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.

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!

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.

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!

Two lovely narwhals!

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.

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?

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.

Find it here

Find it here

Find it here

Find it here

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.

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.

Find it here!

Find it here!

A couple more geeky cards are of DNA strands and the Moon!

Find it here!

Find it here!

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.

Found here!

Find it here!

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!