Cupcakes for Haiti

Please go to Cupcakes For Haiti to check out what I've been up to this week!

I am part of this great community of people (my house church), and this is what we're doing to try to raise money for Haiti. We figured everyone loves cupcakes, and we all know enough people in this area to get the word out about yumminess for a good cause. I'm so excited about this. I have no idea how many cupcakes we will have to bake. It could be 20 or it could be a lot more. I'm hoping for lots more! 100% of the proceeds go to Deep Springs International to help get clean water to the Haitian people. They are raising money to buy buckets and tablets to purify water and to teach people how to do it.

If you live around the "north of Philadelphia" area and would like some cupcakes, or know of people who do, or can help in any way, let me know! Sorry, we're not going to ship cupcakes this time around. :)

Read my sister's blog for a much more eloquent explanation of our house church!

I finished this apron yesterday.

I was hesitant to use white for the ruffle and lining, but it's all I had that matched. I don't like when aprons aren't convenient. Maybe some people don't, but I actually use my apron when I am cooking, and I usually need it!

I did something a little different with this apron. I cut the bottom so it is rounded instead of straight, and I made the ruffle go up the back a bit.

The pockets are Lizzy Dish fabric.

Do you love aprons as much as I do? Here are some sites to check out with tutorials and inspiration!

Apronista
52 free apron patterns
Ruffle Apron tute (can't wait to make this)
Apron Goddesses

Lovebirds Wreath

I made a wreath.



It's white because it's winter.

It has love birds because it's almost Valentine's day.



Josh thinks it looks like toilet paper.



I think it looks like a winter wonderland.

I used this tutorial.

It was easy, fairly cheap, and didn't take nearly as much time as the tutorial said it might. I kinda want to make some mini ones in different colors for a bare wall I have.

That is all!

What I want to do in Twenty Ten

I'm still not used to writing '10. It's weird. And yes, I realize it's halfway through January. I better get movin'.

I didn't really make New Year's resolutions. I was so busy over the holidays I kind of forgot about it to be honest. There are plenty of goals that I have- be a better wife (you know- keep the house cleaner and cook more--- kidding), be a better friend, love God more, etc. But I want to tell you about what I want to DO this year! Real, practical sorta stuff.

1. Make (and eat) a red velvet cake.

yummmmmmmmm

2. Sew at least one item of clothing from a pattern. In my opinion, that's when someone is really good- when they can follow the pattern!

3. Do more thrift store shopping and upcycling.

4. Eat more "whole" foods and cook healthier. I just stumbled across this search engine, and I'm excited about trying it.


5. Take more pictures. I'd have a lot more to blog about if I had more pictures.

6. Be able to get through more than one circuit of Jillian Michael's workout DVDs. (And recover in less than 4 days.)She is a scary, scary woman.

7. Sew a quilt?? Maybe, I don't know. It would be a cute one though, not all country and stuff.

8. Sew more aprons in new styles.

9. Take a vacay to Cape Cod with my hubby.

10. Start/participate in/attend a crafty/sewing social event on a regular basis. I would love to sew/craft with others!

a minor tangent

Allow me to go on a minor tangent from sewing.

I'm in love. With Schumann, that is. Robert Schumann. SHOE + MONN.

Oh, you don't know him? Let me share.

I am playing this Symphony for a concert coming up in February with my orchestra.

My favorite (non-musical)parts:
-the facial expressions in the first 15 seconds.
-at 1:04, the trumpet player on the right. (Looks like the Hawaiian guy who sings that new version of "Somewhere over the rainbow")
-around 4:25-4:30, the camera is over the whole orchestra, and it looks like a breathing organism with all the bows going in the same direction.


So tell me your thoughts. Your honest thoughts. Do you like "classical" music? (This is really "romantic" music.) Because if you don't, I don't think you're listening to the right stuff. If you get squeamish and have traumatic flashbacks of being forced to sit through long boring concerts, or have any sort of flashback to playing the clarinet in 3rd grade... I beg you. Give it another try!! (being able to listen to the music, that is... not playing the clarinet) Maybe I can help change your mind.

OH, you didn't know I was a dork? Sorry. Whoops. I let it out a little. (that's what she said!)

My Internet lameness

It shouldn't be news to anyone that I am not exactly a techie. I mean, I can barely make a link. And I usually don't believe that the link works so I have to double check it. I have learned a lot since starting this blog (mostly thanks to this person- see that? Ok, just double checked, it DIDN'T work, go figure.) Well, there are a few things that I still don't get about the internet, and it's starting to annoy me. I realize there may be real reasons why these things are the way they are, but.... just, why?? If anyone would like to fill me in, please do!

1. When people write, "myemail (at) gmail (dot) com" .... Is that just to be cool? Seriously, who doesn't know what @ and . mean these days?

2. I guess the word "photo" is not a sufficient abbreviation anymore. Now, I've noticed that unless you want to be labeled uncool and lame for the rest of your life, you have to add the G. Photogs. I really just don't get it.

3. Ok, I'm going to really embarrass myself here. But you know on some blogs they say, "Subscribe to my RSS feed" and don't actually have a "Follow me" button? Yeah, I don't follow those blogs. I have not a clue what RSS feed means. So I just have to remember that I liked that blog and check back when I remember. Really lame. There's GOT to be a better way!!!

4. Apparently now the "internet" is called the "internets"?

5. My sister just asked me if I have "google analytics" set up yet. I had to google what that means.

I better just stick to sewing.

Happy Friday!!

What I made, Part 5

This is the last of the "what i made" posts, and I will be getting onto new projects and new items for my [lame] shop soon!

I made these aprons for my cousins. I wanted a simple, flowy apron (mostly because I was getting really tired and needed to get my own Christmas shopping done!) These were so easy and only took about an hour and a half to make. I think I'll make some of these for my shop. I didn't line them, so that's part of the reason they went quicker, and it also makes them cheaper! Both are made from Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks line of fabric- LOVE!

Apron #1

Apron #2

I put rick rack on the bottom hem of each of them.

To make the flowy skirt, you just ruffle! Set your machine on the longest length possible, and the highest number of the tension control, and go! It will ruffle itself.

What I made, Part 4

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Updated to add:

Thank you soo much to Leelou blogs for my new blog look!! I love her stuff!! You should check it out- lots of free stuff too :)

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Here is a bag I made for my brother-in-law to give to his girlfriend.

I love this bag because it is totally arms and hands free!

I bought this fabric because it is heavier home decor fabric and was on sale at Joann's. But when I got home I got really worried because of the seam in the front of the bag. You'll notice that I didn't match it up very well, so the shapes are off a bit. I actually was worried it would look a lot worse (though the back is worse!). I used this pattern before, but I never really had to worry about the seam in the front. When I do it again, I won't use a geometric pattern!

What I made, Part 3

Aprons! Big surprise, right?

I wanted a full, non-complicated apron. So I used the "pattern" for the children's apron that I have (not exactly a real pattern, it's more like just a shape that I have in my head), and I enlarged it and added pockets and rick rack. I think they came out pretty cute and they were fairly simple and quick to make. They have ties around the neck and waist.

For this first apron, I found this fabric at a thrift store for like $3.00, and I still have lots more.

For this second apron, I found this fabric at Joann's on clearance for $1.50 for about 3 yards!

Even though I know I am getting paid for it, I still try to shop thriftily (if that's a word) so I can keep my prices lower.

PS- By the way, you'll notice that my new URL is www.musingsofasnail.com (dropped the blogspot!)

Best of 2009

Ok, I know most people did "Best of" lists like three days ago... I'm a bit behind. I'm always behind. Does anyone else always feel that way???

Going into the new year has been hard for me for the past few years with my mom being gone. I always get sad thinking that I am another year older, and that's one more year I've lived without her in my life. All the memories from this past year did not include her, nor will any memories for the year to come. I really miss her. I miss her gentle smile and comforting presence.

Anyway, sorry to be such a downer. I did have some great memories in 2009, though, and below I will share them with you, my dear bloggy friends:

Best of 2009, Snails' style

1. Learning to sew, of course!!
I am so amazed at all I've learned in only a matter of a few months.


2. Starting the Snails blog, which will be getting a major face lift in a few days. Can't wait for you to see!

3. Starting my Etsy shop and starting to sell a few of my handmade goods. It feels really good to make a little money off of this hobby I've come to love!

4. Graduating from college. I've never felt more free.


5. Going to Mexico with my hubby for our 1 year anniversary.





6. Watching [some of] my violin students grow into young musicians, and seeing their hard work really pay off.

7. Watching my baby kitties grow into little adult cats and become the most loving, adorable, best kitties in the world.

8. Moving to a newer, more affordable apartment.

9. Making new friends and having a community of people who we know love and support us. This is our house church! 10. Loving this guy more and more every day.
Happy 2010!