Author Archives: SewTara

Digital Hoarding.

Posted on November 13, 2012 by SewTara| 5 Comments

I think I have a problem.

Literally, *every* Michelle Patterns pattern. Every single one.

I mean most people today have too much stuff. We’ve been trying at home to keep our ‘stuff’ minimal. We’ve banned knick knacks unless they come from our travels or really *mean* something to us. With our kids, while we are careful with how much we buy them, it’s hard with an October birthday and a December birthday and then Christmas 2 days after that . . . it gets a bit crazy. Honestly, it’s usually the reason I advocate for us to travel at Christmas, thinking we’ll skip the gifts mountain but it doesn’t work.

When you’re a crafter of course you acumulate stuff. Before getting into sewing I did papercrafts, cards and scrapbooks mostly. Then after starting my blog and getting into fabric now I have yardage, then a fat quarter collection and then I keep a scrap bin. THEN I have smaller scraps for 1 inch magnet making and then I keep the smallest scraps ever for hair clips and such. It’s insane.

Mollie Makes digital subscription. Now add Gathered to that. Honestly, both amazing, amazing magazines but yeah, adding to my collection.

Now add to that the things I’ve started to accumulate on my iPad and Macbook.

Folder and folders of things to look at later and get inspired or ideas to make. As if I need to add to my to do list or ‘things I want to make’.

Then there’s the business research and books and things to read I have as well. Classes to take, things to learn. It’s tough to balance it all when what you love to do, drives you to do it more and makes you happy but is hard to fit into your ‘normal’ life.

Someone please tell me you have this going on too!

→ 5 Comments

Posted in crafty books, online class stuff

Tagged , , ,

Organizing, organizing and oh, more organizing.

Posted on November 12, 2012 by SewTara| 3 Comments

So are you a messy work space kinda person?

Sometimes I swear I spend more time just decluttering my work space and getting it neat and tidy so I can think and actually create than I do creating!

I decided to use this desk calendar and I blocked off the afternoons I have off in a month. The plan was to head to the gym after I was done work at 11:25. Then head home after an hour or so at the gym for some lunch. Then spend the afternoon writing and creating until walking across the street at about 4 to fetch the kids.

My vision has yet to happen. I think I’ve done that 2, possibly 3 but I highly doubt it, times since school started on September 4th.

There always seems to be an appointment or an errand to run . . . Perhaps the colder weather and some snow will be the kick in the butt I need to stick to my plan.

→ 3 Comments

Posted in uncategorized

Apron making

Posted on November 5, 2012 by SewTara| 2 Comments

So I offered to make this apron for Homespun Dazzle in exchange for some of her fabulously fantastic candles.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in fun finds, gifts, sewing

Tagged

A Little Shopping

Posted on November 2, 2012 by SewTara| 5 Comments

While in Toronto for BlissdomCA I made the epic walk to The Workroom.

Picked up these fun fat quarters, it seems it was a pink and blue day.

I also picked up one of those cross stitchable pendants. Not sure what I’m putting on it yet but I’ve got some fun ideas.

Also, yeah it’s Friday and I still haven’t finished what I said I would for my Create Along, once again, such is life.

→ 5 Comments

Posted in fun finds

Tagged , , , ,

Happy Halloween!

Posted on October 31, 2012 by SewTara| 4 Comments

Hope you had a fantastic Halloween. I couldn’t find my modified prom dress that goes with my Tooth Fairy costume so I whipped up a cute plush tooth instead (complete with Mollie-eqsue face) . . . but I know it’s here somewhere.

I had a great day at school, considering it was Halloween. Sadly, with it being on a Wednesday we’ve still got 2 days left to see how crazy it’s really going to get.

My classroom runs on it’s own little time table because I teach a small special education class so I don’t see much of the school, we have our own kitchen, bathroom and we use the fenced in Kindergarten yard for recess but today I happened to catch a glimpse of the gym teacher and I’m so glad I did. Best. Costume. Ever!

We were so busy at home this evening I didn’t even snap a pic of the kids! Wow, mom fail.

→ 4 Comments

Posted in DIY, kid fun

Tagged , , ,

Movember is coming, Movember is coming.

Posted on October 30, 2012 by SewTara| 1 Comment

While at Blissdom Canada I had the lovely pleasure of meeting Caron while on the Movember excursion. I had actually missed the excursion I had chosen but managed to tag along with my roomie and another awesome friend.

About Movember. Taken from this info page.

On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.

For the month of November I’ll be donating $4 from the sale of my moustache cozies.

Donations can also be made directly through My Movember page.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in uncategorized

Tagged , , , , ,

Blissdom CA

Posted on October 28, 2012 by SewTara| 8 Comments

Wow. Just wow.

Yes it’s taken me a week to write this post but life has been so ridiculously busy and also I haven’t really known where to start with it all. But I can say I had an absolutely amazing time at Blissdom Canada!

It was my first time so I was a bit hesitant but I had no reason to be. I only live about 30 mins outside of Toronto so while I could have commuted back and forth I decided to get a hotel room. I tweeted @BlissdomCA and asked if there was a system for finding roomies, they just retweeted me and I found the wonderful Shannon. I kid you not she is amazing. Her recap of the weekend is freaking hilarious.

So I had only chatting with Shannon on twitter and email a bit, then Friday night her plane had to make an emergency landing and she was about 7 hours later than she meant to be! She didn’t get to the hotel until 11:30ish. Normally I’m a night owl but I was pretty tired that day and probably would have been in bed already if it wasn’t for the fact that a stranger was about to walk into the room and I was in bed in my jammies. But she walked in and we got along and all was well.

I noticed that fantastic painting placement while trying to keep my eyes open waiting for Shannon.

I had made some friends Friday night during the fun car rally and all four of us ended up spending some fun times together. It was a great weekend.

Oh and I also learned some stuff, got a load of SWAG and met a lot of great people. I have a pile of cards to show for it and plan on shouting from the rooftops about the ones that I adore.

I learned about Movember and even got involved.

We headed to Soupstock in the afternoon before parting ways.

***some photos lovingly stolen from Shannon’s tweets and such, thanks roomie****

→ 8 Comments

Posted in uncategorized

Tagged ,

What I wore, yeah I’m playing that game too.

Posted on October 26, 2012 by SewTara| Leave a comment

I’ve been struggling to find my own style lately. I guess it started with the whole purple hair thing and a nose piercing back in June. Things have gotten a bit brighter and more patterned since then!

Dress – Forever 21 (for $13.99!!)
Tights – pretty sure Target
Cardigan – Target
Locket – Emma Gem Shop

Now I need to still get the hang of this outfit posting thing because I was home alone with the kids so there was some timer setting involved before I broke down and asked one of the kids across the street to snap a few photos.

There’s been many a day when I’ve wanted to photograph my outfit but haven’t had the means. I need to fix that.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in outfits

Tagged , , ,

What a weekend.

Posted on October 22, 2012 by SewTara| 1 Comment

So I had an amazing fantastically awesome super duper weekend.

I was at Blissdom Canada and boy was it a crazy fun time. In case you couldn’t tell from my list of adjectives.
It was 3 days of fun, new friends and inspiration. I’m still recovering and digesting.

As a consequence of my excitement and running into the city for days I didn’t get my Friday Create Along project done and I also have a pile of orders to make!

If you’re checking me out because we met at Blissdom, welcome and please note I’m not normally this light on my posts or flakey . . . well maybe I am a bit flakey, but I’m more awesomer than this normally I promise.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in uncategorized

Shows to pass the crafty time.

Posted on October 18, 2012 by SewTara| 5 Comments

I have to admit I’m a bit of a multitasker and watch shows while crafting. Since I’ve been writing my blog and operating my Etsy shop for almost 4 years that’s made for a lot of TV series I’ve burned through. Some I’ve just found/borrowed/bought but many come from Netflix or Netflix.ca if you’re like me. Most of these have had their run and you can watch them right till the end.

Quirky and funny.

This one takes a special kind of humour but it’s totally worth it. Not for the easily offended,Arrested Development.

I know there’s a lot of workplace comedies in this list but hey, they’re funny, Better Off Ted.

The Office, British version is hilarious and totally unpolitically correct. The Office, US is good too. And, since it’s still on the air Parks and Recreation is great.

Geeky and still funny.

If you like zombies, video games and comic books this one will make you chuckle Spaced.

The recent runs of Dr Who. Didn’t think I’d like this one but I sooooo do.

Supernatural. Total eye candy, oh and a good show too.

Charmed. I never watched this when it was actually on but it was the first series I went through when I started my crafty life a few years ago.

Random British stuff.

Mistresses. Serious drama about a group of girlfriends and their relationships with men and each other.

Coupling. This show was on before Friends and I’ve heard it’s sort of where they got the idea. This series is a bit racier than Friends, as is most British television, but it’s hilarious.

Another one sure to cause giggles and laugher is The IT Crowd. Yeah, I have a thing for British television.

Oldies but goodies I could watch again and again.

The Goonies. Just watched this the other weekend.

Princess Bride. I can quote line upon line upon line.

And of course Firefly, Serentiy, Flight of the Conchords and Spaceballs and I’m sure I could go on and on with some more but I think you now have enough to choose from!

→ 5 Comments

Posted in fun finds

Tagged , , , ,