Home

Advertisement

Customize
missannag
04 December 2009 @ 01:14 pm
So, I broke my promise . . .  
. . . . and decided to get the lavendar silk. I was able to use a coupon code, so the fabric only came to $3.51 a yard. That was just too big of a deal to pass up and apparently my mother agreed (she is a major bargain hunter). Plus, I promised to sell off some of the stash (more on that in the coming weeks when I'm home and can actually take pictures). In order for my order to make it to the $35 with free shipping, I also bought some of this black and white cotton knit fabric for stockings (and if this just doesn't work for stockings, I'll make a modern sweater out of it).

Oh, and if you're wondering why you have been hearing from me so much over the past couple days, I am trying to make a very concerted effort to blog every day in December (even if it's just silly posts, like this one about buying fabric or the one yesterday that ranted against Best Buy*), since I have been semi-absent from blogland recently. I don't know how long I can keep this daily blogging thing up (my life is not of very interesting things at the moment, good thing I don't have Twitter**), but I've decided to try and see.


*I realized I came off very harsh on the Best Buy employees. Not all of you are annoying, I know. Some of you are actually quite helpful, like that one nerdy guy named Eric who semi-flirted with me when I was trying to buy a laptop this past summer.

**One of the stupidest inventions devised by man in recent history. Seriously, why do I need to know what you're doing every minute of every day?
Tags: , , ,
 
2 comments | Leave a comment
 
missannag
03 December 2009 @ 02:08 pm
Something that just needs to be said  
Dear Best Buy,

Please stop advertising on my blog, or on any of the other pages that I view on LiveJournal. It makes me never want to step into your store and be hounded by your annoying sales people ever again.

That is all.
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: Pissed off at Best Buy
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
02 December 2009 @ 10:21 am
When the perfect fabric arrives at the most imperfect time  
I've had my eye on this fabric for a while, and it has finally gone on sale. I'd think it make a lovely Regency dress (for a first-timer!), although I wouldn't be able to get to it until this summer. The only problem? I told myself (and my mother) that I wouldn't buy any more fabric for the next 5 months unless it was for a specific project that I a) had already started for or b) had supplies for but hadn't started yet. I don't know whether to bite the bullet and just buy this fabric (knowing that when they after it goes off of sale, it'll be twice as expensive).

Also, Fabric.com offers free shipping on orders $35 or more. Since I don't want to pay shipping, I would either have to buy 8 yards of this, or buy the 4 yards and then get something else to compensate.

This is why it takes me forever to decide anything.
Tags: ,
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
01 December 2009 @ 06:39 pm
Anna Reviews 'New Moon'  


Sunday was my sister's birthday, and for her present, we went to go see "New Moon." She's been looking forward to this movie for 6 months, although I was also interested to see it. However, this movie was a waste of $8 that I will never get back. Why? Simply put, this movie was a major disappointment.

( Click here to read my review of 'New Moon,' which includes spoilers and minor cursing . . . )( Read more... )
Tags: , , ,
 
2 comments | Leave a comment
 
missannag
30 November 2009 @ 01:40 pm
Since I'm feeling sick . . .  
. . . and this video makes me feel better, I decided to post it.



It's a segment from the series "Target Women" on InfoMania (which is the only TV that I watch online) and Sarah Haskins has the ability to make me laugh at anything.

In sewing related news, I got a lot done during Thanksgiving break. I hemmed 3 pairs of pants (weight loss + being petitie = alterations), and a new wool skirt. I also made 2 scarves out of wool remnants, and picked up red wool basque that I started almost a year ago. I figured out that my wonky bodice issues were from the lining and outer wool layer not matching and causing wrinkles. Oh flat lining, how you anger me . . .
Tags: , , , ,
 
 
Current Location: Back in Seattle
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
24 November 2009 @ 03:10 pm
Hmmmm . . .  


After seeing this dress on [info]lamodeillustree today, I think I slightly got over my 1850s boredom. It's called "The Day before Marriage" and was painted by George Baxter in 1854 (more info can be found here). Truth is, it's the first thing to inspire me to create something 1850s-ish (besides my quilted bonnets) in ages, although I've never recreated a garment from a painting before.

But, this does seem doable, and maybe that's why it's so appealing to me. I have velvet for the bodice, red silk taffeta for the ribbon and ties. All I would need would be lace for the collar, buttons, and silk for the skirt. The skirt in the painting looks like it's silk moire, but since they don't make that anymore and I don't want to wear polyester (blech) I guess I have to go with silk taffeta. I found this black and white silk taffeta on puresilks, although I would need close to 4 yards and I don't want to spend that kind of money right now. Hmmm . . .

I have a feeling that this is what I'll be working on now during Christmas break . . .
Tags: , , ,
 
 
Current Mood: thoughtful
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
19 November 2009 @ 02:33 pm
3 day weekend!  

Somehow, the stars aligned and my professors decided to cancel both of my classes (a quiz section and lecture) tomorrow. Which means that I get a 3-day weekend! I still have to wake up before 6 to register for classes (since I'm a freshman, I get the last day to register for classes, meaning those at the bottom of the barrel) but after that I can sleep in. And sew. I've really wanted to finish the quilted bonents I'm working on but have been too busy and exhausted. Season finale of Project Runway tonight! This is the first season where I've watched all the way through (I've seen some episodes when Bravo had marathons of it on). Is it just me, or are the designers this season less talented then previous seasons?

Tags: ,
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
09 November 2009 @ 01:53 pm
Costume Cravings w/Pictures! (Aka, the to-sew one day list)  
Pegging off of my last post, I've decided to include pictures of dresses that I'd like to make before I fall over and die (aka, my endless to sew one day list). This is mainly for my own record, but feel free to click on and admire the pretty.


( 1796 Brown with pink Silk )
( 1810 Striped Regency )


( Cream silk brocade 1820's ball gown )

( Blue Silk Faille Visiting Dress, 1870 )

( 1875 Bustle with brown velvet )

( Cream bustle with purple velvet trim )

( Bathing costume, 1900 )


( French day ensemble, 1920s )


( Christian Dior silk cocktail dress, 1950s )


I'm sure they'll be more to come later!

Now let's see how many of these I actually make. ;-))))))


(Note: most pictures saved online from eBay and Augusta Auctions).
Tags: , ,
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
09 November 2009 @ 01:19 pm
Costme Cravings  
I really want to make a bustle dress, which is weird since I've never made one before. Occasionally I get what I have termed "costume cravings' meaning that I see a dress that I really, really want to make. (Okay, not so much make as wear. Like 6 months ago? Totally wanted to make a regency dress for no reason!)

I think maybe my wanting a bustle dress has something to do with the massive booty that is involved  while my booty is slowly shrinking. However, I am in touch with reality and know that a bustle dress is probably way more time/money/effort attached to it than I want to commit to right now. Plus, I have no where to wear it to - I'm not one of those people who can make a costume for the hell of it, wear it around the house, take pics, and then put it in the closet (even though that sometimes can be fun, and many people do enjoy it. I'm just saying that it's not my cup o' tea).

Oh well, the bustle dress has gone on my never-ending "To sew one day list." I'll get to it eventually. :)

(Oh, and in quilted hood news, I finished all of the quilting on the bonnet. And then I put it in a shelf and haven't looked at it again since Saturday. Good times).
Tags: , , ,
 
 
Current Music: "Far Away" - Ingrid Michaelson
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
07 November 2009 @ 06:29 pm
Dorm Room Sewing  

Truth is, I've missed sewing quite a bit, which is odd since I was really getting tired of it, especially the 1850s and the mid-19th century in general. I think I need to start doing costuming for some different eras (of course, that is not going to happen anytime soon!)

Anyways, I bought a little tabletop ironing board last weekend at Target when I was home for the weekend so that I could sew in my dorm room. And it turns out that it fits perfectly on my desk:



 

( Click here to see dorm room sewing and more . . .  )
Tags: , , , ,
 
 
Current Mood: content
Current Music: "See You Soon" - Coldplay
 
2 comments | Leave a comment
 
missannag
27 October 2009 @ 03:00 pm
Writer's Block: Seeing stars  

Which character from any film, television show, or book would you most like to take on a date and why?

Submitted By [info]blue_mariposa88


View 2282 Answers





Probably Christian from Moulin Rouge. He has the ability to turn anything into a song, and that blind optimism about life and love that is quite endearing. :)



(And you thought I was going to say Edward Cullen . . .)
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: okay
Current Music: "The Quest" - Bryn Christopher
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
19 October 2009 @ 01:33 pm
Sweeney Todd is NOT the sequel to Edward Scissorhands  
I watched Sweeney Todd for the first time yesterday, and damn was it a blood bath! The costumes were all right, and I liked some of the songs (Johnny Depp can sing, as opposed to Helena Bonham Carter, who really shouldn't).

Anyways, I was watching it on the DVR in my parents' room, and my dad came in to take something out of the closet. The conversation went something like this:

Dad: What is this?

Me: It's Sweeney Todd.

Dad: Is that Johnny Depp?

Me: Yeah, he plays a demon barber from fleet street.

Dad: Wasn't he on Edward Scissorhands?

Me: Yeah, but that was a while ago.

Dad: Is this the sequel?

*facepalm*
Tags: ,
 
2 comments | Leave a comment
 
missannag
17 October 2009 @ 09:00 pm
Ouch . . .  

I'm *pretty* sure I have a slight concussion. I hit my head pretty hard on the frame of the backseat of my mom's car while trying to get in it today. You see, with my college lifestyle, I'm now used to walking everywhere, and I kind of forgot how to get into a car. Ooops.

Other than that, it's been a pretty uneventful weekend. I've been avoiding homework like mad, and my silk taffeta came today! It does have an odd smell, but it really is gorgeous, and I wish that I had ordered more. Not that I know what I would do with it, or what to use it for. The 7 yards of brown, 4.5 yards of black, and 1 yard of teal that I ordered and received I definitely have plans for. The teal was so gorgeous, I actually started petting it and rubbing it against my face, until my dad gave me a funny look. At least the 'rents support my hobby.

The 500 mg of Tylenol I took to ward off the headache is starting to wear off. Off to go take more, and watch mindless television with my family . . .

Tags: , , ,
 
 
Current Location: Home
Current Mood: concussion-y
Current Music: 'Shiver" - Coldplay
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
06 October 2009 @ 02:50 pm
Writer's Block: Concert mania  

What band are you dying to see live in concert that you've never seen before? Would you travel to a different city or state just to see them?


View 2063 Answers



Coldplay, hands down. My cousin and I both agree that if and when we see them live, we can die happy. I almost got to see them in July when they were in Portland, but I was over in Europe at the time. It didn't help that the month after (August) they were in Germany and I was back in the states. And mom said that I couldn't fly back to Germany just to see them. I figured that the stars didn't align for me to see them this year, but I will see them someday . . .

Tags: , ,
 
 
Current Location: Seattle
Current Mood: busy
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
03 October 2009 @ 12:37 pm
Taking a break from sewing . . .  
. . .  at least for a while. School is keeping me very busy*, and I'm enjoying hanging out with friends and trying to absorb myself in the whole college experience as much as possible. Plus, with tons of school work and coming home during the weekend, I won't have much time to work on any new projects (the quilt will hopefully be finished sometme during winter break). I do still plan on updating the college blog at least once a week, though.



*17 credits is quite a lot, although the majority of them fall in 100 level classes. But, if I want to get my Bachelor's in 3 years (which is doable with my AP credits and taking a few classes during the summer) it'll totally help and be worth it in the end.
Tags:
 
 
Current Mood: Watching "Juno"
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
26 September 2009 @ 03:02 pm
College . . .  
I've finally settled in to my dorm and start my first day of college on Wednesday (it's so weird being one of the last to start college when most of your friends have already started college and have been in college for the last month).

I've also decided to start (yet another!) blog, with this blog having the inent of being a way for friends and family to keep up with me while I'm in college and get to see what I'm doing,* since most of them do not read my sewing diaries here. Anyways, feel free to take a look and leave a comment: http://annascollegeadventures.wordpress.com



*Well, most of what I'm doing. ;)
Tags: , ,
 
 
Current Location: Seattle, WA
Current Mood: okay
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
17 September 2009 @ 12:09 pm
A Layout facelift  
I've changed my layout yet again (Click here to see it).  I wasn't completely thrilled with the last one, and truth be told, I've been looking for a layout that I really like for the past 3 months.Unfortunately, LiveJournal itself is not particularily good in the layout department, (unlike wordpress, where it's very easy to make and customize a header) and it's hard to customize the graphics for yourself unless you're really frickin' good at Photoshop. However, at this point I don't want to move my blog over to wordpress since I do like the graphics and community aspects of LiveJournal. 

The layout is from [info]scholarslayouts (she has some very cool layouts that I love, many with vintage themes which I've come to learn can be very hard to find on LiveJournal unless you're creating your own), and I figured out how to add text to the header (thank you, Photobucket! I knew you had to be good for something!), even though I really don't do 18th century costuming and it looks like 18th century costumes in the header. Oh, well. I think I'll keep it for a while and change it sometime in the future. I think we all need a layout facelift now and then. ;)
Tags: ,
 
2 comments | Leave a comment
 
missannag
15 September 2009 @ 01:27 pm
My New Favorite Song  

 


 

( Lyrics and more under the cut . . . )
Tags: ,
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
11 September 2009 @ 11:25 pm
Apparently, the Amish are the new vampires . . .  

. . . at least according to this article. I wonder if they sparkle during typical Amish activities, like doing a barn raising or driving their horse and buggy around.


Tags:
 
 
Current Mood: confused
 
Leave a comment
 
missannag
09 September 2009 @ 06:27 pm
4 down, 76 to go. . .  
I've been working on this quilt project for the past couple months, with the two-fold purpose to use up lots of scrap fabric and also have a quilt for my dorm room and reenacting purposes (especially the 1 reenactment a year that I go to where I camp out). I finally got some of the blocks assembled, but I ran out of thread to do more than 4. (I'll have to get some more thread tomorrow when I go out). I plan on having 80 blocks total (so it would be 8 by 10 blocks), but so far I haven't decided which layout of 4 blocks I like the best:





I do also plan on trimming the blocks so that the sides are all even. :-P
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: contemplative
 
6 comments | Leave a comment
 
 
 

Advertisement

Customize