Looking Back......

First Birthday

About 5 years old
Sorry, not to many school pictures to choose from.....at least that I wanted to post

Here's my Senior Picture

21 Years old

Wedding Picture...I was 23

About 24 or 25

Here I am at 51

Not too bad for 60!!!

Looking back can be scary, especially in photos!!!! In general, looking back isn't to bad!

I celebrated my 60th birthday on March 7th. I actually started celebrating on the 4th having breakfast with my parents, my brothers Paul & George and my sister-in-laws Robin & Cheryl.

Saturday the 6th, My hubby & I went with my parents to South Haven, Michigan for the weekend. The main reason for the trip was to hear my youngest brother( who will remind you that he is 11 years younger!!!) give a lecture at the Great Lakes Maritime Museum. This gave me the opportunity to celebrate with Pat & my sister-in-law Joanie. So, all in all, I got to celebrate this all my family.

As for my children, Irene is in Minnesota and gave me a wonderful gift, a donation to my fund for the Cancer 3 Day walk, Eric gave me his WII(we) and I get to stretch this birthday to the 14th, when I will spend time with Amy, Mike, Alex & Eliana, Yay!

My brother George was so thoughtful to give my picture to Boy Scouts of America....now, when they see me, I can expect them to help assist me across the street!!!!!

Pat & Joanie gave me a new Journal and color gel pens, as I love to write. They also gave me 4 cute little dolls made of spools & buttons.

All in all, entering a new decade is exciting. The past 50 years have been rewarding and I look forward to what is yet to come.

Something New.....

I have started a new blog!!!! I've decided to keep all my creative work seperate from this blog. So, check out the new addition at http://kathy-institches.blogspot.com/

How to see you there! Don't forget to grap my button so you can follow along!!!!

The First Step In The Right Direction

Today I attended my "Get Started" meeting for the Cancer 3 Day walk. This is a challenge that I've taken on for myself this year, to walk 60 miles and raise money for Cancer research. On March 7th, I will be 60 years young and figured that I could walk one mile for each year of life!

On August 13-15, 2010, I'll be walking 60 miles over the course of three days, camping out at night with thousands of other women and men taking this journey with me. It's for an event called the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. Net proceeds from the Komen 3-Day for the Cure are invested in breast cancer research and community programs. Komen for the Cure® works hard to build a future without breast cancer, and I plan on raising $2,500 to help bring us closer to that goal. Please consider making a donation to help me reach this goal. If you can't give this amount all at once, you can spread it out over four months, using the payment plan option, if you donate online at The3Day.org. Please also ask your employer if they will double your donation with a matching gift.

I will be walking with my daughter Irene. We've formed a team called "Pom Pom Shakers", as we are former cheerleaders! While none of the women in my family have suffered from breast cancer, I had a scare about 8 years ago. I discovered a lump! Thankfully it was a benign cyst that was aspirated. It made me wonder about the one in eight women in the U.S. that will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. That's why I'm walking in the 3-Day for the Cure. Because everyone deserves a lifetime.

Just follow the link below to visit my personal fundraising Web page and make a donation. If you don't want to donate online, please download and print a donation form from my Web page and mail it to the address on the form. Or you can call 800-996-3DAY to donate over the phone. I would like to reach my fundraising goal by May 31st, so don't delay!Thank you for taking the time to read this e-mail and thank you for your support.Sincerely,[Name]P.S. Don't wait - donate today!

Click here to visit my personal page.If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2010/MichiganEvent2010?px=4314366&pg=personal&fr_id=1467&et=moyS0axP7UjtwGHi0u5wug..&s_tafId=237695


For more information about the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure or Susan G. Komen for the Cure, visit The3Day.org or call 800-996-3DAY.

From time to time, I will be keeping you up dated on my training and my fund raising achievements.



© 2009 Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 205 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2640, Chicago, IL 60601

Completed & Shipped

After many hours, I have sewn the last button and clipped the last thread. All the costumes are finished for Belhaven University's production of "The Importance of Being Earnest". They where packed up and shipped out to Jackson, Mississippi today. Mind you, I only did the women's costumes(See last 2 posts). I worked on 4 characters, 2 of which had 2 costumes each. 19 pieces in all, to complete all that was needed.

I am no Edith Head, but I'm very thankful for the opportunity to put my God given talents to work. I also love working on Period pieces! It was a challenge to work with only measurements and sketches supplied by the university. I would have loved to work directly with them, but trust all is well in what I did. I can't wait to see pictures of the costumes on the actors.

I'd like to thank:

my boss Kellie, for including my work on costumes & quilts on her website www.thesewingroomutica.com and for her assistance and critique

my co-worker Villa for her assistance

all those who sent me words of encouragement

especially for those of you who prayed me through this endeavor.

I can't wait to see what new door God will open for me in the future!

The Importance continues

Well, after sometime of figuring and writing, I finally had my list of supplies ready for shopping.
My first stop was a great place called "Fabric Warehouse" in Warren, Mi. The next stop was Joann's Fabric in Utica, Mi. Finally at 3:45 I grabbed a quick bite before I headed back to work.
As my list of supplies was not complete, I headed back out to Joann's in Rochester, Mi and from there the Joann's in Auburn Hills, Mi. With most of the supplies purchased, I headed home for the day.

Let me tell you, trying to find the right fabrics to complete a task isn't always easy. I would pull fabrics( in the warehouse, this would be large, heavy bolts)and compare them to the sketches and to each other to make sure I had the right look. I would put fabrics in the basket and go up and down the aisles. Sometimes, I felt like a plane in a holding pattern for landing! I should wear one of the gadgets that let you know how far you walk. I sure I put a couple of miles in.

Anyway, I said all that to say I've got my supplies and today I'll be the "Cut Up" ;) as I start putting patterns to the fabric and cutting out the pieces.

So what do you think?

Soon they'll be more then just drawing on paper. They'll be completed costumes for the play.

"The Importance of......"

Thanks to where I work, I get to do something I love...sewing Historical reproduction clothing.
http://www.thesewingroomutica.com/ is the website for the alteration shop I work at. The boss received an inquire from Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss. for costume work. To make things even more exciting for me, the play is "The Importance of Being Earnest". Can I just say YEAH!!!!

I had a conference call with Kris Dietrich and I believe the director(?) today. I wanted to do a Happy Dance when I got off the phone, but I restrained myself and went back to work.

I was able to get the sketches for what needed to be done

Then I pulled my reference books:
The Evolution of Fashion

and: Janet Arnold Patterns of Fashion 2

Next, I went and pulled patterns from my archives:

Past Patterns

and: Historical Patterns of Fashion from Simplicity, Butterick & McCall

Now, to figure out what patterns and or pieces I'm going to be using, then figure out the yardage. Tomorrow, I shop for fabric.

Here's the thing, I did "The Music Man" & "My Fair Lady" for our local high school and "1776", "Guys & Dolls", "Oklahoma" for community theatre. I know what it is to shop on a budget or no budget. I shop sales and bargains.

In construction, there's a difference between theatre costumes and Historical Reproduction street ware. With Theatre costumes, I don't have to be so accurate and I have to consider quick costume changes. Either way, I'm in my element.

I'll keep you posted as the work progresses.

What Christmas Isn't

They say that it's the most wonderful time of the year.

This is true, but over the centuries, it is so far from what it is,

that it is hard to keep it what it is.

One thing that it's become and is not, is a Martha Stewart Christmas.

The one with the perfect decorations and coordinating wrapping paper & ribbons!

It's not about the perfect dinner with all the trimmings.

Like this Norman Rockwell painting.

It's not Hollywood or Hallmark idea of what it is.

It's not about Santa Clause or shopping until you drop. or maxing out your credit cards.

It's about a world in darkness and sin.

It's about a loving God and a promise of redemption.
It's about the greatest gift ever given

"God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"And there were shepheds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the lord. This will be a sign to you:You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angel had left them and gon into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Behtlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." Luke 2:8-18

"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told," Luke 2:19-20


This is what Christmas is about,
a loving God,
a promise,
a hope. a future .

Now, I am not a shepherd, but I have heard and I have found the promise that was foretold so many years ago. Yet, like the shepherds, I will spread the word concerning what had been told about this child. I will tell of the promise of God who so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

So I celebrate what happened in a manger and was completed on a cross.I too glorify and sing praises to God for His promise and His great gift!