You give me Q's and I give you A's.

Hey there folks, it's monsoon season in Philly otherwise know as "Spring."  Mother nature hasn't seen fit to give me a gap in the rain to photograph any one of my new FO's, tricksy snitch. Luckily for me the lovely MaLora of Bird and Bicycle gave me something else to talk about when she nominated me for a Liebster award. Sweet, now I can be a smart ass and post pics of my pretend boyfriends.  Thanks MaLora, hopefully you won't regret doing this. ;)

1. What was the last movie you enjoyed watching?

Gonna reveal that I'm kind of a dude when it comes to movies and say that would have to be "Pacific Rim".  Giant robots punching giant monsters, yes please. Also Idris Elba yelling at people, I could go for a super cut of that. 

Do I look like a man who cares? Just get in the damn robot and go punch a monster.

I give that answer with the caveat that I've yet to break open "The Wolverine" which my husband gifted me for Christmas. I expect to enjoy looking at shirtless Hugh Jackman immensely. 

Awww Hugh, you bought me some snacks. That's why you're my favorite.

2. What was your most recent adventure?

Adventure? That would mean leaving the house and the sun hurts my vampire eyes. Hissssss.  I have Froggie do all the adventuring and report back.  Besides I don't have time to go out. Dresses need to be sewn for my dates with my imaginary boyfriends. Fassbender said he was gonna drop by this weekend, so I got to finish this hem.

I heard you baked cookies. I love cookies.

3. How do you improve your techniques or sewing knowledge?

Through the internet mostly.  There seems to be a real dearth of books for experienced sewers.  I don't know if it's because beginning sewing is a bigger market, easier to write, or if it's just sexier with it's bright young faces.  If the last point is the problem then I know just the man to solve it.

Yes, yes I am.

4. Why do you blog?

I blog because it makes my sewing addiction seem slightly less crazy and to perpetuate the lie that I'm funny. Oh and to freak out the neighbors with all my selfies. Though I'm not sure they know I'm their neighbor. This makes my constant use of their fence even funnier cause I'm like a neighbor hood pest. Little do they know I'm eating the peanuts they leave out for the squirrels.  Nom, nom. (Not really, but Des tried to once.)

5. Who do you enjoy sewing or making for the most?

Ummm MEEEEE!  Self professed selfish sewer over here. Even my own sister had to to wait a year for me to make her a coat. What can I say, I like clothing A Lot.  My husband once asked, "When are you gonna stop sewing cause you have enough clothing?" I stared at him blankly, stop sewing? Enough Clothing? Error, please retry command.

6. Where do you get your fabric and sewing supplies from?

All my crack, I mean fabric dealers are online.  I think most of you probably could recite them by now. "Yes yes Heather, we know you LOVE Emmaonesock.com. Get a grip already."  And there's GorgeousFabrics.com. MarcyTilton.com, Hartsfaric.com, Sawyerbrook.com, ApplieAnnieFabrics.com, all of Etsy and so forth.  Thank you internet for saving me from the fabric selection at JoAnn's!  "JoAnn's where sewing dreams go to die." - not their new slogan, but it should be.

7. What is a your dream vacation?

My dream vacation goes something like this...all the other people in my house go on a real vacation leaving me alone for a week. I ignore all house work and subsist on a diet of nothing but cake and cookies.  I get to sew, knit and watch period dramas which may or may not star Colin Firth. I sleep on my husband's side of the bed and drool on his pillow.  Basically I fully embrace my anti-social tendencies and become full on hermit. Ahhh bliss, now get off my lawn!!

There can only be one Mr Darcy.

8. Do you meet locally or have a local, in person sewing groups you like?

Sadly I live in a barren waste land when it comes to garment sewers.  I know Becky's over in my neighboring state of Delaware, Hi Becky!  People around here mostly quilt or wonder why anyone would sew their own clothes.  That's OK I wonder why they scrapbook.  I'll just talk to my internet friends until we find the financing for our sewicalist commune/cult. "I hear they worship fabric there."

9. What is your current favorite song or group you are listening to?

Right now I'm on an Arctic Monkeys kick, really enjoying their new album "AM".  Not sure if it's good music or just catchy music, but I've got it on repeat. Listen boys, I'd pour you one for the road if I had any alcohol left, but frog had a wild party last night. Fassbender left some cookies though.

Dude knows he looks like Danny Zuko, right?

10. What is your favorite fabric to wear?

This changes depending on the current temperature of my house. Sadly I can't talk anyone into buying me a giant heat rock to keep me warm in the winter months. How's a lizard lady supposed to self regulate? Huddle in front of the oven? Now you know why I bake so much.  But anyway let's back to the question.  Even in the winter months I do have a cottony underlayer, so let's say my favorite is a cotton/lycra in either knit or woven form. I retain to the right to change my mind when a fancy new piece of silk dances before my eyes.

11. What is your favorite pattern to sew?
I know you did not just ask me to pick a favorite from all my babies! I love them all soooo much. *Hugs pattern envelopes to chest* Honestly I can't pick one cause it's ever changing. My sewing favorites seems to depend on what I'm in the mood to sew. One day it might be simple knit tops, another summer dresses and there's always that recurring desire to sew a complicated jacket. I am "All The Patterns" Heather, hear me roar!   RAARRRR...oops, frog says keep it down and save my hulk impression for Ruffalo.

You're so adorable when your angry.

Odds and Ends

Hello everyone! I've got a little housekeeping to get out of the way today.

First of all I want to say thank you to all of you who voted in the Mae contest.  I won 3rd place and got a swanky pattern voucher from Indie Stitches.  Decided to finally get the Sewaholic Robson coat I've been eyeing since it came out.  Now all I need is about a thousand yards of not brown animal print raincoat fabric. ;) Everyone keep your eyes peeled!

Secondly I'm always the worst at timely posting about blog awards.  Sorry, I do appreciate them.
Thank you to Wendy of Coser Cosas for a Super Sweet Blogging Award.  You can click over here for my original answers to those award questions.

Also Thank you to Emily of Tumbleweeds in the Wind annnnnd the Stashbusting Sew-a-long for a Liebster award.  Since I already nominated peeps for this award, I though it would be fun to just answer Emily's questions. So without any further ado........ here are my semi-serious answers.

1. Who are the three most influential people in your life?
My grandma Ruth.  She always said I was her clone which was pretty much the truth. Rooms full of craft supplies? Check.  Rather be sitting at home making something than talking to people? Check. Think you're always right? Check. LOL  Though I like to say my Grandma thought she was right 95% of the time and I'm only like that 75% of the time.  My husband might disagree with that percentage.

My parents as unit cause between them I learned to bake and sew and watch PBS programming with real enjoyment.  I impressed our Realtor with my knowledge of home construction purely on my childhood viewing of "This Old House." Oh Bob Vila, I miss you.  And let's not even get into "Victory Garden" cause that show used to be good.

Lastly Froggie who reminds me to relax, take it easy and always eat desert.  

2. What is the most influential book you have read?
Here's where I admit that in the past my reading was mostly trash. Not really trashy trash where bodices get ripped, but light fiction that doesn't stick with you. I don't read much anymore, but least you think me an inbreed hick, I do enjoy listening to the classics on the Craft Lit podcast.  Dracula and Jane Eyre were some of my recent favorites.

3. What's your favorite thing to do to relax?
Knit while watching period dramas or period murder mysteries on the TV.  Preferably with a cup of tea and some cake/cookies.  Maybe I'll get frisky and yell at the kids to stay off my lawn if they keep distracting me from Christoper Foyle.  Old Lady cred achieved.

4. What's your favorite thing to make?
Blazers, which is ironic cause I'm either too hot or too cold to wear them most of the year. Though I wonder if my son would listen to me better if I look "professional." "Pick up those blocks, CEO mommy demands it! You don't want an unfavorable quarterly review!

5. What's your favorite pattern you've sewn?
Oh Lord, are you trying to start a pattern revolt in my house?  They can hear me you know.  If I'm gonna by sheer volume of finished garments plus level of difficulty I'd say Grainline Studio's Archer. Now I fully expect to wake up to pattern envelopes holding shears in a threatening manner.

6.When it comes to sewing: Quick and easy or special details?
Hmmmm, I like sewing interesting details on the machine, like darts or garments with decorative seams. However if those specials details require hand sewing then I'd rather pluck my eyes out. Curse you hand sewing, you make me crazy....crazyer!

7. Classic or Trendy?
Classic, mostly cause I can't get too trendy without looking like a complete idiot.

8. What is one thing you would not want to live without?
My iPod!  Else I couldn't drown out my toddler shouting "Worm Ant!" for the 100th time that day.  Ahh yes you're as cold as ice, you're willing to sacrifice ....GET OFF THE TOP OF THE SOFA! ( This is exactly how I look when I jam....maybe)

9. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?
I would travel to New Zealand to hang out with the hobbits in their awesome hobbit holes.  Hook me up with some second breakfast and I'll hook you up with some cake.  Cause hobbits are real, right?

10. If you could meet anyone from the past or present who would it be and why?
Hugh Jackman so we can engage in a scientific experiment of who's genes would be more dominate when making a new human life.  Is that creepy?  Sorry Hugh, you'd better stay on your side of the pond. But if you do come visit bring me some of those crazy toys.

11. If you could have any superpower what would it be?
Hmmm, Well I always thought it would be cool to be a super genius at technical stuff and be able to design machines in your brain.  Kind of like X-men's Forge.  I'm pretty sure half of you don't know what the hell I'm talking about, so I'll give you some early 80's Forge.  Remember we all wore shorty shorts, but it takes special panache to wear them with a popped collar and a pimp cane.

Thank You, Thank You!

Sewicalist are a generous bunch and I've had a lot of that generosity sent my way this summer.  I should have gotten this thank you post out long ago, but better late than never?  Sorry you all, I should stop sewing dresses and blog more. Bad blogger, less cookies....which segueways nicely with my first thank you.

1. Margo of Creating in the Gap gave me a Super Sweet Blogging Award.  Thanks Margo!

And here are my answers to the award questions:

Cookies or cakes? - This is like asking me to choose my favorite child....you know if I had more than one.  Cookies get baked more frequently around here but I do love me a good cake.  I choose Cookie Cake!  Desmond agrees.

Chocolate or vanilla - I'm gonna stage whisper chocolate behind my hand. I don't want the vanilla extract to get uppity cause I need it for more cookies.

Favorite Sweet Treat - Brownies!  Or maybe chocolate chip cookies or maybe cake.  Ok my favorite thing is what's currently available to stuff in my mouth.

Sweet Nickname - My childhood nickname is Teddy Bear. Dawwwwwww GRRRRRRR!

2. I was drooling over the coral bow fabric Gertie has in her shop and Sonja of Ginger Makes volunteered to send me some that was in her stash, gratis! When the box arrived there was other stuff in there besides fabric....yarn and patterns, Oh My!  Thanks so much Sonja and my toddler thanks you for the box. (Frog is stealing that yarn isn't he?)

3. Sonja's box wasn't the only package that arrived in my mailbox last month.  Mrs. Crafting a Rainbow herself sent me a package just cause she's cool like that.  Gillian gave me some beautiful green double gauze, (yum yum) and a copy of the Sewaholic Cambie pattern.  Thank you Gillian, you're a doll.

4. And finally a big Thank You to Trice of Sew Tell who is also sending me some of her stash for free. She's hooking me up with some pretty flora dress fabric. Thank you Trice!

I've said before that the sewing community is awesome but it bears repeating.  You all rock!

Liebster Award Nomination

I never would have thought such a thing would happen but I've been nominated for not one but two Liebster awards.  Thanks so much my fellow sewing friends Clare of Sew Dixie Lou and Joanne of Sew Little Time. I'm having a Sally Field moment, "They like me, they really like me!"

To accept the award there are rules and the first rule is don't tell people about fight club.....ummm no.  The real rules are:

1. The blogger needs to answer the questions their tagger/taggers have sent.  The dare option is not on the table.
2. Choose eleven new bloggers to receive the award and link to them in your post. Muhaaaaa /\ (finger tents)
3. Create eleven new questions for your chosen bloggers.  Turn it up to 11!
4. Let those crazy snitches know you nominated them.
5. Post eleven random facts about yourself.  What is this a writing assignment?  I kid, I kid.
6. No tag backs snitch! Go harass someone else. ;)

First up Clare Bear's questions (That's right I just nick named you!) cause she nominated me ohhhh about a month ago. Sorry my dear, I was caught up in Me-Made-May tomfoolery.  Clare is a super funny lady and I'm amazed she also thinks I'm funny. We bonded on twitter over Ryan Gosling, because he's awesome and would totally be supportive of our fabric stashes.  "Hey girl, why don't you buy that faux leather and make yourself a bad ass jacket.  Now watch me kick some guy's head in."

1) If you could sew an outfit for someone famous who would it be?
Sew for someone famous?  That snitch better fork over the money cause I only sew for me (And occasionally knit tops for the boy just so I can buy fun fabric.)  Honestly I can't think of a person I'd want to sew for style wise, but would happily take Hugh Jackman's measurements.

2) If your sewing machine could talk, what's the first thing you would ask it?
Why you gotta be an uppity snitch about buttonholes?  Is it because that past roommate sewed astro-turf on you without my consent?  Yeah that was traumatic for me too.

3) Where is your most favourite place in the world?
My bed.  Bed is glorious and I never want to leave it....ever.

4) What's that one song that can make you feel better about a bad day?
 Well this is a real Sophie's choice, what about my other lyrical babies? Do I have to throw them in the trash!!!  Now that I'm done being dramatic it's time admit that I always go back to Gordon Lightfoot.  His catalog of songs is gigantic but I will have to go with "Sundown" even though it's the obvious choice.  *"Sundown you'd better take care, cause I look super sexy with my permed hair."

*Not the real lyrics. Duh.

5) How would your friends/loved ones describe you in five words?
Hmmm, I've heard, "Odd but in a fun way,"  out of my cousin's mouth and that pretty much describes me. My husband would like to add "Busty."  Thanks for the help honey.

6) If you could go back to college what would you study?
Maybe Graphic Design cause it seems like something with more real world application than my Fashion Design degree.  All my college friends where graphic designers and not just because they hooked me up with free Adobe products.
 

7) The one thing you can't live without?
 My ipod!  I don't know how mothers got through the day without an iPod to tune out the never ending demands of their toddlers.  Now hush boy I'm trying to rock out to the awesome middle part in "Aqualung."

8) It's date night and 1985, who do you pick to go out with and why? Andrew McCarthy, Emilio Estevez or Judd Nelson?
So I had to google 2 of these 3 names....congrats Estevez I know who you are. Got to say, these guys aren't my type. Can I just hang out with Tom Selleck and his manly chest hair? Rrrrrowww!

9) Who is your style icon?
 Do I have a style much less a style icon? I do love classic style icons like Katherine Hepburn or Audrey Hepburn but don't think I dress like them.  If I could look like anyone in particular it would be Zooey Deshanel, She is so darn cute and I love love love her outfits.

10) You just got detention? What's the thing you most likely did to get in trouble?
 Reading a book during class or laughing loudly.  True Story - I was once asked by the CEO of the company I worked to leave work early cause my laughing was bothering him. I told him, "I can't leave early I take the train."

11) You're playing spin the bottle. Who DON'T you want it to land on?
Ryan Reynolds!  I just want to punch that guy in the face.  Get out of my superhero movies you jackass! Now I have to stare at a picture of Hugh Jackman to get rid of my rage. Loooooove you Hugh especially when you frolic on a beach with Wolverine sideburns.

 Now for Joanne's questions.  Joanne is Scottish so she must have the best accent that I totally want to steal.  She likes to tease me on my silly American words for things.  "Sneakers?  It's Trainers!!!"  She also makes beautiful dresses, you've seen her Mad Men dress right. I can't stop looking at it.

1. What is your favourite film of all time and why?

I'm not too strongly attached to films.  There are plenty I enjoy and some I like to rewatch but wouldn't call any a favorite.  But since it's summer I will spill my annual summer rewatches.  First "Jaws" cause it's kind of funny and a little scary and you get to repeat lines like, "Stop playing with yourself, Hooper!" and of course, "You're gonna need a bigger boat."  Other one is John Carpenter's "The Thing."  All that snow makes me feel cooler and Kurt Russell's beard is one of the finest specimens I've ever seen!  Also when that guy's head sprouts legs and runs across the floor. Ahhhh YES!!! (P. S.  After reading this answer my husband high fived me.)

 
2. What kind of holidays do you like - beach? city break? raving in Ibiza?  Do tell!

I hate traveling because it takes me away from my bed, which is the most wonderful place on earth.  My favorite holiday is to be left alone in my house and never go outside for days. I'm a hermit!

3. I spend a lot of time commuting - if you had a spare hour on the train, what would you do?

I used to have a long commute when I worked and would always knit on the train.  BK (before knitting) I was a voracious reader.

4. What is the best sewing book you have read?

Read a sewing book?  I thought you just bought them and used them as paper weights for your patterns.

5. Knits or wovens?

That's a hard one cause I like both.  Knits can be a fast FO but I love wovens for suit jackets and pants.

6. What is your favourite blog?

I never thought about it since I'm a lazy, lazy blog reader.  But I love Gertie and wonder if I borrow her pink hair for a day.  She'd be cool with that right?

7.What other crafts to you do and which is your favourite?

I knit, bake and way back in the day did cross stitching.   Right now I alternate between loving sewing and knitting best.  Sewing is currently winning cause wool is hot in the summer. 

8. What is your karaoke song?

"Venus" by Shocking Blue cause baby I got it.  Ok not really but I like to sometimes pretend that I got it but just misplaced it somewhere while I was eating a cookie.

9. Sweet or savoury?

Sweet all the way.  Cake, cookies, brownies, assorted quick breads, Get Into My Belly! Nom, Nom, Nom.

10. What is your favourite accessory?

Shoes.  Shoes, Glorious, shoes, strappy sandals or sling backs, or if you're in the mood, retro heels purchased from Sax.

11. If I gave you £50 ($78 US, $82 Aus) to spend on fabric, patterns or craft supplies, what would you make from it?  Links please! OK so summer retro Heather wants this chiffon to make Butterick 5750.  Faux-Bad ass winter Heather wants this faux leather to make this Burda motorcycle jacket.
Wait I shouldn't have shown you guys that fabric. Forget all about it, these are not the yardages you are looking for. *Hand Wave*



Now on to 11 Random Facts about Me.  Da da da dum!
1. I know the complete lyrics to hundreds of songs but my voice is shit. (My husband shakes his head and says No when I try to sing along with something.)

2. I like to eat easily countable things like cookies/crackers in even numbers.  My sister has admitted to doing this to so it must be some family OCD trait.

3.  I still love stuffed animals and will make them talk to you like a puppet. Then I will make the toy steal your cookie.

4. I make up stupid songs about what I'm doing all day long.

5. Besides the fabric stash I have a yarn stash, cake decorating stash, and a specialty flour stash.

6. I can't remember names, dates, or what I had for breakfast two days ago, but I can tell you the plot of some book I read 6 years ago.  So do you want some "Game of Thrones" spoilers?

7. I don't turn around and look if someone shouts "HEATHER" because there were 5 Heathers in school and people were always yelling for one of them.

8. My first car was a 86 Navy Caprice which was the local undercover cop car. People would drive really slowly around me thinking they'd get a ticket if they didn't.

9. I like to yell, "SCANDALOUS" about things that are not actually scandalous.  My husband does not play along.

10. I'm married to a giant movie watching enthusiastic.  That may explain all the movie quotes popping up in my blog posts.

11. I've always considered myself an old lady in a younger person's body.  It's Friday night, bring on the knitting and the Masterpiece Theater! 

Nominations -  OK ladies, no need to actually do this I just want to express my appreciation of your skills and what not. Especially your what not.

1. Leila of Threedresses.org
 How can you not love Leila and her big beautiful smile! She sets the bar for fun candid shots and looks equally styling in a Star Trek Skant or a retroish Sewing Cake pattern.  She might have somehow convinced me to buy pink fabric and pretend I'm a Summertime Princess. 

2. Gillian of Crafting a Rainbow
 Gillian is the color Queen and always mixes all those fun brights with the greatest of ease.  I love seeing her bright fun knits and we totally have the same taste in cutesy wootsey cartoon animal prints. She is also soooooo smart and I bow before her language prowess.

3. Pretty Grievances of Pretty Grievances
Her real name is Boxy Le Smut but I didn't tell you that.  Ah P, how does she come up with those witty comebacks that make me snort water through my nose? Honestly I might have laughed so hard I cried over this post. She also has a closet of prints that will burn your eyes with their awesomeness. Come to mommy all you fantastic animal prints.

4. Katie of Kadiddlehopper
Katie must sew in her sleep because her output is A-MA-ZING. Not only is she cranking out coats, dresses, and pants for herself but also for her 3 kids!  I also take comfort knowing that her stash slightly bigger than mine and houses plenty of animal prints. Some day she might find me hiding in her fabric shelves.

5. Laura of Miymdiary
I feel like Laura and I are always talking about food.  I love it! And if you want to know what to do with that weird specially flour she will hook you up.  She's also my tech guru, how do I work this instagram?  Teach me!  I imagine that she's the best dressed tech support I'll ever have.

6. Lady K of Peanut Butter Macrame.
I think Lady K is my accessory idol and she knows how to rock a dress. This one right here might have been the genesis of shirtwaist fever.  How about this little black dress with the red belt and the red shoes. Hmmmm I might need to take a trip down south to raid some one's closet.

7. MaLora Ann of Bird and Bicycle
MaLora is always cranking out the cutest clothing for her son, not to mention her model is adorable.  And aren't all her photos just lovely, they make me feel like I'm relaxing in some one's cozy sewing studio.

8. Brooke of Custom Style
Brook is a vast well of sewing knowledge and I think she might know just about everything.  If you aren't following her on instagram you should be just to drool over the costume fabric she's working with.

9.Catja of Gjeometry
Catja is relatively new to sewing but she is knocking it out of the park.   She's lucky that she's a couple sizes smaller than me cause I'd be stealing those Gatsby PJ's.

10. Stephanie of Love-Teach-Sew
We had a bit of a bonding moment this week talking about non stash enabling husbands and the hiding of newly acquired fabric.  Hee hee, so devious!  Stephanie is always finding the best woven prints and making the cutest little blouses out of them.  I want this Banksia top and pencil skirt!

11. Shelly of Cuckoo Chanel
Shelley and I met through Me-Made-May where we bonded in our love goofy poses.  She once commented, "Thank God you're here," which just makes me want to high five her across the net.  Her hat collection also sets my heart a flutter.  Don't you just love all her TV inspired clothing? Pushing Daisies Dress, Oh Yes!

Here are my questions for the lovey ladies if they are so inclined.

1.  If you didn't spend your money on sewing stuff what would you buy?
2. What song/album/artist are you really into right now?  (Yeah I'm looking for new stuff for my playlist, what of it?)
3. Is there some place you must visit or your life will not be complete?
4. What's your favorite naughty snack/treat.  (I mean not healthy for you, get your mind out of the gutter!)
5. Who are your pretend boyfriends?  I know you have at least one!
6. What's the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you?
7. What is your favorite guilty pleasure song?  You know the one that isn't "good" but you love it anyway.
8. What's your favorite pattern?
9. What movie have you rewatched the most?
10. If you had the skills to sew anything what would it be?
11. What is your favorite thing about yourself?  Could be body part, personality trait, whatever. 

Hugs and Kisses to All!