Blog Break

I am going to be taking a little blog break for the next couple of days.  Its almost impossible to sleep at night, so I will be resting most of the days.  I really want to have some energy when I go into labor.  I can't imagine doing it exhausted!  I hope everyone has a good week, and I will talk to you whenever this baby is out of me!  I'm due TODAY so hopefully its soon!

Finished Projects: Napkins; and a Work in Progress

Finished Project
I've been trying to keep busy lately to pass the time and not worry about when I'm going into labor. I've actually had the energy and the motivation to do more sewing.  Lately, all I've been doing is sitting around the house watching TV.  I really hate doing it.  Its so boring!  Even if I am watching an awesome show like "American Pickers."  So, I have been sewing a lot the past couple of days, and its awesome!  My projects haven't been that interesting, but I'm still learning!  It does feel great to actually make things that I can use, though.  And they haven't been turning out too bad!


This next project I did I had to make a set of 4 napkins.  I found some really cute cherry fabric at Joann's that turned out to be on sale!  

I really wish I was able to make dresses.  This fabric was so soft!  And its adorable. 
Within this project, there was actually two "sub-projects."  I had to finish the edges of the napkins in two different ways.

The first was half-mitering.  It didn't turn out too well.  Haha.  I had to overcast the edge of the fabric and then just fold it over once and topstitch it in place.

This was full mitering and looked a lot more clean and professional.  You folded the edges over twice and topstiched so the overcast edges didn't show.  They looked like napkins you could buy from the store!
I wish I could put some tutorials on here, but these were from the book, Stitch by Stitch, and I don't want to take anything away from the author!  Hopefully I'll be able to make my own tutorials one day.  


Work in Progress
Awhile ago, my friend's mom gave us a bunch of fabric to go through.  A couple of them were these crazy pieces I had never seen before.  They had directions and cut-outs for stuffed animals.  Have you ever seen these?  I don't know if I'm behind the times, but I have a kid so I got all excited.  Right now, I'm working on the Cinderella one.

I have already messed up.  I was working on the body and made the stitched WAY too close to the edge.  When I went to stuff the doll, the edges of the fabric started fraying and there were holes all over!  I had to go back and stitch by hand all the parts that had the holes.  Hopefully, it stays together!

This is what I have so far!  I did the same thing I did to the body with the right leg.  You can see the stitching I had to do by hand right above the foot.  Whoops!  Luckily, after that I learned my lesson.  
My daughter, Maggie, is already freaking out and trying to play with it.  She's in that obsessed-with-princesses phase.  I love it.  She walks around in her Snow White Halloween costume with these purple heels she has.  She walks in them better than I walk in heels!


I really hope I'm able to keep sewing with the new baby.  I don't want to give it up, yet!  I love it too much!  It will definitely be a balancing act.


Hope everyone's weekend is going well!  We're about to head to the flea market.  The same one that had the booth with HUNDREDS of Pyrex bowls!  Let's see if I can get my husband to let me get a couple...  He was saying we needed more mixing bowls.

Friday Flavor: Strawberries

Summer is almost over.  I don't know if I should be happy or sad about that.  The closer I get to winter means the closer I get to my first looong winter in Minnesota.  So, I decided to do strawberries for this Friday Flavor.  They are a staple for every summer and they are one of my favorite colors.  How could you not like the deep reds they produce?  Everything is better in red.

I don't know why, but I have always wanted one of these wax stamps.  I know I would love getting a letter with a wax seal on it.

That wallpaper is amazing.  I love the retro vines!  For some reason they remind me of Mario Bros.

I want an old school car so badly.  And this red interior would be perfect.

I love seeing people fix up old furniture.  I need to do it, too.  This vanity is so pretty!

I just really liked this picture.

And this one.

I want to own these.  I also want to know how to walk in them.

I have really been wanting a scooter lately.  I think I might be too chicken to get a motorcycle and I'm a little scared about riding an actual bike in the city.  I think these are a perfect medium.

Sigh.  This reminds me of fall.  I love the fall, but I'm sad I'll be having my last one in NC this year.

Emma Stone looks AMAZING on this Vanity Fair cover.  When I first saw it I didn't even recognize her as a blond!

I don't know how to make these, but this Little Red Riding Hood is adorable.

I love everything about what this girl is wearing.  Outfit, make-up, hair and bike.

My absolute dream car.  1959 Cadillac Deville.  So classic.

I don't know anything about Blythe dolls, but I have become curious about them since I see them on so many blogs I read.  I really liked this one.  She's cute!

This is one of my new favorite color combinations.  And the artwork itself is a really good idea.

I want to be this woman.  She looks sexy as hell just sitting looking at records.

Well, that's it for this week!  Hope everyone's weekend goes well, and if you're on the East Coast, again, STAY SAFE!  Hopefully, I'll have power to post this weekend!  Although, I could be in the hospital having this baby, finally!

Cicada Invasion

I have lived in North Carolina most of my life.  At night you can here cicadas where ever you live in the state, but you rarely see them alive.  I have only ever seen their molted exoskeletons stuck to trees or fences or dead carcuses on the ground.  For some reason this area we live in has then EVERYWHERE.  I see 2 or 3 new exoskeletons right outside our house every day.  Then, yesterday afternoon when I was bringing in my laundry, a spotted a cicada sitting on the fence.

They are so adorable!  I don't know what it is.  Maybe cause they're so ugly they're cute.  I was so excited about seeing alive one, but my husband did not share the same enthusiasm. He had never seen a live one either!  I don't know why he was freaking out like I was!
Later in the night we went outside to sit on our deck and talk and sitting on my deck shelf was ANOTHER live cicada!



Could not believe I saw two in one day.  It was awesome.  Its crazy.  Their heads look like praying mantis heads.
I was curious if they had any stuff on Etsy that dealt with them, and I now may have to get this...

Its made by sandrandan and its $20.00 in her store!


Just a couple of more days and my pregnancy will be over!  A couple of more days and the hurricane will be here also.  Sigh.  Hopefully not the same day.  Everyone be safe if you're on the East Coast!

Last 5 Pins Vol. 6

I haven't done one of these in awhile so I thought, "why not?"  Especially with everything going on right now.  I need some easy posts!  I almost have this baby out, and I'm doing all the last minute things I need to get ready!  I also have to prepare for this Hurricane that's coming this weekend.  I live about 2 hours inland from the NC coast, so I'm not looking forward to it.  And with my luck I'll end up going into labor on Saturday night when the storm is at its strongest!  I really don't want to have to rely on my husband to deliver this baby at our house!  Haha, that would be really scary!


Just so you know, I had to add a few more pins than usual, because, well, these were awesome this week!  So instead of Last 5 pins, it will be last 14 pins.  Haha.  I get overwhelmed with awesomeness from Pinterest sometimes and get a little carried away.  I know you know what I'm talking about!

I love this umbrella!!!

This print is adorable and was done SO beautifully!  It was done by an artist named Rik Lee.  You should really go to the link and check out his other work out.  All of his paintings are so clean.  I've never seen line work like it.  Its really impressive!

Sigh.  My favorite Disney movie, Sleeping Beauty.  I still do not have this in my collection!  I definitely need it since I am having my second little girl!

This is THE coolest table I have ever seen in my life.  Its such a simple idea, too!  Taking a stencil, placing it on the table, painting it, and then peeling the stencil off.  I now need to decide what I'm going to do to my book shelves.

I will probably be living in rentals the years that a nursery would be in order for our kids, but this one was adorable and I couldn't resist pinning it.  I could still do the walls for older girls.

I really need the patience and time to do nails like these!

I don't get how people make these lines so perfect!  I always end up peeling the polish off with the tape!  These are amazing!

I really want a mermaid tail like these so I can swim around in a pool!

Another awesome home project.  This would make a really cool night light for my daughter!

I've seen this book on Modcloth.com so many times and I never buy it.  I've always been into the 60s soul music, which in turn has gotten me into the fashion of mods...  and their scooters.  I thought I wanted a bike or motorcycle, but I think I need a scooter instead.

I discovered this book through the Modcloth Blog.  Its looks really interesting.  How could it not with that man on the front!  Its about this group of men in the Republic of Congo that are really fashion forward.

These look so comfortable and there's a pattern for them!

Here is one awesome and beautiful woman from the 40's.

Hope all these peaked your interest today!  Keep in mind if there's days when I don't post, I am probably in the hospital!  I love you all, but I hope its soon cause I am starting to get incredibly uncomfortable!

By the way, has anyone else had problems with their Google Friend Connect?  My followers widget keeps disappearing and I don't know how to fix it!  I have removed it and saved it back again and again and it never stays.  Sigh.  

Tattoo Tuesday: My Tattoo Treasury

I recently discovered treasuries on Etsy.  I'm probably behind the times, but I don't own a shop and never have extra money to go buy stuff on there, so I just do the occasional browsing.  They're so much fun to do!  Plus, it gives you a way to group all your favorites if you look for a certain "category" a lot.  Like this morning, I made a Tattoo Treasury and found a lot of really awesome stuff!

Antique Tattooed Lady Plate via BeatUpCreations

Infant or Toddler Japanese Dress via AprilScott

Bake Cake Embroidery via LivingThread

Sugar Skull Ceramic Travel Mug via SewZinski

Edith Skull Girl Print via KnitMotorcycle

Fake Cupcake Business Card/Photo Holder via 12LegCuriosities

Illustrated Man Print via TheBlackApple

Old School Tattoo Style Knit Headband via JanineBasil

Lipstick Necklace via TheRingLeader

Mermaid Flask via ManEatingFlower

Gypsy Plain Jane Tshirt via VanityExposed

Sword Swallower Posable Paper Doll via IllustratedInk

Tattoo Charms via DragynsFyre

Tattoo Throw Pillow via CarouselBelle

Old School Tattoo Rings via RingOfSaturn

Tattoo Sleeved Onesie for Infants via DiaperDesignsByKim

Aren't those amazing?  I am so in love with the Edith Girl Skull Print.  You can get one in your name also.  The Sleeved Onesie for Infants is adorable, too.  I just might have to get one for my little girl that's coming!  For a link to the whole treasury click here.

Have you used the treasury on Etsy before?  Do you have any awesome ones you want to share?