Decor-Hatin'

I've been watching Home and Garden TV alot lately and I've been hatin' on (envious of) the luxurious interior designed make-overs. So I went on a mission online to find some cost-effective ways to satisfy my thirst for high-end living. These are a few items I wanted to share with you:

I don't really like my kitchen countertops or all white cabinets (I need to get a camera to show you pics). The walls are solid white in the kitchen (as well as the rest of the house). Here are the few DIY changes I'm making to bring my kitchen to life.

Between the wall kitchen cabinets and the countertop, I'm adding to the plain white walls this wallpaper. I'm also adding to where the wallpaper and countertop meet, a thin black stained wooden moulding which should look like this:

Home Depot

I can't physically change the countertops or actual cabinets, but I can change the cabinet knobs to these to give a black (knobs) and white (cabinets) contrast to the wallpaper.

Home Depot

And as for the countertops.... I'm picking up some of these blocks of granite floor tiles that would make great countertop decor and a sturdy chopping block for food. I'm not planning on mounting them, though. They are heavy enough to stay put and they're also just 99 cents each at Home Depot. ( I'm looking for a better granite color)

Home Depot

Now, my living space is not that big. So the most I'm putting in there is some living room decor, a single seat chair and a 3 seat sofa (thanks to my brother who is also remodeling his living room and was disposing the chairs because they didn't fit the new decor). I'm looking for a powered blue slipcover. I've check several places already; JC Penny, Overstock, Sears, Home Depot. I haven't found the exact shade of blue I'm want. I originally was going to have the walls painted powered blue but that would limit me especially since I like to change colors between seasons. Its easier and quicker to change slipcovers than the paint on the walls. My second slipcover choice if I don't find my powered blue is this sage color:

I've always wanted to live in a place with a fireplace. Now I don't have to wait! I accidentally found some electric fireplaces as low as $299. They are low energy and can be operated with or without heat. I'm psyched!! I definitely am going for either a walnut or cherry wood mantle fireplace.

Bob's Furniture

This one is just to show you the they also have corner electric fireplaces.

Electric Fireplace Direct

I think this next item screams style. Magnetic Leather Floor Tiles! They're treated so it's waterproof and can withstand and (not to mention) look absolutely fabulous!! Instead of an area rug, I can piece together these leather tiles. All I'll need is a thin metal sheet of my choice of length or width and enough magnetic leather tiles to go around. Here is an example of the tiles (mine will be in black) covering the whole living room space:

Can you say, ...Sexy!

I have in mind to do the same in the bedroom but instead of the floor tiles, it will be wall tiles only enough to dress up my bed as a square headboard as in the pic in this link: Check out the Bed Headboard (click "atmosphere"). However, I prefer the pattern of the tiles like in the pic below:

I'm buying this ottoman ($49.99) and pouf ($39.99) from Target to add to the decor:

Target Target

Excellente!

This is a bit overdue, but I couldn't continue blogging without thanking my sissy for her nomination for the Excellent Blog Award. There are soo many fabulous blogs out there. It's nice to be considered as one of them in the short time I've been blogging. All of the blogs I want to nominate have already been nominated, but I'm going to list them anyway cause they are worth it. It so hard to list just 10, but here you go:

The Witty Dishmake Blog by Cindy

The Superbly Finished Garments Blog by Paco Peralta

The Down-to-Earth Help Yourself & As You Wish Blogs by Mimi Jackson

The Famous Stylish Diva Erica B.'s Blog

The Classy Krustallos Blog by Pirouette

The Insightful Sewing Diva's Blog

The Crafty Real Life: Live & Unscripted Blog by Adrienne

The Creative and Adventurous Miss Celie's Pants by Cidell

The Talented Blog by Sigrid

The Educational DomesticHaven Blog by Myraida

Of course I can keep going and going but I'll stop here.

And Then There Were Three....

Here's a handbag update: I reluctantly bought bag handles from M&J Trimmings on 6 Avenue, between 38th and 37th in the NYC. I wanted the handles to be funky and unique, but I opted for simple handles because the selection was limited and I want to check the bags (I have three in progress) off my list. However, I really enjoyed making these so I'll keep looking for some fashionable and funky unique handles for the future. If you come across any, please let me know.

Below are pics of my first bag. I was thinking of submitting bag # 3 to either the Pattern Review's Beginners or Advanced Beginners contest since this is the first time I'm making a handbag but I'm not sure if I'll finish it on time. There's not much that is needed, though. I have the handles but I'm missing the front pocket script monogram iron-on of the letter "D". I sewed on the pocket already so I think an iron-on is the best option now. I feel like is missing it.

Bag number two is the same pattern as above except a little simpler. I made it with a single outside fabric rather than two. I did repeat the bottom vinyl. I wanted to be a little more creative with third bag. I sketched a design, grabbed my ruler and went to work. Below is the result. I'm curious to see how well I duplicated my sketch after I sew it together. The pattern in the top right corner is the original pattern which is Butterick 4148 - View B.

Once I'm back home I'll add on the handles and share more pics. Ciao, amigos!

Change is Constant and Inevitable

This quote has been further ingrained in my mind particularly these last few weeks. I needed to make big changes in my surroundings to free up more "me" time because it was affecting my sewing speed among other things. I'm sure many of you can relate. Let's see how these changes fall into place for the next few weeks.

I did manage to make a bag. I plan to make another for my mother as a birthday gift. Well, it's missing handles (still looking for the perfect ones- I'm picky) and I need to hand sew the seam by the zipper to the zipper after the handles are added, but the bag is pretty much done. The process was fun and simple. I used Butterick 4148-View A (the white one with black handles).

These are the materials I used:

1) 2 Fabrics (a jean fabric & a woven fabric)

2) Sew-in Interfacing

3) 12" Zipper

4) Cardboard, 9³/4" × 4³/4"

5) Single Fold Bias Tape

6) Black Vinyl (for bottom of bag only)

**Number 5 & 6 is a my personal touch and is not in the original handbag pattern**

The bag is inside out in the picture above. I adjusted the original pattern by making a copy and horizontally cutting 1/3 of it (the 1/3 was for the lower half) and adding in a 1/2' seam allowance. I wanted the bag to have two outer fabrics. I topstitched a strip of single bias tape where both of the outers fabrics met (not shown ).

The pattern instructions says to place the cardboard in the handbag after the lining is attached, but for a clean finish, I decided to loosely stitch on each side the cardboard to the bottom of the bag before I attached the inner lining. The purpose of the loose stitch was to allow no restriction between the bottom of the bag and the cardboard yet keeping the cardboard from sliding out of place. I also didn't want to risk the cardboard's stitch pulling the bag in the wrong areas if the stitch was too tight.

In the picture above, the outer bag is inside out and is covered by the lining. It's ready for the handles to be attached. Once I do that and finish the seams, I'll post a picture. Oh, I almost forgot to add the outside of the purse, as you can see from view A, has a pocket which I plan to add a script monogram of the letter "D''. I'm still haven't decided which method I will use to attach it, whether be it a felt sew-in attachment or a free embroidery satin stitch.

Well, that's all for now my friends. Ciao!

FABULOUS!!

OMG, was this movie AWESOME!! Patricia Field's once again can thru with her savvy high fashion picks. Sarah Jessica Parker (who was in great shape) or Carrie's long black trench was to die for. I tried to see if anyone had a sneak peek picture of it on the Internet but I couldn't find it, well... yet, anyway !! I want to incorporate certain elements of that trench into the trench I making mentioned in a previous post. Glamorous, sexy, chic and absolutely FABULOUS is all I have to say about that. I don't want to spoil it for you if you have seen the movie yet.

Free Goodies!!

I can across this cool site while surfing the net. Modern Sewing Online Customized Sewing Patterns says you can compare your measurements and have any of hundreds of free patterns printed to fit you and your family. The site allows you to print them out at home or receive by mail. I'm definitely going to try it out once I'm done with my current projects. It includes instructions and difficulty rating. This is the first pattern ( #5554 Jacket With Back Tie With Buckle) I'm going to do when the time is right.

Have any of you ever used this site? Let me know your experience.

S.W.A.P. Fabrics Part I

I picked up some fabric at a local fabric store. I really only stepped in to grab interfacing and some canvas material for 3 bags I'm going to make. Wow, it was a good day to come. They are having a sale and the fabric were actually nice (the store is in the Bronx so you can understand my surprise). They have a sale right now of buy a yard and get one free in one section, buy 3 yards for $10 in another and the rest that are on sale are $2-$4 a yard. Not bad. Check out what I purchased below. My S.W.A.P. colors are gray, white, black and an accent color of red, fuchsia or deep orange (I haven't decided yet).

THE JACKET & PANTS

McCalls 5193 - Pant (solid gray) & Jacket (plaid)

I wanted it darker, but it's nice anyway.

This was the last of this fabric. It is about a yard less than what the pattern asks, but I have a plan for it. I'll share it with you in another post.

THE WHITE SHIRT

I'm replacing my original white shirt pattern for this one Butterick 4985. McCalls 4922 I bought fabric for it anyway so it wouldn't feel left out.

THE DAY DRESS

Burda 7783 I purchased this pattern at patternreview.com. It's also available on sewingpatterns.com

THE SWEATS ALTERNATIVE TOP

McCalls 5586

A BAG

I making 3 bags. This is the fabric I purchased for one of them. Butterick 4148

I Have Golden Hands !! ;-)

This book is a recent addition to my sewing library. It's a 1972 ed. and is in GREAT condition. It's offers elaborate information about pattern-making and pattern alternations. What is amazing (and quite funny to me) is the illustrations in the book are back in style. The Reader's Digest Complete Guide To Sewing is still my number choice for 1st time sewers, but this book is definitely a top choice if you want to increase your versatility in pattern alternations and better understand how to get the results you want. If you want to pick up the book, check out bookfinder4u.com. Ciao!

3 Unique Sewing Feet & Decorating Project Pt I

Just to give you an update: 1.) The colors for the paint for both apts have been selected. As a matter of fact, we plan to ha0ve a "Painting Party" for the other apt, which sounds like fun but it was not by my choice. I'm going to have hired help paint my place. I'm very very meticulous about things like that and honestly I just don't want the headache of possible paint fights. 2.) My skirt is done 3.) I'm adding the last finishing touches (embellishments- details are my thing) for a hat I started before March for my sissy's birthday. With everything else going on I still manage to work on it and it's almost finished. I took a pic of the pieces before I sewed it together (the green patterned fabric is the lining, the black corduroy is the outside of the hat and the fusible interfacing was already attached in the pics):

4.) As I mentioned in my previous post, I moved. That was and still is an arduous progress. However, I'm excited to be in my NEW (literally- everything is new) place.

I was surfing the web for ideas on how to organize my sewing room because I have a lot going on in a little space. I also would like to add some painting or personal art work. These are some setups that might work in my room:

Peg boards seem like a good space saver

Heather Bailey

What caught my eye about this particular room was the rolls of ribbon under the white wall shelf on the right. That idea is very is functional, organized and eye-appealing all wrapped up in one. The glass jars lined up on the top left looks good too.

Mimi

I already have a cord board but going BIGGER definitely makes better sense.

I'm not sure why I like these paintings. I founds these on ebay. If I have enough space and if they fit the decor, then I'll get these two paintings.

My favorite movie is Breakfast at Tiffany's and Audrey Hepburn's quirky personality, style and care free spirit in the movie had a lot to do with it. So it makes sense to add her as part of the decor. It either this photo (in black and whit, though) or...

...this photo blown up (This might be the winner. I really like this one.)

Part of the ceiling is lowered and on the crease, I am considering displaying a quote there using calligraphy writing or maybe just stencil a design.

That's enought talk about decorating for today. Now back to sewing. I was surfing the internet for a gathering foot and I came across this:

http://www.sewingmachinefeet.com/index.html

I use 3 different machines so it makes sense for me to get this instead of buying a specific foot for each machine each time (that's costly). They claim to allow you to use their multi-use feet attachments to any sewing machine.

(click for larger view)

Feel free to check it out if your interested. I ordered it so I'll let you know my experience once I used it.

Ciao, beautiful people.