As I mentioned yesterday, I am celebrating one year of blogging about my cooking and sewing adventures. I am amazed that I have accomplished all that I have — I have baked fancy cakes, perfected roasted chicken, whipped up some tasty cocktails, made some cute tops, conquered a princess seam sloper, and sewed a boutique-worthy dress. I have also enjoyed “meeting” other bloggers, helping me broaden my sewing skills and exposing me to things I may not have otherwise come across.
In the coming weeks/months, I hope to share with you all the finished projects that have been hanging in my closet for a while now as well as the ones that are just getting finished up. My life is pretty hectic, so finding time to sew is hard enough, but finding time to get good photos and blog about them is even harder. I hope with longer days ahead, this will not be as much of an issue. Right now I have about 6 unblogged garments to show you. Perhaps I will aim to present 1 every two weeks?
In the kitchen, Mr. Homemaker and I have recently subscribed to an organic produce delivery service and receive a box every other week. So far we have been very pleased and find ourselves eating at home a lot more often. I will try to share more recipes with you that involve fresh produce from our box as well as go through some of my entertaining essentials.
Well, enough of that. Now for the giveaway I mentioned yesterday. I am giving away, compliments of me, a gift certificate for a free Craftsy class to one lucky reader. All you have to do is comment on this post and tell me which of my posts in the past year has been your favorite and what you would like to see me post in the upcoming year. This giveaway is open to readers anywhere in the world (the prize will be provided via e-mail). If you aren’t familiar with Craftsy, it is an online learning platform that provides video courses for many different crafts (baking, cake decorating, sewing, knitting, jewelry making, gardening, etc.). You can watch the classes at your convenience and on your own time and they never expire. Even if you don’t win, they offer several free mini classes, so it’s worth checking out.
Please note, this giveaway is not being sponsored by Craftsy. I am purchasing this prize myself to celebrate my one year Blogiversary. Yay!!!
The giveaway will close next Thursday, January 31, and I will announce the winner shortly thereafter. Good luck and thanks for reading!
Susie Homemaker, MD 
I enjoyed reading about your NYC trip. I would like to see more sewing projects in 2013. Also, some helpful hints for sewing would be nice.
Thank you, Breenie. I will do my best to bring you more sewing tips and projects 🙂
I’m a relatively new reader so I hadn’t seen the roast
chicken post. That’s now my favorite (I love to cook!) 🙂 I enjoy
reading about your sewing experiences. I’ve been wanting to get
into sewing for a while – even got a machine – but it sits
untouched. Maybe this will be the year…
Mrs. E, thanks for your sweet comment! Let me know when you try the chicken — would love to hear what you think. I hope you decide to crank up your machine. Sewing is such a fun and exciting hobby!
Hi Katrina! I tried your cracker candy recipe at Christmas, and everyone loved it! It is one I will use again and again!
So glad you liked it, Laura! It is definitely a recipe to share with others or you run the risk of eating the whole batch yourself :)-
I have only recently discovered your site. Yours is one of the few that I will sit down and read from beginning to end. All things sewing interest me, particularly, at the moment, fashion sewing. Currently working on a knit dress that’s driving me bonkers!
Hi, Donna! So glad you found me and I’m flattered that you take the time to read my posts. Knits can definitely cause a love/hate relationship. They are great to wear and sometimes great to sew but at other times they can cause serious heartburn! Good luck with your dress. Would love to see it when you are done!
I love seeing sewing projects and hearing about how patyerns sewed up, so I’d have to say your cute Sewaholic top was muufavorite.
Thanks, Stacy. That top is one of my favorites, too 🙂
I love the food and drink recipes. The Christmas crack
recipe is now one of our favorites!
Thanks, Andrea. Glad you liked the cracker candy, too. It is definitely addictive stuff! I will have more recipes coming your way soon!
happy anniversary! the online blogging community is so nice right!? glad you enjoyed it so far!
Thanks, Kim. You are right — everyone is very nice. I am enjoying seeing all that you are making. Looks like you have become quite a good seamstress!
aww thank you! I am still working things out but am trying to make more properly finished items now to last me a very long time. But my wardrobe is 50% handmade now 🙂
That is awesome! Definitely something to be proud of!!
I enjoyed the NYC post. You’ve sewn some very nice clothes. I really like the date night dress.
Thanks Beverly. The NYC trip was definitely one of the highlights of my sewing career! 🙂
Yum
Your boutique dress and getting to meet Larry thre Cable Guy is my favroite post! Hapy anniversary!
Thank you! That is definitely my favorite dress so far, too, and a celebrity encounter in our small town is always fun 🙂
I found your blog a few months back via Pattern Review, and have really enjoyed reading about your sewing projects. I think my favorite posts were your NY trip (complete with fabric show-and-tell) and your Cambie peplum blouse post. I had never thought about the possibility of converting that pattern to a blouse, but the idea is brilliant and yours turned out so nicely.
Thanks, Lacey! The NYC trip was definitely an awesome experience and that blouse is one of my favorites. Thanks for commenting 🙂
Oh I love Craftsy! Your Thirsty Thursdays were my favorite, wish there were more of them. i usually prefer food blogs but i really enjoy seeing your sewing projects, definitely motivated me to give it a try. Keep them coming 😉
Thanks, Olga 🙂
There are more Thirsty Thursdays in the works. Now I need to see what you have sewn… 🙂
I will have to cast my vote for the NYC trip…because it was fabulous sharing the experience with my new sewing afficionado!
Absolutely! We had a blast, didn’t we?!?
I am not a great cook, so your posts about cooking have appealed to me. The roast chicken post comes to mind as favorite post.
Thank you. I hope you will be inspired to continue to try new things in the kitchen 🙂
The skirt is beautiful, nice drape! What a fun idea to put blue in the pockets and waistband.
Thanks, Barb! I am finally getting brave enough to start cutting into that NYC fabric stash! 🙂
I am super desirous to learn how to sew my own clothes so the boutique worthy dress is my favorite post… Your style of writing makes me feel like sewing my own clothes is a goal I can reach and I am inspired to reach for the goal… I have my first dress pattern cut out and am so excited to finish it… Pretty Please post on the cake pattern pavlova separates as you make them… I have seen their pattern on etsy and super curious to know how that one looks in person! Thank you for the wonderful inspiration and thank you for giving us all a chance to win a craftsy class! What an awesome give-away!
Good luck on your dress, Rachel! I look forward to hearing how it turns out. I don’t have the Pavlova pattern yet as it won’t be released until next month, but I will definitely post it once I have made it up. I am working on the Cake Patterns Tiramisu right now so that one will probably come first. Have you seen that dress? It’s very versatile and easy to sew up. Thanks again for stopping by and commenting! 🙂
Oh, that explains why there were none listed at the etsy shop! I did see the Tiramisu… perhaps watching yours come together will convince me that should be a next project for me 🙂
Hello! I just discovered your blog through the flickr Sewaholic group. You’re blog is awesome! I can’t believe I hadn’t discovered it before! I love your date night dress, it is absolutely gorgeous. From what I have seen in your blog, you are awesome at fitting garments. That is my goal this year. Well… that and actually keeping up with blogging 🙂
Congrats on your blogiversary!
Hi, Lara! I’m glad you found me. Thanks for the compliment 🙂
I took a peek at your blog and it looks like you’ve made some pretty nice things, too. You rock the Colette Patterns!
Rockin Caterer!!!! Dr. Skinner was kind enough to grace our family and friends today with her delicacies for my 2 year old’s bday. People raved about every morsel and my crafty cousin wants your #!!!!!!
So glad you liked it! Hope y’all had fun and Miss 2 had a wonderful party!! 🙂
Lesson learned from my daughter: read her boss’s blog! So glad to know another fabricaholic who sews-4-sanity!! I plan to make this a regular read.
Thanks, Kimberly! And nice to meet you. You just hit the nail on the head 🙂