squares' were square. She chose pieces from many of her friends (that's where the sock came from), basic training, her bro, her boyfriend, her BFF and her daddy. She showed everyone that came into the house and explained many of the blocks. It was one of the things she refused to trust the movers with.

July 4th...and 5th

I had a wonderful day yesterday after a rocky start (flight snafu for Daughter's BF). After a leisurely breakfast with my brother, his girlfriend, my mom, both my kids, Daughter's boyfriend and my absolutely wonderful husband we all went boating and kayaking.

Today...not so good. Daughter left today to go to her next duty station. As her best friend put it last night "I'm dying of sadness." It overwhelms me....I hate feeling this way every time she leaves. I miss her terribly already and she's only been gone an hour.

Butterick 5181

Originally I wanted a maxi dress like this one at JCrew. But didn't want to shell out $450 for a sundress, no matter how cute. After looking high and low for a pattern to make my own, settled on Butterick 5181. I've mentioned before that the Hancock Fabrics in my town closed but before it did it sold everything right down to the fixtures. I added several different lengths of fabric to my stash to include an orange plaid seersucker.

I made the maxi with narrow straps, view D...the kids voted to shorten it (they're not fans of the maxi dress). So I shortened it to the knee and it totally changed how I felt about it....I hated it. The skirt seemed very stiff and looked bulky at the waist. Darling Daughter wanted one like it so I lopped off another 6", shortened the straps and tacked the front and gave it to her.

Here's the dress on a hanger...pics of Daughter wearing it coming soon.

Really...What's Next

How do you decide what's really next for yourself? Not immediate future next, like the next sewing project but the next big step of your life? What if you make a mistake? What if you hate what you chose? Do you finish it out like you made the kids do when they committed to a sport or activity or do you cut bait? If you cut bait how do you justify it? God, why can't this be easy? Why don't I just know what comes next?

This angst-like feeling is partly because my kids don't need me like they used to. They're adults... young adults, but adults none-the-less. When do I transition out of mom mode? Is that ever possible? I don't want to be an icky too involved mom but I do want to be a part of their life. The good as well as the bad. Sigh. I'm gonna pull a Scarlett right now, "I'll think about it tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a better day."

Memory T-shirt Throw

Happy Days! My grown daughter is home on leave from the Air Force and will do a two week stint with her recruiter. When she left last year for basic training she boxed up most of her bedroom...turned into 9 very large boxes and a dresser full. She came back with a MOUNTAIN of stuff. No kidding, I think she has a clown car. The stuff just kept coming out of it. I have no idea how she fit in there with all of it.

Now, she comes by the rat packery honsetly so I really do understand her reluctance to toss her stuff. She did decide to downsize her t-shirt & hoodie collection. Since we were going to donate all the unwanted things, making a tshirt blanket was the perfect idea.

I spent a few hours cutting out the panels, then 5 more sewing them up along the sides and adding bits of other clothing. This isn't, by any means, going to be a quilt. Just a gathering of her favorite memories to take to the new and unfamiliar palce. I can't wait for it to be finished so I can see the look on her face :o)