Monday, March 31, 2008

fridge

found a new area of inspiration for my magnetic surface that holds food - tetris mangnets! Check out the tutorial here. considering that's the only game i ever played on a super nintendo, i was thoroughly impressed.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

literature

there was a great book and media sale going on in des moines today. my sister and i went to it, and there were so many great finds - but my office is already stuffed with great books that i would love to all read over again, i only let myself buy 2 things. a great original copy of Kurt Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions and a movie that i heart death to smoochy. i love all genre's of movies, and dark comedies are one of my weaknesses that i can't deny.

i also finished a jewelry roll and a toiletry bag that are posted on my etsy site. i'm quite fond of them, but i may be bias :)

Friday, March 28, 2008

people

there are some great people in this world. fantastic ones in fact. i was having a crap week up until wednesday - then i went to dinner with my best friends in the whole world (minus my sister, she had to work) and they all cheered me up with our senseless banter and obnoxious laughing. nothing makes me happier then to be surrounded with the people i love most. as if i didn't have enough to do (again, i'm so happy my husband is independent and patient) me and my friends are going to be in a sand volleyball league in may (it better be done snowing by then!) and we have plans to hang out again next saturday. i refuse to let these ladies drift out of my life - they are my support and strength in every instance i need them.

there was also a great surprise when i was picked to make bridesmaids gifts for a girl's upcoming wedding. she was completely fantastic and i feel like we just clicked (double left) and we totally got each other for what i was imagining and what she was wanting. i love being a designer! vive la kateidesign!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

work

you know that feeling, when you walk into the office after some time off... the empty pit in your stomach swimming with the thought of a flooded inbox? that was me yesterday, trudging into work. now that i've gone through all the emails, talked to the people that i needed to get project updates from, i sit here, just chomping at the bit with all the stuff i need to do at home. there's so much that i actually want to do there and so much here that i don't need to do.

last week while i was gone there was a lot of unexpected 2 week notices given, throughout the company and within my department. i'm so jealous of them. i too want to leave, but what i want to do with my life (design, design, take pictures, sew, design, repeat) isn't lucrative enough to support me right now. oh to be inheritly wealthy... but money doesn't solve your problems, it just means you get to write bigger bills each month - hah.

if anyone needs me, i will be sulking in my cube until 5 pm cst.

Friday, March 21, 2008

hawt

so today was the last 'official' day of vacation... sigh. i still have this weekend, but it's not as good as last week at this time - i had a whole week of no work to look forward to. i can't complain though, i had a great week. today the hubby and i went to kansas city to see some of my friends (i lived there from 2005-2007) and walked around some of my favorite places. even though it's only a measly 3 hour drive away - i can't describe to you how much going back there makes me miss my kcmo life. i have great friends down there, that will remain friends as long as they are willing to talk talk on the phone and email consistently. we walked around the plaza and i got some great deals on fabric from urban outfitters and because i wasn't prepared for the 15 degree temp increase, i also bought a new shirt to replace the one i sweat soaked. hot, right? to be taken literally and figuratively. not so much paris hilton, more robin williams on stage (check out the last couple of scenes in 'live on broadway' - you'll see what i'm talking about)... reason #1,445,568 why it's important to have a big purse - to carry deodorant.

happy weekend everyone - i hope someone out there has a vacation to look forward to.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

comfy

i have finally figured out what i want to do with my life - find a job where i can wear jeans, a t and a hoodie everyday. crazy as it may sound my wardrobe this week has been my favorite part of vacation. everyday is like the best worst clothing conundrum - do i wear the green hoodie with the purple 50/50 t, or do i wear the gray hoodie with my dark jeans and red 50/50... oh it's as if i'm brangelina and can't figure out which country i should get my next kid from, or as if i'm britney spears and i have 3 offers from mental wards promising me all great levels of privacy. all in all this week, as productive and relaxing as it's been, i attribute 96% of its greatness with my outfit choices.

now flip flops or worn in adidas...

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

streak

today's the day folks - i'm going from a sassy brunette to a sassy highlighted brunette. in fact - my salon is so hip that i'm writing this blog while my hair is getting bleached under heat lamps. not really bleached, but definitely lightened.

things to make this week:
1 baby blanket for a little boy named nicholas
2 shoulder bags for easter presents
1 clutch for a crazy new yorker
1 wallet in honor of my new highlights
1 jewelry roll
1 toiletry bag

wish me luck.

update: done with all of it - yay!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

break

me and the hubby have taken this week off - and i couldn't be more ecstatic about it. a week of pajamas and my sewing machine... and the blog of course. chillaxin here i come. some people are going to warm places, nope, i'll be in my cold basement - but as long as i'm not in bus cas for a week - i'm perfectly content. hope everyone has a great spring break too - for those of you that observe this should-be-mandatory week.

savvy

this is me practicing with my new camera at a wedding this weekend.



Friday, March 14, 2008

flare


thank you to all who read the pattern review on sew, mama sew and left comments. i truly do appreciate all the honest feedback people left. i too was a little nervous about the cut of the dress, and feared the skirt wouldn't be flared enough. So in response to that, i decided to try my own version of a circle skirt, but added a wider band at the waist. this was also my first attempt at hemming a skirt - no easy task. props to all you out there that do alterations. i will be wearing this this weekend and post pictures afterwards. it might still be a tad long, but as always, its easier to take up than let out - in theory :)

Thursday, March 13, 2008

YAY!

My pattern review is up at Sew Mama Sew! Please go out and read it and let me know what you think of the dress!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

quilts



old red barn co. is giving away a quilt in honor of her 200th blog post. click on over and check it out.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

creative

while in the fabric store i had an epiphany about some new accessories i could make with this fabulous fabric that i found. i got 2 of the 6 items completed, you can see them on my etsy shop. (it's the link over there --> ). i also painted a 3 pc. acrylic canvas set for our living room. that task can finally be crossed off the list, it only took like 8 months - but it's done now and that's what's important. i love it, and will post pictures soon.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

capture


i got my new camera today - i am the proud owner of a nikon d80 digital SLR. So far i have taking some great pictures and can't wait to get outside and really start to play with it. i know it's probably not that interesting, but here's a picture of my shoes that i thought turned out quite nicely for the newbie that i am :)

accomplish

i have finished it - i made my first amy butler dress and it turned out fabulous. that woman can design. i'm not 100% sure i like the colors, but it seems to be photographing well. the review will be published sometime after march 10th. thank you beth and kristin for letting me write the review for their website, sew mama sew. i hope you enjoy it!

Sunday, March 2, 2008

ache

so today makes it 14 days straight with a headache. i had a brief break in ache friday when i got adjusted, but it was back less than 8 hours later. perhaps i should hire a chiropractor to live with me and just constantly adjust my spine. i've hear acupuncture works too, but i don't know if i'm ready to try it. anyone out there ever had it? thoughts?
i'm also on hold for designing my clients web site. i need him to play with what i have done so he can yay or nay everything that's built. if anyone has ever built a website before, then you know that it's easy to build from a template, but once they are built it sucks to go back and change everything. come on dude... work with me here.
i made another custom wallet and i heart it immensely. its on my etsy shop if you want to take a look at it.