Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sermon and My Own Blouse Design, At Last!

Pastor John Hagee started a new sermon series this morning on depression.  Seems the whole world is depressed these days, and we sure know why, don't we?  The only hope we have for tomorrow is God.  Hagee was going to tell us EIGHT things that cause depression, but I only heard SEVEN.  I'll have to listen to the 2nd sermon to see if he listed #8.

A LOT of people in the Bible were depressed

Solomon was so depressed, he wrote Ecclesiastes.  I have often asked God how a man that had so much wisdom could screw up so badly at the end of his life.  When did wisdom leave him?  I think it was women!

Job cursed the day he was born.

Moses came down from the mountain after being in the presence of God, and he became very depressed to the point he smashed the 10 commandments.  The people he had left at the foot of the mountain were worshipping a golden calf and having sex orgies. 


King David was depressed over decisions he had made that backfired.  I'm sure killing the husband of his mistress was one.

Abraham Lincoln suffered depression.  (Hagee says the movie is good and recommends we see it.)

Winston Churchhill said, "Depression follows me like a black fog."

Here's some reasons people get depressed:

1.  Extreme disappointment.
2.  Lack of self-esteem.
3.  Unfair comparisons.
4.  Unrealistic goals.
5.  Biological imbalance.
6.  Post-partum depression.
7.  Hyper mental activity.
8.  ???  He never said.

Some tips for overcoming depression according to Hagee:

Forget those things which are behind.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Phillipians 4:8

Hagee said God's word is a penicillin shot for depression. 

The joy of the Lord is your strength.  Spend time with Christians.  If you hang around depressed, unhappy people, you will become like them. 

And a very good one:  Do something nice for one person every day.  I love this one, and I love to do it. 

Change "I can't" to "I won't" when it comes to all the reasons you have to stay in the funk you are in.  Instead of "I can't" quit smoking -- "I won't" quit smoking.  And put that with a million other things.  I hear it all the time.  Jerry's brother has gone from 4 to 5 packs of cigarettes a day to 2 to 3  , and he actually thinks that is an amazing accomplishment.  If you WANT to quit, you WILL!  Jerry and I both did, so I'm talking from experience on this one.  I never smoked much, and it was for a very short time, but Jerry smoked from 15 years of age to 30 something.  It was very hard for him.

After church, I came upstairs to finish my newest creation.  I wasn't thrilled with my last blouse which was made from the pretty fabric Phylly gave me.  It was okay, but it looks like all my other blouses.  Yesterday, I decided to get REAL BRAVE and change my plain SFD blouse pattern into an original JOYFUL DESIGN.  I've always been afraid to do that, mostly because I didn't really understand how to, but I don't think a person could take any more classes than I have had to date and not, at least, TRY!

This fabric is from the cotton Christmas prints at Hobby Lobby, although I chose it because it is black and white and not really very Christmassy.  I guess it is pointsettias.  Whatever it is, I really like it.

This is not a pattern from an envelope.  It is my SFD blouse REDRAWN with some style lines.  First thing I did was add pleats to the front of  the blouse.  This took several hours because I am a perfectionist, and I wanted to be sure I didn't screw it up.  It looks like an accordion because I had to fold all the pleats to cut the neckline.

Here is what I did to the FRONT of my SFD blueprint.  I did NOT put the waist dart in the blouse.


 Here is what I did to the back of my SFD blueprint.  I did NOT put this waist dart in the blouse either.


And here is my darling blouse, that I really love.  Hopefully, you can see the detail in the pictures I took.  The pleat in the back is ADORABLE, plus it gives me some wiggle room.



Here is the front with TEN pleats and a boatneck.  I think I look best in a boatneck, but I hate that I have to glue my bra straps to my shoulder bones!


And a side view so you can see the pleats a little more.  Fun, fun, fun!  My sleeve has an elbow dart and a notch in the part I have folded up.  This is my favorite length of a sleeve.



It is already 5:30 PM and time to go do something with the hamburger I thawed out.  Spaghetti sounds good.  It has suddenly gotten cold outside.  I'm glad.  It doesn't feel like Christmas when it is 70 degrees outside day after day after day. 

Hugs, Joy

9 comments:

  1. This is VERY pretty - love the pleats! You did a great job with this new design.

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  2. I love all your SFD blouses! Your pictures helped me decide to buy the system. I have had success with the blouse blueprint, haven't started the pants yet.

    I love that this "Christmas" fabric is so non-traditional, even if it IS Poinsettias. -a definite success at designing!

    I have a question about the pleats - did you stitch them down? Are they free-floating, and just pressed really well? How did you do the hem?

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  3. Well, Joy, you continue to amaze! You took a leap and landed smack dab in super success! The blouse is so wonderful. I love the design details and the great fit! You rock.

    Thanks for the sermon info - just what I needed for today.

    Debora

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  4. Hi Joy, well done on a good job, I am thrilled for you that you have created your first Joyful model. I have read the SFD books from cover to cover, over and over again. Yesterday I set to tracing all the patterns into my size, and this morning I have cut out my first garment trial piece. Fingers are crossed. I hope I am as successful as you have been with all your lovely blouses. I look forward to seeing your postings arrive.
    The sermon you are quoting from of yesterday's one at your church really had special meaning for me. I suffer from depression, and always at the end of summer I am worse as I get SAD as well. I have had it years so know it will end if I can just get over the initial first thud of lead in my stomach and the rush of adrenalin during the panic attacks. I haven't even been able to go to church for three Sundays, and missed also my weekly church small group. I have explained my absence, and everyone understands. My faith helps me and I know prayers are being said for me.
    I look forward to your next adventurous leap into designing.

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  5. Dear Sewing Nannie,
    You may want to listen to Hagee's sermon from yesterday as he talks about some conditions that require a physician -- a chemical or biological imbalance of hormones. I suffered that for years until after Menopause. Every third month, I had PMS that would have scared a grizzly bear. Only Jerry could have survived it. He did not want me on any kind of tranquilizer because, being a Pharmacist, he knew all the cons of the drugs. He didn't want me on hormones either knowing how much cancer they cause. Hence, I went through all of it "cold turkey" and with God's help, of course. Find something to be thankful for and try to help someone else. It's a great start.

    Thanks everyone for the compliments on my SFD blouse. SFD is a really wonderful system, but you have to practice and do it again and again and again until you are comfortable with making design changes. I'm sure Glenda can do it in her sleep!

    Hugs, Joy

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  6. Caro,
    Thank you for your comment.
    The pleats are sewn in at the top in the facing and at the bottom with the hem. Other than that, they are just pressed to one side.
    The folds of the pleat in the BACK of the blouse are sewn very close to the edge to make them stay put. Learned that from Sandra Betzina.
    Hugs, Joy

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  7. OH! How did I hem it?
    With the wonderful, amazing, don't-know-how-I-ever- lived-without-it, Steam A Seam 2 in 1/2" roll.
    Hugs, Joy

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  8. Hi Joy...
    I know you are a perfectionist, and I'm sure every little 1/16" of an inch was in exactly the perfect location for those pleats. Congratulations on dreaming up your own design, drawing and drafting the pattern changes, and sewing it up. Your blouse is perfect...to match your personality. And you look great in it.
    It is always a 'joy' to see the garments you've created with SFD and know the process you've gone through to achieve the end result. Needless to say - WELL DONE!
    Merry Christmas to you and Jerry. (I'm almost scared to wish anyone Merry Christmas anymore since that can offend so many, so I've gone to wishing folks 'Happy Holidays'. Isn't that a shame! But I know with you it's OK to say Merry Christmas).
    Glenda

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  9. Hey Glenda!
    Good to hear from you. Thanks for the compliments!

    I know what you mean. I say Merry Christmas, especially, to those who say Happy Holidays to me in the stores. I would rather offend some liberal kook than Jesus. Hopefully, the customers are still allowed to say what they want to.
    Merry Christmas to you and Wes and Happy Birthday Jesus!
    Hugs, Joy

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Hugs, Joy