Thursday, June 25, 2009

The fabulous Grosgrain strikes again


I have been saying I need an apron for ages. Every time I cook (or eat for that matter) something ends up on my shirt. I have the fabric yet not the time to make one for myself, so I am posting a link to try and win a gorgeous, retro apron that is way cuter than what I would make anyway. Cross your fingers for me!

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Edit: My fabulous friend Chris sent me a Boojiboo apron for my birthday and I love it. Thanks Chris!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Father's Day

Well, I tried. That's all I can say. I got my hubby tickets to the Tigers game with my oldest daughter, Lily, for Father's Day. Pretty good gift, right? Wrong. Lily slept over a friend's the night before and had a bit of a cold, that combined with the heat made her a cranky mess so they ended up leaving the game before the end of the 4th inning. She was apparently whining the whole time and being quite embarrassing. Great. I just wanted to yell at her "Why are you ruining this day?" but she is just a kid and it doesn't matter what day it is, if she's cranky, she's cranky. The other one was no peach either as you can see from the pic below:
I may have redeemed the day somewhat with a steak dinner and the 'best chocolate sheet cake ever'.

My husband is such a wonderful father. Having grown up with barely a relationship with mine, I am so grateful that my girls have a dad who is here and will always be here for them, no matter what. I also know that we wouldn't have the life we have without him. So, I am sorry this day wasn't the best representation of how much we appreciate you, we will try to show you everyday how much you mean to us.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

My machine

This post is all about my sewing machine so for those of you who don't sew or could care less about my machine, feel free to click on over to facebook or YouTube.

This meme came from Sew Mama Sew and since I recently bought a brand spanking new machine after working on a dinosaur that was made the year I was born, I had to participate.

What brand and model do you have?
Brother Innovis 40

How long have you had it?
about 6 months

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
$400

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
Mostly bags, clothing, softies

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
I sew almost every day

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
Absolutely love it, it was a major upgrade from my previous machine.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?
The button hole feature is awesome. Love the auto backstitch feature as well. And the free arm which my dinosaur did not have.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
Not really, but the Brother needle is offset to the left of center as the default and that took some getting used to.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!
I had been sewing everything on a solid steel White machine made in 1973 that I found at a thrift store for $25. It worked well, but not up for the amount of use I was giving it. Plus, it didn't have any cool features or a free arm, so it was time to upgrade. In the 6 months or so I've had it, I have made many things including 6 tutus for a school play, many bags, and a shirt for myself.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
Absolutely. Brother makes a great product for a great price, but I would recommend going through a dealer to make sure you are getting the top of the line machines, not to mention great service. I went to Leabu's in Ann Arbor.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
Think about what features you really NEED. I wanted a bunch of fancy stuff, like embroidery, but just didn't think I would use it enough to justify the cost. And really, how many decorative stitches do you need??

Do you have a dream machine?
I wouldn't mind an embroidery machine someday, but for now my Brother is perfect.