I won!

I won a Liebster Award! Through that I also found a great blog. Sarah Koch of Sarah Kate Creations nominated me and she has some really cute stuff. I'm totally stealing her tie off charm pack quilt idea. So go check her out.

Now not to seem ungreatful, but I have to share this infographic created by Mikhaela over at Polka Dot Overload.



There was awhile there when the blog awards got out of control. For laughs go check out her post.

So I will answer my 11 questions, but I will not infect my other blogger friends. If you are interested in other blogs I read I am happy to share. Just let me know.

My 11 Questions 

1. What is your favorite quote? This is roughly a quote, maybe by Einstein...The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
2. What three things would you bring to a desert island? My Brindy-best-friendy dog, sunscreen and chapstick
3. What would you consider your greatest accomplishment? I'm not sure. I often don't take time to recognize and accomplishment before I'm working toward the next goal. My last accomplishment was probably my half marathon.
4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Probably a beachtown in Mexico.
5. Who is your favorite blogger and why? Heather from Sewing on Pins is my knee jerk reaction. I think she was the first person to ever follow me, I incessantly copy all her makes, and I secretly think of her as my Canadian Sewlmate. Wait, that's hilarious! I claim trademark on Sewlmate!
6. What is your favorite sewing pattern designer? I can't say I have a favorite. My styles have been all over the place, and I have had great success and epic fails everywhere.
7. What is your favorite sewing tip? Three stupid mistakes then just stop for the day.
8. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go? Why? Riviera Maya. I'd start in Akumal and snorkel with the sea turtles then head to Mahahual to hang out on the prettiest beach ever.
9. What inspired you to start your blog? It is hard to find sewing friends that are live.
10. What is your favorite band? Fall Out Boy currently
11. Who is the most inspiring person in your life? My dog. I strive to be like her, hear me out. She never holds a grudge. She always greets me at the door with a tail wag and a kiss no matter how her or my day has gone. She thinks the best time ever is spending time with the people she loves no matter what that means we are doing.

11 Random Facts about me

1. While I love working with special education children, I have a very hard time with emotionally disturbed children because I think I relate to them too much, and find it hard not to crack up when they have to confess their antics to me. Seriously, they do the stuff you only have the nuts to do in your head!

2. I swam 1800 meters in a Swimathon for the YMCA last night making me the biggest loser.

3. Mr. Thinks He Can is working late tonight, so Brindy and I are celebrating by making crab stuffed salmon and drinking craft beer (don't worry, the beer is for me.)

4. I am horrible about shopping online and then not checking out because of shipping, Amazon spoiled me.

5. I'm signing up for my first triathlon in years in March.

6. The thought of cotton balls touching me gives me goosebumps in a bad way.

7. I have to sleep a minimum of 8 hours a night, and if I lay down anywhere at anytime of day I go to sleep.

8. If E! news doesn't cover it, then it wasn't worth reporting.

9. Shameless and The Walking Dead playing at the same time on Sunday nights causes anxiety for me because I love them both so much.

10. I have lost about 40 pounds since Thanksgiving 2 years ago and subsequently donated most of the clothes I painstakingly made to charity.

11. I am ridiculously cheap and will often keep an eye out for things I need at thrift shops and on Craigslist, however, I'm not above a good dumpster dive.

Pussy Bow Dress

I made my first Salme pattern, the pussy bow dress, and I am really impressed. The fabric I used was a voile I bought an abundance of when it was on a crazy sale at Fabricmart. I'm glad I did, it worked really well for this easy dress.

The bow part was a new technique for me, but it was well explained in the instructions. This was also a pdf pattern, which I don't do a lot of. And I cheated a bit, you are supposed to add seam allowances...this is a loose fitting dress with an elastic waist, so I just cut the next size up. I doubt it would work for something more fitted, but it was a cheap and easy fix for me on this one. I also added two inches to the skirt so I could make it to wear to work (and I totally did, polar vortex be damned) but I didn't need to. I'm 5'5" and the length would have been fine.

The sleeves were finished with bias binding, which is always a clean finish. This was a winning little project.

I also got this in my email a couple days ago from Salme Sewing Patterns.

• 20% off all orders over 30 USD using code L20LVX at checkout.
• 10% off all orders over 20 USD using code L10RVZ at checkout.

 What perfect timing. If you have ever wanted to try a pattern I vouch for them and you get a discount! I love it!

Cozy new robe

I had this robe completely finished before Christmas, but in hindsight my machine was in its final days and could not hem it. Good thing it is still unseasonably cold here and I can still enjoy this sweatshirt knit robe.

This is what my machine was doing to the hem. It was tragic. I got some great advice from you guys, but the machine could not be salvaged.

Back to the robe, I used Simplicity 1720. The sweatshirt knit I got was bought with a robe in mind as I wanted something warm I could dash around the house in while we had Mr. Thinks He Can's family staying with us for Christmas. I dashed around inappropriately instead which was much more exciting, so it worked out OK. I am glad to have a robe though.

Man, I got the crazy eyes! This lace was from an estate sale and as I began sewing it I realized it had been salvaged from another project at some point. You can see a couple strings hanging off of it where old fabric was still attached. I like the character it adds to the project.

I also made a couple of simple rectangle pockets to stick on the front. What's a robe without pockets? I used the same lace across of both pockets.

Here is another close up of the lace. I think it is very pretty and makes the robe a little more glamorous.

An update on the sewing machine situation. I went with the Brother PC420 PRW after Judi gave such a glowing review of it. I have used the heck out of it so far and all I can say is wow. It is so quiet, and why didn't you guys tell me about how much technology can help in sewing? I am amazed. I love my automatic thread cutter button. Also, I didn't think I would ever use the automatic threader, but I'll be darned it actually works! Ooh, one more thing it has a lever that hangs out the bottom so you can lift our presser foot with your knee. I didn't know I needed that until I got used to it. Also, as I was hemming my robe when I would get to seams it went right over them with no fighting. I didn't realize I used to have to fight but as I got near them I would tense up and white knuckle the robe and get ready to yank. I didn't even know I did that. Anyway, I want to play on my machine a bit more before I give a full review, but I am very happy with it and thank you guys for talking me into it!