Valentine's Day Research

Ok, Valentine's Day is upon us and I have done some difficult research for you all. Here are the results:
I eat Dark chocolate everyday. Just a small amount, but must have it. Bar chocolate I am hooked on now is Ghiradelli Sea Salt Soiree. Ridiculous name, don't judge me, but it's got that true dark chocolate flavor.

*all of these places are local FFLD County, CT locations, but all of them have websites and will ship to you - enjoy!
If you live near Fairfield County, CT Fresh Market in Westport has a great selection of Bar chocolate as well. One great brand with unusual flavors they carry is Vosges. Bacon, chilies, curry, goji berries. Their selection varies, but you can also order online. They also carry other brands that are fun and interesting.
Cocoa Michelle's is terrific - get the Dark Ganache and Sea Salt, do yourself a favor and pick up a hot chocolate. Amazing. Love how pretty the chocolates and presentation are also.
Bridgewater chocolate - get the cherry hearts. the coconut igloos are also great. Let's be honest people, all of their chocolates are good.  The gift boxes make an impressive presentation.
Belgique is also great, everything is good. Dependable, expected and expensive. However, their Kent store is more of an experience- pretty ride up (during another month perhaps) and adorable yellow house-looking building set in a crushed stone lot with pretty landscaping.
Chocopologie is fantastic. We love their Hannah - Burnt Caramel with Hawaiian Sea Salt, Madeleine - Dark Chocolate truffle, Carrie - Crunchy Mocha Nougatine Truffle. Usually get chocolates AND a couple of their amazing little cakes. If you want to be a star, get one (or more!) of the cakes. Truly life changing.
Munson's (good old fashioned, lots of choices and CT company) and Godiva are good, but have gotten bit too processed and commercial; and with so many other options listed above, these are good go to places, but for something really special, the above places are very high quality, delicious and artisan.
CTBites blog did a top 10 in Ct for chocolate, but we've tried them all (multiple times!).
Ok, I think that covers it. he he he

Bag Love

Sew Mama Sew posted a cute Amy Butler bag on their blog a few weeks ago.  Not sure how I missed it, but I found it a couple days ago.  I finished it up last night and today - it's fantastic!  It's on it's way to be a donation in a Silent Auction to raise funds for a terrific community group I am a member of. I highly recommend this pattern - it's super cute, trendy, fun, functional.  As with all of Amy's bags, it uses a enormous amount of interfacing, but it's worth it.  Exterior is leftover upholstery weight from my living room, lining is my coveted Sis Boom animal print.   Enjoy!

beautiful rainbow

got these babies in the mail today.  SO exciting to be able to order such great colors you can't find in local shops.  LOVE them! and can't wait to use them.  Stay tuned for where they end up...

Invisible Zipper application

LOVE using invisible zippers - you know, those zippers that sit inside the garment, but from the outside look like a regular seam?  Many people are intimidated by the installation process.  Believe me, it takes longer to fit the invisible zipper foot onto the machine than it does to install it.
It's a few basic steps -
-install the invisible zipper foot onto your machine.  Most machines don't come with this. You can buy a kit at your local fabric store for about $4 that includes the foot and shank adapters (that thing that attaches it to your presser foot arm) to fit all sorts of machines.  Just look at the photo on the back of the pack to see which foot you need.  They are colorized.  Figure out the one you need, now go throw out all the other ones.  Unless you buy a new machine, you'll never use the others.
-Unzip your zipper and roll the zipper coil out flat with your fingertips.  Iron this down flat on your ironing board and let cool for a second.
-Lay your zipper face down on the right side of the fabric about 1/8" in from the edge.
-Go to your machine and place the fabric/zipper under the pressure foot.  You want to place the zipper coil in the left groove of the pressure foot.  This ensures that the stitching stays next to the coil close enough to achieve the invisible look from the outside.  Use a regular length straight stitch.
-Stitch as far down as the pressure foot will allow.
-Repeat for the 2nd side of the zipper.  You will have to slide the zipper foot over to the right a touch so this 2nd coil goes into the groove on the right side this time.
-Zip the zipper up and make sure you like how it looks
-install your regular zipper foot.  Turn the garment inside out, place right sides together and stitch this lower seam.  Begin the seam at the lowest part of the stitching where you installed the zipper.  This closes up the gap at the bottom of the zipper and finishes this seam fully.

See?  3 simple steps - stitch 2 zipper sides and one seam and you are done.
This method is less steps than a traditional zipper and I think looks SO professional when done.
Enjoy!
  

nail polish happies

Rimmel London nail polish - Steel Gray, #270.  Just go buy it. 

new goodies

New cutie watches in the shop!  LOVE the gift bags.  they make me happy.

Spirit Pants

Got these babies done in about 90 minutes.  They are from a great book I picked up on Amazon.  I really like the Farbenmix and Studio Trantrum patterns, but they are sold as individual patterns and they are VERY flamboyant.  It's hard to choose one pattern. The patterns are traditional tissue patterns and the directions are pretty good. I would say appropriate for an advanced beginner.  BUY this book - you won't have to choose !  The price is terrific also: it's about the same price as one of the patterns.   The book includes TEN patterns.  The only thing you need to remember to do is add the seam allowance and you are off and running.  Like my girl and her Dad.  They were off and running to the UConn game.  They won 62-3.  My guess it was because of the Spirit Pants!