There is something about blogging.....

Well, I have something to admit,

 and it's not that easy for me to on such a public domain!  But I really wanted to bring this little thing up, because I know that I can not be the only one out there that feels this way at times, and I like to keep things out in the open as much as possible here on the 'ole blog.  

Are you curious?  Well, here goes....."I have been having myself a little 'ole blogging pity party the last few weeks!" Yup, a good 'ole fashioned I'm-just-not-as-good-as-so-many-other-fabulous-bloggers-out-there pity party! 

  I have been comparing myself to so many of the other great and creative blogs out there and I'm sick of it!

And it's nobodies fault but myself!!

These are the some of the thoughts that have been circling around in my head.....

" so and so has a job, kids AND look what she is accomplishing!  How can I not find the time to clean my apartment, let alone finish one of the bazillion things on my to do list?!   I  must not be as talented, as creative,  as together as her! "

Isn't that just such a terrible thing to think about ones self!

I can tell you one thing it certainly doesn't inspire creativity!  Do you know what I'm talking about?

Look at one of the smartest men of all times said!

Now, no one has been judging me,  at least not to my face on the blog, so why am I being so hard on myself?  Why is it so hard for me to see what I've accomplished in the last several months?

Do you all get this way?  How to you deal with it?

Well, here's the thing, " I'm sick of it!"  Yup!  Totally tired of comparing myself to others!  I am just me!  I can only do what I can do!  

I love this blogging thing and have discovered so many great, wonderful, encouraging people out there that I never would have otherwise met!  Ninety-nine percent of the time I get soooo much encouragement from all of it, I get so much passion to start something, to make something, to change something, to create something!  I love that about blogging!  I need to focus on that, and from now on I will!

So here's a little challenge for myself.......

Stripes & Frogs oh my!

So I told you all I was working on a fun little sewing project this week, one that I had planned on finishing ohhh........ about six months ago.
  My sister had asked me to make my nephew's baby bedding for his room and all I ever got around to finishing was this baby blanket and this smaller version. 

Well, the little fellow is now around the six month old mark and I thought it was about time to actual finish everything else!  Don't judge me to harsh!  I know I should have finished it sooner, but the little fella has another set and is just now starting to sleep in his own room anyway.

I also couldn't get enough of him on my time off!   So do you blame me for not getting around to getting everything done!?

Anyway the first piece of baby bedding I completed the other day was the crib skirt.
Here's what I did....
Washed and ironed all fabric, it'll make it much easier to sew when it's pressed really well!
With an inexpensive piece of muslin or any cheap fabric that you have on hand, measure and cut to 28"x51", this will become the deck on the skirt.  You know the part where the mattress rests!
Now the skirt I made was flat with just one pleat in the center of both long sides, but you can add more length for a ruffly one if you want!
I cut two pieces of fabric 51"x 13" these will be each long side,  and two shorter pieces 28"x13".
The longer pieces I then cut in half and inserted a scrap of fabric I had that measured, 10"x 13".  This became my pleat.   Before I did that however I took all my pieces and did a quick zigzag stitch along all the edges, I did this first so I wouldn't have to wrestle with a bunch on fabric at the end  to finish off all the edges!  It's so much easier to do this first!!
Unless you have a serger....... and in that case I am extremely jealous!
The wardrobe department for theater in college had one, that was the only time I have actually used one.  That was such a dream to use, and is on my long term wish list!!

Press open all seams they lay much smoother!

After sewing the panel in the middle of each longer side I then ironed all my hems, I eyeballed it and didn't measure but they were all about a 1/4th of an inch.

Isn't this fabric fun!

Opps....the only little problem I ran into was breaking this little needle in two!!

That was an easy enough fix though, I just popped in a new one and got going!

Basically after measuring, cutting, and ironing the hems on all the fabric, all you have to do is sew all hems down, I don't pin them after ironing them.  Typically they all stay  put while I'm sewing, although if you have a finicky machine and it tends to pull on the fabric, you may want to pin all the hems down before sewing!
The old machine I used to sew on was like that!
But my new toy sews so beautifully!
I bought this one at the beginning of the year, and I LOVE it!!



Seriously it's SOOOO easy to sew with!!


Anywhooo,  back to the little sewing project.....Once all hems are sewed just pin and sew all fabric to the deck!  It's as easy as that!
Really the most time consuming part of this project was ironing all the hems!
Maybe I need a new iron......
huh something to think about I guess!
Since I don't have a crib to put this on to show you all, you will have to be satisfied with this little glimpse of the finished product!

I've dropped this and a few other things off at my sisters, so I will have pictures of everything out and about soon!  Well, it may be a week or so as she is going out of town, but soon after that!

So what do you think?! Pretty cute fabric for a little boys room right!?!  Have you all been sewing anything up lately?  Or is sewing not your thing?  Maybe you just haven't broken down and purchased a machine yet, if you haven't I soooo recommend the Brother Machine I mentioned earlier!  P.s. I'm not getting paid  or anything to promote this machine, just love it!
So let me know what you think!

Link Party
Serenity Now
Craft-o-Maniac
TCB
Savvy Southern Style

Lucite Luv!

I'm feeling a serious love for Lucite lately!  

I mean I seriously can't seem to get enough!

Check out this super chic cheap find that is part of the PBteen warehouse sale!

How great would several of them be grouped together to make a coffee table!?!

FABULOUS!

It's Back!!

Do you remember that great ZigZag Rug that has been sold out on Urban Outfitters forever!

Well, it's back in stock!!

Check it out!

These gorgeous 5x7 rugs are only $69!!

If you want one you better act fast, last time they sold out super fast!

signing off for tonight....

Well I did have a cute DIY Sewing project to show you all, but I've run out of steam for the night.....

You see I had to take a few Benadryl tonight and that just pretty much knocks me out!

I'm working the Starbucks too, but thats not helping me stay awake to much!

Here's a little sneak peek at the fabric project I finished today!

I'll tell you more about it soon!

Closet Love!

For some reason I have not been able to get back in my DIY mode, maybe it's the summer, maybe it's good to take a bit of a break.  I always seem to take on big projects after just a bit of a break!  

Oh well, I'll be back to it soon!  

In fact I have a few soon-to-be finished projects I'll be sharing soon!

So what's a girl to do when she's procrastinating?!?!  

Well hop on Pinterest of course!!

Check out these FAB closets I'm totally lusting for!!

Apartment Hunting...

I never really did catch you all up on what exactly I did on last weeks stay-cation, well it wasn't a whole week, I had to go into work on Monday......

But as for the rest of the week, I was hoping to finish a bazzillion things on my to do list.....

instead, I slept in, watched movies, went shopping, out to eat, shopping,  napped, shopping, and only got to ONE little thing on my to do list!  Which I shared with you all here!  

Opps!  I guess I needed the break!  Oh well!  

Well I did get started on another thing, but it wasn't something I was planning on, it just kinda happened one night when Josh and I were talking....we started apartment hunting.

Just a little research online to see whats out there now, but now I have my heart set on moving come November when our lease is up!  

That few hundred extra square feet is calling to me, yes calling!!  Josh also drives over an hour to work each day so something in between both our jobs would be great!

But what I'm really looking for in an apartment is some more storage area!! Our current apartment is less than 600 square feet, and has NO storage!! So we'll see, it's now on the list of things to do!

But check out these gorgeous apartment that are absolutely drool worthy!!

Happy Weekend!!

Guess Where I Am Today!!

Well, if your answer is right here at  A { Blonde's } DIY Life, you just may be wrong!  

I'm over at Living on the Chic giving her readers a Chic Tip of the Week!

So head on over and say hi!!

But don't worry I'll be back here soon!!

Do you all have any great tips for Living A Chic Life on the Cheap?!?

Be True to Who You Are!

While personal style evolves and changes over time, it is always important to keep in mind one little thing..........

Be True to Who You Are!!

For me....

deep saturated colors will always have a place in my heart, something about the drama, the depth, the mood....will always have me at hello!