Testing. Testing. Does this thing still work?

 It's been a minute since I last posted. Technically, over 3.5 million minutes. Lots has happened in my life since then. There will be no recap. This post is simply to see if I still know how to work Blogspot. It does seem since I last checked in, I got 3.5 million spam comments... at least 1 a minute. 

If all looks okay... and I do mean looks okay and NOT reads okay or is in any way, shape or form interesting... then I do have some ideas for future actual sewing posts because, hey,

 It IS a Sewing Life.

Barrett and a Lemon

 

 

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of my dog, Barrett, waiting for something better than a lemon slice to fall on the kitchen floor. Can you just see the disappointment on his face? I mean, there are only 3 things in the world that he doesn't like: mint, garlic (which I know dogs aren't supposed to eat) and lemons. 

The Disappearing Blogger

Hi! Just wanted to drop by with a quick post, letting you all know I hadn't fallen off the face of the earth. I just haven't been sewing. I am still blogging, though.

The theme of this particular blog just felt kind of limiting, and if you come here to read about sewing, and I'm chatting about other things... well, it just wasn't working for me. I do still plan to post here now and then if I fire up the sewing machine and make something worth blogging about.

But about that new blog. It's called Ellen Maybe, and the scope of the posting is much broader. It covers a broader spectrum of creative outlets (painting, knitting, sewing), some random reviews, more on just life in general, and well, just whatever the hell I feel like writing about.

I hadn't even planned on mentioning it, but decided, what the hell. I've added it to my non-sewing blog list in the side bar to the right, so if you stumble over here, you can easily find it. (Shamefully, I've noticed that my blog lists are somewhat neglected, but that clean up will be another day.)

I am still following and reading sewing blogs, and am somewhat envious of abundant sewing time. For lots of reasons, though, I'm just not really into sewing at the moment. Sewing and I sometimes do have a complicated relationship.

Anyway, I'm rambling on. On today's Ellen Maybe post, I reviewed a company that is offering a new way to shop for bras, that y'all might be interested in. Pop on over and say "hi" when you get the chance.

Happy Sewing!

A New Style of Posting

Hi Friends! Not quite sure where to begin, so I'll just jump right in. You may have noticed less sewing posts. I mentioned some "fitness goals", and those goals are still on the table. But really, my life has taken a new trajectory at the moment, and for me, working full time means way less sewing. I'm not sure if it's an exhaustion thing, or a lack of desire thing what with having to wear only black at work, but I'm just not feeling it.

(For the record, a phrase that you won't ever read here is sewing mojo. I don't mind reading it in, but for whatever reason, it does kind of give me the heebie jeebies. While I'm at it, you also won't see me substitute the word "sew" for "so". No criticism of those who do, but it's just not for me.... ok, back to the post.)

So if you come here just for the sewing posts, which from a critic's standpoint had actually become more of a "here is what I made" rather than a "here is the process", you'll be out of luck. There will definitely still be some sewing posts, but just not as frequently.

But, there will be posts on the avocado project (still going strong--update soon), other creative outlets, vintage sewing patterns (still selling 'em), life in general, and the wedding industry specifically (my opinion of it, at least).

Oh, yeah... I'm still reading your blogs, too, admittedly in more of a lurking style than participatory.

Bottom line... the goal here is to post more often because sometimes there is just stuff I gotta write about, but the content will be broader. I will try to label appropriately (wink!). I would love your feedback and comments!

Have a great Monday!

Spreading the Love

As a serial non-compliant chain letter receiver, I have mixed feelings about the blog awards that make the rounds periodically, but at the end of the day, I am thrilled that a fellow blogger has noticed my blog enough to say... "I'm thinking about you and want to let others know about you too".

And I really do sincerely want to thank fellow sewing blogger Sarah, who writes Musings of a Seamstress, for bestowing the Liebster award on my little blog.

The Liebster Award is meant for new bloggers who have less than 200 followers – it helps get the word out about them, so go check out Kacie’s post for other great blogs!

With the award, there are a few rules: 1. Answer the 10 questions that were asked by the person who nominated you. 2. Nominate 10 new bloggers that inspire YOU.  3. Ask those bloggers 10 questions.

Well, not sure I qualify as a "new" blog, but I have been hovering just below the 200 mark for eons, so there you go. Click on Sarah's blog name in my "thank you" paragraph to discover other inspiring blogs.

Here are the answers to Sarah's questions:

1.  Why did you decided to start blogging? Oh, that's complicated. I started a blog when I opened my etsy shop to, you know, promote. Then I discovered sewing blogs, and I changed the name of my blog and shifted my focus to sewing with a side of Etsy and non-sewing life.
2.  What are your goals for your blog?  To document my sewing, but also to share some of my life experiences as a post-stay at home mom/now full-time bridesmaid consultant, and, well, anything else that pops into mind.
3.  Do you gravitate towards fabrics with texture, pattern or solid colors? Yes? That's a tricky one for me... while I gravitate to fabrics with pattern, I often find my solid color creations more wearable.
4.  What is your favorite season to sew for? Probably summer. Probably because it's my favorite season, period.
5.  What is your favorite fabric store to shop? No real favorite... depends on what I'm looking for.
6.  What do you call yourself (sewcialist, sewer, seamstress, sewist…) and why? I call myself "someone who sews a lot". Maybe sewist or seamstress. Never sewcialist (that's a new one for me) or sewer.
7.  Yes or no to sewing for others?  Why? I have to answer this one with "it depends". Mostly on what they want me to sew for them and if I have time. I do make sewing gifts for others though.
8.  What is your favorite garment sewn thus far? Why? I've had many favorites over the years... that's too hard to answer.
9.  What is one thing you hope to sew this month? A dress to wear at my daughter's graduation from graduate school.
10.  What is one thing in your must sew list for this year? Nothing at the moment is a "must sew". *see full-time job mention in question #2.

Go discover these 10 blogs:

Vacuuming the Lawn

Sew, Incidentally

Biblioblog

Helen Made

Irene's Studio

Young, Broke and Fabulous

Made by Trisha

Sew a Musing

Tales from Team Awesome 

Sew Here We Go Again

Finally... 10 questions from me:

1. How much time a week/day do you spend on your blog?
2. Do you feel like you need to explain yourself if you don't blog for awhile?
3. How much time a day to you spend READING other people's blogs?
4. These awards posts can be time-consuming. Do you cringe a little when you get these kinds of awards? ;)
5. Besides reading blogs and writing on your own blog, do you spend a lot of time on the computer?
6. Is sewing your primary creative outlet?
7. What are some of your other creative endeavors?
8. Do you join sew alongs?
9. Do you participate in other types of online challenges (sewing or otherwise)? What are they?
10. Do you usually complete these challenges or sew alongs? Why or why not?

Not all the blogs I listed are primarily sewing blogs, but they are all inspiring! Thanks and y'all have a great week!

More Bloglovin...

Oops, I've put the button over there on the right, but apparently, there's a whole "claim blog" aspect that I've glossed right over. Here's my Claim Blog link:



Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Hope I've done this right this time...

In related news... I just can't break my Google Reader habit. It's such a clean, easy to read reader. No gimmicks... just a list of the new posts from the blogs I read. Why, Google Reader? Ah well, I've still got a couple of months...

Happy New Year and the Sewing Room Hangover

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

With that out of the way, I do hope that you all had a wonderful December and were able to spend time with the friends and family you love. I was able to have 4 days in a row off of work, and those days happily coincided with Christmas and a visit with daughter Laura (plus entourage). I feel like I've been so lax in blogging that I must reintroduce you to my family... that is if I have any readers left.

no sewing happening here

Anyway. I've been reading with envy what I'll collectively call the sewing blogger's 2012 round-up. Truthfully, you have all made many MANY gorgeous things, and in the last quarter, I've pretty much made bupkiss, so I haven't had the gracious feelings of awe that perhaps I should.

Do I resolve to change that? Well, I do want to make a few things, and I did get a Tiramisu for Christmas, so look for that sooner rather than later. Steph is hosting a sewalong starting next week, and I might just attempt it! She calls it 30 minutes a day, and c'mon... surely I can manage that!

I would like to blog a bit more, because I do enjoy that, but my topics may not be as sewing related as in the past. Having worked in the bridal industry for 3-1/2 months now, I have formed a few opinions, and might just share a few of them with you. And, in lieu of actual sewing, perhaps a little indulgent fantasy sewing.

My Etsy shop is still open, and I just celebrated my 600th sale, so do drop in now and then. I have some "new" patterns that have yet to be listed, so look for some fresh merchandise appearing soon. You can keep up with the latest in that little Etsy Mini in the side bar on the right.

Finally... and just in the nick of time. Yes. There is still time. There really is. You know you want to shop there. Denise, aka The Blue Gardenia, is having her End of the Year sale, and it ends TOMORROW NIGHT PEOPLE! Click HERE to shop for your favorites and get a great deal. Hurry before they're all gone!