Wish List Wednesday

Crafty Superstar

Crafty Superstar offers you a wealth of information and advice about selling your crafty goods part-time, whether it is online, through local start-up boutiques or at indie craft shows. Not only is author Grace Dobush a crafter, but she also maintains a full-time job while selling her handmade goods for extra cash on the side. She is joined by experts in the industry who all share their own advice and stories, helping you to determine how and where to sell your handmade wares. (Blurb courtesy of GoodReads)

Project Runway :: Season 7 Episode 10

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

Episode 10 : Hey, That's My Fabric

Challenge : Design your own fabric for your look.

Guest Judge : Viviene Tam (Fashion Designer)



Favorite Designer(s) : none this time.
Least Favorite Designer(s) : Mila

Winner : Emilio

Competition Over For : Anthony (This dress was not even close to being the losing design!)

Yeahs ::

• Seth Aaron's - love the shape and craftsmanship. Not so into the fabric. I like how his style always shines through. He stays true to himself.
• Anthony's - good print. Might even have been my favorite. I didn't care for the dress but it wasn't bad either. Just not my style.
• Jonathan's - didn't care for the jacket, but the dress was cute. I liked the print. It was harsh of the judges to call it a dirty tablecloth. It looked nothing like the sort.
• Emilio's - liked what he did with the print. Not sure I liked the triangle collar.
• Jay's - not my style but the tailoring was good.

Nays ::

• Maya's - print was fantastic but the ruffles were hideous.
• Mila's - plain and stiff.

Anthony? WTF? He wasn't even the worst two! I was completely shocked. The judges said some negative comments, but they really trashed Jonathan's. I thought for sure Jonathan was a goner. From the judges comments, I would have thought Mila and Jonathan would have been in the bottom two. Anthony isn't the best, but he didn't deserve to go home during this challenge. I will miss his awesome personality.

Earth Hour 2010 - Lights Out

Earth Hour, March 27th 8:30pm-9:30pm.

On Earth Hour hundreds of millions of people around the world will come together to call for action on climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour. The movement symbolizes that by working together, each of us can make a positive impact in this fight, protecting our future and that of future generations. (via)

Toggle the light switch below as the video is playing. See what happens ...

Baby Changing Pad

Pattern Used : Amy Butler Nappy Bag/Changing Pad

Fabric : Amy Butler for the exterior. Terry Cloth for the interior.

Sewing Level : Beginner - fast and easy. Could be made a few hours. A very small amount of quilting. Perfect for someone who has never quilted but wants a taste.

Were the instructions easy to follow : Yes. The pattern is thorough and extremely easy to follow.

Pattern Alterations : None. The pattern requires 2 layers of batting. I was a little worried that it would be to thick. I stuck with the 2 layers of cotton batting and it was perfect.

Project Runway :: Season 7 Episode 9

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

Episode 8 : Takin' it to the Streets

Challenge : Create two looks inspired by a distinct NYC neighborhood.

Guest Judge : Molly Sims



Favorite Designer(s) : Seth Aaron
Least Favorite Designer(s) : Jonathan

Winner : Emilio & Seth Aaron ... 2 winners!

Competition Over For : Amy :(

Anthony/Maya ::

• Beautiful evening dress. Liked the texture created.
• Didn't care for the day wear skirt but liked the jacket/top.

Seth Aaron/Emilio ::

• Jacket, wow! Amazing. Detailing blew me away.
• Dress was beautifully made.

Jay/Mila ::

• Liked the pants look. It's not my style but I liked it.
• Great jacket. Skirt, eh.

Jonathan/Amy ::

• I liked Amy's a lot. If my body was the right fit, I'd wear it.
• Jonathan created some fun texture but it was a little to busy.

Everyone worked well in their teams. There was no b!tching, bickering, or foul play. Some amazing jackets were created with this challenge. All in all, I liked what everyone did.

Wish List Wednesday

Handmade Beginnings: 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby

24 sewing projects that celebrate the joy of a new baby.Come stitch alongside celebrated fabric designer Anna Maria Horner as she prepares for her own new baby. This stunning collection of nursery d?cor, keepsakes, maternity wear, baby?s clothing, and more is all breathtakingly photographed as Anna Maria progresses through her pregnancy.

Mothers-to-be, grandparents, family, and friends will treasure this collection of sewing projects to welcome home a new baby. Stylish prints and colors combine in unique designs to give you 24 projects ranging from booties and a quilt to an embroidered family tree and a thank you note organizer?and everything in between.

• Includes seven bonus loose-leaf paper patterns neatly tucked inside
• Includes a brief primer on sewing for babies, including fabric selection and safety considerations
• Other titles by Horner: Seams to Me

Saturated with gorgeous full-color photography, Handmade Beginnings gives new and veteran sewers colorful, contemporary, yet classic, patterns to mark one of life?s biggest milestones.

(Blurb courtesy of Amazon)

Teaser Tuesdays :: Just the Sexiest Man Alive

In my spare time, when I'm not printing, sewing, or crafting ... I'm reading!

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 ::

Taylor Donovan, however, was none of those things. As far as Marty was concerned, in terms of media exposure, the only thing worse than dating nobody was dating a nobody. (Pg 71 of Just the Sexiest Man Alive)

Reviews ::

Pop Culture Junkie

Janicu's Book Blog

My GoodRead's 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.

Project Runway :: Season 7 Episode 8

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

Episode 8 : The Elements of Fashion

Challenge : The designers must create a look inspired by one of the four natural elements.

Guest Judge : Roland Mouret (French Fashion Designer)



Favorite Designer(s) : Seth Aaron
Least Favorite Designer(s) : Amy

Winner : Jonathan

Competition Over For : Ben

Yeahs ::

• Seth Aaron's - amazing tailoring!
• Maya's - don't normally like ruffles, but these were soft and flowy.
• Jay's - liked how it flowed while the model walked. It was beautiful.
• Anthony's - the top was lovely.
• Mila's - the judges ragged on it, but I liked it.
• Jonathan's - Romantic. Nina called it poetic ... I agree.
• Emilio's - I luvd how he works with texture. Beautiful.

Nays ::

• Amy's - I really like her designs. I was sad to see this mess. What's with the hairy boobs? I don't understand this concept.
• Ben's - The crotch was terrible. The tailoring, sad.

The Making of A Book Cover :: Gail Carriger's Blameless

Very cool ...

Wish List Wednesday

Alabama Studio Style

In Alabama Studio Style, Natalie Chanin, founder and creative director of the acclaimed fashion and lifestyle company Alabama Chanin, takes readers on a compelling journey of creativity, technique, and inspiration. Picking up where the celebrated Alabama Stitch Book left off, Alabama Studio Style is a craft and lifestyle book all in one.

Here Chanin shares many more of her stitching, stenciling, and beading methods and applies them to twenty extraordinary clothing and home décor projects, each made with organic or recycled materials and designed with “haute homespun” flair. Along with the company’s celebrated camisole and tank dresses, the featured projects include skirts, scarves, pillows, woven chair seats, and a stenciled scrap-wood table. Rounding out the book are recipes for three delicious party menus. Alabama Studio Style shows us that true style encompasses not only what we wear, how we decorate, and what we eat, but also how we care for our environment.

(Blurb courtesy of Amazon)

Project Runway :: Season 7 Episode 7

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

Episode 7 : Hard Wear

Challenge : Create An Unconventional Look Using Hardware Materials



Favorite Designer(s) : Jay
Least Favorite Designer(s) : Emilio

Winner : Jay

Competition Over For : Jesse

Yeahs ::

• Jay's - so fashionable! The model looked hot in trash bags.
• Amy's - luved the fans.
• Maya's - good futuristic look.
• Anthony's - actually looked like fabric.

Nays ::

• Mila's - to much checkerboard.
• Jesse's - liked the idea but it was to stiff.
• Jonathan's - it was okay.
• Ben's - foil. Leftovers?
• Emilio's - gets points for taking a risk ... but ... it was cheesy and looked bad.
• Seth Aaron's - looked like a Judy Jetson reject. I like his style, but boy, that dress looked uncomfortable.

Wish List Wednesday

The Printmaking Bible

Perennially popular printmaking is enjoying a contemporary resurgence—but no comprehensive up-to-date manual on the subject exists. At over 400 pages and packed with 1 000 full-color photos and illustrations The Printmaking Bible is the definitive resource to the ins-and-outs of every variety of serious printmaking technique practiced today. In-depth instructions are accompanied by profiles that show how working artists create their prints. Historical information troubleshooting tips and an extensive resource section provide more invaluable tools. Perfect for students artists print aficionados and collectors this is truly the ultimate volume for anyone involved in this creative and influential art form. (Blurb courtesy of GoodReads)