busy bee.

Just checking in to let you all know I'm alive! I've been pretty swamped lately with about everything you could think of. And on top of it, haven't felt so great lately either. I never do so well when the weather changes back and forth (hot one day, cold the next). Perhaps it's all in my mind, though. But for some reason it makes me feel awful. Anyway, I'm working on a bunch of orders I received! Thank you to those of you who ordered something, and to everyone else who looked at my shop or commented about it! I probably shouldn't have put so much on my plate right before my wedding date (mid-June). And next week my sister wants to go on "one last sister trip" before I get hitched! So I'm trying to get everything wrapped up before I leave. Then I'm going to put some more dedicated time into wedding prep. I'm an incredibly bad wedding planner. Everything is changing on the last minute and I don't even have my wedding dress ready yet. Oh yeah...and I still need to find some shoes to wear too and flowers and make decorations... I'm learning there is no such thing as a simple wedding. Unless you just do it last minute, call up a few friends and go at it. Or simply elope! That would have been our preference, but I think having a wedding will be fun too! And then we will make some people happy because of it and I think that is a nice feeling. So rain or shine (let's hope shine...it's going to be outside) the wedding will go on as planned! Even if I have to tie a rope around my dress to keep it up. ;)

Have a great week everyone! I will probably post back here once things settle down a bit. xo

p.s. watching this movie lately. always makes me feel blissful. if you've seen it, the summer cottage is absolutely to die for. my dream home.

february is a busy month.

It's been quiet here lately, but I've been busy at work. I'm working on two historical dresses this month that will be worn by conference speakers for this conference. I'm about to put the finishing touches on the first gown, then I will dive into the second gown. I get a little stressed when I have such a tight deadline. But I did make time for some lotion-making and donut-making. :) And what's this? The weekend already? Where has the time gone?? I'm going to work really hard to finish this dress today and then this afternoon I'm goin' sledding! Finally! Haven't gone yet this year and I'm itching to go. And look...it's snowing again!

Happy weekend and if I'm not back here before next week, have a delightful Valentine's Day, even if you don't celebrate it. It's always fun to eat candy, right? xoxo

the week at its end.

**Been sewing a lot and listening to Billie Holiday.

**Yesterday I woke up to a blanket of snow on the ground. Despite wishing it were summer, this made me happy.

**Last night I watched The Women while hand sewing trim on a dress. I saw it once a long time ago and I don't remember it being so good! Really, you must check it out (especially if you are a woman.) ;) I heard there is a remake? It couldn't possibly be as good as the original.

**Today is another day of sewing for me, but I'm nearing the end of one project and it's turning out really very nice. I always get a little nervous until I see it all coming together the way I pictured it.

**Hey, look...Erica gave me a little blog award. Aww, thanks! :) And here are 10 blogs I love:

• The Habit of Being
• Grass Doe
• Manteli
• Needled
• Abby Try Again
• A Continuous Lean
• Obscure Classics
• Behind the Curtain
• The Pioneer Woman
• Savilintu
  

I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend. I had better get started on that pile of sewing!

P.S. I forgot someone had asked awhile back if I could get them the link to my old music playlist. I took it off because it was screwing up my page, but I want to make a new one sometime. Until then, you can find the old one here. :)

blank.

Sorry guys. I have not been on here to update much at all lately. I have been side-tracked with work and projects that must be completed. I'm planning to work really hard all weekend and all through Sunday, then repeat Monday through to the next weekend. I imagine it's going to be kind of funny doing the no-shampoo thing during a busy week. My face has been breaking out too. That only means one thing. I will say no more... So yes. I'll try to post when I can. I'm hoping to take a break sometime during the weekend and write up a post about my plan for the no-shampooing. I'm surprised that so many of you are willing to venture in on this! Some of you have already started. Way cool. Let's see if through all this heavy working and no-shampooing and, well, you know...everything...let's hope I do not go completely insane.

Oh yeah, I also have pictures on my camera I have yet to upload. And I'm thinking of switching things up with the whole breakfast-picture-thing. Like, take a picture anytime I feel like taking a picture of my breakfast. 'Cause there are weeks when I have hardly any time to worry so much that my breakfast is pretty enough for a picture. Heck, maybe I will switch it up sometime and take a picture of something else! I'm not sure what else yet, but I do want to continue trying to photograph more. {Of course this happens to be a no-picture post. Go figure...}

Happy weekend!

it's friday again

Last weekend did not turn out to be the greatest it could possibly be. Friday I was feeling a little weird and by Saturday morning I discovered something was definitely wrong. I'm not sure what I had, but I know I felt pretty dang awful all weekend! Luckily it only really lasted through Sunday, so I was back to my mostly normal self on Monday. I'm still a little "blah" where the throat is concerned, but otherwise I'm fine. I did some mad rushing earlier this week finishing up a dress for a client. That was an intense situation, but I won't go into details here. But it all ended well. She got the dress on time, she loves it and that makes me happy. :)


{1850s dress - more pictures on flickr.}

Also managed to make myself a new linen dress out of some stripey linen fabric. I haven't taken pictures of that. And I made a quick linen skirt using this tutorial by Angry Chicken.


{linen skirt}

AND I even finished crocheting the neckline on a white t-shirt while I was sick. I had to do SOMETHING! No pictures yet, but I'm happy with it and feel good that I can now wear a shirt I couldn't wear otherwise. Makes me happy.

And while I haven't been spending money on factory-made clothing, I have been spending on this...


{the thin man}

But I just could not help myself, seeing it was on sale and all... heehee. I have many weaknesses, and this is one I will admit to. I don't exactly know why, but I love old movies so much.

And Deborah, if you are reading this, here is a sneak peek at the progress of your shoes. I'll get these babies made if it's the last thing I do! {They better fit this time...}


{shoe "upper" made of black silk taffeta with black leather "foxing."}

Hope you all have a lovely weekend! And please don't get sick like I did!

oohh me want

I found out this book by Lena Corwin just came out today and I reallllly wannnt ittt! I'm thinking I should get it for a present and then flip through the pages, but then I know for sure I would end up keeping it for myself. sigh. I might just have to break down after my next paycheck. mwahaha. Hah. Maybe I could use it as "business expenses." And honestly, I bet I could. I think it would be awesome to get into screen printing and make things to sell. hmmm... In any case, go check it out.

Last night I was up looking at patterns. Drooling, I might add. I want this and this and this. Oh cool, and this too. Wait, I'm not done. THIS would make an awesome summer dress. I'd hem it shorter, of course. Maybe in linen! Oohh. Damn. I need more time in a day.

Speaking of time. I found this great article {via The Boss of You blog}. In the article she talks about using these printable CEO forms. Sounded interesting to me because I find it difficult not to get distracted during the day. So I thought I would give this a shot. You time yourself every 15 minutes and then write down what you were doing during that time. I think it will help me get to work when I find myself straying. We'll see.