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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Christmas Celebrations

I am currently taking a break from my work duties, though I am continuing with my education by attending webinars and some networking. I might be teaching at Sewing Source in Lake Villa, we will see what happens with that.
Our son came in from Iowa on Christmas Eve while we were at a party at a neighbor's house. Then he and our daughter and son-in-law attended midnight Mass with us. It was a beautiful ceremony. On Christmas morning our other son then joined us all for Christmas breakfast followed by presents and stockings. Later that day we went to my sister-in-law's home to celebrate with that side of the family. There my other sister-in-law announced she had gotten engaged the evening before. Congrats to Mary and Bob! On Boxing Day, after watching the Packers win big, we celebrated at another neighbor's home. It is so fun to live where we can all get together and just talk and enjoy each other's company.
Santa was good to me, I got some CDs I was looking for, Yak Traks to run in the snow, jewelry, memory card for my new camera and gift cards to two of my favorite places to shop, Nancy's Notions and Coldwater Creek. I have already spent all of Nancy's Notions and some of Coldwater Creek.
Haven't done much working out, though my daughter and I did get in a 9 mile run on Christmas Eve morning. Did do a computrainer interval workout Tuesday morning and did a 4 mile run this morning. After the new year it is back to work and training for the half marathon in Nashville in April. I plan on doing it in under 2 hours which would be taking 8-9 minutes off my best time.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas is Coming

Just three days until Christmas. I finished my baking last week, all twelve batches of cookies. On some of them I cheated and didn't do all the different shapes but I figured when I started with mixing on Tuesday and had to finish before company came on Saturday, that a few shortcuts were needed. Most of the gifts are bought and I have started the wrapping. Usually by this time I am completely done, oh well the wedding was more important. We are going to be celebrating with my husband's side of the family on Christmas day, already celebrated with my side the day after the wedding. The newlyweds are still trying to find someplace they could maybe do a inexpensive honeymoon over the Christmas break.
Business has pretty much come to a standstill over the holidays, so I am just resting and doing some clean-up to get ready for projects after the New Year.
The weather has remained cold with occasional snow. This morning's run was slow due to very slick roads. Some sunshine would help.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Wedding is Done


Well my daughter's wedding is done. Only a few minor hitches but nothing that couldn't be overcome. We got to the Byron Colby Barn a little late to get started on the decorating but with help from the Matron of Honor and her husband plus the groom and his best friend and our son from Iowa, everything got done. We got to the salon only 5 minutes late for our appointments and we were out even earlier than we thought we would be which was a good thing because the photographer was a half hour early to the house. My poor daughter didn't get to eat any lunch until after she was all dressed and photographed. Unfortunately it then started to rain, so everyone was getting wet getting into church. It kept raining so their pictures after the ceremony that were supposed to be in the snow turned out to be just a few taken with them standing under an umbrella. Oh well! When we got to the Barn later that evening it was magical. There were candles all lit around the perimeter, the tables were set with all the shiny plates and glasses with the purple napkins. It did look beautiful. Dinner was delicious and the first dances went well. She looked so beautiful and grown-up.
The next day we celebrated Christmas with my side of the family because one sister and her husband were in from Arizona and another sister took off the whole weekend. The newlyweds stopped in for a bit but then were off to the Bears game which was a gift from the bride (a Packer fan) to her husband (a Bears fan). It was very cold, windy and snowing but they went anyway.
Finished the embroidery on Christmas stockings and the drapery panels with fringe. Now to take some time to get my Christmas sewing, baking and wrapping done. I am looking forward to the new year when I have some throw pillows and two different top treatments to make for clients.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

3 Days Away

Just 3 days until the wedding! After I finished the veil and bustling the bride's dress I decided to make clutches for the bridesmaids. My daughter can use them to give them their gift of jewelry and then they will have them to use at the wedding. Last week Thursday my daughter did the embroidery on the table runners so I was able to sew them up on Friday and Saturday. Things seem to be going along okay, now if the weather will just cooperate. There is snow and freezing rain in the forecast. We will keep our fingers crossed. I did the final fitting on one bridesmaid on Monday and did her last little alterations. One girl comes tomorrow and the other on Friday. Then rehearsal and dinner on Friday and Saturday is the big day! Oh and I have to make a garter still also.
Kids classes are finished for the year. We will start back up in January. I am looking for at least other person to take lessons on Wednesdays with Lauren otherwise I may have to cancel the class. If you know of someone who would like to join us and will commit to taking lessons until June I will give a month free, a $40 value. Lauren did finish her pajama pants and almost finished a notions bag that she is going to use as a gift bag. What a great way to use leftover fabric and also have a reusable wrapping.
I finished the drapery panels for a client and next week we will discuss the pillows she would like to have made. Finished the embroidery on a towel and now just have to do the Christmas stockings. Trying to figure out the best way to do them without having to take them apart. That is what makes my job so interesting, new challenges all the time.
Saturday a group of us got together and did a run in the falling snow. It was actually very pretty and not that cold. It has gotten quite cold since then, in the single digits this morning when I did my run in the dark. I miss the longer days. On Monday evening it was just too cold and windy to do speed work outside so my daughter and I wound up on the treadmills, not my favorite place but for a half hour workout not too bad. Trying to decide if I will do a quick run on Saturday before the wedding or maybe Pilates early in the morning or maybe just sleep in:-)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

10 days and counting

10 days until the wedding. I finished the bridesmaids' dresses and the flower girls' baskets. Yesterday my daughter and I worked on how to bustle her dress, picked out an embroidery for the table runners and finalized the veil design. Now just need to do the work. Her future in-laws dropped off the centerpieces over the weekend and I got my shoes Monday. Slowly but surely it is all coming together.
In classes, Anna finished the gathering and has the band attached to her tote, Grace finished her denim skirt ( Meghan was wearing hers yesterday, she said she has worn it several times), Meghan finished the peasant blouse for her sister (she's trying to decide between giving it to her right away or waiting until Christmas), Sammie is hemming some too long sweat pants and Lauren is working on her pajama pants.
I met with two clients yesterday for some window treatments. Talked with one about the new shade safety rules. As a person with no young children she didn't know anything about it but saw that for resale value she would need to comply also. It is going to be a tricky situation for a time while we educate our costumers. Need to finish the panels for another client before the holidays and get some embroidery done.
Had a cold run this morning, the wind was pretty bad and it was just starting to snow. I miss the warmer weather where my hands and ears didn't freeze.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Crunch Time

With less than 3 weeks before the wedding and Thanksgiving thrown in there it is really getting down to crunch time. The girls' tops are nearly complete. I need the measurements from my daughter so I can get started on the table runners. Then the veil, the bustling of her dress and the flower girl baskets. Have to figure out when to get my hair highlighted and try to buy shoes. Also since my side of the family is celebrating Christmas the day after the wedding I need to but Christmas gifts also. Can someone find some more hours in the day?
Clothing adaptations are finished and delivered. Starting on the drapery panels from long scarf treatments.
Anna finished the lining and zipped pocket on her tote and is getting ready to do the band on the top. Meaghan has the elastic in the top of her peasant blouse while Sammie finished her cousins' dresses! They look so cute. I bet the girls will look adorable on Christmas. Lauren is working on her pajama pants and poor Grace has the flu and had to miss class yesterday.
The family did the Lincolnwood Turkey Trot on Sunday. Jennifer did her 10K in 55 minutes while I ran it with John who didn't stop to walk at all. Big step for him. PJ and Kate did the 5K where Kate beat PJ. Bob did the 5K walk pretty much running most of it. JJ took the pictures. Then after breakfast at IHop we came home, cooked and celebrated Thanksgiving with a huge meal. Lots of food was made with stuff we grew over the summer. What fun.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

3 weeks to go

Well I guess I officially am getting old, had to get progressive lens today when I got new glasses. I am working on the bridesmaids tops, the velvet will look beautiful but it is a pain to sew. In class, Anna is working on her tote, Grace is almost done with her skirt and Meaghan is ready to sew the casing for the neckline elastic. Sammie will come today to work on her cousins' Christmas dresses and Lauren will be back today also. Just a short post today, have so many things going on.

Monday, November 15, 2010

I just came back from my WING meeting. Great speaker, Dave Verbeten, ActionCoach. He'll be there again in January.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Getting closer to the wedding part II

Well I can tell I really am getting frazzled by all this wedding stuff. I thought yesterday was Wednesday and posted a blog. No wonder that it seemed like the girls didn't make any progress in sewing class. A quick update on them from yesterday. Anna has the pocket on her tote and the front and back sewn together, Grace did the center back seam and slit on her skirt and is ready to sew on the tab, Meghan sewed the pieces of the blouse together and will start doing the elastic casings next week. Sammie did the buttonholes and sewed on the buttons by machine. Lauren missed class last week due to an overload of homework. Oh well, I guess school has to come before sewing :-)
I finished a second bridesmaid skirt last night. Yeah!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Getting closer to the wedding

It seems like I 'm just focused on the wedding preparation lately but that is kind of where I am at. I fitted the muslins on two of the bridesmaids on Saturday before the shower. I have several alterations that I need to make. The skirts fit fine, so now I have to put on the waistbands and hem them. The bride's skirt just needs to be bustled now, something I am not very good at doing. Hopefully the books I have will help. As I said, the shower was Saturday afternoon. Carol and Tammy did a great job. I am so glad I didn't have that to think about also. That evening my daughter and future son-in-law had their bachelor/bachelorette party at WhirlyBall. It is a cross between basketball and lacrosse played in bumper cars. It was great fun but I do have some major bruises from it.
In sewing class, Anna is working on her tote, Meghan finished zigzagging her edges on the blouse she is making for her sister and Sammie finished setting in the gathered sleeves for her cousins' dresses. I have been working on modifications to clothing for a client without hands.
I've finalized the menu for Thanksgiving dinner, which will be the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and registered the family to run a race that morning. Should be fun.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Less than 6 weeks to wedding

Yesterday I finished the bride's top. I have some more work to do on the skirt and then work on trying to bustle it. I have posted pictures on my Facebook page of the dress so far. Two of the bridesmaids are coming on Saturday before the shower for their fittings. Hopefully the muslins I made won't need too many alterations. I hope to have the third bridesmaid's dress done by the end of the week. In classes, Anna has started constructing her tote bag, Meghan got the top cut out for her sister and finished most of the zigzagging, Sammie has the sleeves on the dresses and will work on the buttonholes next week. I am working on doing some alterations for a gentleman who has two hooks instead of hands. I redo his shirts to have Velcro fastenings along with some other changes. Today is my CEO advisory board meeting. My task for this month was to bring photos from our trip. I have a mockup of the first draft of a book we (meaning mostly my husband) are putting together of the photos from our Black and White trip. The weather today is cold, damp and dreary so I'm glad I have something fun to do at lunchtime.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Wedding Stress

As relaxing as the vacation was now I am in full time stress mode. I realized the wedding is only 6 weeks away and I don't even have one dress finished. I still need to make the flower girl baskets, table runners and now also a veil. I'm wondering if I really do need to sleep. My daughter, the bride, is doing okay so I'm trying not to stress her out also.
In my classes, Anna has finished cutting out the pieces for her purse, Grace started on her back slit denim skirt, Meghan just finished hers and will be starting on a peasant blouse for her sister. Sammie is working very diligently on her cousins' Christmas dresses and Lauren is going to do the embroidery on her 'two hour purse', that she is making for a friend, today.
I just finished up some throw pillows with covered cord edges out of a plaid valance. They turned out really nice. Also embroidered a couple of pillowcases and a Halloween costume.
We have some nasty weather, windwise, in the area. I did manage to get in a 6.5 mile run this morning by getting up a little earlier before it got too windy though the wind was still pretty tough.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Back from vacation

We are back from a vacation up north in Canada. We flew into Winnipeg and had a guided tour of the city our first day there. That evening we met Derek who was our guide for the next 8 days. We rode a bus to Riding Mountain National Park where we spent 3 nights at Elkhorn Resort. We visited Wasagaming and Parks Canada Visitor Centre to learn more about the area wildlife. The next two days we did wildlife drives to view elk, bison, moose and black bears. What amazing scenery and we had some wonderful weather. One evening we had a sunset cruise on Clear Lake. The colors were gorgeous. Then it was back to Winnipeg to catch a plane to Churchill where we were for 4 nights. We spent 2 days on a Tundra Buggy looking at the polar bears, caribou and ptarmigans. We also toured the area around Churchill, saw the Northern Lights, got a glimpse inside the polar bear jail, and visited the Eskimo museum. Then back to Winnipeg for a farewell dinner and home the next day. A wonderful vacation!!
Back home I am working diligently on my daughter's wedding dress. I hope to have the top done by next week.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

New shade safety guidelines are in. They will change how you make your shades.
This past weekend we celebrated my birthday. Our daughter went for a 9 mile run with me, my hubbie and I went for a hike in Kettle Moraine and out for dinner. Then on Sunday on our long bike ride that was to be to Super Dawg, our son and his fiancee, surprised me with a picnic in the forest preserve complete with a birthday cake made by our daughter. What a great weekend. Classes are going well and Meaghen started on a back slit denim skirt for her new project. Sammie was excited to be finally finished cutting out her cousins' dresses and start sewing. I have been learning all about the new standards for shade safety. This is going to be important to the industry.
I think I may have found some beads for Jennifer's dress. Just need to order them. Found out she now also wants me to make her veil. Guess I had better get going on these dresses. I spent all day Friday shopping for my dress and finally found one at Lord and Taylor. It has passed hubbie and bride inspection. So glad to be done with that.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The weather is cooling and the leaves are already starting to change. My fall classes have started and the girls are really excited to be sewing again. Sammie is making matching dresses for her cousins to wear at Christmas. Anna is making some sport shorts, Meghan just finished her square neck blouse and Lauren is working on a tank top.
I am busy working on my daughter's wedding dress. I am having a hard time though finding beads to bead the top. Lots of stores carry jewelry beads but not clothing beads. I think this is the worst part so far. I am also working on the bridesmaids' dresses. They are velvet on the top and satin skirts. After those are done I need to work on the flower girl baskets and purses for the bridesmaids. I have until mid December;-)

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

new photos posted to my Facebook pages for Sew Much Fun and Creations by Celeste. Check them out.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Summer camp schedule posted on Google calendar.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Check out the photos of the window seat cushion I made from a throw on my Creations by Celeste Facebook page.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Check out photos on my Sew Much Fun Facebook page of past sewing camps