A Conversation About My Studio & Giveaway!

I need some help. Some input. Lets have a conversation about my studio.

This is our living room. It currently serves as a catch all for random extra furniture and that's about it. 

When we were house hunting, I insisted we find a home with a room large enough to be my studio. I didn't want to use a living room if it meant walking straight into that room from the front door. Like this:

Call me crazy, I just have this "thing" about my studio being the first room you see when you enter my home, and I don't want guests to have to walk through it to access the rest of the place.

 I have yet to see a home in Utah that doesn't have that front room, and we passed up several good homes because this room was the the only option for my studio. In short, I was throwing tantrums. Massive tantrums.

Then we found this house, and I thought it could work.

Sure, there are plenty of reasons we got this home, but I had my eye on the basement - it was the largest we had found in a Tri-level home yet.

Now that everything is somewhat settled downstairs and have done some sewing I've decided.

I hate it.

really.

I don't even want to go down there.

I can't even really explain why.

...maybe it's because I'm cut off down there, or it's so tight, or the lack of view...

So, I've been thinking about this for about a week or so.

What if I moved the studio... upstairs...into the living room?

Ya know, the room you walk directly into when you enter my home, the one guests have to walk through to access the rest of the place. The one I insisted I could never, ever, use as a studio.

So I had slick take measurements for me and draw-up a floor plan to see if it was even feasible.

And now I'm thinking I can totally do this... 

Next step, getting approval from the hubs:

Me: would you hate me if I said I wanted to move my studio into the living room?

Sarge: no.

Me: would it look weird in that room?

Sarge: yes.

Me: would that bother you?

Sarge: not as long as you kept it picked up

Me: okay. so I can do this?

Sarge: is this going to cost me?

Me: well, I want these things from Ikea...

Sarge: wait a couple months before you buy more stuff.

Me: okay, so can I do this?

Sarge: just don't ask me to help. I'm sick of moving.

Me: what if me and Anthony do it.

Sarge: just don't take forever, I don't want stuff everywhere. 

Some random thoughts:

• The rooms are similar in dimensions (one is directly above the other) But I'll have to do some major downsizing to make it look presentable. 
• I am capable of keeping it presentable, I've written an eBook Organize That Sewing Space!
• The round chair would stay, and I'm cool with that because it's my chair and I love it.
• I'd have to suffer with the bookcases I currently have until I get what I really want
• the pattern cabinet would be prominent, and it's ugly. I'd like to paint it, but couldn't until weather improves next spring...
• My teenage son is thrilled with the prospect of the couch & TV cabinet moving downstairs - he has visions of his own "man cave"
• The furniture is heavy, and there are 2 (short) sets of stairs to haul it up and down
• This room has the best lighting in the house
• I want it to feel more office than sewing room at first glance.

Here are some of my Pinspirations:

and this one does not use the Ikea Expedit, but I love the "built in" look

So what do you think?

Would it look totally weird?

Is it weird that I care?

Should I move upstairs, or suck it up and stay in the basement?

I don't know what to do, I'm torn.

I am giving away a copy of my ebook Organize That Sewing Space

which retails for  $9.95 at Youcanmakethis.com

If you would like to win this just help a girl out and leave me a comment with your opinion about my studio situation!

Entries accepted through Saturday, 12/10

winner announced Sunday 12/11

Kadences New Wenwen {karate kid} Hair Cut & How-to

Have you seen the newest Karate Kid movie? (the 2010 version with Jaden Smith)

Wenwen Han plays Meiying, the girl Dre meets in the park who plays the violin. 

We love her haircut!

is it long? is it a bob?

it's a little bit of both!

{want to know to achieve this look? keep reading}

I took Kadence down to get a trim this Sunday, and she floored me by asking for the "Karate Kid" cut.

I was unprepared for this request so I didn't have a picture on hand. The first Stylist hadn't even seen the movie, so she had no idea what we were talking about...so we moved on...

The next stylist had not only seen the movie, but said she had a girl request it while she was in school. She kept shaking her head and saying she couldn't believe the odds of doing this cut twice.

Before:

After:

It's actually a very simple cut. 

So if you want this cut but have a stylist who doesn't know what it is here's the low down.

Make a part across the back of your head from ear to ear. 

All the hair below that part will be left long.

All the hair above that part should be cut into an A-line bob with layering.

Easy!

She loves it!

Our stylist cut Kadences hair to about her shoulders for the bob-part of the cut (which is about where the inspiration cut falls) and took about 2 inches off her length.

When we got home Kadence wanted more contrast between the 2 sections so I cut off a few more inches and gave her a chin bob. It still has an A-line, but she wanted her bangs to be longer on the right and we added some layers to the back (of the bob) as well. (I wish I had just cut the whole thing myself to begin with, at the least the part between the 2 sections would be straighter, and I would have saved the time of redoing it anyhow.) So now Kadences long hair is longer and her bob is shorter than the inspiration cut.

Then we dyed the long half red. Don't freak out on me, its only the semi-permanent.

She wears the long part in pigtails or a side pony tail, and it looks so cute! I can't wait to curl it up like Meiying does in the festival scene.

31 Days to Settle in After a Move: Brighten Your Outlook

Wishing you had a better view?

Wash your windows!

You'll be amazed at how much brighter your home will seem.

31 Days to Settle in After a Move: Paint Your Front Door

Paint your door red.




or blue.

or black. 



or yellow. 



or purple. 



or whatever. 

you get the idea.

make it yours.
I did, and it makes me so happy!

Bucket List Scrapping Challenge

Over at Journaling Junkie Stephanie proposed a challenge: Create your Bucket List

 I like to check out her blog because they have regular challenges, and whether you do digital scrapping or traditional paper scrapping the emphasis is on journaling (well, duh!) Plus there are tons of beautiful pages to motivate you if you're in a rut.

This challenge had me a bit stumped tho. There are plenty of things out there I want to do, but when it came time to put paper to pen, uh, finger to key board, I struggled. 

 The entry posted on her blog  is long and inspiring! Mine has 5 items. No pics.

Maybe it just means I'm pretty content, and if I were to be abducted by aliens tomorrow, I would have few regrets.

Or, maybe it just means I suck at this topic...

Either way, here is my Bucket list as of this moment:

1. see the red woods
2. take a vacation - just me and the Sarge
3. sew a wiggle dress - and rock it (I am a good 30lbs from rockin' any dress right now)
4. attend a Penn State "white out" game
5. learn to swing dance

Score! Alice in Wonderland Buttons!

Look what I managed to pick up at the HMQS here in Salt Lake last weekend!

Is it ridiculous to plan a whole outfit around the buttons?

They are so inspiring, how could one not?

This vendor had a whole "Alice in Wonderland" collection but many were sold by the time I got there, so I plan to get in touch with her soon and get my hands on the missing pieces.

Not sure what I'll do with them yet, just know I want them!

...they are my precious...

I'm thinking something striking, like down a jacket front maybe?

Also picked up what was left of her Pin-Up Girls buttons.

This thing ran Thursday - Sunday. I went on Friday!

note to self, go on the first day next time...

No clue what I'll do with these!

And back to my small Alice obsession...

I picked up the pocket watch buttons with a little persons Alice in Wonderland themed ensemble in mind.

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Spring Palette Challenge at Colette Patterns

I decided to join the Spring Palette Challenge over at Colette Patterns!

The idea is simple, pick your colors, create an inspiration board and sew a mini wardrobe around your palette. You choose the colors, and what to make.

No pressure, plenty of fun!

So, here's my board - what d'ya think?

The inspiration behind my board was some lavender stretch twill and charcoal bottom weight fabric I found in my stash.

The first project on my to-do list will be a blouse out of the stretch twill, then some trousers. I've decided to commit to 4 projects. The top, pants, a dress, and...

who knows?

I guess that's why they call it a challenge. besides, I'm not expected to think that far ahead until week 2.

I think this challenge was made for me!

Any one else joining up or making plans for their spring wardrobe?

image credits:

Luichiny Women's Juni Per Platform Sandal, Amazon.com
Button Up Tier Dress, Forever 21
Pleated Bubble Shine Dress, Forever 21
Pinstripe Suiting 3/4'' Dark Grey, fabric.com
Grey trousers, Purple Oval
DAWN Plum Purple handmade fascinator Hair clip, ChloeANDMaddie Etsy

I Want a Convertible Dress a.k.a. should I make this baby or what?

I want this dress!

It comes in a million colors and can be worn in a million ways.

Oh, drool.....

at $196 -$246 a pop, the price tag is a little hefty for my taste.

It seems simple enough though...

so I began to wonder if I could make up something similar myself?

So I did what I always do when in doubt.

I used Google.

Seems that everyone who has made this dress inevitably points to this tutorial:

Rostitchery: Convertible Dress

I also learned that this dress, although new to me, is not new at all.

It's been in and out since the 70's and as recently as the last few years...

Okay, so I must live under a rock. I've never seen this before!

hhhmmm...  I want to make it. But I'm wondering about a few things..

Will it fit my girls?

Obviously, a bra wouldn't work for most of the wrap styles.

Would the straps provide enough support to pull that look off?

Will I end up looking short and frumpy in it?

Exactly how much fabric do I have to buy to get this baby made?

Am I totally behind, is this so last year?

Opinions, Ideas, anyone??

Inspired by Alice

Kadence and I saw Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland recently - and holy cow!

I am in love with Alice's "Um" dress.

(This is the dress she wears when she while in the Red Queens court, as "Um from Umbridge". It is suggested the dress is made from curtains...)

The first time this dress appeared on screen I leaned over to Kadence and whispered "I want to make that!"

She thoroughly agrees it is awesome.

With rows and rows of delicious chiffon ruffles I can see this will be a hot boutique item from eBay to Etsy.

I don't think it would be terribly difficult to recreate either, so maybe for Halloween next year...

This was not the only beautiful frock on screen,  Alice's Blue dress seems to be inspiring wedding dresses also.. Check out this link for more Alice-y eye candy:  Wedding Trends inspired by Alice-in-Wonderland

I think it's pretty cool that a movie can influence fashion trends, especially ones as lovely as this. If anyone comes across some more amazing photos, links or knock offs please share!!