THE INTRODUCTION STILL APPLIES

31 years ago when I met my husband he was introduced to me as a "nice guy". Well, that description still applies-- here he is cleaning the snow off our neighbor's drive.

SEWING IF ONLYS

Overall it was a pretty good year for sewing. I didn't think I made that much until I went back over my list and was surprised to discover that I made the following in 2009:

3 Dresses
2 Pants
1 jeans
6 skirts
11 tops
4 jackets
1 coat for Grace and 1 purse

There were 5 items that stand out as sewing if onlys- that is if only everything I made turned out to be as satisfactory as these items I would be a very happy girl. But after 45 plus years of sewing I am realistic - it just ain't gonna happen.

My first if only is a pair of jeans from Vogue 1034. It is a Sandra Betzina pattern and not only do I love the fit but since jeans are a important wardrobe staple and I have major difficulty buying a pair I like they are on top of my list. Next time I make them I will change a few things but they are definitely on The List for 2010.

Next up is a pair of black wool pants I made for the ASG competition. I had not made pants in years because I could not perfect the fit. I bought this tightly woven, textured wool in Paris with the intent of making a coat but somehow it became pants and I think they will be a long wearing classic. I initially used Simplicity 2938 but after the competition was over I redrafted them using a pair of ready made pants that I cut apart and a self-drafted sloper. I just hope when I am ready to make them again I can figure out what I did!

Then using a knit that I bought on sale several years ago I made Vogue 2980, another Sandra Betzina pattern. This top fit like a charm and went together in an afternoon. That alone is enough to make me love it but it is a perfect top for my style - simple and classic but with a little touch of drama. Not only is it on the The List 2010 but at the top of the list. (My photo does not do this top justice.)

The number 4 if only was inspired by a picture in the Oct/Nov 2009 issue of Vogue Patterns. This wool tartan has been in my stash for over 20 years just waiting to take life!. Yes, I know it is only a straight skirt with a pleat but it is so on trend and I felt good wearing it. And I don't think I could have found a more perfect belt. This is another self drafted pattern and rather than use a petersham waist treatment I used a waistband - something I haven't done in ages and I liked it for a change. It gave my waist more definition.

And my last item is a Cynthia Steffe pattern for Vogue, number 1151. It is made in a charcoal ponte knit from Joanns and is another on trend item to jazz up my sometimes boring wardrobe. When I saw Erica B's version I knew I had to have it too. (I have decided that Erica should be my personal stylist.) This dress is not only comfortable but a bit sexy and that combination is rare. I wore this dress Christmas Day and cooked dinner then cleaned the kitchen and still felt good about how I looked. Possibly I'll make it in navy for summer.

Now that I think about it and survey my closet I wish everything, not just the garments I made but those that I purchased as well met the same criteria as these 5 pieces. And since one of my ongoing goals is to simplify everything about my life, including my wardrobe, I wish I had a formula to insure these results. So in 2010 I will keep working towards that end- a much leaner closet filled with clothing options that I love to wear, fit perfectly, make me feel great and are appropriate for my lifestyle.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

This year my table setting for dinner on Christmas Day was my favorite decoration. Grace helped me set the table and she wrote the placecards.

My favorite event was taking Grace to The Nutcracker. It is our annual event and we both love it. Jim thinks it is a bit too much dancing and I have to remind him it's a ballet! This year we weren't going until the last performance and we did not want to take a chance that they would be sold out of nutcrackers so we made a special trip on Friday after school to get her nutcracker, another tradition we have started. She couldn't decide which one she wanted so the perffect solution was to buy both. And then Papa saw another one at the mall later that evening - so three nutcrackers were added to the collection this year.

And my favorite gift was a pink 4-wheeler!

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Before Jim and I married he warned me that he was so unlucky that if he bought a funeral home people would quit dying! I thought it was funny at the time but over the years I started to wonder about his "luck". It never seemed to fail that whatever Jim bought or did there was always a problem. Everything from cars and motorhomes to missing parts, something was always wrong. But we always joked that he could count on two things to work right - his '97 Ford pickup and me. We never let him down. Well, last week he sold his pickup. It had 135,000 miles on it. I don't exactly know how many miles there are on me and I admit I have slowed down a bit the last couple of years so I have to wonder what my future holds.

GRACE'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

Each year I have a Christmas party for Grace and her friends. When Grace got here she put on her lipstick and gloves and checked out the table which I had decorated with carousels from my collection. We then discussed the proper way to greet guests, where to put their coats and a few house rules. As each girl arrived I took her picture with Grace and Mirabella, the snowgirl. They decorated a perma-coated plate and had dessert. Jim even got into the action when the girls decided he needed to wear the reindeer antlers!

THE STOCKINGS ARE HUNG

Last year Grace fell in love with my Christmas stocking. It is a simple off white satin with lace trim around the top. I then put several rhinestone pins, vintage and new, on the stocking to dress it up. Jim's stocking I made from black velvet and vintage ties, along with an initialed tie tac. They look rather nice on our fireplace and Grace thought she should have one too. And of course I thought so as well and I promised her I would make her one for this year.

During the month of December we like to give her a few small gifts throughout the month. This way she can enjoy each gift and not be overwhelmed with so many things at once. Saturday after her party she spied the two packages under the tree and knew they were for her. She opened her stocking first and was so excited. She really was thrilled and kept saying it was beautiful. She especially liked the pearls and the the fluer-de-lis pin. (She is very interested in all things French! Some little girls want to go to Disney World- Grace wants to go to Paris!)

SCOOPIN' THE GOOP

Grace told me the other day that we needed to make another jack-o-lantern and when Grace says we need to do something we don't waste any time doing it! Jim went to three places before he found the perfect pumpkin and we set to work after school. Grace was insistent that this was a girl so we changed her name from Jack to Jacqeline. So ours is not a jack-o-lantern but a jacqueline-a-lantern. Grace took her home and put a wig, a crown and earrings on her! So cute!