The Material Mama Podcast: July 2010

Why yes, I'm still here! :) Busy mama indeed.

Here's what's going in my little corner of life. I was very ill from January 28 (easy to remember because it was my daughter's birthday and the day we left for an 'adults only' vacation to New Orleans) to late May. I was never actually diagnosed but it was very icky. I'll spare you the grisly details but I'm glad it's over and I'm healthy.

I haven't sewn since Christmas, but last week went on a tear with the Jayme pattern for my now 6 and 8 year old girls. Here's what I made:

As many of you know, I taught Kindergarten last school year. It was a wonderful job. I had a supportive team and administrators I looked up to and learned SO much from. However I was so ill, and with my little girls on a different school schedule, my life became very stressful. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure which was a big reality check. I decided to:

SIMPLIFY

I have taken a year of leave from my job. I sold Sewing Mamas to a wonderful friend. I am taking time to be mama and homemaker for a year. I'm very lucky and blessed to be able to do it. My family and my health depended on it.

Here is what I've been listening to. If you are a film or TV fan you'll know Stephen Tobolowsky. He talks all about Hollywood and the life of an actor. I find it interesting, as I do all things creative. You may think you don't but you will know him on The Tobolowsky Files. Here's a picture to jog your brain. You can read about it here.

I was also turned on to "Stuff you Missed in History Class" by my daughter (now home from her first year at college!) on a recent drive down to San Diego it was a fun listen! Topics are far ranging and include historical questions such as Who was America’s first murderer? >, How the Navajo code talkers worked , What happened to Cleopatra’s children , and Did the Chinese reach America before Columbus ? Great to listen to while the machine hums!

I'm back to sewing -- slowly -- it's taken a back seat for a time. My Babylock has been replaced with a Janome Hello Kitty 3/4 size machine. It has less bells and whistles but also less aggravation when things go wrong. Which is a lot. Didn't I podcast about never buying from them again? Ugh. Shame on me! Well, I'm starting to love all things Janome. I still have and use the Janome coverstitcher and may get a new (to me) serger.

I'm enjoying time with the kids, reading great blogs such as Kari U-Create, Frugal Family Fun (I really adore this sewn oven!)

The recession (along with a child in college and no income from me) has hit us, so I'm also enjoying Groupon as many have. Nope, not a scam as I thought it was. I've used it many times this summer for great discounts around town!

The State Fair is in full swing and I'm hoping to go so I can look at guinea pigs (for the little girls) and sewn items. Perhaps I'll enter something next year :) I'd love to hear if you have had any experiences entering items in your local fairs!

Take care and I'll be back soon!

Nutmeg