Twenty Years of Blogging....

 Nov. 4, 2005....I was in the early stages of costuming our church's second production of "The Gospel According to Scrooge" and found that I was monopolizing a couple of threads on sewing discussion boards...so I took a deep breath, signed on with Blogger, and put up the first post.

The photos I added to those early posts have all been dropped by Blogger; I think that happened when Google took over.   I tried linking them to an external album, but Photoworks has closed up shop as well and those are also gone.  

I don't suppose anyone is trying to see them these days anyway.  

I posted almost every day back then.  Hard to believe now, but I was immersed in sewing and had lots to talk about...much of it centered on the clothes I was sewing to wear in our church choir, as we were asked to wear garments from a specified color group, which changed monthly.  So it would look good on the broadcasts.  But I found myself feeling really out of sorts with posting about what I wore to church, when the service was so good and touched my spirit.

So, in 2008, I started a second blog, where I could talk about faith and related topics.  I was still posting *almost* daily to the sewing blog, but sometimes the faith blog would take precedence. 

Then, in March of 2009, I found myself gainfully employed.  Part-time, to be sure, but it took a big chunk of my time.  A year later, I moved from general office work...just helping the accounting team as needed...to being the church data base admin.  Which made sense, since I have a degree in Computer Science.  My work commitment increased to 24 hours a week.  Which doesn't sound like an awful lot, but it was now what was controlling my time.

For the last 10 years, I've been doing well to average one post per week in each of the blogs.  

Despite that, earlier this year I decided I needed a place to collect various bits of fanciful writing I've done over the years....some of it has been published here, some over on the faith blog, some to the now defunct Facebook Notes....and some didn't fit anywhere.  So I opened up a third blog so I would have a place to post and link those things.  It kind of amuses me that I did that.

I think maybe 12 people have found that one, lol.  But that's ok.  I haven't posted a boatload of stuff there yet anyway. If I were doing the proper author thing, I would be posting that to Substack, which is sort of like Patreon for writers, with a paywall that would only allow subscribers to read my stuff, but I don't feel like I'm quite on that level.  If I had  a boatload of followers who left lots of comments on what I posted, maybe, but as it's pretty much crickets over here on all three blogs these days...I'm just grateful for folks who DO stop by and read.  Substack is way over my grade level, lol.

But, blogging has changed over the years.  When I go back and look at those early posts I am gobsmacked by the number of comments.  But, as the years have passed, many of the folks whose blogs I followed in the early years have dropped out of blogging altogether.  The community that all read and commented on each other's posts has  moved on.  

And, you know, I had to work through that.  Was this worth doing if only a few people read it...or if only bots were hitting the posts?  I finally decided that I blog for me, to help me process life and work and, you know, all the things.  It feels productive to write a post, even if it serves no other purpose.

But I have enjoyed it, and the friends I've made along the way, even if they have moved on and aren't checking blogs anymore.  It's understandable.  Life is busy.  It's easy to read a post on a feed burner and kind of a nuisance to click through the links to actually leave a comment.  My own blog commenting has fallen way, way off.  So I am guilty as well.

But it is nice to have the outlet to post to when I have something to say, and when I can make time to sit down and write it up.  We no longer have an active church choir, as our director has moved on to other demanding tasks, so the choir wardrobe is no longer driving my sewing.  I am helping a bit with the costumes for our current Christmas production...and I do have some photos and such to put into a post soon..but I'm not in charge of it.  Which is fine.  It needs to move on too.  

So... with that little look at the evolution of the blogs, I do want to say THANK YOU to all the folks who have read the blogs through the years.  I am deeply appreciative that you would take the time to check out my ramblings and even leave a comment once in a while.  It means more than I can say to know that it isn't just bots hitting the stat counter, lol.

Here's to more sewing!  And more creating!  God Bless Us, Everyone.... ;-)

I lost my blogroll...

 This hurts...

I had a long list of blogs that I followed from back in the day.  Unfortunately, some of them have fallen into ...other hands?...and were now being updated with non-sewing material, to put it mildly.

I repeatedly tried to edit out the blogs that were now talking about stuff other than sewing, or that set off my Unsafe Site alert when clicked, or that were now just filled with crazy asian script, but I could. not. get. Blogger to save updates.  The Save button just would NOT activate.  I tried over and over, over several months.

Then I hit on an idea...what if I just made a new blog list widget, with the bloggers that I could remember who were still publishing?  I could copy and paste from the old list pretty easily.  Then I could delete the old one and hopefully not get those random non- sewing links showing up

It was sad to go through the list and see all the fine folks who were no longer blogging.  And, it's true, some had even reactivated after several years of being dormant...that was exciting to see.  But truth was...any non- active blog seems to be subject to being hijacked and used for other purposes so I took a deep breath and just listed the ones I thought were active, as best I could remember.

It saved it...in the wrong place.  I tried to move it, but no dice, so I did a new one...again...

It saved, I thought, but all I managed to do was get rid of both the old list and the list in the wrong place.  The list in the right place, for whatever reason, didn't save.

So I will likely have to reconstruct it all from scratch again and that will take some time.

Bummer.

I guess this is the kind of thing that happens when I can't actually sew, lol.

I will say I am recovering from the hip surgery slowly.  It's one week out today and I actually managed to lift my foot high enough to get over the edge of the bathtub, so I could take a real shower.  Hooray for small victories...

Start With a Scarf 2022: The May Set

All I had to do to finish this set was make a decision, lol.  I had completely forgotten that it had a mint green sweater in it.  Which means I got it all ready to photograph and...oops, no green sweater.  I had it on my spread sheet... I just missed it.

So I dithered a bit.  And I'm not entirely sure I'm thrilled with what I came up with, as it bends the parameters a bit, but...I'm really behind, and I don't have time to sew up something because...Christmas costuming ...so  I'm punting, lol.

Anyway, have a look at what Janice posted for the May wardrobe selections over at The Vivienne Files, and then you can decide if I'm cheating a bit here or not.

t.

I am straying a bit from the shades of pink and green I've used so far.  That clear, cool pink is REALLY hard to find, as is that particular shade of mint green. So I'm allowing some variations, lol.  The greens in the dress were one thing, but when I picked the emerald green sweater from the closet I just went deep.  It's actually the same style as the white sweater shell in the April set...bought on a big Chico's sale; I just got the sweater in two colors. So it is my last second pinch runner, lol.  But...I think it works.  I put the scarf on it and it goes, so I'm calling it good.

You will recognize the dress as the one with the rather bungled pocket job but it IS fun to wear...and I have gotten compliments on it when I dared to wear it out of the house, so I'm guessing no one is looking at the wonky pockets, lol.  Life is short.  I'm wearing it.

The pants are the linen no-side-seam pants from the SWAP Wardrobe.  I've worn them several times over the summer and they are very comfy.  I really like linen pants; it's the rustic linen from Fabric-store.com and it made up beautifully.   The earrings are from Fierce Lynx; the bracelet is from Novica...both were purchased earlier in the year because I knew I would need some mint green pretties.  I got the Aravon sandals last fall on sale when I first started adding pink and green to the wardrobe. Again...kinda different, but they work really well with the dress.

So, here's all the clothes so far:

And all the accessories:

Sigh.  I was clearly never meant to be a graphic designer, lol.  I'll fix the oversized shoes for the next set.

And, just incidentally, 17 years ago today was the very first Sew Random post.  For talking about Christmas production costuming...time flies.  Much love to all you folks who have hung with my dithering over the years!
 

I missed a noteable date....

On November 4, 2005, I posted my first-ever blog post.  I meant to write something commemorative and appreciative and all the stuff you do on the 4th but I was at church absolutely all day and came home dead beat about 9 PM.

I didn't even think about what day it was at all.

Just hit me today that I missed the sweet 16 birthday of the blog.

Wow.  Sixteen years.  I went back and read some of the old posts from back then...and was shocked to see actual comments.  They are rare these days....I think, partly, because everyone's too busy to click through from whatever reading service they use (guilty).  And, probably partly because my participation in online sewing communities has dwindled considerably...same thing, too much busy, not enough sewing.  And folks are moving to video platforms.

I was quite surprised to learn a few months ago that I have a you-tube channel.  I guess I made an account sometime who knows how long ago so I could comment on videos and didn't realize that came with my own channel.

Whatever shall I do with it, lol....

Anyway, even though I'm two days late...for those of you who've been hanging with me for sixteen years...or those of you who have been hanging around for any number of years...thanks for stopping by.  Church drama productions, school drama productions, SWAP wardrobes, the Vivienne Files challenge, the eternal attempt to actually sew up more fabric in a given year than I buy, the dreams of making fantastic garments that I'm too chicken to actually cut the fabric out for...sewing for my kids weddings...you all have been here. 

Here's to more sewing and talking about sewing and maybe throwing in something random every now and then...

I missed a milestone...

I just happened to notice that, according to Blogger's count, this is post number 2030 on Sew Random.

I totally missed that 2000 milestone...(counts back).. it looks like it was the first post-vacation trip post back in September.   Wow, I really hadn't been paying attention to that counter.

But I did finish another item for the closet...back in, oh, February of last year, I cut out a red shell top, thinking I might use it for either SWAP or the 12 months/12 outfits wardrobe.  But it didn't end up being needed and, to tell the truth, I forgot about it.  Found it Friday and sewed it up. Only a hanger shot at the moment...and it looks like a sack on the hanger.  But it's viscose challis and it's as light as air.

I had about 2 yards;  I folded one selvedge in just wide enough to cut the front and back on the same fold so the uncut remnant ran the length of the yardage.  I squared it up, fringed the ends and narrow hemmed the long edges and now I have a lightweight red scarf.  I liked the fabric so much I bought another fairly good sized chunk for a floaty dress...someday...

But I think I need to make another batch of masks before I work on another closet item.The mandates mean everyone needs one...

Comment testing/ trouble shooting

This is weird, and I'm not doing it just to get some comments....I am having problems replying to comments on my blogs.  For some reason, when I read ANY blog post on either of my blogs, while in Firefox,  I have the 'sign in' button on the upper right...but if I click it, I go straight to the page listing all my blog posts, which shows me obviously signed in.  If I'm in Chrome, the public pages clearly show me signed in, so this is a firefox issue somehow not recognizing me.

But, I cannot comment on any posts...or reply to any comments...if I am reading in Firefox.  The comment widget doesn't recognize that I am signed in and it doesn't give me an option to sign in.  I don't know how many times I have entered my reply,  telling it to comment as my Google account, and clicked 'publish', seen the 'publishing' message and then...nothing. The comment is simply gone.

If I shut everything down and open it up in Chrome, it works fine.

I can even comment on other blogger blogs while reading in Firefox, as me, no problem. Other blog's comment widgets know who I am. It's just my own that are giving me this problem.

So here's my question:  can ANYONE comment here if you are using firefox?  And if you can't, can you bop over to Chrome and let me know?

I dunno if I can get anywhere with tech support, but if I can do as much problem-isolating as possible, maybe we can find a simple solution.

OR...has anyone else encountered this issue?  What did you do about it?

Thanks for any help!

ETA two weeks later:  Well, something updated somewhere and now Firefox recognizes me.  So all is well again.

It's been Twelve Years...

Hard to believe that twelve years ago today I launched Sew Random, to blog my way through costuming a production of 'The Gospel According to Scrooge'.

I looked, and, so far as I can tell, the first photos posted to the blog (it took me a bit to figure that out) were these, on 11/10/05:

The 'Google Archives' don't go back that far; I had to search through the early posts  to find the first photos  (and I had to upload them again).   Angel 1 and a Townsperson...work in progress.  The white lace on the pink dress came from the wedding dress sleeves...removed to be replaced with the green trim.  And it just fit; I think I had three little lace motifs left.

Since that time...Bible costumes galore, baptism robes, school productions, mother of the bride, SWAP collections, both finished and not finished...not to mention items made in the 'choir wardrobe colors' and the occasional pillow cover or table cloth.

Normally, I'd do some kind of giveaway to celebrate the blogiversary, but this year I'm bailing on that, mostly because the next 6 weeks are going to be absolutely crazy and I'm not going to commit to any more than is necessary for survival at this point (writes and deletes long detailed boring explanation.  Maybe later.).

But I didn't want to let the day get by without a mention; as always, I really appreciate everyone who stops by and takes time to follow along with my ramblings...especially when there's not much sewing happening.   Or blogging, either...I wrote more posts in 2005 (and that was just November and December) than I've done so far in all of 2017.  Sigh.


Thanks so much to all of you!!  Big hugs all around. :-)

Eleven Years...and counting...

It was eleven years ago today that I logged on to share the journey of costuming 'The Gospel According to Scrooge'...and just kept going.

The sewing and blogging time have dramatically dropped in the time since then, but I love that I can still share sewing challenges and successes and the occasional Big Project.

I thought, 'Eleven years deserves a little celebration'...so I went to my pattern cabinet and pulled out a pattern to share.

It had to be one that was at least a little desirable, and, while this may be going into the wrong season, I think I found one.

Copyright 2007, here's a Vogue Adri wardrobe that ranges from size 6 to 14:

I have an Adri wardrobe pattern that's very similar to this; I really don't need two...at least, not at my current production level.  If someone is looking for a SWAP wardrobe pattern...to finish next spring and wear all summer...this might be a good choice.

So if you're interested in winning...and I'll send it anywhere...just leave a comment and let me know!  And if you've never commented before, say hi and let us know where you're from and how long you've been reading!  I'll draw a winner next weekend (Nov. 12)

Thanks for hanging with me for eleven years!  It's been fun!

Post number 1800 and the Postponed 10 year Blogiversary Celebration

Eighteen hundred blog posts.  Hard to believe.

That's, like, a book or something...

But it's been a fuzz over ten years.

I wanted to do a big 'reader appreciation' giveaway back in November, when the actual ten year blogiversary happened, but we were up to our endurance limit with a home remodel that had half the house barricaded and under construction, and the other half crammed jammed to the nearly non-navigable point with the contents of the rooms being rebuilt. I couldn't even begin to think about pulling stuff out of the stashes at that state...and  the celebration got postponed.  Somehow I thought it would be good to put it at the 1800 post mark.

I will admit, it took me longer to reach the 1800 posts than I thought it would, but that gave me time to pull some goodies to send  along.

I'm not going to detail them...but I'll say that each box has fabric w/ one of five different fibers (silk, linen, rayon, cotton and wool -- all wovens) a suitable pattern for the fabric and a book from the bookshelf.

Because I have more fabric and more patterns than I can expect to ever sew my way through,  and more books than I have time to appreciate, and something like 200 followers that I know of who have read the blog, commented on the blog, encouraged me, corrected me, and bailed me out over the past ten years.  Some of you I've met in real life; some are facebook friends, and some have enabled my fabric and stash accumulation.

So it's time for a little payback love for folks who have hung with me in the past few years.

Here's the deal: you have to be a follower of the blog.  Somewhere, somehow.

But I'm going to take your word for it...because I probably can't go check everywhere and make sure.

So...to enter the giveaway:

1) Leave a comment ON THIS POST.  In the past, I've pulled comments from all posts in the allotted time frame, but for this one, I'm just pulling off of this post.  Easier to keep track of. ;-)

2) In the comment,  leave your name,  how you follow the blog, how long you've been following the blog,  and whether you look best in blue, pink or olive green. :-)

3) If you feel motivated to comment on today's post but your fabric and pattern stashes are at the explosion point and you don't want to be included in the giveaway, just say so.  You don't have to enter to comment...but you have to comment to enter. :-)

4)  I'll do a random drawing in a week to pick the folks who will get the goodies.

And thanks to EVERYONE for your support of Sew Random through the years!

Ten years ago today....

Sew Random's first post went up.

There's been a lot of thread through the machines...costuming and otherwise...in the last ten years.  Lots of things...sewing and otherwise... 1773 posts...published here

I had planned to do a big celebration and giveaway to commemorate the occasion.

However.

I did not expect to be neck-deep in renovation...which spread to at least twice its original scope...when November 4th rolled around.

So I haven't been blogging, and I haven't been sewing, and I haven't been able to put together a proper giveaway.

Sorta like the kid who gets chicken pox three days before the scheduled birthday party.

So, while I'm not sure exactly WHEN I'll get to it, or WHAT precisely it will turn out to be, I am going to do a giveaway.  It may have more than one part.  Still pondering the possibilities.

But, because it's a thank you to folks who have stuck with me over the years, because, well, I DO thank you, I'm going to limit it to people who are following me/subscribed in some manner.  Now, it'll be on the honor system, as I'm just going to ask how you're following since there's no way I can look everywhere I might have followers.  And because I appreciate a new commitment as much as an old one, I'm not going to be picky about when you signed up.

So...the celebration is not cancelled, only delayed until things have moved back into their proper place.  Just so there's no confusion, I'm not asking for contest sign up yet. Stay tuned. :-)

And, since I'm here...an update on the renovation: I feel like we're hoarders; with all the stuff from 2  1/2 rooms crammed into the remaining 2 1/2 rooms downstairs....we have a path.  And a plastic curtain (it has moved from the original position and now seals off the dinette as well as the family room) that we have to walk around the hall to circumvent.

I am very seriously trying not to be claustrophobic in my own house.  But the contractor has assured us he will be done sanding sheetrock in a day or two and the plastic curtain, at least, can come down. That will help...but I don't think I'll relax until I can see some space in the living room again.

The furniture can't go back in the rooms until the carpet is laid, though...and I'm seriously wondering if that's going to happen before Thanksgiving.  It's going to be close.

Very close.

Ten years ago today...

This is the way the back hall way looked when we hauled in our machines on Oct. 1, 2005 and officially opened the costume shop for the 2005 production of 'The Gospel According to Scrooge.'

Which was significant in many ways, not the least being that it was the impetus for me to start blogging, so that means I'm quickly approaching my ten year blogiversary, but you will no doubt hear more about that before long.

We have not repeated that production since then, which is kind of surprising, but, well, I don't even know where we would set up a sewing room if we were to do it again; every inch has been given over to offices and classrooms that are used multiple times in a week.  This view  has changed; now that hallway looks like this:



What was an open room to the left is now multiple offices.


And I'm now on staff, doing data base management, which is a rather far cry from the free wheeling costume design of ten years ago.

But seasons change; they go in cycles.  After several years of a hiatus in any kind of drama ministry, we are holding auditions Saturday for a new troupe of thespians, to be available to do skits and other drama ministry.

There may even be a major production in the wind again in the next year or so.

I may be dusting off the ol' costumer skill set again after all.

That Cookie Notice

I happened to check around on one of the other tabs connected to my other blog this morning and I read the following notice:
European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used on your blog. In many cases, these laws also require you to obtain consent.

As a courtesy, we have added a notice on your blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies.

You are responsible for confirming this notice actually works for your blog, and that it displays. If you employ other cookies, for example by adding third party features, this notice may not work for you.

So I did a little more checking and found that a really ugly notice pops up at the top of the screen if you happen to be visiting from the European Union:

 This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies.

 This is a generic notice provided by Google to comply with the EU's requirements.  So I thought I'd do a little 'splainin' :

The only use of cookies THIS blog makes is to see who's visiting. I use a hit counter that generates a list letting me know who visits (IP/ IP address; city/state/country; the link they came on, the page they landed on, the page they left on and how long they were here; all of which can be blocked if you're savvy enough) .

I check the list periodically just to see if anyone is reading, since I only average one comment per post.  This is not a hugely active site...on days when I put up a new post, I'll get around 150 visits, not including folks who are reading via bloglovin (I don't think the stat counter records those visits unless the person kills the bloglovin' frame) or other feedburners, but it is a little encouraging to see that folks have come by, even if they're not leaving comments.

That's all the use I will ever make of cookie information. I am very honored that anyone would click through from where ever you found a link...face book, a search engine, whatever...and allow me to share a bit.  If you'd like to leave a comment letting me know you stopped by, that'd be great, but really, I'm just glad you're here.

Now I must go eat a cookie, because I have suddenly developed a craving...

9 Year Blogiversary Give Away

I threw the names of the 15 commentors (who did not specifically request not to be in the drawing) into a box, and My Sweet Babboo drew three names:  Here are the three winners:

So, Kris C., Rita (yes, with an 'i', just for clarity...) and Sew Ruthie... if you ladies could email your address to tig77LW at yahoo, I'll get your pattern pack off to you ASAP.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on the blog this week!  It's always fun to see who's actually reading it...sometimes I kinda feel like I'm talking to myself.

I'm already thinking about what I can do to celebrate ten years next fall... :-)

Reminiscing...

I guess because I'm celebrating the 9 year blogiversary (You have entered the celebratory giveaway, right?), I found myself wandering through the archives of the early years.

I'm kinda jealous of the blogging time I had then.

Part of me, reading that, was like, 'Wow, you posted a lot of non-sewing drivel, didn't you?'

And another part was a little proud, 'Look at how many posts you wrote!'

And yet another part was, 'Oh, you were much more open and free back then! You talked about so much more than just sewing!'

I really did do my best to post every day.  And I just about did.

But that was kinda when I had the 'one blog fits all'...trying to cover sewing and life and faith and all in one place.

But when I created the faith blog,  I didn't double my blogging. My intention was to really  just talk about the aspects of faith that were too deep for this side; do some online Bible studies and such.  But somehow more and more of the topics I used to talk about on Sew Random ended up there.

Because this was the sewing blog, you know.

I didn't even realize I had really cut back on the 'random' part of the blog until I reread the old stuff and saw how much 'random' there really was.

The 'random' really came from the challenge to write a blog post every day.  When life got too demanding (read: paying job entered the equation), I let myself off the 'blog daily' hook.

Instead of writing to write, I began to write only when I had something pertaining to sewing to talk about.  Or something pertaining to faith issues on the other blog.

Random life stuff kinda fell by the wayside.

So, in the blogiversary week, I'm going to make myself a little challenge...

Get the 'Random' back in the game. ;-)

A random bit for the day:

As I was typing away, Frisco (the sewing assistant kitty) came up behind my desk chair and commenced to meow.  Took me a minute to realize she had brought me a pipe cleaner (twisted into a circle -- one of her favorite toys).  I threw it, she retrieved it.  I threw it, she retrieved it.  Repeat several times...then she carried it off and I went back to typing.  A few minutes later, she was back rubbing on my leg, meowing, and the pipe cleaner was at my feet again.  Repeat entire scenario.  Go back to typing.  Repeat again 3 minutes later.

Life's more fun with kitties. ;-)

It's Been 9 Years...

Sew Random was actually birthed as a place to share the frantic costuming journey for the Rock Family Worship Center 2005 production of 'The Gospel According to Scrooge'.  I'd set up the costume shop in October and nearly monopolized the costuming thread on Pattern Review as I described the first projects...

But,as my life was consumed by that massive assignment and I felt compelled to share it with folks who might 'get  it' just a little...two things happened.  First, my older daughter made some comment about something, stating, 'Oh, that's so random!'  and Kathleen Fasanella sent me a PM on Pattern Review rather out of the blue,  encouraging me to start blogging.

Convergence.

'Sew Random' first appeared on Nov. 4, 2005.  I did really, really well at it for a while, blogging nearly every day until I returned to the workforce in early 2009. In 2008, I created a second blog, Beer Lahai Roi, to discuss more in depth topics about faith that I really didn't feel fit well here.

It has been a wonderful journey; I've been challenged, made new friends, found sewing resources, gotten crucial help...and documented the creation of stage costumes, ministry costumes,  special event costumes,  SWAP wardrobes, an epic garment or two, lots and lots of knit tops, and a wadder or two, outfitted myself for church choir...and learned a smattering of HTML and whined about the impermanence of web photo hosting.

My sewing production has dropped dramatically since I started back to work, as has my blog posting, but it's still a wonderful place to connect and share and, while I may hit a point where posts are few and far between, I don't think I'll ever quit blogging entirely.

So now's my opportunity to thank everyone who stops by Sew Random...whether you subscribe or not or comment or not...I really and truly appreciate each and every one who comes by.

So....drumroll...a little reader appreciation.  I dug out 9 patterns that I decided to give away...mostly because I have more patterns that I can reasonably expect to make in my lifetime...and because, you know, patterns should be sewn instead of occupying space in a drawer.

I pulled some oldies but goodies, some indies, some that are nearly duplicates of other patterns I own and some that I just thought would be nice to put in a giveaway.  Last year I put 8 patterns into a bundle and sent them all to one person, this time I've got three  three-packs and I'll draw three names.

So, if you want to be entered in the drawing for a 3 pack, just leave a comment anywhere on the blog in the next week. Since Wednesdays are really, really busy, I'll take any comment that is entered between now and midnight CST on Wednesday the 12th.

You don't have to be in the US, or be on a any kind of list...just say 'hi' and you're in.

Because you took the time to stop by, and I'm grateful.

Here are the three-packs; I'll pick who-gets-what, just to keep things simple. ;-)

Giveaway Winner!

So, I had a total of 13 comments, excluding Kathleen, who had plenty of patterns and asked to be excluded from the drawing.

I wrote each name on a little bit of paper, folded them all equally and threw them in a box thusly:

 
I shook them well, and looked at my Sweet Babboo and asked, 'Can you do me a favor?'

His answer was to close his eyes, turn his head away and hold out his hand.  So I stuck the box in his reach, and he pulled out this name:

That's Gaylen of  G Marie Sews !  Ima gonna trot over and let her know so we can connect up and I can get her pattern pack on its way...

Thanks to everyone who left comments and to everyone who has been reading along with me for 8 years!!

It's Been 8 Years...

...since I started Sew Random to chronicle a frantic costumer's dash to 'The Gospel According to Scrooge'. 

There's been a lot of thread through the needles since then.

But I thought I'd do a little giveaway to celebrate.  I went to the pattern cabinet and pulled out 8 patterns to put into an envelope and mail to one interested Sew Random reader.

All of these are new and uncut, although one or two may have been unfolded and inspected and put back.

I tried to get a smattering of designs and pattern companies...and I will admit that a couple of them hurt just a little....those Big Envelope patterns , well, you know...

But a giveaway ought to be worth doing, right?  And the winner can either keep all 8 patterns, or pull out the ones they're interested in, add a couple from their stash and give it all away again and we'll call it a pattern pyramid.

Anyway, a week from today I'll randomly draw a name from everyone who leaves a comment on this post and bundle up the lot and send them to you.  And if I have to spend $$ on postage to somewhere overseas, well, I will.

Cause you guys have hung with me through a lot of good, bad and ugly, and I'm grateful!

...And the Light Dawns.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I figured it out.

I really didn't understand why 'claiming my blog' was such a big deal; but after reading  Rhonda's post yesterday,  I realized that 'claiming' one's blog allows the claimant to view stats about who is using Bloglovin' to read their posts.

I'm all about finding out if anyone actually reads my blogs or not; this one is not such a big deal but, to the best I can tell, just a handful of folks read my faith blog and I need all the encouragement I can get over there, so I linked that one up.  Since I'm in link up mode, here's my required post telling everyone they can follow Sew Random over there, too. 

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming. ;-)

Back Captcha

Sigh.  A few months back, wanting to facilitate comments, I turned the 'please prove you're not a robot' word verification off.  Everyone hates it, and the general consensus amongst the blogging community seems to be that it inhibits free commenting from real people.

I moderate the comments anyway, so I decided I could deal with eliminating the daily spam-bot posts from folks posting near gibberish wanting me to 'visit my site' if it would mean that real commentors could leave messages easier.

But I did not see an increase in real comments.

I would be ok with that, too, were it not for the fact that the spam bots have gotten nasty.

I love you, my faithful, real, occasionally commenting fellow sewing enthusiasts, but I do not want that garbage before my eyes.  The latest one didn't even land in the spam file, but in the regular comment section.

So, in the interest in keeping my blood pressure down, I have turned the captcha back on.

My sincere apologies for the inconvenience...

Two more weeks....

Still no singing voice this week, although I did make it to church.  Next week I have meetings during both the services I normally sing in, so I won't be in choir then, either.  Hopefully by the 16th I'll have my voice back. 

There is going to be a definite scarcity of choir wardrobe posts this month.

Actually, as I've mentioned,  I've been doing some studying of old choir wardrobe posts and decided  I really need to do some more wardrobe photography; I wear me-made clothes to work probably 80% of the time but I don't have any photos of non-choir-color-coordinated dressing.  Makes it kinda hard to really see what works from my wardrobe as about all I have photographed is tops/jackets with jeans.

But that would mean that I need to figure out a way to take a photo of myself somewhere other than the bathroom mirror, which kinda works for tops and jackets but certainly not for an entire outfit.  By the time I actually get dressed and ready to go out the door, most of the rest of the family has already flown the coop for the day.  Requirements are:

Full length mirror

Good natural light, 'cause the flash causes problems

A place that does not reflect the unkempt state of the house. ;-)


I'm gonna work on that...