Think Tifton!

Oh my gosh.  It's been a long week!  Well, short, but super busy.

Thursday night I left for Florida.  After flying through a lightning storm and making friends with my plane neighbor, I finally got into Jacksonville and headed to my parents' house.  Blah blah blah, worked all day Friday (and ate lunch at Sonny's with Paco and Jake - I really missed barbecue), and finally left for Tifton Saturday, which is when we had the party.

All in all, I had a really fun time, and now I'm tired.  I made friends with Gracie, even though she wanted nothing to do with the clothes I made her.  No really, it's cool, kid, just remember that when you decide in twenty years you want to sew but you don't want your mom to teach you because that wouldn't be cool.  Luckily for her, I love Grace and Jesse enough to not deprive them of clothes just because of that.  That would be crazy.

Now I'm back at work and ready to go back home and sleep.  Typical.



Yuengling and flowers.  Those bouquets were the cheap ones from Publix and they're still going five days later, even after sitting in a hot car overnight!



Old doctor's tools from the Agrirama.  Ew.



Cupcakes and decorations



Fat Tire!  Thank you, Georgia!

Old bike in a shed

A large, open lot with one statue of a naked woman in the middle.  What?

Winnie dog!

Ice Cream dress in Sherbet Pips - front

Ice Cream dress in Sherbet Pips - back

Jake and Kali getting ready for the party

The food - a low country boil

DC from the Yellow Line

 So how was your weekend?

Memorial Day Weekend

Really?  It's over already?  I remember talking to Elizabeth back in February about how we wouldn't have a day off until Memorial Day - weeks, months, practically years away!  And now it's over and tomorrow is June and ohmygod it'll be Christmas before we know it.  I'm not ready, I can tell you that much.

It was a fantastic weekend, though.  I worked from home half of the day Friday, after having meetings and meetings and meetings all week, which was a nice way to end it all.  I also decided while working from home that I wouldn't focus on cleaning - Nick will be home this weekend and can do it then.  Instead, 16 and Pregnant was my background music and I spent hours building spreadsheets and merging cells.  Sounds boring, but I kind of like that tedious stuff to clear my head.

Anyway, let's get cracking on what I did over the weekend:

Friday night after dinner (black bean tortilla pie), I set to work on an Oliver + S Ice Cream top for Miss Grace, using Heather Ross Far Far Away II.  Have I already posted about this?  I don't think I have.  Sorry for the poor quality; apparently my flash wasn't a fan.  Anyway, it's Sleeping Beauty themed, and the yoke is roses.  The back button is from a pair of Gap jeans I haven't worn in years.  I finished it in only a few hours, which was refreshing.

Saturday was a big day.  Here's a little back story: Montgomery County, Maryland, has ridiculous alcohol taxes.  You will easily pay $16 for a six-pack of beer.  Nick and I drink craft beers, so we're used to paying more, but it's completely ridiculous.  They're also upping the tax come January.  Ugh.

So we went to Total Wine in Alexandria.  We loved Total Wine in Jacksonville but haven't been since we moved.  The GPS must have known it was a beautiful day, because instead of taking us along 495, it took us on Clara Barton Parkway, along the C&O Canal, through Georgetown and Rosslyn and past Arlington Cemetery.  It was quite a sight, considering Rolling Thunder was in town.  Anyway, that second picture is of all our beer and cider from Total Wine--and it cost us about a third of what it would have been here in MoCo.  Sorry to bootleg, but we're on a budget.

After Total Wine, we went to District Taco in Arlington.  I frequent the DT Food Truck when it's here in Rosslyn.  They have awesome burritos.  This time I got a bowl and chips and a Boylan soda.  They don't have any Coke or Pepsi products, just Boylan!  Everything is also fresh and made right there, including the chips.  I can't wait to go back.

That last picture is of the Oliver + S Family Reunion dress for Grace, made with Anna Maria Horner.  I'm very happy with how this dress ended up, though I did have an issue with the hem facing.  The directions say to "cut 2 on fold," but there's so much extra fabric, I think that's a misprint.  I made it work--lots of easing and what essentially looks like an inside ruffle--so hopefully Grace won't think it's the most terrible thing she's ever seen!

Sunday...Sunday...what'd we do Sunday?  Oh, we went grocery shopping, which is always an adventure.  I also cut out the Colette Patterns Sorbetto top, which is free through that link.  We had decided to finally go see a movie together--the first in ten months of dating--so we went to Five Guys for dinner and saw Bridesmaids.  People, this movie is amazing.  If you haven't seen it yet, you must, as soon as possible.  I'm not normally a Kristen Wiig fan (based solely on her SNL characters), but this movie made me love her, Maya Rudolph, everyone.  Go see it!

Also, I asked Nick for that hot pink KitchenAid mixer seen above, but so far, it hasn't arrived.  It would look fantastic next to my blue mixer.

Yesterday, Memorial Day, we went to National Harbor.  It was a hell of an adventure getting there though.  I had to go to the Harley-Davidson store to pick up some presents for Aidan, Savannah's brother.  There was no way I was only showing up with gifts for her, and if I'd have made him clothes, he probably would have slapped me.  So I decided to get him a Harley shirt and a toy because he's obsessed with my dad's and his dad's bikes. 

We set out to go to Old Glory HD in Laurel, about 11 miles away.  On the way there, my hubcap came off on the Beltway.  Thankfully it didn't kill anyone, but still--and now my car is pretty ghetto.  Anyway, so we get there, and it's closed for Memorial Day.  Oh, okay.  Considering, again, that Rolling Thunder is in town, we're pretty surprised.  So I call Annapolis HD--it's closed too.  I finally call the National Harbor HD, and thankfully they're open, but my GPS doesn't recognize the address.  We got lost no fewer than five times in NE Washington, D.C.  Interesting, let me tell you.

Anyway, so we went there, I picked up a few things, we ate lunch.  The above pictures are from National Harbor; the first is "The Awakening," a huge statue that used to be at Hain's Point in DC, where I had seen it ten years ago when we first moved here.  The second is the Peeps store.  Yep, Peeps, those little marshmallow dudes my mom loves so much.  I'm not into them, but the next time my mom's up, we may need to go there.

I also sewed together the Sorbetto top, which I'm less than thrilled with.  It's a free pattern, so I'll go with it, but it's very short.  I have the shortest waist known to man--how does this look on normal people?  I made it with some cheap gingham I bought at JoAnn's Saturday.  Nick likes it, I'm more "meh."

I also cut out another Ice Cream dress from Sherbet Pips for Grace.  I'd like to get that done tonight and tomorrow so I can pack it up with her other outfits.

So it was a busy weekend!  Sorry to bore you--hopefully I didn't.  This week is busy, and the next few weeks are full with family and friends.  And before I know it, it will be July.  Oh my god...

My First Taste of Heather Ross

That title sounds wrong, but it isn't.  Sorry to get your hopes up.

It's been an insane week.  Long days at the office, running running running everywhere, still making dinner and taking care of the apartment, and falling asleep on the couch.  Not necessarily in that order.  Now I'm exhausted and my belly hurts, most likely because of my week.

Monday evening I cut out an Ice Cream top and a Family Reunion dress for Grace.  This afternoon, once my internet cut out, I finally was able to start working on them.

That's the kind of week it's been.

This is the Ice Cream top, made with Heather Ross's Far Far Away II, featuring Sleeping Beauty and roses.  I bought it on sale last week at Pink Chalk and decided, while it's hell trying to get gathers to take (I broke each and every one of the tails), I love the artistry enough to keep using her fabrics.  I'd actually like more to make other things for Grace, and not just the upcoming Far Far Away III (with Snow White) but also the VW vans, the grasshoppers and the mermaids.

In summer 2009 when I lived in Savannah, my mom visited me and we went to Fabrika, an indie fabric store a few blocks from my apartment.  She bought some Mendocino prints and I don't believe either of us knew just what it was, but we knew we loved it.  She eventually made a Serendipity Studio dress out of them.  Now?  They're $40 a yard, or something equally as ridiculous.  I should've invested.

Anyway, back to the top.  So the gathering was less than fun.  Because it's a heavier, linen/canvas-type weight instead of quilting cotton, the gathering stitches just ripped right now.  But I tried to do what I could and then ease in the rest, and hopefully no one thinks it's too godawful. 

The button on the back is from a pair of Gap jeans I don't even have anymore, but I found the extra buttons a couple weeks ago.  I thought it went well without being too cute or taking away from the HR design.

Also, it only took me like two hours to make this.  Usually it takes longer than that to gather everything up, but I guess because I cut everything out, it gave me a headstart.

On another note--it's Memorial Day weekend!  I plan on buying and drinking beer, seeing Bridesmaids, eating Five Guys, getting ready for Florida and sewing.  I have the Family Reunion dress, plus the free Colette tank pattern for myself, as well as anything else for Grace I can fit in--maybe her Sherbet Pips Ice Cream dress?

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!  See you next week!

Lotus Pond dress

I finished my first summer dress last night, Simplicity 2584.  I modified it a bit, but all in all, I'm pretty happy.

The fabric is Kona Solids and Amy Butler's Lotus collection, which I've had in my stash for roughly four years and bought before I could even sew, holding onto the hopes that my mom would make me something (Ha!).  I never knew what to do with it--purse?  skirt?  shirt?--but finally it came to me after buying this pattern in February.  I think it's a light, fun print without being childish.

I made view B but modified it to be more like view D.  First, I omitted the sleeves.  Summer is hot, and if I want sleeves, I'll grab a cardigan.  I also omitted the tuck at the bottom.  I started folding to see what it would look like, but, with the patter, it would have messed up the flow. 

It's the length of view B, but I snatched D's armhole binding to finish the arms.  I also ended up taking it in even more.  Boxy isn't a good look for me.

Finally, I decided it didn't need a back zipper, once I read reviews that so many others were doing this.  After a quick Googling (just cut on the fold), I was done.

It took me about two days to sew, but that's because I was sewing between work and dinner, and still working on dinner in the mean time.  I'm a crazy multi-tasker, so I'd sew and press, turn on the oven to preheat, sew a little more, get the water boiling, sew some more, etc.  What do people do with only one project?

I have a ton of both materials left over, so it may become an Ice Cream Dress for Grace.  I have been all about the stash-bustin' lately, mostly to make room for all the Aneela Hooey, Anna Maria Horner and Heather Ross I just bought.  (On sale, don't freak.)  (Though I can't imagine why you'd freak unless you were Nick, and he's already heard about my process and still doesn't care.)

What's next?  I don't know.  I have a hard time making things for myself because, well, do I really want to face my measurements?  No.  No I do not.  Also it's hard for me to choose just one project.  So I have a pile of fabric for me and a pile of fabric for Grace and I'll go from there.  I have some new patterns coming in this week, so maybe that will jumpstart things.  Also, did you not see how much fabric I just bought?  Good god!

A Warm Weekend!

Hello folks!  It's finally warm here.  We've gone through a week without temperatures getting below 65 as the high, so I think we're in the clear.  I hope so, anyway.  It's been absolutely gorgeous here, but apparently the pollen isn't going anywhere, because I'm dying.

Nick and I went to Secondhand Story books in Rockville yesterday.  I thought it would be like my beloved Chamblin's in Jacksonville, where everything is neatly organized and there are some fun things hidden along the way (jokes about Dali or Yankees, etc.), but, um, not so much.  First of all, it's pretty much a warehouse, which is fine, but I feel like that isn't the best storage option for books?  However, I'm not the professional, so what do I know?  And there are mostly antique books there, not as big of a current selection.  I got a few books, though, and some pictures, which I also edited on this newfangled Picasa/Picnik team.  Technology, friends.

That last picture is of my loot.  I'm not really reading much fiction anymore, and haven't since I graduated college a couple years ago, but I've been meaning to read Cross Creek for a while.

I also started and finished the Ice Cream dress for Savannah this weekend.  Previously, I had cut out the pattern wrong and given up, but Friday afternoon I cut out the last panel and started stitching it up.  There were a few setbacks along the way, mostly due to my ignorance, but it's done now!

Savannah is seven, but she wears somewhere between a 4 and 5, so I made a 5 and lengthened it 1.5 inches.  She and her brother are tall, skinny kids.  Hopefully it won't be too big, and hopefully she also won't think it's too cutesy.  That girl has sass running through her veins, so I always worry she won't think anything is cool enough for her.

It's also Mother's Day, and I am far, far away from my mother this year, so I hope she has a great day.  I've already spoken to her a few times but it isn't the same as being there.  I can't wait to see her and my dad next month.  I don't like being this far away.

Enjoy your Sundays, yall!

A Week of Fail

I know I should be positive, but after the week I had creatively, I was completely disappointed in myself and my endeavors.  How did I go from spitting things out left and right the week before to ruining everything I touched?

So let's just sort some things out, shall we?

I decided to work on the Purl Soho Braided Handle Canvas Tote for me and my cousin.  This is what theirs looks like:

Beautiful, right?  Modern, clean, simple.  Even Nick liked it.

And these were mine:

Um...yeah.  Not so much.  The handles bunched, the corners came out messy, and the bias tape did not want to be sewn to that duck canvas no matter what I did.  It was a mess.  I gave up Wednesday night and left it alone until Saturday evening, when I decided just to get through both of them and move on with my life.  They will be sent to Goodwill.  Such a shame, but such is life.

Also I've apparently inherited the family curse for bread baking.  My mom can bake anything in the world--her pie crust is to die for, and her meringues are always perfect, despite living in Florida.  Yet, she cannot make anything bread-based.  Her rolls always burn, her breads don't rise.  It's sad.  But I thought I'd be safe when I attempted the Smitten Kitchen Braided Lemon Bread.  First of all, everything on that website is beautiful and wonderful and perfect.  Second, I thought, okay, doesn't look too hard.  I can do this.



Hers, in all its golden glory

Well, the dough never rose.  It just sat there in its greased bowl, looking more like cookie dough than anything.  I went back through the ingredients--nothing was missed.  I read the directions--I followed every step.  What happened?

I have no idea, but I threw it out Saturday morning, after over 24 hours of "rising."  It was so disappointing.  So I went to Giant, grabbed some Pillsbury bread dough from a can, and attempted to replicate it:

It certainly isn't the same, but I didn't want the filling to go to waste, so I had to do something with it.  Nicholas liked it, so that's all that matters.

Finally, I don't have a picture of this failure, but I'm working on the Oliver + S Ice Cream Dress for my parents' neighbor, and cut out her dress yesterday with the pattern going upside down.  Unfortunately there wasn't enough for me to finagle it and make it work, so I had to order another half a yard.

Can I get a collective ARGH! for last week?

Weekend Sewing

I hope I didn't already use that title, but I probably did.  I'm the worst when it comes to titles, names, etc.  I still haven't thought of a name for that big etsy business idea, and Nick is no help.  (However, I do already have a name for the fabric store I'd like to open in three to five years, so I guess my priorities are in order.)

I did lots of sewing over the weekend!  Lots.  And I have more planned for the week.  The days are longer and warmer and I just feel like I'm using all my weekend hours instead of sitting around, watching Say Yes to the Dress.  This weekend, in addition to sewing, we ran errands, went on a looooong walk to places we've never been (and saw a car accident--yikes), and did laundry.  And that was just Saturday.

An iPad cover for my aunt's birthday, thanks to this pattern.  I had been looking forever for a tutorial, but because I don't have a laptop (and I work better with patterns anyway), I decided to spend a few dollars and buy one.  The fabric was also bought on etsy and blogged about here.  The only thing I didn't like was that the pattern called for two inside pockets, which I made, but the pattern never tells you when to sew them in, and I forgot about them until I was all done and they were just looking at me, sad and blue.  So the next time I make one I'll remember.

Gotta love that classy mirrored wall we have.  Anyway, this is Simplicity 2211, the Lisette Market blouse.  I cut it out last week and didn't have a moment to spare until Friday after work.  It wasn't difficult at all to sew, but the sleeves gave me trouble, just because I've never done a set-in sleeve (ha! Can't say that again!).  I wore it yesterday to run errands and it was so comfortable!  A tip, though: make the tunic length.  I have the torso of a toddler (seriously.  I go from boobs to hips in three seconds) and it was short on me.

Inspired by Amy at Helen Ethel Studio (seriously, go check it out--gorgeous), I decided to make an Oliver + S pattern though I don't have any kids.  This is the Ice Cream Blouse in Cloud 9's My Happy Nursery fabric.  It's a size 5, so I'll probably give it to my parent's neighbor's daughter (whom I babysat from the time she could crawl), but I'm worried her sassy self will tell me it looks like "boy fabric."  I'm on the hunt for something girly and fun (without being tacky) to make the Ice Cream dress for her before I visit in June.

This photo reminds me: I need to buy some hooks at Target tonight.  My sewing photos are pitiful.

What was everyone up to this weekend?  How was everyone's Easters?  We don't really celebrate but the weather was gorgeous and perfect for a weekend outside.