Finished…For The Moment

It took a week, but I think I’m done with the blog updates for now.  My sidebar is a little barren at the moment, but I’m sure that will change in time.  If you’ve read me for awhile you know that I like things to be clean and organized, and this is about as clean and organized as you can get with a blog, I think.  The information from the sidebar is all still here, I’ve just moved it around.  I moved the Flickr group photo button to the top as just a text button, the Sampler Quilt-Along and Photography buttons are now under the categories listing and the rest of my categories are organized there as well.  I moved the about, subscribe and contact information to the top.  I don’t have the email subscribe box anymore, but that’s because you can subscribe by whatever means you like (email included) from that ‘subscribe’ link. 

When I am doing my blog design, I pull from lots of sources that inspire me.  Right now I have been heavily inspired by the Pugly Pixel blog.  It’s been a blog I’ve enjoyed for sometime, but had not visited in awhile.  I reconnected with it a several weeks ago (and signed up for her Membership Extras – well worth it!!) and had been looking for a way to do away with my header, but still have a top identification, and her design was the perfect solution.  I also liked how she grouped her categories into a more cohesive listing with sub-lists under main categories.  Because I did away with the Blogger top nav-bar, I added in a search box for easy searching of the blog. 

My about page got a revamp as well (that’s the screen shot at the top).  I added in a lot of links to the end of that.  There you will find my other blogs, links to my different shops (although those are on the side navigation still), all of my social network links, a listing of where I’ve been published and guest posted, an ever evolving FAQ and Blogroll.  All of these things that were feeling cluttered on my sidebar now have pages of their own.

This is getting to be a rather lengthy post, but I wanted to point out all the subtle changes and give a big thank you to Katrina at Pugly Pixel for being such a source of inspiration.  I have learned so many things from her Tutorials on her blog and just so enjoy her day to day posts.  Be sure to visit her blog!

And now I’m off to the fabric store to pick up some fabric to finish kids costume.  Happy Halloween!

Makeover Time

The blog is long over due for freshening up.  I’m going to be making changes all weekend and getting it how I want it.  Not quite sure yet how that is, but I’ve been working on a few things this week and it’s time to start implementing some of them.  So, if the blog look a little funny, don’t worry, I know.  Crossing my fingers that next week sees everything looking all put together again!

- ♥ -  Elements :: Epic Collab @ Oscraps | Stitch Brushes @ Pugly Pixel | Font :: My Type  – ♥ -

Hard To Resist

I was telling Aaron this weekend “It’s been over a week since I’ve made it into the sewing room!”  How sad is that!?  Well, I did make it into the sewing room yesterday….to take a few photos of Norman.  He has found the window in there and loves to lounge in the warm sunlight (when we actually have some sun).  He has been fighting a kitty cold since shortly after bringing him home.  It was pretty bad there for awhile.  He wasn’t eating because he couldn’t smell and then I had to start feeding him with a syringe.  After that he started to eat again.  Anyways, long story short, he is doing much better.  Still not fully recovered, but the sneezes are getting less and less.  He loves to cuddle in my lap and is totally my shadow…until Aaron gets home.  Then he’s all about Aaron.  He especially loves to sleep between his legs at night, and Aaron’s one stipulation about a cat was not having it sleep on the bed for just that reason.  But he’s a sucker for Norman, and just moves him next to me and we cuddle the rest of the night.  I really could not have asked for a better cat.  I am really craving some time in the sewing room, where I do some actual sewing.  Maybe I will get in there this week. 

Three Little Pumpkins

I’m sure there’s a rhyme for that…  ‘Three little pumpkins, sitting on a fence…’ or something like that.  Anyways, these little pumpkins aren’t sitting on a fence, but they are still darn adorable!  Fat Quarterly has put out a special ‘Fall Inspired’ issue with tons of great things to sew!  These little guys are in there…and wouldn’t just one of them make a great coaster?!?  They do.  I use one all the time in the sewing room now. 

I love quick seasonal projects, and this is just that.  The technique for the pumpkins may be something new for most of you, but once you complete one you will have the hang of it and start thinking of all the possibilities. 

 

My awesome orange gingham ribbon and tiny pom-pom trim came from The Ribbon Jar.  It’s my go-to ribbon shop and pretty much the only spot I buy ribbon.  A local friend I know through the guild owned it and then passed the reigns to her mom, and she is just as fantastic about the ribbon she stocks and how quickly it’s shipped.  So if you’re ever looking for ribbon, I can’t recommend The Ribbon Jar enough.  Definitely worth a bookmark for later.

Anyways, back to the special issue – it’s a GREAT deal at only $5.  There are quite a few projects I’m hoping to find time to make.  There’s quilts, bags, embroidery…  I’d love to see these little guys if you happen to make some!  It’s such a great way to display all of those fantastic orange fabrics.

Quilt Kitty

There’s just no resisting a snuggly kitty on a quilt.