Oh my it's been a long time...
Again lol.
This year has been the most interesting year of my life. So many changes...some great...some heartbreaking. All in all though I have done my best to accept them and learn from them.
Some of the things I did:
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Feeding My Fabric Addiction Part 3...
I will warn everyone right here and now...if you're worried about spending too much NEVER go fabric shopping while emotionally unstable. It was very therapeutic actually. I spent like 3 hours in my local Hancock Fabrics and really did have a great time. The woman cutting my fabrics was thrilled that there was a person my age that enjoyed sewing.
To the fabrics! I haven't taken pictures in a while so please excuse the quality.
I also bought a metallic striped knit and a brown suede (Raggle Taggle Gypsy skirt, finally!) that I didn't photograph cause every shot I took looked awful. So those are my therapy fabrics :P. I already have them washed, ironed, and ready to go! Can't wait to start creating!
Has anyone else gone on an awesome fabric shopping trip lately?
To the fabrics! I haven't taken pictures in a while so please excuse the quality.
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| This is a so lightweight. It's going to make a cute sundress. |
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| So far I'm thinking of making this into BurdaStyle's tiered mini dress like my "Waiting For Fall" dress. |
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| I have an awesome idea for this but I'm going to test drive it on some muslin first. |
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| Really awful picture, I know. It's a fuchsia ribbed knit that I'm still debating whether or not to dye. |
Has anyone else gone on an awesome fabric shopping trip lately?
Monday, April 2, 2012
Me-Made-May 2012!
Hello everyone. I know I've dropped off the face of the planet for like two months. Be at ease, I am all right. Sort of...
Long story short (or at least as short as I can make it), Sir Knight and I decided to end things and I completely fell apart. I didn't want to eat, I didn't want to socialize, and I certainly didn't want to sew. We are trying to stay friends but he decided to take another lady less than 30 days after the split and I fell apart again. Blogging really hasn't been on my priority list. Until now.
I'm finally back and have the perfect thing for jump-starting my blog. As some people may know on the blog, 'So Zo, What Do You Know?' has her 'Me-Made-May' challenge coming up and I have decided to participate. It's the perfect thing to help distract myself from thoughts that make me want to either throw up, scream, or drive all the way back to Wyoming just to punch someone in the face. So here is my pledge:
'I, Courteney of Apples of Avalon, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '12. I endeavour to wear one handmade garment each day for the duration of May 2012'
I won't be able to wear any handmade garments to work since I have a uniform shirt and certain pants I have to wear but I can change into something for the bus ride home and there's always going out with friends and coworkers throughout the week too. So here I go! I have about a month to sew a few more garments to fill the gaps I have. I bought a couple patterns off of Etsy (my first Etsy purchases!) that I'm really excited about. I also did some serious fabric shopping a couple days ago (it was a bad idea to shop while emotionally unstable!) that I will share probably tomorrow or Wednesday.
Til next time, everyone. I will be posting with much more often from now on!
Long story short (or at least as short as I can make it), Sir Knight and I decided to end things and I completely fell apart. I didn't want to eat, I didn't want to socialize, and I certainly didn't want to sew. We are trying to stay friends but he decided to take another lady less than 30 days after the split and I fell apart again. Blogging really hasn't been on my priority list. Until now.
I'm finally back and have the perfect thing for jump-starting my blog. As some people may know on the blog, 'So Zo, What Do You Know?' has her 'Me-Made-May' challenge coming up and I have decided to participate. It's the perfect thing to help distract myself from thoughts that make me want to either throw up, scream, or drive all the way back to Wyoming just to punch someone in the face. So here is my pledge:
'I, Courteney of Apples of Avalon, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '12. I endeavour to wear one handmade garment each day for the duration of May 2012'
I won't be able to wear any handmade garments to work since I have a uniform shirt and certain pants I have to wear but I can change into something for the bus ride home and there's always going out with friends and coworkers throughout the week too. So here I go! I have about a month to sew a few more garments to fill the gaps I have. I bought a couple patterns off of Etsy (my first Etsy purchases!) that I'm really excited about. I also did some serious fabric shopping a couple days ago (it was a bad idea to shop while emotionally unstable!) that I will share probably tomorrow or Wednesday.
Til next time, everyone. I will be posting with much more often from now on!
Friday, January 20, 2012
"Pomegranates of Persephone" Dress!
My my my! Two project posts in two days. I'm on a roll! Let's see if I can keep this momentum into 2012. :)
Here I present the "Pomegranates of Persephone" dress. It earned this name even before it was constructed. When I saw the fabric in the store, I was instantly drawn to it. You know that moment where all the other fabric bolts around become non-existent and the fabric just calls to you. I know there are people who know what I'm talking about. It's a magical moment :P
Anyway, Sir Knight was with me when I was getting the fabric cut and he mentioned that the pattern looked like pomegranate seeds. I just love pomegranates, they're my favorite fruit. I knew instantly that whatever I created from this fabric was going to be named after them.
Persephone, of course, is the Greek goddess of springtime and wife to Hades, god of the Underworld. She's daughter to Demeter, goddess of agriculture (her Roman name, Ceres, is where we get the word 'cereal') and one day she was kidnapped by Hades, and taken to the Underworld to be his bride. Demeter furious that her daughter had been taken from her petitioned Zeus, King of the gods, to allow her to be returned. Zeus decreed that if Persephone had not eaten any food from the Underworld, she would be able to return.
Hades tried his best to tempt his newly taken bride with delicious foods. None of which she ate. It wasn't until she was presented with a delicious pomegranate with it's juicy, tart seeds that she finally partook food of the Underworld. She indulged in six seeds.
Meanwhile, in despair for her daughter's absence, Demeter had withdrew all her gifts of abundance to the world of men. The world became cold, the crops sparse and produced no food. No flowers grew and the trees were bare. Finally Zeus decided on a compromise...for each seed that Persephone ate of the pomegranate she would have to stay with Hades for one month then she could return to be with her mother.
With her lovely daughter returned to her, Demeter restored the bounty of the fields back to the Earth. From then on, when Persephone was forced to return to the Underworld, her gifts were withdrawn again...year after year.
This is how the Ancient Greeks explained the seasons. It was the first Greek myth I learned back when I was about 11 years old. It's still one of my favorites to this day.
Back to the project, for this dress I used BurdaStyle magazine's 02/2011 #101 (dress with gathered rectangle skirt and cap sleeves). Very simple pattern. I like it cause it only prints out the pieces for the bodice. The skirt is very easily constructed by cutting out two rectangles using the measurements they give in the instructions.
I cut a size 12 which was way too big. I'm still having some fit issues. I think I added too much of a seam allowance as well. A very simple fix but I just couldn't wait to post it. I can definitely see myself making this again in the future. I also think a good idea would be to attach a different skirt to the bodice. I think I might have some fun with that.
Sorry for the poor quality of the photos. Cold temperatures are still keeping me inside.
I love how I can put tights, boots, and jacket and it's perfect even for cold weather. As it gets warmer I can wear it with sandals and it's ready for warmer weather. I love trans-seasonal garments! :D
Hope everyone has a great weekend! Anyone working on any sewing projects?
Here I present the "Pomegranates of Persephone" dress. It earned this name even before it was constructed. When I saw the fabric in the store, I was instantly drawn to it. You know that moment where all the other fabric bolts around become non-existent and the fabric just calls to you. I know there are people who know what I'm talking about. It's a magical moment :P
Anyway, Sir Knight was with me when I was getting the fabric cut and he mentioned that the pattern looked like pomegranate seeds. I just love pomegranates, they're my favorite fruit. I knew instantly that whatever I created from this fabric was going to be named after them.
Persephone, of course, is the Greek goddess of springtime and wife to Hades, god of the Underworld. She's daughter to Demeter, goddess of agriculture (her Roman name, Ceres, is where we get the word 'cereal') and one day she was kidnapped by Hades, and taken to the Underworld to be his bride. Demeter furious that her daughter had been taken from her petitioned Zeus, King of the gods, to allow her to be returned. Zeus decreed that if Persephone had not eaten any food from the Underworld, she would be able to return.
 |
| Source: http://www.artrenewal.org |
Hades tried his best to tempt his newly taken bride with delicious foods. None of which she ate. It wasn't until she was presented with a delicious pomegranate with it's juicy, tart seeds that she finally partook food of the Underworld. She indulged in six seeds.
 |
| Pomegranate...YUM! (source: http://rubyredpomegranates.co.uk) |
Meanwhile, in despair for her daughter's absence, Demeter had withdrew all her gifts of abundance to the world of men. The world became cold, the crops sparse and produced no food. No flowers grew and the trees were bare. Finally Zeus decided on a compromise...for each seed that Persephone ate of the pomegranate she would have to stay with Hades for one month then she could return to be with her mother.
With her lovely daughter returned to her, Demeter restored the bounty of the fields back to the Earth. From then on, when Persephone was forced to return to the Underworld, her gifts were withdrawn again...year after year.
This is how the Ancient Greeks explained the seasons. It was the first Greek myth I learned back when I was about 11 years old. It's still one of my favorites to this day.
Back to the project, for this dress I used BurdaStyle magazine's 02/2011 #101 (dress with gathered rectangle skirt and cap sleeves). Very simple pattern. I like it cause it only prints out the pieces for the bodice. The skirt is very easily constructed by cutting out two rectangles using the measurements they give in the instructions.
I cut a size 12 which was way too big. I'm still having some fit issues. I think I added too much of a seam allowance as well. A very simple fix but I just couldn't wait to post it. I can definitely see myself making this again in the future. I also think a good idea would be to attach a different skirt to the bodice. I think I might have some fun with that.
Sorry for the poor quality of the photos. Cold temperatures are still keeping me inside.
 |
| The sun came in making it look lighter than it is. |
I love how I can put tights, boots, and jacket and it's perfect even for cold weather. As it gets warmer I can wear it with sandals and it's ready for warmer weather. I love trans-seasonal garments! :D
Hope everyone has a great weekend! Anyone working on any sewing projects?
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The "Gaselli" Skirt
Good morning everyone! I have many good things to tell and show you. First off, I am finally (and very happily) employed! I don't quite start just yet but just having a start date for a new job is making me feel so much better! I was so happy, I decided to (FINALLY) post pictures of the skirt I made a while ago.
Now if you read that post, I mentioned that I named it the "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" skirt. I have hence changed my mind. Given its green color and the new book I've finally been able to read (The Orphan Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice) I have decided to rename it the "Gaselli" skirt.
In short, Gaselli are creatures who wear green and are sort of like vampires. I will be posting another song that explains more about them. It's actually the song that inspired the name of my skirt. I have another idea for a skirt named "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" skirt.
On to the photos!
I must say this...I love this skirt. I feel really pretty wearing it. I can't stop twirling it! I made it from BurdaStyle's Linda pattern. It's a very easy pattern! I highly recommend it for people just starting to sew. I only made two alterations. First I shortened it by about 3 inches. I stand about 5'2" so I have to shorten all my patterns. This one I didn't shorten as much cause I liked the longer length for this skirt.
The second alteration I made was I inserted elastic through the waistband cause the material I used turned out to be much stretchier than I thought it was. The bonus is that I bought it for $1 a yard! I only used about 2.5 yards so I have a new skirt for $2.50! Can't beat that!
The fabric did have some bleachy looking stains on it. Probably the reason it was on sale but I think it adds a nice quality to it. I can't wait to wear it again!
Until next time!
Now if you read that post, I mentioned that I named it the "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" skirt. I have hence changed my mind. Given its green color and the new book I've finally been able to read (The Orphan Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice) I have decided to rename it the "Gaselli" skirt.
In short, Gaselli are creatures who wear green and are sort of like vampires. I will be posting another song that explains more about them. It's actually the song that inspired the name of my skirt. I have another idea for a skirt named "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" skirt.
On to the photos!
Skirt: "Gaselli" skirt (made by me)
Top: Family Dollar
Earrings: Target
Bracelet: made by me (originally a necklace)
Necklace: gift from Sir Knight's mom
I must say this...I love this skirt. I feel really pretty wearing it. I can't stop twirling it! I made it from BurdaStyle's Linda pattern. It's a very easy pattern! I highly recommend it for people just starting to sew. I only made two alterations. First I shortened it by about 3 inches. I stand about 5'2" so I have to shorten all my patterns. This one I didn't shorten as much cause I liked the longer length for this skirt.
The second alteration I made was I inserted elastic through the waistband cause the material I used turned out to be much stretchier than I thought it was. The bonus is that I bought it for $1 a yard! I only used about 2.5 yards so I have a new skirt for $2.50! Can't beat that!
The fabric did have some bleachy looking stains on it. Probably the reason it was on sale but I think it adds a nice quality to it. I can't wait to wear it again!
Until next time!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
"A best friend is like a four leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have."
And lucky me, I was fortunate enough to find two!
One good thing about being unemployed at the moment is that I could be able to be with my best friend, April yesterday when she went into surgery. It was a very routine surgery and she was at a great hospital but her sister and I couldn't help but have some jitters. Luckily, I brought my new knitting stuff so her and her mom could show me what I've been doing wrong. I think I've got my technique down, I just have to practice!
When we finally got to see her after she came out of recovery, she was pretty out of it still. It was so cute though, she saw my dress (I was wearing my "Waiting For Fall" dress) and she said how cute it was. She even asked me to twirl around so she could see the back.
After coming back home I thought of another funny best friend saying:
"You can always count on your best friend to make sure you're not mooning a whole hospital ward when you're on powerful painkillers!"
Love you, April and wish you a speedy recovery!
One good thing about being unemployed at the moment is that I could be able to be with my best friend, April yesterday when she went into surgery. It was a very routine surgery and she was at a great hospital but her sister and I couldn't help but have some jitters. Luckily, I brought my new knitting stuff so her and her mom could show me what I've been doing wrong. I think I've got my technique down, I just have to practice!
When we finally got to see her after she came out of recovery, she was pretty out of it still. It was so cute though, she saw my dress (I was wearing my "Waiting For Fall" dress) and she said how cute it was. She even asked me to twirl around so she could see the back.
After coming back home I thought of another funny best friend saying:
"You can always count on your best friend to make sure you're not mooning a whole hospital ward when you're on powerful painkillers!"
Love you, April and wish you a speedy recovery!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Enchanting Music Vol. 1
With a lack of job, I've been able to browse YouTube extensively and I have begun to dig for great Pagan music to listen to. The result is a wonderful playlist where I never have to hit "skip" once. I love every single song and have found some truly talented singers/bands.
I'd like to share these songs with you with a new series I'd like to call: Enchanting Music. I understand that some people may not appreciate the content of the songs but what I hope to do is open some minds and educate some people on something they may not like simply because they don't understand it.
Without further adieu, I present the first song in my series...
"Alligator in the House" by S.J. Tucker
This week, (and in many weeks to come) I would like to spotlight one of my favorite singer/songwriters of the Pagan persuasion: S.J. Tucker. This talented lady writes fabulous songs, has a killer voice, and isn't afraid to go there and I love it!
The song I chose is from her album Sirens, which was released in October of 2006. It's a very whimsical song that makes me smile every time I listen to it. For more info on S.J. Tucker, please go to her website http://www.sjtucker.com.
Enjoy!
I'd like to share these songs with you with a new series I'd like to call: Enchanting Music. I understand that some people may not appreciate the content of the songs but what I hope to do is open some minds and educate some people on something they may not like simply because they don't understand it.
Without further adieu, I present the first song in my series...
"Alligator in the House" by S.J. Tucker
This week, (and in many weeks to come) I would like to spotlight one of my favorite singer/songwriters of the Pagan persuasion: S.J. Tucker. This talented lady writes fabulous songs, has a killer voice, and isn't afraid to go there and I love it!
The song I chose is from her album Sirens, which was released in October of 2006. It's a very whimsical song that makes me smile every time I listen to it. For more info on S.J. Tucker, please go to her website http://www.sjtucker.com.
Enjoy!
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