A Possible Giveaway

Zipper shown is without zipper pull.

Would any of you be up for a giveaway?  I have 3 more of those rainbow zippers with zipper pulls that I would be willing to share.  Each are about 12 in. long.

If there is enough interest, I'll officially post a giveaway with all the details.  :)

Old Cardigan and New Fabric!

I'm officially moved in to my new (old) home in Southern California.  Only 23 days until I start school!  Since I haven't been sewing all that much, I thought I would share an old project that didn't work out like I wanted, but I think I will try again with some new fabric and changes to the pattern.

I made this cardigan with McCall's 5978 almost a year ago before I started blogging:

The fit was okay, but the facings kept flipping out and I had to steam-a-seam them down.  Also, I had never done a button-front shirt or sweater, so I didn't know how close to place the button holes.  I should have looked at one of my cardigans in my closet. :( I didn't check the pattern pieces all that well except for the spacing.  They ended up way to far from the edge and it looked funny.  My sister liked it anyways and took it off my hands :)

Here is the Pattern Review:

Pattern Description: 

MISSES' CARDIGANS AND TOP: Cardigans have three-quarter or full length sleeves and stitched hems; cardigan A has purchased lace trim; cardigan B has jewel stones; cardigan C has pearls; cardigan D has self-fabric appliques; sleeveless top E has narrow hem finishing at neck, armhole and lower edges.

Pattern Sizing:

Y(X-Small, Small, Medium), Z(Large, X-Large)
I made a small.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes, except for all the embellishments.

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Very easy.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

It was easy to put together. I did not like that the facings kept flipping out. I made a mistake and made the buttonholes too far from the edge.

Fabric Used:

A very soft poly. knit.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

No changes, just took off all the embellishments.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I think I will try this one again.

Conclusion: 

Pretty good pattern, try to work something out with the facings. 

Today, I bought some fabric to make a new cardi.  Here it is:

Isn't that fabric cute?! I was only able to get just under 2 yds, but it only cost $1 for the piece. I think its cotton jersey, but I may do a burn test to make sure.  What do you think? Should I add some black lace around the neckline and down the front? What about redrafting the neckline to be a scoop neck instead of a v-neck.  

(Isn't that zipper amazing! Its super long, but missing a pull.  I got it for 25 cents! )

Thanks Erica B....

...for becoming my newest Follower!  I think Erica's blog, Erica B.'s DIY Style!,was the first sewing blog I ever read!  I remember thinking, "That woman is stylish! I wish I could sew like her."  She inspired me to make my Cynthia Steffe dress.  I have bought numerous patterns based on her reviews.  Erica, I think the pattern companies should be paying you to make your garments because I wouldn't have spent as much money as I have had it not been for your blog :)

And because I think blogs without pictures are rather boring and I miss my Pearl so much (she is in SoCal with my parents awaiting my official move), here is another doggie picture:

Pearl getting ready for a round of Beer Pong (circa 2008).  I thought I would juxtapose Erica's B.'s style and classy creations with Pearl's love of trashy college debauchery.

The FIDM adventures have begun!

Did you know they use this exterior shot for the hospital in Private Practice?

Hi everyone.  As most of you know, I'm attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, L.A. campus in the Fall (starting in October).  The day before my big move, I traveled to the San Francisco campus for registration and to pay my ginormous first bill.  I thought I would write a little about my experience.

I took Amtrak to the city at an ungodly hour to make sure I made it to registration on time. I was the 9th person who arrived.   I was sent to a large multi-purpose room to watch a video about Tom Ford, the designer behind Gucci.

 I was so thankful I arrived early!  My number was called and I then waited in a short line for my itinerary.  Since I am a professional designation student (I already have a 4 yr. degree) I was given a very short list of things to do and was sent to pay my bill.  I felt like throwing up when I handed them my debit card.  Ugg.  So much money and I owe them so much more!  I was then sent to the lounge to talk to a counselor and was immediately sent back to Financial Services to talk to a counselor about my payments and other business.  Things seemed a little disorganized.

I then got to register for classes!  I have to take 5 classes this quarter:

• Industry Sewing
• The Business of Fashion
• History of Costume
• Color and Design Theory
• Fashion Sketch for Design I

I was very lucky and got the schedule I wanted.  I almost didn't though. The Registrar had to rearrange my classes, but I still got the same time-slots that I initially wanted.  I felt like I was treated like a high school student.  Granted, most incoming students were.  They said that had to triple check my registration form.  I have registered for countless college classes on my own, so this seemed a little overkill to me. Oh well, at least they seemed to care.  

I left shortly after and went shopping.  When I quit my job, my boss generously gave me a gift card to Anthropologie!  I was able to buy a dress (on sale!) and then make it back on the bus an hour early.

Edit: Here's the dress I bought:

Magnifying Glass Dress @ Anthropologie

* This blog is not sponsored by or afflilated with FIDM in any way other than I am a current student. My views are not the views of the school.  

More of Yosemite!

I'm posting some more of my favorites of Yosemite and thanking a new Follower!


My newest Follower is: (insert drum roll here)


Sandra! Aka Dillander. She says she "once commented that [she] liked Dill and Coriander" and that's how she got her nickname! I checked out her coat on the Chanel jacket sew-along and it is fabulous!

Now the pictures (I promise these will be the last of them on the blog).

I'm hugging the Giant Sequoia tunnel.

The Boyfriend relaxing at May Lake

Meadow at the top of Mariposa Grove

Tenaya Lake

Thanks everyone for reading!

Beautiful Blogger Award! Yay!

Thanks Kristine of Just Keep Sewing for thinking of me and nominating me for the Beautiful Blogger Award because because I'm "sweet enough to recognize every single new follower and she's new around the sewing blogosphere." Like she said, even though it is just a "virtual award" it is still an honor...and really soo cool! I love the sewing blog community and love being a part of it now.

The rules of the award state that you have to list 10 things about yourself that others do not know about you.  So here is my list of things that most of you readers don't know about me:

1)  I graduated from college with a B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior with a minor in Comparative Literature.  Science just came easy for me, but I don't think I really enjoyed it.  I definitely was not a fan of lab work.  Now I'm going to fashion school. (One of my next posts will be about my registration process and the classes I will be taking! )

2)  I used to not be able to share a glass of water or eat off the same plate as someone else, but now its just limited to toothbrushes.  Sharing toothbrushes with anyone really freaks me out.   If someone accidently uses my toothbrush I can't ever use it again.  I also do not like sharing lollipops or licking the same popsicle.

3)  I saw a black bear this weekend.  We were in Yosemite driving back from a hike when we saw him cross the road in front of us.  I told the Boyfriend, "Don't worry. He's more afraid of us than we are of him." The Boyfriend was pretty scared.  He rolled up the windows so fast! The funny thing is, is that I had been whining that I wanted to see a bear right before he scampered across the path.  Maybe I should walk into a liquor store, complain about never winning the Lottery and then buy a ticket.  What do you think?

Gross, I know. We think this is bear poop, right in the middle of our trail. 

4)  My best friend says I look like a turtle when I walk while wearing my heavy green backpack.  I'm a bouncy walker.  I would be a terrible waitress, spilling beverages all over the place.  Apparently I could be spotted from the other side of the Quad.

5)  Every now and then I have a major craving for Kraft Mac and Cheese.  I know it's not the real thing, but it is so good.  The Boyfriend taught me that adding paprika makes it even better! (so does a bit of cayenne pepper).

6)  When I was in 4th grade, I wanted to be a dancer when I grew up even though I I hated performing in public, I had taken one dance class and quit, and had and still have two left feet.  I saw Stephanie on Full House dance in this recital the night before our yearbook blurb was due.  I think I also said my favorite color was black (which it was at the time).  The blurb makes me sound like I wanted to be a gothic stripper.

7)  One of my hobbies is taking pictures of weird signs.  My favorite is the first picture I took in Salem, Mass. of the Bunghole Liquor store.  I thought it was so funny at the time.

From jtl0218's album at webshots.com (not my own pic., but basically the same)

8)  I have always been a collector!  My first collection was of ceramic figurines starting with a cat in a boot when I was probably in kindergarten (or even younger).  I later moved on to Bob Mackie barbies, Steiff stuffed animals, vintage troll dolls, Muffy Bears, Pogs, and lots more.  I don't really have any collections now, but I guess I'm starting a fabric collection. Hehehe.

From Tiny Zippers. I had the two in the front, and a whole lot more.

From Tracy's Toys. I had trolls just like these.

Muffy bear! Image from  Toy-Mart.

9)  I really dislike parades and marching band music.  I always feel embarrassed for the people in them.  I know they aren't embarrassed and they are loving it, but I couldn't imagine smiling and waving for 2 hrs while people stare at me.  I'm really shy.

10)  Until this year, I had never been to a professional sporting event.  I went to a San Francisco Giants game this year.  I had more fun walking around the stadium and people watching than actually watching the game.  But, overall I had a great time.  I hate watching sports on TV though.  

Wow! That took me forever! 

So now I have the pleasure of nominating 5 wonderful bloggers and here they are:

•   Bethany at Bitter Betty Blogs because was one of my first commenters and helped me out with some blogger issues I had.  That's when I knew I was joining such a great community; when a complete stranger offered help and advice. Her blog is all around an awesome "place" to visit. 
•   J. Kaori at J. Kaori Designs because she is an amazing knitter, sewist, drafter, and blogger.  I love what she makes and she has been very inspiring to me.  And thanks for the Hawaii fabric store advice!
• Gail of My Fabrication because I like her blog and my dog Pearl is having a long distance love affair with her dog Alf.  
• Gwen of All my Seams because she was my very first "Follower."  I am so jealous of her sewing space too!  I have appreciated all her nice words about my garments.  :)
• Sharon at Adventures from the Sewing Studio because I love her blog.  She makes really fun garments and her last post was probably my favorite post ever!  I wish I had the pattern she posted.  I would sooo make leopard skivies for the Boyfriend.

Thanks again Kristine for the nomination!  If you haven't read her blog, check her out too!

Follower Shout-outs from Beautiful Yosemite!

Half-Dome.

Thanks to everyone who commented on my move and wished me luck!  I actually moved last weekend, came back on Wed to clean my apt. On Saturday the Boyfriend and I drove down to Yosemite! It was my first visit and it was so beautiful.  Perfect cool weather too.  Well, let me get to what I really wanted to talk about:

FOLLOWERS!

Thanks for reading and (hopefully) enjoying my sewing and craft blog!

First, I would like to give a shout-out to Shari of Shari Sews.  The last two garments she made are really nice (as are all of them!) A Cynthia Rowley tunic and a Vogue dress. Check out all of her cute creations!

I wanted to get on top of this log, but had some issues so I just posed next to it :)

Also BitterBetty has become an official follower!  When I first started blogging, she gave me some great advice about Blogger.  Her blog is a mish-mash of awesome!  Some vintage sewing, crafts, photoshop fun, giveaways, etc, etc, etc.

The Boyfriend's perfect picture.

Zoe from Deva's Garden became a follower too!  I really admire this blog because Zoe is journalling about her first veggie container garden. I sort of attempted this also this past year at my apt. and was able to grow tomatoes, lots of herbs, and a lone bell pepper.  Her blog has lots of cool tips and recipes for all of your home gardening needs!

Beauty...

Lastly, a big shout-out to Joyce in NC and Taki J. They either do not have blogs or they are  set to private,  but I'd like to thank both of them for following Pearl and I!

The Boyfriend and I in front of a fallen giant sequoia.

I think I will post a few more vertical pictures of Yosemite shortly.  I have to rotate them before I can add them to the blog.