It it looks funny...

then maybe it is. I am just changing up a few things on the blog, so if it looks funny then it is and I am trying to tweak a few things and change over to a gmail account and basically some house cleaning if you will - of said blog.

see ya in a bit and hopefully I haven't deleted the wrong things!

When one blog leads you to another and then another....

While catching up on blogs that I follow I was reading Inside Out Style by Imogen were she had posted 'Weekend Reading: Trends, Stress and Personal Style'  with links to blogs that I also read but somehow had missed the blog post on Sal's blog Aready Pretty. I had missed reading the post 'Wardrobe Cycling', which by the way was awesome! After reading the post I got curious about the Out Fit List that Sal keeps. She explained how she keeps a simple list of outfits that help her stay on top of her wardrobe making her time in the mornings much more managable.

Well, this got me to thinking, should I try to make a list of the items in my closet. A scary and daunting task I am sure, but as I investigated deeper I found more and more on the subject of wardrobe inventory. So upon the idea of creating a list I wondered if there were any spreadsheets or helpful files in cyberspace. I happened upon this Wardrobe Inventory PDF from Virtuous Weddings (not to sure what a wardrobe plan has to do with planning a wedding, but then again it's a good inventory list to use for one's closet). There is a PDF on Fengshui for your closet with a list you fill in, the Buget Fashionisa has a wardrobe check list, and 4-H wardrobe planning PDF. And then I found phone apps - like this iPhone app called the Pocket Closet and the Android app for smart phones called MyCloset. I never would have thought that something like that was out there, but it is, how cool!!

Delightful Bohemian Posh!!

Ruby Mines turquoise wrap bracelet tutorial 

 is absolutely beautiful fun.

I think this bracelet made with garnet would be stunning!!

It keeps staring at me....

Yea I know what's up?? Well, the watermelon quilt is sitting there staring at me like an evil little child taunting me knowing I am at a loss as to how I should quilt it. I am at a loss, a total loss! I could just quilt it like they did in the pattern, that would be ok. But I just don't know, what would make the watermelon slices stand out?

Have you ever thought you had it going great and then at the last minute you feel as you haven't got a clue??

Watermelon Shoefly Quilt Pieced

The top is pieced and ready to go. It is really a quick and easy quilt. But after this I will have had my watermelon fix for the summer. I used all fat quarters and even for the background in the shoefly blocks to give it a scrapy look but used a black with white polka dot for the sashing to tie it all together.

Now I am pinning and pinning it so the the next step up is quilting. I use to do this on the floor but my knees can not handle it anymore so I put it on a large table and worked from the center out. Not to sure what type of quilting, line or free motion quilting. So hopefuly this weekend I will get it quilted and the binding on.

The Tee-Shirt Dress has Evolved

Remember in the 80's when you could take a plain tee and then add gathered cotton print to the bottom to create a dress...

They were cute, but have gone by the wayside like Mom jeans. Maybe you might make one for a little one in your life, but these dresses are so not in fashion for adults of modern day. The style was way too 'happy-hands-at-home' for most.

Until Leanne came along and made up some quite modern and fashionable T-shirt Dresses. It's almost like the crafty-cutesy Tdress was a brightly colored caterpillar, and for many years the caterpillar is changing into a chrysalis away from fashion and the well dressed, and now the beautiful butterfly spreads it's wings to join all the lovely dresses we can wear.

Visit Leanne at ElleApparel

Sexy, chic and feminine is what I think of when I see this beautiful Coral Dress. She has beautiful, age appropriate, in-fashion tutorials for T-dresses that do not look like 'happy-hands-at-home'! 

I am definitely putting this one on the

MUST DO LIST!! 

Watermelon Shoefly Update

Went by JoAnn's on my way home from work and picked up a stack of fat quarters to start the Watermelon Shoefly quilt. I started cutting for the shoefly blocks and did some piecing, but at this point I need to get some sleep. I will post pics tomorrow when I get home from work and can show some of these cute little blocks.

Cleavage Control!!

If your like me and are a bit top heavy sometimes the tops you like and that would be flatterning just don't feel comfortable - well, put it this way they leave way to much for viewing if you know what I mean. I usually pull out a trusty cami or tank to wear underneath, but lately here in Florida the temps are soaring and with humidity making the heat index at record temps it's just to hot to be layering clothing.

Moda Bake Recipe by Kim Walus

Kim Walus of bitty bits & pieces got together with Moda and stirred up one awesome recipe the Faux Cami. What a lovey creative and helpful fashion addition to anyone's wardrobe. I can see these used in so many ways, and so many different fabrics. Couldn't you just see this done in a lovely soft lace also.

A & E Pharmacy Fun!

Drove to pensacola to visit my favorite fabric shop A&E Pharmacy.

By the looks of it you wouldn't know they have the largest collection of quilting fabrics in the panhandle of Florida, but they do!

In my haul I got some geometric prints in blue, yellow and green. It's for a quilt I will be making for someone special's little someone special. It's a suprise so I will tell more later.

And it continues...

I love Ann Taylor clothing but

COME ON,  AGAIN?

Really? You didn't learn from the first mistake,

and all the public out cry that was a result of it?!?!

Learn more here

While on the subject of watermelon...

and all it's sweetness, it's the fruit most assosiated with summer. Besides being a tasty treat watermelon is the Lycopene Leader in fresh produce, having higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable. In fact, fresh watermelon contains higher levels of lycopene than fresh tomatoes - a 2-cup serving of watermelon contains and average of 18.16 mg and one medium-sized tomato contains 4 mg. Something good for us 'of a certian age' fighting aging free radicals. A watermelon contains about 6% sugar and 92% water by weight. Watermelon is also mildly diuretic and contains large amounts of beta carotene.


Some fun water melon facts:
•The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt.
•Over 1,200 varieties of watermelons are grown worldwide in 96 countries.
•Watermelon's official name is Citrullus Lanatus of the botanical family Curcurbitaceae. It is cousins to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.
•By weight, watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the U.S., followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.
•Early explorers used watermelons as canteens.
•The first cookbook published in the U.S. in 1776 contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles.
•In 1990, Bill Carson of Arrington, TN grew the largest watermelon at 262 pounds that is still on the record books (1998 ed. Guinness Book of World Records).
 

Not only is watermelon tasty but it makes an awesome mojito!!

And you knew I would have to put my  quirky little twist on it didn't you?!?!

 

Watermelon Mojito

 

Ingredients

• 
  
  2 1/2 to 3 pounds watermelon flesh, pits removed
• 
  
  1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 
  
  1/4 cup packed mint leaves, plus more for garnish
• 
  
  2 1/2 cups white rum
• 
  
  1/4 cup agave syrup

Directions

In a blender, puree watermelon, fresh lime juice and mint in batches until smooth. Strain into a pitcher. Mix in rum and syrup. Serve in glasses filled with ice and garnish with mint leaves.

Ahhh, the sweetness of summer!!

Next Project: Watermelon & Shoefly Quilt

I am thinking about a quilt from May/June 2010 issue of Fons and Porter: Love of Quilting. The quilt is called Watermelon and Shoe Fly.

This is the picture in the magazine. It is 42" x 56" and done in flannels, I on the other hand would like to use cotton prints. It is a small throw size which is perfect for summer when it's realy to hot to be under a quilt but a great accent on the couch.

Pink and Green Nomad

Pattern Description:

Hot Patterns Nomad Hobo Handbag

Free pattern from Fabric dot com 

Lined Hobo has a square base, a seamed front & back and wide cut-on handles. Hobo is open at the top with an optional magnetic closure, and features optional phone and zippered interior pockets.

Pattern Sizing:

One size, but depending how you print it out you can change the size.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Well, kinda, but different because of the fabrics.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes, but there was a problem with the placement of the magnetic closure. If you do it as the instructions say it would be located on the sides of the straps. I changed this and placed the snap on the other sides.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I like the slouchy, casual hobo look to it. And it holds a lot of stuff! The placement of the magnetic snap in my opinion should be on the open sides not the strap sides.

Fabric Used:

Cotton fabric for the outside and a silky poly print for the inside all from JoAnn’s fabrics.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

When I printed the pattern I changed my printer preferences to print it at 90% of the original. This made it a tiny bit smaller than the original size, but it still is a large bag and holds so much. For the outside of the bag I sewed fabric strips in a quilt braid design. Like this Quilters Cache Braid. I traced the pattern onto cotton muslin and then marked placement for the fabric strips. Sewed the strips and when finished I trimmed to the pattern size.

Then like a quilt - I used a muslin backing layered with cotton batting and then the pattern piece on top. I hand quilted each piece with cotton pearl in pink. For the straps I did not cut and quilt as the rest of the outside, I made handles that I inserted when the outside and inside were stitched together.

After all the pieces were quilted I then assembled the outside as the instructions. I sewed the inside as the instructions except for the zipper pocket. I did the zipper pocket as I always do like this toot at Handbag-U.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Yes, thinking of gray suede for this fall.

I would say its an easy sew, and fun.

Conclusion:

Cute, casual and fun. Pay close attention to the magnetic snap placement.

Make it fun or funky depending on the fabric choice.

No Excuses

That's it, I can't make any more excuses!!

The month of July has flown by and absolutely nothing has been accomplished.

Sad !!!

So that's it, I am going post as much as I can for the month of August starting today!

(so don't ask me I ain't got no excuses)