Summer Solstice ~~~Gratitude~~~

I have been in this neck of the woods since 1986.  Over the years I have become a part of a wonderful community.  There are the usual get togethers around the expected events in folks lives but, I have had the Extra Ordinary experience of being a part of a group of women that celebrate and share our most intimate dreams and thoughts.  The group has been fluid over the years meeting often or occasionally.  The "members" evolve as well, some new and some I have known since 1986.  Busy lives and possibly growth has had the group evolve to meeting twice a year on the winter and summer solstices.  Our most common custom is to share a meal and spend the night around a campfire.  But this year we had a very special gathering out on a boat in Belfast harbor!

Someone in the group followed her dream big time!  She got a boat!  We were invited!  It was amazing, wonderful, and a wee bit adventurous!  It took two launch rides to get us all out to the outer edge of the moorings.  It was a perfect night!  

I am inclined to spend much time alone.  I actually hadn't been to one of these gatherings in a few years.  But I could not resist the the lure of the sea!  I am so glad I went and not just for the great venue and delicious food.  I am grateful to be a part of these women's lives.  I am grateful to be growing old together with them.  I am grateful for a place that confidences, dreams, sorrows, and joys can be shared.  

I am a lucky gal!  Thanks ~YOU~ know whos!

A beautiful evening spent with beautiful friends on the beautiful waters of Belfast, Maine.  

~~~

It is my intention, each week, to share something that fills me with Gratitude. 

I write ~~~Gratitude~~~ with the wavy lines to represent the gratitude ENERGY~~~~~! 

I hope you will join me and share your gratitude moments. 

~~~Amen, Blessed Be, Namaste'~~~

Solstice ~ Summer Dress

It summer, no ifs ands or buts about it!  Summer is great but, believe it or not, it is my least favorite season.  Sometimes all the work of my chosen lifestyle gets to me.  It is also the time I call the itchy, scratchy, sweaty time.  Summer's saving graces include swimming & the hope of tomatoes.  Swimming has started (6 laps today...bit cold...!), tomatoes are still a dream.  Today, the first day of summer I have been in sort of a funk.  I usually set Tuesdays & Thursdays aside to do Etsy work but I couldn't quite muster the energy for that or garden work.  I puttered around being ineffective this morning so I decided to give my Self the afternoon off!  I decided to sew for my Self (+ it is noisy outside ~ it is haying time in the neighborhood)

I am a dress wearer.  No philosophical reasons, I just find them more comfortable than pants...plus they are fun to sew!  I literally wear my work dresses until they fall apart.  Last summer my favorite thrift shop summer work dress finally bit the dust.  So I took it apart and made a pattern with some improvements.  

This is the dress I made last summer. But with only one favorite and many of my other dresses falling apart it was time to sew another.  I had actually cut it out the second last summer and never got around to sewing it!  I cut out a couple of project last summer but I choose the work dress because it is what I need most.

I actually thought at first I could get all 3 projects done today...not a chance.  It has been awhile since I made a dress...last summer!  I made a few boo-boos at first until I got into the flow.  One thing that is fun for me about dress sewing is that I can go fast on my sewing machine!!  Puppet making is mostly at clutch speed for accuracy.  I even checked my email while I was doing the final reinforcing finish to the side seams.  (I felt like a show off to my Self!)

Here is the finished dress.  Some to the features I like about this design is the slightly forward seam pockets.  (must have pockets for Runa treats!) The high neckline helps with sun protection a bit.  I added a pocket to the bodice for my Ipod.  I like to listen to books or music during my walks or tedious tasks like carrot thinning.  This dress will never see an iron again.  It will probably never be worn off this property either.  Now the other one can go in the laundry!  

These projects will have to wait for another day...hopefully not until next summer!

Mirror Selfie with the new dress...dangerously sewing with barefeet...uncombed hair due to earlier funky feeling...all better now!  Time for a cup of tea!