Distinctive Fabrics

So about a week ago I got my Distinctive Fabric samples, and I am impressed. I wanted to make a lot of these into wigs but two of them will be used for other reasons. If you haven't heard of Distinctive Fabrics, they are a fabric store that will give you 5 free samples for your first visit, you have to sign up and make a free account with them. If you purchase from the site you will get 5 more samples and I believe it continues that way with any purchase you make. This is a great way to try stuff out if you aren't sure about them. Their fabric is pricey, at least to me, and you have to purchase fabric by the yards, but you can buy a 5x3.5 swatch for a dollar. Not bad for making a fur wig or for a clothing item you just need a tiny bit of fabric for.

So I got several textures to see what kind of stuff I can come up with. I think the brown poodle fur will be made into a funky wig, the pink and brown fur will be wigs as well, the brown minky fur is for a character in my web-comic, and the purple-pink fabric is going to be an area rug. They don't sell just fur at the site, they sell all kinds of fabric, so be sure to stop by and give it a look. Curious on how to make your own wig? Take a look at this tutorial by MyFroggyStuff to see how she easily made wigs for her dolls.


Can't wait to try making a few. And on that note I am off. I will talk to you lovely people later. Bye for now.

Feeling sleepy,
Michelle

Irony is my best friend.

Hey guys, sorry I bailed on you all yesterday and didn’t do anything I said I would.  But I have a good excuse…I think.  LOL!

It’s kind of funny.  No sooner I send  off the post telling you guys “I’m cured!!!” did I start to feel symptoms of a reaction coming on.  I waited it out and by early morning I was in full on reaction mode.  :-(  Seems that I might have an allergy to corn as well as wheat.  I had one of my “reactions” the night before last and the feeling stuck with me all day.  I felt horrible and tried to figure out what caused me to feel sick.  I didn’t eat much at all, and the things I did eat I had had before.  Now I did drink some Sobe water and in the past it has made me as sick as a dog.  I thought that maybe that was all in my head but perhaps that is what made me sick.  There is not gluten in the water, but one of them was sweetened by artificial sweeteners.  Those always make me feel bad.  The other one had sugar.  So I guess I will only drink the ones with sugar from now on.

But I’m not 100% sure it was the water that made me sick.  I had some soup as well that my mom and I made.  It was just plain veggies from the can and plain unseasoned chicken and some peeled and cut carrots and potatoes.  No salt or anything added.  It was really good.  But as I ate it I kept wondering about the corn.  I want to experiment and try eating corn one morning to see if I have a reaction, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it today since I feel decent today and I haven’t had many of these days in a long time.  Felt kind of sick this morning but I think that is due to drinking Sprite last night, which is gluten-free, but it caused acid.  I still have the horrible acid problem and so I have to try to remember to either watch what I eat or take something when I do.  I knew the Sprite would cause acid but I am trying to cut back on the Tums I take and since I figured I could just go to sleep I did and thought nothing of it.  But this morning I felt pain and pressure in the chest area and it caused some anxiety so I really regret not popping some Tums before bed.  But it’s passed now so all is good.

But with me feeling a little better each day it makes me want to craft more and I have been working on sewing again.  It’s a little tedious this time because I have decided to cut out all the pieces for several dresses.  Which means I have to cut about three pieces per dress then fray check them all and then sew them together.  I am ready to start the sewing together part today.  I think I need to change my needle.  No, I know I need to change my needle on my machine.  It’s still the same needle it came with.  I know!  I know!  I should have changed that puppy a long time ago, but it still worked fine so I didn’t bother.  I am a little nervous about doing it which is silly.  I took the machine apart to oil it but a simple unscrew a bolt and replace the pointy thing then screw the bolt tight again scares me.  LOL!  I’ll do it after I finish these dresses.  I think my stitches are a tiny bit looser due to the needle, but it could be my knobs need adjusting. 

So yeah, I’m off to sew some and then hopefully will have energy to post some blog posts I’ve had waiting for a few days, do comment responses, and email responses.  Speaking of my blog, I’ve been working on a testing blog and tinkering with layouts and whatnot since I don’t like how my current one is so cramped.  I have adjusted things and will unveil a new one day layout on Halloween that will be replaced by a new one on Thanksgiving.  The Halloween one is ready to roll, I now need to work on the one for Thanksgiving.  I have an idea for it, but once again I need to test it first.  Oh and for those you on my crosspost blog on Livejournal, the new layout will only be put on my Blogger blog.  Messing with the Livejournal layout is honestly no fun.  Sorry guys, but feel free to come over to my Blogger blog to see the layout on Halloween.

Humm, what else, what else?  Well, I need to hit a store soon.  I need to see if i can find some Thanksgiving fabric for a project I have in mind.  Just not sure where to look.  I guess anywhere really.  I hope that I can find some in scale fabric.  Although since the fabric will be for Blythe dolls it wouldn’t matter really if the scale were a little big but in scale fabric would be cuter.  I’ll have to start looking around.  Ok, I need to stop blabbering and go get working on sewing.  I’ve been meaning to since I woke up this morning around 8.  I just felt bad this morning and spent it in bed.  But it’s almost 4 in the afternoon now so I need to hop to it.  No previews yet of what I am making since I will be starting the sewing process and will want to show the finished work, but you guys will be the first to know when I am done.  Ok, I’m off.  Bye for now guys.

Loves ya,
Mouse

Hey! Buy this house…but only if you are a doll lover. :-D

What?  I’m dying to know who will buy the recently finished house across the street.

Let me just say, drawing compared to actual house is spot on.  It’s been interesting to watch this house be built from destroying the woods that once lived in it’s spot, to building the foundation, to loud early mornings of banging and sawing, to the finished look.  Let me just say, it’s the newest house in a neighbor hood that was built in the 70s.  We have like two houses that were built in like the 90s but the rest were 70s and 80s.  There is another plot next to this house that will have a house on it eventually.  I’m so surprised they will get two houses on this plot of land.  But let me just say, that when the second house is built, if you fart your neighbor will hear it.  :-D  Ok, so some internal pics.

Living room with fireplace.  This is at the back of the house.

I actually love the kitchen.  It’s big enough and it’s open.  But the cabinets look kind of dated to me, or cheap.  One of the two.  The counters look ok.

This right here seems like a wasted picture.  Showing the ceiling fan.  I think that is common in most new houses now.  But it does show the crown molding which is not common for houses in this neighborhood.  Perhaps the rich neighborhood they built behind mine but not my middle class neighborhood.

Double vanity in the master bathroom.  Nice.  Counters still seem cheap or out of date to me.

I believe this is a garden tub.  I think I read it had one.  And I believe it’s under a frosted window.  This is on the side of the house at the front.  I believe this is the master bathroom since the house has only two bathrooms.

And here’s the second bathroom.  So the other tub must be the master one.  This one looks nice.  Simple bathroom for guests and kids.

Backyard.  It’s kind of on the smallish side so if you aren’t much for gardening then this is for you.  I think I’d want a privacy fence because the yard is completely open.  I can see half of it from my craft room upstairs across the street.  And since the house is for right now the corner house the people on my street which is the main street and the street that it corners with can all see into the backyard.  So yeah, I’d want a privacy fence.

They really took crap  pictures of the house.  They should have taken one of the front and not take internal ones until the house was done.  And not one of the garage.  It doesn’t even tell in the listing that it’s a double garage.  And the listing has it in the wrong zip code and on the wrong street.  LOL!  No one it hasn’t sold yet.  But I am surprised it hasn’t because it’s in one of the best school districts in town.  I’m sure it will sell soon with all those military people being moved here over the next few years.  But still, I wish I knew who will move there.  I hope they aren’t jerks.  If I could I would move there, but alas I can’t.  Oh well.  I don’t think they will be starting on the second house until that one sells and two others on the main street outside of our neighborhood.  But the lot is for sale so I’m sure the person who buys it will be able to build a very nice house just how they like it.  So if you are in the market for purchasing a house or wanting to build your own on a corner lot with a nosey but polite neighbor living across from you, and you happen to like dolls, drop me a line and I’ll hook you up.  ;-) 

And just so this post isn’t completely boring, here’s a sneak peek into what I started on today.

Ignore the messy desk, it always looks like that.  The focus are the ten pieces of fabric slowing drying from no-sew glue.  Tomorrow I will sew across those sewed hems and make “hopefully” ten cute little dresses.  I have the threads I want to use all ready to go right there, so tomorrow will be a busy sewing day.  :-)  Looking forward to it.  :-)  Ok, I’m off.  I want to go watch an episode or two of the new Korean drama I started.  I finished the last one that I will review for you in a bit.  It was ok, nothing to write home about.  Ok, talk to you later.  Bye for now.

Loves ya,
Mouse

Am I a little crazy to want…

A doll of the Monster High Head Mistress?  And yes I want to be able to take her head off.  What?  I can’t be alone in this.  *Listens to crickets.*  Nevermind.

On a sane note, I finally was able to sew the darn dress I had been trying to sew for weeks now.  I got the pattern printed right, I used the right fabric, I used a technique to make the pattern work for me, I added snaps and buttons and giggled with delight when I finished one then another one.  Then I realized…I don’t really like the dress design and don’t see myself making any like those in the future.  I want to alter the pattern, make it my own, and make it something I’d like better.  *sigh*  Well, at least I can say I sewed it finally.  Pictures of the two I did sew coming soon along with a doll review…I haven’t even opened her yet and I have had her for almost a week now.  Just wanted to do box opening pics for the review.  Coming soon I swear it.  Off to bed now so I can get up early for some sewing.

Ok, a weird thought just hit me.  We are getting ready for a tax free weekend here.  I am wondering if taxes are off on fabric and sewing supplies.  I mean some people sew their kids clothing, and sewing supplies are needed for classes as well.  Hummm, I may have to ask this weekend.  Ok, seriously off now.  Hope you all are well.  Bye for now.

Loves ya,
Mouse

Monster High = Product Placement

Ok, so I just got done reading the prologue, the first chapter, the second chapter, and the third chapter to Monster High (the novel based off those cute dolls everyone has been going crazy over), and can anyone say product placement?  No seriously, every few words were practically plugging a brand name.  The story and from what I could guess of the plot were cute, but the product placement just kept getting me.  Are teens so materialistic that they wouldn’t “get” a story without Gucci, Uggs, and Calvin Klein being mentioned?  Since when did characters in stories become so materialistic?  That was honestly a turn off for me, and I thought to myself would I let my son or daughter read this novel, if i had either of course?  And I believe I would let them read it, but I would worry if this would make them want more instead of appreciating what they have or what can be afforded.  I don’t know, maybe I am thinking to much into this.  I just don’t think the story needed all the product placement in it.  It’s a good story so far.

But it also makes me wonder why they released so much of the story.  Are they worried it won’t be good or accepted?  Perhaps this is a thing the author already did in the past.  Not sure, I will be investigating her blog some more and report back.  But it does make me wonder about other YA/MG authors and if they plug a lot of products.  It’s been some time since I read YA, but that will be changing soon as I am planning to hit the library some time in the next week or so to check some out for research for my writing.  But tell me, what do you think about product placement in stories?  I mean mentioning the characters are going to McDonalds, which I am sure will show up in the story somewhere, is one thing, but mentioning over 10 different products in maybe 30-40 pages worth of novel is a bit much.  And a lot of them got repeat mentions.  So it just makes me wonder how others feel about it.  Maybe I am just getting old…I am turning the big 3-2 in a little over a week after all.  *tear*  I wouldn’t have minded product placements if they were made up items like J.K. did in the land of Harry Potter.  This story could have done that with monsters being the main characters…I’m assuming.  I won’t say more on that, go read the chapters to get what I mean by that.

Ok peeps, I’m off.  I need some sleep.  I want to try some shopping tomorrow.  I’ve decided I am going to purchase Frankie and maybe one more doll tomorrow.  Not sure yet, but Frankie for sure.  I want to slowly collect them all like Pokémon.  ;-)  Also want to get some small knitting needles at 40% off…I wonder if they do coupon  from other store deal?  I’ll have to see about that.  And then I need to see if I can get some Halloween fabric.  I have some fabrics I want to show you guys too, maybe in a video.  They are getting wrinkled now because I was so frustrated over not being able to fix patterns that I just tossed them to the side, but I finally got one of the patterns I was working on to print out right so we are ready to rock!!!  So excited!!!  Ok, seriously need to go.  More later when I a more awake.  Bye for now.

Loves ya,
Mouse

Halloween Fabrics

Ok, so since the stores are so nicely telling us the end of the year is fast approaching…can you believe that…the fabric stores have been forming a love hate relationship with me.  Why?  Holiday fabrics of course.  And with Halloween coming up soon, I am on the hunt for some Halloween fabric, deals would be better, but I am willing to get some in scale fabric at full price and just get a 1/4th yard instead of full yard.

So I am haunting the Joann site, when did it just become Joann and instead of Joann Fabrics, and I found some nice Halloween themed ones.  Here are my picks for doll sewing.  Click here to be taken to the sale page on the Joann website if you are interested in purchasing  any of the fabric.  Oh and nope, don’t work for the place, just covet their fabric.  :-)

Ok, so I originally had 39 pieces picked out that I liked and I managed to cut those down to just 10 with one extra.  That was not an easy task.  So be sure to go to the sales page to see all the other nice Halloween fabrics they have for sale.   Here are the 10 I picked that I would love to make Blythe dresses with.

So of course we have pumpkins.  What is Halloween without them?

This fabric I really like with the trick-or-treaters and candy.  I think this would make a whimsical dress for Blythe.

Spiders that are cute and fabric that is pretty.  What’s not the love.

This one I really found interesting when I thought of it as a dress.  You’d have to really look at the dress to catch everything, maybe pull back some folds of skirt to get the full picture.  I like the idea of having to look at the dress to take it all in.

Boo…what else can I say?  It fits and it’s cute.

A colorful Boo.  Same reason as above.

Candy!  What is Halloween without some treats with our tricks.  I think this fabric is very pretty with it’s vintage feel.

I am currently loving spotted fabric, especially if the spots are colorful.

Classic dots in a Halloween theme.

Same as above only reversed.  I could see some great mixing and matching with these two.

And something just because.  This is way to off scale for a Blythe dress but I would love this for myself.  Not sure what I’d make with it, but do you see the little witch mouse there?  So cute!!!  I may actually hunt this fabric down and get a yard of it, but only after I figure out what to make with it.  I kind of want to make myself something with it, but I don’t know what.  Very cute.  The dog and cat are cute also but the mouse obviously caught my eyes first.  :-)

I know some of these fabrics seem out of scale for Blythe, but I am thinking with her big head that the scale would kind of balance out and look ok.  And when I think of Blythe I mostly think of her as being cute and young so oversized on cute and young isn’t all that odd really so it still kind of works.  Seeing these fabrics really to make me realize I need to hit the fabric stores and soon to try to get a deal.  Maybe just get a yard of one fabric and use a coupon to get something off of it.  Will have to see.  Found a 50% off coupon for AC Moore.  Might head there and look at their fat quarters.  Maybe they will have something Halloweenish.  I’ll update you if I find anything.  That’s all for now.  I’m off to bed now since it’s 4:44am and I have to get up in a few hours.  Bye for now.

Loves ya,
Mouse