• So many things going on! I’ve been keeping myself busy and checking things off my to-do list. Maybe I’m crazy but I’ve already started Christmas shopping – mainly little things for the 12 Days of Christmas I’m doing for my mom and bf. I even made the little numbers for the bags!

got a few sheets of scrap booking paper (some had great patterns on both sides) and 2 things of 99-cent ribbon – cut them freehand – they’ll be stapled to brown lunch bags

• I spray painted a Breyer horse! He hangs out on the radiator in the hallway. (I found a lil 1/2 size can of gloss white Rustoleum for $3 at Ben Franklin and used the whole thing.)

• I made that crispy potato roast everyone pinned. Of course I added bacon and topped with cheese later. It was delicious but took almost 2 hours to bake! This is 4 baking potatoes and 4 shallots sliced with their bits stuck between each slice.

• I met up with some bitchin broads in Colonial Williamsburg for brunch!

It was hard not to shove that adorable cup and saucer in my purse!

cheese and more cheese…

and even MORE cheese…

I had a great time with these ladies! Laura, Jen, (me) and Victoria

• My new favorite weekend running around outfit – got the top at Marshalls for $5 over my fave tank from Target, Old Navy Rock Star jeggings and some old as hell coppery woven flats from when Isaac Mizrahi was still at Target.

• So I told you guys I was sewing that dog costume for a “friend”. Well the more I thought about it, the more pissed I got. Thing is, I hadn’t heard from the chick in almost 3 years. I had even deleted her from my Facebook in one of those fits of getting rid of people I never talk to. I had been getting an itch to sew and the bf kinda pressured me to be “nice” when she asked me so I agreed. She never offered to pay me either. Then the feelings of anxiety and anger began to rise in me – imagining all the work and ALL the grey fur that would’ve covered my apartment for days. I also have a ton of stuff I need to do. Then, I saw one of those things on Pinterest that said “A real friend doesn’t only call you when they need something.” That was it. I was done. I told her I couldn’t do it and OMG I feel so much better.   (And she never wrote me back.) So yeah, saying NO is good thing.

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… he will try to destroy it because he was so excited about you sewing, that you’re lucky you even got it made. He now has a thirst for plaid fabric and he’s hell bent on denying you a good picture.

Your boyfriend will try to help distract him so you can finally get a half-way decent shot.

Then you will promptly take it off so he doesn’t rip it to shreds. A half-hour of work for 2 pictures. This is my life.

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I’ve had the sewing itch for a while now but I couldn’t think of anything I wanted to make. I have enough pillows and they’re kinda boring to sew. Then, a few days ago an old friend emailed me asking if I could make her Halloween costume. She wants to be Wilfred the dog:

How cute right?

I need to get her measurements and we’re going to pick out furry fabric in a couple weeks. The pattern I’m using, I’ve already made 2 costumes from. Here’s my friend Bobby and I from 2008. I was a hamster.

It’s soooo easy and you can customize it in a lot of ways!

purchase here

Soooo anyhow, this costume will be quick and I still have a desire to make something for myself. I’ve been checking out all the Spring 2012 shows coming in and I saw this top by Badgley Mischka. I am totally doing this.

I’ve never made my own pattern that required lining. I need to figure out how this puzzle is going to get put together. Brainstorming time.  Maybe a hidden side zip and sew the tie flaps into the side seams. A light synthetic blend linen? I think I’m actually going to have to sew a muslin/prototype first.

Wish me luck!

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I’m getting excited about Fall! Here’s a collection of easy ideas (you know I like easy) to start planning for:

Pumpkin gnocchi and Gorgonzola sauce – I wanted to make these w/ brown butter and sage last year and still have a can of pumpkin in my pantry. Ridiculous. You can just roll the gnocchi on a fork.

If you leave that can in your pantry like me, try a hydrating pumpkin face mask!

felt leaf garland

apple slices – I’d like to do caramel and chopped nuts

I love purple for Fall – via

pet bow tie!

two bite pumpkin pies

cowl scarf

crispy potato roast

teapot

2 bundt cakes – some I’ve seen were completely iced orange. This drip effect is nice though… just more! :)

Kelly of Let’s Die Friends made this awesome wreath! Love it!

Here are some of my favorite Halloween ideas:

via

hand soap

love this pumpkin idea! Mouse Motel!

tarantula in acrylic – the bf got me one for Christmas. His name is Oscar and he lives on my bedroom mantle!

A great idea if you work in an office and want to be subtly disgusting.

candy corn bath bomb

What are YOU planning to do around the house for this Fall season?

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• I would never get a formal engagement photo done but this whole zombie concept is fantastic and I’d love it for a wedding pic. I can’t take formal pictures seriously. (source and the whole amazing series here)

• So I gave myself that shopping ban… failing to admit that I won’t be able to stay away from thrifting once in a while. I scored on Tuesday! This bitchin vintage ski jacket was in the men’s section but fit me. It’s from the ooooold Montgomery Ward. So cute and in perfect condition.

I also learned that some Goodwills are buying Target’s extra stock and selling it. I got these brand new shoes as well. $15 total.

• My friend Marisa came to visit last week from Austin, after grabbing her man up in NY. It was super nice to meet him and see her for a few hours. We ate at the new 821 but this kitty is at the entrance to the old one down the block.

pic by Marisa after me yelling, “Take a picture of the kitty!”

• When I was little I collected Breyer horses I’d find at antique shows my parents took me to. It was a ton of fun until my dad kinda ruined the thrill of the hunt by getting me a huge box of them for dirt cheap at the local flea market. Anyhow, they’re all in his garage attic and I really need him to get them out for me. I have to do this to just one:

via

• So much laundry to do after my parents got their power back (9 days later!). I do our laundry there during the week and between the 4 of us and all our clothes, towels and bedding… omg. I seriously did laundry from 8am until 4pm and I’m still not done.

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Has Christian Louboutin been perusing the aisles of Michael’s crafts?

$1,595!!!!

From the 2011 Sept issue of Harper’s Bazaar

So, uhm, yeah… if any of you want something like this, let me know. I can make this happen and it won’t be $1600.

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Well, right after I wrote about those yarn trees, I went ahead and carried my butt to Michael’s Crafts on Sunday afternoon and got what I needed. Those cones cost more than I thought they would – about $14 for 3 in different sizes. It’s freakin foam! This is where I get frustrated at DIY projects when you can find a lot of things already made, cheaper than the supplies at the store. I really wanted to do this though and it wasn’t that bad. There’s probably a cheaper source out there somewhere.

Anyhoo… here are the supplies:

3 cones, acrylic yarn, flat top pins, 2 multi-packs of pom poms.

Someone’s ready to get into those pom poms! (Don’t worry… he totally did.)

I was disappointed with the pom pom selection. I had a certain color scheme in mind but I wasn’t paying out the ass for felted wool balls in muted hues. So things turned out more bright and festive. Whatever, they’re cute. They came out kinda kitschy, like stuff my mom made in the 70s, and I’m totally okay with that!  Now I need to find some sweet deer figurines to hang with my trees and it’s good to go!

• Start at the widest end with a small knot and pin the yarn every inch or so for the first wrap, so it doesn’t slip off.
• Wrap an even layer of yarn over the entire cone (green cones are great so any small gaps aren’t obvious).
• Then get silly wrapping yarn up and down in zigzags, filling in any gaps you may see in the process.
• I made it back to the top and coiled the yarn on the tip, pinning it as much as I needed.
• Push pins through pom poms (they sink into the fluff and don’t show) and pin them where you want.
• I had some wooded stars and gold paint already, glued toothpicks to the backs and painted them. Stabbed em into the trees! Done!

That paint is awful to get out of brushes so I dabbed it on with q-tips!

You can pick any color scheme and I’m pretty stoked that this only cost about $20 and maybe 2 hours of my time on the sofa to have a cute little mantle decoration I’ll use for years.

So there you have it! One thing marked off my small list for this week AND I did something for Christmas! This heat is frying my brain, you guys.

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Summer, I mean.

I don’t know what’s going on but I’ve gotten into a funk. It’s too hot and humid to do anything and not be miserable. I’m uninspired to dress in anything but tees/tanks, rolled up jeans and sandals/sneakers. Don’t get me wrong, I love warm weather waaaay more than freezing weather but sweet baby jesus has this summer been gross or what?

I feel like all I talk about on my blog is nails. Sorry about that. I need some inspiration!

Here are some things I want to do this week:

• Go to my favorite Goodwill. It’s been too long.
• Look at all the Fall 2011 Couture and Resort 2012 shows.
• Go through my collection of DIY ideas and pick at least something to make.

Don’t hate me for thinking about Christmas this early but these look easy enough:

via

There’s no real tutorial but duh! Foam cones in varied shapes wrapped in yarn (will probably pin ends of yarn to secure), multi-pack of pom poms discretely pinned on (forget messy glue) and some gold stars attached w/ toothpicks.

** I actually made them last night! Will share soon!

And a reminder about the 3-year blogiversary:

I have 2 people lined up to add things to the goodies in exchange for free ad space in the month of September. If you’re interested, read this and let me know!

Happy Monday y’all!

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I love to sew and actually sold a ton of my own sundresses at the very first Need here in Richmond, when it was called Blues. (I frequently kick myself in the ass for not keeping that up.)

Now, I’ll make the occasional pillow and hem or mend something. Major clothing ideas pop in my head all the time but I never get off my but and make anything happen. I keep thinking that I MUST have a dress form to do what I want correctly. Then I wonder if that would just be a crazy expense for something I’ll probably get bored of quickly, like I usually do with crafty endeavors.

It’s nice knowing how to do some basic things though and if you’re feeling helpless to alter your own clothing, fear not. Here are some things every person should have tucked away in a tidy box and basic tips for attacking that mending pile I know you have! (If you have a sewing machine, you probably already have these supplies and a basic grip on sewing. Here, I’m talking about hand-sewing to save yourself in an emergency and avoid paying a tailor.)

• All those buttons that come attached to your clothing – save them. Even if you never need to replace them, you may be able to use them for something else.
• a pair of new cheap scissors you only use for sewing
• pinking shears – scissors that cut in a zig-zag pattern and will keep tightly woven fabrics from unraveling (most expensive sewing supply – you can find them the cheapest on eBay – only needed if you plan on hemming pants/skirts and don’t have a serge stitch or serger)
• a small pack of needles in various sizes (smaller for delicate fabrics, larger for denim, etc)

• tailor’s chalk/pencil in blue & white for light and dark fabrics – this brushes/washes off

• hem gauge – use with the chalk – it is a lifesaver!

• seam ripper

• pins (I like longer ones with colored heads)

• tape measure

• A few spools of poly thread (won’t shrink) – in basic colors like white, black, brown, navy, beige, red…
• iron-on hem tape for emergencies.

All of this should cost less than $30 if you shop smart and I swear, you could sew anything with ease with these simple supplies.  Everything else is just a gimmicky gadget. I still haven’t found a thimble that didn’t drive me insane.

There are a ton of tutorials out there with fancy pics so I’m not going to teach you but here are some universal tips.

• Before you do anything, launder and iron your new clothing for shrinkage.
• If you have taken a hem out or pinned up a hem, iron before every step!
• Try on your pants with the shoes you plan to wear with them when you pin.
• Fold under and pin one leg at the length you want, in front of a mirror. Take your time. Since you’re bending over, you may have to do it a few times to get it perfect.
• Take the pants off and fold them in half perfectly and match the other leg to the one you pinned.
• Unless you have a serger or a (decent looking) stretch stitch on your regular sewing machine leave stretchy fabrics to professionals, unless it’s a quick mend.
• When hemming by hand, you want to do stitches that are teeny and barely catch the facing fabric and are well-spaced. a short video here
• Hemming jeans should be saved for a sewing machine. Match the color of thread to the original contrasting thread and practice your stitch length on a scrap first.

If you have any questions about sewing, feel free to leave a comment!

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After a week of kitten, we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I cleaned up the bookmarks on my laptop and found a bunch of random things from etsy and figured they were worth a share:

Homako – These would be an easy diy with felt scraps, some sort of backing and felt glue.

Silvia66 – I know it’s getting hot but this is also an easy diy. I mean, it’s chunky un-knitted yarn!

AudraJean – I really want a harness to dress up a boring tank this summer.$89

Debbie Carlos – giant poster prints done on architectural printers. I’ve used them before and the finish and large format is so much fun! $50

Kiva Ford – the teeniest hand blown glass pieces!

High Street Vintage – affordable little prints from vintage sources

and a shout out to the lovely Katie of  Mitu Vintage who takes great care in finding beautiful vintage goods- washing, repairing and researching ! Follow her fun personal blog, twitter and check out her etsy shop!

Who’s your favorite etsy seller? Do you have a shop of your own?

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