Sewing Rocks!

Exciting news on the homefront

2013-09-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

Yup, that's right - I'm pregnant! We were all surprised, but I guess that's how it happens sometimes. Besides feeling tired and a little anxious, I feel fine. I had no morning sickness with Baker and so far none with this one. It should be fairly smooth sailing from here on out as I'm just at the end of my first trimester. I am SO happy that Baker will have a sibling to play with and hopefully not fight with. Haha, yeah right!

As for the big announcement, I searched on Pinterest for ideas. There are SO many! I just did a search for 'pregnancy announcement' and really liked all the chalkboard themed ones. I picked up a chalkboard and some chalk at Office Max. The best thing about this idea, is you can just keep erasing and re-doing it until it's perfect. Or if a certain 2 year old puts his hands all over it! Baker was having one of his moody mornings, so I had to bribe him with a popsicle and make silly sounds to get that smile.

pattern vs. product

2013-05-09T17:13:00.002-07:00

For the past year or so, I have been contemplating selling pattern PDF's instead of my finished products. Now that Etsy has recently announced a new delivery method for digital files here, I am super motivated to get the ball rolling.

I am NOT a graphic designer, so I've got a lot of learning to do. I do know that you need a vector drawing program, like Illustrator, to create patterns digitally. I recently purchased the Classroom in a Book for the Illustrator we have. I've done basic website templates before and learned how to edit the html all on my own. So I feel fairly comfortable in learning new computer tricks. I think I can, I think I can! Right?

Well, so far I just finished the most important chapter that will help me create my patterns into a digital PDF: the pen tool chapter. In case you didn't know, the pen tool can be used to take a scanned image of a drawing or pattern and convert it into a digital format. This is the backbone of digital pattern making. Once I have the pattern converted, I just have to add the instructions and pictures, etc. I still have a LOT of practice to do, but I feel way better than before I started. I actually feel like I can do it!

Here is a very rough draft of a hedgehog I drew with the pen tool. First, I scanned my drawing and then used the pen tool to "trace" the outline. Obviously, it's not done yet. I still have to add the face and body details, and fine tune the curves and lines, but it's getting there! I am so proud though!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE making things and get great satisfaction from it. But what if I could spend a lot of time and effort into a digital file now and then have the opportunity to kind of sit back and reap the rewards? It just seems that almost everyone is a crafter these days, maybe I am in the wrong market of selling finished products. Maybe I would be more successful at selling sewing and embroidery patterns. I know there are lots of etsy sellers doing the same thing. I guess it's worth a try!

What do you think? Would you be more interested in my patterns or would you rather buy my finished product?

Elephants on Etsy

2013-03-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

I am so excited and yes, a little proud, to show you my new nursery pillows just added to my etsy shop...elephants!

I am so happy with how they turned out and they are so much fun to make. These 4 elephant pillows are currently stocked and ready to ship! And in case you missed it, I have a FREE SHIPPING coupon valid now through March 31st. Use the code: SPRING2013 at checkout. Head on over to my shop here!

What do you think of my elephants?

Bye Google Reader, Hello Bloglovin'?

2013-03-19T15:21:00.000-07:00

So it seems that Google Reader is going away, and also the Google Friend Connect. It's not happening until July 1st, but apparently the Friend Connect button is not working already. eek! So how can you follow this blog, or your other go-to blogs? One answer: bloglovin'.

I actually use bloglovin' myself, and I love it! I get an email every day with new and recent posts from the blogs I follow. You can also use it to search for new blogs that might interest you. If you want to follow Sewing Rocks with bloglovin', please do, it's easy. Here is a link below:

That's it for today!

Whoa moment. Ty Pennington fabric!?

2013-03-02T17:39:00.002-08:00

For one reason or another I found myself browsing for fabric on fabric.com, and I came across a new collection from Ty Pennington! What!?! I LOVED him on Trading Spaces years ago, and now he's designing fabric!?

Yes, well apparently I missed the boat on this one. Ty has a 2011 collection and several 2012 collections all for Westminster Fibers, one of my favorite fabric manufacturers! You can view them all here on his website and even get projects and inspiration. Also here is a link to his new collection, Ty Pennington Impressions 2012 on fabric.com, one of my favorite places to buy fabric!

What do you think? Do you like Ty's fabric? Do you remember Trading Spaces?

Free Valentine LOVE Hand Embroidery Pattern

2013-02-14T14:59:00.000-08:00

To celebrate Valentine's Day this year, I have for you a fast and easy project! It does require basic hand embroidery skills, but I mean basic. I plan on tackling some beginner hand embroidery skills in a future post someday, but for now, check out Needle'nThread for dozens of tips and an overall excellent resource.

Supplies:

black embroidery floss
pink embroidery floss
Osnaburg cloth for background (or linen or any solid cotton)
wool felt for heart (or use pink embroidery floss to fill in with satin stitch)
embroidery hoop
embroidery needle
scissors

*Simply download and print pattern with instructions here.

I purchased my pink wool heart from woolhearts on etsy. You can also cut your own or satin stitch a heart.

Happy Valentine's Day!

My weekend: nails to whales

2013-01-20T19:00:00.000-08:00

This weekend started off excellent by getting my massage and mani/pedi that was a Christmas present from my sweetie. Apparently I had some knots in my shoulders! I wish I could get a massage more often...For my nails, I chose a sparkly dark gray by OPI called "Private Jet." On Saturday I enjoyed shopping alone and I picked up a succulent for our kitchen window.

Recently, I have been wanting to go back to blonde hair. I had my hair dyed dark brown recently, so after some research I learned I need to either bleach my hair or use a color fixer to remove the dye before I can lighten it. I opted for the maybe less damaging approach and applied Color Fix. It seemed to work a little bit, and the next step will be going blonde. I plan on tackling that maybe next weekend...

All weekend I worked on finishing up my Christmas ornament orders and also some new whale options! Aren't they cute!?

How was your weekend?

DIY Easy Pillow Cover Tutorial

2012-11-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to have today an easy pillow cover tutorial - no zippers required! Since moving to our new apartment with all white walls, I am looking for other ways to liven up the place without having to paint and re-paint when we move. One fast, easy, and economical solution is to replace throw pillows with bold colors and graphic prints. And pillow covers are even better because they are removable and machine washable! Today's version requires no fussy zipper and features a flanged edge for a little extra style.

Supplies you will need, to make 4 pillow covers:

4 Pillow forms/inserts: 14" x 14"
2 coordinating fabrics (Depending on the width, 1 1/4 yards will give you 2 pillows)
Basic sewing supplies

Instructions:
1) Pre-wash fabric and press.
2) From each fabric cut:

2 squares - 18 1/2" x 18 1/2"
2 rectangles - 18 1/2" x 9" tall
2 rectangles - 18 1/2" x 15" tall

For my fabrics, I chose a leopard print and a solid purple. Both are fine wale corduroys.

3) Fold over and press one long edge of each rectangle piece. I just eyeball the hem at about 3/8". Fold over and press again.

4) For each fabric you should now have a total of 4 pressed rectangle pieces.

5) Stitch pressed hems. Chain stitch for faster results.

6) Place a square piece right side up. Place the larger, 18 1/2" x 15" piece next, right side down. Place the 18 1/2" x 9" piece last, right side down. You now have a sandwich of all 3 pieces, measuring 18 1/2" x 18 1/2".
7) Pin in place and stitch all around with 1/4" seam allowance. Backstitch over hemmed edges.

8) Clip corners. Turn right side out and press.

9) Stitch all around, 1 1/2" from pressed edge.
10) Insert pillow form through opening. Repeat for all pillow covers.

It's amazing what a small change, like new pillows, can make in a room! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and would love to hear your comments. Happy Sewing!

little jailbird

2012-11-01T07:52:00.001-07:00

This year I made my first Halloween costume for my son, who will be 2 in December.

I think it turned out really cute and was super easy! I had this striped fabric sitting around for who knows how long, so I'm glad I finally got to put it to use. All I did was use an existing pair of pants and shirt for the pattern and traced around it, adding seam allowances. The hat was pretty easy too - a long strip equal to the circumference of his head, with a circle in the middle. That took only 2 tries to get it right ;) And the finishing touch are the birthday prison numbers.

Maybe next year I will actually take more pictures of the costume making process! Sorry guys, I'm still new at this blogging thing.

How was your Halloween?

it's that time of year...again

2012-10-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

Every year at this time, I regret not planning for Christmas sooner. I know it's still October, but if you have an etsy shop, do bazaars, or just make a lot of your Christmas presents, time is running out! Maybe I am being a little anxious about this ;) What do you think?

This past week, I did manage to get my etsy shop stocked with some inventory I dug out of moving boxes. I also listed some Christmas items! (shocking)...


Boys Christmas Vest

I also found all my fabric to make these personalized ornaments. These were so popular last year I almost couldn't keep up...

I have another idea for these personalized ornaments in the works. Let's hope I don't run out of time!

Are you ready for Christmas this year?

Sewing Machine Confidential: Rachael from imagine gnats

2012-10-01T04:33:00.000-07:00

Introducing ~ Rachael from imagine gnats

Rachael from imagine gnats is here today sharing with us the nitty gritty on her sewing machines! Be sure to check out her blog filled with lots of great tutorials, embroidery resource links, and a fun sewalong called "shorts on the line."

1) What was your first ever Sewing Machine? When and how did you get it?
i grew up watching my mom sew, mostly clothing for me and my siblings when i was very young and then quilts as i got older. i never did much sewing as a kid, the requisite barbie clothes (i.e. tubes of fabric) but not much else. in my early twenties, i started doing some hand sewing and found myself interested in garment construction and wanting to try bigger projects. i received my first sewing machine in 2001 as a gift for my birthday, sewed with it exclusively until i upgraded earlier this year, and it still functions as my back-up machine. (kenmore model 385 machine)

2) What machine(s) do you use now? What type of sewing is it used for (ex: quilting, apparel, home dec, etc. or all of the above)?
my current machine is a singer heavy duty model 4423. i use it for a wide range of projects: garment sewing, quilting (more piecing than actual quilting), bags/accessories, plush, home dec, and with a variety of fabrics as well.

3) What are your least/most favorite features of your machine(s)?

most favorite:
-Fully Automatic 1-Step Buttonhole - all i can say is YAY buttonholes. i've always been afraid of them (probably b/c they were so difficult on my previous machine) , but the one step automatic buttonhole is a breeze.
-Top Drop-in Bobbin - definitely quicker to thread than with the upright bobbin, and i like that it's easier to see when the bobbin thread is low.
-Stainless Steel Bed Plate - fabrics feed evenly through the machine, everything from voile to multiple layers of duck cloth.
-Adjustable Stitch Length & Width - a must for me on any machine. the ability to alter the width to change needle position improves accuracy and enables me to also make very even and well-placed top stitches.
-Heavy Duty Metal Frame for skip-free sewing - the stitch quality on this machine is fantastic. even the bobbin stitches come out looking perfect every time with no thread bunching, clumping, etc.

least favorite:

-23 Built-In Stitches - this is not the machine for someone who wants a wide range of decorative stitches. out of the 23 available, i probably only use half of them.

-Drop Feed for free motion sewing - i have not yet used this feature of my machine (just thought i'd confess that).

other things that make me successful in my sewing (in conjunction with my machine):

-using the right needle and specialized presser feet (especially for knits and heavy materials).

-having a drop-in sewing machine table, which allows me more surface area while sewing.

what i wish my machine had: more space under the arm.

4) If you were to go buy a brand new Sewing Machine today, what would it be?

honestly, i don't know. most likely a Janome, but i couldn't tell you which model. and i would probably only consider it if i were to start quilting more often. for now, i'm extremely happy with my singer.

5) Do you have any advice for that first-time Sewing Machine buyer?
think about how you plan to use your machine and which features are really important to you - which features will you actually use and which are worth paying more for? read reviews, but take the feedback with a grain of salt (recognizing that people's expectations may not always be reasonable). also, look for features that will help you with accuracy - especially stitch length and width/needle position. for a more detailed list of things to look for, i recommend reading Choosing a Home Sewing Machine - a Buyer's Guide, part of the Back to {Sewing} Basics series from Sew Delicious.

Thanks Rachael!

weekend sewing - Owl Kit from Garden Birdie

2012-09-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

Wool Owl Sewing Kit from GardenBirdie

So I purchased this sewing kit several weeks ago off Etsy from GardenBirdie and I FINALLY sat down on Sunday to work on it. The first major reason I decided on this kit, was that it included everything you need (except scissors) to complete it. And you can't go wrong with owls, right?

Ready to begin!

Stitching on the outer eyes

The face is done!

Stitching on the bottom

Time to stuff!

Getting close! Wings are next...

Finished...love it!

It took me about 2 hours to complete the owl and I had SO much fun! The wool felt was such a pleasure to work with and the hand stitching was relaxing. I also really enjoyed working with the natural sheep wool stuffing. It didn't get all lumpy like poly-fil.

If you are looking for a quick, simple, and satisfying project I recommend this owl kit. It comes with all the materials ready to go and the instructions are easy to follow. There are lots of pictures and email support, if needed. Celina, of GardenBirdie, offers this kit in several other colors too. Check them out here!

What did you sew this weekend?

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review.

farewell Summer

2012-09-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

Lake Tahoe

This past weekend I left the boys at home and headed over to visit a friend in Cali. It was the first time I had been away since Baker was born (almost 2 years ago)! And I apologize now for the lack of pictures from my adventure, but I will tell you what we did. (Sorry, I'm still new at this whole blogging thing!)

Here is how I spent my "free" weekend away:

went out to dinner
stayed up late
slept in
leisurely walked around an arts & crafts festival
went tubing down the river
laid on the beach
drank Saki on the beach
went swimming
girls night out in Reno
pedicures

How did you spend your Labor Day weekend?

Sewing Machine Confidential: Shannon from Little Kids Grow

2012-08-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

Today I am kicking off a new series called, Sewing Machine Confidential. Basically, I interview fellow sewers about their Sewing Machines and post their responses here. I hope you enjoy and maybe we can educate some first-time sewing machine buyers or encourage more people to get sewing!

Introducing ~ Shannon from Little Kids Grow

Shannon from Little Kids Grow is here today sharing her machines and offering some great advice for beginning sewers. Not only is she a mother of 6, but juggles homeschooling, a career, and blogging. Her blog features lots of great tutorials and just plain inspiration!

1) What was your first ever Sewing Machine? When and how did you get it?
Ha! Ha! You know, this is embarrassing. I really don’t remember. I’ve only been sewing consistently for the last 4 or 5 years years, but I got my first sewing machine when I was in college about 20 years ago. I believe it was a Singer that I bought myself. For my first project, I made some kind of burnt orange swing coat in a knit fabric without a lining and horrific seams (I still wore it to class!) I lost interest in sewing soon after that. I think it was the trauma of sewing a coat for my first project. I’m pretty positive I gave that machine away.

2) What machine(s) do you use now? What type of sewing is it used for (ex: quilting, apparel, home dec, etc. or all of the above)?
I currently use my sewing machines for apparel and home décor sewing only.

I sew regularly with my Kenmore 385. I just started working with a new Brother 6000i that my little cousin just gifted to me for giving her sewing lessons (so sweet), and a Nechi Serger (7234).

I also have three vintage machines that I keep around for emergencies.

3) What are your least/most favorite features of your machine(s)?

My least favorite feature with my Kenmore is that it’s not a very quiet machine; however, what I love about this Kenmore is that it’s very durable. It’s a very basic machine, but I haven’t found a project that it hasn’t been able to handle, and that says a lot considering I make up a lot of things as I go along.

So far, my favorite feature on the Brother 6000i is the automatic threading option and 3 level speed control. I can place it on the lowest speed and teach my 10-year-old daughters how to use the foot pedal without worrying about it being too fast for them. The Brother also has 60 built-in stitches and 7 different auto-size buttonholes which makes it a lot of fun to experiment with.

4) If you were to go buy a brand new Sewing Machine today, what would it be?

Are we talking about super cool fantasy machines here? If I were to buy a new machine today and money was no object, I’d likely try something in the Janome Memory Craft series.

5) Do you have any advice for that first-time Sewing Machine buyer?
If you are a beginning sewer, I would suggest finding a good quality basic machine that’s easy to thread, wind your bobbin, change your needle and has your basic straight stitch and zigzag. When you’re learning to sew, bells and whistles aren’t necessary but developing a strong skill set is. You can always upgrade later. Remember that price is not always an indicator of a machine’s quality. Also, do your research and read customer reviews. Satisfied and dissatisfied customers can give you an overall picture of what you can really expect from your purchase.

Thanks Shannon!

etsy love - sewing room decor

2012-08-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

I am starting to get really depressed that I might not see my sewing supplies for months. We found out our stuff is in 6 pods in a storage unit 3 hours away from us, and they will charge us $80/hr to go look through the pods! Sounds like Highway Robbery to me!

Anyways, today I am kicking off a new series featuring items that I just simply love from Etsy. Here are a few items I would love to include in my next sewing room, whenever that may be ;)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Hotel Rewards

2012-08-15T09:56:00.001-07:00

Another picture from my Alaska to Nevada move - Look what was waiting for me when we checked into our hotel room in Pendleton, OR!

A Sewing Kit! It was a nice surprise to see a Sewing Kit next to the mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner. There are 6 colors of thread (pink, brown, blue, black, white, and grey), 1 needle, 2 buttons, and 1 tiny gold safety pin. The only thing missing is a pair of scissors!

As I am writing this from our temporary apartment, with no clue on when I will actually get to see and use my sewing machines again, this little present at least makes me a little happy. I might have to start doing some hand sewing projects...hmmm....

Have you ever gotten a Sewing Kit in a hotel room?

Alaska to Nevada Part 1: the drive to Haines, AK

2012-07-25T12:50:00.003-07:00

We were to board the Alaska Ferry in Haines. This meant a long drove from Fairbanks. So we split up the drive a bit and got a hotel in Haines Junction.

The first of many gas stations/let Baker out of the car seat stops...

View from our hotel in Haines Junction

Haines Junction

A beautiful spot - Katherine Lake

A mama bear and 2 cubs, right next to the road!!

Haines!

Our Honeymoon cabin from 2007 :)

Ready to board!

Baker did pretty well in the truck. We felt really smart to plan ahead and get a hotel in Haines Junction though. He was just starting to meltdown about an hour before we got there!

Next up: ferry photos! And then I promise to get more sewing-related posts. Unless you are enjoying some life photos? I would love your comments :)

hello friends, I'm back online!

2012-07-17T16:36:00.000-07:00

Phew, it has been a looong time since my last post. To bring you up to speed, we moved from Fairbanks, AK to Elko, NV. We are just settled into our temporary apartment and I just got internet hooked up! Yay!

I've got lots of pictures and stories to share from our big move, so stay tuned! I just wanted to give you a quick note to let you know I'm back in the blogging world ;)

I have not even seen my sewing machines in 3 weeks! But, we just heard our stuff might be arriving in Salt Lake City within the next few days. We are hoping to drive out there this weekend and pick up some more of our stuff. I do miss my machines terribly and I hope to get back sewing soon.

How is your summer going? Do you find yourself sewing more/less during the summer?

5 Best Places to Buy Fabric Online

2012-06-15T15:26:00.002-07:00

If you are a fabricaholic like me, or you just like fabric, then you know how much easier it is to shop for fabric in person. But, there are SO many choices out there, why limit yourself? And thanks to many online fabric sites, it's almost easier to shop online these days. Here is my list of top 5 places to buy fabric online:

1. Fabric.com
This is my go-to site for everything. They carry tons of fabric for apparel, quilting, home decor, and they even recently started carrying yarn. They also have patterns and notions. The best feature of this site is the free shipping after you spend $35. Not to mention, the free return shipping. You can't go wrong! I find fabric.com to also have very reasonable prices. I have purchased a lot of my knits from this site. The only negative thing I have to say about fabric.com is that the shipping is not the speediest.

2. Etsy
You might think of Etsy as only a place to buy and sell hand crafted items, but there is also a whole category devoted to supplies, like fabric. Many shops on Etsy only sell designer fabrics. And then you have people like myself, who every now and then "destash" where you can find some really hard to find pieces. A new trend emerging on Etsy is hand printed fabric, like this cute apple fabric from Blueberry Ash:

3. The Fabric Fairy
Let me just say that when I first discovered The Fabric Fairy, my bank account quickly diminished! This site is not only very well organized and easy to navigate, but she has the cutest, most unique fabrics out there! Especially if you sew kids clothes. Several of my knits were purchased here, like this nautical anchor print.

4. Fat Quarter Shop
Another very well organized and easy to navigate site, love these! If you are looking for a cotton quilting fabric, then Fat Quarter Shop probably has it. The checkout process is streamlined, the shipping is quick, and the packaging is excellent.

5. Spoonflower
Maybe I saved the best for last, not sure. But this is definitely my new favorite fabric site. Not only do you shop for fabric, but you also have the option to create and print your own fabric! How exciting is that!?! While that deserves an entirely separate post, it is something I definitely want to try and write a post about it. In the meantime, I still have yet to purchase from Spoonflower, but it seems easy enough. You can purchase as little as a test swatch, or a fat quarter, or yardage. You have several fabric options also, from a basic combed cotton to an organic cotton knit to silk. Another bonus for designing fabric with Spoonflower, is that you get a 10% designer discount on fabric!

That's it! (for now) What are your go-to fabric sites? I'd love to hear!

weekend sewing - floral corduroy shorts

2012-06-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

As promised here are a couple pics of what I sewed up over the weekend. Of course I didn't nearly get as much made as I wanted, but I at least got a sweet new pair of shorts!

I used a couple different patterns, one from a pants pattern I created and the other was a vintage shorts pattern. The fabric is a lightweight corduroy that I've had sitting around for ages. It's really no surprise this was the only thing I made all weekend - they have a back zipper and 4 pockets! Not to mention usual stuff getting in the way, like getting ready to move and chasing after Baker ;)

And yes. I know my legs are w-h-i-t-e! And also, I got attacked by mosquitoes trying to take these pictures. I got at least 5 new bites, ugghhh!

I've got lots of sewing projects lined up, including a maxi skirt! I'm working on that one as also a tutorial. Stay tuned!

Did you sew anything over the weekend?

friday fun

2012-06-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took a drive down to Chena Lakes {Alaska}, despite the cloudy weather.

Happy little boy!

Quilt my mom made :)

Baker's shirt: button down BakerBaby

The mosquitoes were ferocious! But we stuck around long enough to play in the sand and wade in the water. Baker is a hard one to take a picture of these days, notice how many I got of his face?

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. I'm hoping to actually sew some clothes for myself this weekend. I've got lots of ideas brewing in my head and I've pulled out some potential fabric and patterns to use. I promise to take pictures to share with you, stay tuned!

Serger Tutorial 101 - how to clean and oil your serger

2012-06-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

Since we are in a major cleaning and packing mode for our upcoming move, I'm focusing some of that energy on my incredibly dusty, linty serger {in my defense, I do use it a lot for my fuzzy nursing pads}. In today's post, I will show you how to clean and oil your serger!

You will need:

machine oil
spray duster
pipe cleaner
vacuum cleaner
serger manual
screwdrivers
small brush

Step 1) Open the looper cover and swivel plate. (Every manual says to turn your machine OFF, I find this to be a personal decision. I like to keep my machine on so I can have the extra light from my sewing machine).

Step 2) Using the smallest vacuum attachment you have, vacuum all of the lint and fuzz you can! Trust me, this will result in fewer messes on the next step.

Step 3) Using your spray duster, spray all around and inside your serger.

Step 4) After removing the needles and presser foot, unscrew the needle plate and remove.

Step 5) Using your brush and/or pipe cleaner, remove all that lint! After removing all the lint, you can put the needle plate and needles back on the machine. Next up: oil...

Step 6) Apply 2 drops of oil to each point marked with a red arrow (or refer to your manual).

Step 7) Close the looper cover and swivel plate and thread your needles.

Step 8) Run a test swatch and listen to that purr! We have a happy serger :)

Just curious, how often do you clean and oil your sewing machines?

Check out my other tutorials!

Home on the Range

2012-05-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official: we are moving!!!

source

I guess I'll have to get some cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, we are moving to Elko, Nevada!

Needless to say, we are pretty excited for this move. I think I am most excited to not spend another {frigid} winter here. It will also be super nice to be closer to friends and family. But, I know I just started this blog and I'm already seeing the next month or two will be difficult keeping it updated. I will have to do my best and share with you our adventures along the way. We will be taking the Alaska ferry to Washington state and then driving the rest of the way...all of this with an 18 month old little boy!

Wish us luck!

Almost 2 Years Ago to the Day...

2012-05-24T18:08:00.000-07:00

...my husband and I packed up our house, put all of our necessities into the back of our newly purchased truck and headed north to Alaska, far away from all of our friends and family. Just a couple months earlier everything had seemed to happen at once. It was in March and April of 2010 that my husband accepted a job offer in Alaska, our Cali dog was suddenly diagnosed with cancer and passed away within a week (she was only 7), and five days after putting Cali down, we found out I was pregnant. Life is amazing that way sometimes.

We stopped in Canada to see family friends.

I know most of my pictures were taken from the truck or on the side of the road. We were kind of in a hurry, my husband had to start work on June 1st. And let me tell you, it really is a long drive! I think we were about to kill each other by the end. It probably didn't help to have pregnancy hormones raging in my body!


RIP Cali XOXO

What was the biggest move you ever made?

DIY bohemian cuff tutorial

2012-05-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I am SO excited to bring you my first sewing tutorial, yay! For this one, I will show you how to make this bohemian cuff using simple sewing techniques and don't be scared but, mitered corners :) If you have never tried them before or don't know what they are, now is your chance to try!

Now you've gathered your supplies, time to cut your material! Please note the following instructions are to create a cuff based on woven ribbon that is 2 1/4" wide. If you have a different width, all you have to do is adjust the following measurements!

Instructions:

Cut a piece of stabilizer 2 1/2" wide x 7 1/2" long

Cut a denim piece 4 1/2" wide x 9 1/2" long

Cut a ribbon piece 9 1/2" long

Cut elastic about 3 1/2" long

Show some love and Pin it!

I'd also love to hear any comments on my first tutorial! :)