One of my resolutions for 2012 is to relax more. I’ve always had a problem with relaxing, whether it be carving out time to read a good book (pleasure reading vs. self improvement), watching a movie, or a Sunday afternoon nap (which is rare). Even when I allow myself to partake in a guilty pleasure (like watching a few back to back episodes of House Hunters on HGTV), I generally have my laptop in front of me while I do some background research for a writing or speaking project. I’m big on spending time with my family, so any spare time I have apart from traveling to speak and meeting writing deadlines is generally devoted to spending time with my husband and children. This is a common challenge that many women face today when it comes to prioritizing family and juggling a full-time job. Something has to go. And in many cases, it’s me-time.

Add to the equation the insanity of this past year with two weddings, a senior year, a high school graduation, a college move-in, the arrival of a grandchild, and yeah, it’s time to relax. And what better time to learn to relax than now when I’ve officially entered into the empty-nest season of life? Even though I have a couple of upcoming book deadlines and a busy season of speaking, I will be left with more free time now that two of my children are married and the last one is in college. (Insert Handel’s Hallelujah chorus here.) Which brings me to the picture above. Some time ago, I was perusing one of my vintage copies of Ladies’ Home Journal (December, 1895) while doing some background research for a Bible study I was writing and I ran across a pattern for embroidering monograms.

Aren’t they gorgeous?! I find it fascinating to think about a time period when many of the luxuries we enjoy today didn’t exist. There were no shortcuts to daily chores offered in the way of microwave ovens, dish washers, or washing machines, yet women from this time period took the time to accent a pair of pillow cases or handkerchiefs. So began the inspiration for my first-ever embroidery project. I wish you could have seen my husband’s face when he asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I responded with “embroidery needles, an embroidery hoop, and an assortment of embroidery floss.” “Huh?,” he said. To which I replied, “Get Paige to help you. It’s part of my New Year’s resolution to relax more.” To which he replied, “Huh?” While finishing up my Christmas shopping, I happen to run across these cloth napkins at TJ Maxx:

A set of twelve cloth restaurant napkins that just so happen to match my Friendly Village pottery (that I picked up years ago at an antique store):

I love this pottery. Actually, I picked up two packages of cloth napkins because I reasoned that some day, I will be responsible for feeding my entire clan over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Which means I also need to learn to cook at some point. One day at a time. The end result is not perfect, but I’m beginning to get the hang of it. Two down and 22 more napkins to go! Surprisingly, the last one only took me about an hour to complete.

I thought it would be cool to try the monogram on a hand towel and use the thread below that came in my grandfather’s army-issued uniform mending kit from 1943:

How awesome is this kit?! As you can tell, I love things that have a deep meaning attached to them. A vintage embroidery pattern from 1895 hand-stitched with vintage thread that belonged to my grandfather back in 1943. And yeah, you can bet no one is going to ever wipe their hands on this hand towel!

Suffice it to say, this was not a good project for a beginning embroider! I learned that there is a reason embroiders use embroidery floss rather than cotton sewing thread. The thread was such a booger to work with. The finished product is not a work of art, but knowing the thread belonged to my grandfather makes it special and worthy of display. Somewhere safe and away from dirty hands. Like a glass case or something.

So, that’s what I’ve been up to lately. I’m just curious, but what do you do to relax? Is it hard for you to relax or do you have this relaxing stuff down? Share your secrets!

Oh, and by the way, Happy New Year!