DIY and Book Review: Yoga Mat Bag!

I am back from China!  So, as I'm slowly getting over jet lag and a reluctance to do anything productive, I managed to tackle an item from my list of things to do: Sew a bag for my yoga mat.

Fortunately, I remembered seeing a tutorial in a book I bought a couple of years back, called, Simple Sewing: Patterns and How-To for 24 Fresh and Easy Projects by Lotta Jansdotter.  I bought the book because of a 40% coupon I had at JoAnn's one day and I was impressed with the cute designs and the simplicity of the patterns throughout.  This was my first time actually trying a tutorial, however (I know, after two years! I'm a bit of a procrastinator sometimes).

The first step was deciding on what fabrics I wanted to use.  I didn't want to go for something too simple.... I thought this project was a great opportunity to go for some really fun patterns!  For the bulk of the piece, I stumbled across a maxi skirt in my closet that I originally found at a thrift store months back-- I've always loved the bright floral on black pattern, but the fit of the skirt was awful, so I thought it was the perfect candidate for the focal point of my bag!  It was a little difficult to cut it evenly, because of the tapered panels, but I managed to make it work.  The rest of the fabric, I took as remnants from other projects I've done.

I tweaked the dimensions from the tutorial a bit, so that I could utilize a bigger pocket for my gloves/keys/phone, and I added a flap with a magnetic closure (I can get a little paranoid about things falling out, since I'm prone to have that happen).

It closes with a draw cord, which I was lucky enough to just have a spare one lying around.  I went a little fancy and kept the ends a bit long, threading a few wooden beads to the cords, to dress it up a little bit.

All in all, I was incredibly happy with how easy the tutorial was to follow and how great my bag turned out!  This is definitely inspiration for me to start doing more of the projects from the book (some great gift ideas, for sure).  I can't wait to start bringing my new bag to class!

*Sings the Sparrow

On a slow boat to....

China!  I'm headed to Beijing, precisely, in T-Minus one and a half-something weeks.  (Okay, so maybe not that precise.)  It's crazy how fast it's all happening.  One minute I'm unemployed; the next minute I'm unemployed and going to China!  Or at least, I will be unemployed for the 3.5 weeks I'll be out of the country, which shall be interesting, considering how tight my budget is already.  At the same time, I'm not worried, and I know I'm doing exactly what I'm meant to be doing (at least for now).

Staying with my mom's sister and her immediate family, I am beyond excited to see my cousins again -- it's been over ten years.  My mom just informed me that one of my cousins has a piano in his photography studio.  Why?  I'm not really sure, because he doesn't play the piano, but for some reason, it immediately warmed my heart.  The comfort of a piano is the comfort of home.

So, naturally, these next coming weeks will be full of traveling updates from me and I'm clearing a bunch of storage in my iphone so I can take as many pictures as I can.  I contemplated bringing my DSLR but it would be just one more thing to worry about packing and subsequently losing on my flight across the world.  I'm all about packing as minimally as possible, if I can help it.  I'm also crossing my fingers that my cousin will show me around his studio and let me experiment with some of his expensive equipment.  

Also, my mom, who is as much of a clothes horse as I am, made me promise to come back with my suitcases full.  That translates to: pack lightly on your way there and make sure your aunt buys me new clothes that you can bring to me on your way back.

Will do, Mom.  Will do.

Tumblr

Now on tumblr: singsthesparrow.tumblr.com

Bella Bear on a Blog!

My friend, Becca, at Hot Diggity just featured Bella as their dog of the month!  Go check it out :)  Thanks, Becca!

All the.....small things....

I have known this about myself for a long time, but I so rarely declare it:  I love clothes.

And with my recent thrift store obsession, I have found that more than clothes, what I really love is looking inside a thrift store and finding an awesome piece of clothing I couldn't find anywhere else.  There is something so satisfying about rummaging through all of the dusty useless objects people have discarded throughout the years, and seeing a diamond in the rough.

I went up to Loveland, CO to see my good friend and she was convinced that the ARC was one of the best places to find awesome used clothes.  I'm pretty spoiled by the Unique Thrift by my parents' house, but was excited nonetheless to see something potentially great.  Lo and behold....

There was definitely the typical:

and

,

BUT, I managed to find a great vintage piece that fit me like a glove:

.

So excited.  

Boxing Day?

One of my favorite things to do on a beautiful day like today is walk my dog from my house to the park, sit on a bench, and just be-- look out at the lake, watch the people walking by, write in my journal...  It seems like an "old man" thing to do, I know, but something about it brings about a sense of calm to me that can't be accomplished any other way.  As great as it would have been to see snow on Christmas, I was grateful for a beautiful and sunny post-Christmas day.

I think the last time I saw so many geese and ducks on the lake was when I lived in Germany.  My dad was in the army then and was stationed there when I was 3 years old to 5.  So.... that was over ten years ago.  NO..... twenty years ago!  Something about my memories in Germany brings me to a different, almost ethereal, place.  Back then, I didn't have a lot of places to call home, considering we were moving around so much due to my dad's job,  but Germany, the way I look back on it now, was definitely the closest thing I had to that "home" feeling as a child.

My best Christmas memory was in Germany, when Santa (and a scarecrow-- I don't know if it's the culture, or if they couldn't come up with any other costume) came to the door with a brand new Safari Barbie.  And then my dad came home not an hour later with the giraffe to match.  The best part, I think, was when my parents started laughing at how unplanned it all was.

So, the park definitely reminds me of Germany.  Maybe that's why I love it so much.  Now, if I could just get Bella to stop eating the goose poop off the ground....

Today will hopefully be a momentous day when I can finally say everything is listed on etsy.  Either today or tomorrow.

Christmas Time is Here....

Merry Christmas.

First things first... I posted all of my wallets on etsy.  More to come tomorrow, like some of my jewelry and cards.  I wish I had the time to do all of this before the holiday season, but I'm satisfied to finally get part of this done.

So far, my Christmas has been pretty low key, as they tend to be.  I went over to celebrate with my parents yesterday, and they gave me the GPS I've been asking for the 2 years.  So glad I don't have to worry about my lack of direction, at least when I'm driving, anymore.

I decided this Christmas, I would intentionally seek out solitude.  Christmas, for most people, is a time when they get together with their families, open presents, and whatnot.  For me, it's never been a huge deal.  I never had a Santa Claus or a big morning ceremony to wake up for.  Usually my mom had to work.  This year was no exception.  I went to my parents' house and found my mom asleep on the couch and my dad's car gone.

My dad's brother passed away three days ago, hit by a drunk driver while he was going on a walk, and my mom decided Christmas eve was the appropriate time to tell me, I guess.  Not that I was close to him-- I met him once when I was in Korea one summer during high school.  But it did make me think....

The true meaning of Christmas is.... more than presents and more than family, even.

If I could articulate my words more eloquently, I would.  But for now, I'm going to continue to reflect in solitude.  On beauty.  On life.  On love.  On sacrifice.  On the meaning of it all.

'Tis the season to be....

It was an eventful week, to say the least.  An even more eventful Sunday.  I woke up to find that someone had stolen the CDs from the front dash of my car and the cord to plug in my iPod.  It was more of an inconvenience than anything else.  Ironically, they had taken my gloves out of my glove compartment and had placed them neatly on the passenger seat.  They also neglected the CDs I had in the back seat, but made sure to take my 9v batteries.  LAME.

Besides that beautiful little surprise, I had a wonderful weekend.  I watched my friends in The Say So rock it at The Summit Music Hall on Friday, played a show for the IPO, and went downtown for Jessica Christie's birthday (check out her photos).

Subsequently, I'm behind in posting items on etsy, but managed to put a couple up today.   After Tuesday, things should slow down in my life quite a bit, so hopefully it won't be too long before everything's up, finally!

Vintage Flower Envelope Wallet
Dusty Blue Cloth Wallet (relisted)

Throw the yule blog on, Uncle John.

Black and White Wallet with Yellow Rosette

It's like a switch turns on immediately after Thanksgiving is over.  We're inundated with holiday wreaths and Christmas music like it's been hiding around the corner, waiting to jump out at us all along.  All of a sudden, I freak out a bit, realizing that I hadn't put much thought into what I'm getting or making for whom, and I'm behind on Christmas shopping before the season's even began.

However, I love the warm and nostalgic feeling Christmas gives me.  I have fond memories of watching all of the famous TV specials, drinking non-alcoholic eggnog, and trading Hanson CDs with my best friend in middle school.  That being said, I need to remember to....just...breathe.

All Hallow's Eve

So it's the day before Halloween and I'm finally getting around to updating....

Amidst going back to work, moving to a new place, and just life in general, I'm back :)  And much more to show you very very soon.

That said, I put up a picture of the fruit pizza I made for last night's housewarming party.  Without the energy to cook anything this morning for breakfast, I managed to consume the last of it for my first meal of the day...

The Leaves are Green.

Netflix is sooooo great.  

On an unrelated note, here are new items:

White Seed Bracelet

Chunky Green Glass Bead Bracelet

I've realized that as much as I love the idea of summer, I'm actually not that big of a fan of it.  I am indifferent to sunshine, I hate having to put on extra sunscreen, the heat makes me so tired, and I can't shake this never-ending craving for ice cream.  I find myself shopping more-- craving the cool comfort of retail stores.  Bad idea.

August seems to be the worst month of this unbearable weather.  And then..... the leaves will turn and the sun will go down at an earlier time, and I can go to bed at a reasonable hour.  

I'm Just a Broadway Baby.

After my band played at the UMS this past month, I've been realizing more and more how much of a gem South Broadway in Denver can be.  Besides venues like the Hi-Dive, movie theaters like the Mayan, and ice cream at Sweet Action (banana with Reese's Pieces-- yum!), I've discovered some great shops (with some help, of course)!

Check out the Goodwill on Broadway and Ellsworth.  I've found some great belts and random knick knacks there.

Fancy Tiger is a fun shop that sells clothes and accessories by local designers.  They also have classes for sewing and crafting and some awesome textiles.

And my recent find, thanks to my friend, Emily, is Decade, a "gift boutique."  I got lost in the store, in a good way.  It was a good thing I knew I couldn't spend any money because that store would have gotten me in big trouble.

I'm slowly making my way with listing my items in the etsy shop.  Here are some recent postings:

Owl Pendant Chain and Pearl Necklace
Pearls and Buttons Chain Necklace

I'm especially attached to these two pieces.  Owls and buttons are definitely my favorite accessories of the moment.

Many more to come.

~~~~ Sings the Sparrow ~~~~~~~

Make Art.

I let myself get distracted easily.

But I managed to get something accomplished!

Caramel Headband with Oval Accent

So, my new obsession is thrift stores.  That is where I love to find new little trinkets and vintage clothes to inspire me to make something new.  My favorite of the moment is this one:

Unique Thrift Store

My routine once I walk into the store usually consists of me heading straight to the jewelry counter.  I've found some amazing charms, bracelets, and necklaces.  One of which I bought recently was a cool cameo locket, which turned out even COOLER when I realized it was actually a little music box!  What a find, what a find.

Well, off to convince myself to be productive, once again.

**Sings the Sparrow

Monday, Monday

Just another Manic Monday....

So, my 26th birthday was on Saturday.  I'm finding it harder with each year to get that same feeling of excitement and magic I used to get as a little kid when July 17th rolled around.  My band had a show on Friday night and my BFF surprised me on stage with a cupcake and a chorus of "Happy Birthday."  It was great, especially because she completely caught me off guard, and I'm not an easy person to surprise (It's the INFJ in me, I suppose).  But alas, I didn't get to bed until about 3 am and had the most difficult time catching up on sleep until now.  

I woke up this morning to clouds outside of my window, which gave me a sense of peace and hope that it would rain and I could soon smell that delicious rain smell outside.  The clouds have yet to spring a drop, but I'm still hopeful it will happen by the end of the day.  In the meantime, I'm watching Ricky Gervais and listing new etsy items:

Dusty Pink Headband with Feathers

Rust and Chocolate Brown Headband with Feathers

Getting into the swing of things.

I've been busy.  

4th of July was spent in Kansas City with two of my best friends.  I discovered a few great boutiques and thrift stores while I was there, scoring some gold-plated earrings and a leather purse among other adorable trinkets.  Donna's was probably my favorite of all the stores we discovered, with Boomerang in a close second.  Donna's was this cute dress shop with a few racks devoted to vintage clothing, in addition to new stuff by local designers, which I loved.  And Boomerang was the thrift stores of all thrift stores-- everything was organized into decades and styles from different periods.  I was so close to buying this green drop-waist dress straight out of the Brady Bunch era, but I was running low on cash.  Mental note to self-- bring more money the next time I go to KCMO.  That, in addition to the great community of people and cool architecture, might, just MIGHT, make me want to live there.  

I'm excited to show off some of my pictures from a wedding I recently took pictures of for my good friend and old roommate, Brooke.  Still editing, so specific comments to come.

I'm going a little crazy, trying to get everything ready to launch my etsy store.  Nervous, maybe, and also, I might be stalling.  I decided to sew these cute little gift bags to go along with my merch, but as much as I love them, I'm also realizing that time equals money, and I'm wondering if there's an easier and cheaper way to brand my crafts without spending hours doing it.  Any suggestions?

Anyway, my goal is to get some items up by the end of the week.  Just in time for my birthday on Saturday!!  In fact, that would be a great birthday gift, to buy something from my store (hint, hint).  

So here's a little confession:  I'm incapable of doing only one thing at a time, so being the multi-tasker that I am, I have become addicted to Netflix and watching cheesy sitcoms on my Instant Queue while I work.  The cheesy sitcom this week:  Charles in Charge.  I've already made my way through the middle of the 4th season.  And I've never realized until now just how much of a womanizer and poor role model Charles really was.  I mean, imagine having him as a "baby-sitter" when you are a 15 year old impressionable young woman.  I shudder at the thought.  But, nostalgic nonetheless :)  

**Sings the Sparrow**

Let's Start at the Very Beginning. A Very Good Place to Start.

Hi there.

Welcome to my internet home. Here I plan to share my love of crafts, music, and photography to all of you who are willing to read, peruse, and experience with me. I'll post things I've made and pictures or links of things that inspire me. Let's begin!

I have an etsy account I will post a link to in the near future.

I have pictures I have taken that I will post in the near future.

I have stories I will post in the near future.

But first, some things about me:

-I love birds and singing.

-According to various personality tests based on Meyers-Briggs, I am an INFJ (otherwise known as a "sage owl").

-When I was little, my mom didn't trust me with real fabric, so she had me practice sewing on pieces of scrap paper.

-I have a labradoodle named Bella. Yes, a labradoodle. And she's awesome.

-I have a dry sense of humor. It's okay to not take me so seriously.

-My celebrity crush is Dana Carvey.

-I can't wait for the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie.

-More so, I can't wait for the new Harry Potter movie.

Lalalalala,

Sings the Sparrow.