Turquoise Blouse

A while back I showed you a small glimpse of a shirt I'd been working on:

Well, with some minor tweaks I've made another go at the pattern and I'm happy enough with it I traced all of the pattern pieces out onto something that would last a little longer through multiple uses:

Love and Cinnamon

I've never really been a fan of Valentine's Day.  I could ramble on for pages about why but you didn't come here for that. And some of you have made it clear in the past that you don't respect my opinion on such things. Which means you probably won't like this post at all anyway. lol

Anyway, I know I've been bad about posting lately, but things have been really busy. Too busy even to sew! I know, that's just crazy!  But I've been thinking about you, my followers, wondering what wonderful and fun and amazing projects you have been working on, wondering if you are painting or sewing or generally making yourself into a better person (yeah, you know who you are). And I just wanted to let you know you're in my thoughts.

And since it is a special occasion I wanted to post something over from another blog that seems important for today.

Sarai over at the Coletterie has generously offered to donate all of the procedes from today's sales of her beautiful Cinnamon pattern:

Cinnamon Pattern

to benefit the important civil rights issue of our time: marriage equality.  

If you're disappointed this isn't a post about me trying the cinnamon challenge, well, at least you have this pretty slip dress to look at: (isn't it lovely!)

Cinnamon

So if you sew or know someone who sews this would be a great gift for yourself or someone else and the money goes for a good cause.

Hope your February is going great! 

PS: idk why some of the non-linked text is showing up underlined, but I'll try to get it fixed asap.

Solitary Hobbies

It's funny how some people are always drawn to crowds and some are not.  It's funny because I've found yet another hobby, another solitary hobby. 

LOL

I've been sewing (finished another shirt in a more photo-friendly color which I hope to post soon), and having fun minis-related activities, and now, additionally, I've been taking and editing short videos. 

We don't have a video camera but our camera takes decent video and I found some free editing software online that isn't too bad when it isn't crashing continuously for no reason.  But it seems to be enough. I can't help it; I've already found myself drawn in to the fun of it.

I think it's the same reason I like doing things like this blog - all of my hobbies are so solitary that I need somewhere to connect with people (without actually having to be around a big group of people which freaks me out). 

I guess I just said all that to say this: 

Hey, I'm doing stuff!

 and 

I appreciate you.

Have a great Monday!

Superhero Hair Bows

This fall I kept seeing this pic floating around the internet and thought the idea was super cute.

 

So I decided to make superhero hair bows for one of my nieces for Christmas.

Women in Wargaming: In My Shoes

I sadly feel compelled to preface this post with this: I don't usually post up my strong opinions on such subjects as the internet can be a harsh place full of haters and trolls. So I have generally kept to my sewing and painting and other non-feather-ruffling subjects. But this is my outlet, my place to say my piece, even if no one is listening. 
If you choose to comment, please be respectful of each others' viewpoints and opinions.

When I try to search for women in wargaming on the internet I usually end up with mostly two things: scantily-clad cosplayers/ "booth babes" and the female characters in various armies. Instead what I want are groups of women who love wargaming and gaming in general with which I and other women could find comraderie. But they are few, far between, and many seem to be alone in their areas.

Purses!

Two of my favorite gifts that I gave for the holidays this year went to two of my closest friends.  Early on in the holiday-sewing season I had already decided I wanted to make purses.  Now, I've made a couple of purses for myself in the past but was never happy with them, and of late I have basically stopped carrying any purse at all.

Fortunately the internet is full of fun inspiration for bags and purses of all different shapes and sizes.

purse + inspiration =?= purspiration?? lol

Wine Glass Coasters

One of the fun gifts that we gave this year was for my mother-in-law: wine glass coasters. One of the perks of my job is that I am often surrounded by creative people happy to share their new project ideas, and I'm happy to say that I 'stole' this idea off one of them this summer. This fall my husband helped me to bring this to life in time to give the gifts.