Hi folks! I don't know if you've noticed... but this tiny corner of the blogosphere of mine seems to be creeping closer and closer to 200 followers (which BLOWS MY MIND) and, at the same time, my 2nd blogoversary is coming up shortly in about a month.
So I'm thinking of maybe putting it out there.... a giveaway perhaps? in an effort to reach 200 followers by my 2 year mark. What kind of things would you folks like to receive in a giveaway? It can't be super extravagant, but I want it to be something cool enough that you'll want to invite your friend to follow my blog, spread the word a little, and get people excited.
So I'd love some ideas! Thanks everyone!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
{Cute Sewing Caddy}
As soon as I stumbled across this tutorial here, I was scheming in my brain about which fabrics to use where. I like the rustic feeling of mine compared to a little bit more refined look of the one in the tutorial. Do you like the little piece of lace?? My favorite part!
I love that the little trashcan is removable, and that it stays on my desk to keep all my sewing stuff handy.
She's so purdy! This one was made a few days ago while the shawl was drying. It went quick for sure!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
{Dress Sewing: The New Frontier}
There are a ton of sewing blogs out there that inspire me , but there's a couple in particular that I adore. Jessica from Green Apples has been amazing in helping me with the first baby steps and has some amazing posts for beginner sewists like myself explaining fabrics and advising some patterns and books for the very beginner.
She suggested a skirt like this one as my very first project:
The fabrics are HERE and HERE from fabrics.com . I have no idea if the main floral is the kind of "cotton Sateen" that Jessica was trying to encourage me to buy, or if the jersey is at all appropriate for the band at the bottom, so if you have a suggestion, please let me know!
Here are two other beginner dress pattern I bought at the same time:
because I happened to catch McCalls during their pattern sale and got ALL THREE for $12 including shipping! Yipee!!! Next I'll be on the search for a great jersey print for the bottom on, and a luxurious jersey solid for the top convertible dress one. I almost bought one of those convertible dresses on Etsy for almost $100, so I'm stoked now that I'm going to try to make it instead. :)
I'm scared of this whole dress sewing thing! I hope it turns out okay!
She suggested a skirt like this one as my very first project:
The fabrics are HERE and HERE from fabrics.com . I have no idea if the main floral is the kind of "cotton Sateen" that Jessica was trying to encourage me to buy, or if the jersey is at all appropriate for the band at the bottom, so if you have a suggestion, please let me know!
Here are two other beginner dress pattern I bought at the same time:
because I happened to catch McCalls during their pattern sale and got ALL THREE for $12 including shipping! Yipee!!! Next I'll be on the search for a great jersey print for the bottom on, and a luxurious jersey solid for the top convertible dress one. I almost bought one of those convertible dresses on Etsy for almost $100, so I'm stoked now that I'm going to try to make it instead. :)
I'm scared of this whole dress sewing thing! I hope it turns out okay!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
{Fiori Di Sole is BLOCKED!}
Fiori Di Sole by Rosemary Hill
Just so you know... this is going to be an image heavy post. I'm probably more proud of this shawl than anything I have ever knit. Ever. 10 charts in total, and 5 repeats of chart E (the main body leafy one.) I chose to block the edge in to points instead of doing the crochet bind off, and I really like it. Just a touch less froo-froo than the lacy edging the pattern calls for.
to get an idea of size
Isn't the colour gorgeous? and that edge... to die for!
casually tossed around my neck
around my shoulders and tied in the back
(please don't ask what face I'm making. I can't tell ya)
And it's all for me! me! Muwahahahahaha!
Monday, June 6, 2011
{Knitting on Fiori Di Sole is DONE}
and here she is in all her pre-blocked glory:
If you've studied the Fiori Di Sole pattern, you may notice that I opted to skip the fancy crochet bind off. I made a judgement call based on how much yarn I had left after the last purl row, and boy am I glad I did, because here's what i had left after casting off:
I'm pretty sure if I'd tried the crochet bind off I would have run out of yarn. Sure, it's true that I have another skein of this lace yarn, but have you ever wound Malabrigo lace? it's a P.I.T.A. Besides, I think I like just the leaves at the bottom.
Now for blocking. I don't have wires at the moment... do I wait and see if I can *get* wires somewhere, or I just pin it out as per usual for me? I'm debating... waffling, you could say. There's a sink full of water waiting for this shawl right this moment, but I think I've changed my mind yet again.
Opinions?
If you've studied the Fiori Di Sole pattern, you may notice that I opted to skip the fancy crochet bind off. I made a judgement call based on how much yarn I had left after the last purl row, and boy am I glad I did, because here's what i had left after casting off:
I'm pretty sure if I'd tried the crochet bind off I would have run out of yarn. Sure, it's true that I have another skein of this lace yarn, but have you ever wound Malabrigo lace? it's a P.I.T.A. Besides, I think I like just the leaves at the bottom.
Now for blocking. I don't have wires at the moment... do I wait and see if I can *get* wires somewhere, or I just pin it out as per usual for me? I'm debating... waffling, you could say. There's a sink full of water waiting for this shawl right this moment, but I think I've changed my mind yet again.
Opinions?
Sunday, June 5, 2011
{The ABC's Of Me}
I saw this over at Lazy Knits and Purls (gosh she's a riot!) and she saw it over at another blog called Wool Durham's blog. I'm totally a joiner now too.
A. Age: 29 - I'll have just turned 30 when I graduate college. That's not bad, right?
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: folding and putting away laundry. It stayed in the basket crumpled FOREVER.
D. Dogs: someday... and probably big.
E. Essential start to your day: cereal... occasionally I can bring myself to make it hot, like oatmeal. Raisin bran, cheerios, fruit loops, granola, I'll pretty much eat it all.
F. Favorite color: green. I gravitate towards it like a fly to a zapper.
G. Gold or Silver: both, my wedding rings are silver, and I prefer silver in the home, but I own other gold jewelry that i like too.
H. Height: 5'4 or 161 cm
I. Instruments you play: i played trumpet once upon a time in my glory days. I miss it sometimes.
J. Job title: stoodent
K. Kids: none of the nonfurry variety, and it might just stay that way and I'm pretty sure I'm okay with that.
L. Live: yes please? lol what does this mean?
M. Mother’s name: Norah, though that's not what people call her. I remember as a kid people would call and ask for her and I'd have no idea who they were talking about.
N. Nicknames: Mrs. Pie, Cutie Pie, sweety, baby, darling, lovey.... we're big on pet names.
O. Overnight hospital stays: none. I once had to go in the middle of the night for food poisoning, and i've had plenty of visits for ear infections as a small child, but never anything serious.
P. Pet peeve: drivers who do 15 miles under the speed limit where I can't pass you. Why do you have to inflict that on others?
Q. Quote from a movie: OH my goodness, so much tv that's been cracking me up lately, but I can't think of anything right this second. We've been watching Californication, which is hilarious, but I probably shouldn't quote anything from there. LOL
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: Two whole siblings, both younger, and who half siblings, both older.
T. Time you wake up: 6:30
U. Underwear: boy-short style, preferably with lace and frill
V. Vegetable you hate: kale. that's really the whole list I can think of right now? well, mustard greens too, but they're like the same thing. This list has become significantly shorter in recent years. I now eat asparagus, spinach, brussel sprouts, zucchini, etc. I'm like a grown up.
W. What makes you run late: all that last minute crap like finding keys and shoes.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: just teeth
Y. Yummy food that you make: I love baking. I recently did chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese icing for Mr. Pie's birthday. mmmmmmmm....
Z. Zoo animal: I like visiting the big animal compounds where they get to wonder around and stuff, they remind me of Jurassic park.
A. Age: 29 - I'll have just turned 30 when I graduate college. That's not bad, right?
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: folding and putting away laundry. It stayed in the basket crumpled FOREVER.
D. Dogs: someday... and probably big.
E. Essential start to your day: cereal... occasionally I can bring myself to make it hot, like oatmeal. Raisin bran, cheerios, fruit loops, granola, I'll pretty much eat it all.
F. Favorite color: green. I gravitate towards it like a fly to a zapper.
G. Gold or Silver: both, my wedding rings are silver, and I prefer silver in the home, but I own other gold jewelry that i like too.
H. Height: 5'4 or 161 cm
I. Instruments you play: i played trumpet once upon a time in my glory days. I miss it sometimes.
J. Job title: stoodent
K. Kids: none of the nonfurry variety, and it might just stay that way and I'm pretty sure I'm okay with that.
L. Live: yes please? lol what does this mean?
M. Mother’s name: Norah, though that's not what people call her. I remember as a kid people would call and ask for her and I'd have no idea who they were talking about.
N. Nicknames: Mrs. Pie, Cutie Pie, sweety, baby, darling, lovey.... we're big on pet names.
O. Overnight hospital stays: none. I once had to go in the middle of the night for food poisoning, and i've had plenty of visits for ear infections as a small child, but never anything serious.
P. Pet peeve: drivers who do 15 miles under the speed limit where I can't pass you. Why do you have to inflict that on others?
Q. Quote from a movie: OH my goodness, so much tv that's been cracking me up lately, but I can't think of anything right this second. We've been watching Californication, which is hilarious, but I probably shouldn't quote anything from there. LOL
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: Two whole siblings, both younger, and who half siblings, both older.
T. Time you wake up: 6:30
U. Underwear: boy-short style, preferably with lace and frill
V. Vegetable you hate: kale. that's really the whole list I can think of right now? well, mustard greens too, but they're like the same thing. This list has become significantly shorter in recent years. I now eat asparagus, spinach, brussel sprouts, zucchini, etc. I'm like a grown up.
W. What makes you run late: all that last minute crap like finding keys and shoes.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: just teeth
Y. Yummy food that you make: I love baking. I recently did chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese icing for Mr. Pie's birthday. mmmmmmmm....
Z. Zoo animal: I like visiting the big animal compounds where they get to wonder around and stuff, they remind me of Jurassic park.
Friday, June 3, 2011
{Quilting Part 3}
My Crossroads blocks have all been assembled and made to be (mostly) square at 13 and 1/2 inches.
Of course, Popeye had to help press them last night. He's so helpful, you know. hehe
In the end I had more than enough to complete the goal of 25 squares (instead of 20) so that my quilt is square instead of rectangle - better for cuddling under I think. I did run out of the crisp muslin I was using and had to substitute in some lighter, so let's hope it holds up okay. lol
There are lots of strips left so I think I'd like to put together pieced quilt back. I think I'd like a dark grey solid binding , and a slightly lighter shade gray, for the majority of the backing, as seen here:
So I'm auditioning different backing ideas.
Idea 1 and maybe my favorite, I found on this website here, but she doesn't give a source.
And here's a whole flickr group with just backs of quilt ideas. I never know how people will feel about me using their photos, so go there and see if there's any you super like. Or if you have other ideas of how I could use up all these fabrics for a back, I'd be more than grateful! :)
It's coming along!
Of course, Popeye had to help press them last night. He's so helpful, you know. hehe
In the end I had more than enough to complete the goal of 25 squares (instead of 20) so that my quilt is square instead of rectangle - better for cuddling under I think. I did run out of the crisp muslin I was using and had to substitute in some lighter, so let's hope it holds up okay. lol
There are lots of strips left so I think I'd like to put together pieced quilt back. I think I'd like a dark grey solid binding , and a slightly lighter shade gray, for the majority of the backing, as seen here:
So I'm auditioning different backing ideas.
Idea 1 and maybe my favorite, I found on this website here, but she doesn't give a source.
And here's a whole flickr group with just backs of quilt ideas. I never know how people will feel about me using their photos, so go there and see if there's any you super like. Or if you have other ideas of how I could use up all these fabrics for a back, I'd be more than grateful! :)
It's coming along!
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