Spring Patterns are out!

I seem to get most of my patterns from the bins at the second hand store lately, but I still get excited each season when the pattern companies start to release their new designs.

Here's a peek at what McCall's has to offer for early spring.  I have absolutely nowhere to wear something like this but I think it's super pretty:

I can't help it, there's something about the wide legged version of these pants that I really like:

It seems that Simplicity is the place to go if you want a royal copycat wedding ensemble:

And New Look has a few new designs out too.  Like these lovely day wear dresses.

I hate the Simplicity Project Runway patterns (sizing is wonky and directions are sketchy) but I wonder if these are better?  Anyone out there ever tried a Workroom pattern?

Butterick and Vogue are still on their holiday catalogues but I'm sure they'll both have some great ideas soon.  Can't wait!
What's your favourite pattern company?  Do you still use patterns or is everyone just DIY'ing their own?  Leave a comment below~

Next week I'm starting a series, showing you where to find great FREE patterns from reliable professional resources.  Check in each Thursday to find out the best places to shop...for FREE!

Pinspired Creations: Crystal Candles

How addicted to Pinterest are you?  I still have to laugh because I talked about Pinterest in one of my very first posts (before everyone was doing it~) and one of the commentors said they didn't think it was a very good idea to share like that, it was over exposure.  Just try to find someone who doesn't pin these days.

I try to be a bit judicious on my pinning though, only pinning those things that truly inspire me to create something similar or that spark a totally new idea.

Like many of you out there, I've been doing a good job of pinning, just not the follow through.  So, I'm trying to change that with what I'm calling my "Pinspired Creations".

First up are some beautiful handmade candles just like these ones from my good bloggy friend Andrea over at The Cottage Market .

Source: thecottagemarket.com via Etcetorize on Pinterest

I had a candle making kit that's been sitting in my closet since the beginning of time so I just got that out, melted down some wax and poured it into some pretty crystal pieces I found at the second hand shop.

For mine, I also scented them with some incredible natural oils that I picked up in Egypt ages ago, and then I gave them a little sprinkle of Martha Stewart glitter (I got the big pack for Christmas!! Look out world, here's comes the sparkle!).

I'm giving a couple away as gifts but I just have to keep at least one for myself.  So pretty, but oh so easy.  What do you think?  I hope it inspires you to try some of your own~

Thanks for the inspiration Andrea!

I Don't Need a Bad Boyfriend...I've got Blogger

Have you ever been in one of those relationships where your emotions are constantly swinging from happiness and joy, to frustration and anger, to worry and regret, and back to happiness all within hours?  That's me and Blogger.

Things have been going really well lately.  We were happy and seeing each other regularly, sometimes several times a day and I didn't even have to sign each and every time.  It was heaven.

Then came what I thought was the diamond ring...threaded comments.  I was over the moon with excitement.  I had even written a post telling you how you could find the happiness that Blogger and I had, pictures and everything.


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Then things went a little topsy turvey, it turned out that the diamond was a cubic zirconia.  I really, really tried to make things work, but it just wasn't.  Blogger wouldn't let me see anyone else and seemed to sometimes get jealous when others came to see me.



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So I gave back the ring.  I was sad but we worked things out.  I thought we were both on the same page, until suddenly yesterday, out of nowhere at all, Blogger broke up with me!!!!  Erased all traces of me.  I still don't know what I did to deserve it.



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I was upset, stressed, angry, sad, all the things you feel when you break up.  I had put so much hard work into this relationship and suddenly it was all for nothing.

I resolved to play it cool, I went for a walk (even though it was -27), thought about things, calmed down and went to talk to Blogger a few hours later.

Blogger won't tell me what I did but it seems that we've decided to give it another go.  I am forgiven and we're going to keep trying to make this work.




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I've learned my lesson though. I have a back up plan in case something happens again (Design, Settings, Other, Blog Tools, Export Blog).  We thought about taking a break for a month but I've really gotten used to our little circle of mutual friends and I think I'd miss everyone far too much, besides...deep down I know Blogger really loves me, so I'm sticking around~

Very special thanks to my good friends: Gen who was there to keep me from going over the deep end throughout all of this and Terry who actually noticed I wasn't myself and checked to see if I was OK.


Wish Blogger and I luck, and let me know how it's going for you, threaded comments and all~



Make it Great Monday

What a great linky party last week!  Slowly but surely it's growing with more and more great ideas!

Like these great washer weights from Toni at Sugar Tart Crafts.

For any non-sewers out there, you place these on top of your paper pattern instead of pinning it down on the fabric.  It saves time, and if you're cutting something fine like silk, it doesn't cause little pin holes in the fabric.  Besides, they're soooooo pretty~
And did you check out the wonderful video tutorial from Kim at Vitamin C?  She shows you how to easily make this super cute button bracelet without any tools!

I can't wait to see what you've all been working on for this week. Let's try something new this week...before you link and leave, make sure to click on at least one or two other projects.  You never know what you'll find~

Please remember to only link:
1) Family friendly projects
2) Crafting, sewing, or recipes that you've made yourself
3) Maximum of 3 projects that you haven't link up before
4) Please, no shops or giveaways

You don't have to be a follower of Etcetorize to join the party but I can't tell you how happy it would make me if you were. I do ask that you post my party button somewhere on your blog though so that we can spread the word.

<center><a href="http://www.etcetorize.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k554/Etcetorize/linkypartybutton.jpg"/></a></center>Show us what you've got!

Paper Doily Shower Curtain

Mod Podge is a wonderful thing, isn't it???  Did you know that you can use it on plastic?  Don't believe me? Check out today's project!

I really needed a new shower curtain(s) (my clawfoot tub needs two).  I like to get just a plain see through curtain because, number one- no one is around to check me out while I'm in the shower so it doesn't need to be opaque, and number two-I need to keep an eye on my battling cats, even when I'm in the shower.

But plain see through can be very boring.  I thought about buying some plastic by the yard and painting it, but come on, that's just craziness when you can perform magic with Mod Podge!

Here's what you need:

I ended up not using the Sparkle Mod Podge
I held back for once in my life on the glitter~

Steps:
1) After I cut my shower curtain the right length for my tub I just decided which side was the outside and layed it out on the table.  The rest is just like any Mod Podge project.  Slap some Mod Podge onto the wrong side of your paper doily, working from the centre outwards.

2) Randomly place your doily glue side down onto the outside of your shower curtain and then add another layer of Mod Podge over top.  The Mod Podge will dry quickly and the paper doilies are a little fragile so be patient, work fast, and don't forget to smooth out any air bubbles that happen.

Make sure to go slightly over the edges to seal it in and get in and around all of the little openings of the doily.  Just use a damp cloth to wipe around the edges if you get too much on the plastic.

This is so beyond easy but I have to admit the first one took a little longer than I wanted.  Once I got a rhythm and a method though it was smooth sailing and I am thoroughly pleased with the end result!

So much prettier than anything I could've bought and so much better than just plain see through plastic~

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You could really go to town on this with loads more doilies.  Or you could print something on them before you glue them down.  Or try your kids fav cartoon characters printed from your computer.  I can think of so many fun ideas now that I know the Mod Podge will work on plastic! 

What do you think?  Will you give your washroom a little injection of personality with some Mod Podge?  Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!
This project was featured here:

A Whole New World!

I'm feeling a bit like Neo from the Matrix.  I've come across an amazing photo editing tool that I just have to share because it's opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me, and I think you'll like it too!

It's called Pixlr.

Those of you who are in the know are probably already using this amazing and FREE editing tool.  (Yes, I said the magic word... FREE).  But for the rest of us who have been making due with Picnik (which I like by the way) or whatever came with our computers, this is a major game changer.

Carolyn from Makin' Cute Blogs did a guest post on Free Pretty Things for You (Both blogs are awesome...you need to check them out!) the other day and she mentioned working with Pixlr. Check out the link, that's where I learned how to add the fun little banners I used in yesterday's post.

At first, I was totally over the moon with the cool Retro Vintage Effects tool.  It's super easy, just upload a photo, make a few choices and turn a so so photo from this:

Tamara goofing off beside the Ganges.

To this:

Tamara achieving total enlightenment on the banks of the Ganges in 1974.

Ever since I got my fancy pants new Canon camera I've been trying to get this old 70's style effect, but never really got it to where I wanted.

Take a look at this pretty girl:

And with a little tweaking:

 Love it!

So, as you can tell, I was already totally enamoured with Pixlr and then I realized there was a whole entire editing package as well!  I'm sure it's not anywhere near as complex as Photoshop, but for me, it's a huge step up from the mishmash of programs I've been using.

Take a look at what I did just playing around learning some of the tools:

Nice enough:

Now...super cool, kind of haunting and eery (and I have no wrinkles!!!)

I'll try my hardest not to go overboard and suddenly flood Etcetorize with weird looking photos but I think I'm going to have a lot of fun using this neat software.  (Go to the Pixlr Help Page for links to loads of great tutorials on how to use it).

What do you use to edit your photos?  Do you edit your photos?  (apparently this is quite a controversial subject these days in the blog world)  Have you used Pixlr before?  Got any cool tips and tricks?  Leave a comment~

**This post was not sponsored and I am not receiving any remuneration for this endorsement.  I'm just totally excited by this super cool tool~