It Really Happened

I turned 30..

Alice in Wonderland

I stumbled up the blog Tie One On a year ago, I bookmarked it, I stalked it, I liked the challenges, I admired the aprons that came out of them.  

Now I am going to try one.  I am always up for some good healthy competition. And what better way to enforce blog updating?  Oh and get better at sewing. The theme:  Alice in Wonderland due May 1, 2010.  What a perfect start since I adore Alice in Wonderland.  I was her for Hallowe'en three years ago. 

I wish I knew how to sew back then and I wish I was still that size.  Did Alice in Wonderland drink beer?  I think I am on to something.

Three Week Shopcation

How do bloggers do it? How do they stay on top of their blogs.  Perhaps I need to schedule it into my outlook (aka my lifeline).  We are moving locations at work next week, I am planning a three week vacation, a baby shower, a birthday get-together, prepping for my thirties, planning on winning the biggest loser competition at work...where is there time to blog?  I need to make time.  I will make time.  My accomplishments need to be documented - how else will I know if I am getting better?  So as I publicly convince myself the importance of this blog I will also publicly commit to updating it on a regular basis.  You are totally interested.  All three of my followers (slightly embarrassing - more so that I am one of those three).  

Let's back track.  When I am not sewing - I am planning a three week trip here

It's beautiful right?  We will also make a stop for a few nights here (because I really need it)

There are many more stops on the itinerary - but I will save those for another post.  However, I do plan on getting in some fabric shopping don't you worry. My interest in sewing sprouted while living in Vietnam.  Having your clothes costumed made is amazing.  I always wanted to be able to make my own clothes.  Now that I can sew - I regret I didn't start while in Vietnam.  The city I lived in had countless fabric shops that I only wish I had access to now.  Needless to say - I have definite intentions to ship a box full of fabric home.  Goosebumps you ask?  Hell yes.


Speaking of goosebumps,  I am most excited for shopping here. My past visit to Hoi An was brief - this time we will be staying for two nights.  SIGH.

 

Oh and enough about my trip - we had a secret admirer day at work for Valentine's day.  Check out what I whipped up for my lucky valentine.  Pretty sweet if I do say so myself.

Man I really need to get a dress-form to show off my stuff. 

I Heart Amy Butler

I have a confession to make.  A confession I would assume most sewists/sewers (which one is grammatically correct?) can attest to.  I am head over heals in love with Amy Butler.  Well not with Amy Butler herself - I know nothing about her - but her fabrics and her patterns.  When looking for inspiration - I browse her site admiring the amazing colours and designs.  I then find myself on Esty.  I then immediately get depressed because I can't afford such beautiful fabric.  Damn you Amy Butler and your great fabric at ridiculous prices. And damn you Fabric Land for not selling her products in your stores so I could at least get 25% off.  

Well - for my upcoming 30th 21st birthday I am going to treat myself to this pattern:

 

Apparently I have a new obsession - bags! Since I conquered my first bag it's all I can think about.  Every occasion calls for a bag and why not a NEW bag?  You always need a bag. Especially in Toronto where you are required to pay 5 cents for a plastic one. Anyhow -  I am in the works of planning a three week South East Asian (S.E.A) getaway next month and am definitely going to need a large bag to tote around my things. This bag will also require being big enough to hold my daily shopping finds.  Not that I have that kind of problem - you just never know when you are going to find something great. What a perfect time to A) buy a new pattern B) sew a new bag and most importantly C) shop for new fabric.  The thought of all this gives me goosebumps.

The only problem - fabric choices.  From what I can see on the website this bag requires three coordinating fabrics.  Troi Oi (equivalent to OMG)! I have a hard enough time finding two coordinating fabrics let alone three that go together.  Luckily the sellers on Etsy have done most of the footwork for me.  

Idea #1

I really like the light blue/grey combination.  For the lining I would most likely choose a solid fabric in either blue or the greenie gold colour of the flower.  I really think this would make a beautiful bag - but I do worry about how dirty it would get in three weeks travelling around S.E.A.

  

Idea # 2
I love the green colour on both these fabrics.  I especially love the dark brown.  For the lining I would use a solid gold colour to match the flowers or perhaps a solid pink to make it a little more girlie? The brown definitely wouldn't show as much dirt but it's not as pretty as the first fabric combo.  Although this fabric would match my outfits better (not that I have them pre-planned or anything).

Idea #3
Now this fabric is exquisite, don't you think?  It's probably because it's dark.  I love dark clothing. So I defintely see matching potential with this fabric.  This fabric could also be matched with idea number 1 - double bonus.

Do you now understand my dilemma?  Too many choices and too little money.  Please help me!

Stolen Fabric + One Broken Needle = One Awesome Bag

I did it!!  I sewed my first bag.  And I followed the pattern to the T.  Impressed? You'd better be. 

I used this Simplicity 2685 pattern I bought a few months back

 

since I needed a new gym bag (the ones I use are disgraceful and are not meant for the gym) for my new and improved athletic lifestyle.  The only problem - I could never find the right fabric.  Until - Fabric Lands most recent Members only 50% off day.  I was eying up some pretty nice blue-green fabric when a lady notices me.  She then proceeds to hand me a bolt of this beautiful fabric (well at least I think it's beautiful)

 

Regularly $10 a metre - now only $5 pretty sweet deal.  I oh and aw at it the nice pattern and colours with the lady and she then tells me that she bought a few metres a few weeks ago and made an apron for her mother.  Suddenly I have to have an apron made with this fabric - it's only fair.  The lady is now looking at other fabric and I start to walk away in search of coordinating fabrics.  Suddenly I hear "Oh miss I wasn't giving that to you - I was just showing it to you" I respond "Oh were you going to buy it all?  I can give the bolt back to you after I get some cut".  This seems to be ok with her.  As we are in line I start to think about the other great things I can create with this fabric.  Trust me this is not normal - I can spend nearly 3 hours in a fabric store and leave empty handed.  Indecisiveness usually gets the best of me.  So this was indeed an exciting and momentous event.  Without hesitation I tell the cutter lady "Three metres please!"  I then realize the bolt looks pretty empty.  I turn and ask her how much she plans to purchase at this point fully expecting a brawl to break out between me an this lady but the cutter lady intervenes and says there is 6 metres left - phew.  I then tell the lady we can split it - because apparently I now OWN this fabric. Fair right?  I think so.

With my desperate need to look cool at the gym I finally had an opportunity to bust it out.  And I did.  And I created this masterpiece. Pretty impressive if I do say so myself.

 

The pattern was pretty simple.  Perhaps that's why they named their company Simplicity?!   I did run into a few problems wrapping my brain around how to put the lining in at the end - but with some logic I finally figured it out. Oh and there is also an inside zippered pocket that I adore and I feel completely accomplished that I was able to get it in one go.  OK! That's not true.  I completely broke my needle the moment I tried to sew in the Zipper.  But after the changing of needles - we were back in business. Go Emily!

 

I do plan to purchase a button or two to embellish it at some point- but it still looks pretty awesome without it, don't you think?  I'm not sure my gym shoes will fit in it without some effort - but I will make them fit. 

It's sew on!

I started this blog with they intention of documenting my success (frustrations) with learning how to sew. So to recap - I took a 7 week beginners sewing course last year at the sewing studio to teach me the basics. Which was a good thing because I hadn't touched a sewing machine since grade 7.

I then bought this monster of a machine because I was in LOVE.

She's pretty isn't she? She has been a great partner. As soon as we conquered the invisible zipper together I knew we were going to be BFF's. Although sometimes she frustrates me - but we usually are quick to make up (especially if there is wine involved).

Together we sew aprons. Lots and lots of aprons. But we are ready to move on. I want to sew dresses. I want to be able to wear the dresses that I sew. Ok - I also want to sew bags. and curtains. and pillows. To facilitate my learning - I will share with you my successes, my failures, my frustrations and of course my creations.

Please enjoy because there is definitely a sewing revival going on.