Want It Wednesday!

So, if you haven't heard of Shabby Apple by now..have you been living under a rock? Oh man, I want so many of their beautiful things. I haven't yet bought anything from them, but here are my top three picks for when I do..

1. The Champs Elysees dress. The second I saw this gorgeous thing I wanted it. It's classic and modest and so ladylike. AND still quite interesting.

 

2. The Cockeyed Optimist dress. I love this color, and the neckline is so pretty. 

 

3. Oh my gosh, and they have swimsuits?!! And they're one piece and super duper pretty. Like, I want them all. Currently though, my favorite is the Isola. I thinks it's actually a tankini. But, it's so nice. 

 

That's all for my (first in  awhile) Want it Wednesday list.. it was so hard to only pick three things, but in the interest of not boring you all to death I needed to limit myself. =). Seriously though, if you haven't gone to visit Shabby Apple yet, what are you waiting for? 

In an unrelated note, I'm seriously considering changing the name of this blog. I really did not realize how many other blogs and other things would have this name or one very similar when I made it. So, yeah. Any feedback would be great..and I don't know if it would mean losing all my readers..or not? Well, yeah..food for thought. 

I freaking broke my sewing machine

So..for all my lack of posting, I actually have been a rather productive little sewist this past week. So productive, in fact, that I successfully managed to mangle and destroy the bobbin case in my beloved little machine. You see, I was recruited to custom make light bar covers for all the firetrucks of a specific firehouse and have been sewing so much I haven't even had time to post. This project of mine is time sensitive as well, so it's been a go go GO! type of thing. I've spent well over 20 hours on this so far, and on the last truck (light at the end of the tunnel) the machine jammed, and I guess I didn't realize it soon enough(?) but I stopped, unjammed it..and then it just plain wouldn't sew. The needle goes up and down..and the feed dogs work..but there's a terrible clanking sound and no movement. The bobbin case seems to be all messed up. Ughhhh.
I hurried my poor little machine over to my local sewing machine dealer, and will hopefully have it back by next Friday. So, for the time being..I cannot start the sew along as quickly as I'd hoped..or finish my two unfinished quilts yet..or make that dress I've been wanting to make...yeah, you get it. WAH. However, my friend is being so kind as to allow me to borrow her machine so that I can finish the project by it's "due date". Phew.
Not to be a GIANT complainer pants...but also, my dear puppy was sick this week with a bout of yucky bowels (to put it nicely).. Luckily, after another visit to the vet and another silly amount of money he has much improved. Thank goodness.
In much better news, this past Thursday, almost hubby and I and my sissy and her girlfriend Heather went up to NYC and saw the most fabulous concert ever. ADELE. Yes, be jealous. It was amazing. She is even better in person, if you can imagine. It was a really great time, and I absolutely loved it. We don't get to go out much due to our schedules and other things so it was just grand.

Yeap..so that's basically my week.I'm tired. =)

OMG

Sorry for my lack of posting this past week! Between life in general and blogger going down..I, well, I just haven't had anything fabulous to say!

Until now...

Almost hubby is officially my almost hubby! I'm engaged! Yay!

I am obviously super duper excited and happy..it happened about 5 hours ago and I am still over the moon. =)
 Anyway, not much else to say but I wanted to share the good news with you all.

I will be participating in my first sewalong!

Hey all..
I'm happy to report that I will be participating in my very first sewalong!!

It's a beginner's sewalong, so kindly hosted by Sunni from A Fashionable Stitch (formerly The Cupcake Goddess). I'm so so excited. Sunni is not only incredibly talented but has done fabulous sewalongs in the past..those trousers..drool. Oh my gosh, I'm sure I will learn so much. I ordered the pattern tonight, so hopefully I will get it by the time the sewalong actually starts..I will definitely post on my progress..and of course, the finished product.. =)

Starting to sew..

Hi everyone! Happy Monday! =)

It's been about 8 months since I first started sewing..so it's needless to say that I'm not an expert on any sewing related topic. But I received a request (!!!!) on doing some beginner sewing related posts..so here goes nothing!

Okay, so I know that starting something new especially when there's no one next to you telling you how to do something can be scary. I was totally scared. I even still get nervous about new skills I haven't tried or mastered (inserting a zipper..gasp!) But seriously, you just have to jump in. You will be amazed at how much you learn and how accomplished you feel..even if you're project doesn't turn out super nice.

I'm assuming you don't want to do only hand sewing..but if you do, bless your heart. If you don't, you will need a functioning sewing machine. I highly suggest going for one that has the easy front threading and an automatic needle threader and bobbin winder. My newer machine, the Brother Innov-is 80, does. It's fabulous and I absolutely love it and don't mind changing thread EVER.

 When I started sewing, however, I had the Singer 500A Slant-O-Matic..from when? The 1950's? I LOVE this machine, but the threading can be difficult at times, and I spent a lot of time and a lot of patience threading and re-threading the machine. I still learned quite a bit and it worked..but it wasn't nearly as convenient as the Brother. So if you have the option, go for the easier threading/newer machine. 

 

Some other things you will need are pins, thread, extra bobbins, an iron and ironing board, and cutting tools such as fabric scissors, embroidery or thread scissors, and especially if you're quilting I suggest a rotary cutter, clear ruler, and self healing mat.

My first fabric scissors were just Fiskars ones from Walmart, and they work just fine. The thread scissors I'm talking about were also from Walmart, and were.. I don't know 3-4 dollars? But they're great. The cutting end is slightly curved which makes it easy to clip threads nice and close to your project. 

horrible picture but you can see the curve

And of course, you will need fabric. If you're cheap like me (LOL) and you don't want to pay retail price for fabric you'll be learning on, go to yard sales and thrift stores to get some stuff to practice with. Or ask your friends and family if anyone has fabric they don't want/old curtains, ETC.  Practice sewing straight lines, making seams, sewing curves, using different stitches..just get familiar with your machine and how it feels.
Then, you need a project, big or small, to make. Get a pattern if you want, or just wing it like I did for my first sewing project. Either way, just go for it. Mistakes will be made, it will never be perfect. Don't worry about it. Consult books, or like me, the internet (youtube.com and this fabulous blogland) for tips, tricks, advice, or inspiration. Seriously, if it weren't for the internet I don't think I'd be sewing yet.
But really, I can't say it enough, just go for it. You will learn so much in every project. And hopefully, you'll love it as much as I do and end up thinking about sewing constantly. LOL.

I think that's it for now..if there's anything I left out or you have questions on feel free to let me know. AND if there's anything else you want to read from me DEFINITELY tell me, I love to hear from you!

This pesky project of mine..

I was super duper ambitious when I started crocheting. I had absolutely no concept of how long things take me.
Which, by the way, it's been just about a year since I learned. Nifty tidbit.
I started with a baby blanket..and then naively jumped into a HUGE blanket for my sissy. I think it's 300 chains across. And I honestly hadn't touched it for..oh I don't know..five months. For shame, self. For shame.
Last night I finally started working on it again..I had hoped it would be a housewarming gift for Leah and her girlfriend. Alas, they moved in to their new apartment last week and the blanket won't be with them for quite awhile. =(. Anyway, it does feel good to work on a project that's been kind of looming over my head for quite some time now. I showed pictures of it back in January..but for all of you who didn't see it...

Thankfully, it has grown since I took these pictures but you can basically see.. yeah. The pattern is SO EASY. Just chains and extended double crochets. I will have a poop ton of ends to sew in when I'm done though. Wouldn't this pattern make a fun scarf?

Fashionably late...Want It Wednesday!

I wasn't incredibly inspired today for my Want It Wednesday post..until I remembered that I re-obsessed with nail polish.   This post is dedicated to making our paws pretty. =)

1. I'm late to this..OPI Alice in Wonderland collection. WHAT??? OMGosh.  I know, it's awesome. I want: Absolutely Alice (go here to buy), Thanks so Muchness (go here), and Mad as a Hatter (go here)

Absolutely Alice

Thanks So Muchness

Mad as a Hatter

 

2. Hello Kitty Nail polish... um yeah. I'm a huge dork. I wouldn't say I've ever been obsessed with Hello Kitty..but I was browsing Sephora the other day and came across the Hello Kitty nail polishes and I want a bunch of them now. =). And the bottle is super adorable. I'm so excited too because I ordered Pink Sprinkles and I can't wait to try it!

<---see? Get it here. But I also want Blueberry, Banana Cream, Minty, and Purple Sprinkles. Seriously though..look at the bottle. Squeeeeeee.

3. Have you guys tried Essie nail polishes? I have to say that I'm a fan. I have three of them and all cover really well after only one coat with only minor tip wear after a couple of days. I'm not going to get into every.single.color that I want because this post would be a million miles long.. but from their latest summer collection I want braziliant, smooth sailing, and too too hot.

braziliant

smooth sailing

too too hot

That's all for now guys. I hope you got some good ideas! Also- don't think there's anything wrong with cheaper polish..I happen to have dollar store glitter on my nails at the moment and it works just fine!