verbingnouns

Projects

After taking a 15 year hiatus from sewing, I recieved a sewing machine for Christmas from my dear parents. I had the hardest time deciding what to make for my first project. I intended to make a dress, but then I went accross the street to a little fabric shop that has fantastic quilt fabric. Of course, I wasn't going to make a quilt. Do you really think I'm crazy? Not quite that crazy. Instead, I started thinking how all those great quilt fabrics would make adorable purses. So I came back home and started searching for a pattern to make a purse. After a long search, I found this great site and I was determined to make this purse. Unfortunately, I could never find the pattern (not sure if it's published yet) and the fabric she used was vintage and therefore, unobtainable. So I searched for the next best thing, and here's what I found: Amy Butler's Kimberly pattern. I immediately fell in love with Amy Butler's patterns and fabric. Of course the beautiful thing about living in the second largest metro-area in the country is that I can have immediate shopping gratification, instead of ordering online. So I got my pattern and fabric, and got to work.
So taking Amy Butler's pattern and fabric, along with the inspiration from Heather Bailey's fabulous bag, here's my first sewing project in years (and my first zipper installation ever):

From Miscellaneous

From Miscellaneous

My technique definitely needs some improvement, but I have to admit, I'm proud of how it turned out.
I may try to make another one (with some modifications like an interior pocket) out of this old duvet cover that I can't bear to part with, but I can't use in house occupied by a man:

From Miscellaneous

I like the fabric, so I think I'll go all "Fraulein Maria" on it and make it into something more useful.

Goings On

I know it’s been way too long since I’ve updated this thing. I wish I still blogged, but I have a very hard time getting into it. Every time I start writing a post, I am interrupted somehow and end up deleting what I’ve written since I can’t finish it.
Since it’s been SO long, I’ll just give a general update. Hit the high points, ya know? I’m finally settled in. I think it took the regular day-to-day routine of working to really feel like I live here instead of like a visitor. I’m working at a bank again, which was not my top choice, but there aren’t a lot of mortgage jobs available these days, so I took what I could get. I actually really like my job. I’m working in the operations department at a small local business bank. Because it’s so small, I get the chance to learn how to do a little bit of everything. So far, it has been a good fit for me. I have a 30 mile drive each way which sometimes takes 30 minutes and sometimes takes an hour (usually around 35 minutes), so I’m spending a lot more time in the car than I did in Monroe. Such is life in Southern California.
My mom and dad came out to visit this past weekend, which gave me the motivation to finally finish the last few boxes that were sitting in the guest room. Those boxes have been bothering me for months and it looks so much better now that they’re gone that I’m kicking myself for not taking care of them much sooner. So the apartment is complete and is working out very well. The ladies from our church are giving us a belated wedding shower on Saturday, so I will have a few more things to find places for, but that’s always a nice problem to have.
We had a lot of fun with Mom & Dad. I took off work on Friday and went to the Reagan Presidential Library with them. It was a very interesting place and I left feeling all patriotic. There are so many fascinating things there, but I have to admit: my favorite part was seeing all of Nancy Reagan’s dresses on display. She had some beautiful gowns. It was also neat to tour the old Air Force One. It’s very 80’s, but was quite cutting-edge at the time.
On Saturday, we went up to the central coast area to tour a couple of wineries. Though some of the wines we tasted were good, there wasn’t anything I was just blown away by. However, the wine is the secondary thing: the experience of being there with good company makes it more fun than any amount of wine could.
Stephen is staying very busy studying for his upcoming CPA exam. He takes the first section in 2 weeks. If you think about it, please keep him in your prayers.
Other than that, we are living happily-ever-after. We both love being married and are overjoyed just to get to see each other every day. We hope to make a trip to the south sometime this summer, and will keep you posted on when that might be.

Hugs and Kisses,
Christin