Crazy days!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!  Though I'm not Irish I like to get in the spirit and wear green.  Unfortunately my green swing dress is not finished so I chose a green t-shirt instead.  Since green is my favorite color it's easy to find something appropriate. 

So my dress isn't finished, but the pieces are all there.  They just need to be put together.  My sewing machine was in the shop for a week longer than I expected and it caused me some scheduling issues.  I do hope to have it completed for my trip back home to Chicago in May. 

I have a baby shower this weekend so my gift (Anna Marie Horner receiving blanket) has taken priority.  I'm so excited because I tried a new technique for making bias tape.  I used the tutorial on Colette's site for making continuous bias tape.  Lining up my lines was a little fiddly, but the strip came out great!  Now I just have to actually make it into the bias tape and then the scary part....sewing it on the blanket.  I can't sew a straight line it seems and this voile (which is what a layer of the blanket and the tape are) is slippery.  I'm considering trying my new Sewline glue pen instead of pins, but I fear it may stain the fabric. 

Has anyone tried this pen?  Did you have any issues?! 

I will be sure to post some pics of my finished blanket.  I really hope I can have it done by Sunday!  Just in case I did get another gift so I won't show up empty handed at least. 

I have a new assignment at work and my days went from low key to 90 miles a minute!  This has severely impacted my time and energy to devote to sewing...or anything else really.  Hopefully I'll get used to things and it all won't seem so overwhelming soon.  In the meantime you may not hear from me much.  I also have another idea for my blog that I'm considering...so changes may be coming.  Good ones I hope! 

Radio Silence

I've been quiet lately because basically nothing crafty is happening.  My sewing machine is still at the shop and I'm starting to think I'm never going to get it back.  So my swing dress pieces are just hanging out collecting dust.  Ugh!

Meanwhile I did receive my new patterns from Sewaholic and Colette.  I purchased my fabric for the Pendrell today.  I picked up a jersey knit from Gorgeous Fabrics

I'm a sucker for anything argyle...it must be my inner preppy coming out!  LOL!  I'm unsure how the pattern will work out with the princess seams, but we'll see.  Any tips for me?!

In other news I did make some amazing cookies!

Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies

They have chocolate chips in them for some added texture and a lovely coffee flavor that isn't over powering.  I got the recipe from one of our Taste of Home cookbooks.  Here is the recipe if you would like to try them for yourself!  Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies

The A-B-Cs of M-I-A

Ashley of (Never Home)maker did this survey and I thought it was too fun to pass up.  

A. Age: 33, and will be 34 in May

B. Bed size: Queen

C. Chore you dislike: Dusting

D. Dogs: Scout, a Shepard mix, and Ripley, a Huskie-Rottweiler, both are rescues so we can't be sure

E. Essential start to your day: Checking my rain gauge and entering my data into CoCoRaHS, I'm a weather geek.  If you are too and live in the States you should sign up, it's a wonderful organization!

F. Favorite color: Green, but I like color so there isn't really a color I don't like

G. Gold or silver: silver or white gold

H. Height: 5'6" but you probably wouldn't know it because I'm always in either Danskos or heels (unless I'm driving, in which case Crocs).  I always wished I was taller. 

I. Instruments you play(ed): I played the violin in the 3rd grade for two months

J. Job title: Software test project coordinator

K. Kids: None

L. Live: in the bluegrass of Kentucky

M. Mom’s name: Deborah

N. Nicknames: Mia is actually my nickname, as my given name is Michelle.  My family also calls me Shelly.

O. Overnight hospital stays: None, since my birth :)

P. Pet peeves: I really have too many to name...but people who know they are going to pay for their groceries with a check and don't even bother to look for their checkbook until their entire (usually enormous) order is rung up get extra special eye rolls from me. 

Q. Quote from a movie: "At least you'll never be a vegetable — even artichokes have hearts. Amelie

R. Righty or lefty: Lefty and proud! 

S. Siblings: younger brother, Matthew

T. Time you wake up: around 6am

U. Underwear: cotton bikinis in lots of colors and patterns

V. Vegetables you don't like: Peas, blech!

W. What makes you run late: Something outside my control because I'm that annoying person that always shows up 20 minutes early. 

X. X-rays you’ve had: I've had tons, teeth (yearly exam), wrist, hand, ankle, ribs, head, back...ok basically everything has been x-rayed at some point. 

Y. Yummy food you make: cookies, cakes, pies, bread and ice cream :)

Z. Zoo animal favorites: I love going to the zoo (well run ones where the animals are properly cared, of course)!  I really love all the animals so it's hard to pick a favorite, but maybe the elephants or rhinos

What to do...

My sewing machine went to the shop today and it won't be done for a week.  :(  So I have plenty of time to trim up my swing dress pieces.  I'll have to come up with a few more crafty activities in the interim. 

I do have to hem our new living room curtains (with fusible tape). 

And I have this adorable embroidery pattern I would like to stitch up.  I'm not sure on what yet though. 

I finally picked up some patterns I've been dying for! 
Pendrell blouse

Sencha

Beignet

So as soon as my machine is fixed up I'm going to a busy bee!!!