Where To Begin?

Charlotte's Fish Transferred to Canvas and Embellished

For the past few days I've been wondering how to begin this post.  It has been so hard to start since I haven't written a post since before Christmas.  I haven't stayed current on anyone's blogs either.  My reasons?  Chaos of the the Holidays?  The physical demands of total knee replacement recovery?  The challenge of returning to work at the same time?  I'm not sure.  Probably a combination of all these, including a little bit of a funk I've gotten myself into.  Luckily, with respect to my knee, I'm starting to see a little flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. I've been going to physical therapy four hours every day of the week!  I have a way to go, but I'm getting stronger with every hour!  

My physical recovery has been frustratingly slow.  It's also been very tiring.  I haven't sewn or started any other art project since Christmas.  I guess that's another reason for my lack of blogger posts.  Forgive me?  I've got big plans to start and finish my first quilt before February 13.  Stick with me and hold me to this goal!  I will begin this week!  In the meantime, here are a few of the projects I completed for Christmas presents:

Charlotte's Knit Poncho

Freezer Paper Stencil Hoodie

Freezer Paper Stencil Hoodie Back

Sam's Bookmark

In all seriousness, I am truly sorry for being so blogger neglectful.  Thanks for sticking with me and I promise to get my sewing act together! 

Tootles!  

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P.S.  If you are interested in a super giveaway, head over to Georgie's blog!  She's celebrating her mom's birthday!

And The Bag Goes To....

Congratulations to Liza from MacKomics Studio!  Liza won my bag giveaway!  Liza can now choose any bag in my Etsy Shop and it's her's!  In case you missed it, this giveaway was my way to celebrate the opening (finally) of my Etsy Shop!  I'm so thrilled with the feedback I gotten back about my shop!  Guess what?  I made my first online sale over the weekend!  I'm still learning the ins and outs of Etsy, specifically, tags, labels, categories, "circles," etc.  I'm still not sure how to add more tags and what they should be in order to get my views, but I'm sure I'll sort it out soon!  I'll have plenty of time for an Etsy education pretty soon.  More about that in the next paragraph, so keep reading!  Again, I just want to say, "thanks" to my fellow Etsy sellers for adding me to their circles and helping me spread the word about my shop! 

I also want to thank everyone who commented or sent me emails in response to my last post about my weight loss.  Your words of encouragement really help to keep me motivated.  I'll let you in on the real reason I've been trying to lose weight and get into shape.  I'm scheduled for total knee replacement surgery next month!  If you are a regular reader, you'll remember that I had knee surgery this past March.  I had the hardware removed that had been replaced a few years ago.  You could say I had a screw loose!  Well, that surgery really kicked my butt. My recovery was slow and hard.  It made me realize, however, that I needed to get into shape before the "biggie" surgery.  So, that's my reason for my latest diet and exercise plan.  After all, I do not want to hobble into rehab post surgery and have the 70 and 80 year old patients outdo me!  Embarrassing!  Seriously, I am happy I am finally going to have a new knee.  I'll keep you posted on my progress.  

Finally, here is a sneak peak at one of my new bags.  

Going For a Ride Zipper Bag

Going For a Ride Zipper Bag

I'll be placing into my shop soon.  For the record, the pleating, along with the "recessed" zipper...not so easy. Oh, I'm looking for a pattern or online tutorial for a laundry bag / backpack.  My biggest daughter, my soon to be college graduate (fingers crossed), would like one so she can carry her laundry to the laundry mat.  If you know of a good pattern or online tutorial, let me know!  Thanks.

Thanks again everyone.  I'll chat with you soon!

Tootles!

Vintage Sewing

I slipped away today to one of my favorite antique malls.  I came home with a few old sewing books, like the one pictured above.  It's from 1958!  I also picked up a few not so old recipe books.  I think they are from the early 1990s and they are full of low calorie recipes.  I know, not very exciting, but I'm committed to sticking to this diet.  I've lost nearly 20 pounds and am motivated, finally, to getting fit and staying healthy.  By the way, August is the third anniversary of being a quitter...a non-smoker, that is.  Woot woot!   

Flapper Girl Zipper Bag

Happy Secretary Zipper Bag

Thanks to all you guys for visiting my Etsy Shop.  I've added a few more image transfer bags, embellished with fabric yo-yos and buttons, so please visit again and pick out your favorite(s).  Remember my GIVEAWAY ends Monday!  I'd love to make it to 200 Followers, too!  Hint hint!  Also, be sure to link up to the August Dress Up!  August will be over before you know it!

Woo Hoo! It's Finally Open!

Well, it's finally happened!  Yep, I opened my Etsy shop!  It was a long time coming, I know.  I "opened" my shop at the end of last week and I've been slowly, but surely, adding new items almost everyday.  To those of you who have an Etsy shop, you know it takes awhile to actually "post" your listing huh?!  So, I'm not 100% sure I'm doing everything right, but hey, I didn't know what I was doing when I started this blog either!  

So, what am I going to do to celebrate the grand opening?  Well, I'm having a giveaway!  I am going to give away one of the bags in my shop!  That's right, you can choose any bag!  Here are the guidelines:  

1. Leave me a comment at the end of this post.
2. Visit my Etsy shop!
3. Be a "follower...Help me make it to 200!!
4. NOT required, but I'd love for you to write about my giveaway/shop on your blog!

That's it!  I'm going to have the giveaway open until Monday 08-22-11.  Also, I will be adding more items to my shop frequently, so stop by daily so you don't miss your new favorite bag!

Tootles!

A Little Tweaking...and a Birthday Giveaway!

Why is it that the weekends seem to go by so quickly?  Maybe this accounts for my lack of productivity?  Or maybe I've just enjoyed myself a lazy birthday weekend??  Yep, my husband and I have thrown our diets out the window in celebration of both our birthdays.  Friday night:  Hawaiian pizza plus two different dessert pizzas!  Saturday night:  supper out at Longhorn...including fried cheesecake for dessert!  Back on plan tomorrow (boo hiss).

I did get a bit of sewing done this weekend.  I'm still tweaking the wallet I made last weekend.  I've made two additional prototypes, but I'm not happy with either.  The main problem is making the pockets secure enough to hold onto cards snuggly.  I've experimented with interfacing and size.  For this last wallet, I've placed fairly stiff interfacing on the wrong side of the outer fabric as well as on the fabrics for the pockets.  I thought placing the interfacing on the wrong sides of the pockets as well as making the wallet smaller, overall, would do the trick.  It didn't.  When shaken, the cards will fall out.  I might try one or two more changes, but if they don't work, I'll scrap this shaped wallet altogether.  I do like the fabrics, however.  I used a snap this time and the button on the outside is purely decorative.  I may have placed the snap a little low.

I also came up with a new template for a little zip pouch.  I made the template out of card stock and then cut outside fabric and lining fabric using this as a guide.  I made a little "belt" in the center using a vintage buckle I found months ago during one of my Flea Market Fridays.  Like the snap, I may have put this little gem a bit low, but it's still cute. I will be tweaking this "pattern," too...but for now it works.

 I am not divulging my age (officially tomorrow's the day).   If you want to do some homework (by finding  a post where I've "confessed" my age), I'll send you a piece of birthday cake!  Well, not real cake, of course, but leave me a comment with the age I will be tomorrow and I'll send you something sweet!

Oh, the lilacs came out of my yard this morning.  Aren't they gorgeous?  The smell divine.  LOVE THEM!!

Have a great week!

Inspired by POP: March Dress Up

March's  theme for Dress Up 2011 is POP Art.  Think Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, and Richard Hamilton.  Think soup cans, commercialism, and collage.  Speaking of collage, my dress is a tribute to this medium.  I cut squares and rectangles of various papers and then pieced them together, glued them to card stock and then did a little free motion stitching all over.  Next I cut the card stock into the dress shape.  I edged the bottom of the dress with a ribbon hem and then edged the entire dress with a zig zag stitch.  I glued buttons down the front for an accent.  I got the idea for my dress from this "patchwork" corset featured in the March/April issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.

  

I hope you like my POP Art dress!  You can see more dresses HERE.  They are all great!

Before I sign off, I want to tell you about two fantastic giveaways.  The first is at Brynwood Needleworks.  Donna is celebrating her blog's two year birthday!  She is giving away a few of her gorgeous mug mats (remember the mug mat swap), as well as a Target gift card!  You can click the above link or click the button on my sidebar for more information!

The second giveaway is for a gorgeous journal at Bonnie's Designs!  Bonnie has been making journals to take with her on her upcoming trip to Paris.  So, to celebrate her excitement for her trip, she is giving away one of her gorgeous journals!  You can click the above link or hit the button on my sidebar!

Toodles!

Show a Little Blogger Love

You blogger ladies out there probably remember when you first started blogging and wondered, "Is anyone out there?"  "Are you reading what I write?"  For most of us, it takes awhile to "get established" as a blogger.  Do you remember the first comments and emails you got after you started blogging?  They made you feel good didn't they? This all said, I'd love love for you to visit Liza at her brand spanking new blog called, Mackomics Studio!  I met Liza a few months ago at an art show.  You might remember I bought this awesome card:

 
By the way, I kept this card for myself!  Liza also participates in Dress Up 2011.  Her January dress was amazing.  I can't wait to see what she does with Klimt for February's dress!

To celebrate her new blog and Etsy Shop, Liza is having a super giveaway!  Just head over to her Blog and leave her a comment for a chance to win one of the fabulous items she has in her shop.  It would be great if you became a follower, too!  Here's a little teaser of what you could win:

 Aren't they awesome!!!  Hurry over to Liza's now because her giveaway ends Friday night!  Just in time for Valentine's Day!!

Thanks everybody.  Let's show Liza a some love from her fellow awesome blogger artists!

Toodles!

Angela

It's Winner Time!

The winner of the Sisterhood Journal Jacket is....insert drum roll here.....

For those of you in my age bracket, this may be difficult to see.  If that's the case, here is a close up:

Congratulations to Connie AKA Stamp Gram!  I hope you like the jacket! 


Thanks to all who left such nice comments about my Journal Jacket.  They are all so appreciated.  A big shout out to Jaclyn for drawing the name out of the hat...sorry, no big technical computer generated drawings at Sew Loquacious...we're old school 'round here!  (Or just not so technically savvy?)

Toodles!

Angela

My February Dress Up 2011: Mada Primavesi

Dress Up 2011 has been so exciting and we are only two months in!  January began with Impressionism and the dresses made were spectacular!   February's artist inspiration is Gustav Klimt!  I've chosen his Mada Primavesi as the source of inspiration for my dress.  Klimt painted Mada, the nine year old daughter of a industrialist banker, in 1912.

I really enjoyed creating this paper dress.  I started with a gray piece of construction paper, which I sponge painted with very pale pink, white, gray, and on top, a pearlescent white.  Considering this is the part of the dressmaking that I struggle with (the background) the most, I think it turned out great.  Then I hand painted small clay flowers, which brought back memories of cake decorating flower making times.  Less mess, though if you can believe it!  I painted a coffee filter and cut it into strips that I pleated for the ruffles.  I added the yellow ribbon to the neck and hemline.  Tooting my own horn, I think this is my best dress yet! 

Truth be told, I started out using Klimt's painting, Woman in a Hat and Feather Boa, as my inspiration.  What I like most about the painting is the color of the dress and hat.  It is a really dark blue.  A lot different form Mada, huh?  My dress, however, actually turned out flat, literally and figuratively.  I will spare you from seeing the dress, but I do love the hat I made.

I couldn't figure out how to make the hat two dimensional because I knew I wanted to use feathers, so I made it 3D.  Hence, Ariel is modeling it for the photo.  Now, how do I put it in my ATC/Paperdresses scrapbook?  I'll have to give Ariel back to my daughter eventually I am sure.  Right?  

Speaking of Charlotte, remember this photo of her in the igloo I posted last week?

Well, we've added on.  After this week's storm, we've been able to add on a patio, a walk in closet in the master bedroom, and a second bathroom!  Brr.

Thanks so much for all the sweet comments and emails regarding my Journal Jacket tutorial that Joanne at Vintage Dragonfly posted on Tuesday Tutorial.  There is still time to enter for a chance to win my Sisterhood Journal Jacket, too.  Just leave me a comment HERE.  A winner will be chosen randomly Saturday!  

Don't forget to check out the February Dresses as they link up.  You'll find the post with February's Dress Links HERE.  They are all great.  I can't wait to see more!!

Toodles!

Angela

Sisterhood

Happy Tuesday!  I'm so excited that it is Tuesday and February 1st, I almost can't stand it!  Guess why?  Okay, the first reason is that Joanne, from her beautiful blog, Vintage Dragonfly, asked me to participate in Tutorial Tuesday!  Joanne hosts guest bloggers every Tuesday and today is my turn!   So, please go over and read my tutorial on creating a Journal Jacket.     While you are there, you'll be able to check out Joanne's awesome creations and read other tutorials as well!  

I was truly honored when Joanne contacted me and asked me to participate.  She is a wonderfully talented artist and I am humbled to have my work displayed alongside such gifted artists..  In celebration, I am having a giveaway!  Yay!!  Background info:  I "met" Joanne via the Bloggerette Sorority Sisters several months ago.  Coincidentally, the Sisters, specifically Debi, graciously took the helm of the sorority from our "founder," Karen, and started our own blog.  Okay, so what's all this sister talk have to do with my giveaway?  Well, the giveaway "prize" is a Journal Jacket (pictured above) I made that simply says, "Sisterhood."  

To win this jacket (book cover), just leave me a comment at the end of this post!  That's it!  I'll pick a winner randomly on Saturday, February 5th.  Oh, and please visit Vintage Dragonfly and the new Bloggerette Sorority blog!  Consider becoming a sister!

Now, for the second reason I am excited today:  It's the start of the February dress parade!  I've posted a "Simply Linked" tool for all you fashionistas to link up your dresses to your blogs!  You'll find the Simply Linked HERE.  I am so excited to see all the awesome dresses you have created using Gustav Klimt as your inspiration!
NOTE:  I've chosen to use Simply Linked for our dresses because Linky Tools has started charging for their service.

I hope you all have a fantastic day!

Toodles,

Angela

Hot Potato Winner!

The Hot Potato Valori Wells Wallet Pattern Winner is...insert another drum roll here...

Sammy from The English Country Garden in Bags!  Congratulations!  I know you'll love the pattern and I can't wait to see your creations!

Speaking of creations.  Have a look at this pillow I made this past weekend.  The photo is of my mother-in-law when she was a little girl.  Doesn't she look sassy?  I hope she likes her gift.

I really had a lot of fun making this gift.  I made the fabric flowers in the corner, which were actually the most difficult part of this project.  What do you think?

I hope everyone has a great week.  Congratulations again to Sammy!

Toodles,

Angela

Cards Galore!

On the Ninth Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me...

Nine Drummers Drumming
Sandi: Maximum Embellishment

The 9th Day of Christmas ATC comes from Sandi at Maximum Embellishment.  It is amazing.  I have no idea how she created this card, but the rectangle within the rectangle in the middle, is raised with some sort of texture material that kind of glistens.  I know I am not describing this well, but trust me, it is truly beautiful.  This is definitely one of my favorites.  I love it.  BTW, Sandi's blog is beautiful, too.  You should check it out.

I received two more sets of cards in the mail yesterday.  First, my daughter drew and painted (watercolor) a fish several months ago at school.  This artwork was sent to a company in Colorado where it was converted into blank note cards.  I can't get over how awesome the cards turned out!  On the reverse, my daughter's full name, her school name, and the date is printed.  What a truly fabulous way to preserve and showcase her art. 

Charlotte's Fancy Fish

I also received Penny's card in the mail.  The theme for December's Blissful ATC Swap is "Angels."  Penny's interpretation is beautiful.  She also sent me an ornament for our tree as well as a fantastic handmade card.

Thanks Penny.  I knew your card would be great!

As promised, here is a photo of my new/old $10.00 Goodwill desk.

I thought I'd better get a picture posted before it gets too out of control messy!  Is it awesome!!!  It is gigantic..obscenely huge..I love it!  (Still hate the horrid chair, though).

Please remember to sign up for a chance to win the Valori Wells wallet pattern.  You can click here to jump back to read about that Hot Potato and SIGN UP please!  See how close I am to 100 followers!  I'm going to be picking the winner on December 20th!


Toodles for now!

Angela

12 Days of Christmas, Treasure Barn ATC, a Yo Yo, and A Wallet

It is indeed Christmas at my house.  I received the 12 Days of Christmas ATCs from Wendy!  If you remember, I signed up a few months ago to participate in this ATC Swap and my assignment was to create 12 "A Patridge in a Pear Tree" ATCs.  I made my cards and sent them to Wendy as did the other 11 artists.  (I love saying, artists)  Wendy sort of made an accordian-like book out of the cards and packaged them in a beautiful box.  I've decided to celebrate how awesome these cards are by showing one each day.  I know, I know, the 12 Days of Christmas don't actually begin until Christmas Day, but I cannot wait!  So, let's go!

2 Turtledoves by Blanche

3 French Hens by Debbie



4 Calling Birds by Francie

You can see mine here.  I'll post 5 thru 12 in the coming days!  They are all awesome!  Come back and see!

As promised, here is the ATC I sent DeeDee for November's Treasure Barn Swap:

I combined a sort of Thanksgiving theme along with a personal touch with the little Sioux girl as DeeDee grew up in Sioux City, Iowa!  I hope she liked it!

Two more things to show you this Saturday night.  First, behold, my very first yo-yo! 

A big shout out goes to Bonnie for this flower.  I've actually wanted to make yo-yos forever, but didn't realize just how easy they are until I watched Bonnie's video!  Thanks Bonnie!

Last, but not least, here is my first card wallet made with the Valori Wells pattern.  Remember to SIGN UP and you can win the pattern! 

I should have inserted a few cards before taking the picture so you could see the pockets a bit better, but you get the idea right? Anyway, the pattern was pretty easy to follow and this didn't take long to put together.  I used alphabet stamps and fabric ink to stamp "Yum" and I drew the frog with fabric markers.  I glued the googly eyes and sewed the tiny (extremely, annoyingly small) black beads on to represent a fly. What do you think? 

Have a fantastic weekend!

Toodles,

Angela