What I've been doing, besides not blogging

I haven't been blogging. Duh. I feel guilty, but I shouldn't, because it's supposed to be for fun and fun only. So there, I'm done feeling guilty.

Here's what I've been up to:

1. We had Thanksgiving in the good ol' US of A last week. I made mashed potatoes and two apple pies. I still have half of an apple pie in my fridge if anyone wants to come eat it! We had quite a potato peel incident right before we had to leave for T-giving- someone (ahem, Lydia) forgot to run the disposal until there were 10 lb. of potato peels in the sink. Let's just say we had to use the toilet plunger in the kitchen sink. Yuck.

2. Being a kitchen failure. It all started with the potato peel incident of 2009 (I blame Lydia only to take the real blame off of myself- I know, I'm a saint). On Tuesday, I was boiling a whole chicken, and while trying to take it out (with two large spoons) of the hot, greasy, gross water, it slipped and fell back in the hot, greasy, gross water and splashed ALLLLLL over me, the floor, the wall. Well, me being a genius thought that would just be a once and done thing- so I tried again. Slipped again. Tried again. Slipped again. Humph. Greasy, gross, chicken water all over me and my kitchen.

3. I started a fire. In the kitchen, no less. I think remnants of the greasy, gross, chicken water incident of 2009 were still on the burner of the stove the next day. I was trying to boil some rice, but I turned the wrong burner on. There was a lid to a pot on the [wrong] burner that I turned on, and while I'm doing dishes, Josh yells, "ABBY!" I turn around, and there is a flame coming from the burner. Yes. I caught the metal lid on fire. Oh, you didn't know that metal could catch on fire?? Me either. Welp folks, she's done it again.

4. Decorating for Christmas. Hopefully I won't catch our Christmas tree on fire with my mad kitchen skills. We got our tree this past weekend. I think it is the earliest I have ever gotten a tree in my life. Growing up we always got it about the week OF Christmas.

Also, Josh broke my kitchen scissors trying to cut the top of our Christmas tree off. I will be expecting a new pair in my stocking!

Dancing and [not] being a hipster. My sisters and I (minus Lydia- sorry Lyd) and our husbands/boyfriend went hipster bowling and dancing this past weekend. I'm REALLLLLLY good at bowling. I think my score was 54. Here's a pic of my great form:

Best picture ever:

I clearly didn't get the no smiling memo.

Love these girls! (I love you too, Lydia!)

New Etsy Items and Craft show Bomb

My friend Jess and I went to a craft show this weekend. It was a flop/bomb/fail/hilarious day. There were lots of old ladies and a woman selling tupperware. It's a CRAFT show.... did she MAKE the tupperware? I don't think so.

Ha. Anyway, Jess and I had fun together. I sold one item and Jess sold two. It was at the local library, and I don't think anyone knew about it unless they happened to come in the library for some books. There was also this big parade going on outside, so that didn't help.

Here's Jess at our table

In the last two hours of the show I think about three people walked in the door. One woman came up to our table and said, "Aprons? People don't wear those anymore!" Well gee, thanks lady. That's half my table.

We had fun though, and we hope to do another one again soon. It was a good first show. Well, sorta.

So, now all of the items that didn't sell at the show (meaning, like, all of them) are now in my Etsy shop. Take a looksie! And don't forget my faithful blog followers get 20% off your order!

Auction items and zipper virgin

So remember when I told you about the art auction that I submitted some items in? Well, I sold both items (woo hoo!), and just wanted to show you what they were.

First, the Delilah Bag that I had in my Etsy shop- she's all decked out with her 'sewing snails' tags.

The second item was something I made specifically for this event- this 'dishes' apron.

I love this fabric. I thought the cranberry color made it perfect for the upcoming holidays.

And here's my table at the auction!

I am still buried with sewing projects. I'm beginning to fear that I will still be buried until Christmas. I'm working on this one bag for a friend- she requested a zipper instead of a snap, which I usually do. I'm a zipper virgin... Let's just say my kittens have had to cover their ears because of all the cursing, throwing, punching, etc. I've been doing getting this darn zipper in. I have to work on it in like 5 minute increments now, or else something really nasty might happen. I mean it. I'm gettin meeeeeeeeaaaaaannnnnn. Andrea, I promise it will be done before Christmas, though don't count on any Christmas cheer from me. :)

Please still love me....

Ohhhh dear blog.....

I hope you still love me. I have been such a bad blogger. You must understand... I have been drowning, drowning, in sewing projects. Sewing projects that I started weeks ago, before I moved- projects people have asked me to do. So if you are one of those people, I have not forgotten about you. I working on it. I'm WORKIN on it people, sheesh, give me a break!! :)

Believe me, I WANT to get these projects done. So badly. You see, I just got some fabric in the mail yesterday, and one of the cuts was for my linen "closet"- (more like a hole in the wall) I am going to make a curtain. See? It needs one. Bad.

But I promised myself I won't do it, even though it will take like 11.5 seconds, until all of my projects for other people are done.

So, in all my busyness, I have neglected my blog. And I shall neglect it more until I get these projects done. I'm sorry. Do you feel like you are on the back burner? Cause you are. Please still love me.

Sewing Snails tags

I was invited to submit some items for auction at the Lansdale Silent Art Auction, to benefit the Boys and Girls Club. I am very excited for this- 1. because I will actually sell something (unless nobody bids... sad snails), and 2. it is for a good cause. I was honored to be asked to submit some items- I don't often look at what I do as "art," because I still feel like I am learning and often feel very inadequate! But then again, I feel very inadequate when I play violin too, but I look at that as art. I guess it's because sewing is still so new to me... it just feels different.

Anyhoooooo....

I made these tags for my items today. A little while ago I found this "snail" fabric from fabric.com, and it was on sale for like 2.50/yd or something outrageous like that! So I bought like 4 yards.

I wasn't sure what to do with it, so I thought I could at least make some snails tags. I think they came out cute, but you tell me what you think.

I used "Wonder Under." It's this paper-like stuff that you iron on to the wrong side, peel off, and it leaves this glue, and then you iron on another piece of fabric. So basically you're bonding fabric to fabric.

I did this all while the plumber was here today... I got out of the shower this morning and stepped in soppy carpet in our bedroom. Yuck. So I was being crafty all day while the plumber was here. Good times.

Stuff/Junk/Crap/I don't say that other word

There's no time like when you move to realize how much stuff/junk/crap you have. I never really realized it until we put it all in one room to get ready for the move. Here's half of it:

There was still some stuff here:



And here:



And here:

And the thing is, we don't even have a whole lot of stuff. Compared to people who are older and have been married a long time, we really don't have much at all. But these pictures make me a little sick inside, knowing I have all this crap and some people can't even put food on the table for their family. The move has definitely made me more grateful for what I have, and we've realized we can live a lot more simply. So, we gave a lot of things away, and we put some things in storage (aka our parent's basements/garages). The whole moving weekend was a blur, and I'm just glad it's over now.

So... pictures of the new place, as promised:

"Oh, hi. Welcome to our new home! We love our new home, because mommy found the cat nip while we were packing to move, and we ate it alllllll while they were away this weekend. Puuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr."

(they're telling the truth)

Front door (ok, only door)


Dining room (still in need of a few pictures)


Living room, this is also where I give lessons

(Can you tell Delilah needs a little attention?)



Laundry room


Kitchen




Bathroom


Where the magic happens


Messy sewing corner- we had room for it! just barely...

That's about it! I finally got back to some sewing this weekend. I made two aprons, so pics to come of those soon!

I'm back! Plus interesting article

Oh, dear blog, how I've missed you. Oh yes, I've missed my bloggy friends too. This past weekend turned into a busy, non-internet time for us. Well, we didn't really have a choice, as the Verizon guy couldn't come until yesterday. But we are all moved, settled, and mostly unpacked. Pictures of the new place to come later! Unfortunately, I don't have time for a real post today... i have a mountain of sewing projects hanging over me that I put on the back burner while the moving process occurred. So, i must go.

But I want to share this article. It's long, but a good read. The article shows that buying SOLE foods (Sustainable, Organic, Local, and Ethical) can be done on a food stamps budget. I am pretty conscious of what food I buy and eat, but I could do a much better job. Honestly, it's laziness- it takes more effort and time to go to the Farmer's market for a few items, and grocery store for others. And also, I do have it in my head that buying organic, free-range, healthy food items is for rich people. Guess not.

I also looked up CSAs- in the article, she talks about being a part of this "community supported agriculture." I didn't even know that existed until now, and I think it's a really great concept. Basically, you buy a "share" of the farm, and usually from June-October/November, you'll get a box of fresh fruits/veggies every week. Some require a few hours of work every season, but you get to know the farmer and even the cows. I looked it up and there are actually a lot of farms around me that do it. I might think about it for next year. Have any of you joined a CSA or know anyone that has? Am I the last person in the world who has never heard of it?? (I'm always afraid that I'm the last person to hear about things, and then when I talk about it, you are all bored.)

Ok, I must end this non-post post. Will be back tomorrow... hopefully.