Homemade Holiday

Recently I went by our local craft/fabric store and got lost. Honestly, I walked each isle probably twice and was completely overcome with inspiration. This is what I've been looking for.

I think that every stay at home mom needs an outlet. I know that people hate when this is said, but being a SAHM is hard. It took me a while to find my outlet and lately I have been feeling so...lost. Many times I would stay up at night, wondering what I could do. Classes at the community college? Redesign the kitchen (again) or the living room (again)? Garden (and not forget to water the plants)? Nothing seemed to quench my thirst for change. Often I feel that being a SAHM is robbing me of my talent, my abilities and my need for information. I love to learn. I love to figure things out and I loved to be challenged. And as much as I love being here for Eddie, I hate it. I honestly feel like I waste most of my day. I hope I'm not the only SAHM that feels this way and deep down I know that I'm not. I know that these thoughts go through the minds of other mothers. Still, that didn't make me feel better. So I've searched and I've found.
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What am I going to do with all of my pent up inspiration and creativity? Well, I am really going to challenge myself. My goal is to do a homemade holiday - every gift that I give this year (with the exception of Eddie and Frank) will be made by hand. My hands. Can I do it? I hope so. Right now I am working on making Eddie's Chirstmas stocking (I made mine and Frank's years ago) and I have the materials and instructions for my first practice quilt. There we so, so many prints that I am in love with and DYING to get my hands on....once they know what they're doing. My plans so far include various holiday decorations for family maybe some matching curtain/throw pillow sets (maybe for my brother and sister-in-law who just bought a house) and *gasp* I want to try some thing like clothes or jewlery. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I am an amature. I have no idea what I'm doing and frequently can be found cursing and hitting my sewing machine. I do, however have hope that we'll become friends...eventually.

And guess what? I feel better already. I am much more chipper and positive instead of feeling run down and just over everything. I look forward to my time sewing and really find a groove in which I not only make progress, but my progress looks pretty good! Now, if you have any ideas on what I can make, send me an email. I'd love some more inspiration. Oh, and some good luck would be nice, too. I promise to show my inspiration and progress along the way, but won't share my finished progress until after my gifts are given out. We need to keep some surprise for the family readers out there!

-maggie