Yum, Cupcakes

This past weekend, I made the cupcake recipe from Glamour magazine's new cookbook. First off, these are delicious! The batter is made with a dark beer in it and the frosting.... oh, the frosting is made with Bailey's. Yes, I'll be making these again. The recipe calls for making 10 but I would make 12 from now on. I'm kind of hoping for a get together with friends sometime soon just so I can bring dessert!!

Happiness is New Summer Sandals

Super cute turquoise sandals on an 80+ degree day? Umm, yes please! Thank you Target. And no worries, I won't be matchy matchy with the polish color in the future.

Bracelets for a Cause

Have you read anything about the latest Craft Hope project? They are collecting bracelets for orphans in Russia. They updated their post to say they are taking any kind of bracelet. And with Vanessa's tutorial in hand and some spare t-shirts, I thought I'd contribute to the cause.
I whipped up these and just need to get them in the mail now. I hope they can bring a little bit of sunshine to some young person's life.

Easter Day

Happy Easter! Hope you have a magical day celebrating.

Shopping for Patterns

I'm going to an outdoor wedding this summer. It is in June and will most likely be crazy hot. I'm thinking about potential dresses.... something attractive, pretty but not too pretty. You know, don't want to ever outshine a bride! Although I've looked on Loft and Banana Republic, I'm also contemplating making something (isn't it a joy to sew? You can make something charming and different!!). So far, the patterns I'm considering are:

• This one by Colette. Although I think it might be too much at the natural waist. I do better with the waist slightly higher.
• This also by Colette. I'm just not totally sold on the pattern, probably in part because of Jessica's review.
• This pattern by Vogue. I just hate that they only have drawings.
• And I really like this one.

Decisions, decisions.... any thoughts?

Etsy Loves

File this under things known about me... I adore Etsy and could spend hours pouring through the various shops. What people can do amazes me and I love the possibilities. A few current favorites are...

• This lovely letter S. It would compliment my collection so nicely.
  
• These lovely canisters which would be sewing room perfect.
• This sign of all that is good.
• My love for vintage-y bracelets might become legendary. Really, it seems like I can't leave a flea market without one.
  
• The simplicity of this necklace (of course with an S).
• Compared to the brilliance of this necklace, which I continue to drool over.
• And, although I have no where to put it, I love this bench for a front hall. And do you see the map above it? And the tool box underneath? Drool again.
  
• And there is a part of me that would love to hang this in the bathroom. Or maybe this one?
• And all of the eye charts in this shop? Gaga!

Oh thank you Etsy for constant inspiration. If only my wallet could keep up!

The Pretty Obligation

I went to JoAnn's this weekend to purchase the Denyse Schmidt line they have currently. Joke is on me.... my JoAnn's doesn't have it and didn't even know what I was talking about. Boo! I did pick up a few other crafty things because a trip to JoAnn's calls for exploring and purchasing random stuff. There is a certain formula I believe:

Trip to JoAnn's = $3 random wreath + sale flower + $2 small chalkboards + 1/4 yard of fabric = randomness + fun

I made this wreath for my apartment door because I was bored with what I had hanging. My door is at the end of the hallway so everyone has to look at it sometime. I have a sense of obligation to make it look pretty. Certainly, that ugly brown color doesn't do anything to make things look good. But faux flowers do! And so it is.... until it changes again.

Thrifting Finds

I went to visit a sorority sister this weekend and we went thrifting. Oh, I love thrifting with others. And scoring delightful finds like these bracelets. Or, as they were marked Ivory "bangles" - I'm not sure why the quotes were needed but they were there....
And this delightful little owl brooch. I love the turquoise accents on him.
And these two awesome tins. I almost bought just the tea one but for $4 each, I had to have coffee too. And I could almost hear Amy yelling at me for not getting both so I listened and came home with both!
How happy am I? (Answer: a lot.)

Creativity Comes in Different Packages

Photo by a.rosy.outlook on Flickr.

I had grandiose plans for more sewing after finishing my pouch for the bathroom. And what do you know but life has gotten in the way. Saturday was an outing with a friend and a dinner with some lovely folks, Sunday I was under the weather and Monday was another dinner out.

Luckily, I did manage to indulge my creative side with some photo taking yesterday. Rosy and I took a longer walk around the neighborhood, checking out all of the blooming going on. I took the point and shoot and used the marco setting to do a bunch of close-up on flowers. I'm loving how the photo of these tulips came out, especially the hints of orange and red below.

Tonight I have a lot to accomplish to prepare for a number of things over the rest of the week. But maybe if I'm organized, I'll sneak a little creativity in there....

I Heart Organization

Temperamental machine! After giving my sewing machine a little time to get over its temper tantrum jam, I tried again. And SUCCESS! I managed to finish my project.My bathroom has very little storage (seriously, who designs a bathroom without storage including no medicine cabinet?) so I'm always looking for ways to increase my spacial organization. Now, products that were sitting on the ledge at the end of the tub have a pretty and more hidden home attached to the end of the vanity.
Now, I'm thinking of making a small matching runner to put on the top of the toilet tank to pull things all together a little more....

Ahh sewing, I'm glad we are playing together again!

Jam. No Peanut Butter.

Last night I dusted off the old sewing machine to work on a project for the bathroom. I have absolutely no storage in there and thought a little pouch, secured to the vanity with those easy-to-remove-when-you-move hooks would be perfect for adding a little storage space. Scraps and batting in hand, I sewed. It was good to spend some time with the machine. That is, right up until she jammed. I cleaned out the jammed thread and some dust and tried again. Jam. Take part of the bottom off, dust and oil. Jam. Play with the tension. Jam. Take part of the top off, dust and oil. Jam. Retire for the night before tossing machine out the window.

It might be time for a new machine. Because although my little lovely (Who has no name. How could I not name her? Maybe that's why she jammed?) is fabulous she is also a cheapo model. And after a little tune up from my uncle, she'd be a good back up machine. So, I guess I'm accepting nominations for models in the $200 range. And until I get a new machine or magic overtakes my current one, I guess my project will languish on my kitchen table.....

Mini {Home} Break

I've been on staycation for the last few days. I had to take a couple of vacation days or risk losing them. So, I've had a few good days for errands, spring cleaning and relaxing. I had intended to sew a bit too but other things seemed to take over my schedule. The good news is my home in crazy clean, an article for an online professional publication is submitted, I've exercised and all of the laundry is clean. Oh, and I made a plethora of those bracelets from the last post.... since I'm seeing sorority sisters in a week, bracelets for everyone!

One of the side benefits of time off is that I cook more. After trips to Whole Foods, Acme and Trader Joe's, I have plenty of groceries in the house! I made this dish for dinner tonight. It's a take off of this recipe but with less oil, more garlic and added grape tomatoes.
I'd add more veggies the next time. Perhaps some snow peas or peppers?

I wish I had thought to take a bit more time this week. It's been nice to just relax and not be checking email or worrying about work. However, I have a few more vacation days coming up next week.... can't wait!

Bracelet Crafting 101

I'm lucky I work in a field where extra t-shirts are common place. I saw this tutorial from V and Co. and figured "Heck, my supplies are free. Let's make one! (Or 2. Or 3. Just saying....)" So I brought 2 of the extra shirts from our office basement home this weekend and cut and braided today.
The picture tutorial confused me a bit but the video she did is excellent in walking you through everything. And seriously, they can done in about five minutes! What's better?
I made two already. I have a white shirt I might cut up too. And I have enough pink fabric left to make at least one more for a friend. Now to decide who would like it best.....