City Inspiration

Inspiration can come in the form of many different things. I'd like to share a couple of pictures from my vacation earlier this month that I found especially fun, interesting and inspirational!

Enjoy your weekend everybody! I'll see you back here on Monday!

ETSY Seller Feature: Fuzzy Mug

Good morning happy blog readers!

I love my kitty, Biscuit, and I am sure that many other people across the world love their pet as much as I love mine. I was so tickled when I discovered this ETSY shop. Fuzzy Mug is a shop run by a woman from my hometown, Baltimore. She manipulates pictures of animals into cute & colorful works of art. My favorite prints of hers are the Christmas cards; she gives all the animals "Rudolph noses", which is just adorable. However, everything in her stock is overloaded with cute, and would appeal to just about any pet or animal lover! 

Here are a couple pieces of her work. 

Please visit her ETSY page to check out the rest of her stock and support handmade!

Summer Sewing Challenge

I love to sew. I have been sewing since I was about six, first it was doll clothes, then people clothes that I would enter in my local County Fair. Now my sewing is mostly focused on my ETSY shop, where I sew up bags, purses, and pillows. 

Last year I discovered Mena Trott's inspirational blog, The Sew Weekly. The blog has many contributors who sew different garments week to week, always trying to keep within the "theme" Mena dictates. As the name of the blog suggests, I am a weekly regular reader of the blog, always looking forward to checking out the new & innovative garments the weekly contributors (and Mena, herself!) create. 

Years ago joined the hand-made movement, but only recently have I decided to take hand-made to the next level and apply that idea to my wardrobe. 

With my inspiration from The Sew Weekly, I've decided to embark on my own Summer Sewing Challenge. 

My Summer Sewing Challenge Rules::

~ I will not buy any more clothes from any store (Except for my work uniform clothes, if that need arises)

~ I will sew myself at least two new items of clothing every month

~ I will have fun! 

As you can see, my challenge is not over ambitious, in the hopes that I will be able to accomplish the challenge! So far, I have one formal dress, one maxi skirt, and one yellow shirt to add to my summer collection. I have plans for a green tank top and a multi-colored jersey dress. Ideally, I would like to add two sundresses to this year's wardrobe. Every Wednesday this summer I will detail my progress here on my blog, to keep me organized and to keep me accountable! 

I hope you will check out Mena's blog; it is full of talented people sharing their clothing creations!

Here is the rundown on my yellow shirt:

The Facts 

Fabric: Yellow cotton/rayon blend jersey from JoAnn's; quilting weight cotton fabric from Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms line
Pattern: Self-Drafted
Year: 2012

Notions: Thread, Left-over Navy binding

Time to complete: 4-5 hours. I think I took a break at one point

First worn: June 19, 2012, To dinner/drinks/trivia

Wear again? Yes!

Total Cost: About $5. I bought and used 1/2 a yard of the yellow jersey fabric. I was proud of myself, usually I over-buy, but this time I had about 1.5 square inches of fabric left over-an accomplishment! The Amy Butler fabric was from my stash, as was the thread, and the binding.

ETSY Seller Feature: Small Talk Studio

Hello to all my lovely blog readers! 

I send my apologies for going off the grid last month. I've been busy sewing up a storm (for myself & for my ETSY store). I also took 2 weeks in June for an exciting & much needed vacation. As awesome as my vacation was, it is now time to get back to the real world. I'm super excited to get back to blogging & sewing again! 

The other day I discovered this adorable ETSY shop. The name of the shop is Small Talk Studio and it is run by a lady from Minneapolis. She sells prints of her ridiculously cute original illustrations. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Please take a few minutes to check out her shop & support handmade!