Happy New Year! - Happy New Day!

"The Lords lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,

"Therefore I have hope in Him.""

Lamentations 3:22-24

Last night I rang in the New Year in an interesting way.  My husband had to work and I didn't want to be home alone on New Years, so I asked if I could do a "ride along" with him.  Something I haven't done in many, many years.  I was able to just ride in his passenger seat as he went about doing his usual job a a road deputy.

Midnight came and went while we were at the hospital, standing by to make sure two possible bad-guys didn't take off before a detective arrived.  No sparks, no sparkling cider or whistles and bells, no confetti, honking horns or explosions in the sky.  The clock just gently ticked from one year to the next.
It's interesting how in some circumstances the last year can seemingly just fade into the new one without anyone really noticing

How did you spend your New Years?  Did you ring it in with your family and friends?  Did you stay safe and sound at home, or go out on the town?  Were you in your cozy jammies or a sparkling dress?  Were you sleeping?  Laughing?  Crying?  

For many, the thought of leaving 2013 behind was like releasing a burden off their shoulders.  However, there are many who were troubled with the idea of facing 2014, perhaps fearful for an unknown future.  Then there are those who don't see a purpose in their lives, and don't even bat an eye at the eve of a new year.
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But there is One who knows your future.  He notices the passing of each and every year in our lives, each day that closes, each hour, each minute that ticks away.  He notices, and He cares.  He promises to renew us each and every day, and He is faithful to do what He says.

Whatever you did, wherever you were, I pray that you woke up today knowing that you are loved by our kind and compassionate Lord.  I pray that you will wake up each and every day in this year of 2014, and the years to follow, knowing full well in your heart that He is your portion.

Put your trust and hope in Him, make serving Him, loving Him, your goal for this New Year!

Lengthening a Dress with Lace

My husband and I were invited to a wedding recently, so I perused my closet for something to wear.  I found several black dresses and a few dark colored skirt/top combos.  I love happy bright colors, I'm not exactly sure why I don't have a couple of happy bright dresses!

I headed out on my shopping quest.  I don't really enjoy clothes shopping, it usually ends in childish depression about how "nothing fits me".  In addition, I don't like to spend a lot on clothing, so price was my first turn off.  My second turn off was the tiny, short, barely there things they call clothes...sigh.  

Then I scored!  I was excited to find a pretty blue dress at Charlotte Russe on the clearance rack  for a whopping $12.00!!!!!  

Slight issue:  It was a wee bit too big (chest), and a wee bit too short.  I tried it on and realized since it tied at the waist I could make that area fit fine.  However, it needed taking in under the arms as it was "gaping", and it needed to be lengthened ... somehow.

I had to yet to lengthen a dress, so this was new to me.

I brought the dress home and headed to my sewing room.

To take in the underarm area, I tried on the dress and pinched the sides right under my arm.  I looked in the mirror and determined that I needed to take it in about 3/4 of in inch on each side. 

I turned the dress inside out and folded it over at the seam, pinning it in place.  I then determined where the waist was and made sure to make a straight line from my 3/4 in. underarm measurement toward the original seam at the waistline.  I pinned, then sewed in place (reversing my stitch a couple of times at each end to secure).  I did not do any type of fancy edge stitch, and I didn't even trim the seam, I just folded it toward the front and called it done.

Now that the dress fit fine on top, I needed to do something about the length.  It was a couple of inches above my knee and I'm not comfortable with that.  I went through my stash of off white lace and found a scalloped edge lace that complimented the scalloped hem of the dress..score! :)

I made sure I had enough lace by measuring the circumference of the bottom of my dress.  I wasn't sure how many layers of lace I would need to get the length I needed, so I made sure I had enough to do 3 or 4 rows of lace.

I added one row of lace at a time.  Using a zig-zag/stretch stitch, I attached the first piece of lace to the lining of the dress on the backside of the lining.

Since the lining is shorter than the dress, this piece of lace barely made a difference.  I then added a second row of lace, sewing it with a straight stitch.  I place my second row of lace on the backside of the first lace row, lining up the top edge of my lace with the center of the first lace row.  There is no turning involved, so make your lace face outward and stitch it straight onto the back of the first piece of lace.

I then decided I wanted to add a 3rd row of lace.  Following the same pattern, laying the lace right side facing out, on the back side of the second row of lace, I stitched the top edge of the lace to the center of the second row of lace.

Voila!  I now had a longer, well fitting dress to wear to our young friends wedding!  Yay!!

If you have any questions on how to do this, just ask!