Thursday, February 28, 2013

Adele - Best for Last

Best for Last


Wait, do you see my heart on my sleeve?
It's been there for days on end and
It's been waiting for you to open up
Just you baby, come on now
I'm trying to tell you just how
I'd like to hear the words roll out of your mouth finally
Say that it's always been me

That's made you feel a way you've never felt before
And I'm all you need and that you never want more
Then you'd say all of the right things without a clue
But you'd save the best for last
Like I'm the one for you

You should know that you're just a temporary fix
This is not rooted with you it don't mean that much to me
You're just a filler in the space that happened to be free
How dare you think you'd get away with trying to play me

Why is it everytime I think I've tried my hardest
It turns out it ain't enough cause you're still not mentioning love
What am I supposed to do to make you want me properly?
I'm taking these chances and getting away
And though I'm trying my hardest you go back to her
And I think that I know things may never change
I'm still hoping one day I might hear you say

I make you feel a way you've never felt before
And I'm all you need and that you never want more
Then you'd say all of the right things without a clue
But you'd save the best for last
Like I'm the one for you

You should know that you're just a temporary fix
This is not rooted with you it don't mean that much to me
You're just a filler in the space that happened to be free
How dare you think you'd get away with trying to play me

But, despite the truth that I know
I find it hard to let go and give up on you
Seems I love the things you do
Like the meaner you treat me the more eager I am
To persist with this heartbreak and running around
And I think that I know things may never change
I'm still hoping one day I might hear you say

I make you feel a way you've never felt before
And I'm all you need and that you never want more
And we'll say all of the right things without a clue
And you'll be the one for me and me the one for you

Friday, February 22, 2013

Weekend Showoff

I'm participating in the Weekend Showoff over at Ladybird Ln!  Check it out!

Ladybird Ln

Lent Project: #3 Baby Ballistic Vest

Sometimes my mad sewing skills go unrecognized. Other times, I am called upon to fill requests by friends and family members. Lent Sewing Project #3 is most definitely the latter.


Earlier this week, my sister-in-law sent me a message via Facebook with a special request. She and my brother are attempting to get my niece potty-trained and apparently they told her that if she would wear big girl panties, she could have her own ballistic vest. Her daddy (my brother) is a police officer and he wears one. She wants to be just like her daddy!


So, it's Aunt Heather to the rescue!  When they made this somewhat odd request, I knew exactly what I would use. Black pre-quilted fabric was the only logical choice. It gives that quilted kevlar look and weighs next to nothing. Score!

The supplies I used for this project were:
  • Pre-quilted black fabric (cotton)
  • Black double-fold bias tape
  • Velcro
  • White fuzzy iron-on letters.
Total cost: just under $10. (And I still have some letters and about 1/4 yard of fabric remaining.)

I started with Miss Madi's measurements and it just worked out that if I folded the fabric in half, it was the perfect length to go from her neck to her waist. Yay!
Once I had folded it half, I cut it evenly on each side to be the right width and I used a saucepan lid to cut the neck hole in the center. Hey, you use what you have, right?

I then finished off each of the edges with the double-fold bias tape and cut the fuzzy side of the velcro into 3 even pieces which nearly matched the width of the vest. I evenly spaced those across the bottom of the front of the vest and sewed them down. I then cut the scratchy part of the velcro into 6 even pieces and sewed them to the back of the vest so that they can wrap around the front and keep the vest in place while she's wearing it.

Finally, after testing out a few seldom-used letters on a scrap piece of fabric (thank goodness I did!), I ironed on the letters in the word "POLICE" to the front of the vest.

Total time from start to finish: less than 3 hours. I didn't think that was bad considering I had no pattern, I was just winging it and I'm a very slow seamstress.

I can't wait to see it on her and to see her reaction to it!  I'm so excited and I'm thrilled with the way it turned out!  I might just have to make one for myself for my Halloween costume this year!!

To see the whole list of Lent projects, go here.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Lent: Project #2

Project #2 on my Lenten Sewing To Do List: A black and red fleece "no sew" throw.


Ok, officially this particular project is not a sewing project, but since it is fabric-related and was taking up space in my craft room, it counts for my purposes. Hey. It's my list, right?



Although I'd heard they weren't difficult, I'd never actually tackled one of these fleece blankets that you tie. Difficult? No Time consuming? A bit. I picked up this blanket on clearance at Joann's a few months back for a little less than $16.00. I chose to "weave" the edges together rather than tie it and I like the way it turned out. I simply pinned the edges together all the way around so that all of the edges would match, snipped a fringe that was about 4 inches deep and about 1 inch wide, snipped a slit in the middle of each fringe and then alternated weaving the black fleece part and the patterned fleece parts. It ended up making what sort of looks like a braided edge.

 For my next feat of creativity, I will do another no-sew fleece blanket. This time it will be pink and brown for my bedroom and I think I'll do the traditional tying of the edges.  Stay tuned!

To see the whole list of Lent projects, go here.




My latest love affair

Anyone who really knows me knows that music is very important to me. Whether it's on purpose or not, I am constantly on the lookout for musical artists that move me in some way. Most of the time, I stumble upon them through friends who know of my interest or by going to some show in a small, poorly lit bar. It is not often that I come across a group that I really enjoy that is on the verge of going mainstream.

So imagine my surprise when I was awestruck by Alabama Shakes on Saturday Night Live this past weekend!  They are most definitely my current obsession. I love the lead singer's raspy voice and the lyrics are amazing.

Here are a few of my favorites right now:

Hold On


Boys and Girls


I Found You

Friday, February 15, 2013

Lent: Project #1

I grew up in the Lutheran church and because the denomination originally branched off from the Catholic church, many followers give up something for the season of Lent. In the past, I've given up chocolate, soda, complaining, etc etc etc. In some years I've also added an activity (prayer, exercise, etc) to each day. 


Although I now consider myself more spiritual than religious, some habits die hard. At this point, my life and schedule has become so hectic (as evidenced by my virtual MIA status on here) I think giving something up would be easy. Instead, I've decided to challenge myself by adding an activity to my schedule.

I'll use the time that I spend on that activity in a sort of meditation in the way I've heard many people do with household chores they don't like. I'll give my thoughts during that time up to the universe and ask that she bless the work of my hands and the results of my actions.


So, what activity am I adding? Sewing. I enjoy sewing quite a bit, but I've bitten off quite a bit in the last 6 months and it's time to start whittling down that To Do list! My plan is to spend at least 20 minutes each day sewing. Wish me luck because at this point, there are some days where finding 20 minutes to eat is a struggle!

Projects on my To Do list (Sewing Edition):
  • Old sweater to new pillow
  • Napkin pillows (X 4)
  • T-shirt quilt - Haley
  • T-shirt quilt - Erin
  • T-shirt quilt - IU
  • T-shirt quilt - Car emergency blanket
  • Charity quilt
  • Crown Royal quilt
  • Brown/pink lap quilt for bedroom
  • Brown/pink fleece tied blanket
  • Red/Black lap quilt for living room
  • Red/Black fleece tied blanket
  • Comforter fix/transformation
  • Car seat covers
  • Xmas gift for Chris #1
  • Xmas gift for Chris #2
  • Madi's quiet books (X2)
  • "Ballistic vest" for Madi
  • Cover wire-framed "baskets"
  • (other items to be added as I remember them)
Whew!! That is quite a list when I write it all down!


True to my word, I got started promptly on Ash Wednesday. Last night I finished up the first project. Yay!

 









I had a black cashmere sweater that is so soft and that I LOVED. I bought it about 10 years ago and basically wore it until I discovered a hole under the arm a few months back. I was crushed!!

I try not to be a hoarder, but I decided that rather than get rid of it, I would keep it and see if there was anything I could do with it. A few days ago, I was thinking about pillows for my living room. The room has black furniture and red walls and I thought that a cashmere pillow would make a lovely addition to the room.

Since I already had pillow forms at my house, I cut off the offensive holey sleeves, stitched up the bottom, sides and top, added a piece of fabric that I already had laying around as a little bow and popped the new addition on the couch. Doesn't she look so pretty? Total cost? $0.00. Yay!

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