Too busy to blog! But not too busy for cookies.

Still a homebody — but a very, very busy one. On top of the full-time office gig, I’m taking two classes this term; my band is regularly rehearsing, gigging and writing music; and my husband and I are currently in the midst of purchasing our first home where I will be able to have my own permanent craft room — woot woot!!! I did, though, find a way to sneak in a sewing project on the music front. I thought it would be great to use eco-friendly, recycled, handmade packaging for our debut EP — including lined zippered pouches made from the band’s old clothing. Check them out here.

I’m looking forward for the dust to settle, allowing me to get busy again with the sewing machine and knitting needles. In the meantime, here’s a recipe for yummy pistachio shortbread (from Epicurious.com) that I made for a dinner party my husband and I attended on Saturday. Super easy and delicious!

more christmas knits

***CHRISTMAS PRESENT SPOILER ALERT!!!***

More Christmas knits to report.

First off, how adorable are these miniature sweaters?! They’re meant to be tree ornaments, but I thought (if made slightly bigger) they would make terrific gift card holders. So I made these and that’s what I intend to use them for. Might also make one for myself to hang from my rearview mirror. This pattern (and many more) are available free here at the Berocco site.

A chunky cabled neckwarmer (no pattern used — pretty straightforward cable pattern done over 6 stitches with seed stitch on either side).

And some fingerless mitts, one embellished with very simple embroidery and the other with an ultra easy fair isle pattern.

yes, it’s been far too long…

…since I’ve posted or have even visited my favorite sewing blogs. Oh, the crafting withdrawals! So what’s been stealing my attention? Well, a few things really…

First, I’ve been writing/recording/rehearsing with my new band, then work got a bit distracting, and finally, a medical scare struck our otherwise serene household. It’s a long story involving a frantic 911 call and an ambulance ride to the ER. I won’t regale you with details (and my hubby probably wouldn’t want me discussing it here!) but please be assured that everyone is now safe and sound.

Anyway, there was something about this episode that made me want to take a break from my projects — to slow down, smell the proverbial flowers, count my many blessings and all that jazz. Of course this meant spending lots of quiet time with Dane, the kitties, myself and of course, a load of good books!

Some of my reads over the past couple months:

And I haven’t completely neglected my sewing machine! I did find the time to whip up a cheerful fabric bookmarker…

…as well as couple of fast and easy dresses, but I’ll save them for my next post!

trouser disaster and the consolation dresses that followed

Here are two dresses I made for myself as a consolation for a disastrous attempt at a pair of corduroy pants (using the Anita skinny jeans pattern on Burdastyle). I worked on the wretched pair for about 9 hours straight and was doing alright before tragedy struck in the form of a badly done zipper. When I attempted to redo the zipper, I made a careless move and accidentally tore the fabric in a place that couldn’t be mended and that, as they say, was that. Here’s a pic of one bit that turned out decently, but I’m afraid that’s all I’m showing you of this cursed project before it ends up in the scrap pile.

Anyway, not to be discouraged, I took the leftover bit of that baby blue corduroy and turned it into a yoke for a mini dress. The beautiful Amy Butler fabric was a gift from my sister-in-law Jill and I’ve been waiting for just the right garment to use it for — and it turns out it matches the corduroy perfectly!

The second dress was inspired by this fabulous number as well as this one — both made by maryy at Burdastyle — a member whose creations I adore! No pattern was used so it’s a bit rough around the edges, but I’ve learned a few lessons for next time.

italian job

Another kitchen adventure today in the form of gnocchi (which, if you’ve never had them, are amazingly yummy potato dumplings) with gorgonzola sauce and peas. The peas are my own addition to the classic dish because, frankly, I can eat peas with just about anything. I admit, I didn’t make the gnocchi myself — no, the credit goes to my good friend Trader Joe — but I added some fresh herbs from the garden as well as spices from the cupboard. I like mine with extra nutmeg!

green things growing

Yes, growing…as opposed to withering!

Miraculously, the herbs I planted a while back are actually flourishing, which I can’t say about many of their unfortunate predecessors — so today I’ve decided to reap the benefits of my newly green thumbs. There’s nothing like fresh, homegrown basil and oregano sprinkled atop a pizza. Well, my stomach is gurgling, so please excuse me now as I’m off to enjoy my dinner…

li’l old moi

Time for a wee bit of bragging. Check out who the current featured Burdastyle member is! Hehe.

i’ve got the dresses, now where’s the spring weather?

The weather here in L.A. has been a bit odd, to say the least. Heat waves one minute, showers the next. Anyway, when the sun finally decides to come round for an extended stay, I’ll be ready with these lightweight dresses. Perfect for the office, I think. Though I actually work in an environment where just about any outfit flies which is great for me as I detest office dress codes. Guess that’s one of the pluses of working in West Hollywood.

Anyway, like my easy floral Anda, these two were made in a snap. I was even more lazy this time around and didn’t even finish the hems and armholes, but it gave them a more casual look — and I don’t have to worry about unraveling with this material. I also used the leftover fabric from my Built By Wendy Tunic and my Dolman Top. I really need to use the fabric that I’ve got before purchasing more, as I’m really running into a space issue in my sewing area. Of course I say this having just placed another order for another few yards of knit jersey…

my first skirt

So I’ve been drooling over these high waisted pencil skirts on Burdastyle (designed by talented Burdastyle.com member Kasia) and decided that this was the weekend I would try it out myself. But, of course, not without my signature shortcuts. Yes, that’s velcro you see holding the front panel up. Dear Lord, you ask — why velcro? I was feeling lazy, that’s why — and I decided that I would rather spend my time playing Guitar Hero than measuring and making buttonholes. Hehe. Anyway, when the front panel is up, the icky velcro is virtually undetectable. The buttons are purely decorative and were taken from a jacket that, sadly, doesn’t fit me anymore.

I also messed up somehow while making the gathered hip panels. They ended up very poofy, so I was forced to take some fabric out of them for a better fit, giving me two extra seams at the sides. Pretty sloppy overall, but I think it’s a pretty decent first attempt! I have some baby blue stretch corduroy that I’d like to use for my second (and hopefully much better executed) attempt at this fabulously designed skirt. And, yes, I won’t be using velcro the second time ’round.

i’ve been tagged

I’ve been tagged by oona to carry on this little book “meme.” Now, the stickler in me questions whether this is technically a meme, but since it’s to do with books, I’m game! Here are the directions:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

The book nearest me is The Transcendence of the Ego by Jean Paul Satre, which doesn’t even have 123 pages… So, I must go with the book second nearest me which is The Concord Quartet by Samuel Schreiner Jr. — a work of non-fiction about four figures from the American intellectual renaissance of the 1830s: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Bronson Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne. I’d read it a while ago, but pulled it from my shelf recently because I wanted to write a song in commemoration of these literary/philosophical figures of yesteryear. Yes, I’m fully aware of how geeky this sounds. Anyhow, here are the sentences from page 123:

Although it was not to Emerson’s taste, Hawthorne’s writing revealed him to be a keen observer, but his personal convictions about the events and characters that he rendered so vividly into fiction remained a mystery, as they did in social conversation. The man was almost pathologically shy. With their interest in children and their own brood to amuse, the Emersons staged outdoor entertainment for children of the neighborhood in good weather.

Sorry it wasn’t something jucier.

Alright, I tag Jed, Jill, Liesl, Cici and Davina.