On saying goodbye ...

Lately saying goodbye, one way of another, has become a really huge part of my life.

This month, I had to say goodbye to one of the important men in my life. On February 1st my grandfather lost his battle with cancer. He was a great and wonderful man, very inspirational, although strict, tough and stubborn (I take that after him). He would have been 86 years old this May. He lived a full and fruitful life and left a great legacy behind. He did a lot for his community, he even wrote and published a book about the history of his village. Even though we had our share of differences, he taught me some valuable life lessons like importance of self-discipline, having beliefs and sticking to your guns, and, most important (well, for me at least), that being stubborn actually gets you somewhere. He was a dear dear man and he will always have a special place in my heart.

Saying goodbye sucks, regardless how you look at it. Dealing with death is something we all have to do, but we're never really ready; and no matter how well you prepare yourself for it, it still comes as a shock, still rips your heart out and leaves you hurt, empty and confused. But, nevertheless, you can get something positive from dealing with loss. Awareness of life and mere shortness of it for example....
For me, all these goodbyes and letting goes made me even more aware of the fact that life really is too short not to live it to the fullest extent and taking chances actually pays off. So from now on I decided to throw myself into opportunities, love, friendships, give it all, give my best, and surely something wonderful will happen. Like they say, if you don't go, you don't have a story....

And I really do have to mention another great man who lost his own battle this month... Alexander McQueen, a genius, an innovator, a huge talent that will be greatly missed by the entire fashion world. His work will continue to inspire generations to come.

Looking Forward and Happy New Year

The last day of 2009 got me thinking about the past year. And despite all the obstacles and set-backs, it actually was a pretty good year, especially the last month was absolutely wonderful.
Just to name a few things that marked my 2009:
- found some truly wonderful friends
- figured out what I really want to do with my life and stopped caring how that fits into other people's expectations and plans
- started exercising regularly
- danced at the belly dance performance, sober :)
- started learning Italian
- became less self conscious about sewing, my body and my abilities in general
- ended a long-term relationship
- got a new job and got promoted soon afterward
- made a huge step towards accomplishing my dreams by enrolling in a designer course

I do feel like 2010 is a sort of a new beginning for me. I'm starting the year single, with wonderful friends, with a new promotion and enrollment papers for Milan in my hands. Pretty good, huh? Now if my closet was full of designer shoes, I could easily be the fifth friend in the Sex in the City. lol
For me, 2010 will be about following my dreams and passion.I'm determined to improve my sewing skills, my pattern drafting skills and produce some original designs of my own. And all that before I go to Milan.

So motto for the 2010: Just do it! Not very original but indeed words to live by. Sometimes you just have to do the things that scare you.
Probably the only thing I dread about 2010 is one thing I will have to do and that is: turn 30. But I guess I'll survive.

I wish you all a Happy 2010 and be sure to live each and every day to the fullest! May all your dreams and wishes come true and most of all I wish you all health and happiness.

Happy Holidays Everyone

Hi guys,

[Warning: some cheesy emotional lines coming up]
Life has been so good to me lately it's unbelievable.

The greatest news is that I have applied for the Fashion Design Summer Course in Milan, got accepted and already paid the admissions fee; so it's official... I'll be spending July in Milan, one of the fashion capitals in the world. Now, how exciting is that?

Then yesterday, I received a new contract at work, got a promotion and from the January 1st I'm officially the manager of the brand.

Probably the most important thing I have realized lately is how incredibly lucky I am. I realized that I'm surrounded by the most amazing and wonderful friends, I could ever hope and wish for. People I can truly count on and who I love deeply.
It also seems like all the pieces of the puzzle are coming together, I feel at peace and at ease with myself, everyone I meet is willing to help me in some way on my road to achieving my dreams. I feel truly blessed and happy.
[end of cheesy lines]

Anyhow:


Happy Sewing everyone!

Just a Quick Note

Hi everyone!
I just realized I haven't posted in a month. There are a lot of wonderful things happening in my life at the moment. I'm meeting and re-connecting with lots of wonderful people who are all somehow connected with my interests and who are offering me wonderful opportunities. For example, my best friend's cousin is belly dancing and would like me to sew costumes for her. I'm really scared to do this one, though. Then, I re-connected with a friends from elementary school (gotta love the Facebook) and he's a yoga master and his club needs someone to sew tunics and pants for them. Talk about coincidences and opportunities.

Then, the best news I've had in a long time: I found a wonderful fashion summer course in Italy, I want to attend next year. It's a fashion design course and involves everything from designing to pattern drafting to sewing on industrial machines. Plus it's designed to meet the needs of individuals and to the level they are at. It's not cheap, so I'm saving all my cents, because this would be a dream come true for me (well, one of the dreams anyway). I started learning Italian and I'm getting the basics down pretty fast. The classes are available in English, but I'd like to shop (did I mention the school's in Milan) and order food in Italian.
Consequently, I applied for a position at a multi-brand store and I'm waiting to hear from them sometime next week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this one.

As for the sewing, I'm working on the Vogue 8386 dress. I've cut it out and sewed the bodice parts. I'm planing on finishing it this weekend.

The Winners and Sewing Plans for 2009

First of all let me wish you all the best in 2009. May this year be filled with creativity and sewing; and most of all success, happiness, prosperity and health.

And boy am I glad 2008 is over. This year has been quite tough on a lot of people. The absolutely worst thing for me was that both of my pets, my bunny and my dog, died in 2008. I still cannot fully understand and believe it.
But, I refuse to focus on the bad, and I'm really looking forward to everything the new year will bring for all of us.


Now for the winners: the winner of the La Mia Boutique is Tany; and the winner of the Patrones magazine is Alicia. Congratulations to the winners!
Please send me your mailing addresses on: aikkam at gmail dot com. All the magazines will be sent on Monday.



A lot of my favourite bloggers have written post about their sewing resolutions. I, too, have been thinking a lot about the last year's projects and what I want to accomplish in 2009 with regards to sewing.

First thing I will start doing is I'll start sewing wovens. Lately, I've been stuck in the rut sewing knit tops.

Second thing I promised myself to do is, I will get rid of the fear of making a mistake. This one is the major reason that I kept sewing knit tops. I've fallen into this comfortable zone with sewing knits.

Third resolution is, I will stop sewing basic garments I can easily buy. I will instead focus on making garments with more interesting design features, designer-inspired clothes, etc. Those are the thing I actually want to have in my closet.

And last but not least, I'll make at least one coat/jacket this year. It just breaks my heart to see how many wonderful outerwear patterns are in my stash and I have sewn none. Same goes for pants, dresses and skirts; but jacket and coat patterns hurt the most.

This is it for the first post in the 2009. Until next time...happy sewing :)

The Winners And the Last Giveaway

Winners of the Patrones Kids magazines are: Lory and Elizabeth. Please send me your mailing addresses on: aikkam at gmail dot com.

I'd also like to ask Sharon, the winner of the first giveaway to send me her address.


In the last giveaway of this year you can get the Patrones Pleno Verano or the La Mia Boutique June 2008. Both are spring/summer issues.



As usual, I'll send magazines to any part of the world. Put down which magazine you'd like to have.
Closing time for the giveaway is December 31st 24.00 EST. Good luck :)

Happy Holidays

I wish you all happy holidays...

Magazine Giveaway No.2

Ok, next giveaway.....

Here are two Patrones kids magazines. The first one is Patrones Ninos Fall/Winter 2008 issue; and the second one is Patrones Disfraces, which is kid's costumes issue.



To enter, please leave a comment below. Closing time is Monday 22nd 24.00 EST.
Please put down which magazine you'd like to win.

I forgot to mention in the last giveaway that I'll send the magazines anywhere in the world.

I will choose two winners, of course, if only one person enters, that person gets both magazines :)

Good luck...

And the Winners Are....

I decided to have two winners, so each one gets one magazine. My sister drew the names from the bag.

The winner of the La Mia Boutique is Sharon.

And the winner of the Burda Easy Fashion is Dawn.

Congratulations to the winners. Please send me your snail mail addresses. My email is: aikkam at g mail dot com.


Another giveaway coming right up......

Magazine Giveaway No.1

Since it's December and the holidays are around the corner, I decided to give away a few magazines and patterns.

This weekend it's time for Burda Easy Fashion Fall and La Mia Boutique May 2008.



(click on image to see bigger size)

Anyone interested leave a comment to this post until Monday 15th December 24.00 EST and on Tuesday I'll randomly pick one lucky winner :)

It's been a while...

I can't believe I haven't posted since July. Time sure flies. A lot has happened in the past months.

On September 8, I had to say good-bye to my pet bunny Aika. She died of a stroke. Luckily, she didn't suffer much. She truly was the best bunny in the world and she's greatly missed every day.



Second major event/change in my life is the fact that I decided to quit my job. I figured that working 10 or more hours a day, having no free time and having your personal life reduced to eating and sleeping was not exactly my cup of tea.

So now while I'm on a search for a new job I finally have some time for myself and sewing.

Happy sewing everyone!

P.S.: I promise my next post will be sewing related :-)

I'm Officially Fluent in Business English!!!!!

I passed the Cambridge Business English Certificate with A grade!!!!! Woohoo!

I'm proud as peacock right now :D



I'll leave you with a picture of my Hibiscus plant:

Quick Update

Unfortunately no sewing done here. My JCC is still waiting to be finished; but you know how it is, sometimes life gets in the way.

So what have I been up to...
Well, I've spend 3 days in Spain on a business trip, previewing the fall/winter collection of the brand I work for. I had a wonderful time and I met some wonderful people.

While I was away, we were having some terrible storms in Slovenia. During one of those storms, the lightning hit somewhere near our house and a few appliances went dead. One of them was my computer. I had to go without it for a week, but I'm back online now. Thank god, none of my machines got hurt.
The weather has been completely out of control this year. About a week ago, the first ever tornado hit my country. Luckily, nobody I know got hurt. It was a small one, compared to those I'm used to seeing on TV, but even the thought that tornadoes are going to become a part of our climate is frightening.

On the more positive note; well, on the wonderful and exciting note.... I'll get a promotion. I'll be the store manager. I'm still on training, but once this becomes official (in a few weeks), I will have a fixed schedule of 8 hours per day (finally), my paycheck will increase. Which equals, more time and money for sewing :-) Woohoo


I've been listening to some audio books on my way to work lately. And one of them was Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy and I truly recommend it. It has some wonderful tips on how to stop procrastinating, which is one of my huge problems; and I've decided to incorporate those tips into my life. It's funny how you already know practically everything, but it's not until you hear them said out loud, that you become aware of them. I had a few light bulb moments while listening. So no more procrastination from now on, not for me.

One of the decisions and priorities I've set up for myself is also to write here more often. So keep checking back ;-)

I've been tagged....

... by Marita at Paradise for Me

1. What was I doing ten years ago?

Ten years ago I was 18 (I feel so old now) and was studying for final exams to finish the Grammar School. That was also the first and the last summer that I had whole 3 months of pure freedom with no exams and no serious job. Those were the days.

2. What are 5 things on my to do list today ?

Today's an easy day. I'll go to lunch with my BF. Later in the evening I have to do some studying for my exam on Wednesday. I still have to finalize my pattern choices for the June Capsule contest.

3. Snacks I enjoy?

Fruit, dried fruit (I *love* raisins), nuts, wholewheat bread with cheese or tzatziki spread (yummy). And the not so healthy snacks: chocolate in any form.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire?

Travel the world. Buy a house with a huge walk-in closet and a pool. Fill the closet with designer clothes and shoes. Buy a small weekend house in Greece.

5. Places I have lived ?

I've only lived in Slovenia.

6. What type of work have I done?

At the post office counter
On the phone company's info hotline (for years)
As a simultaneous translator in the chiropractor's office
Now: as a merchendiser and window-dresser.

7. 6 peeps I want to know more about?

Everybody I want to tag has already been tagged....

New Toy

I bought this beauty today:



Isn't it pretty? It's an Olympus mju 840 in Candy Pink colour.

I'm off to play with it.

Hmmm.... it's nice to be me :-)

What My Name Means

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you. You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. You are incredibly wise and perceptive. You have a lot of life experience. You are a natural peacemaker, and you are especially good at helping others get along. But keeping the peace in your own life is not easy. You see things very differently, and it's hard to get you to budge. You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are very hyper. You never slow down, even when it's killing you. You're the type of person who can be a workaholic during the day... and still have the energy to party all night. Your energy is definitely a magnet for those around you. People are addicted to your vibe. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?