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!!! 

I can at least make bread!

This blog has become my sewing rant session...I really hope for some positive stories soon, if not for the sake of my readers, but for my sanity! LOL

I cut out all my fashion and lining fabric for my swing dress.  Because I find ironing large pieces of fabric awkward I decided to iron after cutting, it didn't seem to wrinkly anyway.  Well...it ironed up nicely and I was so happy with everything, then I wanted to sew my fashion fabric and lining together and suddenly panic set in.  All my fashion fabric is too big now...doh!!  So now I'm going to try to line up my pieces with the pattern again and trim.  Ugh...this is a mistake I'll make once (I hope!).

I was able to sew a few pieces that were pretty close and my sewing machine decided to give me fits.  The bobbin case is loose and the whole thing falls out of place, causing the machine to lock up, my fabric to get eaten and the most horrible noise.  So sewing is on hold until I can get it serviced, I don't want to seriously break my machine, or break it more than it already is. 

Sewing really has a way of rattling my confidence.  I read blogs of other beginner seamstresses and they seem to be whipping up beautiful things daily!  I'm definitely not in the same category.  So I have to remind myself that I am good at something...like making sourdough bread.  Here's proof:  :)

Yum!

Fiddling is complete!

Last night I finished my final muslin for the swing dress.  I'm sure there are plenty more tweaks I could do to improve fit, but I'm getting to the point where I need to either finish this dress or toss it to the side.  I didn't tack the zipper in this muslin in the pictures so the one side is loose, but overall I think it looks alright.

This Saturday Mr. Snuggly is going hiking with friends, and while I would like to go I think it's best to rest my back.  So I'm going to hole myself up in my sewing room to work on my final dress.  We have a party to go to that night and it would be awesome if I could have it done in time to wear, but I won't push it. 

Also I got my invite to a good friend's baby shower.  I would really like to make a blanket and like these project kits from Anna Marie Horner, but all the fabric choices look too girly to me.  She's having a boy so I would like something at least gender neutral.  What do you think of either of these?

My back...I mean I'm back!

Saturday morning I woke up with a twinge in my back.  I chalked it up to sleeping on a hotel mattress.  After standing and walking a lot all day I was in a world of hurt.  Unfortunately it hasn't improved much, but hopefully I'll be feeling human soon.  2011 has been terrible so far for me health-wise, ugh! 

Anyway due to my issues I haven't gotten much sewing done, however I did make it over to Hancock for the President's Sale.  I picked up three new patterns, each for a $1.  I got three Amazing Fit patterns because I want to get fit down so when I got to other patterns I know better how to adjust them to me.  Plus they are all nice wardrobe basics. 

Simplicity 2404 Empire Waist Dress
Simplicity 2562 Wide Leg Pants
Simplicity 2339 Button-down Shirt

I also picked up my lining fabric for my swing dress and one of those handy hem markers so I can hem my dress without having to trust my husband with pins.  LOL!

As for dress progress...I completed my new bodice muslin and thought about just going on to my fashion fabric.  I'm so glad I didn't!  I decided to remake the whole muslin and found that I didn't increase the width of the skirt enough to accommodate my FBA.  I would have been so devastated if this had happened with my good fabric and didn't have enough to re-do it.  I'm sold on doing a muslin, especially while I'm still learning!  I'm hoping to finish this muslin up tonight and get to work on my finished dress.  I'm getting so excited because I think it will be very cute (at least I hope!!!).  Even if it does end in disaster I've learned a ton which makes it worth it. 

Have you heard of Pinterest?

I found out about this site from Stitchywitch.  I got an invite and signed up!  I did my first board of my dream wardrobe.  If you would like an invite let me know!

Fiery Chickens and Furry Shoes!

So I don't have any pictures of my latest (and hopefully last!) muslin for my swing dress.  It's coming to together nicely though, but it may be a touch big now. ::sigh::  Also I got a gathering presser foot for my machine and it is so much easier than trying to pull threads!  I won't be working on the dress for a few days (see below) but hope to finally cut my fashion fabric next week.  Ugh, I hate feeling behind, however I know I will be frustrated if I don't get the fit right. 

This weekend we're heading out of town to Columbus, OH for the Fiery Foods Festival.  Mr. Snuggly is a hot sauce/chili pepper aficionado and I love going to the North Market. 

Isn't that a cute logo?!  It makes me giggle.  :)

Today there a networking event at work so I dressed up a smidge more than usual.  I was happy too because it was a good excuse to get my favorite heels out of the closet. 

I got them from the Nine West shop in Manhattan years ago on a business trip.  I love the faux fur (I hope it's fake but don't know for sure) detail. 

Sewing and Cupcakes!!!

Last weekend Mr. Snuggly and I went to IKEA for some sewing room furniture shopping.  I ended up getting everything on my "must have" list.  I tested out all the desks and decided that the Jonas desk with the pull-out side table was perfect.  This is a HUGE step up from the card table!

I decided to go with the black-brown version because I thought it would look nicer than the birch, unfortunately it didn't come in white.  I did get the Jules chair in white though and I love how it looks with the darker desk. 

I was also able to get my comfy chair and footstool.  Now I can comfortably watch tv and do my hand stitching.  I got the dark gray Tullsta chair and I love how it looks against the lighter gray walls.  You can also get covers in different colors, so I may get one so I can have a different look.  Because it's too small to curl up on I got a little Solsta Pallbo footstool.  Here's a pic...complete with Scout who is always hamming for the camera!!  LOL!

I haven't gotten a chance to actually sew at my desk yet, but I'm excited too!  I'm desperately behind in my swing dress so I need to get to it! 

I did find some time to make some tasty treats for Valentine's Day.  I used Bake It in a Cake's recipe for Chocolate Covered Strawberry Brownie Bites.  Though I didn't have enough strawberries to make mini's so I make regular sized cupcakes. 

They have white chocolate buttercream frosting.  I really need to work on my frosting skills, but luckily my gold sprinkles from Bake It Pretty distract from the mistakes nicely.  :)