Sewing

I have been uninteresting for a bit. I am not sure how that happens. I think part of it involves present making, and part of it involves laziness, bejeweled blitz on Facebook, and my Kindle being seriously easy to get books onto an thus I sit on my couch a lot and don't sew. BUT! I did recently make a supercute skirt! I made the shirt too but I am not as in love...



The skirt is Simplicity 2512, a Cynthia Rowley pattern. I get weird about stuff sometimes though and I skipped the pockets: I didn't want them, the tie, It seemed too complicated and not worth it, and the binding, cause I didn't understand what it added. Maybe more of a professional look, I guess. I think what I turned out with is a really cute party skirt/work skirt. I loves swishing around all day in taffeta. It was very satisfying.



That being said, I need to learn a new hairstyle for this length haha. I only have about 4 right now and I always end up with this because it takes me like 3 seconds to do. But I do love it.



Today I am excited because I am going on a legitimate shopping trip and spending money on myself for clothes! I love those trips, they are always fun. Also, I am going to try and get back to JoAnns, just for a couple of yards of fabric. Because I am addicted, in case you were wondering.

P.S. I will never tire of these terrible bathroom shots, I can't figure out where in my apartment to take decent pictures and I don't ever like pics that other people take(although its much appreciated) I always feel akward and weird. It is better when I have a couple minutes to myself in the bathroom at work. I know, I am a weirdo.

New Shirt!

I especially love this one! I saw the pattern a million times in the book and it didn't wow me. But, they made it as a sample display for the mannequin and I was sold. I immediately bought the pattern and then didn't do anything for it for awhile. Then, this lovely houndstooth fabric was on sale for $6 a yard and I bought a few yards and set to work. It wasn't the easiest thing I have made, and I didn't make the pockets and I chopped it off as a tunic and not a dress cause I wear pants. It may have been easier if my motivation was there, but it was being made at a time when I was forcing myself to sew. Which can be good and bad. This case it came out awesome. I had to take it step by step and not question things which can be hard for me but in the end, it turned out awesome.



It is New Look Pattern 0431. It has a very old school vibe and gets you lots of compliments.



In this fabric, it also feels like pajamas and is so cozy warm all day but tricks people into thinking that you are dressy. I like that about an article of clothing! And yes, these are more classy bathroom shots!

Flea Market

Ryan and I got up E-A-R-L-Y(for us) on Sunday morning and headed across the Bay Bridge to the Alameda Flea Market. It is something I LOVE to do, but we haven't been doing it too much lately. It is the first Sunday of the month, and we usually for some reason have something going on then. But, yesterday, we hopped out of bed, and rushed over there because we had a mission! We were looking for a new kitchen table and chairs. We have been wanting a formica table with chrome for a long, long time. And when you are lucky you can find them cheap. But when you are at the flea market you can find them not super cheap, but at a better deal than at an antique shop. So we saved a bunch of pennies and set out on our hunt.



The top of the table pattern I guess is called crushed ice. That is what they told us. I just think its lovely.



The chairs are REALLY my favorite. They came from a closed diner. They are a charcoal grey sparkle and they are SO COMFY to sit in!



We were so happy to complete our mission, but some other things caught our eyes! For me, it was this tiny matryoshka doll. It wasn't a full one which is why I got such a great deal, but I prefer tiny things and things that aren't perfect so it was perfect for me!



There were only two dolls in this, but I love her!



And EVERYTHING caught Ryan's eye. He shops like a girl. haha



We had so much fun! And I am glad I have an extra day to recover! Today I am going to sew up a storm!

Mic-key Mouse!

So, like I told you, my nephew thinks Mickey Mouse is a rockstar. So I sewed up a Mickey jumper for him and made him some mickey ears. They came out SO CUTE! I was afraid it wouldn't fit, but my sister sent me a pic of him today! She told me he is smiling because she was calling him Mickey Mouse! He even just likes hearing Mickey's name! I can't wait to see him again and give him a big kiss!!



It is his birthday tomorrow, I can't believe he is ONE!! Times are changing. I can remember my sister being a little baby in her little teddy bear dress. Now she has a cutie pie of her own! I am glad that my family is growing. I am glad they appreciate what I make too!

Hair!

So I chopped my hair! It feels so great to have short hair again! I love the new girl I went to, she was super cute and awesome. The haircut is good, but I think a work in progress. I think we were both a little nervous going from so long to so short. Here was the before. It looks extra bad because I had it up so it was all teased.



Here is the after! I love it. So cute and there is even a peekaboo blonde/carmel color to peek out. Things I would change: Next time, I am going to have her cut the bulk out of the side. It is kind of heavy and I don't think the angle is dramatic enough, I am also going to make the peekaboo part more bold. I think we were afraid to go too bold and it doesn't really get its point across I think. Also, she cut my hair partly with a razor. This makes my hair SUPER frizz for whatever reason. I am going to ask her to use only scissors on my cut so I don't end up looking like a poodle which incidentally I do right now because of the lovely summer fog we get her in San Francisco.



I especially love that I can pull it up like this!



Now I am off to finish my baby present so I can mail it off this week! My baby nephew is turning one in just a few days! I can't believe it!!

Saturday!

It is one of my favorite days again! Saturday Sew day!! While I have one project I am already working on and one in queue, I am getting excited about these patterns that I just bought. I blame JoAnn Fabrics for having ridiculously cheap patterns that I can't resist so that I have more patterns than fabric! Here are a few I bought last week. I need to pick out some yardage soon.



Firstly, I seriously want this shirt. And while I am doubting my ability to make the collar, I am just going to go for it and I think it will work out for me! ha!



I also bought two Cynthia Rowley skirt patterns. I love the overall look of the tulip skirt and top. I am going to try for the whole look of this pattern I think. Although I am not sure what fabric to make the top in. I feel like it should be sporty but the pattern doesn't have a difference from the top fabric to the skirt fabric. I might do a sweatshirt knit and a taffeta. I think that would be an interesting juxtaposition. Or just a nice heavy knit and taffeta. I am not sure yet. I just think it is so cute!!



And finally I LOVE this skirt. I just got my hair cut(pictures soon when the weather does not make me look like carrot top with an afro) Although when I have frizzy hair I am thankful of my years of practicing in my mom's mirror with bobby pins cause I just take 2 minutes and pin it up into a super cute beehive or prom do! I love having short hair again!! Anyways, back to the pattern. I love this skirt pattern. It is super cute, high waisted and a good length. I think I am going to get a couple of cute scoop neck tees from American Apparel and pair them with this look. I am going to try for a heavier fabric here and I can't wait to see how it turns out! I am off to the fabric store today! I also have to get snaps for my mickey look and then hopefully I will have pics of that later this week! It is turning out SO CUTE! Then I have to work on nephew #2's present!!

Mickey part 2

Here is another part of my nephew's gift! A quick little Mickey hat! Now in his little jumper and little hat he is going to be just like the mouse himself! So fun! I used this pattern from Ravelry. It was SO quick! I used wool and it is a little linty. I hope my sister likes it!