A Curtain Story

I don't sew home dec.  Nothing about it appeals to me.  However, when I need curtains, I find a few inspirational photos, save them and proceed to try and make curtains. This post is about my curtain journey for my new apartment.

Honestly, I'm not going to make all of the curtains for my apartment.  I've already purchased some floral sheers from Walmart for my bedroom.  I just hate most kitchen curtains in the stores and online. They're cutesy and frilly and that's just not me. I like clean functional designs. 

I really wanted a dark blue & white gingham to make kitchen curtains.  I thought I had some in my fabric collection and I did...but it was scraps.  Enough for accents but not enough for curtains. So I did the unthinkable I broke down and went to Walmart...thinking they would have a very basic blue & white gingham. Well no, no they did not. And the experience of purchasing from them was so horrible that I don't know how y'all do it!

I did purchase a yard of a bluish/grey gingham but once I got it home, it looked dull up at the window.  Because I was unsure about the bluish/grey fabric I also bought a brighter striped shades of blue fabric. That's what I used to make the curtains presently hanging in the kitchen window.  In all honesty though, I don't like them either. However, I do like that the window looks finished so I will leave them for now while I figure out what I want to do.

While in Walmart, I picked up a few other things.  One of them was a shower curtain that I thought cut up would make an excellent bathroom curtain.

Yes, this is bathroom realness...

This one I like much so much better!  I love the gradient stripes of blue and it works for me pulled to one side. I purchased a navy blue bath mat and some navy blue towels to finish the look off.  

The Living and Dining Rooms still need curtains and furniture.  My Dining Room is basically a storage space for leftover fabric bins and other things I don't know where to put yet. While I'm taking my Mom's dining room set when she moves, it will be months before that happens. Even though I know what style of curtains I want for the Dining Room, I will probably make them once the furniture arrives.

The Living Room is still waiting on furniture to be delivered...and I really miss a couch! I have blinds in the living room so curtains aren't a necessity at the moment. This is where I have no idea what I want and will take my time to decide on what to do here. 

Now that the Sewing Loft is done...the itch to sew is back with a vengence.  Last weekend I cut out a Dover Maxidress.

That's what's cut out and waiting for me to work on during this three day weekend...hopefully I will get some pictures next weekend to finally have a new garment to share here!

I'm seriously ready to sew garments! *LOL*

...as always more later!

Sewing room update, fabrics and more...

I have had absolutely no desire to sew lately...and I'm not upset about it.  I think I'm in that no man's land between summer and early fall sewing.  I've made quite a few summer garments and I'm not feeling the pressure to finish much more especially since my list is always greater than my ability to sew...

The new September magazines are on the newsstands...that means that they will soon be dropping into my mailbox or onto my iPad.  As my subscriptions are starting to expire I've been switching them to my iPad which I find I'm actually liking alot even tho' I was worried that I wouldn't.  Even though I now get Bazaar magazine on my iPad, I still bought a printed version from the newsstand because I have to be able to pull inspiration pictures from the magazine! *LOL*  I also lugged home the 10lb September Issue of Vogue.

I think the other reason that I'm not thinking sewing is because my daughter is moving out next week and I'm back to finalizing decisions for my sewing room.  I read this article that says that as much storage as you think you need, you should double it.  Why?  Because people plan storage for what they already own with a little extra instead of adding alot of space to allow for growth.  I know this to be true because I've maxed out the magazine/bookshelf storage in my living room because I planned for what I had with a little more.  Don't wanna make that mistake with the sewing room.

So...we've picked different furniture...with a lot of drawer and shelf space.  I've incorporated some more stand alone shelves for the wall so that boxes can be added to them for even more storage.  Yeah, we've gone storage crazy!  We had a budget...not an overly expensive one...moderate...I mean I do live in an apartment and the furniture can't be built-ins...but then I saw this:

...and I want it!  Bad!  Now there was no pressing station in my original room design.  I was just going to use my current ironing board until I saw Renee's. (yes, I've been haunting people's blogs and the internet looking at sewing rooms trying to make sure that I've got EVERYTHING I want in mine!)  Now my friend and I are fighting over this.  Not because I don't have the space...not because it doesn't add additional storage to the room...but because I want to buy mine from Nancy's Notions instead of making it and it's blowing the budget up! Seriously, you can tell my designer is my friend because who else fights with their designer to spend more money! *LOL*  Usually you're reigning them in...*sigh*  Long story short...I don't know if this will make the final cut...

ETA:  It is important to note here that I don't want to MAKE my own pressing station!  I'm not a DIYer kinda girl nor do I have the time!  Even all of the furniture purchased for the room was picked because it comes already constructed.

With all this budget talk, you would think that I've stopped fabric shopping right?  Well you would be wrong! Between the stress of my daughter moving out, challenges at my job and not sewing...I've bought a few extra pieces of fabric.  Hey, another reason for more storage! *LOL*  But this time it's Rachel's fault...she showed these Van Gogh Rayon Challis'  prints from fabric.com on her blog and I had to have some.  Yeah, yeah I know but they feed me at work so I can cut down on my food bill for a couple of weeks!  They arrived last night and they are G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!!!

Lastly, you know I don't facebook...but when a sewing friend asks for a favor I'm there for her!  So Lori who authors the blog, Girls in the Garden, and the podcast Sew Forth Now, has started a facebook page for the podcast.  Would all of you who have enjoyed her podcasts please "like" her!  And if you haven't heard one of Lori's podcasts, shame on you!  Get yourself over to iTunes or her blog and download one.  They are fun and informative...and tho' I'm not a podcast kinda girl...I really enjoy Lori's.

Okay, I've caught up!  I think I might sew this weekend but who knows I may end up reading another novel and vegging...

...as always, more later!

The Great Fabric Changeover

I have this tree right outside my kitchen window that I can tell the seasons by...spring and it blooms beautiful white flowers before the leaves form...summer and its full of beautiful green leaves...fall and the leaves change to awesome shades of red, orange and yellow...and winter it's bare until snow falls and its branches glisten with the white stuff.

Spring has truly arrived because the tree has those amazing white flowers on it...and that means the changing of the fabric. 

Now my original plan for the weekend was to sew for Friday and Saturday, clean Saturday evening and cook Sunday afternoon for Easter Dinner.  That was my original plan!

What actually happened was...the warm weather coupled with the bright sunshine and then the cleaning bug hit and I spent a good part of the weekend doing spring cleaning.  Since I had accumulated several boxes and an enormous tub of fabric in the living room, I decided it was time to wrestle with the fabric closet and change from fall/winter to spring/summer fabric.

After reducing the piles in the living room and finding spots for them in the fabric closet, then moving an oversized bin of fabric from my bedroom into the fabric closet and moving another oversized bin of fabric into my bedroom, I had completed the great fabric changeover.  I'm glad that I only have to do this once a year...I'm glad that I only have to face the amount of fabric that I've jammed into my fabric closet a few times a year!  *LOL*

I did manage to find a little time to work on SWAP dress #3 and after my family leaves tonight, I will hem the lining and outer shell of the dress and it will be complete.  Again, I'm questioning if I will make the deadline...but we shall see!  Pictures of the finished dress will come later this week. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday (if you celebrate) filled with love, joy family and friends.

...more later!

It's Here...

Yes, I got the call at 8:37 a.m....ummm, I had to wake my daughter to get dressed because the delivery men were coming with my new sofa in 10 minutes!

I spent a very restless day at work...it didn't help that most of the bankers were off-site, so it was a little quiet...and I was a little anxious to get home!

After much huffing and puffing to get the rug down straight...it's been sitting here for over a month waiting for the couch to be purchased and delivered...then moving some stuff around for a photo op...

Here it is so far...me sitting happily upon my new sofa and rug! There are still lamps, another bookcase, two comfy chairs and a coffee table to go in the room before it's done...but I wanted the major pieces (the sofa and the rug) in before I went off and got the coordinating pieces.

So tell me...do you think it's going to look like a big comfy library-type room? Cause that's what I'm aiming for...to be surrounded by the things I love...sewing machines, fabric and books!

Not a stitch sewn...

I have been in and out all weekend long...several trips to the big box stores (Wal-Mart, Target), another couple of trips to Sears and Lowes and also to the furniture store have ended up with three days dedicated to home improvement.

So first here is the couch I bought:

I have paint in two shades called - Barely Dawn and Plateau - I have walked around with these two paint chips for a couple of days now looking at them in sunlight and in the dusk, with the lights on and off in my apartment...finally broke down and bought them!

I have looked at drapes but still don't have a final decision because I have yet to find a pair of chairs and a coffee table for the living room...and I have spent most of this three day weekend with my mom, sister and middle DD in and out of all of these retail places. To say that I'm wiped out and in need of sewing a stitch is underestimating the desire that I have to bond with my sewing machine!!!!

But, I will have a new and improved living room shortly...my bedroom is almost done, the other rooms just need minor touch-ups and then I will be ready to host the family Christmas celebrations this year...

One more pic of my new and improved sewing table, now cleaned and organized, which I am loving more and more by the day...now to make use of it!

And can I just say, how in the world did I manage to purchase 68.5 yards of fabric this month! I must be out of my mind!!! *LOL* Especially since I managed to only make 3 garments last month from 5 yards of fabric...my poor children are going to be Ebaying fabric/patterns/notions for months after I pass on!

And Jaime thanks for awarding me, "The Brillant Weblog Premio Award!"

I am really glad you enjoy my blog and thank you so much for recognizing my ramblings!

Now since I still have tomorrow and Wednesday off, I will retire to my sewing nook and try to come up with something inspiring...or maybe not! *LOL*

More later!