Apple IPad

Do I need this? No. Can I afford this? Probably not. Will my life change with it? Probably not. Do I want this? Yes, maybe ... hmmm ... it just looks so cool.

Project Runway :: Season 7 Episode 3

Here's my recap, cliff notes style. If you don't want to know, don't read!!

Episode 3 : The Highs And Lows Of Fashion

Challenge : Team Challenge - Create A Signature Look and a look-for-less inspired by another team’s design

Guest Judge : Mathew Williamson (British Designer)

Favorite Designer(s) : Emilio/Anna's signature look

Least Favorite Designer(s) : Jay/Maya's signature look

Winner : Mila

Competition Over For : Ping

Yeahs ::

• Anthony/Seth - signature look - I loved the color and how it popped against the black. It was a little big on the bottom. I agree with the judges that it is a little costumey but I still think it was lovely.
• Janeane/Ben - signature look - even though it was a little plain, it was very well made.
• Emilio/Anna - signature look - loved the fit and color.

Nays ::

• Jesus/Amy - signature look - crazy patchwork.
• Jesus/Amy- second look - the pants were not bad. It was the waistband I really didn't like, and I didn't like the top.
• Mila/Jonathan - signature look - 80s meets modern spandex.
• Mila/Jonathan - second look - top was cute but the bottom of the baby doll dress was way to wide.
• Jay/Maya - signature look - looked like the dress had gills.
• Ping/Jesse - signature look - The top was gorgeous but the heavy fabric draping her shoulder look terrible. Why would anyone want to have to hold their dress up?
• Ping/Jess- second look - to plain and ill fitted.
• Anthony/Seth - second look - to much lace.

There are so many designers at this point that I commented on the ones that stood out.

So here's the deal ... I must have bad taste because I never agree with the big time fashion judges. We seem to be on opposite sides of the spectrum. Although, we did agree on one thing, Ping going home. She's out of her league. If you're on a show like this, you should really know how to sew.

Teaser Tuesdays :: Succubus Blues

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

• Grab your current read.
• Let the book fall open to a random page.
• Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
• Please avoid spoilers!

Teaser ::

In the last twenty-four hours, I'd had to endure virgins, scary vampires, murder, accusation, and humiliation in front of my favorite author. (Pg 43 of Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead)

Reviews ::

• Smexy Books
• Book Reviews for Reluctant Readers
• My GoodReads Review

Playing along? Share some teasers, whether it's from a craft book, novel, self-help book, magazine, what ever you're reading. Leave your teasers in the comment section or post a link so I can read your teasers.

This post was inspired by Melody's Reading Corner.

ScreenPrinting Finds :: Etsy, Valentine Love

Beautiful screenprinted gifts for your loved ones.

Projector

Made by Girl

Wanna BE

Riley Noehren

Project Runway :: Season 7 Episode 2

Here's my recap, cliff notes style. If you don't want to know, don't read!!

Episode 2 : The Farm Fashion

Challenge: Create A Party Look From A Burlap Potato Sack

Guest Judge : Lauren Hutton

Favorite Designer(s): Amy

Least Favorite Designer(s): Ping

Winner: Jay

Competition Over For: Pamela

Yeahs ::

• Anthony - flowed smoothly, good color.
• Ben - nice flow but she looked prego.
• Mila - edgy.
• Anna - beautifully had dyed. Looked like print/fabric.
• Jesse - good tailoring.
• Amy - so beautiful. The custom tipped dye, the flow ... great job.
• Jay - flirty, awesome texture.
• Jesus - I liked the ribbon on top. I didn't agree with the judges.
• Pamela - it looked like denim!

Nays ::

• Ping - it looked like a sack and the model's @ss was showing!
• Seth - stiff.
• Emilio - I like how he's been layering pieces of fabric, but this one was really stiff.

There are so many designers at this point that I commented on the ones that stood out.

I was impressed with this episode. The designers did a much better job than last week. I didn't agree with who they sent home. It should have been Ping. Her dress was terrible! I'm really confused by the judges decision.

Wish List Wednesday

How To Enter The World Of Textile Design: For The Quilting Industry by Lizzy House - "I want you to meet your goals, and do the things you dream of doing, and if one of your desires is to design fabric, then this book will answer the questions that you need answered to get started." (straight from Lizzy's mouth, or blog)

I'm so there! Can't wait to get my hands on this. Found this e-book through How About Orange.

Embroidered Appointment Book

It's been awhile since I embroidered anything. I walked away with sore fingers but had some fun with a needle and thread/ribbon.

You couldn't distinguish my book before. But now ...

Stitches Used:

• Fern Stitch
• French Knot
• Daisy/Single Chain Stitch

Gocco Finds :: Etsy, Sweet Valentines

It's that time of the year again ... love is in the air. Share your love Gocco style.

Freshly Skweezed

Bamboo Village Press

Art Shark Design

Katydid Paper Goods

Beau Ideal

Project Runway :: Season 7 Season Premiere ... It's Ba-ack!

Here's my recap, cliff notes style. If you don't want to know, don't read!!

Episode 1 : Back To New York

Challenge: Designers must create a look that embodies who you are as a designer.

Favorite Designer(s): n/a

Least Favorite Designer(s): Christiane, Ben

Winner: Emilio

Competition Over For: Christiane

Yeahs ::

• Jonathan's - well constructed.
• Seth Aaron's - liked the fabric choice. It was fun but I didn't like the flapping staps.
• Jay's - cute ruffles on the sides.
• Pamela's - I wouldn't wear, but I liked the shape. The back was questionable.
• Emilio's - nice pattern work. Creative.
• Amy's - not bad.
• Anna's - innocent and dollish.

Nays ::

• Jesus's - looks heavy. Wrong fabric choice for a long dress. He should have left it short. Should have listened to Tim.
• Ben's - crazy shoulder points?
• Jay's - what was with that big pom pom in the middle.
• Jesse's - didn't like the fabric or tailoring.
• Ping's - a little to close to rags.
• Christiane's - nothing did it for me. The construction was bad and so was the fabric choices.
• Janeane's - boring and the skirt was baggy.
• Mila's - shape was okay but I didn't like the fabrics she choose. They clashed.
• Anthony's - the model looked like she was wearing a pillow on her side. He should have not listened to Tim and kept the green solid print in.
• Maya's - wow that was a big ruffle.

As you can see, I wasn't really impressed with anyone's. I hope this isn't a foreshadowing of how this season is going to go. Is it just me or has the show gone a little south since it moved to lifetime? The picture quality didn't look as good.

Wish List Wednesday

Books I'd like to get my hands on.

Printmaking + Mixed Media: Simple Techniques and Projects for Paper and Fabric - Reinterpreting traditional methods, this resource presents creative, affordable, and accessible techniques for mixed-media artists and printmakers of all experience levels looking to incorporate printed images onto paper or fabric. From screen printing to collagraphy to sun printing, the techniques are shown with step-by-step photographs and can be done without printing presses or special papers. A variety of projects are included to demonstrate a wide range of possible creations, such as fabric-arts books, hand-printed calendars, wall-art collages, aprons, holiday books, greeting cards, and more. For further inspiration beyond the projects, a gallery of completed works by the author and other artists make up the final portion of this resource. (Blurb from GoodReads.com)

1000 Ideas For Creative Reuse - Artists and crafters have always been recyclers, but for many, it has not only become a thrifty choice, it has become a moral imperative. 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse contains a cutting edge collection of the most inventive work being made with re-used, upcycled, and already existing materials. The work in this book ranges from clever and humble personal accessories to unique and important large-scale works of art, including paper art, fashion, jewelry, housewares, interiors, and installations. (Blurb from GoodReads.com)

Teaser Tuesdays :: Friday Night Bites

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

• Grab your current read.
• Let the book fall open to a random page.
• Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
• Please avoid spoilers!

Teaser ::

As I moved closer, the confidence got a little easier to fake. Although they wore the expressions of men hell-bent on getting the Next Great Shot, the smell of fear tingled the air. (Pg. 75 of Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill)

Reviews ::

• Fang-Tastic Books
• Night Time Romance Reviews
• My GoodReads Review

Playing along? Share some teasers, whether it's from a craft book, novel, self-help book, magazine, what ever you're reading. Leave your teasers in the comment section or post a link so I can read your teasers.

This post was inspired by Melody's Reading Corner.

Blog Change :: New Header

New Year, time for a change. We begin with the header. I can't seem to find the tutorial I used to add the link bar under my header. As soon as I find that, I'll be able to change my blog's color theme.

Sharing time! Here are the tutorials I used to help create my header in Photoshop :

Simple Polaroid Design - This was so easy!

Create a Polaroid Effect of Your Photo - I liked the special effects in this tutorial and followed their inner shadow technique. I tweaked it a little.

How To Make Digital Photos Look Like Lomo Photography - Mine didn't come out as good as this photo but I had fun trying. I'm happy with the results.