Grateful!

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas, surrounded by family and loved ones, enjoying a meal or two and perhaps already using your sewing related gifts?

On Christmas Day we woke to little excited voices finding presents under the tree. Attended morning mass. Then the rest of the day was on the farm with family, enjoying food and drink. But my favourite time was enjoying the peace at the end of the day after three children fell asleep exhausted in their beds.

This year I got serious about sewing for myself so I requested sewing tools for Christmas to assist with my limited sewing time.

First up, a gift to myself! A Lady Valet dress form!
I have been saving for ages and finally took the plunge and ordered one.

If you're in Melbourne (and have an ABN), definitely check out Sewparts  because they can sell to you wholesale at almost half of what you'd pay if you bought online. I highly recommend them!

And I highly recommend the Lady Valet. She isn't one of those cheap flimsy forms you can pick up from Spotlight or Lincraft. It's an attractive piece of furniture, made in the UK and will last you forever. If you're serious about sewing for yourself, then this is worth the extra few dollars. Thanks to my SIL who told me about them.

I also received Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide which is pretty much the most awesome reference book for sewing.

And finally there was a large self-healing cutting mat and a fancy rotary cutter, not to mention a gift voucher for some fabric. I am seriously so grateful to my family who indulge me in my love for sewing.

How have you been spending your holiday break? Enjoying some sewing? I'm off to drape some fabric across Lady Valet and continue to ponder a name for her....