Happy New Year!!

I just wanted to wish you and your families a very Happy and Healthy New Year!!

I can't wait to start this upcoming new year perfecting all of my new sewing skills I acquired this past year at CSU. Thank you E for supporting me in pursuing and achieving my sewing certificate and loving all the things I have created this past year with a hobby I love so much. I look forward to all the beautiful music you will create and Holly and I listening to you play your guitars.

Thank you Sue for teaching and guiding me. I am so glad that you helped me achieve my sewing certificate in eleven months. Thank you for the opportunity in working with you at the ballet. It was a wonderful learning experience and seeing your creations come to life in The Nutcracker on stage was worth all the pin pricks LOL.

I want to thank you all for following my little blog, leaving great comments and being my online friends. I hope you will join me for another great year of blogging in 2011. I look forward to all the new things I will be making this upcoming year and can't wait to post all of my creations for E, our home, Holly, our family and friends. I am also going to focus on learning how to knit. Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful creations, ideas and techniques. I look forward to seeing everyone's new creations and learning something new from all of you.

New Year's Eve Ball - 1907

E, I look forward to another wonderful year with you. I treasure you so very much and I love you with all of my heart and soul. To another wonderful year my love. 

I also want to wish my family and friends a very Happy and Healthy New Year!!

Have a wonderful evening and be safe!!

See you next year in 2011!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of our Soliders and their families!! We are so grateful for your sacrifice, especially during this holiday season. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Stay safe and come home soon.


Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends.

Merry Christmas E!! I love and treasure you so very much.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is annually on December 7, commemorates the attack on Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, during World War II. Many American service men and women lost their lives or were injured on December 7, 1941. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day.

What do people do?

On the direction of the President, the flag of the United States of America should be displayed on the homes of Americans, the White House and all United States government buildings. The flag should be flown at half-mast to honor those who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Many associations, especially those linked with Pearl Harbor survivors or those who died from the attack, participate in special services to commemorate the event. Memorial services are held at venues such as the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. Other activities include: wreath-laying ceremonies; keynote speeches by those associated with the event; luncheons; media stories on survivors’ recollections of the Pearl Harbor attack; and school activities to educate students about the attack on Pearl Harbor in relation to World War II history.

Public life

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is not a federal holiday. Government offices, schools, businesses and other organizations do not close. Public transit systems run on their regular schedules. Some organizations may hold special events in memory of those killed or injured in Pearl Harbor.

Background

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the American Army and Navy base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The attack came as a surprise to the American Army and Navy and lead to great losses of life and equipment. More than 2000 American citizens were killed and more than 1000 were injured. The Americans also lost a large proportion of their battle ships and nearly 200 aircraft that were stationed in the Pacific region. More than 60 Japanese servicemen were killed, injured or captured. The Japanese Navy also lost five midget submarines and 29 aircraft.

The Japanese military had hoped that the attack on Pearl Harbor would prevent the United States of America from increasing her influence in the Pacific. However, the events in Pearl Harbor actually led to the escalation of World War II. The day after the attack, the United States declared war on Japan and so entered World War II. President Franklin Roosevelt in a speech to Congress stated that the bombing of Pearl Harbor was “a date which will live in infamy”. Shortly afterwards, Germany also declared war on the United States. In the months that followed the attack, the slogan “Remember Pearl Harbor” swept the United States and radio stations repeatedly played a song of the same name.

In 1991, which marked the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Congress established the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal. This is also known as the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Medal and can be awarded to any veteran of the United States military who were present in or around Pearl Harbor during the attack by the Japanese military. The medal can be awarded to civilians, who were killed or injured in the attack.

Symbols

Memorials have been built to remember or to symbolize the day. For example, the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor is a marble memorial built over the sunken USS Arizona, which was dedicated in 1962. The memorial remembers all military personnel who were killed in the Pearl Harbor attack. The memorial was designed by architect Alfred Preis, an Austrian-born resident who lived in Honolulu and was placed at a detainment camp after the Pearl Harbor attack as part of the internment policy of Japanese and German Americans at the time.

Another memorial that commemorates Pearl Harbor Day is the USS Utah, a battleship that was attacked and sunk in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. A memorial to honor the crew of the USS Utah was dedicated on the northwest shore of Ford Island, near the ship's wreck, in 1972. The ship was added to the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989. It is also Utah’s official state ship. Memorabilia, books, and movies about the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 have also been made available to the public over the years.

 

A Thanksgiving Centerpiece for my Mom

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. We had a wonderful day filled with cooking, eating, watching football and relaxing.

Today, I put a centerpiece together for my Mom. She found the galvanized bucket, I added some of the sprays I already had and I also picked up some new ones this year. I also hot glued this beautiful ribbon I picked up onto the bucket.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

All my best,

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope you will all have a wonderful day spending time with family and friends, eating delicious foods and scrumptious desserts. I know we will and we are really looking forward to it. I will be missing my family and friends up North and will be wishing that I could be spending today with them.

I am so thankful for my husband who makes me proud of the man and Army Officer that he is. He is supportive, romantic, giving, thoughtful, makes me a better person, loves me unconditionally and always makes me laugh.

I also wish all of our troops serving our Country and their families a very Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for keeping Americans and our country safe. Thank you to the Military families who stand by their side and support what they do.


I am thankful that my Mom is down here celebrating with us again this year. She has taught me so much about being the woman I am today, about life, love and happiness. More importantly, to wait for the right man to come along, how to be a good wife, daughter, sibling and friend. Thank you for being in my life! I am also very thankful to have a wonderful sister and brother. I just so love and treasure you both. I am thankful for our nephews G and M...both a gift. Thank you for being the sweet, loving boys that you are and always putting smiles on our faces. We love you both very much.


Also, thank you to all my blogging friends out there who have been supportive since I started blogging last October. You have all been so kind with your encouraging and funny comments and I have really enjoyed reading your blogs and being part of your lives. You have definitely made it easy for me to enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Recycled Refashion Tutorial...my first!!

Hello Everyone,

I recently took a class called Recycled Refashion. Sue (my instructor) taught me how to take a pair of jeans and turn it into a skirt. Here is my first tutorial of how I learned how to accomplish this.

1. Take a pair of jeans and cut the upper part off. Don't throw away the legs, you will be using those shortly.

2. I removed the flap over the button-fly, so, it would show the buttons and add a decorative touch.


3. I opened up the seams on both legs and the opened the center seam. Open up above the curve of the seam so it will lay flat when you go to pin.

4. I opened up one of legs for the front opening and the the other leg for the back opening of skirt. I lined up the center seams and pinned. I used a jean needle and a straight stitch as a baste to keep it in place.

5. Then, I sewed using a twin jean needle and jean thread to get the same "seam" look. I had a difficult time with the jean thread, but, once I got the hang of it...majority of my seams were straight LOL. With a few washes the bottom of the skirt will get that "fringed" look.

6. Here is the finished skirt. I kept the back a little bit longer than the front, so, it would be balanced when worn.

I am also taking a skirt that has an adorable bottom and attaching it to the top half of another pair of jeans I have (pictures soon to follow).

Have a wonderful evening and weekend.

Veteran's Day

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. An official wreath-laying ceremony is held each Veterans Day at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, while parades and other celebrations are held in states around the country. Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans--living or dead--but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

A recognized symbol of Veteran's Day is the red corn poppy  which is officially named Papaver rhoeas. Known by one of the most famous poems in World War I "In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow, among the crosses row on row".  This flower grows on the battlefields of Europe. In World War I, soldiers who were returning home, reported seeing battlefields covered with red poppies blooming.  In their hearts, the red poppies symbolized the blood shed  and sacrifice made by the fallen soldiers.  After the war, groups began making red paper poppies as a way to raise money for the wounded veteran's and selling them on Armistice Day (Veteran's Day) on November 11th.  The red poppy remains a symbol of solidarity for veteran's.

The adoption of the poppy flower as a symbol of remembrance was Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian medical officer during the war. In 1915, he wrote "In Flanders Fields," a poem published in "Punch" magazine that begins:

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

Because Flanders had heavy fighting during the war, the flourishing poppies symbolized the blood that was shed. Today, artificial paper poppies are sold by veteran organizations and worn on clothing. 

Britain, France, Australia and Canada also commemorate the veterans of World Wars I and II on or near November 11th: Canada has Remembrance Day, while Britain has Remembrance Sunday (the second Sunday of November). In Europe, Britain and the Commonwealth countries it is common to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. every November 11.

If you know a Veteran or someone currently serving in our country's uniform, take the time today to thank them for their service and sacrifices. Also, thank their Spouses and Families to for their service and sacrifice. 

On a personal note, thank you E for keeping us safe, serving our country and keeping us out of harm's way!! I love you!!

Thank you Veteran's!!

Purse Insert Completed

Hello Everyone,

I completed the purse insert and absolutely love how it came out. Everything has a place and will keep my purse neat. Here is the kicker...my purses are too small to fit this beauty. Luckily, Sue (my instructor) told me that this company also makes a smaller version of this insert. The pattern can be found at Studio Cat Designs.

I had so much fun picking out the coordinating fabrics at Joann's. I originally had the red and white polka dot and the black and white flowers. Pretty much everyone ran a little short in class, so, thank goodness Sue had extra fabric (the black and white polka dots).

Here is how it came out:

Here is what you need:

• I used 3 fat quarters for each exterior and lining, but, ran a little short. Next time, I will increase to either 4 or 5 fat quarters for each the exterior and the lining.
• 2- 7" regular zippers (not invisible)
• 1- 9" zipper
• 1- 14" zipper
• 1 package of extra wide double fold bias tape
• thread
• you will also need stabilizers, interfacing and elastic.

Hope you are having a wonderful day!!

Happy Halloween!!

E's Button Down Shirt

Good Morning Everyone,

Here is my handsome husband, E, wearing my latest creation. I have to finish the cuffs. The buttonholes and buttons are there, but, I just want to make sure that E is comfortable with his watch on. I really enjoyed making this shirt for him and can't wait to make more clothes for him.

Here is the McCall's pattern (B) that I used. It says on the pattern that it is a "two hour" shirt. I hope one day it will become one. I don't think they factored in cutting the fabric in that equation LOL.

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

One Project Completed!!

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday's sewing class was a lot of fun. We had a good time sewing for seven hours. Unfortunately we did not finish the purse insert. It took us two hours to cut the fabric and that set us all back. Hopefully, I should be able to complete it this week.

I did finish one of my projects the baseball shirt (Pattern B). I had a lot of fun learning how to work with knits and I using my serger. I've always loved the comfort and style of this shirt and will be making more of these. They are perfect for those cool days in Autumn.

I am also going to get patterns for E and make him baseball shirts. After I complete my certificate, I will be making Pattern C.

Here is the finished project:

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

Updates on my many, many sewing projects

For the past couple of weeks I have been working on many different projects for my sewing classes. Currently, I am finishing my red dress, a turquoise/white "baseball" shirt, and E's shirt. I also want to thank my sewing instructor Sue for helping me tackle my first zipper and trying to figure out the "language" of patterns. My fellow sewers know my pain with this one. LOL

I will be working on them and hopefully finishing them by this weekend. I will also post pictures of them.

Also, this Saturday I am attending an all day sewing marathon and we are making a purse organizer. I am looking forward to spending time with Sue and the girls in the class.

Remembering September 11th

Nine years ago today a terrible tragedy happened in our beautiful country. It was a gorgeous day...picture perfect. I was living in Brooklyn, NY on my way to work on the subway. We were at the Dekalb Avenue station about to cross the Manhattan Bridge when I heard the announcer come on the loudspeaker. He said that “a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center”. Usually, when you ride the subway everyday, you know every stop coming up for work and you don't pay attention to the announcements (the only time you do listen is when the train hasn't moved in some time). I was panicked, once we started approaching the Manhattan Bridge I looked out the window and couldn't believe my eyes and I gasped. People on the train were wondering why I made a noise like that and they looked. I will never forget seeing the flames and smoke coming out of the tower. As we crossed the bridge and got into the city you could only hear the rumble of the train on the tracks, there was absolute silence on the train. As I got off my stop at Grand Central Terminal, you could see the shock and sadness on everyones faces and within seconds the transit police telling everyone to evacuate Grand Central. As I arrived at my office, we were all hugging each other, asking if anybody knew anyone in the towers, the flights, first responders, etc. We were calling people who weren't in the office yet. We sat in the offices with TVs and watched in horror. All I could do was think of everyone in those buildings and their families. When both towers fell my heart just sank and the tears were uncontrollable. When we heard about the Pentagon and Shanksville, PA and the lives that were lost on the planes that day we were all just devastated. Our cell phones weren’t working because the antennas were on the towers. So, I couldn’t get word to family and my family couldn’t reach me.

I will never forget in the hours and days that passed all the news reports, the pictures of loved ones missing posted everywhere and just the sadness in everyones eyes. How total strangers would touch someones shoulder or give a hug to comfort one another. I knew two people that died on that tragic day. One woman, Joanne Rubino, who was a friend of the family and the other was Daniel Crisman my friend Danielles fiance. They were good people who did not deserve this to happen to them. (Update: 9/11/2021: I just found out that they both worked for the same company Marsh & McLennan. Joanne worked in the tax department for more than 20 years and Daniel was on his way to his first day and excited.)

As every day that passed, you would see how people changed. I changed. You were cautious of your surroundings, but, you went out of your way for anyone that crossed your path. The way that people used to perceive New Yorkers that we were rude and selfish was long gone. People were now seeing the real New Yorker. We are strong, resilient, supportive, caring and we know what we want and we are not afraid to express it. We speak the truth and stand by our word. But, if someone needs help or is in danger, we are there to help them. We were United. 

I remember when I was younger my parents would take my sister, my brother and I up to the top of Twin Towers and we would stay up there for hours, just in awe of how high we were and the beauty of the city. Whenever, we would drive from Brooklyn into Manhattan I would always treasure seeing the Manhattan skyline day or night. We would go to the promenade in Brooklyn to see the fireworks for the 4th of July. I also had my senior prom at the Vista, which being 17 and seeing the Twin Towers at night for your prom was thrilling. For my birthday in August 2001, my friends and I went on a dinner cruise that went around Manhattan. It was so beautiful seeing the skyline at night and especially how beautiful downtown and the Statue of Liberty looked. We were all saying to each other that we should all plan a night to go out to dinner at Windows of the World...which unfortunately we never got to do.

My thoughts and prayers are with those lives lost and families who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. Thank you to all the first responders from the FDNY, NYPD and the NYARNG (101 Cav, 69th IN, 256 FA) who risked their lives that tragic day. Thank you to all the men and women who defend our freedom by serving in the Military. We will never forget!!

Update on E, surgery and now recovery

E had surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn bicep, shredded tendon, labrum, have his rotator cuff shaved and bone spurs shaved as well.

He is doing well and recovering. I am waiting on him hand and foot, as he well deserves. He has 4 incision points, some bad bruising and swelling. We changed his bandages yesterday and he said I lost all the color in my face. Today was a little bit easier changing his bandages, but, I again lost my color. I just can't see him in any pain, bruises and cuts.

I just can't wait for him to get better and for him to no longer feel pain. I should be starting up my sewing this weekend. I have a lot of projects to catch up on. I was able to squeeze in on Monday a quick hem to a pair of boys pants that were my stepson's and I made them into shorts for my nephew.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend and can't wait to see what you are all up to.

Have a lovely evening.

Rag Quilts for my nephews and my first little tutorial

It has been a very busy couple of weeks and I finally finished sewing the 2 rag quilts for my nephews. I had so much fun embroidering them to give them each a personal touch.

They were really simple to make. I cut out 20 8" x 8" squares, pinned together and sewed about an inch from the edge of the fabric and sewed them together. I then attached each row together, embroidered their names and then embroidered on the lower right corner "Love, Aunt Alisha". I then sewed all the way around the blanket, so I could then cut little slits all around the edge of the blanket and the inner squares. Then you just wash and dried the blanket by itself, so there wouldn't be lint all over our other clothes. This is what gives the blanket the "rag" effect. 

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and have a great week!!

All my best,

Happy Independence Day America!!

Independence Day, commonly known as July 4th or the Fourth of July, commemorates the Continental Congress’ adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The document, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, served as a formal announcement that the 13 American colonies were no longer part of the British Empire and would henceforth be free and independent states. Regarded as the birthday of the United States of America, the day is typically celebrated with parades, fireworks, ceremonies, barbecues and family gatherings. The Fourth of July is America's birthday -- our most patriotic celebration. And for military families locally with loved ones serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan it holds special meaning. To everyone who currently serving and or a veteran, I say Thank you. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made in the past, and for the sacrifices you are making now, or will make in the future. Without you, our country would not have such a history to be proud of, and we would not be able to continue to make history. You are among the bravest, most courageous, dedicated, compassionate and hard working people of our nation; you are the best of the best. On this Fourth of July, be proud, be proud of whom you are and what you’ve done and what you do, and know that no matter what happens, America is behind you!

Thank you E for keeping us safe and protecting our country and our freedom!! I love you and I am so very proud of you.

I miss seeing the fireworks in lower Manhattan. When I was a kid I would watch them from the roof of the apartment building of where we grew up in with my family, the Brooklyn Promenade or we would go into the city to watch them from the East Side. 

“In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.” – Franklin Roosevelt

"Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.”  – Albert Camus

Stay safe everyone and have a wonderful evening.

Sad news about our cat Patch

June 1, 2006 - June 21, 2010

This week has been very difficult...our little one-eyed wonder cat Patch passed away on Monday. We noticed early that morning that he was laying on the floor and not on his bed...yes, he had his own room. E picked him up and told me that he wasn't himself. We noticed that he wasn't eating much lately and doing much of his "business." He called the vet here on post and told them the symptoms and they told him that he couldn't be seen until next Monday (I will rant about this another day). When I got over the shock of the vet office telling us that the post location is a "privilege" for people living on post I nearly lost it. I told E to get phone numbers from them of other vets in the area that would see him that day.

We lucked out with Benning Animal Hospital located off post who said they would see us that evening. When they took his vitals they said that they couldn't get a reading on his temperature and his heartbeat was very slow. The Dr. said he suffered a stroke and he wouldn't make it. As E and I are bawling our eyes out we decided that we did not want him to suffer anymore. We told Patch how much we loved and how much we would miss him.

For fourteen years, he has been my little one-eyed wonder cat. He was my "son", roommate and warming blanket for seven years and when he met E he knew that he was the one for me. When E left for Iraq, he asked me one day "did you put Patch's little pink piggy in my duffle bag?" I said "no" and we realized that Patch had put it in there, so it could be with E while he was gone. The funny thing was that Patch was angry at E when he came home from Iraq. It took a while for Patch to come around, but, we came to the conclusion that he maybe thought that E left him for good. For a while, he wouldn't go near E in a uniform. Patch and E's relationship was so special and I always treasured their special moments together. How he took care of E when he had surgery on his arm, when he was getting brushed E would sing to him "Oh Patchie Boy" (Danny Boy) and he would always give E silent meows.

We know he is in a better place and he will always be with us. We received a beautiful condolence card from the Vet with a this poem in it.