Finally: one for me

After all the bags I've been making for the purposes of selling (ahem, I still haven't sold one, not sure why. It's like they're cursed) [Afternoon Update: I just sold the first one-ok now I'm really superstitious!] I decided it was finally time to make one for moi. I'm still alternating the product of the second sewing machine project ever- which I still love- and a bag from the Gap that my grandpa got me for my birthday almost three years ago (falling apart and kinda ugly, but I love that he picked it out).

The one I made is a bit small to be an everyday bag (that will come next) but I figured the combination of my coworker's wedding and this:


was the perfect incentive to make something absolutely adorable. Look at all that ribbon!!! I got it from Les Bon Ribbon, which I heard about from Amanda's blog a while back. I haven't even started looking at the non-vintage categories. It's incredible (who knew so much money could be spent on ribbon?).


Anyways, I think it's pretty darn cute. I've really been wanting to use that green paisley for something for myself and I think it worked out well with the blue outside fabric and the beautiful vintage ribbon. And I did put a magnetic snap in there to keep all my goodies intact. Ok, now back to my second consecutive personal day-just because (I love my job!).

Garden Update: 6/26/07

Things seem to be growing along quite well so far. It's been really hot, so I've been trying to get out and water everyday, but it's funny how far away across the street can seem sometimes!

Here's some evidence of the progress I'm making...

Tomatoes: Roma and Big Rainbow (yellow heirloom=yummy)

Rhubarb Chard (in case the sign didn't give it away)

Spinach

Zucchini

What I Love: Mom

I know the first day of summer was a couple of days ago, but it was one of the best days I've had in a very very long time.












After six long months of harsh, exhausting chemo, my mom is cancer free!











What better way to start off this beautiful season, than with hope, health, and happiness.


I wish the same to you all and all of your families.

Arriving home to...

...wonderful packages in the mail is just the best thing in the world (except maybe for that cookies 'n' cream cupcake that I stopped and ate on the way home, yum!). After another long day at work, and a slightly harrowing experience at a mall (what?) I discovered this amazing package from Angela when I got home:


Look- she sent me flower seeds, how sweet! As soon as she posted these prints in her shop, I immediately snatched them up. And I was so happy to get the only print of Alice on the title page of the book!


Thank you so much Angela! I can't wait to get some frames for these and hang them up.

Weekend Projects Finished

You know it's hot when you go to Target at 9pm (changing out of your pajamas) to buy fans. I don't think it's gotten below 85 in about a week and it's all I can do to keep functioning. It's certainly too hot to be outside for too long, so I've taken the opportunity to get some projects done this weekend. Saturday and Sunday were the first free days I had in weeks, so I just relished in taking my time with my work.

I finished my second pattern-based skirt (above). I used the same pattern as the last one, from SewU, but did a drawstring waist (so no zipper or darts) and a ruffled bottom instead. I can definitely see the improvements over the first skirt, but I've still got a ways to go. I really feel like I'm learning a lot and challenging myself to take my time and pay attention to details. The color didn't turn out great in this photo (maybe I should take my time a little more with the photos)- the fabric I used is a very pale blue linen: perfect for this ridiculous weather!

This hat is for my mom, who is in dire need of a good sun hat. It's from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing. I was very grateful for Amanda's post about this hat that I had read even before I bought the book--it seems that the pattern is universally too big (apparently most of the patterns in this book are bigger than they appear in the photos- maybe she used giants for models!). I took Amanda's advice and shortened the crown about 1 1/4", but I think if I made this again, I'd shorten the crown less and also shorten the brim. It came out a bit more bonnet than I was hoping. But I still like it, and it was so fun to make! Lots of topstitching and my first experiment with interfacing.

Can't wait to tackle some other projects from this book!

PS: Thank you all so much for your sweet comments about my failed craft fair a few weekends ago, my first skirt, and on my first etsyversary, they are much appreciated! And thanks to those who took advantage of my etsyversary sale.

Oink!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was working on a special order for my aunt's middle school drama class. Although the actual project wasn't that exciting - just the same aprons that I'd been making like crazy - it was really fun to work on something with such a specific purpose. It was really fun to go to the fabric store and pick out fabric with something very specific in mind- to look for the the colors and patterns that would fit what I needed, since usually I just go after whatever fabric catches my eye and figure that I'll come up with a use for it later on.

In any case, here are a couple of photos from the plays (adapted by my aunt from the books: Where's the Big Bad Wolf? and Oink!).


In case you couldn't tell (don't feel bad) the animals above are (from left to right) a duck, two hens, and a rabbit.

Clearly (I hope) these are pigs.

My aunt is retiring at the end of this year, after many amazing years of teaching and influencing kids' lives, and I think these performances were either her last ones, or among the last. So I dedicate this post to you, Aunt Lennie, congratulations! I hope that you find true happiness and fulfillment in your new stage of life.

It's 90 degrees here.

You know what that means...it's skirt weather! So I'm proud to report that I finished my first pattern based skirt!!!


I'm so proud of myself. It's not perfect, some of the top stitching around the hem is a little outside the lines from the bias tape I used, and the zipper could use a little work. But hey, it's the first one!


I used the basic skirt pattern from Wendy Mullin's book- SewU with some gorgeous Amy Butler Fabric. The pattern is from Simplicity, but I think it only comes with the book- pretty basic. (Also in progress is my ability to take photos of myself...) Beautiful shirt compliments of Alison of circularaccessories- I just love it!

I just bought Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing, and I'm so excited to try out some of the beautiful patterns that she's got in that book. Stay tuned...

Crafts Shows Not To Sign Up For and My First Etsyversary

• When it's advertised on craigslist and you don't hear about it anywhere else
• When it's way out in the suburbs (no offense to you suburban dwellers- but in case I wasn't sure before- I definitely do not belong there).
  
• When it's held at a volunteer-run WWII Commemorative Air Force Museum
• When a few weeks before the show you receive a "general policies and waiver" form in the mail including policies such as "no ripped jeans"
• When you arrive at the show and see that it's being held in a quonset hangar and your table is all the way at the end by the opening, and it's windy, despite the fact that the organizer told me it was indoors.
• When an hour into the show WWII planes start taking off about 40 feet from my table and the organizer walks around and hands out earplugs

And you certainly should not sign up when the craft show has ALL of those things. Yes, I'm telling you from experience. Needless to say, I wasted my beautiful Saturday morning surrounded by tacky jewelry, bags with over the top beaded handles, cheesy scrapbooky things, and soaps with really strong scents. I just didn't belong there.

Wait, I thought we were at a craft show- what's with the airplanes?

Talking to some of the other vendors, they were telling me how great it was to be at a show with all handmade products. Apparently they've all been to other shows with lots of non-handmade products like Mary Kay and others like that. I was shocked, I've never even heard of such a show. It made me really grateful for the amazing crafting community I've found through etsy, the blogging world, and the great craft scene in the Twin Cities.

So thanks to all of you! And in thanks for being such great crafters, and in celebration of my first etsyversary (I just made that up- go me) I will give a 15% discount to any of you who want to purchase something from my shop over the next week. That's right, I joined etsy and started selling my crafts for the first time a year ago today. It's been great, and although it's a bumpy road and I'm still learning A LOT, I really feel like I've come a long way- from bad photos and some questionable sewing to what feels like much more professionally made and unique products. Just write "etsyversary" in the comments to seller and I'll adjust the paypal invoice.

Back to normal {phew}

I don't think I ever mentioned here on the blog that I had to quit drinking coffee for a month. This was really hard for me- I could probably count on my two hands (and maybe my feet) the number of days I have not drank coffee over the last twelve or thirteen years. I've just never really thought about quitting drinking coffee because I truly enjoy drinking it. It's not really the caffeine- I can drink a cup of coffee and fall right asleep, so I don't think it's doing much to keep me awake when I need a little boost-It just really makes me happy. I don't know if it's the warmth (although I love iced coffee too), or the taste, or the smell. I think it's all of that combined.

In any case, when I found out I had to quit for a month for fear of an interaction between my coffee and a homeopathic remedy that I'm taking, my first feeling was anger. Anger at being forced to do something that I didn't want to do. Anger at having something that I love and see no reason to give up being taken out of my life. But, I really want the remedy to work, so I decided to go for it with full force.

The day after I found out that I had to chuck the coffee, I just stopped (against the advice of many). To my pleasant surprise, the headaches did not come. I felt fine- not the headache-ridden, drowsy withdrawl that so many describe. I could have other forms of caffeine, so I thank Assam Tea for saving me during this period (and thanks to my parents for getting me this awesome tea press- who knew they made tea presses?). I found that after the anger subsided, I almost felt sad that I couldn't have the coffee that I so dearly love. I missed it.

I found out yesterday at my follow-up visit that I can go back to drinking coffee, in moderation. I was so elated at this news and I went straight to one of my favorite spots for a double espresso on ice (I think I went for restarting coffee just as strong as I had quit it- all at once!). I had such a huge grin on my face, people on the street must have thought I was crazy.

This was definitely a learning experience for me. I was reading yesterday on kleja's blog about letting go, and giving up coffee was certainly a lesson for me in letting go to my normal routine. It's good to know that I can do that if I need to or ever decide that I want to. Needless to say I'm glad to be back to normal and drinking my coffee again!

(Oh yeah, and that beautiful coffee mug is courtesy of our very talented friend Milena).

(And sorry for so much writing and not many photos- I promise more crafty updates soon!)

Progress

The weekend was a mixture of beautiful weather and lots of rain. I got outside during the beautiful parts, doing some gardening, taking a walk and reading on the porch. And I made some serious progress during the rainy parts.


This is not a vest. Sleeves are in progress and hopefully this beautiful wool sweater will be finished just in time for sweltering summer weather (well, I'll be prepared when fall comes).


This has been the single most frustrating pattern, but for the same reason that I almost always press on and finish books that I don't enjoy, I have stuck it out with this pattern. Also- it will be beautiful when it's done.


In other news, I finally dove in and am sewing something from a pattern! It's probably the single most simple pattern in the world (notice how I'm taking it easy on myself here to make up for the above pattern?). It's a Simplicity pattern from the great SewU book by Wendy Mullin. But hey- we all have to start somewhere. I'm pretty excited to have a piece of clothing that I've made myself and actually fits like a real skirt!


Plus, I'm using some great Amy Butler fabric that I bought at Purl the last time I was visiting my parents. Can't wait to have both of these projects finished soon!