Making Progress

Well, our front yard is still an absolute disaster, but at least the pipe is fixed now! No more leaky, stinky, muddy front yard (in a few weeks when hopefully everything grows back). So I guess it's a relief that it's done.

The apron-making and selling business is going pretty good so far. I've posted 6 aprons and I had someone ask me to reserve one for them to purchase, so I may have some good news coming up soon. It's a fun hobby and gives me something to do and look forward to so I'm not complaining. And it also allows my creativity to be stretched which is always a good thing. My newest apron the "Garden Waltz" is a full apron of my own design and I am very proud of how it turned out (see picture or my etsy site). It even has interfacing on the inside so that there's no tell-tell signs that it's handmade (loose threads, unfinished edges, etc.) It's amazing how many more things I have learned about sewing in just the few weeks I've been making aprons. I mean, I already knew the sewing basics, but now I find myself thinking like a seamstress and correcting myself before I make mistakes (and this has greatly reduced my overall sewing time as I don't have to go back and rip and resew seams).

Daryll and I watched American Idol tonight and just relaxed. It doesn't seem like there are too many extraordinary contestants this year, but hopefully by the time they get to the top 12 it will be entertaining. Anyways, that is all for tonight. More updates to come soon.

32 Reasons is Online!

My new shop is up online now and I've started posting my aprons! Keep your fingers crossed that they sell! You can visit my shop at: www.32reasons.etsy.com. (Check out my profile there for info on the shop name.) Also if you become as crazy obsessed with etsy as I am and want to sign up for an account (to buy or sell stuff) please put down that I referred you! And mark my shop as a favorite! I'm very excited already (like you couldn't tell, right?)

Click below to go to my shop (or type the website into your browser).

Under Construction (and another week in review)

My past week can be summarized in 2 words: Under Construction! The HOA gardeners came a few days ago to dig up our front lawn so that we can have a plumber come out to assess and fix the leaky pipe in the middle of the yard. So now we have a huge mud puddle in the front yard and we're "that house" in the neighborhood.

Yesterday we had someone come over to pick up some things that we had posted on craigslist and as they were leaving the dogs escaped out the front door. Next thing we knew we heard a big splash and Lulu came slinking back completely drenched in dirty muddy water. Our poor sweet girl.

Daryll and I both spent a few hours yesterday working on separate projects around the house. I was spray painting free-standing shelves for the kitchen a bright red color in the garage. Daryll was working in the backyard cutting down a huge bush that had fallen over during the last storm. Both projects were time consuming and messy, but we were glad to have time to work on them. Today Daryll was trying to finish up the shelving unit by using a glass cutting tool to cut the shelves, but as we learned it takes a lot of practice if you don't want to end up with shattered glass all over. So as for now, we have a red shelving unit with no shelves. Ah well, live and learn.

Week in Review

Whoops, I've been a bad blogger the past week. And I didn't take many pictures either. I think I'm just going to blame it on the rain though. Daryll was pretty happy about last weeks rain though as he went snowboarding with some friends over the weekend. I decided not to venture to the snow with him though because I no longer own any snow clothing and I didn't think that it would be worth buying new stuff for one day. And I don't particularly like being cold and wet all day (and yes, I would be cold and wet because I am not a great snowboarder who stays on my feet the majority of the day, but rather the type who's butt freezes off quite literally).

Anyhow, in other news my apron making is going pretty well. I like how the aprons are turning out so far and I'm pleased to say that today I finished my first apron without using a pattern (see picture above). I like the way it turned out and I hope to create more of my own designs in the future. I have also started taking steps to set up my online store on etsy, so look for the link in a future post!

Making Good on my New Year's Resolution

So I have been pretty good about keeping up with a picture a day (and the blog hasn't been bad either), so yesterday I decided it was time to work on photoshop. Daryll bought me the "Photoshop Elements 6 Missing Manual" and I dug right in testing the different functions as I came upon them in the book. And I have to say that I understand why photoshop can be so addicting! I pulled up some of my best pictures and was shocked that they could be made even better. It is so wonderful and I think I have a new obsession. So today's picture is a before and after from our honeymoon in Tahiti.

Lulu and the Television

Tonight Daryll and I were watching a part of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show and Lulu wanted to get in the action too :-) She's such a cutie! Whenever she sees another dog on tv she runs over and puts her paws up to get a better look. Then she usually runs up the stairs behind the tv looking for the other dog. Well, at least she halfway got the concept...

P.S. The pug came in 2nd in the Toy group in the dog show! Yay pugs!

Apron Making on a Winter Day

I cannot believe the crazy weather! Today the weather was so windy and rainy that something fell on my car windshield in my driveway hard enough to actually put a small crack in it. I can't believe it! The dogs were not very happy about the weather today either. You'd think I'm torturing them to make them get their paws a little wet. I spent the day sewing up a couple of aprons. I thought that I might try to put a few up on etsy and see if they sell. We'll see. I'd like to have a few more completed before I put them up there and I need to think of a creative shop name for my etsy account. (For those who are not familiar with etsy.com, you should get acquainted. It is a fantastic website featuring thousands of "shops" selling everything handmade. I'm pretty much obsessed with it. And it's a great way to kill some internet time :-) Alright, that's all for now!