Scottish dress #1

Here is my little Scottish number... even though I finished this up almost a week ago... bad blogger!

(nerd alert!)

Ta-da! Do I look ready to play some bag pipes or throw a tree trunk? 

This dress was pretty easy to make. I spread it out over three days (tryin' to make these projects last), the blouse one day, the skirt the next, and then the vest. The vest was the most fun. I learned how to put on grommets! You get to use a hammer! So fun. Unfortunately, I set myself up for a couple challenges because apparently I cannot read. I bought too little of the white and plaid fabric. I had to go get more of the white (and I have officially banned myself from Joann's for a while, that place is my kryptonite these days), but I ended up just shortening the skirt to make the plaid I had work. Finding out that I hadn't gotten enough fabric was extremely frustrating and I felt like a fool. But in all fairness, have you ever tried to read the material lists on the back of patterns? Whoever designed those is obviously a fan of chaos and confusion.

 A blurry shot of Greg interrupting our photo shoot. He's always trying to steal the limelight.

I changed the skirt up a bit. Originally it was just hanging straight down, normal skirt style, but it was an awkward length because I had to shorten it, so I decided to add some pick ups in the front to add a little spiciness (yes, spiciness. Scottish spiciness.). I'm also thinking of taking the lace off of the neckline. It's really cute and all, but itchy as all get out.

I'm ready to hit up the highland games y'all! Any ideas on shoes? I know the barefoot look is just SO working for me, but I figure shoes are appropriate to wear outdoors. No one wants parasites, right Brendon?

Name that intersection!

Also, it rained! For a couple days! And not fake misty rain, but real rain. I spent this weekend with my momma down in NB and on Sunday we drove to Houston to see my g-pa, aunt, and cousins for some birthday festivities. It rained the ENTIRE way there! I'm not sure if Austin got as much while I was gone, Brendon said it rained quite a bit, but it sure was nice to see some dark clouds instead of the never ending burning sun of death. We even got some thunder and lightening! I love a good storm!

It was awesome to get out of Austin, if only for a couple days. I had a great time with my mom, as always! Saturday we got her fabric for her dress and ran around in the rain all day. Then we had some yummy hot dogs and watched a movie, Red Riding Hood. The movie was okay, a little silly but entertaining. I was scared that it might be spooky! But it wasn't thank goodness, I don't do scary movies. This weekend was just what I needed. As much as I dislike being away from Brendon, it was refreshing to get some girl time with mi madre. A tiny little escape from reality. And I'm sure he enjoyed the quality study time without interruptions from me asking him to take pictures of my latest endeavor.

Egg-cellent (yes, I went there with that pun)

I'm not normally a fan of eggs, but every now and then I crave them. Today, it was in egg sandwich form. My mom got me hooked on egg sandwiches when I was a wee lass. I can't make them as good as she does (it's that mom magic), but when I'm in the mood they're a quick, easy, and yummy meal!

 

Just melt some butter in a skillet and throw in a couple of eggs. You can use however many you'd like on your sandwich, I usually roll with two. Season them with some salt and pepper and fry 'em up to your desired degree of cooked...ness. I like mine with the yolks just a tiny bit runny so the sandwich isn't too dry.

Toast some bread, spread on some mayo (86 the mayo if you're not a fan), and add your fried eggs! It's also good with a slice of American (or whatever kind you have around) cheese.

Eat up! Obviously I'm enjoying a lazy day on the couch (I worked this morning I swear). It is relatively chilly outside (80 degrees feels cold these days haha) so the apartment is cool enough for me to lounge around in sweatpants. Hurray for sweatpants being back in my life! Sorry Brendon.

I am a sleepy head!

I have been a lazy blogger this week. Actually, I've been a lazy everything. I've just been so sleepy lately. No matter how much I sleep I get, I'm always tired. As my dad would say, I've got the "sleeping sickness".

I finished my dress for the Renaissance Festival today. Details and pictures to come soon! Just need to make my mom's dress and my sister's, if she decides to go, and I will be done with Scottish gear. Then I've got a Halloween costume idea brewing in my head. And you know what that means, it's probably going to happen. Endless sewing projects! Keep 'em coming!

Mr. H and his buddies are having a study session at the kitchen table currently. The stuff they're studying is insane. I catch bits and pieces of it and I'm just like whaaaa? Craziness. While they are studying, me and Greg are cuddling and pretending to be doing something productive.

He is so sweet! My little cuddle buddy. I'd be so lonely without these cats. What a crazy cat lady thing for me to say! Sheesh.

Secret revealed!

I know the suspense was killing you, so here's what I was making:

A Scottish outfit for Brendon! Yes, that is a kilt. Obviously that shirt I was sporting was not for me. We are going to the Texas Renaissance Festival with my momma in November, so I am making us all costumes! Every weekend has a different theme, and we are going on the "Highland Fling" weekend, so Scots we shall be! Plaid, plaid, plaid!

This was a lot of fun to make, and the pattern was refreshingly easy to understand after the mess with the dirndl. I was nervous about working with plaid and keeping the pattern lined up, but it ended up being really helpful, you've got fabric with built in guidelines! I am also now a pro at pleating. And at fringing. For the edges of the sash and kilt I had to unravel the weave of the fabric by hand to make a fringe. Very tedious, but the end result is neat-o. Making that hat was a lot of fun too, it's like a chef/golfer hybrid.

Lady outfits to come soon! I need to slow my roll or I'll be done with them all far too quickly. I need to make these projects last.

And I leave you with this:

 Sophie loves fabric. A lot.

Happy October!

We were welcomed into October with a lovely morning of coolness, even now it's only in the 80's! THE EIGHTIES! Not the 90's or 100's. It's so lovely. I think it's time to start sittin' on the porch in the evenings! Maybe I can convince Brendon to do some studying out of doors.

Today I decorated for Halloween. I had been waiting all week for it to be officially October so I could do so, and I'm surprised I made it. Decorating for holidays, or doing anything holiday related, is a passion of mine as I'm sure you all have gathered.

This ridiculous cat is my favorite of our decorations. Brendon got it for me a couple years ago. He brought it home from work one day and sat it on my desk to surprise me. It took a few minutes for me to realize it was there but when I did it scared the bejeezus out of me. I'm pretty sure I shrieked, which is very appropriate for Halloween. Mission accomplished, weird sparkly cat. I added a bow to make it cuter. Bows on everything y'all. Everything.

Also, this happened today. Orange toe pumpkin toe nails! That pumpkin was insanely hard to draw with a toothpick and cheap-o black nail polish. So hard I could only do it once, hence the lonely left big toe.

I hope that October is good to you dear readers. The wonderful season of fall is upon us! Enjoy it people.