I am sorry....

Three little words with so much meaning. I  really need to learn to use them better.

I often start a sentence with, 'I'm sorry', then go on to add, but. usually followed by an accusation.
For example, Michael hurts himself running my response is generally.
'I'm sorry, but you shouldn't run on the stones', or even worse,
'Well that's what happens when you run on the stones!'

Saying sorry acknowledges someones' hurt. It's not an acknowledgment of guilt. Nor does it apportion blame. It simple says. I'm sorry YOU are hurting. When I add the BUT I'm no longer acknowledging the other persons hurt, I'm justifying or accusing.

I've been doing a lot of thinking over the last few weeks. Mostly about the many mistakes I've made in my life, and a lot about the hurts I've experienced. I've come to see that if I had had those three simple words said to me as an acknowledgment of how I'm feeling then I would not have festered on things so much. Just a simple I'm sorry you are hurting, would have gone a long way to healing many a falling out.

Why is it so hard to say these simple three words. Do we focus too much on ourselves and our own feelings and not on those around us?

Last year I had a falling out with someone. I wonder how things would of turned out if they had simply acknowledged my hurt? And I wonder how many times have I done the same to others? By not acknowledging someones hurt and defending our own actions, do we say your feeling aren't important? I'm more right that you are? Last years falling out hurt me a lot, especially when I received a blog comment telling me I wasn't a Christian because I wasn't acting as this person thought I should act. This person also went on to corner me in the supermarket. I wonder what would of happened if the conversation had started with I'm sorry you are hurting and maybe had gone on with I didn't mean my actions to upset you.

I am sorry that this person is hurting. Being sorry doesn't mean I want to continue a relationship with them. And that leads this ramble on to forgiveness. Saying sorry isn't saying I forgive you. Nor is forgiveness saying I have to continue a relationship with the person I hurt and who hurt me. Sometimes it's better to let things go and move on, something I have a problem with. My mind get's caught in circles and I obsess on the small stuff until it becomes the big stuff. And the small sections of my life that aren't so good over shadow the huge amount of wonderful things I do have in my life.

Do we get too hung up with being the one in the right rather than acknowledging the other persons feelings?

I'm sorry doesn't really mean all that much. It doesn't mean I want to maintain a friendship, It doesn't mean I'm in the wrong. It doesn't mean you are in the wrong. It simple means I know you are hurting.

Saying, I'm Sorry and making an apology are two different things. We say, 'I'm sorry', to make an apology to own an action, too. Is this why it's so hard to say? Do I confuse saying I'm sorry with taking ownership of something I did wrong?

Sewing for Me

I've had a week off the net and been getting lots done.

I started by drafting out some basic block patterns for myself.

It's been a while since I last did this.

I reset my mannequin to my measurements.

I used my skirt block to make myself a basic A - line skirt.

I was really happy with the fit of this skirt.

And went out and bought myself some nice black boots to wear with it.

I then used Butterick 5557 and made myself another skirt with the same fabric.

This one is mid calf length.

I prefer the fit of the A line I drafted myself.

I used the same fabric to make myself a coat last winter.

I have a couple of meters left and think I will make a jacket with it.

Next I made up the School House Tunic.

I made up the Size 20 and the fit is a little snug.

I will make this again but will add a little more ease.

The fabric was another op-shop find.

Not bad for $2.50!

Nest was Vogue 2299.

I've had this in my stash for a few years.

I made up view B, I like round necklines.

I'm really happy with this outfit.

The fabric is a two way stretch, I bought in Port Pirie last year.

I didn't make a full bust adjustment to this pattern as it is designed for a two way stretch.

So that has been my marathon of sewing this week.

The week off the net has done me a lot of good.

I battle with depression and sometimes need to make my world a little smaller.

Hey Tas ... did you see the knee length black boots????

(That's a CM insider joke ;-))

To my many friends... thank you, I'll be back soon.

Another Enid Wrap Skirt

Another Enid wrap skirt.

This time I left the straps off.

It's a very quick little skirt to make up.

I like this is reversible made this way.

I'm sure this skirt will quickly be passed down to Lilly  as it is a little on the short side.

As suggested by a couple of the Crafty Mamas. I turned the skirt around so the wrap is at the front.

The pattern is pretty easy to scale up to make a bigger version too.

Cooking adventures..

This week was my turn for Cupcake duty. 

I was trying to make THESE, but my cakes didn't rise enough so I had to make something up. 

The kids thought these were good enough. 

The horns are banana lollies chopped in half, jaffa eyes and candy teeth. 

I used a butter frosting and dipped each cake into coloured sugar.

These were a winner with Pete and the kids.

Chocolate Cream Biscuits.

(Don't you love all the free recipes on the web?)
I'm planning on baking another batch for The Biggest Morning Tea this Thursday.

These are simply Arnotts Marie Biscuits, iced and decorated with hundreds and thousands and smarties. These are also destined for The Biggest Morning Tea.

Australia's Biggest Morning Tea raises money for the fight against cancer.

My dad died of cancer, just over two years ago.

I miss him.

Please support your local morning tea and help to support the fight.