[needlewoman]

Congratulations, Mel, and justsewit (for September) Not married myself but have benefited from the kindness of dear married friends. I hope you and your husband a great celebration. Every day, and celebration counts.

[Robin]

Happy Anniversary! It is that time of year for weddings. I love the idea of a 12.5 year anniversary party! We threw a 10 year anniversary party for ourselves. We had it in my parents backyard which is where we got married. We invited folks who had been part of our lives over the 10 years. It was much more fun than our wedding. Less stress, less formal, less expense! We didn’t do anything for 20 years.

If we make it to 25, which I think we will, we don’t know what we’ll do. Sophie will only be 11 so I don’t think she’ll be throwing us a party!

Has anyone renewed vows? What was the experience like?

[meleliza]

Thank you, we did have a lovely evening together. We had planned to do something big for 10, but I had a(nother) new baby then and didn’t have the energy. I also wanted to look nice in a dress, which wasn’t going to happen so fast! We did quietly get married at church, which wasn’t exactly a vow renewal because we were only married by a magistrate originally.

I know my sewing friends here will understand if half of what excites me is the thought of creating a copper colored silk gown to wear. 🙂

[Tamara]

I have to make a mental note that it is copper this year!

The dress would be fabulous!

My parents had a vow renewal in church because they were married in a friend’s garden (her house is now a doctors surgery). It was very solemn with just the family but we all had a role to play (I wasn’t too keen on it myself). It didn’t seem joyous to me and that is the way I see weddings.

There seems to be more and more people celebrating their 70th wedding anniversaries these days – read out nightly by the weather reporter. I am thinking they must be either hitting 100 or were babes when they wed! Once upon a time 50th celebrations were the thing!

Has there ever been a year in this time that sticks out as particularly difficult and an almost breaking point at all? The 7th and 8th stands out a mile. Seems to be a period of growth I think.

[Masha Richart]

Copper silk sounds lovely. Happy 12th!

[Robin]

70th anniversary! Year 10 was challenging for us. I couldn’t get pregnant, Rob worked out of town a lot, I started to take more public speaking engagements. We did start sailing together which really helped. It also helped that our sailing instructor was a marriage counselor! That was pretty funny. It’s important to find something that you like doing together and score keeping at his baseball games wasn’t it.

[with love Heidi]

I just got the best thing for my sewing room at the tip shop yesterday! One of thoes height adjustable tables that you eat your meals off when your in hospital. It is fantastic as I can adjust it to a max height of 107cm (42.8″) which is fantastic for my back, no more bending down to work on the kitchen bench (90cm/36″), except maybe to cut fabric 🙂

Not being able to get pregnant dose put considerable strain on the marriage! I am not sure if there has been one year that was particularly worse than the others, but this year is looking good as it is the first one where neither of us is studying or working away.

[juliamom2009]

So this is a “I’m proud of my kid” post…

There was a very cool indie art/craft show up the street from us today. So we went, and they have a booth for kids activities. They were making these little badges from felt, and the lady said to me that once the kid finished the decorating part, the mom would sew the felt pieces together. Julia looked right at her and said – “I can sew, so I don’t need my mom to do it.” So, my 3 1/2 year old proceeded to show all the kids and moms in the booth her sewing skills….the big kids thought she was oh, so cool, and of course Julia ate it up. She sewed a straight stitch in a circle around the felt…..pretty good for a 3 year old!

[Masha Richart]

That is great Janice! I have many questions about this. I want to teach my daughters to sew (2.5 and 3.5 yrs) but everything I have read says it is too early. The 2.5-yo definitely is not ready. But how did you teach your daughter? Regular sharp needles? I really want to try this.

[juliamom2009]

I taught her by sewing on buttons – with very close supervision. She’s been “helping” me sew on buttons for about 6 months now. The sewing today on the felt she did with embroidery floss and an embroidery needle….I actually didn’t even know she could do a running stitch!

[Nicole]

You must feel very proud! I would.

Tilly would not be able to do that and she is 4!

[Masha Richart]

Janice, that is genius. I never would have thought to have her do buttons but that is the perfect way to start. I am going to try this week!

[meleliza]

Ah, the “I do it myself!” of a little girl! My 2 1/2 year old is pretty in to this too and it’s so very refreshing after a pair of whiny boys who would probably still have me wipe their bottoms if they could get away with it. But I don’t think she could sew on a button. That’s great. What a capable girl!

[Sarvi]

That’s so awesome!

[Lightning McStitch]

I love that moment when they do something that neither of you knew they could do. The surprise and satisfaction is fantastic.

Meleliza I know exactly what you mean!