I'm in a treasury!
Have I told you that some of my cards are in a couple stores around here? My tapeworm and DNA cards are at a fantastic science education store called Wild Territory and two of my Star Wars cards are in a comic book shop called Kwality Comics at about 11th and Mass.
Sunday
Wednesday
Jan. 26
School has finally started again. I forgot how much work German was going to be, it's a good thing I have my own personal tutor living under the same roof as me! I think we are going to do the dorky thing where we put German labels on everything in the apartment. My sewing class seems like it will really start slow (it's an introductory prerequisite class) but after this first project, (a skirt) we are moving on to a button up blouse and then pants. I have never really done cuffs or that many button holes, and I've never done pants at all. I'll definitely be learning some things anyways. I'm also in a pattern making class which I hear is actually pretty difficult. Hopefully it isn't too bad though.
A day or so ago I took some pictures of a couple skirts I made. One has been up in my shop for quite a while, but I thought new pictures could do it good. The other is brand new. The pictures for it didn't turn out quite as well as I would have liked, so I might take some more on Friday.
A day or so ago I took some pictures of a couple skirts I made. One has been up in my shop for quite a while, but I thought new pictures could do it good. The other is brand new. The pictures for it didn't turn out quite as well as I would have liked, so I might take some more on Friday.
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| Find it here |
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| Find it here. |
Saturday
Jan. 22
This third project was made from the Simplicity 2282 pattern. There are lots of options here and I chose the cap sleeves and added the peplum. I figured it would have the perfect vintage feel for a particular fabric I've had for probably years now. The print is so big that I hadn't found anything to use it for this whole time.
I did make one big change to the pattern, which was to alter the neckline to a sweetheart, which is infinitely better than the super high one they used. Even with that it's still almost too high for my liking, next time I'll open it up quite a bit more I think. It's not very easy to see, but the front of the dress is attached to the lower skirt and it wraps all around to the back, with a side front and a back piece up a bit higher. This was a pretty difficult part to sew, and I think using the peplum attachment made it harder. Next time I make it I'll try to separate the bottom of the skirt from the front and make it more tier sided, not unlike THIS dress.
Today I'm working on a couple skirts to sell and maybe I'll cut something else out for myself. We'll see.
Friday
Jan. 21
Alright, I also very recently put together a pencil skirt out of a purple twill that I just adore. I used it to make a dress that I never wore (though I probably still have it in pieces somewhere) and I'm glad there was enough left for this skirt.
It's from the Vogue 8603 pattern and I just did the basic skirt without any gathers or frills. I was initially drawn to it because of the cool side gathers, but to be honest I don't think I'm going to do them any time soon. It would require my shirt to be tucked in and I find with this skirt that's not so much of a good look. Maybe if it sat a bit higher on my waist?
Ultimately, it was a good pattern! It was easy to put together, aside from little mistakes I made that the pattern can't be blamed for. I also wish it would lay a bit flatter on the front, but there may be something I can do about that. There are a few more slim skirt patterns that I think I'll try before I use it again... but definitely not a bad pattern. I do think I'll continue with a slimmer silhouette like this; up until now my skirts have always been fuller and loose.
Tonight, pizza. Tomorrow, the dress!
It's from the Vogue 8603 pattern and I just did the basic skirt without any gathers or frills. I was initially drawn to it because of the cool side gathers, but to be honest I don't think I'm going to do them any time soon. It would require my shirt to be tucked in and I find with this skirt that's not so much of a good look. Maybe if it sat a bit higher on my waist?
Ultimately, it was a good pattern! It was easy to put together, aside from little mistakes I made that the pattern can't be blamed for. I also wish it would lay a bit flatter on the front, but there may be something I can do about that. There are a few more slim skirt patterns that I think I'll try before I use it again... but definitely not a bad pattern. I do think I'll continue with a slimmer silhouette like this; up until now my skirts have always been fuller and loose.
Tonight, pizza. Tomorrow, the dress!
Thursday
Jan. 20
Today was supposed to be my first day of school but it's a snow day! We got quite a bit yesterday and I believe we are supposed to get more today... which means I have all the way until Tuesday before I need to worry about school at all. Good good.
I seem to do my projects in phases.... In December I was crazy about needlework, then it was stamping and cards, and now all I want to do is sew. I want to start wearing more handmade items (with the goal of having enough to take part in Self-Stitched September this year) so I made a top, a skirt, and a dress. I make too many dresses. This must be fixed with more tops and a pair of pants as soon as I can wash the fabric for them.
Anyways, I'm going to divide them up into separate posts, so here is the top first.
I made it from Simplicity 4111, a Built by Wendy pattern. There was only one part of the instructions that didn't make sense, which was putting in the front placket. It seemed to have something backwards, so I just did it on my own. Next time I might omit the facing in the neckline... I can't decide if I don't like it being so much stiffer than the rest of the shirt or if I like the stiffness to keep the neckline from gaping, since it's pretty low.
I really wanted to make it because I've never made a top that I wanted to wear, and also I need more plaid. I just love plaid, what can I say? I was worried that I would need to match it up but it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference. I'm not even sure how one would match it up to be honest. We'll save that for another day.
I made a review at Sewing Pattern Review and I also uploaded it to Burda Style.
I seem to do my projects in phases.... In December I was crazy about needlework, then it was stamping and cards, and now all I want to do is sew. I want to start wearing more handmade items (with the goal of having enough to take part in Self-Stitched September this year) so I made a top, a skirt, and a dress. I make too many dresses. This must be fixed with more tops and a pair of pants as soon as I can wash the fabric for them.
Anyways, I'm going to divide them up into separate posts, so here is the top first.
I made it from Simplicity 4111, a Built by Wendy pattern. There was only one part of the instructions that didn't make sense, which was putting in the front placket. It seemed to have something backwards, so I just did it on my own. Next time I might omit the facing in the neckline... I can't decide if I don't like it being so much stiffer than the rest of the shirt or if I like the stiffness to keep the neckline from gaping, since it's pretty low.
I really wanted to make it because I've never made a top that I wanted to wear, and also I need more plaid. I just love plaid, what can I say? I was worried that I would need to match it up but it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference. I'm not even sure how one would match it up to be honest. We'll save that for another day.
Monday
Jan. 17
Sorry for the lack of posting this week, it has been a bit stressful for me but a huge load was pulled off of my chest on Friday so I feel a lot better now. Since then I've taken a class at the Lawrence Arts Center to learn how to screen print! I really liked it and I think I might take another class in the near future. I also got some Valentines day cards out of it that are now up in my shop. They are wonderful and geeky so take a look!
The new cards I've put up have printed phrases on the inside and I'm sure glad I know how to do that now. It took me a while to figure it all out but it will be so much easier from now on. I'm very thankful to have a mother who has been doing this sort of thing for years and has so many supplies I can use.
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| Two lovely narwhals! |
Sunday
Jan. 9
Okay, so I lied. I do want to make a resolution this year. I have been collecting books when I find them cheap that I really should read, and I have pure intentions to read them soon but that just doesn't ever seem to work. I reach for a book I know I like instead of reading a new one. So as of right now, I am only going to read books I haven't read before. Or at least make it a ratio of 5:1.
Some books on my list in no particular order:
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Plainsong - Kent Haruf
Collections of Roald Dahl short stories
We Were the Mulvaneys - Joyce Carol Oates
Shadows of our Forgotten Ancestors - Carl Sagan
I Am Charlotte Simmons - Tom Wolfe
Lucky - Alice Sebold
Mrs. Dalloway - Virginia Woolf
To the Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf
Winsburg, Ohio - Sherwood Anderson
And those are even just books that I have on my shelves! Here are some I need to get from the library.
Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
Eating Animals - Johnathan Safron Foer
Cosmos - Carl Sagan
Pale Blue Dot - Carl Sagan
I also want to read a few books from the Extended Universe of Star Wars and more environmentalist/scientific non-fictions.
I should finally get around to reading the Dune series as well.
Surely this can last me a year right?
Friday
Jan. 7
I seem to be expanding on this stamping thing.... I decided to put some stamps up on my shop and they are all dinosaur related! I've been on the computer all day with these guys, so I think I'm just going to make a quick post for now with a few of my favorites.
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| Find it here |
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| Find it here |
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| Find it here |
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| Find it here |
Monday
Jan. 3
I have so many updates!
I have been recently reunited with the craft of rubber stamp carving and I am loving it. I have been a bit of a stamping fool since sales for my embroidery items have died down after the holiday. I'm so excited!
Warning: This is a slightly image heavy post.
First off, I did one of a tiny beaked toad for the Mad Scientists of Etsy December challenge and am pretty darn pleased with him. It looks like he is having a slightly disinterested conversation, so I gave him a speech bubble.
I'm also quite pleased with a couple more geeky ones: Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars and Tom Servo from Mystery Science Theater 3000.
A couple more geeky cards are of DNA strands and the Moon!
And the last two are cute little kitties based off of cats I know. I would really like to make more stamps based off of actual cats in my life. These are Tristan and Felicity, two kitties of a friend.
It's been a long day taking pictures and doing stuff on the computer, so I think I'm going to call it for now and eat some of my turkey noodle soup. Some Star Wars could definitely be in order as well. I want to do a lot more Star Wars and MST3K stamps... possibly Star Trek as well. I've also gotten some more ideas for science related stamps. I love being geeky!
If you have an idea of something YOU would like to see in stamp form, let me know!
I have been recently reunited with the craft of rubber stamp carving and I am loving it. I have been a bit of a stamping fool since sales for my embroidery items have died down after the holiday. I'm so excited!
Warning: This is a slightly image heavy post.
First off, I did one of a tiny beaked toad for the Mad Scientists of Etsy December challenge and am pretty darn pleased with him. It looks like he is having a slightly disinterested conversation, so I gave him a speech bubble.
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| Can be found here! |
I'm also quite pleased with a couple more geeky ones: Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars and Tom Servo from Mystery Science Theater 3000.
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| Find it here! |
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| Find it here! |
A couple more geeky cards are of DNA strands and the Moon!
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| Find it here! |
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| Find it here! |
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| Found here! |
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| Find it here! |
If you have an idea of something YOU would like to see in stamp form, let me know!
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