Bella Modiste

Switching...

2010-01-14T12:15:00.000-08:00

I've decided to take the plunge and switch over to Wordpress. I've been playing around with it for the last week or so, and am quite happy with it. I am hoping that the fresh start will prompt me to post more often(feel free to laugh).
I will be using the blog to announce various patterns as I finish them, and hope to offer a selection of free embroidery patterns as time goes on.
Hope to see you there!
The Bella Modiste

Bailey

2009-12-02T16:00:00.001-08:00

I'm proud to announce my first e-pattern! Just listed last night, and completed after a great many hours of work, editing and layout! I am so excited to introduce you all to Bailey Bunny!

Bailey measures 25inches from the tip of her ears to the bottoms of her feet. I made her from wool felt, but the pattern works for any kind of fabric from quilting cotton to fleece. I've included step by step instructions with a photo for every step.
The PDF can be found in my Etsy store here
I hope to have more patterns finished in the next few months, for the stuffies from this post last year.

And the winners are......

2009-02-11T22:13:00.001-08:00

The winner of quilt #1 is....#101 Industrioushead from Evanston, IL

And the winner of the unseen 2nd mini quilt #2 is.....Jewelry Elegance by Jill in Marietta, Georgia

The winners have each been emailed....
Thank you so much everyone for your comments and compliments...I've appreciated each and every one of them! Thank you Lisa for hosting this event...
Thank you so much to the people who have drawn my name....was fun to wake up to "you've won" emails!

Wow!

2009-01-24T22:38:00.000-08:00

Such a huge response to the giveaway! Guess I need to get to work on that second mini quilt!

At this rate I may need to make a third! Thank you everyone!

I'll get to work on that soon, and try to get a picture posted a soon as I can!
Once I'm not so busy I'll be back around visiting everyone again!
Also....I'll be adding to my blog list soon....so if you would like to be added to my Blog list...just drop a comment on this post...
to enter the giveaway...comment on this post only....I will NOT be including comments to any other blog post in the giveaway drawing.

cheers,
~The Bella Modiste

One World One Heart Blog Giveaway Event!

2009-01-19T01:45:00.000-08:00

I finally have a chance this year to participate in the wonderful giveaway event hosted by by Lisa "oceandreamer" Swifka
To learn more about this worldwide blogging event, click on the above logo, or the the one to the left.

To Enter, you must leave a comment on THIS post ONLY...This is open to fellow bloggers only please, unless you are willing to leave your email address in your comment! The winner will be chosen on February 12th.

And the item I am giving away.....Machine Appliqued Owl Mini Quilt!

If I get above a certain number of comments(100-150), I may make a second mini quilt(in different colors), or hey, maybe even 3rd if it gets all the way to hmmm....600? Might be a far shot, but we'll see right?
Let the commenting begin!
Cheers!
~The Bella Modiste

Comments to this post have now been disabled- Thanks so very much everyone! I'll be posting the winners in the next little while!

I forgot....

2008-12-21T19:57:00.000-08:00

to show off my gingerbread man...a friend sent me this tutorial...and as soon as I saw, I just *had* to make one for myself......so here he is in all his half-eaten glory....

I'm a Procrastinator

2008-12-21T17:26:00.000-08:00

See!? I even procrastinated *after* I typed my title, I wanted to check something else, and then I re-discovered a blog, and...well...here I am almost half an hour later...

Well...I've taken a TON of pictures since the 1st...and made/finished 24 projects...

This fella started it all...

Albert is a miniature elephant at just 5 inches tall, and because of his size he loves to climb rocks to get a better view. He is a little shy, but once he gets to know you, he is a friend for life! Made of a men's dress shirt, he is all about recycling! His big ears keep him cool in the summer, and are perfect for pulling over his face when he is in a crowd...

And then came this girl!

Elizabeth is quite the adventurous little elephant. She loves to play hide and seek, and is she ever the perfect size! 5 inches tall and full of energy!Made of a wonderful Japanese print fabric with circus elephants, balls, and circus tents all over it, and the inevitable "elephant" printed in cursive all over...so perfectly cute!

After that it just went kinda crazy...I've made 24 all together since I started on the 2nd....and that includes my new giraffe and zebra patterns...and I have requests to make other ones, hippos, lions, and stegousaurous...so once the wonderful holiday season is *over*...I gotta get back to work!

All my Christmas presents are done, made a quilt and a red dress up cape for brother, a pink dress up cape for sis along with a pink tutu skirt(really need to find a tutorial somewhere that I like)....the whole layering and gathering wasn't fun, and didn't produce a very nice tutu look, of course I didn't give myself much to work with, only 4yds....
And tonight, I made the cutest owl, found a tutorial here and sketched(and measured) out my pattern...don't have a good picture of it, but I'll try to get a decent picture of it soon.

Had a wonderful visit with Mom's mother, short but nice....found a few vintage goodies, a set of 6 Pyrex mugs with collapsible stand in a 70s shag carpet orange/slightly brown, and a set of salt and pepper shakers that are egg shaped, in a really bright orange! I think someone must have donated them after storing it all for the last 30 years...haha...Hopefully though, I can make them work in my future kitchen....and a none vintage red belt, finally found a nice one that wasn't $50! I've been looking for the perfect width, perfect length, perfect buckle belt since around Feb....and finally finally found one!

And maybe once I get the cups and shakers washed....you all can see a picture of them!

Cheers,
~The Bella Modiste

Lots of fun goodies!

2008-12-01T13:18:00.000-08:00

First up we have Edmund the donkey.

He is available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

To quote myself...heh...

"Meet Edmund.

Edmund has just graduated from University with his B.S. degree(that would be Bachelor of Sciences for some). He enjoys reading dictionaries and encyclopedias, Edmund would be the perfect gift for that new graduate that thinks they know it all!"

.
And here we have a lovely bright half apron, also for sale in my shop...This one has a carefully measured zig-zag hem...that was fun to do, and I could see doing a skirt with a fun zig zagged hem....very cute.

And here...Raggedy Ann and Andy...a custom order for a friend, who left the clothing up to me, I found the Simplicity Pattern(which BTW is a very nice pattern, has three different sizes of dolls, along with their removable clothes-these ones were approximately 26in tall) Anyways, these are not for sale, but I am willing to do a custom order if anyone is interested.

Last but not least....Finally a Mushroom purse, I have the totes, but never made a purse...I plan to make a larger one in the future, more of a messenger bag, but this one is adorable, as I was making it, I seriously considered keeping it for myself...you can find it here in my shop.

;

Until next time!

The Bella Modiste

Long time...

2008-11-05T22:23:00.000-08:00

Sure has been a while....I really should leave a window open with my blog up, so I just *might* remember to blog...

In the time I've been *away* We've planned and cancelled a trip to the mountains, turned out to be a good thing we canceled. The nights we had planned to be up on the mountain, the temperatures were freezing....at the bottom of the mountain...so, yeah, we poor Floridians would have been huddled in the cabin, fighting over the TV remote, freezing our rears off....Not a pretty picture....

But! We had some exciting visitors last month...for oh goodness, close to a week or two...

Still not sure exactly what kind of hummingbirds they were, but there were around 1/2 dozen, several males, and a couple juveniles....very cool....Also got to hear them loud and clear, had no idea that hummingbirds were so *verbal*!

And this, no idea what it was, certainly looks like a type of warbler, but what kind exactly, mom and I can't tell for sure. it was very flighty, and super hard to photograph....

Anyways, I hope to have more pictures soon, Raggedy Ann and Andy, a quilt on the frame, and a clean(getting there) studio.....

cheers,

~The Bella Modiste

Also, I hope to be adding to my blog roll soon, so keep an eye on it!

And the Winner is.....

2008-09-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

LuckyGirl!
---------------------------

Congratulations!

I'll email you for your address and get this out to you ASAP!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

cheers,
~The Bella Modiste

A post about a giveaway and a skirt...

2008-09-09T16:17:00.001-07:00

Soo...lets see...pictures pictures! Lots of pictures today!

First off...this funky dude...goes by "dad" around here...agreed to let me post a picture from his photo shoot the other day.... He designed the skateboard graphics last week, and was posing for his Etsy shop listing...trying to get the whole "cool teen" look going, but that happens to be his usual outfit...though the sneakers are often exchanged for flip-flops....Yes, that really is my father.

And I finally got this skirt done, I'll make a listing in my shop soon, for the skirt, but a custom one, made to fit up to a certain size...(probably whatever will fit in my adjustable dress form...maybe...I dunno yet...:)...anyways, I had dad make me some vinyl stencils of gears, which don't show to well in the pictures, but look really nice in RL....painted them with a gold paint(which now I think about it, I'm not sure it was *fabric* paint...so I'll need to get and try out some *real* fabric paint...but the above skirt is mine..all mine...in the picture it is over my white, too long petticoat(you can't see it hiked all the way to the bust under the vest...:D) so it hangs a bit *flatter* without the extra layer under it...I'll be making an underskirt later specifically for this design.

And now! The moment you've all been waiting for!

It is time for the giveaway! (This is open to US residents only) To enter...just comment...:P....

You'll get a set of 4 machine quilted coasters made of music note and checkerboard print fabric with a cotton batting sandwiched in between and bound with checkerboard binding...and maybe I'll add another small something to the package......

I'll draw a name out of a hat...on...Tuesday Sept. 16th and announce the winner that next day.

So you've got a week to enter!

Well look at that!

2008-09-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

I want to thank Tina (A.K.A. Mom) of "Garden Goose" for awarding me the "E for Excellence" Blog Award....

...for receiving the "E for Excellence" award..I am to in turn bestow this award upon 10 bloggers that inspire, or that have a sense of "community"... blogs that are downright cool and inspiring,and just plain fun.

So......lets see....

1. Kristy at "This Bean Knits"

2. Aunt George at "Aunt George's House"

3. Bev at "Sew on....and Sew Fourth"

4. Kate at " Little Green Designs"

5. "Hyena in Petticoats"

6. Tess at "Made by Tess"

7. Nin at "Peachy Hollow"

8. "Chrysanthemum"

9. "Turkey Feathers"

10. Emily at "The Black Apple"

alright! I think that about does it! I do hate having to pick just a few people out of all the blogs i have saved.......

Gustav passed us right by, we didn't even really get rain from it, just a few drizzles...

anyways, its about time to get my two chickens in....(I think I mentioned that we have given Goldie and Marigold(now Albert Einstein) to some friends, to simplify, as well as prevent Goldie from angering our dear neighbors....she has a lovely habit of sounding like a very loud parrot early in the morning...so...off she went with the duck to live on 40+ acres in AL...

cheers!

~The Bella Modiste

This is a few tiny things I've made this month...

2008-08-31T11:31:00.000-07:00

I've got a million more in progress....skirt fabric I painted yesterday ready to sew now...
a baby blanket to finish, two other blankets to photograph...A very full petticoat to put the final ruffle on, a quilt on the frame, and another cut out... A dress to turn into a skirt(poor thing started as my skirt, turned into a dress for little sis, and now will go back to a skirt so she can keep her "princess dress" a bit longer...:)...) Also two stuffed donkeys, a bunch of tea towels for a trade, and a bunch of other things buried in my project bin....haha
Anyways...
This is a little zippered bag i made out of some adorable Japanese print fabric that I got from a lady in California....I got a bunch of others, but haven't really used but one other, and i messed up on the bag I made from that....I was SO disappointed...the pocket went on crooked..it is 1/8th of an inch off....doesn't sound like much, but it makes a difference....haha
so that one is mine...and this one is sold, but I do have more fabric, so will probably make another one....but not identical...I have crafting ADD...I have a harder time making several things that are identical....if I have say 5 things that I am making that are the same, I go about it assembly line style, do all of a certain part, then next step...

And this, is an apron I've had cut out for some time....I finally made the bias tape to finish it about a week or two ago, and I have it listed in my Etsy shop now...
If I remember correctly, that is Micheal Miller Polka dot fabric...but I cant remember the name of the floral fabric designer...but it matches so perfectly....

Anyways, this should keep everyone happy until I can get these other goodies done and photographed....hopefully tomorrow provided I can get some good light in here...Gustav isn't gonna be fun....supposed to have Tropical Storm conditions tonight and tomorrow...I just hope it all isn't going to be as bad as they think....
cheers!
~The Bella Modiste

Hi!

2008-08-13T23:22:00.000-07:00

Ok Ok, I know, I've been terrible about keeping my blog up...
So!
What have I been up to! Well first off, I made a ton of aprons, 4 exclusive patterns for Napafarmhouse 1885 . Here is my page where you can find a link to the aprons for sale. You won't find these babies anywhere else(unless somebody copies me...*looks suspiciously around*)

oooh and I totally got featured on a blog!!!
Etsy Spaces by Renee from ReneesPaperandYarn over on Etsy. I tell you, she has got some rockin' necklaces! This Aqua one is gorgeous!! She puts some serious love and time into her work, and it really shows!

Anyways, made a petticoat Monday, and will finish an apron tomorrow...pictures to come.

After I finished the Aprons for Napafarmhouse, I took a two week break from sewing(eeek!!!!!...that was scary...) to help dad(somehow *looks innocent* he may have cracked a rib...WHAT!? he started it! and technically *I* didn't do it! he landed on the game controller! *ahem*) with his business, loading the heavy rolls of vinyl on the machine, as well as learning the ins and outs of graphics design. The I was helping mom finish painting the hallway, the trim, the bloody scalloped trim(against the wallpaper I add, so we couldn't tape it off) , took....15 blooming hours....I am so done with painting...Maybe I'll let this kid do my next room...rofl

Alright...I'm off, and tomorrow I'll check my site tracking...yeah..thats right...I'm watching you....bwahaha...no no really...I got that Google Analytics thing....its awesome! I had a grand total of 7 visitors on the 10th...:D

21 visits from NC since the 3rd...hmmmmm....anyone I know? rofl....sorry I haven't updated much! yeeesh! 3 visits a day, for three days.....rofl...I'll try to do better...sorry....:P

anywho...Hopefully pictures tomorrow, provided it doesn't rain anymore...whaaa....but we needed it, so I shouldn't complain...

cheers,
~The Bella Modiste!

What a deal!!

2008-06-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

Today Mom and I headed out to go to some thrift shops around town, but between our other errands, and an estate sale...that didn't happen....

And this....is one of the lovely treasures I got today....a gorgeous Smith-Corona typewriter....like new........First they wanted $20 for it, which is a good deal in itself...but, I didn't want to spend the rest of my supply money on a typewriter(because I set out with $40 for supplies and I already had almost $20 worth of linens to use), so, I figured I'd ask, and figured you know, if they say $15 I'll get it...but if they stick with $20, I'll leave it....well hot dang! if she didnt come back and say $10!
And it came with a brand new 10-day touch typing course...on two records, the box is open, but the vellum envelopes around the records are still sealed....

I also found a whole bunch of sheets, pillowcases and curtains to cut up for aprons...which is exactly what I was going to look for today at the thrift shops...whooohooo!
So look for pictures in a few days of what I'm going to make with them!

Cheers,
~The Bella Modiste

AWESOME!

2008-05-13T19:08:00.001-07:00

So exciting! so, Sunday, the same day dear little Vanilla went to Chicken Heaven...

I discovered something...hidden among the peas....

whatever could it be...but an egg from sweet Penny! a lovely pale green color....gorgeous!

And then of course I had to set up some photos...hehe!

She laid a second egg today, but I was too late letting them out of the coop and so it got trampled( need to get those nesting boxes built now...)

But! She is laying now! which is fantastic! Goldie should start laying soon as well, she will lay just brown eggs, and my newest baby, Cinnamon will also lay green/blue eggs.

anyways...that was my exciting news! oh, and I'm finally finished with school for the year, so expect lots of new things for my shop!

cheers,

~The Bella Modiste

R.I.P.

2008-05-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

Little Vanilla had to be uh, taken care of today.

She was doing great since Friday, but today when I was taking care of them, she was just laying there, not doing anything, so antibiotics, water, nothing helped, we separated her from Cinnamon, and kept an eye on her for the rest of the day, but she took a turn for the worse this evening, and so I allowed dad to do what he had said he could do if it needed done.

So, I'll just have three chickens, three is plenty.

anyways,

~The Bella Modiste

New babies!

2008-05-09T22:27:00.000-07:00

Both are hens, both are unnamed, and as far as the feed store lady told me, they are both araucanas...and both are SO cute..names..I'm thinking Chocolate and Vanilla...rofl
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste

Farewell!

2008-05-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

Cookie and Cream are going back to the feed store today and will be exchanged for standard size chickens, who have been sexed, because, as it happens...Cookie and Cream turned out to be Bob and Rob....two little roosters...the neighbors would so hate me!

The duck will be staying around, as she is a she....haha

I'll introduce the new babies when I get them.
cheers,

~The Bella Modiste

I've been busy...

2008-04-30T23:34:00.000-07:00

So...what with the new babies, the dog, the older chickens, and finishing up the school year...I've been pretty busy...BUT! Finally a chance to blog....I got some more pictures of the new chicks, but now the pictures are a few days outdated...haha

Here we have what my cookbook calls "Double Apple Fantans" I rehydrated some chopped apples for this, instead of using fresh, ooooh yum, these are SO GOOD! We (family of 5) polished off the whole dozen that evening....yummm!
This is "Cream", I think at this point she was saying in her own way,"where did everyone go!?"

Here we have Cream and Marigold, mom's new duck.

And here is the back view of Cookie following Marigold and Cream, now, I'm really afraid that Cookie will have to go to a new home, as "she" is showing characteristics of a rooster, fast growing comb, large tail feathers....yeah....I'm gonna give it another week or so....but I'm pretty sure I've got a little boy...:(

Anyways, nothing really exciting has happened lately, today had a nice visit with some out of town homeschooling friends, but it was a very short visit, as they had a previous engagement with someone else.

cheers,

~The Bella Modiste

Here they are!

2008-04-18T18:00:00.000-07:00

Meet my new babies...both bantams and as of yet unnamed.

Hopefully I havent got a rooster, and I still dunno what type of bantams they are, it was a mixed bunch and they didnt know what they had or didnt have. But I do know for sure that they are not silkies, which is fine, I love them as they are...hehe...
cheers,
~The Chicken Lovin' Bella Modiste~

All set up!

2008-04-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

oooh! I'm so excited! Off to the feed store!

For those of you going.."what!?" yes....I'm getting 2 more chickens...bantams actually....hehe!
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste

P.S. This is my 50th post...woooohooo!..kinda sad though...50 posts in nearly a year! should be 360+ tsk...shame on me...:P

Frog Prince?

2008-04-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

This Handsome fella was found relaxing in the garden today, and while passing by I heard him say something real low...sounded like "Kiss Me"
So of course, I bent down low....and sure enough!

Kiss him indeed!....That my dear friends....is as close as my lips got to him...and even then I was fighting back laughter....

Here was right before I burst out laughing...can you imagine what the neighbors must have thought...seeing me "kiss" that poor toad?

And yes, I am back from my lovely vacation....I will probably post some pictures soon of the wonderful time I had..but for now, you should be happy with my Frog(toad) Prince....

cheers!
~The Bella Modiste

Will ya miss me?

2008-03-20T15:22:00.001-07:00

I thought I'd let everyone know, that I'll be gone for the next two weeks starting tomorrow, it has been two weeks since I last posted, so it shouldn't matter too much that I'll be off for another two weeks, eh?
haha
I'll have lots of photos when I get back, so stay tuned!
cheers!
~The Bella Modiste

Lost World Giveaway

2008-03-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Jayedee over at Life in the Lost World is having a giveaway for a $25 giftcard for Ideal Poultry.
You can enter by telling her your favorite chicken breed. My favorite chicken breed, least of my two babies, is the Americana.
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste

OOOOH!! Look what I made!

2008-03-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

Right, so I know this is a bit late, I finished this, a week ago, and am just now posting pictures!

What we have here, is a lovely but sturdy canvas tote, with a great red and white polka dot liner(I'll get better pics once the weather clears up...) not to mention the ribbon! and the mushrooms, cant forget those, the visual point of the whole bag! I've got another similar design to make up, just have to get time to actually sew! Please, let me know what you think!

Close-up of the design...

The ribbon embellished top, and ribbon tie closure...

The whole bag....

Oh gosh..what a day! I *almost* lost my dear dear sweet Penny today...I was going outside with a tray of newly sprouting plants, and heard/saw commotion in one of the flower beds, I look over and I see this huge pair of wings...maybe I'm remembering wrong, but I swear they were 4-5 feet...., I see this blur of brown go running towards the bushes. The huge wings(all I really saw, it happened so fast, in a few seconds) take off up into the tree, I run into the yard looking for Goldie, mom comes running out, she has seen my frantic searching, I can't find her, finally here she is, I find her, huddled under the bushes, scared and eyes wild.
Then I realize, oh no....Penny is missing!

I'm looking in the bushes, she is the color of dead leaves, I look in the lilies, mom finds feathers, lots of feathers...feathers from Penny, so many feathers, no blood, just feathers. No tears, Mom is crying, I kick the tree, the fence, the chair, then run to clean the chicken cages, and get the ducks in, I go to catch the *remaining* chicken, hear a small bird in the bushes, look, and....There she is...huddled under the bush, the whites of her eyes showing, scared so bad,
I grab her, run in, wrap her in a towel, take her to the bathroom, and check her over, no blood, no scratches, no blood! a huge section of feathers missing from her neck, but she is fine! The wild birds didn't start flying around again for about an hour, so I'm guessing Mr.Hawk was waiting around, hoping to get another shot at an easy meal....No tears, no, I don't have a heart of stone, I just keep things in, finally though, tears of relief, I almost lost my dear sweet Penny, but she's Ok now....my dear sweet baby, who runs across the yard to jump in my lap and get cuddled, My show worthy girl(picture above is old...I'll get some more of her soon, she is gorgeous, missing feathers and all!)....

Ok....had to get it out....Thanks for reading! :D
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste

Busy Busy!

2008-03-02T21:58:00.001-08:00

First up we have Collin! Our newest "family"
member! He is a Mini Schnauzer, and is
the sweetest best behaved puppy
I've seen yet!
Next, we have a hand embroidered hanky.
Which I made for an online swap, I used a vintage pattern for this, and LOVE how it turned out!
Then I made 8 felt flower pins, for yet another swap! I'll get 7 different ones back, and the 8th will go to Mary Jane as well as two other dear farmgirls on the MJ site.

The next thing I've made.....is fresh bread...whole wheat yeast bread...after you've had really good homemade bread, you can forget eating store bought bread, this stuff certainly beats that by a long shot! plus..you actually know what you are putting in that mixing bowl! And if you store it right, it will last...make two loaves, slice one and store in a Tupperware container, wrap the extra in plastic wrap, and store in the fridge until the first loaf is gone.....
Also....if when you are down making the cinnamon rolls(below) and you have some extra cinnamon/sugar/butter mixture left....spread it on a piece of warm fresh bread.....ooooooooh its fabulous!
(P.S. these aren't my prettiest loaves, but I think they are the biggest yet!)

Short posts tonight, lots to do, I'll be going away soon on vacation, but I'll try to update more before I leave, and maybe I'll get some pictures of my craft room posted, now that it has been rearranged and all. Note: anyone who is expecting email from me(you know who you are) I will email soon, just give me some time...ha ha, so much to do before my trip!
oooh, and I've gotten the Valentines Day mini aprons from a swap I did, but I haven't gotten pictures yet, I joined the Western swap, but forgot to get pictures of those before I boxed them up... they aren't super special, just red fabric w/ a cut out and stitched on diamond, 5 w/ a cowgirl, 2 sets of 5 w/ 2 different cowboys and one other set of 5 w/ lassos and some wording(for the life of me I can't remember what it says!)
also blue denim ties, I had just enough for both aprons and ties in the way of fabric, and boy, I sure cut it close...I feel so bad...cause they are due to the swap moms house on Tuesday, but they aren't getting shipped til Monday, I am NEVER late...this is an outrage! they'll probably get there Wednesday though, seeing as how the lady lives in the same state...ha ha...
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste

Busy Busy! (part two)

2008-03-02T21:58:00.000-08:00

Now this....is a hint of something to come tomorrow! I'm VERY excited about this little project, and will get them finished up and photographed in the next few days, and of course listed in my Etsy store(for of course they are something to sell!)
I finished one tonight, and it is just soooo cute! That polka dot ribbon really does the trick!

And here is one of three things I won recently from the One World One Heart Giveaway(see previous post) Karen from Pockets in my Hearts sent me this adorable art doll! how cute is she? I LOVE her dress!

And Shelley from Nahia Creations sent me a bar of her fab smelling Chocolate Espresso soap, as well as some lip balm in a glorious Peppermint Lemongrass blend....talk about a yummy smelling package!

Now I must of course brag about these......fresh made cinnamon rolls....hot from the oven, coated in a glaze of icing, filled with sugar and cinnamon, don't forget the raisins.....mouth watering yet?
So the other day(um..week or two ago) I made up a huge double batch of these...we are taking a little over 60 rolls....and froze them....with 5 people....two rolls per person...eh...you kinda go through them fast! We are down to the bottom of the second and last container....:D....must mean they are yummy....We go through these much faster then whole wheat bread or even cinnamon swirl bread.....maybe its the icing? You wouldn't believe how good these are compared to those pre-packaged, dough bits that you cook yourself...or those ones that are pre-cooked....
So anyways..yes...if you've got two hours to kill one day....do yourself a favor and find a good recipe for these babies(maybe if enough people ask, I'll share mine(after my trip)....trust me....your mouth will thank you, only downside...the scale will start lieing....rofl

Cheers!
~The Bella Modiste

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T22:28:00.000-08:00

OOOOH I'm SO excited! I entered a whole bunch of giveaways, on this site called "One World, One Heart"
AND guess WHAT!?
I won two! A doll from Karen at Pockets in My Heart
Don't forget to check out her Etsy shop, here! She sells some delicious looking fabric packs!
Now the doll is a surprise for me, as far as I can tell, it is not the one pictured on her blog, so it will be a lovely surprise! I loved the one she showed and can not wait for this one to arrive!

And the next thing I won, was some awesome sounding soap from Shelley at Nahia Creations

Chocolate Espresso Soap, how yummy does that sound!? She has an Etsy store as well and you can see it here! I would advise any and all to check it out, her photos make the soap look practically edible!

And hot diggity dog! I finally figured out the while "link" thing....never thought to look at the list of buttons at the top....um...duh!

So, I shall stalk to poor mailman until all my expected packages arrive, from the drawing coming from Spain to the lovely, lovely gifts from the wonderfully talented bloggers!

Story of the Spanish drawing, I had seen an amazing drawing back around October, and marked it as a Favorite on Etsy, come around November, I saw that it had sold, and was so disappointed, I emailed the artist(A wonderful young woman to work with) and she offered to do another for me, just like the first. I unfortunately, didn't have the funds to buy it at the time, but she so kindly said I could ask again once I could get it, so this past month, I asked again, and just a few days later she had the new painting listed and ready! Raquel is an incredibly sweet person to work with and if you get a chance I would LOVE for you to check out her store!
Here is what she made up for me! Isn't it just perfect!? I love it, and can not wait for it to reach my mailbox! It's been in the mail for about a week now, so it should be in within next week! I'm SO excited! And still have not decided exactly where I should put it!(ooh and check her blog as well! being as she is in Spain, most of her post is made in Spanish, but being the sweet girl she is, she translates it for us that are too lazy to learn to read more then one language!)

OOH! I got another picture too, gotta buy a frame for it yet...It is SO cute! I think I scared the mailman when I went running out, I had peeked out the window, and saw that he had a box! I ran out, grabbed the mail, said a quick hi, then bye, and ran back in....rofl....poor guy!
Again, DUDADAZE, wonderful woman to work with(also, check out her blog), please, check her shop out when you get a chance! Right now, most of her stuff is in her "sold" section, but it is such wonderful fun to look at, and wish that you'd gotten the art first! Haha! Now, when she does update her store, you must act quickly, because it doesn't last long! And as good as both LaMaga and DUDADAZE are, you must buy their art while you can still afford it, these women will one day be fabulously rich and famous!

Anyways, That's all for today folks!
cheers!
~The Bella Modiste

Today's project

2008-02-12T23:10:00.000-08:00

Not much new today really, started raining around 4 this evening, and the weather was really dreary all day.
I washed laundry, made no attempts to clean my room, went to class at 7, came home and watched "Good Bye, Lenin"(foreign films, gotta love 'em! beware:rated R, parents be prepared with "close your eyes!"(don't worry, I did), and then worked on a hanky for a swap I joined, in other words a very lazy, uneventful day! Tomorrow will hopefully be much more productive! Like maybe an apron(people seem to love 'em!) or maybe I'll finish that laced vest I cut out, several weeks ago. And perhaps a purse or two! ooh best not make my list too long or I'll end up not getting anything done! ROFL ooh and hey, if it is sunny out, I'll try and get a picture of my WIP hanky! It is turning out really really pretty! looks very delicate and well...pretty!
Alrighty...I know, boring post today, I'm sorry!
No pictures today either, but like I said, I'll try to remedy that tomorrow!
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste

Oh dear me! I've been tagged-AGAIN!

2008-02-10T22:58:00.000-08:00

Well..I was tagged..um...well 11 days ago....and shame on me..I've delayed doing this..I'm horrid at it....rofl....here we go though

Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you..Autumn(http://simplytoday-autumn.blogspot.com/).

Post the rules on your blog.

Post 7 random or weird facts about yourself on your blog.

Tag 7 people and link to them.

Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

7 RANDOM facts about me????? YIKES!

ok...

1. I break out when I consume high fructose corn syrup(hey, it said random!)

2.I love Skittles(but the above happens when I eat em!)

3.I procrastinate.....alot!

4.I love to sew(no duh!?)

5.I get excited when I get ANY comments on this here blog.

6.My handwriting is barely readable

7.I hoard fabric, and am running out of storage...:(

ok...whew! I did it!!

ok..so who to tag...um....ok...Whoever reads this....is tagged! HA! there we go! that was easy!...

ok....I'm tired now....but first...

What I've been working on..um...

a surprise for my grandparents 50th annivarsary(Happy Anniversary guys!)(pictures when it is finished and presented to them)

I made two aprons, one I designed, one from an unused vintage/antique pattern.(pics below)

I have yet to make a donkey(vintage pattern) as well as 8 felt pins and an whole bunch of western styled mini aprons...whew! not to mention I need to restock my Etsy store!

oh! And a hankerchief.....haha, so that is 3 swaps, 1 order, and restocking...sounds
like I need to get busy!

Here we have to "made from a vintage pattern" apron.....in a size small, but I was able to adjust it up to a medium for this picture, as well as for the person who bought it.

This one is the one I made without a pattern, so to a point, I can say I designed it I suppose, haha, but really, the whole stretched out "V" design has been around a while!

So I guess for today that is about it...I'll be working on some things soon, so will be sure to take pictures, and hey....maybe I'll start posting everyday....don't go gettin' your hopes up though! :D

cheers,

~The Bella Modiste

Farmgirl Flair on Etsy!

2008-01-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day shopping - Farmgirl Flair's Handmade With Heart!! Check out our Etsy shops for beautiful Valentine's offerings or put FGF in the search box on Etsy to see all of the Farmgirl goodies. Shop now through February 7th to ship in time for gift giving to your special Sweetheart!

www.etsy.com

keyword: fgf

Oh my goodness!!! I've been tagged!!!

2008-01-03T17:16:00.000-08:00

WOW! This is a first for me!!!!
One of my blogging/farmgirl friends, Denise,(http://torismimi.blogspot.com/ ) tagged me for a game. Thanks Denise!

This is my first time being tagged, so bear with me...haha

These are the RULES:Link to the person that tagged you.

Post the rules on your blog.

Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.

Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 random and/or weird facts about me;

1. I love old movies( Fred and Ginger ROCK!).
2. My hair is so long it has less then a foot to go before it reaches the floor.
3. I dislike wearing socks, unless I'm wearing shoes with them.
4. I don't like large crowds of people.
5. I have an online store.
6. I DID make resolutions this year.
7. I dislike onions.

alrighty..I think that was random!!

now to tag 7 others...boy oh boy!

1. Kristy from This Bean Knits! (http://www.knittingbean.blogspot.com/)
2. Judy over at Painted Threads(http://judyperez.blogspot.com/)
3. Nin over at Peachy Hollow (http://www.peachyhollow.com/)
4. Bonne over at Bonne's Abode (http://bonne1313.blogspot.com/)
5. Floresita over at Una Floresita (http://unafloresita.blogspot.com/)
6. Tess at Made by Tess(http://madebytess.typepad.com/weblog/)
7. and last but noy least....Nancy Jo (http://nancy-jo.blogspot.com/)

Merry Christmas!!!

2007-12-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

Merry Merry Christmas to all!!!

cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

Yikes!

2007-12-20T14:18:00.000-08:00

It has been nearly a month since my last post....I'm still alive and kickin' but trying to catch a few things up. Finished nearly all presents, except for about two, which, (sorry cuz)...will be getting there last....due to my forgetfulness.
I'll have a few pictures to post fairly soon, of different projects I've completed, like the Civil War dresses, baby outfit for sewing class, gourd, 50s dress, mini aprons, and a stuffed donkey.
most of which was completed in the past three weeks.
So, just letting what few readers I have know that I'm still here! Maybe one of my New Years resolutions will be to post at least once a week on here...who knows...haha
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

Groan Ugh..I ate too much!!

2007-11-24T22:29:00.000-08:00

First off..Hello and welcome to the new people! Three comments from people that I've never seen on my blog before!! Sweeeeet!

And now...

Thanksgiving was AWESOME!

So much good food....ooh gosh...sooo much food...

ham, turkey, green beans and thyme, sweet potatoes topped with brown sugar and pecans, pecan and orange pie, pumpkin pie(2), white potatoes mashed, and mixed with various dairy products, sprinkled with something and baked, sausage stuffing, AND turkey stuffing.......

so much yummy food! we still have leftovers, and we have 5 people in our family!

We were so lucky to get to skip the cooking this year...grandma brought everything but the salad, which we ended up eating the next day for lunch....ha ha

So I'm a bit late but I'll go ahead with what I am Thankful for....

I'm Thankful for...

family

friends

a warm home

Air conditioning!!(and heat)

warm clothing(it got cold here!)

and the "silly" things I'm Thankful for...

Sewing machines

fabric

fabric stores

The Little Pilgrim
Cranberries dripping down my chin

Have stained my pilgrim suit.

I ate too much Thanksgiving day

But I don't give a hoot.
I slurped a pile of dressing,

Gobbled down a turkey thigh,

Dribbled messy cranberries

Devoured some pumpkin pie.
Within me on this special day

It's a thankful heart that beats.

For all the things that I enjoy

But mainly for the eats.

--------

So yeah...A week ago.....the door bell rings.....Its Channel 7 news....asking my father to say a few things about.....the meth lab they busted 4 doors down!

Dad declined the ladies request, as he'd just woken up, and wasn't about to show his face on the local news...ha ha

here is what the local paper had to say about the whole deal....

----

Three people, including a chemist with ------ Base, face drug charges after deputies said they found a “large, professionally equipped” meth operation that used chemicals and equipment taken from the base. Deputies arrested Hubert ----, 31, Jacqueline -----, 25, and Brent -----, 26, at their residence Wednesday night after authorities served a search warrant and found about 3,000 pounds of meth oil worth about $300,000, according to a ----- Sheriff’s Office news release. All three were charged with trafficking in methamphetamine of more than 200 grams and manufacture of meth. ---- and ----- also were charged with possession of listed chemicals, the release stated. ----, who has a Ph.D. in chemistry, told investigators he was employed at ------ as part of a cooperative partnership with North Carolina State University, where he is listed as an assistant research professor in textile engineering, chemistry and science. Deputies said he headed up the meth operation. ---- was not on the property when the search began, but he arrived while the Sheriff’s Office Methamphetamine Drug Unit was searching the property and removing a vehicle listed as stolen from ------- County, deputies reported. Investigators said they found $20,000 worth of chemicals and professional lab equipment in ----’s vehicle that are believed to have been stolen from -------, including a triple-neck glass beaker valued at $1,200. Civil authorities contacted the -------Office of Special Investigations, who also responded to the scene. “The true laboratory-grade professional chemistry stuff. The same kind of stuff you’d expect a Ph.D. to have,” said Ruth -----, of the ------ Sheriff’s Office. ------ said it does not appear the high quality and quantity of production indicates heavy or specialized distribution and that it appears most of the drug was consumed as it was made. First appearance is scheduled for 2 p.m. today.
------- officials declined to comment, saying the affair is a civil matter.

---------------------

So wow...now I can't say our street is boring...

And last night there was some domestic dispute, the guy was just cussing away at the woman, and then suddenly he has a shovel in his hands...we hear clanging and banging, mom decides to call the cops...first off...hes out there yelling at the woman...cussing loudly, you could hear him half a block away "F--- this, F--- that", he's just thrown a shovel in the back of his truck, pacing around, up and down under the street light, around his truck, she's threatening to call the cops, hes yelling something about the cops, all at...midnight...so 3-4 cop cars ended up coming out, a civilian vehicle came and got the guy and then the cops left....between the time we called the cops to the time they left, only a half hour had gone by..must not have been a huge big deal......but they'd been out there yelling for a good half hour before...

What? so my room has a good view of a couple neighborhood houses....I know...I've got a good start at being the old maid that has a dozen cats, lives by herself and runs the neighborhood watch campaign by herself, keeps a pair of binoculars by every street facing window, and has holes cut in her blinds so she can peek out ever 10 minutes to see what everyone is doing....and keeps the cops on speed dial so she can quickly report the least little offence.....hahahaha

But besides Thanksgiving....the meth lab, and the neighbors fighting...there isn't much new....I'll have pictures to add of some dolls I made, soon, as well as my Civil War day dress, dads Christmas present...and whatever else I think of or make during now and the next time I post....hehe

The Bella Modiste~

A.K.A. The nosy lady next door :P

Easy Three Ingredient Layered Biscuits

2007-11-14T18:10:00.000-08:00

Yours Truly in the "required" apron..:P

Alrighty...So here is the promised recipe with pictures...Now I'll give you the recipe and instructions all at once, instead of spread out with all the pictures, makes for an easier read I think.....
Three Ingredient Flaky Biscuits
1 stick butter
2 cups self-rising flour
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350*F. Melt 1/2 tablespoons
butter, and mix with the flour and milk.
If dough is dry and crumbly, add more milk until it holds together, but is not sticky when touched. Flour your surface(here I suggest using a large cookie sheet(it speeds clean up time) and tip your dough out onto it. press your dough to about 1/2in thick and butter one half. repeat this step until your butter is all gone. One final time press out to a thickness of about 3/4in (or the height of your biscuit cutter)
and press out your biscuits. Place 2in apart on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 18 minutes or until golden.

Alrighty, so this is too narrow to post pictures side by side..I apologize for the REALLY long post, but I wanted to show step-by-step pictures...

cheers,

~The Bella Modiste~

HOW COOL!!!

2007-11-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

(WOW! Look at the dewflap on him! (not my photo, did a random search for "brown anole" if I used a copyrighted photo, please don't be mad, its a compliment, and if you like, I will change it)

So a few days ago, while moving some plants around with mom, I happened to be digging around in some pots, and I found two small eggs, hummingbird size(or smaller, I've never really seen a hummingbird egg, but..whatever) one was about 1/2in, the other about 3/8in. So tonight i was checking up on the eggs as usual, and I happened to take the top off, to add a bit of moisture, because they have to be kept humid(I did about ten minutes of research and found out some things about what I figured they were). then, before I put the thin fabric back over the top, I decided to remove the label of the jar I was keeping them in, and all of a sudden...*plop*....into the sink jumps a tiny barely 3in long freshly hatched brown lizard, I'm fairly certain her/she is a brown Cuban anole, being as, s/he is brown(duh), I saw several pregnant looking brown Cuban anoles out about a week- week and a half before...and well..it doesn't look as *sleek* as the green anoles.....So now I am eagerly awaiting the hatching of the second egg, provided it does hatch, and next week I will have to start feeding. The info I found says they go a week on their yolk, so I'm good there...lets hope my parents don't mind the sound of crickets....hahaha....

here is some information about them...

Brown Anole (exotic)
Anolis sagrei sagrei
Description: maximum length to 8.5 inches; gray, black, brown to very dark brown and sometimes speckled coloration which may vary in hue; males turn almost black during territorial displays; females have diamond-shaped patterns down back (second photo at left); males may display patterns, but never diamond shapes; dewlaps are red to red-orange with a yellow border (photo left top); mature males will also have crest-like ridge along back;
Food: mostly insects but occasionally Green Anole hatchlings when they come to the ground
Habitat: ground dweller but will venture up several feet into trees and shrubs; prefers drier areas
Range: most of peninsular Florida and the Keys; not cold tolerant
Lifespan: around 3 years
Breeding: mates late spring to early summer; 2 eggs per clutch and several clutches each summer; eggs laid under decaying vegetation on ground; 60-90 days to hatch; an exotic that has probably spread when eggs distributed in tropical landscape plants originating in nurseries around Miami and the Keys

A few things I've made lately

2007-11-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

Made this little purse from a small pair of little girls shorts...picture doesn't look like much, but it very cute...

A skirt I made myself, red with a wrap slip underneath to be worn with other future skirts

White blouse that will go under a black velvet bodice top I have...forgot to take a picture with it on over it. It does look cute...with the velvet bodice over it...ha ha

And pillows I made for my bed a while back using 12in fabric squares mom entered a swap for last year before Christmas, and then gifted me with, and the bottom pillow was made from a corduroy jumper, and is not stitched closed after stuffing, but instead buttoned....he he

So who else loves this time change? I mean, wow! you can sleep til what feels like 11:00 and in reality, its only 10! sweeet!
Yes, yes I know..I stayed up late last night working on mini aprons and also making mom another curtain...
that's all for now...but I'll have more pictures hopefully soon...
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

Peanut butter cookies!!!

2007-10-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

And easy ones at that...Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies!....And..photos to go with it....

Believe it or not, this is all it takes. Don't add anything else!

1 cup smooth peanut butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 whole egg

In a medium bowl with a wooden spoon, beat peanut butter until it becomes slightly creamier.

Add sugar and mix well.

Finally, add the whole egg and mix.

When well blended, drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet or spray with cooking spray to prevent from sticking. press each cookie with a fork first one way, then again at a 90 degree angle to the first fork press.

Bake at 350°F degrees for about 12-15 minutes or until you see them golden brown at the bottom.

Makes about 2 dozen small cookies(this is if you use a teaspoon to spoon them onto the tray). You can double the recipe easily.

Enjoy!

Cheers,

~The Bella Modiste~

Todays Garage sale finds

2007-10-13T18:31:00.000-07:00

Here we have the purse made from three upholstery fabric samples....is it just me or did it turn out perfect!?...btw..in the picture..the purse is a bit lopsided, this is not a construction fault, just how the purse was laid out and the angle of the photo

Here is my finally finished rug(I started it about..5 years ago...then a few weeks ago took apart the whole thing and started fresh)...although it is acrylic yarn, I do like how it turned out....

And here are today's finds..this batch was $5....

This is also part of the $5 batch, the white is bunches and bunches of pre-cut muslin blocks..I'd say about 8.5in squares..perfect for embroidery....

This huge lot of 11 books was only $1....yes...one dollar....which includes numerous Sewing with Nancy books, most of which ran about $20 new....and several quilting books...

This lovely is from 1941 and cost only a $1...and is a Learn How Book, with instructions for crochet, knitting, embroidery...and....shuttle tatting.....which..I WILL learn one day....ha ha

And here we have three books from 1940-1950 all acquired for 25 cents....yes..all three for a quarter....not each....for all....someone had tied them up with ribbon and some kind of ugly fall decor on the top....it was ugly and dusty..the spines on two are rather....messed up..one missing all together and the top missing from one, the back cover of the middle book is missing, but the Shirley Temple book and the Eight Cousins are in OK condition...for a quarter I figured why not? least I can get some enjoyment from them..I have read Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott..just last week in fact..its a pretty good book....And I cant wait to read Rose in Bloom, which comes right after it.

Also bought from the sale I got the three older books from was this adorable marionette....for....oh my gosh....a quarter....what were they thinking!? the only thing wrong with him was one of his strings had slipped out of the little cross piece at the top..a problem I fixed in about 15 minutes, along with shortening the string connected to his head.... So..those were today's wonderfully fun finds.....next I will give you the recipe for the yummy yummy easy as pie cookies...

cheers,

~The Bella Modiste~

Oh gosh!

2007-10-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I said I would get pictures "tomorrow".....so lets see...I have even more to share today, plus a fun and easy recipe.....

So here we have the photos from...two weeks ago...

The wonderful book from Emily at MJF, along with a ton of zippers....Emily, I have not forgotten you, in fact, every place I've gone the past while I've searched for those durn number beads..I will find them!...I hope....worst come to worst...I can look for them online....

Here we have the goodies from Bonnie at MJF, everything from zippers, to piping, tailors chalk,patterns, hem binding, elastic, and fabric...

here is the lovely fabric from Bonnie...I've only used three of the pieces so far..the red stars, along with the two striped pieces you see on either side of it in the picture....the purse turned out sooo cute..photo of it in the next post..I promise!...

These are the doilies I found...I love the smallest one best of all...and have set it aside with a few really tiny ones that are similar too it...

And...here we have the beautiful Belgian lace...

These are the two uncut circles of it....

And here we have the smaller pieces, some of which are cut, and one is complete...it is really beautiful stuff...just not sure i want to use it on yet....something very nice of course...

And...the books I got..actually, I got one other too.but on arriving home, I discovered it had a lot of water damage and was very very musty, so that sucker is airing out in the garage until I can actually mess with it without sneezing every time I turn a page....So these are all the goodies I got Sept. 29th...next I'll show everything I got today..plus I'll share an awesome peanut butter cookie recipe....

cheers,

~The Bella Modiste~

Goodies!!

2007-09-29T17:34:00.000-07:00

fun fun stuff...
Wednesday I think it was I got an awesome box full of everything from fabric to lace from dear sweet Bonne over at MJF...there were zippers, books, lace, fabric, and patterns all stuffed into an itty bitty box..I tell you..that woman can pack a box to over flowing...I couldn't fit everything back in to the box when I had slowly looked at everything! ha ha
Then today I got in my patchwork purses book from Emily at MJF along with a ton of zippers....I bartered with her for those goodies....
Also today mom and I went garage saling..I got bunches of fun stuff...4 quilting book, a think Daisy Kingdom iron on transfers book, a few doilies to use as pockets on aprons, and the best bit...several uncut pieces of Belgian lace..it is beautiful....and great quality..you can feel it....ha ha
and wouldn't ya know it..I haven't taken pictures yet...haha...but..I'll try to do that tomorrow when it is light out..so I can open my window and not have to use the flash....well....I probably oughta get my bed made...and clean up my room some and start a sewing...heheh
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

I'm wore out!

2007-09-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

And plum tired!
This week has been wild! Business has been booming, dad is down with the flu, and I've been running back and forth from bedroom to office, transferring files, printing large graphics, saving files, sending files...yeesh...
And...fun news..I've invited to give a talk to about 15 girl scouts, all in about 1st grade....exciting huh? So I'll get a little packet of info together for each girl, make up a couple posters on butterflies and type up what I want to talk to the girls about...I'll probably talk about the life cycle, and the difference between butterflies and moths. The group leader said she could order in some butterflies for the girls to release, I'll probably suggest a craft for the girls to do as well...and I may even join up...I can be a girl scout until I'm 18...I'm thinking it could be fun....I'm told they have a sock-hop coming up soon...I have a poodle skirt...haha...and the black and white shoes...:P

So tonight I have a bunch of kitchen towels to make up for grandma, she asked for them about a month or so ago...I'm so ashamed..sure she said "take your time" but I'm not sure she meant 1-2 months!

ooh and I could take my butterfly books along, let the girls look through them...maybe..that could be a bit much and I don't know what my time limit is...I'm actually very excited about this...though I dislike talking to large groups of people...I think I can handle a bunch of first graders...hopefully they will stay interested, and I won't bore them....ha ha I'm going to try and make it really interesting, fun and informative...if I do it right..they'll learn more in one evening about butterflies then the average person knows...:P

anyways...not that much up with me....I've been running, doing this and that for dad and mom...but that's about it....I've gt some sewing projects to get done...plus X-mas presents, plus a Thank-you present and another present...yeesh....I need to get to work...I have to make 72 12.5in squares....which will be enough for 2 6x6foot quilts..which I will then need to quilt...which I'll probably do by hand....yikes...I need to hurry.....

cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

Rambling thoughts on college education....

2007-09-13T18:08:00.000-07:00

Its kinda funny the guy at the Post Office has been going on the past two trips up there about my not going to college and having been taught by my mom, who had no education beyond highschool...so today I wrote up the Forbes.com list of "Five Reasons to Skip College"....gave it to him, and told him he had to read it, I got him to read about half of it before we left...least it made him shut his trap about me being un-educated...hahaha...turns out....he went to college for Telecommunications.....and now he is a government slav---worker? huh? hello!....
Just thought it was kinda funny...*begin rant* people can't leave well enough alone, they have to go sticking their noses into other peoples business, like their education...and you know...look at Thomas Edison...home schooled, no college education...absolute genius! John D. Rockefeller, long dead, but a high school drop out, oil tycoon, and possibly richest man in history thus far! It is interesting that so many people think that college is some requirement, a sign of intelligence, "if you don't go to college, you are not smart". What!? Sure, alot of really smart people go to college, thats all great and wonderful...but what about us? The young entrepreneurs, who know what they want? And believe they can reach their dreams if they just keep at it? Why do the older generations think that all the kids should go on to college after highschool? Take a look at this list...
1. You'll be losing four working years.
There's an opportunity cost associated with going to college: Not only will you lose the money you'll have spent on tuition, you'll also be out the amount of money that you could have made if you'd worked during those four years. And if your family isn't wealthy enough to pay for your education on their own, you'll also owe a hefty amount in interest payments for your student loans. Perhaps more importantly, with four years of experience on your resume, you’ll be far better off when looking for work than the average 22-year-old college graduate.
2. You won't necessarily earn less money.
College grads earn an average 62% more over the course of their careers than high school grads. But economist Robert Reischauer of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., argues that those numbers are skewed by the fact that smarter kids are more likely to go to college in the first place. In other words, the profitability of higher education is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
3. In fact, you could probably make more money if you invested your tuition.
Put $160,000--the approximate cost of a Harvard education--into municipal bonds that pay a conservative 5%, and you'll have saved more than $500,000 in 30 years. That's far more than the average college grad will accumulate in the same amount of time.
4. You don't need to be in a classroom in order to learn something.
Truly motivated learners can teach themselves almost anything with a couple of books and an Internet connection. Want to learn a hands-on skill or trade? Consider an apprenticeship.
5. Plenty of other people did fine...
Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Quentin Tarantino, David Geffen, and Thomas Edison, among others, never graduated from college. Peter Jennings and John D. Rockefeller never finished high school.
------------
Another great article, by Forbes....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12409530/
------------
But think about, really think about it....did *your* parents ever discuss with you "Why" *you* should go to college? Did you go to college? Better yet, are you doing what you went to college for? What did you actually learn? Could you have figured that out yourself? *end rant*
Leave me a comment..tell me *your* opinion, though be forewarned, any comments containing obcenities, that are rude, mean, etc , WILL be deleted.

Oy...I got up soo early...7:30!!!

2007-09-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

So let's see what'd I do today?....I got up early today...WOW!!! good for me!!!...took care of our lonely Daffy duck...

He has really chilled out since Daisy was killed, he no longer attacks my feet(ouch!)...well..least not as much...mostly because before he was acting as protector to her and the eggs she was laying...

So after taking care of Daffy I did this and that, helped mom clean house...the usual...then today since dad wasn't feeling well, I helped him out with his business applied transfer tape to various jobs, and packaged up another job...and applied small pieces to cover up an old slogan on another job he had done a while back, the people decided that their previous slogan didn't work...so back to us they brought it.....ha ha

So I've been doing a fair amount of sewing....Friday I said I made two more marbelized handbags, way cute...also the one I made the beginning of the week that sold within 24 hrs of posting it to Etsy...
the one I sold:

and the other two(which I hope to list tomorrow):

Also Saturday I made two aprons... there are two seahorses on each bottom corner of the apron, just stitched around the seahorse, edges left raw...

Also last week I made an artful apron...good thing the design is unwashable..cause if it was washed that muslin would shrink up and ruin the whole look...hahaha....

I wont be having a sewing lesson tomorrow because dad has some how gotten the flu...*ack...* don't give it to me!!! And we'd rather not get my sewing teacher sick...and then next lesson is off too, as she is going out of town...So..I have an extra month to finish the assignment..though really she said I have until the end of all the lessons, but I'd much rather get it done now....so far I've prepped the pattern pieces, cut all the pieces I need, dry ironed the pieces, and today I washed and ironed the fabric, which this time is just a plain muslin, but I plan to buy my own copy of the pattern, and make some of the little outfits out of linen and other nice fabrics.

Oh..and I made mom a rag quilt for her birthday(early present, I got impatient, couldn't wait til the 17th....haha...it ended up measuring like 5 foot and a few inches by 5 foot and a few inches(obviously it is square) there are 64 little squares in the center...but...because of the type of quilt...I have to cut 3 times that...64 for the backing, 64 for the flannel inside, and 64 for the top cloth...yeesh! than the 20 squares around the 64..then the 4 squares and 4 rectangles...took time, but was it worth it? oh yeah! she loves it and it totally goes with her whole "farm girl" theme she has going in the living room right now....the picture is actually sideways..the quilt is not lopsided...honest it isn't...ha ha

so anyways...that's what all I have been up to...I'm gonna do a quick spell check here, and then read a bit of the book I have to study for my learners permit..yup...you heard right.....I'm actually going to get it(well, I was anyways..but I was stalling)...I'm going to study the book a bit more..take the online 4 hour(ugh) thing on drugs and alcohol, and then, I have two other tests to take for it, then I guess I get my permit..then after 80(or 50) hours of driving time and( and/or..cant remember) 1 year....I get that little piece of plastic that says I can drive...as long as I don't fail....hahaha

cheers,

~The Bella Modiste~

Just a quick post...

2007-09-09T20:49:00.000-07:00

Lets see..whats new..OK..
last Monday our dear sweet Daisy the duck left us for a raccoon....we found her early that morning in the back corner...feathers all about...and ugh...half eaten....
not much new through the week....though I did get some nice sandals, very comfortable, and oh so fun to spin in....hahaha
Friday I made two marbelized canvas purses, Saturday I made two aprons...today I didn't make anything, but helped dad with somethings for his business.
um...I'm actually heading to bed at a decent time....in about 8 minutes....haha.....and will actually hopefully get up at a decent time!! amazing I tell you! Not gonna keep the 3AM-12PM anymore....it'll be the 11PM-6:30AM or 7:00AM hahahahaha.....you know...I did get things done with the 3-12....I just kept different hours then everyone else.....and I tell you..it was fun...but alas.....the fun must end.....and now I bid thee all good night
cheers,
~Te Bella Modiste~

2007-09-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

So...yeah...its been a while since my last post...again...haha..I've been busy.....really...

I just finished a rag quilt for moms birthday, also have made a couple aprons(did i post those pictures?ooh..i didnt....good..)

so here the apron I made following an old 1949 pattern offline....
and my apron made from a pattern from Kathie over at MJF
ooh and a new linen skirt...now this one...I started with a remnant from Joann's 7/8 of a yd....made the main skirt, w/ waistband...was trying to find some way to add a ruffle, none of my other fabrics matched, and it was too short for my comfort if I had just hemmed it...I remembered that in my closet was this linen feeling peachy colored dress...I pull it out...it was a perfect match in both color and fiber content.....so I chopped 13 or so inches off the dress, pulled out the 3in hem on the chopped off bit, and made myself a cute little ruffle with a cream colored eyelet lace....here it is....

also...a kind of artsy 4 pocket apron....using marbleized fabric that dad and I made...plus a really cute floral and metallic trim....honestly..the picture does not do it justice....

And..I got two baskets from Joann's to put my fabric in, I do have more, the bigger pieces are in my cabinet, and the doll making fabrics in the bottom drawer of my little rolling cart under my work table....I just don't have as much as I though....ha ha....

all of the marbleized fabric in the baskets was made by my dad and I...I'd like to use that bunch up...then mix up another batch of the base, and find some plastic tub to make up alot of more then we did on the first go round..the base though has to sit for like 12 hours!....so you really have to make it ahead of time...plus you have to pre-treat your fabrics in alum....thank goodness the paints are water based....and don't stink....haha...infact...no part of the process stinks....dad said when he did it like 20 years ago, it was oil based and had a...distinct odor.....

...ooh we went to Joanns on Saturday, and I got exactly 4 patterns, even after spending over an hour in there just walking by and feeling all of the fabrics...haha....My two favorites of the bunch...Vogue V7985....a totally cute doll pattern...I MUST get a flesh toned poly knit soon....and also Vogue V8008...a beautiful vintage 1950s reprint patttern for.....hats.....beautiful beautiful.....also got two of McCalls 5050...a simple tops and tunics...

also...for sewing class I have to make McCalls 3063 view F, it has different parts that we've touched on in class, this is my "you've learned it, you've done it some, now make this, your final grade depends on this, 2-3 other projects, as well as your two previous exams" .

No pressure....ha ha

So anyways...besides helping mom tonight peel pears so she could chop up and cook then can them....that's about all that is new with me...I haven't been very busy....in fact...I've been slacking.....I've got a pile of laundry waiting for me to fold it all up..plus another pile waiting to be washed.....plus...about 3-4 bags waiting to be sewn for dad....plus two quilts to make one by about November, the other by about mid Jan. plus..I have two other quilts I want to finish....one just needs the leaves embroidered to tie it....the other needs all the satin stitches couched, the names of the flowers embroidered, plus...batting, backing, and quilting.....youch....plus..Christmas presents to make....and things to make for my shop!....I'd also like to make up some things to take around to local shops..try to get recognized a little bit more...get out there....etc etc......I want to be....famous....not followed-by-paparazzi-24/7- famous...not even Martha Stewart famous....just enough to feed my fabric addiction, maybe make...60 grand a year....have a small cottage in Italy.....haha.....ok...thats just plain pushing it...dontcha think?....hahaha

And the Winner is....

2007-08-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

Aunt George!
And the winning name for my lovely red dress form....
well..it took alot of thought.....but here it is...
Lucille Francine La Bella
Lucy for short...why not just call her Lucy? well..I like the other names...so...heh...
Bonne suggested Lucy...
Grandma suggested Francine
and Smoothiejuice suggested Rosina La Bella....I love Rosina(love love it)...but I only used La Bella....
so Lucille Francine La Bella(Lucy for short).....you are now named 6 months after I opened your box that wonderful day in April.....hehehe

Cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

2007-08-21T22:40:00.000-07:00

Alrighty people! TOday(for me it is the 22nd already) is the LAST day to enter!!! So get to it!!!..leave a comment...suggest a name, I'll add YOUR name to the hat , and the name you suggest to my list....and I tell you...I'm gonna have a REALLY hard time picking a name....so I think my beautiful dress form...is going to have a looong name.......hehehehe
I'll have to make something with her soon to be discovered name.....hehe
After this contest, I'll work on my blogging...I'll try for daily updates.....I just haven't this week as I wanted to keep the contest at the top....

I'll RANDOMLY draw a name and announce the winner and winning name(s) on the 23rd

cheers,
The Bella Modiste

My 20th post....

2007-08-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is, a week late, but none the less....here it is....ha ha

The promised giveaway...alrighty...

a small coin purse..and a few surprises....
So, for this giveaway, you must suggest a name for my dress form....she is a bright red beauty, adjustable from Singer....

Now, to enter, first off...no "Anonymous" entries, you must enter a name into the box, and be sure to check back when winner is announced, no entering and then not coming back to check if you won. :P

So the giveaway starts today, and goes until 22nd off this month...I'll announce the winner on the 23rd...and also, I'll announce my dress form's new name.....he he

So...whats new with me...lets see....oooh picture time...

My most recent project(besides the bag I made to match it yesterday, and also another canvas art bag for my father's business)

The stripes are matched on all four seams, so perfectly(:P) that my sewing teacher seemed VERY impressed when I showed it to her yesterday afternoon....she said something along the lines of "some seamstresses that have been sewing for a long time wouldn't even attempt to sew striped fabrics" (I cant remember her exact words, but that's what she meant)

And look at me....bwahahaa...I've done it!....haha..nothing shall hold me back...I shall rush forwards, learning as I go....No project shall stop me! :P

OOhhhh....AND I rearranged my room Sunday....It is not quite finished yet....I'll probably be getting my bed out of here soon("But where will you sleep? " you ask....why..where else? The couch!, hey...I'll do anything for a nice craft room...plus...I like sleeping on the couch..the only thing I have to do to make my bed....hehehe....fold up the blanket....hahaha)

Then the only thing keeping this from being a complete craft room will be my clothes will be kept in here....along with all my other knick knacks, and such....ha ha

so...a picture of the nearly finished side of my room....I still need to find a better spot for my still as of yet unnamed dress form...which I'll probably do once my bed and computer desk(computer will be kept in here..but will be on a multipurpose table, instead of the ugly modern styled desk) are out of here....

The hat on the dresser is usually on the form...but I just put the skirt on her, and didn't want the hat to get crushed in the process...

my room is a mix of styles, but I'm aiming for a Paris/France/red w/ white and some black kind of theme...its getting there....extremely slowly....

So went to Joann's today, got another twin needle(stupid mistake with the first one...I uh...accidentally zigzagged with it....yeah....also got two large lined baskets to hold fabric, and a remnant of peachy linen/rayon....

Oh and a quick note, the black striped skirt is either all linen or a blend, I got it from Walmart when they were closing the fabric department, and wasn't really checking the fiber content, but know that it at least has some linen..two reasons I know this...I can feel that it is(hard to explain that..but linen has a certain texture) and also.....well....the little receipt that came with it said "linen"...so yeah...:P....3 yds of it for like 4.50 isn't bad....right?:P..plus it is 60in wide, and so my skirt only took like 1.5yds....YAY!....

OK....enough for now....I want to sew some more tonight

cheers, ~The Bella Modiste~

Just a quick post

2007-08-08T22:52:00.000-07:00

OK...Just a really quick post tonight..i want to go try a project I've wanted to do for the past week..I'm far from tired(those energy drinks really do last all day), or its cause I stayed abed til....um....yeah...nevermind...

So lets see..today I've sewn like 4 handbags for dads business, have two others to sew for moms Etsy store, plus, I have my own projects..sure mom could sew, but every time she touches my sewing machine..I swear the thread breaks, or something goes wrong..so she is no longer allowed to touch my baby.....ha ha

So lets see.....My grandma should get her dolls in tomorrow..my other grandma sent me an awesome box of goodies, everything from patterns, to books and trims, and ooh sweet goodness.....FABRIC!!!! and TRIMS!!! and and and.....oooh lala...I'll try to post a picture tomorrow...also..i have 25 yards of muslin coming in,.....FUN!!....tea towels, aprons, dolls, test runs of stuff...hmm...I may need more then 25yds....and alot more time..can we say....6 am til 12am....hmm....naw...i gotta have my 8-9 hours....11am to 3am...yeah......thats better...;)

so let me think...I've started a scarf...beautiful yellow and blue...I'll try to get that finished this week, and start another....then come maybe the end of Sept, I'll have several(hopefully) to list in my Etsy store...

didn't go to class this past Tuesday, mom wasn't feeling tip top the day before, and so wanted to kinda chill the next day.....but we will go next week...sure, with two classes, it will be a busy day, and unless I get up early, I wont have much time for much besides those two....but oooh how fun....ha ha

pictures pictures.....hmm..ah..ok...

This sherbety beauty can be found in my Etsy store

http://www.shesewsbytheseashore.etsy.com/

well..that's all for tonight..how would y'all feel about a give away post next time? eh? yeah..thought you'd like that..thing is...it'll be a surprise.....bwahahahaha

cheers,

~The Bella Modiste

Updated Etsy store...

2007-08-05T21:22:00.000-07:00

So lets see..last night, I fixed up a medium/light weight corduroy skirt that had been in my to-do pile for a while, I shortened it a bit, took it in from a size 16 to about a size 10, and added a bit of lace at the bottom t dress it up some...I think it turned out pretty cute...

um...lets see...Also, today mom and I updated my Etsy store (www.shesewsbytheseashore.etsy.com)

We listed several aprons, a few small purses, a girls toddler short/halter set, as well as a colonial styled floral dress....

I plan to this week, start on some fall themed items, then in a few weeks, get started on Christmas...I know..it is still early, but for those shoppers who actually don't wait until the last minute, and don't have time to make those homemade gifts they wanted to try for this year...its perfect timing...ha ha

so, anyways, I'll also be starting on a bunch of scarves for my shop for the coming winter/fall, hopefully I can use up alot of this yarn I got earlier then year...mom said "get it, you can start making stuff for winter"...that was in early spring....yeah..it sat in my drawer for a while..but tonight I dug it all out, tossed it on my bed, and just a few minutes ago picked out two cute colors for the first scarf....great thing about it, I'm cheating, using a nifty knitter hoop, so I can sit and watch TV or something, while being productive!...That's terrific for me, cause I always feel bad when I sit down for a few minutes of brain rot time...."What could I be doing instead that is actually productive?"...haha..eventually I'll learn how to knit...I know the basic "knit" but...well, I kinda forgot how to even START!....haha...but, one of theses days, maybe while on a vacation, I'll take a bit of yarn, knitting needles, and some how-to info, and finally really figure it out....

weellllll.....there isn't to much new...i may have already said this..but I got two bias tape makers from Hobby Lobby the other day, cant wait to try them out, so will have to find some kind of cool retro lots of bias tape apron to make....haha....I figured, its cheaper then buying it, in the long run, if you buy it pre-made, it is 3 dollars for 3 yards, while, you can buy a yard of fabric, and get way more then three yards out of it....so....you know..sometimes it will be better to buy it, but I think I'll have more fun making the "custom" bias, to actually match the other fabrics better....and WAY funner then just a solid color....polka dots, stripes, oooh FUN!

anyhow....that's my blog for tonight....

cheers,

~The Bella Modiste~

P.S.....I WILL get around to adding more blogs to my list of blogs..really..I will...so...I have a suggestion...you read my blog...and have a blog...leave a comment, and I'll add you to the list...deal?

oooh and a second note.....I MIGHT just might, be having a give away for my 20th post....so stay tuned....;)

2 miles, and a dozen errands later.....

2007-08-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

So lets see...I didn't blog yesterday..so...yesterday....
mom and I ran a bunch of errands for dad, then yesterday evening did a 2 mile workout video...and shock of shocks....I'm not to achy! And I must say..that is quite a plus...hehehe
Didn't really do much today...ran some more errands, went to Hobby Lobby, while there I got two different bias tape makers, the farmgirls have been talking about them, and also my sewing teacher, has several, all of the above have said it helps alot..so...only $6 for two...
also...what else..oh yeah, yesterday I finished up Grandmas dolly...woulda shipped it out today, but I went to the post office, stood in line behind 5 other people for about 20 minutes........ugh....the guy doing the postage stuff for everyone, pretty much just walked off, and hadn't come back by the time I just gave up and walked out....mom and I had other running to do...this particular guy that was working today is usually quite slow in helping anyone, no smile...boring ol' "I'm a government worker" attitude..you know..the usual....haha...If the other guy were working...I'd have been out of the place in about 10 minutes, even with 5 others ahead of me...he actually seems to enjoy his job, he chats to people, smiles, and seems to have a really good time doing what he does...so...yeah....grandma, I'll ship that out hopefully tomorrow..i know..you said to take however long I needed...well, they are finished, and I really want you to have them soon...haha...I think you'll like how the one doll, that I actually made recently, turned out...
in other news..I'm awaiting 25yds of muslin to come in the mail..a lady on the farmgirl site, had bolts and bolts of the fabric....for a mere 12.50 a bolt...so I sent my check like last week....and I really really hope it comes in soon....lotsa fun!...I know..its just muslin...but muslin is fun!...you can do all kinda stuff with muslin!
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

Oooh my hand....

2007-08-01T22:43:00.000-07:00

OK..so my hand doesn't really hurt, its just...stiff....I've been cutting apart approximately 800 vinyl decals for the past 1-2 hours....some were cut using a slide cutter, but then each strip of decals was into individual pieces, except for 400 of one kind, those were cut into groups of 5....so that last part certainly went faster...haha..but now I've got this funny looking reddish ring around my right thumb....where the scissors were...haha....It'll be gone soon though...ha ha
so any who..not to much new, just this and that...also weeded the prementioned 800 decals(weeding....removing the unwanted material from around the cut and printed design), that took longer then actually cutting them apart!..as did the applying of transfer tape to half of them(transfer tape, a clear or white tape used to move the thin vinyl decals from the paper backing to the surface to which the vinyl will be applied, once the decal has been properly applied, the transfer tape is removed)
so..anyways...I gotta hurry and go see if any of the blogs I read have been updated....
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

Just heading to bed...

2007-07-31T22:20:00.000-07:00

and remembered that I forgot to blog!
So a quick post...um...magazine readership has soared with this past issue! More than double the readers we had last issue!..Hurray! Thank you everyone that has contributed to the magazine thus far, we couldn't have done it without your wonderful articles, also thank you to our readers, we so appreciate that you take the time to read our e-zine.
also..class was canceled this evening, as the teacher had a family emergency, I am disappointed of course, but I do hope that it is not to big of an emergency, and that whatever is the problem, her family is OK, as she seems to be a very nice lady.
anyways...I'm tired, exhausted, wiped out, however you like to put it...
so...
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

Another not so busy day

2007-07-30T22:15:00.000-07:00

All I really did today was go errand running with mom and the kids, got feed for the ducks, dropped stuff at the thrift shop, was going to go to 23rd to get some shoes, but decided to just get a cheap pair from Walmart....I'll only need them on Tuesdays, and I think they'll work fine until I feel comfortable buying the special shoes...plus the shoes I've been wearing to class are from Walmart...so..yes..I know..evil store....but you gotta do what you gotta do....
And plus, if I buy those other shoes now, it'll really cut into my class money..which, I'd rather not do right now......So...I gotta get to work making some stuff, and listing it in my shop...I've been lazy this summer..:(

cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

Not such a busy day...

2007-07-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

So...maybe I did lay about til noon....and didn't really get THAT much done today...
but...I did help proof the most recent issue of Small Town Living (http://www.stliving.net/) and so, with my tiny bit of help this week of proofing(moms help too) we managed to get the magazine uploaded tonight, on time too(actually, a bit early)...haha...Hurray for dad!
Now if only we could get some advertisers, or enough people(with enough subscribers, we wouldn't need advertisers, it could remain an advertisement free publication) willing to subscribe, we could take this baby to print!
The cover for this newest issue, you cannot tell me that, this is not the nicest cover we've had thus far....
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

759 pages later....

2007-07-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

And I'm back!...no bit didn't take me two whole days to read all that, I was interrupted alot...though the first 400 or so pages i wasn't interrupted to to much....ha ha...all I can say...It was a good book, and I think the author did a very good job rounding off the series...but now the question is..will she continue on with an offshoot, by writting about the main characters kids? Will she just let someone else continue writing now? But it would be beset though to keep with her particular writting style....And will the following movies live up to the books?

so...we'll see.....

cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

Birthday wishes

2007-07-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

Today wasn't quite as busy, got up late again...did this and that around the house, made little sister a few more dresses as B-day presents(pictures later), though I think she likes them, she seemed far more interested in her new Dora the Explorer doll.....ha ha and her little Care bears birthday bear....
I do have a few more adjustments to the dress, I've been making the straps too long, so, need to shorten them, also, may try to add some little ruffle sleeves of some type...not sure yet....
Today we celebrated little sisters birthday, we got a cake yesterday, and a few little things for her, then about 8 we had a mini party, just mom, dad, and us kids. Mom has all the pictures right now, otherwise I'd post one or two of her....eating cake, getting her gifts, etc....
anyways...I've got a doll to make for my grandmother, this week. Get to the bank, then head downtown later in the week to buy some shoes...
Yesterday I found out that I was doing something wrong(for a whole week)..and now have to re practise, aaaah the frustration....but I'll keep at it, and get it right eventually...haha...but now I have even more to practise, and have until Tuesday to get it right....yikes....I shall need to call upon dad to help me practise I think...haha...right.
I also have several quilts to make...One for someone, one for some else and then one for someone else, the names cannot be mentioned, as these three people have been known to read my blog...:D....and one to finish for myself....yikes....two need to be finished by the end of the year, and the third by January....full size quilts...which means..i better find some easy/fast block patterns to use....two I've got the fabric picked, I just hope I have enough for two largish quilts..I'm hoping each will have 30, 12in squares....making them roughly 5footx 6 foot....the the third...I'm not sure on colors yet....yikes....I'll think of something..maybe the same blue and yellow colors for that third one too.....
I'll have to get pictures of the fabric before I cut into it....haha...I figure if i start now, and sew one square a day, I'll be done sewing one quilt by, about August 34th....but then that gives me less then a month to sew the other squares...so it'll have to be 2 squares or more a day, plus then Ill have to either tie or quilt both....yikes..but..i think I can do it....haha....I'll start...tomorrow...maybe I'll get time tonight....to at least cut out a few squares.....

pulling weeds can give you calluses, I was pulling alot of weeds about, two-three weeks ago, and the one side of my finger got sore, I guess I must have gotten a blister under a couple layers of skin, cause now I have this rough, tough callous(s/p?).gotta work on that...bit of lotion, and babying of my hands....

anyways...not to much new...haha
cheers,
The Bella Modiste

Today sure was hectic....

2007-07-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

Wow, so today was very hectic!!! busiest I've been in a day, in a while....
up at 11, dressed by 12, out the door by 1, back by 10 til 2, out the door again at 2, back by 4:30, ate dinner, weeded vinyl for dad, out the door by 6:15-20, got to our destination about 20 minutes early, left there at 8, went to the store, got cake for little sister, then ran and got her a present, then home by 8:45ish....yeesh....

So today, I had another sewing lesson, today though was more of a field trip to go see my sewing teacher's sewing setup, I thought I had alot of fabric and patterns...:P
No wonder she laughed when I showed her all of my fabric scraps...ha ha
I just turned in my last written test to her..so I have my fingers crossed I did OK...then the next lesson we get to do the actual sewing...and then the lesson after that, until we've finished the whole lesson plan that she came up with. However, when these lessons are all finished, I am going to miss them...its been fun thus far, and I expect it to continue being fun....

now for pictures.....

OK...little sisters birthday present from me, she also got a bit of hemmed flannel w/ frogs that she loved, and would always try to cover up with, so she finally got her frog blanket she had wanted for a while....but..no picture of that

aaah....not the best quallity...but....it'll work..it is the cutest cotton print, in the picture it looks shimmery, but all it is, is a blue with different blues blended in bands(there is a name for that....but what..I'm not sure right now)
it turned out super cute, and she adores it....

Also, i should have a few more things up in my shop fairly soon, it just takes time, i have a few more aprons, also a few little purses, and a cute little girls outfit....

anyways...not that much new with me, I'll see about updating more often, so what readers i may have, don't get..*gasp*....bored...of course..its not like I lead a very exciting life eh?:P

Oh, also, just added a list of other blogs, will add more to the list as I think of it, also as I find and visit other blogs, I'll add them to my list....

cheers,

~N~

I'm sorry...

2007-07-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

I'll try to do better...three weeks without a post...must be a new record for me....but really....life gets busy...things get forgotten...I'll try for a long post tonight....
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

2007-07-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

Sooooo...lets see....whats new...hmm....

today I...
dusted
helped mom clean
had my toes nibbled on by a duck
cleaned the bathrooms
was given an apron by mom
thought I was going to get to sew tonight
look around and realized my room was a mess(OK..so that's old news..;)..)
Folded towels
slept late....again
fed and watered the ducks
was chased by a duck
was tickled by two ducks...ha ha
pulled exactly one weed
checked out our two tomatoes
looked at our HUGE sweet potato vines
wrote a few emails
read a few blogs
got about 100 pages into the book I am reading(ha ha..small book...its about 260 pages long with 5" x 5" pages, only about 100 pages to go now)
read a few threads on MJF(www.maryjanesfarm.com)
am excited
am slightly hyper yet tired(weird combination)
and..I think that's about it for the list...now I think an explanation of a few things is in order...hehe...and of course the promised pictures....ha ha

----------------

So today mom and I cleaned house..I dusted some, we took the screen down out of the corner of the living room and stashed it behind the couch, it looks more open now, we put a dining room chair with a throw and a small pillow in its place. Mom used the new vacuum cleaner to clean the air vents, and ceiling fans etc. I dusted the smaller things and straightened up stuff, then cleaned the bathrooms....
Then I went out and feed the ducks, gave them fresh water in their pen and in their pool....all the while being chased by Daffy the male duck, when I stopped he would nibble on my toes...haha..at one point i bent down and did something, and both ducks came up behind me and started nibbling on my shirt...which tickled....hahaha...
While i was outside I walked by the vegetable garden and there was a morning glory coming up in the middle, the other weeds could be left for another day, but if that one weed had been left to grow it would probably choke out the other plants.
Mom went through her linens and decided to get ride of a few aprons, one of which I really liked, so she let me have it, while the other three are up for auction on her blog.
I was going to sew tonight, but after I was done helping mom I came into my room and realized it was a mess and started folding laundry, then i got distracted...and distracted...etc etc....until now here I sit at 12:00 at night....ha ha
This evening I read Jewels blog (http://www.eyesofwonder.typepad.com/) she has gorgeous photos on her blog...
Also today I got to read about 100 pages in the book I am reading..huzzah! And yesterday got to read a whole chapter to little brother of the book I've been reading to him...

-----------

And last but FAR from least.....
I'm excited because during the past few days my parents and I have talked...and we've agreed.......wait for it......wait for it....

I'm going to go for my GED after this next school year is over......:D

I'll graduate two years earlier then I was going to!!!
I'm very excited, and happy...and now I've really got to get to work on my business...I'd like to have it fully going by the time I graduate...I plan on going around town and trying to get in a few local shops. so yeah...that's my exciting news.......:D
So this year in school I'll focus on studying for my GED, learn book keeping for my business, learn a few computer programs used for designing things like brochures, business cards, and websites. Also I'll get my learners permit, and probably my drivers licence. Once I have my drivers licence I may start saving for a car, considering moms car is to small for my comfort, and the van is to large......wow to think..this time next year....I could be posting on here about how my business is going, how I'm so happy I've graduated....sheeesh....

So anyways...next step is to purge my room of ""kiddy"" stuff...I think I've done pretty well before, but i do love my cartoon inspired gourds I've made, my cute ostrich and dog marionettes, my mermaid and cat paintings dad got for his business and that ended up in my room...my favorite porcelain dolls, the rest have been boxed up for little sister, I'll pass them on to her when she is older....all except for a few, and the oldest which lies in its cradle under my bed...glued head included(I broke it when I was about 4...)...I love my old plastic (German?) doll my grandmother gave me when i was about 10...i cant remember the exact details of it, where she got it, or who's doll it may have been, I'll have to ask her...the cute doll w/ headscarf and apron....my doll that is made in Greece.....and my green lamp that is in the shape of two frogs....haha...quite a list of things I'm not quite ready to part with....ha ha....

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weeeell...I guess its time for the promised photos....ha ha

Denim and flannel apron...you can find these aprons on my Etsy http://www.shesewsbytheseashore.etsy.com/ all except the last one.

One of my favorites..blue and green....I had saved the fabric for a while to make this apron..finally made it..then decided that I could part with it...as I have enough aprons for the moment...:P

I made two others like this one..one I'm keeping for myself, the other was sent as a thank you for a Random Act Of Kindness(RAOK)and this one RWandBlue sold just this Friday, the lady got it today and loves it! I LOVE when people are happy with either something they buy or receive as a gift from me.....:D

anyways..this is what I've been up to...and hopefully I can start blogging regularly....ha ha....

cheers!

~The Bella Modiste~

I'm terrible...

2007-06-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

at this thing called blogging!!!!! I've not blogged in weeks!
I just chalk it up to being busy, trying to get stuff made for my online store, www.shesewsbytheseashore.etsy.com
so far so good, I've got 4-5 aprons made up, another 4-5 still to sew, three purses, plus another dozen cut out and ready to sew....but slowly my project pile is actually getting smaller..as is my HUGE fabric stash...but that part is actually going slower...hehe...as I keep adding to it...like this past Saturday i went to Joann's, huge wonderful sale, clearance fabric 50% off, plus a 50% off of one regular priced item coupon, and Butterick patterns 99 cents....so anyways, back to the fabric, I got the last of a gorgeous light green brocade type fabric(1 yd), 1/2 yd of a cute pink striped with butterflies brocade type fabric, and 3 yds of a beautiful dark brown sheer with vines and roses embroidered on it....wow!..beautiful...I wish now I'd gotten some linen, but such is life, and of course, it will always go on sale again....
so the aprons I made are really cute, I cant wait to get pictures to both list on Etsy, and show off here. I got 7 Butterick patterns, I'll list the numbers, on the chance you feel like going to there site and seeing them, B5007, B4919, 4042, B4929, 4049, B4411, and 6693. Just gorgeous in my opinion and I LOVE B4019....now I was disappointed....as I was unable to find two of the patterns i wanted, two very fun retro apron pattern sets, I would have SO loved to get them, I'll have to check Hobby Lobby, or get them online, I cant remember the numbers right off the top of my head, but I've got them written down....somewhere...haha....my room is the worst mess right now....its terrible!...I've got to get it cleaned by Tuesday, as my sewing teacher will be coming by then, and of course I'll have to show off the aprons and purses I made.....
on a side note..i feel like a bloomin' idiot!...you know though twin needles you can get for the sewing machine...well...I managed to break the brand new needle, not even 20 minutes after i put it in.....stupid stitch was supposed to be straight!!!!!....not zig-zaggy in ANY way....*ahem*....so yeah....I have to go back to Joann's to get another..ooh..hey..another excuse to go back..oh what fun!...hehe....maybe I'll get some more fabric.....:D....I wonder if I am addicted....i wonder..is there some type of 12 step program for my type of addiction?...not that I want it....except on those days I go pretty close to going broke..because I over indulge on fabric....but even then...
anyways...I'll TRY to post pictures tomorrow...its late..I'm tired..plus the aprons all need ironed..and maybe I can get more items done by the time I blog again...ha ha...
cheers,
~The Bella Modiste~

A new Apron...and Ebay purchases...

2007-06-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

So today I finished another apron...modeled after...this apron...http://dorothyshomegoods.com/articles.php?tPath=12

I just kinda worked up how I would make it, did a few calculations(that sounds so...smart:P) and sat down yesterday, cut out most of my pieces, and started a sewin'...now as you see...below, i did change a few things, seeing as how I didn't follow the above pattern, there is no pocket, and the ties are close to 4ft long..so as to fit most, and for those that can, can wrap the ties around and tie a bow in front...

I'm very happy with the results, and plan to list it in my Etsy store(www.shesewsbytheseashore.etsy.com) hopefully tomorrow.

So I had my camera out after photographing the apron, and I decided to snap a few pictures of something that came in a big box of mixed antique sewing supplies my father bought off of EBay for my birthday this past April....this isn't all of the spools that came in the box, there were probably another 30 more, but I didn't get pictures of them....

Aren't they ooh so pretty? lots of silk and cotton threads, on wooden spools....I fell in love as soon as I saw them...also in the box was three pair of pinking shears...solid metal, no plastic handles, and two large pairs of shears, and one small pair of scissors, a card of pearl buttons, and sooooo much more...

so anyways...another fun eBay purchase was today, dad told me he bought an old(as in 1871) handwritten....diary...so our plan is..I'll start another blog, and post on each corresponding day(maybe), for each of the 300 and some entries....I cannot wait until it comes in......I think it will be a lot of fun to get to read something a lady wrote shortly after the Civil War, to read about her life...to touch the pages she touched, the history contained in that book!to think...a book that is 136 years old......why did her family not save this book? why hasn't it been passed down through the years to her great-great-great-times-how every-many-grandchildren?.....so exciting.....so another item that was in above mentioned box was this lovely ivory handled thing...it has a hook like a crochet hook, but my word..it is TINY! and when i say tiny, I mean its probably about 1/16in or smaller....perhaps it was for crocheting lace? but how in the world could one work with such a tiny hook and the thread must have been like your all purpose cotton machine thread, super thin...

so anyways..maybe some kind farm girl knows what it was used for....

not much new in my world....did a bit of gardening the other day...planted the poor bolting lettuce in the garden after snapping it off to about 2in, then planted the poor stunted tomatoes, transplanted a few plants that were in peat pots, and one that was in a shattered plastic pot....hopefully now they are in good soil, they'll perk up and not dry out so much..as put the cucumber plants in a real pot instead of the 6 pack container they came in..they've already perked up...they bell peppers and tomatoes have cheered up some and one of the tomato plants has gotten to about 1 1/2 feet tall and has a lovely tomato on it, its some type of purple heirloom i think...and it will be a while before it is quite ready...also my gourd vines have finally started growing...i left them in their pots to long without enough water, but now that they get a fair amount of water fairly regularly, the bushel gourd vines have taken off, and the ornamental crown of thorn gourd vines have started to sprout out a few more leaves and have already put out a few flowers.......so anyways....I'm off now....its well...kinda late...12:22..........AM...so I guess that means it is early...he he....

cheers!

~The Bella Modiste~

Wow...my 5th post...and whole milk...

2007-06-02T19:09:00.000-07:00

So tonight, instead of drinking tea while I blog like I was...last month? I'm drinking a glass of organic whole chocolate milk...i know...i know..the chocolate bit probably isn't that organic...haha...and the milk was good before I added the Hersey's syrup...but I wanted chocolate milk....
So..I finally finished a dress that I've spent a fair amount of time on...I call it my 50s dress...as well its made from an original 50s pattern....finally after months of not getting to wear this dress because it was about 4 sizes to small....and getting stuck in the top the night I made it...my sewing teacher kindly told me how I could fix it....

so I get to work on fixing it, and it turns out, I ripped the sleeve edges when I was ripping out seams....so I also had to fix that....

So how I fixed it..all thanks to my sewing teacher...

I split the sides of the dress, measured how much extra fabric it needed(about 4 inches total, plus seam allowance, so about 6 inches) Also to make it seem as if the panels were intentional, my teacher suggested that I buy or make bias tape to insert as a cordless piping. So after much measuring and a half hour or more on the floor cutting strips of fabric 1 1/2 wide on the bias...I finally got down to sewing, first I sewed each piece of the bias cut fabric together, I went ahead and cut well several yards extra, as I had an apron I wanted to use the same color bias tape on, then I sat down to the fun stuff....sewing each piece of piping to each panels, two pieces per panel, first was a 1/4 seam, then when I put the panels on I used a 5/8 seam...I know not the most interesting thing to have just read..but I thought it was fun...ha ha

after inserting each panel, and the zipper, fixing the hem(I had to hem the panels) I finally got down to the sleeves, I had messed it up about a 1 in up from where the edge was, so after much thought I just cut it off at that mark and made two cuffs, with "slanted" edges...I LOVE how it turned out, and even though the dress does in my opinion make me look shorter then my 5'2"....I would still wear it...even out and about town.....I LOVE how it turned out!

(*ahem*...don't ask...I'll tell.......dad was playing around pretending to be a fashion photographer "show more leg"...he just wanted to get a look of shock out of me..didn't expect me to follow through...lol)

Also completed this past week was my pincushion for the Mary Jane's Farm pincushion contest.....I designed and created this pin cushion

...spent alot of time working out bugs with her face and arms, but figured out the rest of it really on my first try at it...Yay for me!!!

So now I just need to send her picture off to the farm, and prepare for a "sorry, you didn't win" lol.....

today I pulled a few dead annual wild flowers out of the cottage garden, while mom photographed everything, even making me stop working to pose for about 20 photos...ha ha....

Now I'm going to ends this post, send the photo of my pincushion over to MJF and then log into Second Life to waste a bit of time at the ballroom....oh!...after I tell the farmgirls about my dress of course!...

Cheers,

The Bella Modiste

Apronaholic?

2007-05-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

So..today I as at my sewing machine for a while...making these lovely creations..:P

This red doesn't have white polka dots, instead they are little white hearts...very cute, and very Valentines day...i just LOVE how it turned out!

This one has two pockets...edged with two pieces of lace on each pocket...very cute, this was actually originally a curtain! and I have enough fabric left for at least one more...maybe the next one will be a keeper...:P

This one has one pocket, edged with white lace along with one corner having a tiny 1/4 circle bit of lace for decor....this was originally a pillow case, the leftover scrap pile was nothing, a few tiny shreds of fabric and one longish 1in wide piece!

so....anyways..that what I did today....

tomorrow I will be fixing a 1950s style dress if I get time, as I also have a end of the school year evaluation, plus have to get the laundry taken care of and help clean house...so I'll be busy...

If I owe you an email, please bear with me....I've been super busy this past week....if you read yesterdays(i think) post, you should be able to see why...haha...end of school papers...ugh...but now I am FREE!!!...at least for a few months...ha ha

Cheers,

~The Bella Modiste~

Ahh..what a week....

2007-05-19T22:53:00.000-07:00

I've been busy...so this week...
I....worked in the garden...weeded a few flower beds, trimmed up the suckers around the birch trees, trimmed the Carolina Jessamine that was taking over the fence surround the courtyard area...planted my poor stunted gourd plants...

Didn't get a chance to sew this past week, but will be sewing at least 3 aprons ah..technically later today...

Wrote close to ten papers for school ranging in size from 2-5 pages....(tis a time for celebration..the school year is OVER!!!!!!!)

Received my box of swap items from a Mother's day swap on Mary Jane's Farm....got lots of neat stuff too....hehe..smell goods...candles, soap, salve, sachet, plus a ton of other wonderfully fun goodies...

did I get pictures? no....I know I know....I'm terrible...

Also received some vintage goodies from one Sarah Blue...and I did get pictures this time...:P

Aren't they awesome? three old blouses...an old lace curtain, plus an unidentified beautiful pink and white w/ some embroidery on it...still not sure what it is though....also a bit of trim and a touch of blue fabricThe little white top w/ red embroidery I LOVE! I'm going to find a way to make a pattern of the embroidery, and of the blouse and make one or more....It looks so comfortable and cute! I also Love the pink and green oriental looking blouse, love the style and the awesome satin stitch embroidery on it...which BTW is a hummingbird w/ flowers...very pretty....the curtain is very pretty...and unfortunately..there is only one..else I'd have it in my room....its very pretty....he he...

so..lets see....what else have I managed to do this week....um....managed to get myself in debt three aprons...;) but got some really neat things..plus am waiting on 4 doll making magazines in return for one of them....

I love this auto save blogspot has now...not that I've lost a post yet...but because now I don't have to worry about losing a post....he he

So now that school is now out for real....I'll have more free time....I hope to start getting up earlier....so I'll have even more...haha...a while back I'd figured that if I got up 5 hours earlier then I usually do, I'll gain a whole months worth of time each year.....um....thats alot....so..yeah....maybe I oughta try it....

So in my free time this summer I want to...

get my business going more

play my Sims2 game more

play a few video games

MAYBE work in the garden some..(depends entirely on how hot it is)

get my project pile alot smaller...probably 30 projects to about 5 projects....haha...we'll see how that goes....

and hmm..maybe start going to bed earlier....it is..a bit..early....:D

and of course play a bit of Second Life....

figure out Photoshop and Illustrator

and get my online shop going.....

hopefully I can do at least a few of the "serious" things....I know I'll managed to play Sims2 and Second Life....haha..gotta add a few things that are easy to do....;)

oh...this week I got to see the cutest babies..they were sooo tiny...only about 2-3 inches tall....they were bantam chicks...and good golly they were TINY!

OK...enough blogging for now....I'm tired! and rightly so...seeing as how the clock says something like 1:20AM.....

Night folks....happy blogging

Cheers...The Bella Modiste...

Looong day...but fun..:)

2007-05-12T21:47:00.001-07:00

Boy oh boy...
4 hours on your feet in the kitchen really does you in...but is very worth it once you get the reaction of surprise and happiness that you were hoping for...ha ha
this is what I spent so much time on today.A mothers day( a day early) surprise for mom, had dad get her out for a little while today, but wasn't even done by the time they got back, so mom was banned from the kitchen until I finished at about 4:00...she just loved it, and both parents were impressed...exactly the reaction I was going for...plus the " oh honey, you made me this for Mother's day? " how sweet!" ;)

I spent a good 10-15 minutes making the fondant from marshmallows and 1 1/2 lbs(really called for 2 lbs though) of powdered sugar, of course there is some fondant left, but it is supposed to last in the freezer for up to three years! here is the recipe: http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/Fondant.htm

very easy really....it was the rolling out and applying of the fondant where it got a bit harder, but all went well with only one slight tear in the fondant on the second tier...shh don't tell mom..:P

I made the flowers of fondant as well, and just brushed a bit of food coloring onto it for the yellow and orange, also dyed the rest of the butter cream frosting I had left over for the rest of the decorations. Which also I used 1 1/3 containers of frosting, then dyed the rest, decorated with another 1/3 or so, and was able to save the rest of the icing for another cake, at another time..or even just a spoon full here and a spoon full there ;)

Then this evening I started on a pin cushion for a farm girl contest, the grand prize winner of which gets a visit from the Mary Jane Butters....that would be the ultimate Mothers day present for my mother...ha ha...

So now I sit before my computer with a cup of White Emperor Tea from the Republic of Tea in a lovely double layer glass cup....

cool glass huh? Very cool, its usually quite cool when you take it out of the microwave, no matter how hot the tea is..very clever design....my only complaint is that I let my tea bag sit to long....supposed to have been 30-60 second...but it ended up being about 2 minutes..ahh well...just makes it a bit bitter...nothing a touch of honey cant fix..:P

Oh! Also finally got a picture of the apron I made of the men's shirt I got while out yard saling last week....

Not to bad if I don't say so myself...he he...

Also today, I got a really really fun RAOK(Random Act of Kindness) from a farm girl, she sent me a small box stuffed with a bunch of really neat old iron on transfers!

Anyways....It's late and I've really got to get to sleep...

signing off for now....

Bella Modiste....

My first post...and an explaination of my blog name

2007-05-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

Hello one and all...I'm new to this world of blogging...so please...excuse any and all mistakes...

First off about me, I'm a beginning seamstress, have been sewing only a year, and absolutely love it, I've finally found my thing...and of course, I'll forever be learning how to do this or that, and how not to do things.

About my blog name "Bella Modiste"....it's both Italian and French...no, I'm neither nationality(unless you go WAY back)...but it sounds better then the English translation of "Beautiful Dressmaker"....;)

What I plan to do with my blog...well I plan to share my projects and perhaps a touch of my daily life with a bunch of lovely ladies on a site called maryjanesfarm.com. If you are a farmgirl type or just like a simpler life, or even just love to craft it's a wonderful place with wonderful ladies, and I would suggest you check it out.

And I apologize in advance, I will probably be neglecting this new blog a bit this week as I am busy finishing up the school year.

Another blog to check out:
http://www.thetrailhike.blogspot.com/

Bella Modiste

Switching...

Bailey

And the winners are......

Wow!

One World One Heart Blog Giveaway Event!

I forgot....

I'm a Procrastinator

Lots of fun goodies!

Long time...

And the Winner is.....

A post about a giveaway and a skirt...

Well look at that!

This is a few tiny things I've made this month...

Hi!

What a deal!!

AWESOME!

R.I.P.

New babies!

Farewell!

I've been busy...

Here they are!

All set up!

Frog Prince?

Will ya miss me?

Lost World Giveaway

OOOOH!! Look what I made!

Busy Busy!

Busy Busy! (part two)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today's project

Oh dear me! I've been tagged-AGAIN!

Farmgirl Flair on Etsy!

Oh my goodness!!! I've been tagged!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Yikes!

*Groan* Ugh..I ate too much!!

Easy Three Ingredient Layered Biscuits

HOW COOL!!!

A few things I've made lately

Peanut butter cookies!!!

Todays Garage sale finds

Oh gosh!

Goodies!!

I'm wore out!

Rambling thoughts on college education....

Oy...I got up soo early...7:30!!!

Just a quick post...

And the Winner is....

My 20th post....

Just a quick post

Updated Etsy store...

2 miles, and a dozen errands later.....

Oooh my hand....

Just heading to bed...

Another not so busy day

Not such a busy day...

759 pages later....

Birthday wishes

Today sure was hectic....

I'm sorry...

I'm terrible...

A new Apron...and Ebay purchases...

Wow...my 5th post...and whole milk...

Apronaholic?

Ahh..what a week....

Looong day...but fun..:)

My first post...and an explaination of my blog name

Groan Ugh..I ate too much!!