SCHMETZ Goodies

Have you checked out the giveaway going on all month long over at Burdastyle?!?!

They're giving away tote bags with lots of sewing goodies –  samples, books, patterns, notions and yes, a couple packs of SCHMETZ needles. Each tote is filled with different sewing goodies and may include: •Kai Scissors •2013 & 2014 Needle Travel Guide •Islander Sewing Easy Zippers DVD •BobbinSavers •Cuddle Fabrics •Sandra Betzina’s fabulous Power Sewing Master Series DVD Set •2 books from Joan Ford’s Scraptherapy series •myPad Needle Organizers •Threads •Interfacings •BurdaStyle Winter 2014 Premier issue •And the list goes on! The tote bag is high quality quilted nylon blend with an embroidered SCHMETZ logo.  Lots of room to fill the SCHMETZ tote with your own sewing supplies for class. Submission Dates: January 1 – January 31 Winner Announced: Daily – 1 winner every day in January

I have to admit, I do love a good Schmetz needle!

My Vegas Top that Never Saw Vegas

I'm not sure if you caught the newsflash but, I made a short little trip to Las Vegas about a month ago.

I've traveled all over the world but I've never been to Vegas so I thought it would be fun for a quick little getaway before the holidays hit.

When I think of Vegas I think of bright lights, high heels, club wear, loud music, etc.  So, even though I was pretty sure I wouldn't be hitting any of the famous night clubs I wanted to take a cute little disco top...just in case.

If you're going to go disco you have to go right to the source, so I used this vintage pattern from 1979.

Of course, I forgot my top on my dressform and left it at home. (It's actually still there, right now, as you read this)

I used a shimmery lingerie fabric~

It's all fine though, because we didn't have very nice weather while we were there.  And now I can take it with me to Australia and it will still be a new top when I pull it out of my backpack.

Have you ever made something for vacation and left it behind? Leave a comment below~

Radiant Orchid

Have you heard the news?  Radiant Orchid is officially Pantone's choice for 2014 colour of the year~

As you know, I'm not usually too quick to jump on trends so I'm not too sure about this.  My guess is that by the end of the year I might be able to buy into it.

What do you think?  Do you love it?  I was watching a TV show the other day and they said that all sorts of pastels will be in this year.  Look out 80's flashback, here we come!

Movie Monday - Sew a Stylish Top

I came across a sewing channel on YouTube that I think you'll enjoy.  DIY Meesha makes all sorts of stylish tops, dresses, and accessories all from scratch, and she shows you step by step how to make your own.

                       

Some of her videos take awhile to get going, but once you're into the project she flies right along.  Check out DIYMeesha for me fun projects HERE.

Musty Buster

So, the bad news is that I started 2014 out on about as bad a foot as you can.  I've been sick in bed since New Years Eve with what is easily the worst flu I have ever had.  If you haven't gotten your flu shot yet, then I strongly encourage you to get out there and get one.  You do not want this super bug.

As you may recall, I was sick off and on for the month leading up to New Year's Eve as well.  All this means that I am waaay behind on all my plans for 2014, especially the ones that involve getting ready for an overseas trip in a few weeks.

When I pulled my trusty backpack out of storage in the basement it was smelling just a tad more musty than I would like, so excuse me while I take care of some housekeeping business in today's first project of the year.

These little packs are great for airing out shoes, coats, backpacks, etc...anything that has the distinct musty odour that things can sometimes pick up from being stored in the basement.

Here's what you need to make your own.

Materials:
-scap of cotton or muslin (must be a breathable fabric)
-thread, scissors, ruler(optional)
-ribbon (also optional)
-kitty litter (not shown)

Steps:
1) Cut your fabric into a rectangle.  Mine is approximately 9.5" X 6.5" but any size will do.

2) Fold your fabric in half, right sides together and stitch the bottom and side closed in a 1/4" seam.

3) Turn your little bag right sides out and attach a ribbon in the middle of the backside, approximately 1.5" down from the upper edge.

4) And now my medication must have kicked in because I stopped taking photos from some reason, but really it's beyond easy....just fill your bag with kitty litter, but don't go above where you stitched your on ribbon.

Then just fold over your top edge and stitch it down.

Now you can tie your musty buster onto a hanger or stuff it into your shoes and the kitty litter will start to soak up any offending smells.

I made another not so snazzy looking one to throw into my backpack in the hopes that it will do it's magic by the time I have to fill it (with light summery clothes and swimsuits!!!)

So there you go, one task down and about 20 more to go before I'm anywhere near ready to get on the airplane.

Oh! I almost forgot to tell you the good news....with such a lamo start to 2014, I figure it can only get better from here :)

Send me some good, healthy, vibes so I can get on with starting my new year, finally~

Tell a Tale: Bride of new France

Something from Canada...

Summary (from Goodreads):  In 1669, Laure Beausejour, an orphan imprisoned with prostitutes, the insane and other forgotten women in Paris’ infamous Salpetriere, is sent across the Atlantic to New France as a Fille du roi. Laure once dreamed with her best friend Madeleine of using her needlework stills to become a seamstress on the Rue Saint-Honoré and to one day marry a gentleman. The King, however, needs French women in his new colony and he finds a fresh supply in the city’s largest orphanage. Laure and Madeleine know little of the place called New France, except for stories of ferocious winters and men who eat the hearts of French priests. To be banished to Canada is a punishment worse than death.

Bride of New France explores the challenges of coming into womanhood in a brutal time and place. From the moment she arrives in Ville-Marie (Montreal), Laure is expected to marry and produce children with a French soldier who can himself barely survive the harsh conditions of his forest cabin. But Laure finds, through her clandestine relationship with Deskaheh, an allied Iroquois, a sense of the possibilities in this New World. 

What happens to a woman who attempts to make her own life choices in such authoritative times?

Bride of New France is a beautiful debut novel that explores a fascinating chapter in Canadian history.

Review:  It's been quite some time since I read this book but can't resist adding it to my "read" shelf so that I don't forget just how good it is.

The story of Laure has stayed with me ever since I read it. This story is fictional but I could envision every harrowing part of her journey clearly.

It's easy to imagine how frightening but hopeful a trip to Canada would have been for a French orphan in the 1660's. Although she went grudgingly, with little hope of a life other than destitute servitude, the thrill of leaving everything she knew would have given Laure a sense that she could be more than she could ever have comprehended at that time.

Of course, the overseas journey was nothing any of us would ever want to endure, and the determination to begin life anew in a foreign land amongst strangers is probably more than any of use could ever survive today, especially at the age of 14. But I love the way the author reeled out the story and the inclusion of Deskaheh, an Iroquois inhabitant of the land who befriends Laure.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters depicted and loved learning about a point in time and of a piece of history of my country that I had little knowledge about. I highly recommend this book.

From the Virtual Museum of New France

Have you read a book set in the history of your own country and been surprised about what you learned? Leave a comment below~