tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71837633226894117902024-03-13T03:12:56.487-07:00Scrapyard ButterflyIt's not a fabric stash, it's a creativity generator!Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-19575119089840783002013-06-18T17:49:00.001-07:002013-06-18T17:49:29.638-07:00Growing and ChangingHey folks!<br />
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If you've stuck with me this far, thank you. I appreciate it. When I started this blog a couple years back, I was in a vastly different place in my life than I am now. It's been a hell of a ride, and I'm grateful to all who've supported me through it.<br />
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That being said, this identity no longer fits me. I've grown, I've changed, I've gotten better. I've got a new world view, new goals, and a new mindset now. So, I've decided to stop blogging here and move operations to a new blog at <a href="http://mrssdesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mrs. S Designs</a>. If you've been following me here, I hope you'll follow me over to my new digs. <br />
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Peace,<br />
ChelseaMrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-64560301728128158792013-04-19T07:11:00.002-07:002013-04-19T07:11:37.534-07:00A bit of shameless self-promotionMoney's been a bit tight since our elderly golden retriever, Sage, got sick, so I've been tinkering with a few things up in my sewing lair, and I've decided to try my hand at making a few accessories for sale. I'm planning to start small with a few local craft fairs and etsy, and see what happens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best dog ever, with the best kid ever. Not that I'm biased or anything...</td></tr>
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First up, I made this phone cozy using my Android as a pattern:<br />
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It has two pockets, one for your smartphone, one with a velcro closure for reciepts, change, credit cards, etc. The outside closes with a button from my awesome vintage button collection. I have so many neat single buttons that don't deserve to linger at the bottom of a tin.<br />
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For my second item, I decided to buy a pattern from an indie artist. Check out <a href="http://www.rebekalambert.com/artsycrafty_babe/my-patterns.html" target="_blank">Artsy Crafty Babe's</a> awesome pattern selection. I used her "Phoebe" bag pattern on these, and I'll be using her "Ruby" pattern as well. I have a stash of cool vintage fabrics, and some funky t-shirts I picked up just because I liked the design. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bags based on an original design by Rebeka Lambert, www.rebekalambert.com</td></tr>
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The one on the left is a cool t-shirt I thrifted. The chevron one turned out so cute I may have to keep it. I'm also working on a messenger bag design of my own. Pattern drafting is challenging, but rewarding. It's great to see an image in your head become a tangible item.<br />
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It's my hope to get a few of these things up on etsy soon. Feedback is welcome. Tell me what you like, don't like, etc. What features would you like to see in a bag?<br />
<br />Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-7298669125294326822013-04-03T11:18:00.000-07:002013-04-03T11:18:38.014-07:00Finished March muslin and April's stashbusting projectHere's my wearable muslin. Apologies for the crappy cell phone picture:<br />
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I'm pretty happy with it. This is the first time I have ever attempted major pattern alterations. I lost the back facing, looked for it, gave up, and finished the neck and armholes with bias tape. My zipper insertion seriously needs work.<br />
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April's challenge theme is color. The plan right now is to use this crazy knit paisley with this 1972 pattern from my recent antique mall score. My serger is broken at the moment, but my modern singer has a triple stretch stitch that works well for medium to heavy weight knits. If the test stitches look like crap, I'll shelve the project until I get my serger back and do something else.<br />
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<br />Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-2488072504024242152013-04-03T07:11:00.001-07:002013-04-03T07:13:41.190-07:00Bloglovin<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/6725787/?claim=9eaxg7nrdve">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a><br />
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I'm not sure what that did, but I'm using bloglovin to keep up with all my favorite blogs, since google reader is going away. The switch was pretty painless. Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-22831770647008427952013-04-02T11:51:00.000-07:002013-04-02T11:51:05.025-07:00March Muslin Madness and Epic finds!So March's stashbusting challenge was something for the changing season, which was kind of a joke because in my corner of the world, winter just WOULD NOT GO AWAY!! aaAARGH. I've been dreaming of lovely spring days while looking out a window at snow. But nothing lasts forever, even if it seems that way.<br />
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For my birthday I received the lovely book <a href="http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/" target="_blank">"Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing"</a> from my mom. Thanks, Mom! Her portrait blouse looked like a good beginner project, so I've been working on one. I want a nice, go-to blouse to replace my ratty t-shirts with. I'm hoping this will be a good wardrobe foundation piece, so I'm trying my damndest to get the fit as good as possible. That means multiple muslins! Muslin madness!!<br />
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I'm not sure what this yellow fabric is, some sort of polyester? The important thing is that it was FREE!! There's almost an entire bolt, and it's 60" wide. Perfect for muslins, because I really don't give a crap if I mess it up!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If life gives you lemon polyester, take it. Free shit is cool.</td></tr>
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I did one muslin with the pattern as written. There was not enough room for my boobage, so I did my first full bust adjustment using the method described in the book. This one was better, but I still wasn't happy with it. Since I'm an apple shape with big boobs, I wasn't feeling the waist darts. That, and I wasn't sure I had re-drawn the front ones properly after the FBA. <br />
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So for my latest muslin, which I'm hoping will be a wearable one, I omitted the waist darts entirely. The fabric is a double knit polyester from an estate sale with a slight stretch. I have a soft spot for 70's double knit polyester. Something about the texture and color just speaks to me, even if they don't breathe/are itchy/most everyone else doesn't like them. My first vintage dresses were A-line double knit numbers with huge collars.<br />
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The reason I'm a bit behind in posting March's project is that I went out of town with my son for spring break. He had a great time with his Memaw, and I had a great time rummaging around in some antique malls. I found a truly epic cache of vintage sewing patterns! Even better, most of them were 40" bust or larger!<br />
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I'm planning to use one of these for my April project. It will be my first time working with a vintage pattern.<br />
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Happy sewing!Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-61529419645384361632013-03-08T10:24:00.001-08:002013-03-08T10:24:57.458-08:00Estate Sale awesomeness Yesterday, I hit another estate sale. I'm rapidly becoming an estate sale junkie. The spoils:<br />
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Two tins full of old buttons and buckles.<br />
Some were still on their original cards. Check out these vintage graphics!<br />
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One tin of snaps, and hook-eye sets. <br />
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Not pictured-a special press cloth designed to protect velvets during ironing, still in its original package.<br />
<br />I'm already looking forward to the next sale. Happy hunting!Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-59246865916812043932013-03-06T09:45:00.001-08:002013-03-06T09:45:34.858-08:00February's Stashbusting Project: McCall's 6364Hey all! I've been stashbusting along, and have a new blouse(and a blouse fail).<br />
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Have you ever bought a piece of fabric, put it in your stash, forgotten about it, pulled it out months later and wondered, WTF was I thinking when I bought this??? Well, I tried to make a blouse out of several yards of shiny navy blue polyester that I must have been drunk when I bought. Or high. Or sleep deprived/off my meds/something...<br />
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Well, slippery fabric is not my friend. That, and I totally FUBAR'ed the button placket. Total wadder.<br />
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I refused to be discouraged, and decided to take a few steps back, sewing-difficulty wise. Enter McCall's 6364<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not as bad as the cover art makes it look.</td></tr>
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I've been on the fence about this pattern since I bought it at one of those 10 for $10 sales. The envelope art does it no favors, but I thought it might be a good warm weather top made up in a lighter fabric. It works.<br />
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Unbelted, I swim in it. But belted and worn over a pair of leggings or skinny jeans, I like it. I'm not sure what kind of fabric it is. I found it at the Punk Rock Flea Market for a couple bucks. There was just enough to make this top. Some kind of cotton blend, maybe?<br />
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I also made a little bag out of some oddball scraps. I call it the Hipster Bag.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-CukZebbs67a6RhBZuv5zNJvBf6pFDF_w23hAr1HzGN_HaC57K98EhsbblZu8HeGGjFjic84kVxUyMVp5oBcugUgtgb19qNQqqrc_N5om3f38rQmz3B7hAOnGwsgHBCWFY0ay-H1iGuW/s1600/2013-03-06+11.08.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-CukZebbs67a6RhBZuv5zNJvBf6pFDF_w23hAr1HzGN_HaC57K98EhsbblZu8HeGGjFjic84kVxUyMVp5oBcugUgtgb19qNQqqrc_N5om3f38rQmz3B7hAOnGwsgHBCWFY0ay-H1iGuW/s320/2013-03-06+11.08.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PUT A BIRD ON IT!!!</td></tr>
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I used a pattern from "The Book of Bags". Sizewise, it reminds me of the cute little bags I used to wear everywhere before I became a mom and needed to haul tons of my kid's shit with me. The owl is a lucky estate sale find. The branch is a no-sew applique I made with some iron-on stabilizer stuff. If I had a chance to do this over, I'd lower the design and do that part first before constructing the bag. Oh well.<br />
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I'm looking forward to March's Stashbusting Challenge. I have some awesome stuff planned this spring and summer, and I want a kickass wardrobe to go with it. Can't decide if I want to start with a top, shorts, or a bag. Either way, I'll be glad to log some time at my machiine. Happy Stashbusting!Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-83724809264818823762013-02-22T08:12:00.000-08:002013-02-22T08:12:08.626-08:00This 'n thatHappy friday to all out in the intarwebz!<br />
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On the sewing front, I'm still stashbustin' along. I spent most of last weekend working on a blouse only to royally FUBAR the button placket. I'm annoyed, but I wasn't in love with the fabric and even fail projects give me practice sewing. I also tackled my mending pile, which made my husband quite happy. I think he despaired of ever seeing those shirts again.<br />
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I heard one of my brothers is setting off for Seattle this summer, so the smartass in me wants to sew him a couple flannel shirts.<br />
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In crafty news, I dug a craftFAIL out of the basement, and I'm working on making it over. Back in our old neighborhood, the closest thing I had to friends were the family who ran the little six pack shop down the street. Is that sad or what? Anyway, they would give me random swag. I've got tons of pint glasses, a couple t-shirts, and a soft sided cooler. The cooler is very handy, only it's covered in the Budweiser logo. I don't want to knock anyone who likes Bud, but I'm not big on logos in general. I'm also kind of a beer snob. So I attempted to decoupage a bunch of craft beer labels on to the outside of the cooler. Sadly, it didn't work. I forgot to take into account the fact that they'd need to bend with the cooler.<br />
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I still would like to dress up the cooler, so I'm going to try strips of fabric this time, glued down with a fabric glue that claims to be flexible when dry. Hopefully it will work this time.Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-75418243741180947842013-02-11T10:51:00.002-08:002013-02-11T10:51:20.639-08:00A little sewing humor"Mommy, why is the bunny angry?"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7VrvyZ_Naaaw2znP8iuY1Lji-QwdGv1UHCuvy7vvk-7Jm3UJdamBVuxRf5cGQLvaR9fFtYlLT1Cn0RxwWehBjD9a10p7aFd2zKxbbdI-Op0S-Z_5FOhrpQLzNRVMJat48m0z5dOGybsy/s1600/2013-02-11+13.03.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7VrvyZ_Naaaw2znP8iuY1Lji-QwdGv1UHCuvy7vvk-7Jm3UJdamBVuxRf5cGQLvaR9fFtYlLT1Cn0RxwWehBjD9a10p7aFd2zKxbbdI-Op0S-Z_5FOhrpQLzNRVMJat48m0z5dOGybsy/s640/2013-02-11+13.03.01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I guess she does look a little annoyed. Maybe she doesn't care for fiberfill?Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-51395976722772815652013-01-26T19:05:00.000-08:002013-01-26T19:05:07.709-08:00January stash busting project.Here it is!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAjX20wQ0avbghf559Rhk6So3JmPlgSZiay7e6r6zFdS4dmP0Vw2ahUAEPTHLE5lrqmzgMbNwhD4NyTzzkGg5LfFsSM5MybMt_qp8GFVjnB6HOaUask7k3zCeJmWmzJftklQwuqWkd6DU/s1600/2013-01-26+21.56.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAjX20wQ0avbghf559Rhk6So3JmPlgSZiay7e6r6zFdS4dmP0Vw2ahUAEPTHLE5lrqmzgMbNwhD4NyTzzkGg5LfFsSM5MybMt_qp8GFVjnB6HOaUask7k3zCeJmWmzJftklQwuqWkd6DU/s320/2013-01-26+21.56.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I finished the blanket just in time. High loft batting is a major pain in the ass to machine quilt, but it was free, so I'll stop complaining. Plus, it's out of my stash now! Woohoo!<br />
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The binding is actually blanket binding, since that's what was in my stash. Hopefully it will hold up. I suppose I could have made up some binding strips, but I barely got this project done on time to begin with. The kid was ambivalent, but then again, he has a huge lego set occupying his attention at the moment. Not sure what I'll tackle next. I have a craftster swap project on my table to complete, then I'm back to stashbusting for the forseeable future.Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-4623725566554758052013-01-16T08:35:00.001-08:002013-01-16T08:35:10.241-08:00My stash spotOkay...here's my stash:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViHWX05D-Blbqy_aPHFnW2VmclI02jYcpUn1tRdDW8tGWhUMNnuyMrWGjXPbKIg7Ft7f6CLfbtYUfwx9vLDjsLorCdNzqT8yoiYE-Ls2bC-I9xe4oyO1aevp1mloLMbXQliauH5sYKfAe/s1600/2013-01-16+10.29.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViHWX05D-Blbqy_aPHFnW2VmclI02jYcpUn1tRdDW8tGWhUMNnuyMrWGjXPbKIg7Ft7f6CLfbtYUfwx9vLDjsLorCdNzqT8yoiYE-Ls2bC-I9xe4oyO1aevp1mloLMbXQliauH5sYKfAe/s320/2013-01-16+10.29.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damn you, Jomar! Why must you have such great sales?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhn2ZlRPC3sK2V2LUl2qw0Jo91vvco25PwKeqP_RwRhy4NYJ1wu5p1GD0E9a2Sy10HkyhxX378QSnQ8l4_czFgjiREx8KE2AZG_PqjEIv6OZs-X6rnfyC_RybGA0pTcm1nv1eu2uY56Ak/s1600/2013-01-16+10.27.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhn2ZlRPC3sK2V2LUl2qw0Jo91vvco25PwKeqP_RwRhy4NYJ1wu5p1GD0E9a2Sy10HkyhxX378QSnQ8l4_czFgjiREx8KE2AZG_PqjEIv6OZs-X6rnfyC_RybGA0pTcm1nv1eu2uY56Ak/s320/2013-01-16+10.27.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMuDhiVfGooNd53wtC-lcFJdbEn_hPxG8hE1ICDFh74eyMY3JKhfel67QvUdaUvaG4aAWFmdZz7aCV4o593qu0PrWbj5OxqjvBlJzQvPRrYMVIGOjrGB8mAUMUHrSgY9AKAogD2DnhOK_/s1600/2013-01-16+10.29.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMuDhiVfGooNd53wtC-lcFJdbEn_hPxG8hE1ICDFh74eyMY3JKhfel67QvUdaUvaG4aAWFmdZz7aCV4o593qu0PrWbj5OxqjvBlJzQvPRrYMVIGOjrGB8mAUMUHrSgY9AKAogD2DnhOK_/s320/2013-01-16+10.29.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's some scraps under the ginormous cat.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmghcD2ilI1vqqANmwcO0l8NLNV4grrbcegIkuDtkXoQCzLgD0wPhZAUm89X1wzyQqpp1CGjJmRjl_kVIUOOzgTlffWPzv6EBu1S9yjR8iAJhN0RoEknOg5XMkIXTWExcLtWRAW3nc6sJQ/s1600/2013-01-16+10.28.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmghcD2ilI1vqqANmwcO0l8NLNV4grrbcegIkuDtkXoQCzLgD0wPhZAUm89X1wzyQqpp1CGjJmRjl_kVIUOOzgTlffWPzv6EBu1S9yjR8iAJhN0RoEknOg5XMkIXTWExcLtWRAW3nc6sJQ/s320/2013-01-16+10.28.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A few things are becoming clear to me. One, I need to stay the hell away from Jomar until this is manageable. Two, I need plastic bins with lids unless I want everything pretreated with fur.<br />
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I'm making good progress on the kiddo's quilt. It's made from scraps of his outgrown clothes and some fabrics he liked from the stash. I'm aiming to make this a zero-spend project (all stash, nothing else bought).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXfS8JGGd4Z0zQo1hmHAFC6MbHlery8vOsvitzYVUnIj2RPwmIYOSbdtg7rHeVQHhc7zhMAfmxf2phHaU8Gyuk9epBCX_2smtOaHA_3HhhiCttLuaeM0O8oBpKa8XpZlAyzyex7WU6ZNW/s1600/2013-01-16+10.30.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXfS8JGGd4Z0zQo1hmHAFC6MbHlery8vOsvitzYVUnIj2RPwmIYOSbdtg7rHeVQHhc7zhMAfmxf2phHaU8Gyuk9epBCX_2smtOaHA_3HhhiCttLuaeM0O8oBpKa8XpZlAyzyex7WU6ZNW/s320/2013-01-16+10.30.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Only issue, my batting is all pieces I've freecycled or got from estate sales. I have some solvy left over from a previous project that I'm going to try to bond it all together with when I do the quilt sandwich step. <br />
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So far, so good!Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-71634071392706725122013-01-15T08:31:00.000-08:002013-01-15T08:31:47.557-08:00Stashbusting sew along!The other day I was in my sewing room pondering the mess it had become. In just over a year of getting back to sewing, I have amassed a stash that is threatening to take over my workspace. So when I read about the <a href="http://tumbleweedsinthewind.blogspot.com/p/stashbusting-challenge.html" target="_blank">Stashbusting Sew Along</a>, I knew I had to sign up. <br />
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My stash is ridiculous. I've been to one too many Jomar fabric freakout sales, and I live a short bus ride away from Gaffney (awesome) fabrics. I've got stuff still in it's bags! Pics will be forthcoming once I locate the camera, provided my son hasn't chucked it in the pet water dish (again). <br />
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I'm hoping to kill two birds with one stone here, because I had another dumbass "closet full of clothes and nothing to wear" moment last night when preparing to go out. I'm tired of reaching for a t-shirt because I have no nice blouses. There are so many gaping holes in my wardrobe it isn't funny. If I can fill my clothes gaps and stash bust at the same time, that would be excellent.<br />
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I'm shooting for one project a month. I think I can pull that off. I'd rather set the bar low and surprise myself, then set a sky-high goal and kick myself for not meeting it.<br />
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First up: a mini t-shirt quilt for my son. I'm about halfway through the piecing. His birthday is the 26th of this month, so that's my deadline. I'd better get sewing!Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-32716338458021368632013-01-02T16:50:00.002-08:002013-01-02T16:50:22.460-08:00Beauty products detox updateSo I've been reading the labels on my grooming products and doing some research into what's in the stuff I slather on my hair and skin. I've decided that for my peace of mind to make a personal "big 3" list of things to avoid: Phthalates, Parabens, and Sulfates.<br />
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Why did I choose these three? Out of all the reading I've done, these things stand out as being the most questionable to me. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraben" target="_blank">Parabens have been found in breast cancer tissue, and may mimic estrogens in the body.</a> <a href="http://www.ewg.org/chemindex/term/480" target="_blank">Phthalates have been found to mess with the endocrine system.</a> <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/180638-sodium-lauryl-sulfate-health/" target="_blank">Sulfates in shampoos and personal care products can irritate the skin and eyes. Plus it gets absorbed into the skin easily. </a><br />
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I've been phasing out my old products and trying out new ones. It's been a bit of a mixed bag. I did find a few decent shampoo and conditioner options that were easy to find and not terribly expensive, although they all cost more than the "whatever's 2 for 5 or 2 for 7" I had been using.<br />
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So far I've tried:<br />
<a href="http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=456016&catid=183491&aid=338666&aparam=goobase_filler" target="_blank">Walgreens Ology Shampoo and Conditioner</a>: Pros: Nice smell, occasionally went on sale. Cons: I can't seem to get my local Walgreens to stock enough. Either they have all shampoo, or all conditioner, but never both. Really irritating!! Although to be fair, I think my local walgreens is one of the crappier ones. When I found it, I paid 6.99 each<br />
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<a href="http://www.aveeno.com/hair-care/pure-renewal-sampoo" target="_blank">Aveeno Pure Renewal</a>: Pros: Nice fragrance, Made my hair look nice and shiny. Very easy to find-I have had no trouble tracking it down. Cons: When not on sale or I don't have a coupon, it's a bit on the pricy side. It set me back 7.99 at my local Rite Aid.<br />
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<a href="http://www.vitacost.com/kiss-my-face-big-body-conditioner-lavender-and-chamomile-11-fl-oz" target="_blank">Kiss My Face Big Body conditioner in Lavender</a>: Pros: It seems to be a little cheaper than the other options I've tried, my hair did look nice and full after using it. Cons: Seems to be a little harder to find-seems to turn up more in fancier grocery/drug stores. I don't really care for the fragrance, but I have yet to try the other varieties. Paid 4.99 at Wegmans.<br />
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Next up, what's in my foundation? And what will I do about it?Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-28206823987566699472012-12-14T10:07:00.000-08:002012-12-14T10:07:09.433-08:00Homemade Laundry SoapLast post I mentioned my "is it green, cheap, or local?" quandary. I've started taking small steps to become more aware of what's in my house, what it contains, and where it came from. I'm really not happy with how toxic some of my household cleaners are, and how damned expensive some of them have gotten.<br />
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One example is laundry soap. Up until recently, I was a strictly Tide woman. To me, nothing else was satisfactory. Until I read about the levels of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/26/tide-detergent-1-4-dioxane_n_1455575.html" target="_blank">dioxane</a> your average bottle contained. Also disturbing was the fact that I never could find out what was in that "fresh" fragrance. (Small sidetrack-this is the case with SO MANY things-you look at the label and all it says is "fragrance". Vague much?) Oh yeah, and this shit's expensive! Your prices may be different, but I was paying around $20 for a big jug.<br />
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So I decided to give making my own a shot. There are tons of recipes out there. Through trial and error I came up with this one. Seems to work great for me. Not only is it eco-friendly, it's cheap, too! I think my initial outlay was $15, and after a month I'm still on my first box of Borax.<br />
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Recipe:<br />
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1 large bar Ivory soap<br />
1 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (NOT baking soda)<br />
1 cup Borax<br />
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You'll also need a container to put your mix in, and something to scoop it with. I used an extra rubbermaid box and a spare tablespoon.<br />
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Grate your Ivory with an old box grater. I had one lying around that had gotten too beat up for food use.<span id="goog_1281529594"></span><span id="goog_1281529595"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd_qZqIdq5k_YWV1-2PWvN0nqYiCexVs2O26a0KcxQ1c0atp-PMMCYssRD8PKkPXH5vInawpsaW6cftdy9GNRJwBfkSixzH3nzXPhOSSOQw_BCvrhJcijg9c6_b6DbZZi9huMS2R1tkXg/s1600/grantcam%252C+laundry+soap+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd_qZqIdq5k_YWV1-2PWvN0nqYiCexVs2O26a0KcxQ1c0atp-PMMCYssRD8PKkPXH5vInawpsaW6cftdy9GNRJwBfkSixzH3nzXPhOSSOQw_BCvrhJcijg9c6_b6DbZZi9huMS2R1tkXg/s320/grantcam%252C+laundry+soap+050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mix in your powdered ingredients really well. You'll want to give this another stir right before you use it. I add 2 tablespoons per load. That's it! <br />
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This is easily scaled up, so if you find a mega sale on Ivory or a pallet of Borax, you can make a ton at once. The only downsides I've found are the fact that it doesn't really work in cold water, and the lack of scent in my clean laundry. For some this might not be a big deal, but I kinda miss the fake mountain spring aroma of fresh clean clothes. I'm toying with the idea of adding a few drops of essential oil to the mix for a little freshness. Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-46760629327451792522012-12-07T13:48:00.002-08:002012-12-07T13:48:35.258-08:00Look what I found!<div>
I hit an estate sale this morning and struck gold. Real Shetland wool. It's soft as buttah! There's just enough there for a cute swing jacket pattern I cut out last winter. Estate sales rock!!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Object in picture is more awesome than it appears.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-36971840232585001402012-11-13T09:22:00.001-08:002012-11-13T09:22:45.766-08:00Trying to find the intersection of green, cheap, and localI was having a conversation with a friend the other day. We were discussing a post on a parents mailing list we belong to, where a poster asked where to find "locally produced, organic produce, at a reasonable price". Hmm.<br />
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Despite living in a big city, I'm lucky if I can hit two out of the three. Organic produce is all over the place, but it's usually fairly expensive and shipped in from other places. Cheap produce is also plentiful here, but it's not organic or local. Local produce is getting easier to find, but not always organic or cheap. <br />
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When I think about it, a lot of "green" things are neither local nor cheap. Take household products-I am blessed to have plenty of opportunities to buy "greener" cleaning and paper products, but your average bottle of "green" cleaner is going to cost 1-2 dollars more than the cheap, Earth ruining alternative.<br />
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And then there's the whole "greenwashing" bullshit that's going on. Every company is jumping on the bandwagon and slapping "green!!!11oneone" on their label. I just bought some shampoo the other day. I picked a brand that touted itself as being "earth friendly". I looked up the ingredients on the website <a href="http://www.goodguide.com/" target="_blank">Good Guide</a>, and my shampoo is full of all kinds of nasty shit!! I am pissed!!!!!<br />
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However, I don't have unlimited funds(oh, how I wish.) and I have to stick to a budget. I've begun digging deeper in to what's in my food, what I clean my house with, and what I bathe in-and what my family eats and bathes in. I want to find that mythical spot: green, cheap, and local. It's going to be difficult, but I'm going to give it a shot.Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-87646245641790053542012-10-17T19:42:00.001-07:002012-11-13T09:23:22.201-08:00Pearls of wisdomPearls of wisdom can turn up in the strangest of places, when you least expect them.<br />
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About this time last year, I was at the Cherry Hill Mall on the lookout for the perfect outfits for my family to wear on an upcoming trip back to the midwest for my youngest brother's wedding. As was routine for me before every trip back to my place of origin, I was pissing away tons of money, trying to prove to myself I was worthy as a person by buying fancy clothes that would end up in the back of my closet after the trip was over. I was trudging to my car under the weight of multiple shopping bags, when I heard a catty voice sneer directly behind my head.<br />
"Ohmigawd, look at her hair, it's all ratty!!"<br />
The voice was almost in my ear, it was so close. She could only be talking about me.<br />
I moved quickly away to the other side of the corridor, and leaned against a wall, hoping to head off the breakdown boiling inside me. It was then that I had a revelation:<br />
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"Why am I emulating the values of PEOPLE WHO SUCK???"<br />
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Why? Why am I trying to "fit in" to a world with seriously fucked up priorities?<br />
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At that point, I wasn't ready to think on this further, so I pushed it to the back of my mind, but it quietly steeped there. Over the past year I have become increasingly disenchanted with our "buy stuff, new stuff, better stuff, ALL THE TIME" culture. I think about what I want my son to value. A couple weeks ago, I found a news story about <a href="http://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/about-2/" target="_blank">a blogger who buys nothing new</a>. I've decided to give it a shot, with a few exceptions. (Used underwear. Nuff said!!!) I also made it my mission to try my best to slash the grocery budget while still feeding us relatively healthy meals.<br />
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Yesterday, I was walking home with my son, when we saw a well dressed older man walking our way. As we were about to pass him, he said:<br />
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"Seek contentment in what you have"<br />
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You know all those movies where Morgan Freeman plays the voice of God? And he says something super insightful? It was like a light bulb went on above my head.<br />
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Contentment in what I have.<br />
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"God bless you" he said. "You too", I said. Despite the fact that we follow different religious traditions, what he said rings true. You can't take a Wii or a fancy car or a Chanel bag with you to the afterlife. Material things are no substitute for a loving family. Not to mention that if 12 year old me saw the living environment of 34 year old me, her jaw would drop in awe of the comparative luxury I live in.<br />
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Words to live by, from a random passerby. Amazing what the world brings us, when we least expect it.<br />
<br />Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-54244731066332324472012-09-14T18:17:00.001-07:002012-09-14T18:17:37.776-07:00Credit card craftingUsually for me the phrase "credit card crafting" means going to a craft store and buying whatever catches my eye to toss on the craft pile to use when inspiration strikes. But this project uses actual credit cards!<br />
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I got the general idea from a picture I saw on pinterest a while back. And now that my son has started preschool, I have a bunch of free time I have no clue what to do with. Sure, I could be scrubbing floors or doing laundry, but those things suck. I think I'd rather cut up a bunch of old credit and store cards that happened to be in coordinating tones and glue them to a mirror frame I fished out of a clearance bin.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvhRl_2j7NUcddfm93IXETxeAe3EF6WO1Dz_W2lgkPc9uGQk-9umc7WmlEu9p4vU49FRhuQSCRDaUtkc6DAk7rmBnGRngmyChLNcMLnPUSxuBtPDXjFljO16qfIN9emXLOxVVDo6SQTIf/s1600/sewing,crafting+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvhRl_2j7NUcddfm93IXETxeAe3EF6WO1Dz_W2lgkPc9uGQk-9umc7WmlEu9p4vU49FRhuQSCRDaUtkc6DAk7rmBnGRngmyChLNcMLnPUSxuBtPDXjFljO16qfIN9emXLOxVVDo6SQTIf/s320/sewing,crafting+054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Lately, our family has been in a bit of a money crunch, so this project felt oddly cathartic. Nothing major, just a little good ol' amurikan living beyond our means and not watching the bottom line. We're going to fix this. And I know some of my spending was more about alleviating my depression than actually needing stuff. Now that that's being treated, keeping to a budget doesn't bother me the way it used to.<br />
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So anyway, I've been hanging on to old cards for a while, looking for the perfect project. This ikea clearance mirror seemed to be the perfect base to glue shit on, so I grabbed it. I just chopped up six cards and mixed the little squares up at random, after picking out the logos and printing I wanted as details.<br />
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The little kinda apple shaped G comes from a Genuardi's store card. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genuardi%27s" target="_blank">Genuardi's</a> was a local supermarket chain until a bigger supermarket chain bought them out and totally fucked shit up. They went under earlier this year. I miss their soups.<br />
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I get a ton of bullshit credit card come ons in the mail, and I'm always amused by the ones that go to the trouble to include a fake card with their pitch. I especially love it when the fake cards say "YOUR NAME HERE". The cheezier and faker, the better. Although, Amex has some nice fake cards:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks almost like a real one, doesn't it?</td></tr>
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I cut the best part out of one and cast it in resin.<br />
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I'm still thinking of how I want to finish this. Pendant? Or riff on the classic I.D. bracelet? I'm sure one of these days I'll figure it out.<br />
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Anyone else get creative with crap they'd otherwise throw out?Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-86007730560507469392012-08-30T14:49:00.001-07:002012-08-30T14:49:45.063-07:00yep, I'm still hereSo posting's been kinda dead around here for a while. I'll do an update with plenty of kickass stuff I've sewed lately in a bit, but first I want to get serious for a minute.<br />
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I have chronic depression, and I've decided to talk about it. Part of what kept me from getting help for so long was the shame and stigma that gets attached to mental illness. Shame turned that negative voice in my head from a whisper to a deafening roar. Shame made me feel like I deserved it when I got treated badly. Fuck shame. If talking candidly about depression convinces someone else to get help, then it's totally worth it. I wish I'd started taking medication YEARS ago. Even though I still have depressive episodes at times, it's like the difference between a tropical storm and a category 5 hurricane. <br />
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Things have changed so much for me since the spring, when I finally broke down and went looking for help. So much is different. The urge to stuff myself with salty snacks and drink to excess is almost gone. I have so much more energy for my kid and the things I enjoy. The best thing is that I no longer feel hopeless all the time anymore. <br />
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One last thing, I feel like this is an illness, and it's being treated, like any other chronic condition. Anyone that wants to judge me or act like I'm defective or something because of this, well, that's their problem, not mine.<br />
<br />Okay, I'm stashing my soapbox now. Time to go photograph some of my latest projects.Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-46535352600314370092012-06-07T09:05:00.001-07:002012-06-07T09:05:21.554-07:00Subversive stitchery.<div>
I'm back! Last night I was whining to my husband about feeling desperate for some adult conversation. I love my three year old, but it's not like I can debate politics or say the f-word around him. This morning the obvious occurred to me-my blog! I've been neglecting it pretty badly, but it's a perfect little grown up oasis in my world of sippy cups and potty training accidents.<br />
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And sometimes, a mommy just needs to say "fuck it"!!<br />
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Lately, I've been working on a cross stitch sampler. I'm a huge fan of Julie Jackson's <a href="http://www.subversivecrossstitch.com/" target="_blank">Subversive Cross Stitch</a>. It's cross stitch patterns with saucy language. I've made several in the past, but since moving two years ago, I've let my embroidery floss and aida cloth gather dust.<br />
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A couple days ago, I saw a phrase on facebook that really resonated with me, so I decided to bust out the cross stitch supplies and sew it up!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please ignore my crappy attempt at a fabric frame.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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</div>Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-10472379593810521982012-03-21T07:40:00.000-07:002012-03-21T07:40:16.514-07:00I made it a whole year!I can't believe it. I actually managed to keep up with this blog semi-regularly for a whole year! I just want to tell my readers how much I appreciate you. There are people and things in my real life that suck, and it's nice to be able to come here and to pinterest and share stuff I made and stuff I like. That, and nobody here clutches pearls when I say "fuck".<br />
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I've got a couple new things I've been working on. I hope to show them off soon. March in our house came in like rabid lion on steroids. My son and I got some kind of a super cold, then a truly awful houseguest showed up. It has just been a rotten month so far, but things are finally starting to look up. Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-71500282717395095652012-02-28T18:57:00.000-08:002012-02-28T18:57:59.399-08:00Mama's got a brand new bag (Simplicity 4391)Today I finished this messenger bag from Simplicity pattern #4391:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0w0i9PA7UNBhwLnDHGGoFoNKv7VDT6AxrxuXSbP_lVjP81EJSJOXltEgo3VGjzHJKGPQSRw6k8jm_hlBFhswssqrC2U3ft-isGpKQZVg_Thj27DqbOcWKi3H0XjRyTzteiytoX4cByUND/s1600/bag+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0w0i9PA7UNBhwLnDHGGoFoNKv7VDT6AxrxuXSbP_lVjP81EJSJOXltEgo3VGjzHJKGPQSRw6k8jm_hlBFhswssqrC2U3ft-isGpKQZVg_Thj27DqbOcWKi3H0XjRyTzteiytoX4cByUND/s320/bag+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Yes, I cut out the flap upside down, but I learned a valuable lesson-double check your grainlines!! I found this fabric at a <a href="http://www.jomarstores.com/" target="_blank">Jomar</a><span id="goog_853714197"> during their big half off fabric sale. It's canvas printed all over with the logo for Trader Joe's. I wonder how it ended up in a fabric clearance pile. Since it's canvas, I thought it would make a good bag. It's lined in this funky fabric, another Jomar find:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HAPPY Y2K!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span id="goog_853714197">I'm feeling pretty good about the interior double pocket-with my first ever zipper!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_NtBHWb9u5rDuQUJsVe99cL1fL5whtOYj44JOAJWfzne_2KItaInl7IuoE2bouZCMnmuivCXDez9Ogzux5Fc06xWbm13ZLGEV0mEYzYC-AWAB6GGonQGk61xarJhLzfUCF8OhU8BFJyD/s1600/bag+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_NtBHWb9u5rDuQUJsVe99cL1fL5whtOYj44JOAJWfzne_2KItaInl7IuoE2bouZCMnmuivCXDez9Ogzux5Fc06xWbm13ZLGEV0mEYzYC-AWAB6GGonQGk61xarJhLzfUCF8OhU8BFJyD/s320/bag+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span id="goog_853714197">For the most part, the pattern was easy to follow. I omitted the padding the pattern said to put in, because I don't plan to carry anything super fragile in here and I don't mind if a messenger type bag is a little slouchy. This pattern also comes with pieces for all manner of electronic toy cozies, so I can see using this again in the future. Maybe next time I'll lay the damn pattern out right side up! :-)</span>Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-58008483804600941572012-02-06T16:52:00.000-08:002012-02-06T16:52:10.160-08:00Sewing fun!Remember back around new years' when I said I was going to sew more in 2012? Well, I got a project done! I sewed a blouse from <a href="http://butterick.mccall.com/b5722-products-15280.php?page_id=147" target="_blank">this pattern:</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q3jDX0Vc5lwDY3GF-bthPvsTFrBqtwEsxOKY8XJVwrpAoiKEiXoZsA2lsBA9xNIqyEPEGUv-pEcrnwUIBFKK81_lsVETUXy3TbNFp6YK3apJobOmZd3vV5XU8kzFhgOoNG0DV-GWJNXZ/s1600/sewing+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q3jDX0Vc5lwDY3GF-bthPvsTFrBqtwEsxOKY8XJVwrpAoiKEiXoZsA2lsBA9xNIqyEPEGUv-pEcrnwUIBFKK81_lsVETUXy3TbNFp6YK3apJobOmZd3vV5XU8kzFhgOoNG0DV-GWJNXZ/s320/sewing+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterick 5722</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is how my version looked:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zAlcM_4ZG9nU5DdgSspE0EcSLC-toWLI8ykX0lk1J7FaApo3UimgBeNojq1N1Xvhr-YLMc1-4HwDhWxqGgqYf2OoorBPZnTobWf6dVKisIbtUgs_btEsY6qQxLAp2DwUvQjF4hOqTy8o/s1600/sewing+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zAlcM_4ZG9nU5DdgSspE0EcSLC-toWLI8ykX0lk1J7FaApo3UimgBeNojq1N1Xvhr-YLMc1-4HwDhWxqGgqYf2OoorBPZnTobWf6dVKisIbtUgs_btEsY6qQxLAp2DwUvQjF4hOqTy8o/s320/sewing+002.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belt not included. I got it from Torrid.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span id="goog_798681680"></span><span id="goog_798681681"></span>The pattern was pretty easy to follow. I used a polyester fabric with a little sheen I found on special at my local Joann's. The only real difficulty I encountered doing this top happened when my sewing machine died. It could probably be fixed, but at this point in time I just want to sew, dammit!! I might take it to the shop in the future, since it was my mom's, and I did learn to sew on it. But since I had a half-finished blouse, and a function to which I wanted to wear the blouse coming up in three days I bought one of these:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WEDFo2xPlmU3Gv7TJu1Ae26AFMasBXRvkRlFSwFHtcln0HPKJ4ROKDPzK7H81YWnP-K03AW_mVaqCckv89RRB2sYme8mKCNquAJ4hBSbhgWO0ckC3yL6Cexe7HCqFLV_Hw_pURVjat4u/s1600/snooki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WEDFo2xPlmU3Gv7TJu1Ae26AFMasBXRvkRlFSwFHtcln0HPKJ4ROKDPzK7H81YWnP-K03AW_mVaqCckv89RRB2sYme8mKCNquAJ4hBSbhgWO0ckC3yL6Cexe7HCqFLV_Hw_pURVjat4u/s1600/snooki.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singer 2263, a.k.a pain in my ass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I needed that damn blouse finished, and didn't have time to wait for something to come in the mail. So, I got one of these. It's a pain in the ass to use. It's loud, cheap, and shakes like an alcoholic right before payday when it goes fast. In fact, I've decided to give my new machine a nickname. Snooki!<br />
<br />
I guess she's alright for small jobs like hemming slacks. I don't dare hem jeans with her. She'll be downgraded to a travel machine when this baby comes in the mail:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4mnrQ2H23mQjIY6z0cvz2UwcTEDNfchtvetnRZ6JKLG-l96Q-anFfEvFWbMuMONcHo84MD8Xgw_O6k7bCJRIb1UKSWqmYDFNLrAGqw0tu6wgju6-Ox4a0wUWq80jRkUG47j0G43Jy6oV/s1600/slantomatic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4mnrQ2H23mQjIY6z0cvz2UwcTEDNfchtvetnRZ6JKLG-l96Q-anFfEvFWbMuMONcHo84MD8Xgw_O6k7bCJRIb1UKSWqmYDFNLrAGqw0tu6wgju6-Ox4a0wUWq80jRkUG47j0G43Jy6oV/s320/slantomatic.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say hello to the Slant-O-Matic!! Bought from ebay user hulagirl1!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Oh yeah! Just look at this baby! Singer advertised it as "The best sewing machine ever made!" <a href="http://blog.sew-classic.com/2008/10/25/singer-401-401a-403--403a--404--sewing-machine-review.aspx" target="_blank">Just look at the specs on this thing.</a> I could get off on a massive rant on how this is a shining example of how as a society Americans no longer value quality workmanship or want quality items built to last, but I'll just let the pictures of Snooki and the Slant-o-matic speak for themselves. Which machine do you think I'll still be using in 30 years?<br />
<br />
Okay, soapbox stashed. I'm currently working on a little clutch purse. I'm using some random fabric yardage I found at a thrift store plus scraps from the blouse pictured above. I'll post a few pics once I'm further along, assuming I don't toss Snooki out a 3rd story window first.Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-88437611274284573752012-01-17T11:28:00.000-08:002012-01-17T11:28:30.419-08:00Am I the only one who remembers 7up Gold?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvx5Laau4uQ9udraRskWdVELzDgPYOAT1wXnkpewOgw0Ay_PygfFff2OU_0mUw7kjUI8Z_Nk8Hd3FGoTC_tQl6XxYm0CL1KvVxTYpINFZRCZ4cWikOcWAlIoa2PBn52AypnVj80cfVZUl/s1600/7up-gold.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvx5Laau4uQ9udraRskWdVELzDgPYOAT1wXnkpewOgw0Ay_PygfFff2OU_0mUw7kjUI8Z_Nk8Hd3FGoTC_tQl6XxYm0CL1KvVxTYpINFZRCZ4cWikOcWAlIoa2PBn52AypnVj80cfVZUl/s1600/7up-gold.jpg" /></a></div>For a brief moment in 1988, this was available. I was ten, and loved it as much as a ten year old could love a soda. Soda was a rare treat in our household. Because we were broke, the grocery money had to stretch as far as possible. But on some lucky days, there would be a sale on 7up products, or a little extra overtime. Paydays are magical things when living broke. Frozen pizza and soda tasted like ambrosia after a week of rice and beans. 7up gold tasted unlike any other soda on the wall o' beverages. It was like apple ginger ale, with a dash of sweet spices. And it had caffiene! Buzz, buzz, buzz!!<br />
<br />
But then as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. And I have been just a little sad when I walk down the soda aisle ever since. <br />
<br />
Maybe 7up will jump on the retro/throwback bandwagon and re-release it as a special edition. Look how well Pepsi Throwback did. And Salsa Rio Doritos, another childhood fave I thought I'd never taste again just came back. I emailed 7up. Maybe if enough junk food nerds did the same.....I can dream, can't I?Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7183763322689411790.post-16193856074441128232012-01-16T20:18:00.000-08:002012-01-16T20:18:09.186-08:00I don't get it.How is <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46016682/ns/travel-news/#.TxTxaPkWmo0" target="_blank">this ad</a> offensive?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6q8wtKNFRCHnSz0jJ4Xf0eyXZgbCUZ0jJmjqQX5d2ogY9OOVExa0xpx9XiSbQlrNUot99ajuUxdrNRflrNvN_Ic8GiQKHfFrjB89KFm9CORicJmnDt3ZDadW_1EPqv5bblIvxMbz98mP/s1600/tourism-racy+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6q8wtKNFRCHnSz0jJ4Xf0eyXZgbCUZ0jJmjqQX5d2ogY9OOVExa0xpx9XiSbQlrNUot99ajuUxdrNRflrNvN_Ic8GiQKHfFrjB89KFm9CORicJmnDt3ZDadW_1EPqv5bblIvxMbz98mP/s320/tourism-racy+ad.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">thanks msnbc</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I just don't see it. To me it looks like some twentysomethings out having a good time. Offensive? No, <a href="http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/boardwalk-empire-judge-hands-off-butt-billboard/article_f72201ea-354c-11e0-be36-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story" target="_blank">this</a> is offensive:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKqkieYJFTh8K38HBoVYhknvA9F7qy-hQ3hKxefgC6b7vq4ECPj0m1jEp6vswMRRqkkSUMRnAXY8yKZYaF6ztzT5yhoR0OMlTpaqOl0lhn3W8DKj7e-We0SzwyAtxQPZtHizoG_e0aJB8/s1600/buttboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKqkieYJFTh8K38HBoVYhknvA9F7qy-hQ3hKxefgC6b7vq4ECPj0m1jEp6vswMRRqkkSUMRnAXY8yKZYaF6ztzT5yhoR0OMlTpaqOl0lhn3W8DKj7e-We0SzwyAtxQPZtHizoG_e0aJB8/s320/buttboard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>how would you like to explain this to the kids on their way to soccer practice? At least everyone in Fargo is wearing clothes.Mrs. Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14473911793154331759noreply@blogger.com0