Were Moving

Wow I cannot believe no one wants free fabric...

well at any rate

we are moving to Typepad.

You can visit me here at
http://elementalstitches.typepad.com/

My blog has changed. I haven't been satisfied with it for a while, so its changing. Please visit.

100 Posts! And a Giveaway!

One hundred posts! This is a huge thing for us. I never thought I would keep up this blog, but every time you leave a comment I think, wow someone really reads this.

There are many things to celebrate today. It was the last day of school and my finals went well; I think I got all A's. My mom was given the cancer all clear today after a month of worry (I just found this all out). Then, a close friend who lost his job a while ago and was living in his car just got a job with my hubby working full time with good pay. And my step dad, who has been out of work for a while, landed a great job at NASA!

Fortune has been smiling on us today. And to celebrate we are having a drawing. I decided that I wanted to support my fellow Etsy sellers and I wanted to support a designer that I like so... Leave a comment in this post about what you like about my blog and I will randomly draw a winner who will get 7 fat quarters of Anna Maria Horner's new fabric line Chocolate Lollipop. (I also bought a set for me) Please check out the seller I got the fabric from, AZALEAstudio and support our Etsy crafters. Good Luck!

Another Summer Dress

Its another summer dress for my little one. This one has a zipper down the back and I made it without a pattern! Yea me! Isn't the fabric so cute? I haven't hemmed it yet because I am thinking of adding some jungle green knife edge trim on the bottom. I have the photos for a tutorial so I am going to be working on that as soon as finals are over.

Guess What! My next post will be number 100! I was thinking of doing a giveaway. What it will be is a mystery...

Score!

Look what I got today! I love garage sales. You can find such great stuff at them.

A New Summer Dress

I have been studying like crazy today for finals which are on Wed next week and by 5 pm I needed a break. I decided to make a quick summer dress for Pumpkin. It was cut out and finished in under an hour! Maybe I will do a tutorial for it, since it was so easy. I used a store-bought dress to make the pattern. The original dress had a zipper in the back but I wanted something quick to pull over her head so I changed it.

Making this dress, with no pattern, has really increased my confidence in my sewing ability. I know I sew well, but I am not up to my very high standards (I am a recovering perfectionist).

Next time I am going to cut across about 1.5 or 2 inches past the arm holes and gather a skirt in a coordinating fabric, and sew it on.

I could cut down the front or back and add buttons, I would have to add extra seam allowance for that.

I was thinking of adding a pocket on the front but not this time.

Maybe a lining, this one is unlined.

Be prepared for more of these!

Secret Wedding

This Sunday I watched Desperate Housewives, wow what a season finale!

My favorite part was when Susan and her daughter had a surprise secret wedding in the woods with Mike. I thought it was the most beautiful scene. I loved the candles on the stones and the flowers and gauze as the arches. I loved the colored Chinese globe lanterns that were hanging from the trees. It looked so magical, like walking through a fairy portal.

Most people that know us think we are married, but eventually they figure out that we have never gotten around to tying the knot. Our wedding got pushed to the side when Tom's mom got sick and then when I got pregnant, we postponed it again. Now, I feel just like Susan. I don't care about the big perfect wedding, I just want to be married to my soul mate. A wedding like this would be perfect, only our closest friends and family in a small ceremony and private dinner. It would be lovely.

I cant add this to my plate just yet, but maybe soon. Oh no, I have a wedding bug crawling on me!

* By the way, it is finals week this coming week and I am swamped with work so please excuse me if I am missing for a few days.
My 100th post is coming up and I was thinking of doing a giveaway... Maybe a pattern, maybe some fabric, we shall see...

New Treasures

I had to get some supplies from Jo-Ann's today and I came out with this...









Which is fine except none of this stuff was on my list and I forgot to buy most of the things on my list. I did get some things done however.
I bought fabric paint to try out some hand painted designs and I think I found a new creative outlet.

The bags don't look like much now but when they have their handles they are super cute!


*Sorry the photos are so horrible. They were taken at night with the flash and fluorescent lighting... shudder...

New Bags in the Store

There is some new stuff in the Store and more coming.

Scent of Rain Designs

Thanks for supporting me!

Has it Been A Week Already?

Wow I just realized that I haven't posted in over a week! I have been busy with school and sewing, cleaning and planning.

Yesterday I took down Pumpkin's bed. She has been sleeping on the couch for months and will not sleep in the bed. Right now we are in a one bedroom apartment and I am so happy to have my room back. In a few months she will have her own room and all of her things will go there. We will be painting her bed (it was a hand me down) and her dresser (needs hardware and maybe paint, I really like the shabby chic look of it). I cannot wait to move!

I haven't really talked about the apartment complex I manage and live in, mostly because there isn't much worthy of writing down and what is worthy, is usually a series of unfortunate events that I am drug into because I am manager.

So I have come up with a list of reasons why I cant wait to move...

1. I am moving from my desert hometown to the beach and forest.

2. I live in the ghetto, and its making me racist against my will... This is a long, complicated and controversial topic that I might get into later. I was never racist before and I don't want to be.

3. My apartment will get into the 90s in the summer if the air conditioner isn't always running, thank god I don't have to pay my electric bill (boss pays the bills, almost not worth it).

4. I have never met so many low lives in my life!

5. It is not safe to take my daughter to the local park (drug dealers, gangs, children with appalling behavior)

6. I would never put my kid in one of these schools.

7. I feel like many of the men are undressing me with their eyes... the scary part is I am probably right.

8. My whole life I have had a private outdoor space... until now. I am dying for at least some semi private space outdoors. An enclosed patio would suffice.

9. I want Pumpkin to have her own room.

10. I hate my dark brown carpet.

11. I hate a lot of my furniture and I am planning on taking most of it to the dump.

12. I want to let Pumpkin play outside in the grass and not be afraid of drugs, trash, broken glass, half empty alcohol bottles, etc in the filthy dirt (there is no grass, and they are going to tear out the sad bushes that are here an cover everything with concrete).

13. I origionally had 12 but after another frustrating conversation with maintenance I am soooooooooo happy to never have to work with the maintenance again. They are horrible! Lazy! Sexist! I hate dealing with them. They make my blood boil.

Those are 13, but there are so many more reasons. Lets not forget...
-get Tom away from abusive family
-start on second chapter of our life
-Last but certainly not least UCSC!!! Go Banana Slugs!!! (No Joke...)

Mother's Day

Mothers Day was very pleasant, just as I wished. Tom had to work so my mom picked up my daughter and I, and we went back to her house. My mothers house, no matter where it is, is a haven away from chaos. Friends and family are always welcome at anytime. They are fed and listened to, given advice and sent on their way, lighter and full of new possibilities.

It was nice to relax and play croquet, a game we haven't played as a family in a decade or more. My mom got me a gift certificate for the salon and I showed her the Amy Butler apron I would have had finished if I had my machine back in time, by the way that's the surprise. I am making one for myself and one for my mom. I cant wait until they are done! They are so beautiful!

So, tonight I have plans to clean up and reinstate my sewing machine in its rightful spot. And I have a bag that has been causing a lot of problems that needs a meeting with the needle. You will see him up on Scent of Rain soon. He is famous, the bag that tricked me into thinking my precious sewing machine was broken. Snatch him up quick... I think I will call him Loki...

Teardrops

It is amazing how you life can change
one decision.
The whole world crashing
and your heart is breaking
and
the earth tilts on its side.
Vision blurred with tears.
Fear and that stabbing pain in your chest.
My throat is so dry
drops keep falling...
is it real? Will it go away if I close my eyes...

Can this be fixed? Did it go to far this time? What will happen?

Machine Update and New Fabric Spree

The sewing machine is now in the shop. They are going to give me a call tomorrow and let me know the damages. I have been going crazy without my machine. I have so many ideas that are floating around my head and I want to play with them! I should be writing them down and designing instead on surfing around the Internet.

These are some of the new fabrics I bought in my craziness without my machine. Aren't they great! Look for stuff made with them in my shop.

Knitting Books For Sale

Knitting Books For Sale
Originally uploaded by binah06.

Hello!
I have too many knitting books and I hardly knit anymore. I would like to sell these for 3/4 the retail price since they are all in almost new condition.
Knitting - $12.00 retail- $19.95
Stitch & Bitch Nation - $9.00 retail- $15.95
Baby Knits for Beginners by Debbie Bliss - $12.00 retail- $19.95
1000 Great Knitting Motifs - $12.00 retail - $19.95
Weekend Knitting - $15.00 retail- $ 24.95

Please let me know if you are interested.

A Sigh of Relief and a Growl of Frustration

I have been so worried the last few days. The other day I realized that I didn't turn in my graduation application for school. I have a pretty active imagination so after an hour of worrying I had convinced myself that I was going to be kicked out of UCSC and I would end up homeless on the street begging for food. In the end it didn't matter that it was late, she basically said the deadline was a formality and she has never in 25 years enforced it. Ahhh a breath of relief....

However, a hour later, my stomach was in knots again. I had an essay test on A Portrait of a Lady in my English Lit class today and I have never felt so unprepared for a test! I think I ended up worrying myself silly again. I kept telling myself that this test is not going to matter in 1 year, 5 years, or 10 years. It would be okay. Oh course, I was right, I was unprepared for the test but not like I thought I would be. I am not going to fail and I might even get a good grade on this one. I am aiming for an A on the next though. Next on the reading list it Women in Love by D.H Lawrence. I hear that it has some racy sex scenes in it so maybe it will be a more exciting read then Portrait.

I had my first two sales in my shop today! Thanks go to Maya Jean and Tiny Sprouts. Thanks so much for your support!

Finally the bad part of my day. As I was sewing a new pouch (black with white polka dots and a red lining and zipper, super cute!) the needle hit the metal end of the zipper and I don't know what happened but its not sewing properly now. I hope it is something minor. I have to finish my moms mothers day present and I have lots of new bags cut and ready to sew! I was planning on a day of sewing tomorrow. Ah well, I have to clean the house anyway.

Cinco de Mayo Party

The Cinco de Mayo party the other night was a blast! I was the only sober person there! I am not a big drinker but I still had a great time. Here are a couple pics celebrating our night.

A mix of adopted family and new friends.

That's Tom and I in standing in Chris's Bar.






Our host, Christian (Toms best friend since forever). A great host with a terrific private bar at his ranch in Juniper Hills, Ca. A great, fun guy.

He is single and shopping if anyone is interested.

We had a great time Chris! We will expect our going away party to be just as great!

Sewing Tutorials List 3

May 07

PENCIL CASE in just 10 mins
Make a Lined Zippered Pouch
Reversable Bucket/Oval Bottom Purse
Stuffed Owl by Moonstitches
Designing a Softie Tutorial by Yarn and Coffee
Luggage Tag by Not Quite Vintage
Smocket Pattern by Mayfly (very cute!)
Ruffle Apron by One More Moore
Quick & Easy Drawstring Bag by Happy Things
Mama Backpack by Happy Things
Box Bag Tutorial by DragoKnit
Wipe Clean Coasters by Allison Hill
Ironing Board Cover by Sew News
Reversable Apron by Craftzine
Kimono PJs by See and So
Twirly Skirt by Write Mama Write
Dish Towel Tote, Oilcloth Tote,
Pillowcase Dress by Rostitchery

May 10th, 2007

Lots of Tutorials on how to make your own camping/backpacking gear
Cute Bag/Tote from Craftster
Circle Skirt for Belly Dancing

May 17th 2007

Tutorial: A-line Skirt w/ Glue-set Zipper

May 26th 2007

Very Cute Childs Dress
Halter Top Dress-Child

A New Look

We have a new look and I hope you like it! Please tell me what you think!

I felt like the old look was too stuffy and since I am concentrating on cleaning out my life of collecting material possessions I thought that my blog could use some cleaning out too. And I really like the blues.

Oh I cant wait, here is a sneak peak at the surprise... any guesses?

Creating and Finishing

I went shopping and got some goodies today. Of course I have already washed, dried and pressed them, so I can start on my next project tomorrow. Speaking of the next project, the blues and purples are going to be a mothers day present for my Mom and I. They are also going to be a submission to a sew along and I am not going to announce which one until I submit them. Its a surprise so I cant post what they are until after Sunday. I will tell you that the blues are for me and the purples are for my mom.



Last but not least are two finished totes. Pattern by Amy Butler from her In Stitches book.

Fun in the Sun

On this beautiful May Day it was finally warm enough to break out the new pool at the neighbors. My little pumpkin had such a grand time. I took so much pleasure while sitting in the sun. I cant wait until I am on a beach every weekend watching her running from the waves and learning to catch sandcrabs.

I have been sewing a bit. I bought Amy Butler's In Stitches book and I really like it. The patterns seem simple to do. I have read through several, but so far I have only finished one.

These are the drawstring bags from the book. They still need the drawstrings and I am going to take pics of them in action. The pirate one is for my brother Sean. He is completely obsessed with Pirates of the Caribbean and has been for over a year or maybe two! The other bag it probably going to stay with me unless a friend decides she has to have it.

These bags also seem to be reversible. Which is why I put some cool liners in the pirate one.

The only thing that I would say about this pattern is that it is a little confusing at first (at least for me), but after I read it over a few times and laid the pieces out it was much clearer. This is an ingenious way to make a bag but it reminds me of when I made my first lined tote. I couldn't figure out how I would pull the whole purse out that hole in the liner and it would look right. I tried it and it worked! This is the same thing. It doesn't seem right at first but it comes out great. I popped both these bags out in an afternoon and I have plans for more!

Afternoon Tea- Photo Friday

Some afternoons I want to take a quiet break and sit with a good book and a cup of tea. I did 9 loads of laundry by the time I took this break so it was well worth it.

A Great Gift

Everyone needs to go to AfricanKelli and sign up to help these orphans. We have so much luxury. We can spare $20 for some toothbrushes, soaps, and lotions.

My Photography

I have been thinking a lot about photography lately. I think my new camera is the best purchase I have made in years. I have already gotten so much pleasure out of it. Most of the pictures I have been taking have been of my family and my home. I haven't had a camera in so long I felt like I have missed documenting our lives for the past 4 years.









I think I got that out of my system. I am starting to think like a photographer again. I am itching to go out and find a great shot.












I have also been a little more artsy then I used to be.









I ran out of batteries this afternoon or I would be taking pics right now. I probably should be reading Portrait of a Lady by Henry James instead. I have to read it for my English Lit class. After reading Madame Bovary I am hoping for a different writing style from Henry James. So far, so good. I am hoping for more excitement soon though.

As for sewing, I covered a new pillow. And I think I have everything to start quilting that purple quilt

Off to flirt with Henry James!

Apartment Therapy -Week 6

I skipped week 5, the office, because I am going to do it later.

I have been working on the bathroom.
Before: The sink is a mess. There is a lot of stuff that doesn't belong and too much crap that need to get thrown away.

I am not completely finished but I did throw away all the holey torn towels and donated all the ugly blankets. I only kept my favorites and a couple of nice ones that will be replaced as I find better ones I love.

I was able to condense most of the top and bottom linen cabinets into one. Next I moved all of the bath products, brushes, etc. to the top linen cabinet. I am buying new baskets to keep them organized. Only the stuff I use everyday made it into the medicine cabinet.

I ended up putting the green plate in the outbox

I have since painted that cool mirror white.

Things are looking so much better.

Photo Friday- The Blues

She looks so blue, doesn't she?

This is my first Photo Friday, Yea!

Stuff For Sale! Knitting Books and Oil Paint

I have some knitting books for sale on Amazon.com if anyone is interested.

Click me

I am also selling 31 tubes or Winton Oil Paint, set of plastic mixing knives and a plastic palate. Everything is used but the tubes of paint are 3/4 full. Everything for $35.

Pot Handle Cozy Tutorial

This Blog has moved! Please visit me at Elemental Stitches
My very first tutorial!
This tutorial is for...








So hear it goes...
I use cast iron pans and I have burned my hand so many times by forgetting to use a potholder and grabbing the very hot handle. These have been on my list of things to do for a while.

The finished project.
Materials:
-Flame retardant fabric. I used an old felted wool sweater that still had a little of its stretch left after felting.
-Matching Thread

1. Measure the length and width of the pot handles you want to cover, mine was approx. 5.5 inches by 2 inches.

2. Next, make a template of your design. I wanted my cozies to be really snug so I didn't add any seam allowances. However if your material doesn't stretch add at least a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Have fun with the design. I made a simple design because my fabric is already so eye catching. You could make the end pointed instead of rounded, a star or some other shape.














3. Lay out your template on the fabric and cut out.









4. Pin right sides together and sew up seams as illustrated (the red line on the picture).










5. Turn right side out and enjoy!

Note: I didn't finish the edges on mine because it was felted but if you want to, you would turn the edge on the opening under and sew them down before sewing the two pieces together.

I hope you enjoy! This was fun, perhaps more tutorials will come soon.