Gah! I am still working on this 30 day project even though I am WELL beyond the 30 days.  Before I get much further, let me first say, no, this is not my bod, nor my necklace. However, I saw this picture on  Pinterest and was motivated, nay, inspired to get crafting. 

Maybe the reason why it’s taken so long to finish the last few entries of this 30 day project is that I really don’t care for the “assignments”.  Find a photo that inspires you. Find a photo of something that makes you smile.  It’s getting to ooey, gooey, Disney-fied for me.  I’m not saying that I’m wanting to post something that makes me nauseous, but how about “find a photo of your celebrity crush”.  Total no-brainer.  Well, maybe not seeing as I have several. But I digress.

So, like I said, I was on Pinterest, looking at pictures that make me yearn and burn: modern kitchens, vertigo-inducing high heels, DIY projects and scrumptious recipes to try.  While I’m still putting in work on the French and the photography, I’ve been wanting to do something else.  I’ve been wanting to make something.  

I had been reading this book, The Dive From Clausen’s Pier, and the protagonist sews.  She uses sewing as a coping mechanism for the stressors in her life.  The descriptions of her running her hands over bolts of fabric, of making something out of nothing, of closing her mouth around the bitter metal of pins — I just wanted to be there. I wanted to see my own hands cutting, threading, finishing.  I called my mom, a veteran quilter, and said, “I want to make a quilt.” My neighbor gave me a pattern to make blossom hair bows for the girls. I went to the Fabric Store, Morgan and Coever in tow.  The bolts of fabric came together with a satisfyingly muffled thunk as I sorted through them. It was a buffet of cottons, silks, poly-blends, and flannels.  There were prints and solids, muted hues and sharp brights. I wanted to open my purse and clothesline it all inside. 

I saw the tie-necklace on Pinterest and knew that was going to my next project. DH has a rack of ties he hardly ever wears and while I was tempted to just pilfer the ones that I liked, I waited and asked for a few of his cast-offs (talk about a great reason to buy him some better-looking ties.)  The instructions were easy, and soon I was pinning, threading, tacking and finishing.  The girls would see me with my needle and pins out, my pin cushion balanced on my knee while I sat stitching on the sofa, and would skip around the furniture calling me Betsy Ross.  Talk about an ego boost. 

My necklace is all but done. It just needs a good press. I’ve already got the outfit to wear it with picked out.  I’m tempted to just stitch it to the shirt, actually.  Maybe that’ll be my next project.  . .