Do you remember looking through your parent’s old photo albums, or maybe the pictures of loved ones on the wall at your grandparents, and ever wonder who that person really was?
The act of scrapbooking encompasses more than just putting photos into an album; it is the recording of those moments, events and seemingly mundane times in our lives. I believe that in this era of fast paced, want it now, lifestyle we tend to forget to really stop and get to know someone, including ourselves and our family. Although I am not suggesting that we go back in time, I think it is important that we remember to share on a personal level with those that we love.
Scrapbooking is one great tool to do just that. We can record our personal likes/dislikes, beliefs and dreams with those that know us best and even those who we have yet to meet or may come into our family long after we are gone. I know there have been times when a single moment has made me smile or capture my awe and I have believed I would never forget it, but now could not share it with you because it is gone. What if that had been recorded in even a single sentence and could be shared?
Now I am not saying that every moment in our lives has to be recorded, but if you have a tool already in place, when those important “I don’t ever want to forget this” moment’s happen, it does not take much to make sure it is not forgotten. Scrapbooking is an easy option with so many ways to make it personally yours.
My children are in those wonderful pre-teen years and are off doing so many great and wonderful things as they discover their abilities and dreams. I love to record our conversations when they discover something new about themselves or the world around them. It is really no different then when your toddler first discovers a butterfly and can follow it around the yard. You will always hold those moments in your heart. My children ask me on a regular basis to tell them something special I remember about them when they were little. I find myself telling the same few stories over again. This year I have made it my goal to add those moments into my scrapbook, so that they will always have those memories to ponder and share with their children and grandchildren. They were moments that defined them and put smiles on their faces every time they are told.
I challenge you to make this the year you record some of those memories locked inside your heart for all of those in your world to share. Scrapbooking those memories may make them smile, maybe even cry, but it will touch them forever.
Tammy Morales
About the Author: Tammy Morales is a successful author and regular contributor to The Best Scrapbooking Supplies.com
When you work on a sewing project, do you have trouble trying to find your waist line?
Some waist lines are not as obvious as others. You think you know where it is, but you aren’t sure.
You need to know this even for basic sewing.
So many sewing instructions tell you to do this or that from your waist line.
If you can’t find it, how can you follow the instructions?
As women age, they get thicker in the middle and really have difficulty trying to figure out where their waist is.
Another reason so many of you have this problem is because you don’t wear garments at your natural waist line, especially in the last few years with so many garments cut below the waist.
There is a difference between where your natural waist line is and where you might wear your garments or be forced to wear your garments because of the ready-to-wear clothes available on the market today.
Here are some tips to help you find your natural waist line.
1. Tie a narrow piece of elastic around your middle
2. Bend to the right side
3. Bend to the left side
4. Bend forward
5. Bend backward
The elastic will roll to where your body bends.
Voila! That is your natural waist line.
It may not seem like the best place, but it is where your body naturally says it is.
Garments will be more comfortable there.
Don’t worry if your waist isn’t level. Mine is up in the front, down in the back, up on the right side and down on the left.
Have you ever put on a pair of panty hose, hiked them way up trying to hold in your “blubber” and watched what happened?
The minute that you bend, they will roll right to where your body bends and the “blubber” just spills out over the top.
Place a 1″ waist band at that spot on your body. Bend in all directions. Wear it around the house for a while. It should settle at your natural waistline. When it feels comfortable, continue with the rest of your measurements.
You really should use your natural waist line when you are fitting a master basic pattern. This is particularly true for pants and skirts.
Then, once you have your fit, if you choose to wear your garments below the waist, just make a design change to a copy of your master basic pattern.
Copy design changes from other sewing patterns or garments and learn how to apply them to your master basic pattern that you know fits you. Don’t start from scratch trying to fit another pattern.
The rule is: Fit your natural body, then create your designs.
It just makes sense!
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- by Marian Lewis
©2006 Marian Lewis - All Rights Reserved
1st Step To Sewing Success
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Marian Lewis is a sewing instructor and the creator of an amazing new fitting method for hard-to-fit sewing folks.
In her ebook, “Common Sense Fitting Method For Hard-To-Fit Sewing Folks Who Want Great Fitting Skirts And Pants”, find out step-by-step WHAT you really need, WHERE you really need it and HOW to apply that to a commercial sewing pattern.
For more information, go to:
=> http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/fitting.html
Marian is also the author of other eBooks related to sewing including, “Sew A Tee Pee And Accessories For Your Tribe Of Kids” and “Classy Designer Straight Skirt” where she teaches basic and advanced sewing techniques.
To learn more, go to:
=> http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/sewing.html
To discover sewing and fitting secrets to achieve sewing success, follow the link:
=> http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com