by Debbie Vechter

Now that the holidays are over, and we are into the new year, I’m sure we’re all breathing a collective sigh of relief.  It’s time to sit back and enjoy the warm thoughts of the festive time with family and friends.  It’s also time to take a break and relax.

What could be better relaxation than working on some of those sewing and embroidery projects that you have always wanted to do?  How many of us have been promising ourselves that we’d eventually get to a particular project when we had the time, or promised ourselves that we’d read our embroidery software manuals or our sewing machine manuals and learn more about our machines and how to use our embroidery software?  How many of us have been promising ourselves that we’d get around to organizing and filing our embroidery designs as soon as we had time?

I think all of us have made at least one of these promises to ourselves.  Some of us have even gone as far as writing these down in the form of New Year’s resolutions.  Well, dear fellow sewing and embroidery enthusiasts, the time is now.  To use a phrase that my dear mother used to tell me when I was a child whenever I procrastinated in attending to something, “You’ll never be any younger”.  It’s true!  None of us will ever be any younger so let me echo the wise words of my mother and remind you that now is the time to sit down in your sewing room and begin working on that project that you have been ’saving’ for when you had more time to do it.

What could be more relaxing and exhilarating than sitting down in the room where you can let your creative juices run wild and free, and actually accomplish something in the peace and quiet of your very own sewing space?  Some of us will want to take some time to organize our stash after messing it up so badly while making Christmas gifts; others of us have made such a mess of our sewing rooms after working frantically for months trying to get all the holiday presents made that it would be a pleasure to give ourselves some semblance of order in our special rooms.  A lot of sewing sisters will want to take this time to wash their stash and put it away so that when they want to use it, it will be ready at that very moment.  Once you’ve organized yourselves, you will surely be in the mood to get sewing or to embroider something that you’ve always wanted to do.

Finally, you’re ready for some meaningful, creative, private time with your sewing machine that you consider ‘your baby’.  Shock of all shocks - your mind has drawn a blank and you can’t remember a single thing you’ve been wanting to make.  Well, help is at hand and it’s so close that you won’t be able to believe how simple it is.  Simply look back at previous articles.  They’re an absolute wealth of ideas and tutorials.  Once you have decided on some projects list them in a special notebook that you keep in your sewing room.  As you complete each project, take the time to take a photo of it and write the details of the project in your special sewing notebook.  That way, you’ll be able to repeat the project at any later date when you want to make it again. Reading through the ARTICLES will prove useful and helpful, just in case you are one of the people who needs a little boost with some ideas.  Just click on the hot links below for some ideas then read on and find more ideas.

Decluttering and organizing your sewing room?  Have a laugh by reading this:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/confessions-of-a-fabric-aholic/

Planning to do some embroidery or monogramming on items but are unsure of where to place the embroidery?  Get all the information you need here:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/placement-guidelines/

Want to do something special for your own kitchen now that you have time?  Here’s a couple tutorials that will inspire you:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/teriffic-tea-towels/
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/easy-apron/

Have you always wanted to make a special tote bag with applique on it?  Instructions and pictures that will help can be found here:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/applique-using-steam-a-seam2/

Planning a holiday?  Prevent luggage mix-ups by making your luggage singularly identifiable:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/show-your-true-colors/

Feel like sewing for your grandbaby?  Here are a bunch of wonderful things you can make:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/the-road-to-success-part-1/

Always wanted to try your hand at FSL (free standing lace)?  Here’s great information:
http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/guide-to-fsl/

Just remember, take some time for yourself and enjoy your talents and skills by doing what you love.

[Editor's note:  Please remember, when taking photos of your projects, think about sharing the picture as well as the story behind it with others.   Our Customer Projects' area ( http://www.designsbysick.com/articles/category/projects/)  is filled with creative uses for the designs offered on the Designs By SiCK website.~rob - editor]