birthday + anniversary weekend AND giveaway winner

Awesome weekend. (Did I mention it was our 7th wedding anniversary on Sunday, too?)
Thanks for all your sweet comments + well-wishes - it made me feel so special every time I opened my inbox!
The Help was amazing and completely lived up to the book.
That cake was pretty good, too, if I do say so myself.

Now, for the winner!

WOOT! Rachel is one of my newest bloggy buddies (I swear I didn't rig this!) and I was so excited that she won! If you haven't ever been to her blog, go have a gander, but be sure you're sitting down, because you're likely to be knocked off your feet by her awesomeness.

I hope everyone's week is off to a great start! See you soon!

giveaway: it's my birthday!

Happy birthday to meeeeee!! I turn 28 on Saturday.

The man and I are having dinner at home + then going to see The Help. 

Anybody seen it yet? I hear it's good. I read the book + liked it a whole lot.
Also, I am making myself this cake.

Meantime -- who's in for a giveaway??
I love blogging + I love you, dear readers!

So -- one winner gets a pretty little package with 4 of my favorite things...

Handmade bias tape, 3 rolls of Japanese washi tape in my new favorite colors, Burt's Bees tinted lip balm in Hibiscus (I wear it every. single. day. -- it is so perfect), AND your choice of one skirt from my shop! And who knows, maybe some other little goodies will find their way in there, as well.

Most skirts can be readjusted to fit most sizes -- or of course we can always make you a new one!

One comment, one entry. Entertain me. Winner picked via random.org on Monday.

loves and squishes! have the best weekend ever... I think I'm going to!

gimp girl tutorial: adding deco tape to photos for your blog

{Pssst! I'm giving away this tasty stack of washi later this week!}

Are you ready to get your Gimp on?? I sure hope so.
'Cause today we're gonna learn how to apply digital deco tape to an image using the program Gimp. 

Gimp is a FREE program that's comparable to Photoshop (we don'need no steenking photoshop!), and you can download it here for PC or here for Mac.

I have yet to find a really great comprehensive source of Gimp tutorials, but so far I've been able to figure most stuff out with Google + a whole lot of trial and error. The more I experiment with the program and with its different tools, the more proficient I feel.
I think that the best way to learn is to DO, so let's dive in & get DOING!

In the course of this tutorial, you'll learn how to:

Use the rectangle select tool

Copy + paste

Work with layers

Scale images

Rotate images
Autocrop images

Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy. Let's rock it.

To get going, open Gimp.

See the very tippy top of the screen, where it has the Apple menu and X11 and Applications and everything? Ignore that.
You'll only use the menu you see at the top of the blank gray box.

Next, we'll open the main image you want to work with.

Go to File > Open, 

find the photo you want to work with {in my case, the washi pic}, and open that bad boy up.

Here's what we have so far.

Now we'll whip out the washi. A karate chop with your non-mouse hand is encouraged but not required.

Go to File > Open,
find your fave deco tape file (I strongly recommend the freebies at Pugly Pixel; that's what I use 99% of the time), and open.

Time to select the piece of tape you want to use.

In the Toolbox at the left of the screen, double-click on the rectangle select tool.
Move to your deco tape window and click + hold + drag the mouse over the piece of tape you like best.

Now we'll copy and paste that piece of tape into your main image.

In the deco tape window, go to Edit > Copy.
In the main image (in my case, the deco tape photo), go to Edit > Paste as > New Layer.
Yay!

Notice a few things:
The deco tape is huge as compared to the photo. We'll resize that in a sec.
See the Layers window in the upper left hand corner? We've got 2 layers right now: the tape and the photo.
Each layer can be edited and manipulated separately. If I mess around with one layer, it won't affect the other layer(s).
More on that another time.

Time to resize the tape.
You can close the deco tape file now if you wanna.
Look at the Layers window and make sure the tape layer is selected.
{If you want to resize the photo instead, knock yourself out; just select the layer with the photo in it.}

In the Toolbox, double-click on the scale image tool.
As you hold down the control key, click + hold + drag the mouse until the tape is the size you want it.
Holding down the control key preserves the length/width ratio of the image.
As you do this, a Scale window will pop up (mine is at the bottom of the screen).
Hit return OR click Scale in the Scale window.
See? You've got options.

Almost there!
Let's rotate the tape.
I mean, of course you can leave it as it is. Or you can get sexy with it. Your call.

In the Toolbox, double-click on the rotate image tool.

Click + hold + drag the mouse until the tape looks nice to you.

As you do this, a Rotate window will pop up (mine is at the bottom of the screen).

Hit return OR click Rotate in the Rotate window.

Now we'll fit the canvas to our layers. 

See how my deco tape looks like it's been cut off at the top?

No bueno. To fix it, go to Image > Fit Canvas to Layers. 

Poof! It fits.

Now we'll prepare the image for posting on the web. This is easy.

To flatten the image (i.e. convert it from an image with layers to just an image, no layers), go to Image > Flatten Image.
Now autocrop the image to get rid of any unnecessary margins.

Go to Image > Autocrop Image.

Ahh, pretty.

This is optional, but I like to do it -- let's scale the entire image to an optimum size for your blog.

Go to Image > Scale Image.

Enter your desired pixel width, press the tab key, and hit Scale.

For this step, it's handy to know how wide your main blog column is {the place where your posts go}. Mine is fairly wide at 850px.
Depending on the effect I'm going for, I scale my images to between 600-800px wide.

DONE!

Lastly, save your image. If you don't add a file type to the end of the file name, Gimp will save the file as an .xcf file, which means that when you open it again later, it will open up as a Gimp file with all your layers preserved and everything. 

If you want your image to be a .jpg file so that you can upload it to your blog, just type .jpg at the end of the file name.

I usually save 2 copies of my images -- one as a .xcf and one as a .jpg.

After you hit Save, some more dialogue boxes will pop up. 

First one: hit Export.

Second one: slide the ticker to 100 and hit Save.

YOU DID IT!!

Now go slap some deco tape on all your fave photos.

Let me know if you end up using this -- I would really really love to see what you come up with!

I know it looks like a long tutorial, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to deco-tape your pics in 3 minutes flat. For serious.

We've got lots more to learn, so get practicing {cracks the whip}.
Let me know if you think of something you'd like to learn! I don't know everything (ha), but I'm always looking for ideas.

*kissy kissy!!*

gathering tutorial at pickup some creativity

Happy weekend, friends! I'm over at Pickup Some Creativity today sharing a basic gathering tutorial for Chris' Sewing 101 feature.

Be sure to stop by and say hello!

If you are new to sewing -- or need a little refresher course -- don't miss the other great tutorials in the series.

sisters in service: do. good stitches

Welcome to Sisters in Service!

Here we aim to lift, inspire, and motivate, and celebrate the (many!) different ways we can serve our brothers and sisters 

while we're here on earth. Today, let's give a big hip-hooray, 'cause it's Rachel from Stitched in Color!

Rachel has got to be one of the most got-it-together bloggers I know. If you've got a mind for modern quilting, you need to subscribe to her blog. Her quilts are drop-dead gorgeous, her ideas are inspired, and what's more, she knows how to organize lots of people to make a big difference in others' lives. Rachel is the mastermama behind do. Good Stitches, an online quilting bee that has grown to include a whopping 8 circles of sewists! 

Take it away, Rachel...

In a sentence, what's your project?
do. Good Stitches is a virtual quilting bee that creates quilts for people in need through many different charities.

Why is this project important to you?

Because I'm blessed with the time, resources, and passion for quilting, it's important to me to use that blessing to bless others. The online sewing community is filled with generous souls who feel the same way! 

concept + quilting by Natalie :: image source

Have you had any special experiences along the way you'd care to share?
I didn't understand at first that it's the diversity of the creative visions in any given circle that are the real power and excitement behind the quilting bee concept. My favorite quilt (that I've designed) for do. Good Stitches is Love in Wonky Stars. To me this quilt captures that power! It was such a joy to send it to a child through Wrap Them in Love.

concept + quilting by Rachel :: image source

What's your long-term vision for this project?
More circles, more quilts, more charities! Every month or so, we are able to launch new circles when folks step forward to lead as circle hosts and quilters. It takes some organization skills to be a circle host and it takes some quilting skills to be a quilter, but lots of us are capable!

How can I get involved?
While quilts of all styles are wonderful acts of charity, this bee intends to bring together active Flickr-users who enjoy a modern quilt style. If you have some experience with making quilts blocks, you can get involved! You don't need to know how to make all sorts of quilt styles -- directions are included, though basic sewing skills are assumed. You will create blocks from your own fabric stash. To join the wait list, please use this form. We always need more Quilters in order to launch a new circle. So, if you are able to act as a Quilter, please register as one!

concept + quilting by Ara Jane :: image source

You can read more about the guidelines for participating in do. Good Stitches right here.
I am in the "Love" circle and can tell you that it is an amazing bee -- impeccably organized, and I get to learn a cool new block every single month.

You can also drool a little at the d.GS Flickr pool of finished quilts. 

Thanks for coming over, Rachel -- your project is an amazing example 

of what can happen when we all put our heads {and our fabric stashes} together!

across the road

I love this place so much.

This is our neighbor's farm.

{like I walked across the street and took a picture. and no photo editing on this one. straight from the hopper.}

I never knew that hay smelled so good.

I never knew that quiet could be so beautiful.

I never knew I was such a country girl at heart -- for this season of our lives, anyway.

Here's wishing you a blessed, peace-full helping of ahhhh in your day.

{gimp tutorials are simmering. whaddya want to learn?}

Hello everyone! I get to share GATHERING with you today, and I am totally jazzed.

I use gathering on almost every skirt that I make, and I love subtly flirty look it adds to women's clothing.

Gathering isn't rocket science, but I'm going to show AMDAP (as much detail as possible)
so you can see every little trick there is to it. I hope you'll add your own tricks in the comments!

{clockwise, from top left}

1. Gather {hee hee} your supplies. I'm making a simple summer skirt *for me!* yay!
2. Set stitch width to 0 and stitch length as long as it will go.
3. Pull out a nice long tail to start with. USE GOOD THREAD, not the cheap stuff. You don't want those tails breaking on you later on!
4. Place the fabric you want to gather with the presser foot 1/4" from the edge. Do not backstitch.

                      
5. Keep a steady 1/4" from the edge, all the way down the piece of fabric. When you get to the end, don't backstitch, but pull another nice long tail.
6. Go back to the beginning of your first line of stitches. Run a second line, just like the first (nice long tails, no backstitching) exactly 1/4" from the first line. The more exact you can be, the better.
7. Now you have two lines of stitching with 4 threads sticking out at each end.

8 and 9. Take a look at both sides of your stitchery. The stitches on one side will probably be a bit looser (left) and the stitches on one side will probably be a bit tighter (right). For the next step, place the side with the looser stitches right side up.

10. On the left side of the fabric (or start on the right, it doesn't matter), pick up the 2 threads coming out of the top of the fabric. See how there are also 2 threads underneath the fabric? Leave those alone.
11. I like to fold my fabric in half and pull threads from both the left and right sides at once, just to save time. You don't have to do that -- you can work with one side at a time. Either way, puuuuullllll on those 2 (or 4, if you've folded your fabric) threads.

12. Don't worry about distributing the gathers just yet. Just pull the stitches, slide them along to make room for more, and pull some more.

13. Compare the piece you're gathering with the piece you're gathering it to (in this case, the white fabric with pink and green daisies). Keep gathering until the two pieces match in length.

14. Yay! They match.

15. Now distribute the gathers so that everything looks even and purty.

16. With the gathers at the top, place your two pieces of fabric right sides together. Pin if you like.
17. Adjust stitch length to whatever your normal stitch length is (I usually have mine on 3).
18. With the non-gathered fabric on top, sew both pieces together with a generous 1/4" seam allowance (you can backstitch at the ends this time). You want this line of stitching to fall between your two lines of gathering stitches.
19. If you didn't pin (I didn't), keep matching up the raw edges as you sew to ensure you have a nice straight seam.

20. Almost done! Look at the right side of your skirt (or whatever). Get out your seam ripper and remove the lower row of gathering stitches, 'cause you don't need them anymore.
21. Flip the skirt (or whatever) to the wrong side. To make a nice strong seam, zig-zag finish the raw edges together find my video tutorial here).

Add some elastic and -- woot! All done!

Thanks for having me over, Chris! Come by and say hello anytime!