A new handbag

I've been yearning to make a summer handbag since I kept seeing really cute ones popping up all over blogland. When I picked up the June/July issue Threads a couple of weeks ago I knew immediately that I would have to whip up the handbag pattern included.

I'm immensely pleased with how it turned out. I originally wanted to quilt the bag but I wouldn't have had enough thread to finish it so I just kept it simple. The pattern on the fabric is so fabulous anyway that you don't even miss any elaborate designs. I mimicked the pocket detail on the front on the inside as well. I prefer to have some pockets in all of my handbags for keys and stuff. It doesn't have a clasp for closing and I debated adding something but in the end I just went for the wooden button detail on the front. I picked up a 1lb bag of random buttons at Wal-Mart for 3 dollars and these wonderful wooden buttons were in it. I'm so glad I found three of them to match. I still have some fabric left and have been eying this tote bag from Sew, Mama, Sew! so I think I'll be doing that next using a different contrasting fabric and quilting it like I wanted to for this one.

Independence day

Happy 4th of July to all the Americans out there. I don't have much to report. I've been watching back episodes of Project Runway for the last couple of days and so haven't been spending much time in the sewing room. It's such a great show, I can't get enough of it. I just wish I had more episodes to watch! But really it's best that I don't because I'm not getting any of my summer sewing projects done! I'm actually feeling a little be overwhelmed from watching that show. I feel like I have a thousand ideas running through my head and no time to execute any of them. It's very hard for me to work in shifts. When I get into my sewing space I just like to lose myself in my projects until they're done. But usually I'll only get the cutting done one day, the pinning another and so on until it's actually complete. So I find myself not coming up with the best that I can do because I'm just trying to decide on something I can finish relatively quickly. I'm actually looking ahead to the fall and thinking up some really cool designs that I would love to sew but we'll see how that works out especially since I'll be going back to work in two weeks! Yikes! I can't believe that my year of maternity leave is already up. It's bittersweet. I realize more than ever that I'm in the wrong profession but there's not much I can do about it right now. I'm just gonna tough through until the right opportunity presents itself. I figure it's time I stopped whining about my situation in life and either change it or work towards a change I can live with, so that's what I'm going to do. My boss and coworkers are really excited to have me back so that has been a little heart warming.

Speaking of work, I'm thinking that I should start coming up with some interesting outfits that I can wear when I start back. It's a very casual atmosphere as we're working with dirt in all it's myriad forms. Denim is very prevalent but I want a bit of a twist on it and also some new tops. I have some jeans that I'm looking to alter we'll see how that goes. I really want to make a cool denim dress that I can wear with leggings. That would be so 80s but with a modern twist. I wonder if that would look cool with steel toed boots? I think my coworkers will just think I'm crazy but hey if I'm not planning on buying any more clothes for awhile I gotta come up with my own style. On that topic, I keep thinking about my personal style and I wish someone could look at me and tell me what they think my style is because I just don't know. I love retro and vintage things but I also love lace and really feminine twists but I'm totally into casual jeans and t-shirts as well. I love the look of heels but you probably would never find me in any and I'm very partial to my running shoes, flip flops and flats. I feel like when you watch a show like Project Runway, it gives you so much inspiration but then makes you think about your own fashion rut that most of us can get stuck into. Well, rut or not here are some great Old Navy outfits that definitely inspire me.

Like I said I don't wear heels but that doesn't stop me from drooling over a pair when I see one I love.

Serger sewing

A couple of days ago Amanda over at SouleMama, my favorite blog, wrote about using her serger. Basically she was saying how scared of it she was but that she was going to attempt to use it more after reading Sew U Home Stretch. I, like Amanda, have resolved to use my serger as well. I got it from Alex's mom a couple of years ago when I had been working with her over the summer for a very short period of time. I was really happy to have gotten it from her as I knew it would come in handy yet it sat in a box for years and I never used it. The instruction booklet was in French and that alone intimidated me. Maybe even more than the 4 spools of thread and corresponding tension dials. Well it turned out that some of the accessories of the machine were missing (it was an old machine that she wasn't using anymore) but I didn't fully realize that until quite recently. After reading that post over at SouleMama and reading my Sew U books I decided to dust off my serger and give it another go. I ordered the right presser foot (I only had the rolled hem one) and once it came in I set it all up. Wow I must say, I feel really stupid not having tried this years ago! I LOVE this machine. I mean it's a bit fussy and likes things to be just so, but once it's all set to go it's really a dream to sew with. And the rolled hem foot, wow I can't say enough about it. I decided to try my hand at something really simple to start off with. A nice summer dress for Ayla. I have to admit that I designed it as I went along. I think that's just the way I work best. I got the fabric and ribbon from Freecycle and the button was from a shirt I had that Ayla tore the button off of the other day. I knew it would be perfect. I finished it with a rolled hem and serged all the seams. It's the most 'complete' thing that I've ever sewn. I just love that I don't have to use my pinking shears anymore unless it's deliberately part of the design. I also got a twin needle for my conventional sewing machine so that I can finish my hems like a cover stitch machine. That has to be my next machine purchase down the line.

Yesterday we went to a park near our house where they throw the Canada Day festivities. It was nice to get out of the house to enjoy the good weather and sunshine.

Happy Canada Day

I've been away. I think I haven't posted since Friday because I was taking a small break. We decided to go camping again this weekend. It was a long weekend due to today being Canada day. Alex had Monday off and so it was our intention to go camping for a couple of days. The weather here has been amazingly hot and so it was going to be perfect. This time we were going to be better prepared. It was still last minute but we knew better now. I even checked the weather network website just to be sure. Triple checked even.

It rained. Yes people our perfectly planned camping trip got rained out again. You see normally we wouldn't mind the rain. We would just wait it out. The problem is that we don't have a lot of time off and so usually we're just going for two nights. And we don't want to have to pack up a wet tent that will need drying off later. So we decided to leave early again. We didn't regret going though.

It was a nice night away and we got to roast some vegan marshmallows I got from Vegan Essentials by Sweet and Sara. They were amazing and roasted perfectly. Alex kept wondering why they even bother to put gelatin in 'regular' marshmallows if the vegan ones are so perfect in taste, texture and form. We also saw about half a dozen shooting stars. It was really amazing. They were moving so slow that it was hard to miss them. Just as I was headed to the tent for bed Alex said he saw a really fast one but unfortunately I missed it. I'm sure there will be many more. We snapped up these pictures the morning before we left. I love camping.

And before I forget, Happy Canada Day! Wishing everyone a spectacular day even if it rains on your parade! =)

More sewing and a bbq dinner

Last night I finished reading my new Sew U book and I have to say that it really is a great resource book for beginner sewers. Actually I would say that it probably has helpful and useful tips for those who have been sewing for a bit longer as well. Tonight I'll try to start and finish the home stretch one. I have to say that's the one I'm really interested in reading up on. I've always wanted to work with knits but it's very tricky with a regular sewing machine. There are so many cute outfits made from knits that you really don't want to try if you don't know what you're doing because that way definitely leads to frustration. I forgot to mention that I picked up the June/July 2008 issue of Threads magazine the other day when we went camping. I've never read a magazine dedicated to sewing so it's really nice to have it around. I only just got around to reading it so I'll keep you posted if there are any projects in it that I'd like to try out.

Last night we decided to fire up the bbq for dinner. We had some veggie kabobs marinating in the fridge that were left over from Monday's dinner and I decided to pair it with the recipe for the veggie McChik'n nuggets from Vegan Dad's blog. I had made the nuggets sometime last week but forgot to take pictures. They turned out really well and had a great texture to them so I figured they're go perfect on the grill. As I suspected they turned out wonderfully and I'm so glad I had thought of it. I made a rice pilaf that we had bought by Zatarain's. I'm not a fan of their brand but it turned out half decent.

Just a quick note, if anyone is interested in sewing stuff up for the summer over at Sew, Mama, Sew! they've designated July as Summer sewing month. Summer sewing projects will be posted to the blog daily that you can whip up if you so desire for the month of July. They'll also be giving away free fabric to four lucky people who post to the blog by Monday. Happy Sewing!

Mail day

Today I was awoken at 8:30am by a wonderfully pleasant ring at my door. It was the mail man bringing my book delivery that I had ordered on chapters last week. I'd been eying the Built by Wendy books and decided to just take the plunge and get them. First up was Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe. A definite must to my now expanding sewing library. It comes with three Simplicity patterns and is chock full of helpful information.

Next up was Sew U Home Stretch: The Built by Wendy Guide to Sewing Knit Fabrics. Also another great sewing book. Especially since it's geared more towards using a serger for sewing knits. I'm sure I've mentioned before that I have a serger practically collecting dust. I really wanted this book so that I'd have a reason to haul it out and make some fabulous things. My serger scares me at the moment.

Later in the morning I finally got my print that I had ordered off the Etsy shop The Black Apple. I just love her work so much and was dying to see my print. Isn't it beautiful? It's currently all framed up and ready to be hung on the wall. I'm not sure where I want to hang it though. I don't want it in any direct sunlight. Not that my house actually gets direct sunlight. Hence the dark pictures sometimes.

This is a little postcard that came with the print. It's so cute I think I'll get a smaller 4x6 frame for it.

I forgot to mention yesterday that before we left to go camping I had received my bamboo yarn that I had ordered online from Knit for Brains. I was looking for a place to buy wool free but luxurious yarns when I stumbled upon this site. I have to say that this bamboo yarn does not disappoint! It has a weighty feel to it but it's extremely soft and silky. I'm not sure what I want to make with it yet. But I know it has to be perfect. I'll probably order some more skeins in different colors. I also want to order some bamboo knitting needles. They're so much better to work with than the metal ones. I keep holding out because I have instructions on how to make my own and I want to give that a shot too. We'll see! So much to do so little time!

For dinner last night I decided to go the Mexican route with some beans and rice and burritos. It turned out lovely and tasted even better. I can't wait to have leftovers for lunch today.

Ayla was being quite pouty and disagreeable this morning as I was trying to take pictures of my new stash. Poor thing I couldn't resist getting some shots in of her.

Camping and summer sewing

I just realized that it's been 4 days since I last posted. Well there was a good reason. We went camping! It was only for one night but that's besides the point. We decided at the last minute and threw everything together and just left. We got to the campsite about an hour later and started setting up, but much to our chagrin it started to rain as we were putting up the tent. Sigh. So we had a really wet night. The next day we woke up sore from having slept on the ground but nice and toasty as we bought some really great sleeping bags. I should mention here that in our haste to leave we didn't really pack for the weather conditions and forgot many little things. We ended up having to go into the nearby town to buy things because of it. We're such newbs! Anyway, when we heard on the car radio that there was a severe thunderstorm watch for our area we decided to cut it short and just head home. Next time we'll be better prepared and stay for longer!

The other day I was busy in my sewing room making one of the many outfits I would like to sew up for this summer. I made a quick trip to Wal-Mart one day last week to look for a pattern for bermuda shorts and anything else I could think of. I came across a cute pattern for some tops and decided to buy it. So this is what came of it.

I have many things to say about this top. It looks really nice in pictures. But it fits kinda wonky. First of all I didn't have any interfacing and so I just used some fabric I had on hand. Well needless to say it made the upper portion too thick for my liking. I ummed and ahhed about it for a long time before just deciding to use it and now I wish I hadn't. Then because my bust size is slightly larger than the size 10 that I usually am on the pattern sizing I decided to up it to the size 12. Big mistake! Well not that big but now it's just too wide in all the wrong places. Argh! And I really liked this fabric too! Oh well! Another excuse for me to go fabric shopping. I really want to find some light weight cotton with nice prints that I can use for my summer tops. Next on my list to sew are those bermuda shorts I originally went shopping for. Also, I mentioned awhile ago about having found a new site called Burda Style. Most of their patterns are for free but you have to print them out at home on numerous sheets of paper that you piece together or you can just go to a copy shop and get them to print it out one one large sheet. I called a copy shop today and found out they do print in larger sizes (not like my Staples!) for a decent price so I'll be headed over there soon to print up the very many patterns I have saved up. I can't wait some of them are really amazing.