Some Interesting Things I Found on the Web...

I have a number of blogs I check out on a regular basis. Mostly sewing, upcycling, and vintage/retro related. Here are just a few:


Blog For Better Sewing: A sewing and vintage related site which was started by a gal who found a Vogue sewing book called Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing. It promises you will be a better sewing if you make all of the garments outlined in the book. This gal, Girtie, has searched for the vintage patterns and is in the process of sewing up each garment.

What I Found: This has vintage/reto related fashion stuff and is somewhat interesting provided you like that sort of thing. I love the old fashions, especially the ones from the 30's and 40's, so I really enjoy what she has to offer.

Craftzine: There are frequent posts here, mostly craft related but with enough good ideas that it's worth checking out.

Wardrobe Refashion: A site that focuses on reworking garments, whether from your own closet, a thrift store or some source other than new. Great ideas for reusing things you may have but no longer fit or are out of style.

Sew I Thought: This gal has a real knack for seeing potential in garments which look completely outdated and otherwise uninspiring.


There are a number of other sites I check regularly, including Threadbanger, but these are good for a start.

Let me know what you think.

Barbie Clothes

I used to play with Barbies and even made a few articles of clothing from time to time, but never one like this...until a few years ago. Thought I'd share it. This is an outfit made for Silkstone Barbie and Fashion Royalty dolls, not the standard Barbies. Check out more photos here: Doll Outfit

I Love it When...

...the sewing techniques of a garment make the inside look as nice as the outside! The left portion of this photo shows the inside of a dress made of linen and silk with a cotton lining. Don't you just love natural fibers! It was even sewn using silk and cotton threads, not polyester. I love the bias tape finishes on the edges.

It really makes one feel special when they glance at the inside of a garment as they slip it on and see these sorts of details. This is how couture is done...nicely finished!

My Personal Bucket List and Other Misc Stuff...

One of the bloggers I check out from time to time mentioned her "bucket list". It got me thinking...what would I choose to include should I make my own. I've decided I need to create my personal bucket list. I know this will be an ongoing, ever changing list which will most likely be more of a long term to do list, or at least will at first be that.

On another note, I've decided to start referencing things I've found and like from other blogs and websites. I love to show the many great tips, tricks, ideas and cool stuff I find when I check out the various blogs and sites I monitor to my friends and family but it seems I never quite get around to telling/showing most of it until long after I find them, if at all. I may even think I have told someone only to discover later, they have no idea what I am talking about. So, sharing on my blog, the many interesting things I find seems only logical. I'm not sure yet, what format I will use, but plan on using this space for that purpose as well as a place to share what I have been up to, thinking about and planning. Stay tuned...




Change of topic...what is up with Late Night TV?!?!!! It appears the craziness is just about to settle down. I have been following it as it's been unfolding...mostly because I work at the company responsible for the debacle. I find the whole thing a bit baffling. When I first heard they were going to give The Tonight Show to Conan and move Jay to 10pm I thought it was an extremely BAAADDD idea! Oh well, that's not the area of the company I work in and I was not involved with that in any way, shape or form...sad situation though. (If you want to read about late night TV, check out Nikki Fink's site: Deadline Hollywood

Retro, Glamourous Giveaway, AHHHH!!!

I absolutely adore vintage/retro stuff, especially from the 30's and 40's. I always say, "I must have had a fabulous life in the 30's and 40's!" I tend to be drawn to pretty much everything from that time period, the clothing, cars, architecture, movies, you name it, I pretty much love it. As it turns out, I am not alone. I found a fantastic website/blog of a gal who not only loves this sort of thing but pretty much lives it. She wears clothing which could have come straight out of that time period, parties as if it were 1940, and stays true to the era. My kind of gal! Anyway, she is offering a giveaway which, of course, would appear to come from that time period. Check it out!

Glamorous Giveaway

My Son's First Film...for Film Class

My son is a student at a local college, taking a film class which required the completion of a film. (I know, you're thinking, 'how odd that one would create a film, in film class.')

He worked very hard, staying within the parameters given for the project. There was to be no sound recorded during filming-all sound was post filming. The finished project (excluding titles) was to be no longer than one minute...not one minute and one second, one minute only! A tough accomplishment considering he has to convey the message his film in such a limited timeframe.

He shot using an old Russian 16mm camera we bought off eBay. By using this camera instead of a digital camera, the requirement of needing film came into play as did developing and something called telecine. Of course there was also much editing capabilities involved, as well as...money...my money, since he is a starving student! Actually he isn't starving, I feed him too!

Alas, I am now broke...take a look at the end result: April's Voice

Never enough time!!

The holidays are here, I have not finished one gift and I'm exhausted!! So what else is new... My plan was good, I had every intention of making many gifts for Christmas this year. Bags, scarves, ornaments, crazy little doo-dads, etc. As they say, "the best made plans..." Actually, I believe I will look at it another way. Perhaps I'm not late, I'm actually very early...I'm working on gifts for next year!! I have tons of time to get my gifts made...for next year...right?!?!!! I keep thinking life will settle down a bit and I will be able to get a handle on things, but it just isn't happening. Oh well, shooting for next year...

On a separate note, I saw a screening of "It's Complicated"...not bad, started out slow but ended up being somewhat cute. Light, fluffy movie. Go see it if you want a 'feel good' movie.

On another separate note, was having lunch yesterday and noticed, sitting at the table next to us, Elisabeth Rohm. I didn't care for her much in 'Angel', but have enjoyed her a lot in her more recent roles.

Toodles!!

My Mini wants to be a race car when she grows up...

While driving around in my new Mini Cooper something occurred to me...my Mini wants to be a race car! Why else would she have not one but two racing stripes. She's just an itty bitty thing (I actually had trouble finding her in the parking lot yesterday due to her tiny size!), and must long to be more like her cousin's, the BMW's. I know, BMW's aren't race cars either, but they most likely have more vvvrrrroooooom than Mini. I support Mini's desire to be a race car, after all, we must not squash the dreams of loved ones. I just hope she stays out of trouble with the law! Don't need any tickets. ...if she decides racing is not for her, she could always consider the Fire Department, she has the appropriate coloring!!

Things I did on Saturday...

10:00 - breakfast
11:00 - bought car
12:30 - got hair done

I know, seems a bit crazy to get my hair done after buying a new car. :) Of course the car thing was not planned. After breakfast, while driving home to drop off my SO (significant other) Craig, he points out a cute little red and white Mini Cooper sitting at the Audi dealership. (He also mentioned the price!) I was intrigued since I have been thinking it would be nice to have a smaller car which would fit easily into our already over packed garage.

On the way to breakfast, I noticed a Smartcar, down the street from the Audi dealership. The cost of the Smartcar was more than I wanted to pay. Besides, it seems a bit too small, my claustrophobia might set in.

Upon hearing about the Mini, I flipped a "U" and zipped back to the dealership. I had a little over an hour to do this, if it was going to get done. I test drove it. It seemed like a pretty decent car...perhaps I should buy it?!?!!! Everything about it seemed to fit my needs perfectly. I told the salesman I needed to be gone by noon, so I didn't miss my appointment! I kept telling everyone I was dealing with, I must not miss my hair appointment! After all, I must look good, if I don't look good, I lose my job, if I lose my job, I can't pay for my new car!!! (Of course this is not exactly factual, but who cares!)

They asked if I wanted to put anything down...nope! (They asked this several times, my answer was always the same.) Then they said the lender wanted to speak with me. The lender wanted to know about "my car loan" with my credit union. "Why was I needing another loan?" I told them I have no car loans, I have pinks slips for my vehicles. They decided there wasn't an issue and since I previously had a car loan with this same lender, I was a good candidate for another loan.

I signed what seemed like an endless amount of paperwork, and off I went to my hair appointment.

My initial reasons for wanting the Mini Cooper were its size and affordability, but as it turns out, it is so much fun to drive!!! Been looking rather stylish in my new ride!!! Oh yeah!!

Feeling the need to create!!

Been feeling the need to create, yet again...still working on a couple of scarves. There just isn't enough time in the day to compete the many things I want to do. Every time I plan to be creative, something comes up which requires my time and I find myself pushing the "creative" part of my world to somewhere in the distant future. This is not good for me...I need to create!!! I have so many ideas, lots of fabrics and supplies...just not enough time. Isn't that always the case?!?!!! Either you have no money (resources) or no time!!! One thing I have not done is, give up. I shall find time...I shall find time...I SHALL FIND TIME!!! {{{calming down now!}}}

Welcome to my blog...

...where I will share blatherings off the top of my head, a few thoughts which probably took a bit more time to draft and still others which may just be rants.

I have been sewing since the age of nine and most recently have been drawn to the craft of "upcycling" which in taking something which in many cases is no longer a desired piece and altering it to create something new and useful. I love uniqueness and shy away from appearing like everyone else.

I work in the entertainment industry which simply means I am living on the outskirts of Tinsel Town and does not mean I am in any way a heavy hitter in the industry. I, like scads and scads of others (most of those in the industry) work at keeping it going with little say of how things are actually run. As a result, I find the need to be creative, have true creative freedom, away from what provides the funding for my true passion.

Again, welcome to my blog!

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about leaning to dance in the rain!"