Shady

Disillusioned with a bare bulb, bored with the incompleteness of everything, spurred on by the constant need to create something, ANYTHING that Pinterest tells me to, I made a lamp shade.



I found a tutorial that combined embroidery hoops and wood veneer tape to make a Mid-Century-inspired kind of shade. Did someone say "hot glue gun"? Don't mind if I do.

The hardest part was hanging it, since the ceiling light fixtures in my apartment are all completely different, without any rhyme or reason. I have no idea what the original shades would have looked like, or where they'd be fastened. So it's a balancing act of sorts, literally. But it looks good and I like it.



We don't even use that fixture, so I removed the bulb. But now the ugly sockets are covered and I am pleased.

Sew Money

Something I forgot to crow about: I sewed a dress. Me!

A few months ago, I stumbled across a Daily Candy deal for sewing classes at Sew Moni, a cute little studio in the neighborhood. The beginning dress class taught me how to take a pattern, modify it for my measurements, and then sew the whole thing myself. It was a pretty simple pattern, but yours truly added a few extra inches to each measurement: after all, what could be worse than a too-tight dress? The answer is, nothing, but a close second would be a dress that's way too big.

So I pin it instead of fixing it, cinch everything together with a belt, and go about my day. If my boobs look matronly, let's hope people pass it off to the wrap top that doesn't quite wrap the way it's supposed to.

Here it is, better late than never. The lovely yellow gingham fabric is from JEM in TriBeCa, and the cardigan is oldoldold from H&M. Those new shoes? I bought myself those from Madewell as a prize for winning our company's Belmont hat contest. I guess taking a huge flower crown I made and adding plastic ponies and fake 100 dolla bills to a hat is enough to win. (It totally, totally was. Epic.)

Sew Sweet

The day has finally arrived. I bought my first sewing machine.

Growing up, my mom always sewed my Halloween costumes and made gorgeous Renaissance dresses for my Madrigals choir. I've occasionally screwed around with her machine, remaking a skirt or hacking together a cushion here or there. A semester of middle school home ec also taught me that I was semi-capable, as long as there was someone to thread the machine for me.

NO LONGER.

Yesterday, I took a sewing 101 class at the Brooklyn Artists Gym (thanks, Groupon!). It was a Come to Jesus, beginning to end, threading to buttonhole deal, and now I feel confident.

After much research, here's my cheapish but good machine, the Singer Talent:

Top Drop In Bobbin or GTFO.

I'm going to start with fixing some hems and making a pillow, but after that—it's on to the big guns.

Two vintage patterns I grabbed from a seller on Etsy.

I've also got my eye on some simple crinoline patterns. And who knew Vogue patterns reprinted their classic "vintage" ones? I'm so looking forward to losing my eyesight and straining my back on these guys.

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Photo Summary

The last two weeks were eventful ones, almost totally dominated by a pitch at work. Coming home late and drained, I made time to sew this incredibly janky and yet (to me, anyway) charming Kindle case.



The leather I picked up from a fabric store in TriBeCa. It took a leather needle, embroidery thread, tons of patience and an episode of Battlestar Galactica, but I made it work. The kooky asymmetrical flap is just part of the design. Uh, promise.



Vintage magazines at my hair salon. To answer the question posed, yes.



An Oberhofer concert at 285 Kent on Valentine's Day.



I made a peanut butter peanut butter cake and am only just now realizing I screwed up "Birthday." Good thing I abhor misspelling and poor grammar.

And now, back to the studio!

Take a Bow

After an unfortunate nail polish incident (the damn bottle exploded inside my "extra stuff transporting bag"), I ruined my favorite big red bow. Instead of buying another one, or shelling out over $20 for a handmade one (seriously guys, $20?), I bought a hot glue gun and made some myself.



(1.5 inch yellow ribbon and leftover gold leather from a future Kindle case project.)

HOT GLUE GUN. Holy cripes, how did I live so long without one? Another few trips to the trimming store and I'll be making velvet bows, and different sized bows, and glittery bows, and clipping them all over my person.

Sweet and Innocent

My two newest crafty achievements (flower crown and cross stitch), plus a nailpolish I'm sweating this week. My nails look like a fish, or a gilded Roman slave. [Am I the only one who watches the Starz Spartacus oeuvre? Guess so.]