Mark this one off the to-sew list.

Yeah! My shower curtain is finished!
(and yes, my bathroom is tiny)

I have been searching (unsuccessfully) for a new shower curtain for quite some time now. I can never find one I really like. I love the look of a nice linen with red and the tile in my bathroom is a linen-tan color. I already had the red valences (Woolrich by Target from a couple of years back) and had been using them over my old shower curtain since they were purchased. I knew I wanted to keep the red color (and use the valences) but I just couldn't find a shower curtain in ANY store that would coordinate. Then a friend introduced me to this fabric that has been sitting in her basement for a couple of years:

Linen & Red floral by Pottery Barn. :)

It was love at first sight. She gifted me the fabric (she is the best friend ever) and the rest is history.

I used grommets for the first time (for the holes at the top instead of making 12 buttonholes). Now, I love grommets. So crisp. So professional. So fast. Try grommets.

I love it.

beautiful stitches...

A few new things just added in the shop!

This looks stupid...

Yes, my cute little dogwood that was a gift from my sister for my wedding anniversary is covered in yellow tulle...

No, it is not in celebration of anything.

It is because of this darn thing:

Our local extension agent says our young trees (less than 6ft tall) need to remain covered for probably 3-4 more weeks! I hope having my trees covered in this ridiculous looking tulle is actually doing something because it sure is an eyesore. Everyone on my street has tulle covered trees. Mine is the only yellow one. Why? Because everyone else has had their tree covered for about 2 weeks already. By the time I got around to covering mine yellow tulle was all that was left. Mr. Cicada, I'm sure you have a purpose on this planet but can you please hurry it up because tulle covered trees are annoying.

This is one thing in my garden right now that really isn't an eyesore at all.

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I am in the process of working on a project for me and cutting out my Emmeline. I plan to post some progress later tonight. I have to get caught up on a post a day in may because I have been slacking. :) sorry.

A Cartoon and info about a giveaway!

Em of Em and the Gang has an awesome giveaway over at her blog to celebrate here 100th post. Just head over to her site and post a comment - you even get to pick your prize!

Irrestible Strawberry Tray

I have this thing for strawberry prints - so summery, so red (my favorite color). My mom found this strawberry print metal tray at a yard sale and I absolutely love it. It is going to be perfect for our cookouts. I can see all of the uses now...carrying drinks outside, gathering up condiments for burgers, using it for clean up, etc. etc. It is going to look fab with my vintage strawberry tablecloth! Just had to share!

emmeline...why do you intimidate me?

I've got all the fabric and thread ready. I've read (and re-read) the instructions.

So why am I having such a hard time starting my Emmeline apron? I'm intimidated by this project! There are a couple of reasons I think I feel this way. 1. The floral pattern is a vintage fabric and I love it. I only have just a little more than enough of it so I can't make any mistakes (stress!!!). 2. The apron is so beautiful so it has to be hard to make. I just need to suck it up and start cutting! I only have 10 more days left for the sew-along!

Aren't these little coin purses lovely? I have used these little coin purses off and on since I picked them up at estate sales a couple of years ago. They are super handy to have in your purse for coins or mints.

You can find them now in the shop.

Have a great day tomorrow everyone!

celebrate

Whew...I need a weekend to recover from my weekend. While I had the weekend off (no call...yippie!), DH & I were soooo busy I feel even more tired than if I had worked all weekend. We returned from the conference Friday night then spent all day Saturday cleaning up our backyard and flower gardens. We planted, weeded and pressure-washed until we could do no more. Today we did more cleaning up around the house and then hosted a surprise birthday party for my father-in-law. Our first backyard barbecue of the season - yummy burgers on the grill, salads and then strawberry shortcake made by my MIL (had to pull out the vintage strawberry tablecloth for the cake!).

I plan to work on getting my Emmeline apron cut out this week for the sew-along. Also, I have plans to whip up a (looks easy but we'll see) wrap skirt from S.E.W. I'll keep you posted.

Now, gotta go finish unpacking/laundry from the conference and get ready for a busy week at work...

what a day...

So...most of my day was filled with conferences...very interesting conferences I might add.

Then, I went shopping. Now, leave it to me to find a couple of awesome shops in this very small town. When asked by one of the other conference attendees what I did during the 5 hours of free time we were granted before this evenings dinner/awards banquet, I simply replied "I went shopping." (what else would I do, it is after all my favorite past time aside from sewing; however, but my machine is at home) Her response: "WHERE????" Yes, leave it to me to find a couple of awesome places to shop in this small, small town.

Even though the weather was drab and raining, the conferences were great, the shopping was great and the dinner was fantastic. What a day indeed...

hemmed...

I hemmed a pair of pants today! I used to pay people to do this for me and I actually did it all by myself today (well, with the help of a few youtube tutorials). I have had this absolutely adorable pair of chocolate brown Ann Taylor pants that I bought last winter (yes, more than a year ago) that have been stored (in the same bag they came home in) in my entry closet. Why there you ask? Well, they have been waiting to go to the lady who does my alterations. But today was different. A spur of the moment vacation/conference popped up and I remembered the chocolate brown pants and how cute they would look with my new eyelet Ann Taylor top. So I dug them out of the closet and thought I would give it a try. I cringed as I cut (yes, I cut my Ann Taylor pants!) and held my breath as I sewed...but you know what...they look fantastic. Really, bragging aside...why did I ever pay someone to do this for me. It really took less than 30 minutes. So I hemmed my pants (did I mention I love Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft too) and packed my bag and now DH & I are on the other side of the state at a cushy resort going to a conference. So, sorry for the lack of pictures with my posts (I forgot the cable to connect the camera to the laptop...sheesh) while we are here. I have my camera and will take pictures. In the mean time, I'll keep you updated sans pictures. Hope you all don't mind!

Finished projects...

...that I love but...

...this one is too big. :(

I guess when I measured my own body measurements I got something wrong. Bummer. So my first piece of clothing made by me will not be for me. The top is from the S.E.W. book (sew everything workshop) an it is called the Flouncy Tank Top. Fabric by Alexander Henry.

...this one is just right...

I made these luncheon size napkins for my Mom as part of her Mother's Day gift. I bought the fabric at one of my favorite local quilt shops a while back and the pattern is from the Bend-The-Rules book. I loved these and my mom did too!

I have my fabric all lined up for the Emmaline apron. I plan on reading over the pattern tonight and cutting out the fabric tomorrow if time allows. Also, I plan to look over a couple more clothing patterns I have to give it another go with clothes for may(d) for me.

MOTIVATION

I need some motivation.

I need some deadlines.

At work (and life in general), I seem to be more productive when I have a deadline. While I like my hobbies (sewing, photography, blogging) to be an outlet or stress relief, lately I have been slacking on my sewing (perhaps because of the nice weather, vacation, whatever excuse). So, I thought I would push myself back to my creative side.

Thank goodness there are several sew-alongs which have sparked my interest this month. I have wanted to make my own clothes for a while now (thanks Adrienne for May(d) by Me!) and the Miss Emmeline Apron (this pattern looks intimidating...is it hard???) has been high on my to-sew list since I pre-ordered the pattern (thanks Kris for the Emmeline sew-along).

MAYbe in MAY I'll get two big goals accomplished thanks to my May 31 deadline.

A side note: ALL APRONS are on SALE in the shop (some discounted quite a bit)!

I miss this.

While in Peru we drank a lot of Inca Kola. Inca Kola is the national soft drink of Peru. It is so good with this almost bubble gum type flavor. An interesting history of Inca Kola can be found here.

I've been searching for where I can purchase Inca Kola here in the US. It is sold on Amazon.com and a few other online stores (I love this one) but I am hesitant to purchase a liquid soda to be shipped. I don't really know why. Maybe I'll give it a try. Maybe.

Cake!

Just look at this cute cake my MIL (mother-in-law) made! It is her own sacher torte recipe with raspberry jam between the layers and it is entirely made from scratch. Yum!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Goodies from Adrienne!

It all started with this button:

By the way, if you have heard of this yet click on the image and participate! My blogging friend Adrienne of a blog I read daily Some of a Kind is hosting a flickr group as we all declare to make May a May(d) for Me month! Anyway, I attempted to make a button for Adrienne (the above) and in return she sent me this:

What a cute bag!

An appliqued hankie! Hand stitched! Tooooooo cute! I heart it so much.

And that handmade soap...it smells so yummy I almost want to eat it (don't worry...I won't). I'm using that tonight! I used to have this bad habit of "saving" things like this (things I love) but I have since decided I need to enjoy life more so I'm not wasting a minute waiting to use this yummy soap. I love it!

Adrienne, did you know I collect vintage hankies? (I can't recall ever blogging about that...) I have to make room on my little ladder (or find a very prominent place of display) to enjoy this lovely little hankie everyday!

Thanks Adrienne!

I'm so thankful for all my blogger friends! Your comments make my day!

SALE IN THE STITCHING SURGEON SHOP.

Yippie! A SALE!

In honor of Mother's Day, May and the beautiful May days we are having I have decided to host a SALE in my etsy shop!

All hair accessories are on sale.

All aprons have FREE SHIPPING within the continental US.

International buyers don't worry - while shipping is at cost (convo me for price - I try to only charge exact shipping cost plus minimal handling fee to cover packaging materials) all aprons will be offered at a 20% discount to international buyers!

So go do some shopping!

Sale dates: Now through May 10th, 2008.

Happy Birthday Mom & BIL!

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Dear Mom and BIL (brother-in-law)! Happy Birthday to you!"

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!

Happy Birthday BIL! (Do I have to say I love you???...hehe...he doesn't read this anyway...I don't think...but my sister may tell him...haha)

Yeah! Tonight we are all going to dinner at a local Japanese Steakhouse...yum! It's happy day for us all! (Even though today work-wise has been insanely busy for me and will continue to be tonight after the dinner...)

How we spent our 2nd Anniversary.

After spending the day sight seeing in Lima, Peru and eating way to much yummy food during the day our big plans for a big night out for our anniversary just wouldn't agree with our already full stomachs. So we walked to a little cafe near where we were staying and had one of the best nights yet. Lots of laughing & talking while enjoying yummy coffee and desserts. The little plate of chocolates was a gift from our waiter and the two roses were a gift from the flower stand guy! How sweet! Oh and that pastry, its an alfajor...the BEST pastry in the world...

I'm back!

Well, DH & I are back from our anniversary vacation and we had a wonderful time. Can you believe where in the world we have been??? The above picture is of Machu Picchu in Peru. We had a wonderful time exploring in Lima, Cusco and Aguas Caliente, Peru. I have tons of beautiful pictures...I'll share a few with you soon. I just wanted to let you all know I am back and ready to get to my sewing machine. I've already joined a new sew-along. Join my blogging friend Adrienne & me and others as we declare May as May(d) for Me month!