tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40339883220015979062024-03-05T16:46:39.069-05:00á La Modish BlogMakin' the world a little happier through fun and fabric.Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-71875603010298356152012-10-31T11:57:00.001-04:002012-10-31T12:03:57.708-04:00Suit Making, Book Writing, and a Dash of Halloween<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">At this very moment, I'm trying my darndest to come up with a very clever opening line, only to be assaulted from the other part of my brain--reminding me that I don't know how many minutes I have before Baby wakes up and so I should just get on with it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And, actually, that just about sums up life these days. Not in a "Three kids is zone defense now," or "Say goodbye free-time, and hello to an exorbitantly large pile of baby laundry. And kid laundry. And husband laundry. And my laundry (Which, by the way, always seems to be the <i>smallest</i> pile of all of them. I'm sensing there's something more to that.)" kind of way. But there are lots of plates to keep spinning. And I know that you know this even better than I do. Trust me, there is no preaching going on here! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I decided to blog today because 1) I have time, albeit undetermined in its amount 2) I need a creative outlet that doesn't take as long as sewing the baby doll that I need to for family photos this weekend and 3) I kind of thought I owed it to you all. I mean it. I am not being trite when I say that I am incredibly humbled when one of you writes or calls to tell me that you miss my designs and are looking forward to what's next. This is kind of how it goes: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You: "Hey Andrea! I really love what you do! Baby Emma looked beautiful in our family pictures! Please keep me updated on when you have another collection!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Me (inside my brain): "Did she really just take time to let me know that? People have noticed my sabattical?! Well, that just puts a gold star on my heart!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So I really can't sum up what I've been doing during the sabattical too well in a blog post, but it's actually been a lot more than just adding baby #3. Not the least of which was breaking my right ankle 3 weeks <i>before</i> Eva was born. Yep, surgery--6 screws and a plate--while pregnant =equals= cannot be "put under" all the way. It also means no driving for several weeks. Okay, I'm stopping now because there are so many things that made that a life-changing event for me and I could go on forever. But suffice it to say that my marriage was strengthened, my faith was strengthened, and I appreciate not being terrified of the two steps it takes to get into my front door anymore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I haven't quit designing; I've been doing it in a different way. While on maternity leave, I've taken to doing custom work for clients again. I can do it on my own schedule, and everything I do is different. That's incredibly satisfying. I've also had time to sew for my own daughters again. This is an instagram of Sabrina in her new jacket repurposed from daddy's old suit, paired with her Hello Kitty dress I made her for her birthday back in April. She donned the pink boots and jeggings, and I think it works!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqNAd_kFVvZK-4CqpXxV82-VLtYJ3_IqZiPQTeDELlMomwZG1DC9poDbOtTfgax1qXqHtZ5gxJsYffLBNhJFEfogg1jOmU-9VDFa_WlRAEQXFF7iOufbuyRgACm10PGzGBAhWbvpStm8/s1600/375888_10151091589582205_641598653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqNAd_kFVvZK-4CqpXxV82-VLtYJ3_IqZiPQTeDELlMomwZG1DC9poDbOtTfgax1qXqHtZ5gxJsYffLBNhJFEfogg1jOmU-9VDFa_WlRAEQXFF7iOufbuyRgACm10PGzGBAhWbvpStm8/s320/375888_10151091589582205_641598653_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had not considered how I'd get this bad boy cleaned when I decided to make it from Jeff's old suit. Hello dry-cleaning :/</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm also thinking more about the craft book I want to write. By the way, if you have any tips on how to go about doing that, please <a href="mailto:info@alamodish.com" target="_blank">let me know!</a> I'd be happy to trade free sewing lessons ;) !! I'm also going on field trips and playing with my baby and cooking so that we can sit around our own dinner table more. *Sigh* It actually hasn't been anything but <i>awesome</i>. Not always easy. Definitely not. But always appreciated and savored.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Because it's Halloween, I'd be remiss if I didn't post at least one pic of Eva in costume :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZx9kgkd4P06Kr2PELMmwAbFWhWtMuh0P5HvmSZks2Q_BYtfNySnMLmR5-SP_O-sEywYOWWXFYLdqFPsn1dn9_v-C0qBIQOdbAx_f4F_Px55oYO2Pv3Ho74FNvb7-bK3lAGoI9C951Ng/s1600/photo(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZx9kgkd4P06Kr2PELMmwAbFWhWtMuh0P5HvmSZks2Q_BYtfNySnMLmR5-SP_O-sEywYOWWXFYLdqFPsn1dn9_v-C0qBIQOdbAx_f4F_Px55oYO2Pv3Ho74FNvb7-bK3lAGoI9C951Ng/s320/photo(15).JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes! True vintage saddle shoes in baby size! *swoon*</span></td></tr>
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<br />Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-3885061899574724572011-07-11T14:46:00.000-04:002011-07-11T14:46:02.907-04:00The dress must go on!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">If you have ever read this blog before, chances are that you've noticed my penchant for "making it work." As in, the final result is usually different than what was originally planned. So in keeping with the designer that you know me to be, this outfit was no different! It started off as a dress, until I realized that I made it way too short. Like, 3 or 4 inches too short. And on a size 3-6 months dress, that turns the dress into a top! I thought I'd just add another layer (This is the great thing about mixing fabics--if I have to "rearrange," it looks like I meant to.), except that it made the pink ruffled over skirt look out of place. So I present to you, the dress-turned-two-piece set. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSykrogYEP-AYflDiKBtFCL0Sf1_Levcnj2swqrmp-gddrIEOvcYS3-9__A8pLFHpMUvqwsREs66XOemWZdj_HR41mhemZGZTRw73pREOr9MYEiZAcj6wsAnV6onyD24OdNYIKf6LEB8/s1600/Customs+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSykrogYEP-AYflDiKBtFCL0Sf1_Levcnj2swqrmp-gddrIEOvcYS3-9__A8pLFHpMUvqwsREs66XOemWZdj_HR41mhemZGZTRw73pREOr9MYEiZAcj6wsAnV6onyD24OdNYIKf6LEB8/s320/Customs+052.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="justify" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption">This is actually the back of the outfit. I had to show you that yummy bow and those ruffles :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">And see the lacy ruffle at the bottom of the pantaloons? Well, that's what makes them pantaloons instead of bloomers :) The lace was the intended add-on ruffle to the dress, but when stitched to the hem of the pants, they are too long for bloomers. And so we have pantaloons!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_P0ZX4GoLsl5q3-7INsnWcjeUpS2cJpqDk9nGXXzUYdeXChUEYSvL4E-Yxepe_jyQJqNXh1LkVYi7lJrs4ypaXZiqKXemJUU8xnQXT7E4qh9fCaQB1-cn_v3n0zzTC2jZN72qmWAcGg/s1600/Customs+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_P0ZX4GoLsl5q3-7INsnWcjeUpS2cJpqDk9nGXXzUYdeXChUEYSvL4E-Yxepe_jyQJqNXh1LkVYi7lJrs4ypaXZiqKXemJUU8xnQXT7E4qh9fCaQB1-cn_v3n0zzTC2jZN72qmWAcGg/s320/Customs+042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz6NpTO85WeL_hhMXOUICgF5mw0-9bWxc4zSrmAkewYXJR6eSQqrmpDtbCED03sUqCN9c5VJcxeXcPuZ7fOjJIkOhHsHk1UFvbTrDbwt4m5POzHCpkTwJGmltrMR9mlzjRPX-9Bw-ZBg/s1600/Customs+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz6NpTO85WeL_hhMXOUICgF5mw0-9bWxc4zSrmAkewYXJR6eSQqrmpDtbCED03sUqCN9c5VJcxeXcPuZ7fOjJIkOhHsHk1UFvbTrDbwt4m5POzHCpkTwJGmltrMR9mlzjRPX-9Bw-ZBg/s320/Customs+039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi3l4cqIzAiVV8jrscOZYEb2MpgafjY0DFB-wf9b1oQMZEJ7FiNWOj-P23eSe8P3JjkVoZxDBitc7qgcwgHQaOvTp6bCiYF7IXoU0s16cK3_70zYVdx8b3TPqf8ETGnp1DO5Hpjcc-wo/s1600/Customs+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi3l4cqIzAiVV8jrscOZYEb2MpgafjY0DFB-wf9b1oQMZEJ7FiNWOj-P23eSe8P3JjkVoZxDBitc7qgcwgHQaOvTp6bCiYF7IXoU0s16cK3_70zYVdx8b3TPqf8ETGnp1DO5Hpjcc-wo/s320/Customs+038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan1SwFlDi6h1SqVh3PJiA4TVFG1lFZGffnGXJsUAYg-FFtd7W9TNMgT8pq0zIg2AUIcTYhhKD2e7jb4YGxlGBb3awG4f5PkvvDx8S0tfImpdBMXY0Cojhz65U06hjXL00vWM7TWJ6gDA/s1600/Customs+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan1SwFlDi6h1SqVh3PJiA4TVFG1lFZGffnGXJsUAYg-FFtd7W9TNMgT8pq0zIg2AUIcTYhhKD2e7jb4YGxlGBb3awG4f5PkvvDx8S0tfImpdBMXY0Cojhz65U06hjXL00vWM7TWJ6gDA/s320/Customs+046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGuTo5hxSg84PJH2ga74f2QgwsBXaNyl0tY3JetCRpeXsW1RVMI04DnZxDt-ldjGFzCk2gvsik9ouproxpaSUNyZJrOZYUISEAnG6_dQME6NMS4REMiOOjm4Gd1IkmBQBAsGYZDEmseQ/s1600/Customs+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGuTo5hxSg84PJH2ga74f2QgwsBXaNyl0tY3JetCRpeXsW1RVMI04DnZxDt-ldjGFzCk2gvsik9ouproxpaSUNyZJrOZYUISEAnG6_dQME6NMS4REMiOOjm4Gd1IkmBQBAsGYZDEmseQ/s320/Customs+047.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5ojM2pPDzQo9S5RiwhMMU8BEOsjTFLVCfiRK2i-lYXHFDhqjtyqsoLLjQ5kDSMYe-p4-GbzzPXytXr5Cr4_g4IRgpeyuPP5gjfiLvj6nRR2qRVLOie9wDUI6pJkbzKJHO-QC6G6UJEk/s1600/Customs+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5ojM2pPDzQo9S5RiwhMMU8BEOsjTFLVCfiRK2i-lYXHFDhqjtyqsoLLjQ5kDSMYe-p4-GbzzPXytXr5Cr4_g4IRgpeyuPP5gjfiLvj6nRR2qRVLOie9wDUI6pJkbzKJHO-QC6G6UJEk/s320/Customs+059.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: Surprises! I made this for someone not expecting this. Hope they like it!</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-32086192589836903092011-07-07T19:27:00.001-04:002011-07-07T19:29:30.130-04:00Photo, shoot!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">And so it went that the second spring line was officially added to the annals of fashion history. That's a fancy way of saying we just did our spring photo shoot! For 2012. Isn't fashion's sense of time zany? Once again, I thank <a href="http://www.priscillabphotography.com/">Priscilla Baierlein</a> for sharing her super-photographic talent with us! And, shoot, if I didn't remember that she'd want to take a quick snapshot of me at the end. Darn that humidity!</div><br />
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<tr align="justify" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption">I recently found a tutorial for this skirt from the author of <a href="http://elleapparel.blogspot.com/">the Elle Apparel blog.</a> It's the first thing I've ever sewn for myself!</td><td class="tr-caption"></td><td class="tr-caption"></td><td class="tr-caption"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">The pictures turned out wunderbar! Unfortunately, you'll have to wait til January to see them. Until then, sisters, keep enjoying your summer!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: Lunch breaks. To my dismay, they are building a new road right behind my house. But thank goodness for 12:00-12:30. It gives me and my son time to go outside and play superheros without the angry grinding of all that CAT equipment in </span><strike style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">our</strike><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> my ears. I think it probably adds to the ambiance for him :)</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-81909599045028454972011-06-27T13:30:00.003-04:002011-06-27T15:13:58.166-04:00Fourth of July dress, done nauti-cool.<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">I must say, I am inspired. Mostly because I tried something I haven't done before, and--bonus!--it turned out much better than I had anticipated. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">You see, I saw my neighbor putting up some festive red, white and blue banners on her front porch today in honor of the fast-approaching 4th of July. It fueled an already present itch to stitch up a little number for Sabrina to wear while she watches fireworks. Well, let's be clear. She won't actually be watching fireworks. She is far too frightened of loud noises for that, but she still has to wear clothes to the party leading up to said activity, right?</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">So I had some faux madras type fabric that had been taking up space on my rolly-rack for about six months. It's not that I didn't like it; it just hadn't told me what it wanted to be yet--until Independence Day poked its little noggin around the corner.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">I got to work on the circle skirt last night. That took all of about two minutes to make. Tops. If you want to know how to do this in a super easy way, email me at info@almodish.com and I'll fill you in on the secret.<br />
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<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cool thing about a true circle skirt is that you can check the whole way around it, and you won't find a single seam.</td></tr>
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Anyhow, I needed navy and white striped fabric for the bodice. Ha! Well that was no small task. As I've mentioned before, I usually buy my fabrics online, but in a pinch (as in, I want it NOW) I do head down the road to the local crafty chain store every now and again. My penchant to buy online was reaffirmed when I realized<i> they didn't have navy and white striped fabric!?!?</i> That's like Basics 101, right? Not to be deterred, I decided to <i>make</i> my navy and white striped fabric. It took about 30x's as long as it would have to just buy the fabric, but I must say that I think the raw-edged stripes produced a much cooler effect. Let me know what you think.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3smlb2rCUZ1idFm5sNh3qxmuvZqQge-sZf0yD2RGyMG5tvnI_xx6WIgiBPioUX9Qb5ozlNbx5L2VP6K8bjqVZm4PM-mniXTCq0O2a9hwHkq5cwjnAeGqaUUz3uln9epCZbR6FArVlK9k/s1600/Nashville+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3smlb2rCUZ1idFm5sNh3qxmuvZqQge-sZf0yD2RGyMG5tvnI_xx6WIgiBPioUX9Qb5ozlNbx5L2VP6K8bjqVZm4PM-mniXTCq0O2a9hwHkq5cwjnAeGqaUUz3uln9epCZbR6FArVlK9k/s320/Nashville+090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">I then added the "rope" bow to complete the nautical feel, but something was missing.....in comes the inspiration. I haven't ever put any type of image on my stuff before. I actually wanted to applique something on there, but nothing seemed quite right. So I found this vintage pic that seemed perfect for the Fourth, and óuila! Here we are. The perfect topper to my cake. In fact, I'm so happy with it that I might have to explore this type of design a bit more :) .....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transfer paper was my friend here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy 4th of July! We love and thank our soldiers who fight to keep us free!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Xh8wgNBtppBRdeWSjNzzuPLD2bb5xsnZtj0w_HevsG2rp_l-sTriU0BjeOmhQHsuKBY_MqTRW1kYWI8vHo0y6ZKW1KUJaIpnp9ZhOa2flnMEVobB2aVY0KqcYMd-8hUE9tL1QThSbjQ/s1600/Nashville+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Xh8wgNBtppBRdeWSjNzzuPLD2bb5xsnZtj0w_HevsG2rp_l-sTriU0BjeOmhQHsuKBY_MqTRW1kYWI8vHo0y6ZKW1KUJaIpnp9ZhOa2flnMEVobB2aVY0KqcYMd-8hUE9tL1QThSbjQ/s320/Nashville+089.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since taking this pic, I changed out the wooden buttons for some metal shiny gold ones that have little anchors on them.</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: Imperfection. Like the exposed raw edges of the fabric, sometimes when things are just a little "off" they turn out right on.</span> Have a great week! Wonky raw edges and all.</div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-92076119108396901702011-05-30T16:34:00.001-04:002011-05-30T16:38:57.957-04:00The Afterthought Dress<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Wait, no, not like that. Not in a bad way. Not like I didn't care. But there I was. Three hours 'til spring photoshoot "go time," and I get a wild hair that all of my models needed to have custom made monogrammed dresses as thank you gifts. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">My sewing mentor, Frances, was there watching my kids that day so I could sew up some loose ends for the photo shoot. No pun intended. And I ask her, "Frances, do you think I would be nuts to try to sew all of the girls (Four of them, in case you were wondering) dresses before the shoot tonight?" And she just looks at me with those Knowing Frances eyes, as if to say, "Heck yes, you're loony toons. But I know you're gonna do it anyway." And so I forged ahead. After all, they were just four simple pillowcase dresses. I get all the way finished with the fourth one and looked at the clock. Shucks! It's time to go and the embroidery still hasn't been stitched on.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RVJhjw88gmRTqruN-yJGcXhF2dXiYx1ZgRGnM2-niDnP4cbwrPCEYcwVb5ZDCGzSoczXaK_pyElNFZbM9g45e7eRJIl_lvw97Ve907z34l5R2cQRcGZHLt4shnhBkiALEL8in5m7aO8/s1600/gifts+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RVJhjw88gmRTqruN-yJGcXhF2dXiYx1ZgRGnM2-niDnP4cbwrPCEYcwVb5ZDCGzSoczXaK_pyElNFZbM9g45e7eRJIl_lvw97Ve907z34l5R2cQRcGZHLt4shnhBkiALEL8in5m7aO8/s320/gifts+012.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Given that these dresses were afterthoughts, I didn't have enough trim to make them all the same. Some have these white poms on the bottom and others have white eyelet lace. But they'll never know, right?</span></td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Sigh. The crazy things we put ourselves through! I bet you do it too. Maybe you make miniature fondant cat cupcakes for your kid's entire preschool class like my friend, Brandi. Or maybe you're always volunteering to babysit your neighbor's kids for free like my friend that shall go unnamed :) </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">So here's to us, my girlfriends! Even you, the one I haven't met yet. At least something good is coming from our stress. And if you're really good, no one will even know it's an afterthought :)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: Memorial Day. For some, it's a reason to kick back and relax. For others, it's a more somber day spent remembering someone that's no longer here. But we </span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">are</i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> still here. Let's spend the rest of our day doing something that makes others happy that we're alive!</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-29551704395999857432011-03-10T12:00:00.001-05:002011-03-10T12:00:47.212-05:00Foamy Trees<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Strike one: It's raining.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Strike two: It's cold.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Strike three: Both kids have strep throat.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
Sooooo...what do you do with your kids on days like this? Fortunately for me and mine, we had made a pit stop to the local craft store yesterday. This fueled us with quite a bit of ammo for the triple-whammy home-bound Thursday. We opted for the foam tree house assembly kit:</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia47rL-aqTJm9VJrsUi5jEpo9wElhyPz-aR_nmhA0Kn_2_jNqY11UFl_Q-D_T_Xnq790MGKRbn59pmGok1-qXTTkQGosCA4bbUohlhQps_hfuz5PkVDVzQM1KCZuraOosXRm8lSblQ11c/s1600/alamodish+spiderman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia47rL-aqTJm9VJrsUi5jEpo9wElhyPz-aR_nmhA0Kn_2_jNqY11UFl_Q-D_T_Xnq790MGKRbn59pmGok1-qXTTkQGosCA4bbUohlhQps_hfuz5PkVDVzQM1KCZuraOosXRm8lSblQ11c/s320/alamodish+spiderman.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't give us credit for all this cuteness. It was very easy to assemble. But next time I'd use a hot glue gun in lieu of Elmer's. We had to complete it in two different drying sessions.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Today's <strike>happiness </strike>silver lining: Even though both kids are sick, we've had some good QT. And does the tendency for sick children to nap qualify as silver lining? You be the judge. But it <i>will</i> allow me some time to work on a new á La Modish idea for spring 2012!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21hM8-pnzPvsYsN7NGqDuz9DbMcaIcIX8O1cLa6WYDGf9g52CPWPWO2YkMvSPhzDRfsWa1xt9vbWCp4FnGvjgsD7UQ3NxMFB1DQCSIovOkVYH-Z33iONJMT373dsdk-u05_TOFa_xghs/s1600/alamodish+mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21hM8-pnzPvsYsN7NGqDuz9DbMcaIcIX8O1cLa6WYDGf9g52CPWPWO2YkMvSPhzDRfsWa1xt9vbWCp4FnGvjgsD7UQ3NxMFB1DQCSIovOkVYH-Z33iONJMT373dsdk-u05_TOFa_xghs/s320/alamodish+mess.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-87563314944242376312011-03-07T07:36:00.000-05:002014-04-19T16:11:21.539-04:00The Accidental Easter Dress<span style="font-size: large;"><i>My blog has moved! Go check it out at <a href="http://www.sewhelpmegod.com/">www.sewhelpmegod.com</a></i></span><br /><i></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Oh my stars. I love a happy accident about as much as I love it when a dress comes together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">So I've been on this cleaning/organizing mission lately. This is mostly contributed to my hosting an intern soon. As in, I can live with my own demons of disorganization, but heaven forbid someone else see the inspirational chaos that I call "my studio."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Part of the organization includes figuring out what the heck to do with all of my partially completed projects. I mean, there are lots. For starters, there are half finished shower gifts for babies not due until July, four coaster sets, a pillowcase dress (made for </span><a href="http://www.alamodish.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">the á La Modish blog</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> tutorial that's coming soon!), and two random dresses started on an ambitious Saturday afternoon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Let's revisit one of the two dresses initiated on that weekend oh so long ago. Okay, so it really started the day before on a trip to the local fabric store. Although I'm a <i>wee </i>bit of a fabric snob, on occasion I'll venture down the road to store XYZ and pick up a zipper and some bias tape. While there, I'll glance at the store's other wares. On this specific occasion, I saw a big yellow sign hanging over one of the 6' x 3' potluck/buffet tables that had stacks and stacks of fabric haphazardly strewn about it. And they were all 50% off! I eagle-eyed some light blue shirting fabric and saw potential in it, if not simply because it was only $3.49/yard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I bought a whole bunch of it. And then made a dress for Sabrina that used up most of it. So before you indignantly hurl your apple pies at me for going all traditional on you, take a look and tell me that it's not amazing. And take a second look and tell me that it doesn't just scream "EASTER DRESS." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And so it was, my daughter’s normally much-planned-out Easter dress was accidentally checked off the sewing to-do list--allowing this seamstress some time to get back to those coaster sets. And possibly start on a new handbag or two.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Today's happiness: <i>New ventures.</i> In celebration of the Our Cups Runneth Over Blog, I thought it would be fun to list different possible meanings of said phrase. Ahem...</span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To the nursing mother: These triple E’s ain’t fitting into my strapless bra anymore</span><span style="font-size: 7pt;">. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To the 18 month old: Someone forgot to put that rubber thingy into my sippy cup!</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To the guy at the bar: This was not a perfect pour.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To the star athlete: It’s been a successful year!</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To the harried cook: Measurements are just suggestions anyway?</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To the baseball player: Um, let’s not go there…</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">"Bring me the sunset in a cup."--Emily Dickinson </span></div>
Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-55803612139608379462011-03-03T09:44:00.001-05:002011-03-03T20:20:13.672-05:00Closet Life<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">This morning, I sit with you holding my thin-rimmed mug of Dunkin'Donuts coffee. My hair hearkens back to my co-ed days of quickly braided pigtails. I am wearing a light pink Oklahoma Sooners tee-shirt and a pair of slightly snug wide-leg jeans. My feet are bare.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Just minutes ago, I was smiling to myself while standing in the middle of my closet. Who else has a closet that looks like the chapters of a book? If you were to read the chapters of my wardrobe, it would go something like this:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Chapter 1: Oh! The fast-fading days of college. I have well-loved shirts espousing your love. All three of you (OBU, OU and UK!). A few pairs of shorts so, well, short that I'm uncomfortable wearing them. But my husband thinks they're awesome.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Chapter 2: The only thing stopping this Corporate American woman is a run her thigh-highs and a Starbucks. All the skirt suits that were worn day in and day out still occupy their fair share of a corner of my closet. I think I'm saving them for the off chance that I might be meeting the Queen of England.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Chapter 3: We're gonna party <strike>like it's nineteen ninety-nine.</strike> because it gives me a good excuse to buy new clothes every weekend. Fortunately for my well-being and my bank account, this phase only last about 3 months.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Chapter 4: What?! It's already time for the ten year class reunion?? Yes, I bought several different options for this reunion. I think I settled on an orange, trapeze-styled dress with white patent leather wedges. This was one of the numbers that got beat out:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHRF2MdbgIHX4mcHIZ3AywIbzBUxMV5JPsSg0lnPbVLjeFajD1qyf25tyxhcmRDeUc147LBBo-2gUKtJGgoeUwWYGj7pZymynBGDv1LywHHOilXy5ZXHX0AQRGSrBKk3xApgKLQgaIUg/s1600/dress+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHRF2MdbgIHX4mcHIZ3AywIbzBUxMV5JPsSg0lnPbVLjeFajD1qyf25tyxhcmRDeUc147LBBo-2gUKtJGgoeUwWYGj7pZymynBGDv1LywHHOilXy5ZXHX0AQRGSrBKk3xApgKLQgaIUg/s400/dress+004.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Umm. Yeah. So I really don't think I need to explain why this got beat out. Rather, why was this purchase ever made??</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Chapter 5: First child was born. Dead-set on never falling into the mom-clothes trap, I still wear four inch heels while carrying my son around in that super-heavy snap in car seat thing.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Chapter 6: Second child was born. Four inch heels cause old cheerleading knee injury to flare up while carrying my daughter around in that super-heavy snap in car seat thing. Stillettos traded in for ballet flats.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Chapter 7: What am I going to wear for date night with my handsome hubby? Well, since we are keeping it pretty tame with dinner out and then maybe a trip to the bookstore, I'll go with Guess jeans, fancy jewelry, and a White House Black Market silk blouse. Long gone are the days of skirts so short that they wouldn't fit my toddler.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Chapter 8: "I love designing! I think I'll start my own fashion-line!". This is where it gets tricky. You see, I have to look the part on certain occasions, donning stylish vintage earrings and hot-rolled hair. Possibly even something brand-named that I got on sale at Stein-Mart.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">But rest assured, on days like today where I'm just carting the kids to the grocery store and doing laundry, you can take it to the bank that I've got my hair braided and my favorite tee shirt on.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: Having a full life! I wouldn't change any of those chapters. They have all made my life just a wee bit more interesting, if not my closet more crammed.</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-56001773751563960052011-03-01T15:30:00.000-05:002011-03-01T15:30:14.481-05:00Last Friday was Her Knight<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Her hair was perfectly parted and ever so delicately pinned back with a cheap, white, ducky barrette. Her shoes were $3 as part of a buy one get one half off special. And her dress was homemade. She believed she was Cinderella, and sang <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNX_giCbd3Q">the song</a> with heartfelt gusto. This was her night. To be with Her Knight. The man in her life, her daddy.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJvk4Qo5OFHV-ixHMVn79a1ipLIFSdbiMEBNZymkJRc6V_s8bs3G7HmSMwaJQpvQK_9IrVPobMDufQlxsj9qBop0ruguCTletRnDwzj-b6QZmMf5g367CZKBJ3y_t6VKcqW_lbnSGa0I/s1600/Her+Knight+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJvk4Qo5OFHV-ixHMVn79a1ipLIFSdbiMEBNZymkJRc6V_s8bs3G7HmSMwaJQpvQK_9IrVPobMDufQlxsj9qBop0ruguCTletRnDwzj-b6QZmMf5g367CZKBJ3y_t6VKcqW_lbnSGa0I/s400/Her+Knight+001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichEgESO9eJjLCuB81ebtcOajuY1o1GjPHJfjFnel9mPk5clLFJbPnuSBDV5bMVfvXKcS3SgQ9i_03sUkDNejj_MStM7EQ6wbVWjF6mT1fbgXYklcJQd7tdugkDGSO0fYYT4XbmfJMkQQ/s1600/Her+Knight+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichEgESO9eJjLCuB81ebtcOajuY1o1GjPHJfjFnel9mPk5clLFJbPnuSBDV5bMVfvXKcS3SgQ9i_03sUkDNejj_MStM7EQ6wbVWjF6mT1fbgXYklcJQd7tdugkDGSO0fYYT4XbmfJMkQQ/s400/Her+Knight+022.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">They danced. They ate chicken nuggets. They had their picture taken with the Chick-Fil-A Cows (Otherwise know by Sabrina as "dogs."). And she brought home a red balloon. This is the good stuff!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, my boy and I had our own date. He wanted to get fancied up too and asked to wear a tie. The Movie Tavern was our destination. And the best part of going to the movies with Gavin? He always ends up sitting in my lap, making me believe for just a little while longer that he'll be little for just a while longer :)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsZ25sjt7KRMIWuLag9q3Y1iv4EhfIlx_tqM7ThLh5RywJT-Yzpd0ffIstfPoSBBtLk2QtHxvXo5NKbLUnD6Dwg2AKti6zvvyAnqzOyISafq6V7J-adiV3YQBTtUsMUAFMR-FT4nKQfg/s1600/Her+Knight+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsZ25sjt7KRMIWuLag9q3Y1iv4EhfIlx_tqM7ThLh5RywJT-Yzpd0ffIstfPoSBBtLk2QtHxvXo5NKbLUnD6Dwg2AKti6zvvyAnqzOyISafq6V7J-adiV3YQBTtUsMUAFMR-FT4nKQfg/s400/Her+Knight+023.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: The Assurance Care Center. The proceeds of Her Knight go to benefit the Center. To learn more about Her Knight and its mission, visit </span><a href="http://www.herknight.org/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">www.HerKnight.org</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">.</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-48270886237785373002011-02-22T10:37:00.002-05:002011-02-22T13:44:27.858-05:00Same day, different lens<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">The time has come. If you have ever read my blog before, there is approximately a 43% chance that you've heard me lament about my lousy iPhone camera, because I apologize for it almost as much as I say "like". So the camera came in, and I looked at it. In the box. For maybe a week or so. Before I finally drummed up enough nerve to break the seal and remove the perfectly contoured packaging. And then a really thick owner's manual fell out.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Another 7 days pass before I turn the camera on, only to realize that it's not as simple to operate as my lousy iPhone. Imagine that. So I did what all upstanding semi-right brained folk would do; I pushed all the buttons to see what would happen. It just kept saying something about "this function not being selectable." Only then did I read bits and pieces of the manual, but just the parts that directly applied to what I wanted to do at that exact moment.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Now that I can sort of get it to take a picture, I thought it would be fun to post the iPhone vs. the Canon Rebel (GRRRR....doesn't that name sound tough?). This is a dress I made for Jeff's coworker's new baby. I used fabric from the spring line. You can see the line <a href="http://www.alamodish.com/collections.shtml">here</a>.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaY6cryWy-I6Ou3Z6UMc36O7vjKF-L6wQT5MDcmFhxck_kbLU7P7prKMRNGv_Zz59w59bsZPXYgO9yA_1BoRH6soIUTpsQxiQw_Wd9mGFAXJuGJqRUPXhLTNt5jF5fb4W-CR_Dce0XOY/s1600/photo%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaY6cryWy-I6Ou3Z6UMc36O7vjKF-L6wQT5MDcmFhxck_kbLU7P7prKMRNGv_Zz59w59bsZPXYgO9yA_1BoRH6soIUTpsQxiQw_Wd9mGFAXJuGJqRUPXhLTNt5jF5fb4W-CR_Dce0XOY/s320/photo%25286%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iPhone</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzzlajrDe41h82KBKWkm0MqfGo29_VgIfCZA1XaQivgaO-YqKfJTnlhsR1H4yrPFpyIbqsUYHOKAlb6P6ZgJTY1h9qGONW-tLNS5NzOEY6cKZisgPGJl4_QSwBilADchvhvagbq6gxsI/s1600/First+Canon+photos+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzzlajrDe41h82KBKWkm0MqfGo29_VgIfCZA1XaQivgaO-YqKfJTnlhsR1H4yrPFpyIbqsUYHOKAlb6P6ZgJTY1h9qGONW-tLNS5NzOEY6cKZisgPGJl4_QSwBilADchvhvagbq6gxsI/s320/First+Canon+photos+052.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon Rebel</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">The crazy thing is that I took them both from the exact same spot, within seconds of each other. But look at all that junk in the background that is visible with the iPhone versus the fancy camera. And look at how pretty and focused the second dress is versus the dull, flat dress in the first picture. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Perhaps an obvious observation, but it occurred to me that this is just like life. It's all about the lens you are looking through, right? Same circumstances, same time, same everything, but the second outlook is so much better. Notice with the better lens, the junk in the background isn't so apparent. We'll always have junk, but we don't always have to focus on it. I hope that today your focus is clear and your day is bright, regardless of how much sunshine is passing through the clouds.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Today's happiness: Yay for trying something new! I don't know a thing about photography, but it sure has been fun to play with it. What have you been wanting to try, but haven't? WELL.....go do it! You'll be proud of yourself.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4w6K7BPD2R6DmAeDf7mtqNFBKxpIPRTaRR3T_7EavHGoBsm36VSdLyEb-Nq_Q1LZPAGm6iKax1rLcWdikDduAi8C6EBWIyGHbKwGZKNkFpTEFAuy-THoOLuk4qEHezVLW4f2x_M1uLU/s1600/First+Canon+photos+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4w6K7BPD2R6DmAeDf7mtqNFBKxpIPRTaRR3T_7EavHGoBsm36VSdLyEb-Nq_Q1LZPAGm6iKax1rLcWdikDduAi8C6EBWIyGHbKwGZKNkFpTEFAuy-THoOLuk4qEHezVLW4f2x_M1uLU/s320/First+Canon+photos+016.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juuuust waking up from nap time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-28447252821696244712011-02-14T10:09:00.002-05:002011-02-14T10:13:17.672-05:00Play-doh works wonders<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">My typical (half) day:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Slumber is abruptly interrupted at _____AM by one or both children. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Calls for breakfast begin as immediately as the need to potty when only a dirty, public bathroom is available.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Breakfast, usually cereal or yogurt (occasionally mac 'n' cheese), is consumed by one or both children.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">LIGHT BEAMS DOWN FROM HEAVEN</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Approximately 22 minutes of peace ensues as quickly as The Fresh Beat Band can cue up "Go Bananas," "Friends Give Friends a Hand," or "Loco Legs." This is my time. I sip my coffee, check my email, and play a few words with friends (Play me! I'm an addict.).</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Kids get dressed--Gavin with his shirt backwards, and Sabrina with a tantrum.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Fresh Beat Band is turned off so that all four of us can gather 'round the Round Rug in the kitchen to say our daily family prayer.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Jeff takes Gavin to preschool while I cart the baby (AKA our almost 3 year old toddler, Sabrina) to preschool.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">After their 1/2 day preschool is over (Let's pause here to speculate who determined that 2.5 hours qualifies as a "half day." But I digress.), we--sometimes--come home so I can grill up a cheese quesadilla or two.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Then the countdown for Sabrina's nap begins. I find myself checking the clock as often as I check my Words With Friends.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">I am tired. I struggle to stay awake long enough to put the baby to bed. I might even be cranky from the 18 fights the kids have started with each other since they reunited at 12:00. What mom isn't tired, right? What mom loves every moment of motherhood? What mom doesn't wish for a solo trip to a sunny beach with possibly a fancy pink umbrella drink in her freshly manicured hand?</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">But then, after running an errand without the kids yesterday, I come home to this:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uwlzIXRE_4CYWgmZ1ovl_Y0fccYoEr6zprJ8f9Nnj9QFlk9xve491M5pXn1BUn7BrtWX3a_-ohfLPqY5WP9nYNVFXqtwrLL8t0HLeRRoIyl7obI7N7-puwqsB_EHW6X7T3l-SluOymc/s1600/photo%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uwlzIXRE_4CYWgmZ1ovl_Y0fccYoEr6zprJ8f9Nnj9QFlk9xve491M5pXn1BUn7BrtWX3a_-ohfLPqY5WP9nYNVFXqtwrLL8t0HLeRRoIyl7obI7N7-puwqsB_EHW6X7T3l-SluOymc/s320/photo%25285%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good thing I snapped a picture fast. Moments after this was taken, it was eaten by Sabrina. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">You know why I love this? Yes, I love the blue hydrangeas and pink buttercups. I love the zeal with which they wanted to "surprise" me. But I love that my husband made it :) He apologized right away for the mess of play-doh canisters spread across the table, and for the petrified neon orange pellets on the floor. But I didn't care. <i>He</i> was doing a craft with our children for <i>me.</i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">It does my soul so much good to know that throughout the daily chaos of life, when he and I are like ships passing in the night while doing the daily grind of parenthood, he still thinks of me. I love you, Jeff! Happy Valentine's Day.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: Let's not stop the love fest! Remember the apron I promised you? So a couple of you had some great ideas on how to win it, so I'm going to combine my two favorite. You have from today til the end of the month to post 1) a picture of your little one cooking up something wonderful OR 2) a recipe for fun. Please post on the blog or the á La Modish fan page. Either of these options are literal or figurative; creativity is always good!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxh5LE6UZWYpdjXczP1O6FFhPW62B02fmu0nyI_Kkn1Hdvutch8sT21td1KlZKVGZjuYs0YSGMS_K6thUP9rG-8SM6dh34nyxo8JlR1RahsyP8i_LdcCge0JjeKQen-Oo_sZWc8NRqTY/s1600/Giveaway_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxh5LE6UZWYpdjXczP1O6FFhPW62B02fmu0nyI_Kkn1Hdvutch8sT21td1KlZKVGZjuYs0YSGMS_K6thUP9rG-8SM6dh34nyxo8JlR1RahsyP8i_LdcCge0JjeKQen-Oo_sZWc8NRqTY/s320/Giveaway_.jpg" width="215" /></a></div></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-3187984554236385252011-02-07T11:15:00.001-05:002011-02-07T11:17:14.594-05:00Apron Strings<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">How did that saying go? Something about "being tied to her apron strings." I think it's when you're still bossing your son around when he's like, 36 or something. But where did that saying come from? Maybe because he was always hanging around you as a kid, and you always had your apron on? Isn't that a funny thought. I have some friends that really do wear aprons. But that idea seems so foreign to me, to wear an apron <i>every</i> day? Is it because we couldn't wash our clothes as often, so we went to great lengths to protect them? Even more strange--we <i>cooked every</i> day? *Sigh* Just the thought exhausts me.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Therefore, it makes me feel much better to take the practicality factor out of the apron, and just focus on its cuteness. Especially if it's shrunken down to toddler size. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyEtQX0e4JW2gsQQ-poccQOw22npYbPA6fsZJk6PMskz4CLYr72hp5zq0gqvv2p396rHgkELDkpeHZwvNyqQbLnfCTWkL0JXucgw-EauEJV07hSoEBJUJCy0xMlW-r_VKAIwtQgUCZcU/s1600/photo%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyEtQX0e4JW2gsQQ-poccQOw22npYbPA6fsZJk6PMskz4CLYr72hp5zq0gqvv2p396rHgkELDkpeHZwvNyqQbLnfCTWkL0JXucgw-EauEJV07hSoEBJUJCy0xMlW-r_VKAIwtQgUCZcU/s320/photo%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Details coming soon on how you can win one like this for your little one.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gm05xeZBsNkU4eZJEb54ks3KVvgwUHSzw9rxWh6uEdwtLqvuM07nEvAZxGtDuGmkqLsFlOh9xi_pIQN_0JrDWIwaWut_O4AG9GLW5Pq_tMrdvC3ZVfIY5l7zMOlM6JpugqzNOOLIYIw/s1600/photo%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gm05xeZBsNkU4eZJEb54ks3KVvgwUHSzw9rxWh6uEdwtLqvuM07nEvAZxGtDuGmkqLsFlOh9xi_pIQN_0JrDWIwaWut_O4AG9GLW5Pq_tMrdvC3ZVfIY5l7zMOlM6JpugqzNOOLIYIw/s320/photo%25284%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I like how it tapers up in the back, so I had to show you.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">We got Sabrina a pink retro kitchen for Christmas, but that's not why I made this for her (Obviously, this apron does <i>not</i> go with pink.). I made it for her preschool Valentine's party. Not <i>too</i> Valentines-y that she can only wear it in February, but just enough that she can be festively dressed to pass out her mini-potted-grow-your-own-strawberries in style.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: The heart pocket. Nothing gives me greater joy than making something for my girl with pockets, and seeing her tiny, perfect hand slipping into it, providing warmth and endless opportunities for treasure storage.</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-53149164714017099782011-02-06T16:31:00.002-05:002011-02-06T17:34:12.592-05:00{Hugs}<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">{Hugs}!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Oh how I have missed you, vicariously through my blog, that is. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Since I generally like to keep the feel of my blog chipper, I will save you all the details. But suffice it to say that the last month has been quite a trying time for my family. It was the kind when the one thing you have to look forward to is that things can only get better, right?! Ergo, my MIA status in January.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">For just these said moments, I happen to have this super old postcard tacked up to my inspiration board:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGmOHLXod06DyES-ao6hBMWvcSdOOWEpzvUmtKhcNq-MNpiiwVdab9VnUMcKDIdlVVvi7XYgGTw6-TtTJCXJbK2-n_JPVjrUaaVYzCVqrFi5MCfGJeGQpVKYiuzHKZ7Om0QMy9lnhf4E/s1600/IMG_0962.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGmOHLXod06DyES-ao6hBMWvcSdOOWEpzvUmtKhcNq-MNpiiwVdab9VnUMcKDIdlVVvi7XYgGTw6-TtTJCXJbK2-n_JPVjrUaaVYzCVqrFi5MCfGJeGQpVKYiuzHKZ7Om0QMy9lnhf4E/s320/IMG_0962.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This came with a super old journal filled with original love poems.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I guess for me, it would read better: </span><strike style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Troubles</strike><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Worries are like babies. They only grow bigger by nursing. Because sometimes troubles </span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">do</i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> grow bigger without nursing them right? I mean, we're going along doing life, and through no fault of our own, BAM! Something totally </span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">not</i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> cool/fair/nice/pleasant happens to us. But WORRY, now, that's a wild vine that just twists its away around everything if you even give it a thought. My Achilles' heel that I am always asking for strength to overcome.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">But never fear, things are looking up and I'm getting some inspiration back into my brunette head. My involuntary hiatus from my Janome sewing machine has come to an abrupt halt with an inspiration for my spring 2012 line. Seeing it come to life has done wonders for my soul. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: If you are my FB fan, you may have seen a post for ideas on how to choose a winner for this super cute teeny apron (3T-ish) </span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">that I have made specifically for my blog readers.</i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> So far, Vanessa has been the only one to respond. So if I don't hear from anymore of you, I think I'll just choose her! And if you're looking to find another super cool blog to follow, here's hers: </span><a href="http://www.happinessa.typepad.com/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Iced Lattes and Ukuleles</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">. It's way cooler than mine. Honestly.</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-26290781365491553982011-01-16T15:02:00.002-05:002011-01-16T15:04:53.131-05:00You can tell a lot about a woman based on her_______<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Have you ever walked into an old Victorian house and wondered whose home it used to be? Who touched this doorknob? Who opened these shutters? What kinds of board games were played by this fireplace? Or have you ever eaten off of one hundred year old china and mused about the person whose plate you shared? Did they help polish the silver, or just polish off the food :) ?</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Given that I sew from old patterns so often, I find myself thinking these things all the time. You may remember my post from a couple of weeks ago, where I made a ruffled blouse from an old sheet? Well, it came from this pattern:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXXsH-HvFsrd8yZLXuo37dNg65F4F9GpKHX57b5cGKHu0YJ0kPSsBKE0eGxFO8-xr3VvaSCkYRdjqmtV7Z-9Me7wtSRRQ3nVfyG5pMwjiSX-wlItrAJuLDU7RZW2_khFO5CeA2nppZwg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXXsH-HvFsrd8yZLXuo37dNg65F4F9GpKHX57b5cGKHu0YJ0kPSsBKE0eGxFO8-xr3VvaSCkYRdjqmtV7Z-9Me7wtSRRQ3nVfyG5pMwjiSX-wlItrAJuLDU7RZW2_khFO5CeA2nppZwg/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You can tell a lot about a woman based on her sewing patterns. I know that she made the dress from this 1/16" lime green gingham fabric:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU94BqyCGjjL67TmAJRUEHg1Clqg9QM0Zw9GT1_hgk4fa7yutHcOw_ESCnfGc1xZCNvrwC1DV8k9sVv5puMikC4LgPCy7ZB7MY1mWI9NKGpexoV3uGUwCYwTshN3CN4OIoHz2xGNcukmo/s1600/photo%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU94BqyCGjjL67TmAJRUEHg1Clqg9QM0Zw9GT1_hgk4fa7yutHcOw_ESCnfGc1xZCNvrwC1DV8k9sVv5puMikC4LgPCy7ZB7MY1mWI9NKGpexoV3uGUwCYwTshN3CN4OIoHz2xGNcukmo/s320/photo%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A time capsule of history that was left inside the pattern for all these years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">I wonder if she was as glamorous as I picture her. Did she realize how iconic her poodle skirt would become? Did she<i> really</i> wear heels every day? In a funny way, I feel a connection to her. I often know her "name"--this one's was Mrs. J. L. Gaines. Back in the day, oftentimes ladies would write their names on the outside of the pattern envelopes (presumably to claim ownership from the sharing that went on?). I can tell if she smoked, for when I iron the sixty year old wrinkles out of the pattern pieces, it sometimes emits that unmistakable aroma. I can guess if she had more than one daughter by how many nicks the outline of the patterns had; well used patterns tend to lose their precise edging with each use. A sewing pattern can even give clues on how organized the seamstress was. Was each piece folded neatly back into the envelope, or were they haphazardly stuffed in? </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">In writing this post, it made me wonder in today's world what a sewing pattern might equate to. Perhaps your jewelry box, or lack thereof? Are your earrings placed in pairs in each perfect cube, or all tossed into the large compartment at the bottom like mine :) ?</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLidF5VhMUWCY98ApiLAktPJFWfvxKNSBAMNVTtwd_5NUc89ZkhLx4Dn0U6jgz6hyphenhyphenCrMSzsGZOrCWFh_W0MgmK5uwJgrChHxcihu5bAbC7sv1YU0WQFdzZQ3upoavnB4n7aOJ8SYEkTyo/s1600/alamodish+jewelry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLidF5VhMUWCY98ApiLAktPJFWfvxKNSBAMNVTtwd_5NUc89ZkhLx4Dn0U6jgz6hyphenhyphenCrMSzsGZOrCWFh_W0MgmK5uwJgrChHxcihu5bAbC7sv1YU0WQFdzZQ3upoavnB4n7aOJ8SYEkTyo/s320/alamodish+jewelry.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a yard sale find of mine from last summer. It may be one of those once in a lifetime kind of deals.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">So maybe you don't even keep a jewelry box. But what about all those digital photos you've taken? Are they still on your computer? Printed off and all put in the same box? Organized by year? Or maybe even scrapbooked to highlight your favorite ones? I think maybe sixty years from now, those might be things that people will look at and wonder about us. Speculate on how we might have been.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">But for now, I'm content in knowing that one thing I have in common with Mrs. J. L. Gaines is that we both had a little girl, age 2, who liked to wear fancy dresses.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Today's happiness: I have four different sewing projects that need to be finished, but I took and nap and blogged instead. Napping on a cold, gray day is my interpretation of finding the silver lining on winter weather. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">I hope you have a really great week! The kind that's so good that it's unmistakable for something special.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Best,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Andrea </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-52526067899455621842011-01-05T14:32:00.005-05:002011-01-05T20:57:35.255-05:00Sabrina's Gavin's birthday outfit<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Yes, you read that correctly. No, I don't know what my son is wearing to his own birthday party yet. But he's turning the big 0-5 this month, and his sister needs to be appropriately dressed for the birthday festivities. Said jamboree will take place at Monkey Joe's--one of those bounce-house-energy-burner gifts from God.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Given the amount of activity that will hopefully occur, I had to resist the urge to stitch out a dress for her. Instead, I started thinking about the possibilities of...PANTS! I must digress here to explain that I have no problem with pants whatsoever. It is just my personal taste to do a dress with leggings or jeans before actual pants. Don't ask me why. So, back to the pants. In keeping with my relative disdain for practicality when it comes to fashion, I couldn't just do a simple pair of pants. I had to find an Anne Adams romper pattern from 1940-something and update it a bit. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_qldD99qZKoCB3kGeL9Tc9hocAJ6QR7sRhZ4Jt_ue4SG6y0hkEQP59-dDVm4cS6BUWKJBEp_qeQqqidMTzaoxiYJCjEIM5QYdHiCeINRN_JSZeURLXw9WvFM17wtP8etGkhHZo-MJYs/s1600/alamodish+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_qldD99qZKoCB3kGeL9Tc9hocAJ6QR7sRhZ4Jt_ue4SG6y0hkEQP59-dDVm4cS6BUWKJBEp_qeQqqidMTzaoxiYJCjEIM5QYdHiCeINRN_JSZeURLXw9WvFM17wtP8etGkhHZo-MJYs/s320/alamodish+007.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">The lighting sure is terrible when my daughter naps (AKA my work time) in the afternoon.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbpS1SszfMYQM82LeXp-TZhIH5KrO_HsDtjx4vrDrw-jnNPwB13X6WzHx_JMNQ7-u1IrcDZHaHr0uZ5oFH8zB-IsezVH-jwo20Fhes-8yVfxE8lrDsuJBavoe0biaNQCQ3xuhFd7qtvY/s1600/alamodish+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbpS1SszfMYQM82LeXp-TZhIH5KrO_HsDtjx4vrDrw-jnNPwB13X6WzHx_JMNQ7-u1IrcDZHaHr0uZ5oFH8zB-IsezVH-jwo20Fhes-8yVfxE8lrDsuJBavoe0biaNQCQ3xuhFd7qtvY/s320/alamodish+008.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">But wait! There's more!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRkbvGN_K5lx_MDWrxSZpYrF1XzD7ykV9nU9CPFVp-JTPnfW_uLW715BIHpwPzNCi-eK64YRBNlqY9n3KmNipDCEyUjuJzwDPqg0B7GucI-jQbKmR6JAZpGTO5Irkryplk1tHWS2yNZc/s1600/alamodish+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRkbvGN_K5lx_MDWrxSZpYrF1XzD7ykV9nU9CPFVp-JTPnfW_uLW715BIHpwPzNCi-eK64YRBNlqY9n3KmNipDCEyUjuJzwDPqg0B7GucI-jQbKmR6JAZpGTO5Irkryplk1tHWS2yNZc/s320/alamodish+009.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise!!! It's drop-back for easy pottying!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Once the party commences, we will be better able to assess the user-friendliness of the flap-back getup. But for now, we can just marvel at this long-lost phenomena (It may be a bad sign that patterns don't offer this option anymore. Too many dips in the pool, if you know what I mean?).</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">P.S. Because of the one-piece potty dilemma, a La Modish will likely never carry anything like this in its line. But your thoughts are more than welcome! If you would still dress your girl in something like this, we would love to know!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: This is one of those mixed-fabric outfits that genuinely worried me a little. Usually, those are the ones that end up being the best combos, though! And bonus! This was made up entirely of fabric pieces I already had on hand.</span><br />
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F2GZF4FHCPCV</div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-86833779489819694992010-12-30T13:50:00.001-05:002010-12-30T16:38:48.090-05:00Lovely blouse! What.....this old sheet?<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Every now and again, we all need a second chance. So too, did this 1950's fitted twin sheet that was discovered at the local Salvation Army.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">It was one of those blah kinds of winter days. The kind where you turn on all of your home's interior lights in hopes of escaping that haze of salty gray lurking out the front door. It was blah <i>and</i> I was feeling extra spicy that afternoon, so I scoffed at Winter's weathered face and thought, "You can take Spring away from the girl, but you can't take the girl away from Spring!" And on the note of spring and green, why not do a little repurposing? And so I give to you:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzfeKgI-R23JOiZ3mXtxQIZQJXEyUtBZEc1aHJGhKvmBIZfXnQBhbzdrTbCFnIf2Q_XBkUBjTY73x_-VoASt0_y4jOHy540hCnfdZdLYN-AnJy6um0ozDnXsoTm09w4VlREe3_0Qnz3M/s1600/alamodish+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzfeKgI-R23JOiZ3mXtxQIZQJXEyUtBZEc1aHJGhKvmBIZfXnQBhbzdrTbCFnIf2Q_XBkUBjTY73x_-VoASt0_y4jOHy540hCnfdZdLYN-AnJy6um0ozDnXsoTm09w4VlREe3_0Qnz3M/s320/alamodish+034.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before you email to ask, no, I didn't make that wonderful pillow in the background. Homegoods--LOVE it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">It's a blousy top that's reminiscent of a ballerina. I envision Sabrina running through flower fields with the sun passing through its voluminous ruffles. If only we were somewhere near flower fields!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: Due to an old sheet being so sheer, I originally planned on fully lining the whole thing. But after I cut out all of the cotton lining, I realized this would be way too HEAVY with all that lining. So I made up a pristine all white dress out of it that looks just like this but with a third tier added for length. If you have beach photos on your brain for this next year, it may be just the dress for your little </span><strike style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">snow</strike><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> beach angel. Email me at: aLaModish@gmail.co</span>m</div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-4320035414593283092010-12-22T13:54:00.002-05:002010-12-22T16:03:26.129-05:00Roosters part deux<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">If you read my last posting, you will recall that I vowed to make both my daughter <i>and</i> son Christmas pajamas. This is monumental because I never sew for my poor boy.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">So to satisfy any potential curiosity, I have dutifully posted a picture of his recently completed senior citizen costume. Please note the full monogram on the left breast and the bathroom reading material in the right pocket.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUajkB7OVZUtzXDWwQZmIRYc4_HRVGg3CFBg3SWIxsPKiY3I-QvLyYk5HPZ7TzsGSU2tZ5T-TpAQELv2u9nfegChFLXNoqfV8bQzwQ3SBagRJJ9Gy40iEkM5IoNYFbh863f0sKJHyQQE/s1600/alamodish+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUajkB7OVZUtzXDWwQZmIRYc4_HRVGg3CFBg3SWIxsPKiY3I-QvLyYk5HPZ7TzsGSU2tZ5T-TpAQELv2u9nfegChFLXNoqfV8bQzwQ3SBagRJJ9Gy40iEkM5IoNYFbh863f0sKJHyQQE/s320/alamodish+008.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">And a recap of Sabrina's jammies. Note the ties on her jammies are the same as his fabric :) </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNS1m_SUcRLffpIxPkJYAJaDaeiZ6z8ucLJnfb-wg9bSLHEyrS8JpThvuHgs_lEi2fX6M_RMMVANEqOuLjD-abnqna43pyidmPxfAU9ElakSFj3aKstvLIUtmLJw73lFp2zciiHM4T544/s1600/december+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNS1m_SUcRLffpIxPkJYAJaDaeiZ6z8ucLJnfb-wg9bSLHEyrS8JpThvuHgs_lEi2fX6M_RMMVANEqOuLjD-abnqna43pyidmPxfAU9ElakSFj3aKstvLIUtmLJw73lFp2zciiHM4T544/s320/december+003.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both of their fabrics have black, green, and red. This is what I refer to as an "APM", or Accidental Perfect Match.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">I hope that all of you have a splendid holiday! If I don't see you before then, have a happy New Year too.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: Completely unrelated, but happy nonetheless. I found a good use for the drink carriers from McDonald's today. Put cups in all four slots, flip it over, and BAM! Instant castle for Woody and Buzz. Add a fabric napkin (flag) to a turret (cup) on top, and then you're really getting fancy.</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-71469358457240625432010-12-16T15:29:00.001-05:002010-12-16T15:41:51.895-05:00But what will the roosters say?!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">I must say that it's been a long while since I've sewn something just for fun. At least a month :) But I've been a little inspirationally challenged, I guess you could say. Feeling a little overworked and overwhelmed and ZAP!! There went my creative itch. Until...I realized that Christmas is less than two weeks away, and my kids don't have any homemade pajamas yet! Oh, and I saw some super cute scotty dog fabric during my last trip to the fabric store.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Sabrina is the benefactor of a really long Christmas nightgown that features funky little pups perfectly poised for Christmas. Gavin is going to look like a little old man in his black, green, and red plaid pajama bottoms, paired with a monogrammed robe in matching fabric. Here is Sabrina's nightwear:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpLHIRUJoznCLqxLvlOZdp6-e9y4yt8h4MwiGV1oFmkZMSPmE9tokAhtiIGfOqqh1wpcwGZyncNRWC0Fbcv0lVj-RaEgpqRRwDV6U_Omfzn4gXpmpRnGBxFgkTNr86EhC0-3bP5jFkv0/s1600/december+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpLHIRUJoznCLqxLvlOZdp6-e9y4yt8h4MwiGV1oFmkZMSPmE9tokAhtiIGfOqqh1wpcwGZyncNRWC0Fbcv0lVj-RaEgpqRRwDV6U_Omfzn4gXpmpRnGBxFgkTNr86EhC0-3bP5jFkv0/s320/december+002.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I thought this angle looked artsier, but it kind of distorts the shape of the gown.</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">And here it is at an angle where you can actually tell what it looks like:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5SZZFWl9x-k8n666US746_q6FnK5mnMJR8rOF0dKpBJbgsHumcZWVOERbiYgiS7RcggYEmoKvSiL0EDk2YNP7bkTvZHZQdjTBituQkncqIXwWVnnh_btPFWuZgzBE0VEZHZmqaOV6ro/s1600/december+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5SZZFWl9x-k8n666US746_q6FnK5mnMJR8rOF0dKpBJbgsHumcZWVOERbiYgiS7RcggYEmoKvSiL0EDk2YNP7bkTvZHZQdjTBituQkncqIXwWVnnh_btPFWuZgzBE0VEZHZmqaOV6ro/s320/december+003.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you look closely, you can see where the dogs in the center are half one color and half another. That's where the seam is. I like that it turned out just a little "off."</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">So with all of the fervor over what my children will be wearing as thoughts of sugar plums are dancing in their heads, it made me laugh to myself. I slave at the sewing machine so they look like little dolls on Christmas morning, while I intentionally dodge the camera for fear of what the early morning roosters might think of my hair. I mean, it's not that I don't care <i>at all. </i> Sometimes I even think far enough in advance to wear my hair straight on Christmas Eve to guarantee that it will still look good on Christmas Morning (Heaven forbid I mousse up my post-pregnancy curls the day before; that style has absolutely <i>no</i> PP {Post Pillow} longevity.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Today's happiness: Even if my children don't pass down all of their tediously hand made articles of love to<i> their </i>children, at least I'll have some satisfaction in knowing that the roosters, if not hens, were jealous of their Christmas morning digs.</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-13385006181413623082010-12-13T15:10:00.002-05:002010-12-13T15:19:42.099-05:00She believed she could....<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">so she did.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdXZB6OzXyhurRD06z4K1_KMMAz2Ak7Lvj61mrH9BG_MwN2E0ZmhxgUW1UaoXZQKywLGB-oO_UllfbBNskil8vPIesetZ6s7wBgg5XXDnntqWwYZXNpvI-CC7zDHsXydkyn04Si3ohIA/s320/snowy+days+015.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr align="justify"><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/valentinadesign?ref=seller_info"> </a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/valentinadesign?ref=seller_info" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">http://www.etsy.com/shop/valentinadesign?ref=seller_info</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdXZB6OzXyhurRD06z4K1_KMMAz2Ak7Lvj61mrH9BG_MwN2E0ZmhxgUW1UaoXZQKywLGB-oO_UllfbBNskil8vPIesetZ6s7wBgg5XXDnntqWwYZXNpvI-CC7zDHsXydkyn04Si3ohIA/s1600/snowy+days+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Wow, what a liberating 3 days it's been. Free from work. Free from stress. Free from solitude. My best friend of twenty years has flown up to visit for four whole days! I feel fortunate to have know someone for this long, let alone to have maintained this relationship. It's changed; oh how it's changed. But lovely all the same.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">So in one of our much missed conversations this weekend, my (above) framed inspiration became a point of discussion. It's in the corner of my work studio. You can't see it when you walk in. Because it's not really meant for you to see. It's strategically placed where I can see it from my sewing table with a quick sidewards glance. Just a note of encouragement to myself on those rough days when I feel like I just can't. And so she and I got to talking about the plight of the stay-at-home-mother. The desire to be with your children, but wanting to make some income too. And the seeming lack of work in that job market. And so we brainstormed about her gifts and what could be done with them. And you know what's interesting? It was <i>me</i> that was quick to reel off one talent of hers after the next. Not her. Which made me wonder, "At what point in our confidence-inspired childhoods do we forsake the truth for the lie?" The lie that we can't. It's too hard. That won't work. I'm not good at that.....</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Of course, this is absolutely no slight on my friend. I truly think that most of us think this way. We are afraid and slow to take action because we just don't think it's possible. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">So I encouraged her--the next time you get the <i>slightest </i>inkling that you might find something interesting, Go with it! Let your mind go down that road, and anytime you get to a "roadblock" of why it couldn't work, turn directions and keep going, and you'll get there. *If you want to.*</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: I have one more day of childish fun til it's back to the SDF airport for her. But we are making the most of it by having a "date" tonight :) . Dinner suggestions?</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-7233811358382215512010-11-30T17:12:00.001-05:002010-11-30T17:13:19.742-05:00Ho, ho, ho! Win this SUPER quick!!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Well happy-almost-December!! I think it was last week that I was lamenting the neighborhood pool closing (*sigh*). But alas! December means the holidays! And for many of you that means Christmas. Sooooo...I raided my stash of new pillowcase dresses, and look what I pulled out!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTgvlgT0vRvCGX8liOYnxzYJy9BvFJ2i-6tdlDYwnGxzlBFoOEKIQef2hZ9rWa-hRMxW4wiW3CzKhyphenhyphensFt5XlntR4Aj334mz8HAJENoI3ib0CSxUmPFuG2OWtaN_APlXymwFgFDGaD9Rc/s1600/november+30+2010+132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTgvlgT0vRvCGX8liOYnxzYJy9BvFJ2i-6tdlDYwnGxzlBFoOEKIQef2hZ9rWa-hRMxW4wiW3CzKhyphenhyphensFt5XlntR4Aj334mz8HAJENoI3ib0CSxUmPFuG2OWtaN_APlXymwFgFDGaD9Rc/s320/november+30+2010+132.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your girl NEEDS to wear this to her Christmas program.</td></tr>
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">So to my fantastic readers both old and new, I offer this dress up to you. Remember a couple of months ago when we gave away that dress for reaching our facebook fan goal in like, 2 days? Well this is about the same, but we only have one week! (I mean, what good would it be to give away a Santa dress when the season's already gone by?!)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">One week from today I will choose one of you as the merry winner if we get to our facebook fan goal of 550 fans by next Tuesday! Click on the facebook link on the right and it will take you to the page. Then suggest the "a La Modish" fan page to those that you think would love it! </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: Hip, hip, hooray for rubber boots! As I trolled the streets of Lexington today looking for fab vintage finds for some of you, my toes stayed toasty, and my feet stayed dry. Aah, it's the little things. And oddly enough, with my braided pigtails I felt a bit like a cowgirl. Yeehaw!</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-33238165509136013832010-11-28T15:30:00.001-05:002010-11-28T15:32:57.597-05:00Tiny Bear<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Every now and again, a person comes into your life as a stranger, but is quickly transformed into a friend. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">A couple of weeks ago, I had the fantastic opportunity of setting up shop at the Holly Day Market. The Market was incredibly successful in so many ways. But the common thread among all the shows I've ever participated in is the extraordinary people I inevitably meet. One of those people is the fantastically talented <a href="mailto:boiiboii24artist@yahoo.com">Maui Crane</a>.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Yes, I am going to tell you how beautiful his artwork is. His medium is jewelry; his canvas might be a wrist, a finger, or a decollete.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlE0dU_ZGp5EwLVUeGOPq3LzHz0LvYjWVQ8855IujCOqdGYQcfRaErdLtHuB7GZ5CUTkFM-wYy9rg97AIVpJ_a-tAevM3FO53NJfCb2UZTWpvQyEGOmbVYXxa69FItVvTBCoKEVFNlUMY/s1600/today+show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlE0dU_ZGp5EwLVUeGOPq3LzHz0LvYjWVQ8855IujCOqdGYQcfRaErdLtHuB7GZ5CUTkFM-wYy9rg97AIVpJ_a-tAevM3FO53NJfCb2UZTWpvQyEGOmbVYXxa69FItVvTBCoKEVFNlUMY/s320/today+show.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Featured on the Today Show. Vintage lace; hand-dyed.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hQDw7uLAukI_492mkMq7DNM5OcOIo8zkMxa1tQWvwtpLmM4JFC4bmQjS3wyR1kAr3fAGFCMdaPN5LNK3QmMqAw1lQPWabkRO85O4AKTK4n7Jfw1g7IzEPlxhgLuBoZzG8CydNjbArHg/s1600/dove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hQDw7uLAukI_492mkMq7DNM5OcOIo8zkMxa1tQWvwtpLmM4JFC4bmQjS3wyR1kAr3fAGFCMdaPN5LNK3QmMqAw1lQPWabkRO85O4AKTK4n7Jfw1g7IzEPlxhgLuBoZzG8CydNjbArHg/s320/dove.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He let me wear this all day! Pearls were hand-sewn, with a single pink pearl at the top center. Love.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">But the main reason I'm telling you about Maui is not just because of his jewelry, but because of his kindness. I was a relative stranger to him, but he was offering to watch my booth, get me lunch, and even made me a Nest Ring! And the instant he met my little ones, he brought over two necklaces from his "kiddie couture" line. One had a football charm and the other showcased a sweet little bear holding on to a Swarovski crystal ornament (he was immediately dubbed "Tiny Bear" by my Sabrina). I knew I was smiling, and it wasn't because of the haute new jewelry. It was so refreshing to cross paths with a person who shows kindness just for the sake of spreading love. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Tomorrow starts a new week! Let's all do something nice for a total stranger and see who ends up being the one rewarded.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today's happiness: If you like Maui's creations, you're in luck! On Tuesday, December 7th from 7:00-9:00 PM, The Lexington Fashion Collaborative will be showcasing some of his work at the Kentucky Theatre Gallery. Go check it out!</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-17684591722390885392010-11-10T13:31:00.000-05:002010-11-10T13:31:12.022-05:00Immune system, don't fail me now.<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Preschool pickup in an hour. Still one more errand to run. But in a desperate need of a mani/pedi. What to do?! So in a zealous attempt to be Super/mom/woman/business owner, I try to do it all, and slink into the nearest nail salon I could find. In this case, I was already in a big box store that offers everything from wonton wrappers to plant fertilizer to, well, nail salons. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">I think it was during the calf massage portion of the pedicure that I literally thought to myself, "Immune system, don't fail me now." I assumed that the equipment was sterilized, but as I glanced nervously about the room, I saw traces that led me to believe otherwise. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">The manicure/pedicure turned out to be mediocre and about $10 less than what I was used to paying. (If you're looking for an awesome nail tech, go see Chaun--pronounced 'Shawn'--at Nail EnVogue in Hamburg.)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">So now that I've painted myself to be a high-maintenance nail snob, I must explain why the "spa" day was necessary. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Who can tell me what starts this weekend in Lexington? Why the Holly Day Market, of course! This was the one part of preparation for the Market that hasn't brought tears to my eyes, but after today's sketchy experience, it came close.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Today's happiness: The Holly Day Market officially starts on Friday, the 12th. But for me, it starts tomorrow night when the Preview Party begins. If you read my blog, come by and say "hi" sometime this weekend! I would love to meet you. And don't look too closely at my fingernails.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGgC9mpv-rzUfxN-Nl7ydI988A4T9S8tfJNn3spWZZeX1lOHhgE3fUtd5Kg94LJBNIKnoIMhbbFugLBTxvA5lsmFH-ZxjIbemVUMPClxJKxwkaUKTlKG1vLO8QY9RI5w128Wme4FK_JM/s1600/IMG_1293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGgC9mpv-rzUfxN-Nl7ydI988A4T9S8tfJNn3spWZZeX1lOHhgE3fUtd5Kg94LJBNIKnoIMhbbFugLBTxvA5lsmFH-ZxjIbemVUMPClxJKxwkaUKTlKG1vLO8QY9RI5w128Wme4FK_JM/s320/IMG_1293.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Miss Evelyn. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-77449571443272884452010-11-07T19:44:00.001-05:002010-11-07T19:45:49.847-05:00How to tie a pretty bow<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">And the holidays are upon us. With all of the feasting, family, and travel, the least of your concerns may be how to tie a pretty bow. But I assume that since <i>you</i> are reading this, you would disagree.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">The idea for this blog post came when my friend, Brandi, asked me to show her how to tie a nice, symmetrical bow for her daughter's new a La Modish dress. And so without further ado, I give to you the "secret" for tying a pretty bow.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">1. Make sure that the tails of the bow are of equal lengths. If you are tying the sash (bow) on a dress, they should already be even.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmrt03O8uJOmXXhU9rQ3P2jDpVjXSWtnaJpM93S1Lk4hhzd-WTiYzmTQhDtIWlaeMz_xm2CUEDq5apIgGGJG-oOwdK1CeiTYvwAvhkIiB9HYph1McCTQ-8N2GGhhsQUvmDNSFuNDp8w0/s1600/bow+490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmrt03O8uJOmXXhU9rQ3P2jDpVjXSWtnaJpM93S1Lk4hhzd-WTiYzmTQhDtIWlaeMz_xm2CUEDq5apIgGGJG-oOwdK1CeiTYvwAvhkIiB9HYph1McCTQ-8N2GGhhsQUvmDNSFuNDp8w0/s320/bow+490.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2. Cross the <i>righ</i>t tail over the <i>left</i>. This is a very important step for keeping your bow from being wonky.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfVzCEw6fYMOSSIrj8U5m2cvATRsZYQBCP1DajmVPHhP1BoCvnS6NuQUYCxe-zd44WglNl8TZmgqbTOlZhckSN-pS97OiBEcEVlaV60eTmLVN7iH5wQmxR-_GYKFdCbrbAZWCeNxdV-8/s1600/bow+491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfVzCEw6fYMOSSIrj8U5m2cvATRsZYQBCP1DajmVPHhP1BoCvnS6NuQUYCxe-zd44WglNl8TZmgqbTOlZhckSN-pS97OiBEcEVlaV60eTmLVN7iH5wQmxR-_GYKFdCbrbAZWCeNxdV-8/s320/bow+491.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">3. Pull the right tail under the left tail and up through the opening on top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7hCyBq7fI1hYmYnpBZvXC5s3X0Ptae1wje7-rvYkmuCU0afCTy9ROo3xstQXGM5F2AEMq9OSnhcsOkPN9saRmmUSPievuN5S4zE5nx7bk4MDw2YTIphlbWFIfUnq6v7FiIJ9PkVXtuQ/s1600/bow+492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7hCyBq7fI1hYmYnpBZvXC5s3X0Ptae1wje7-rvYkmuCU0afCTy9ROo3xstQXGM5F2AEMq9OSnhcsOkPN9saRmmUSPievuN5S4zE5nx7bk4MDw2YTIphlbWFIfUnq6v7FiIJ9PkVXtuQ/s320/bow+492.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">4. Make a loop with the tail that is now on the right side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7g4oTm_FTHE1cU2CvmYKnjO9jB0_dqNoFlH94XjpGeGHKGl41NNV4PYzR34aTkk0zD_DuxmlnBVGwHbrhXiyH0Hjo8QIhFE-xx7ESDkzcs0Yu4vjSLaI9jY2VQnHk_aqqEUSS6CCGla8/s1600/bow+493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7g4oTm_FTHE1cU2CvmYKnjO9jB0_dqNoFlH94XjpGeGHKGl41NNV4PYzR34aTkk0zD_DuxmlnBVGwHbrhXiyH0Hjo8QIhFE-xx7ESDkzcs0Yu4vjSLaI9jY2VQnHk_aqqEUSS6CCGla8/s320/bow+493.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">5. Place the new left tail over your loop and pull up through the opening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpo9hMu0gS8bo8oX0w4OP8OC5vbeR6Gh2IRzF7ks1XJpNgXCzRAutUaaq-8eokLXyvFdhclh1TTc-Hk-vds7X442IEB2fVKDVsBb7xfs7vbgNGFMXGt9ea9csS0PGtyDqec_bUHES6n3w/s1600/bow+494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpo9hMu0gS8bo8oX0w4OP8OC5vbeR6Gh2IRzF7ks1XJpNgXCzRAutUaaq-8eokLXyvFdhclh1TTc-Hk-vds7X442IEB2fVKDVsBb7xfs7vbgNGFMXGt9ea9csS0PGtyDqec_bUHES6n3w/s320/bow+494.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">6. Perfectly symmetrical bow!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1zjkFX4L364-iE_lIwIJVMMthZZGHrs5EYy6SMQbkIflOpoiWvDrUuyOt2P7AiVno13uEGBqGF0GyFisDgZ33MV_KTx9oE3f1YJ46-okfdDCbkEdlz9fH5pRuQKciRRpCK-QXvb9r1w/s1600/bow+495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1zjkFX4L364-iE_lIwIJVMMthZZGHrs5EYy6SMQbkIflOpoiWvDrUuyOt2P7AiVno13uEGBqGF0GyFisDgZ33MV_KTx9oE3f1YJ46-okfdDCbkEdlz9fH5pRuQKciRRpCK-QXvb9r1w/s320/bow+495.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Feel free to post pics of your newly found bow-tying skills on the a La Modish fan page! Not a fan? Click the facebook icon on the right, and it will take you right where you want to go.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Today's happiness: Well, pretty bows! Or the happiness that surrounds them, rather. Maybe it's on a wrapped gift, Christmas tree, antique mantle, holiday dress, or a little girl's lovely locks. Wherever you find them, you will almost always find something good and joyous.</div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-83042463236939697012010-10-25T16:07:00.002-04:002010-10-27T16:34:15.634-04:00Stella is getting her groove<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Last night's sewing session earned an entry into my personal Book of World Sewing Records. This dress was so tiny that American Girl fashions don't have anything on it.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">My son's preschool teacher was recently blessed with a new baby granddaughter, Stella. Little Miss Stella was born at 32 weeks, at 2 lbs. and some change. So my first thought was, "Oh dear! I hope she's doing okay." And then, of course, my second thought was, "Stella needs a pretty dress like any other baby girl, no matter how small it has to be."</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3puJ7kwCA_U4_M56MQTi2YmqG-YjGnE5ALyAncYhmN9fPNlJn_aNc58u9SuOGHikKaDX-XvGN9MBKexsb_oaAPLEP_bXaUp2a3i5BXvogI_0BvbDQQB56eUfGnE0J42IGUzAxPSxGp8/s1600/IMG_1267%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3puJ7kwCA_U4_M56MQTi2YmqG-YjGnE5ALyAncYhmN9fPNlJn_aNc58u9SuOGHikKaDX-XvGN9MBKexsb_oaAPLEP_bXaUp2a3i5BXvogI_0BvbDQQB56eUfGnE0J42IGUzAxPSxGp8/s200/IMG_1267%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcjsbac4jpDaeENONpn7466J_4n7ry_hSm04BuIR7SPCLAi-kr0iNC_HVvwLSLF4z8_2L1UZPE9hAPPmBbc94K5SWWCRjk91g1mDlWFeJR8_cL0Fkmu9fWoud1YHrtZ7rpZsPmgbgT2M/s1600/IMG_1269%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcjsbac4jpDaeENONpn7466J_4n7ry_hSm04BuIR7SPCLAi-kr0iNC_HVvwLSLF4z8_2L1UZPE9hAPPmBbc94K5SWWCRjk91g1mDlWFeJR8_cL0Fkmu9fWoud1YHrtZ7rpZsPmgbgT2M/s320/IMG_1269%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still wonder if it's too big?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Truthfully, I don't even know if she will be allowed to wear it. I'm quite certain she's in the NICU, and they might frown upon her wearing something other than hospital wear. But maybe they'll let her wear it for just a moment. Long enough for Mama to be afforded that happy moment of dressing her real live baby doll in something sweet and pretty. And one more moment to snap a picture.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Today's happiness: I'm guessing most of you have daughters, and that there've been many reasons to dress her up. Give her a hug today because she's here, she's precious, and she's yours. Then say a special prayer for Stella to have many more occasions to wear fancy dresses too :)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">xoxo,</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Andrea </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033988322001597906.post-12554499271182701692010-10-21T17:37:00.003-04:002010-10-21T17:57:38.143-04:00"Have mercy on my out-of-state soul!"<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Just when I think I'm a big-metropolis kind of girl living in a medium-sized city of 300,000, I find myself shouting commentary to all of the other Chicagoan drivers. "I'm not a cab driver and don't prefer to drive like one!" or "Charlemagne (This is what I imagine my GPS girl to be named should she be a real live person.), give me a little more heads up next time!" Usually Jeff drives, but he had driven the first five hours of the trip, and I thought I'd give him a break. I should probably be more strategic with the break next time so as not to end up driving the crazy, big-metropolis portion.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">He had a work trip to which I promptly tagged along. Three day break from children--check. Quality time with hubby--check. Beautiful hotel--check.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSmhzo4kjFAKU3ofDVKf2g9hxlFaw3HfSDDfhGnEhhatGzDx-BWnLGqKnIXLolwwj6P2xqhMewTkxAYxCFdb_bvU5iyo8_xK9mw4udXVCQON-Amgf6tMI0RJ7g1gtnuJ5wlDeE8Guho4/s320/IMG_1238%5B1%5D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I read that this artist also helped restore the Sistine Chapel. Not sure that he was properly qualified.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSmhzo4kjFAKU3ofDVKf2g9hxlFaw3HfSDDfhGnEhhatGzDx-BWnLGqKnIXLolwwj6P2xqhMewTkxAYxCFdb_bvU5iyo8_xK9mw4udXVCQON-Amgf6tMI0RJ7g1gtnuJ5wlDeE8Guho4/s1600/IMG_1238%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Oh, and let's not forget, Chicago Fabric and Trim Show--check! This show was like candy for anyone that loves textiles, design, or pretty little sparklies. So, for you and your daughter's pleasure, I have found some Oh so cute! trimmings that will be adorning a La Modish fashions next fall. It will be enough to make you wish you could fit into a 2T again.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">Today's happiness: Well, actually it was<i> yesterday's</i> happiness. If you are in Chicago and are looking to have a completely spectacular dinner, check out Gene & Georgetti. It's an old Italian steakhouse. The kind that makes you suspect that if you pull on the candle sconce, the dark wood paneling will rotate to reveal a room full of card-playing, cigar smoking mobsters. And they have a really cute menu cover that hasn't changed since 1941.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3faBZskxxT4smUiCLMwHh_mhyDnKYo6HjA96yOto_Kil_iy8u3Z2GtwghG8tAeqwmV4G-QhilVgmxUm37wPYNq_frwCWgHL7Mi37YKqbdvk8Qi36ctyc8fCINn2tlMu-jH8Rukty0x4A/s320/IMG_1243%5B1%5D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's also "air conditioned for your comfort"! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3faBZskxxT4smUiCLMwHh_mhyDnKYo6HjA96yOto_Kil_iy8u3Z2GtwghG8tAeqwmV4G-QhilVgmxUm37wPYNq_frwCWgHL7Mi37YKqbdvk8Qi36ctyc8fCINn2tlMu-jH8Rukty0x4A/s1600/IMG_1243%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05319252005896968451noreply@blogger.com0