Tag Archives: Gussy Sews

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Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop: My Style

Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop! has switched from once a week to once a month. And I hadn’t been posting regularly, so I missed last month’s prompt.

But when I received the prompt for this month My Style, I knew it was time to jump back in.

You may have seen the pictures that I post here of my minimalist wardrobe, and hopefully you have noticed a trend. My go-to outfit is a dress or skirt with a cardigan and heels. It’s my fave!

I wear dresses and skirts 5 -6 days a week. I am to the point where I really feel uncomfortable in pants. They look so weird on me!

In general, I’m pretty girly but I also like to think that I am also sophisticated.

Here are some of the other things (besides dresses and heels) that I consider my signature pieces:

Big glasses/sunglasses

Bright colors

Scarves

Fingernail/toenail polish

Stuff I make or made by someone I know

An eclectic mix of pieces (second hand, vintage, brand new, hand made, etc.)

(Remember when I posted about my head scarf the other week? Well here’s the full outfit.)

It’s taken me about three decades to get to this place, and you know what? I love it!

Do you want to see more examples of people’s individual style? Check out this linky party!

Gussy

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Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!: Favorite Recipe

If there was ever a time for warming up the house with the oven, it’s right now. In a fit of frugality, The Man is trying to avoid turning on the heat until November 1. It’s starting to get chilly!

When I saw this week’s  Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop! prompt Favorite Recipe, I figured I would be baking something, if only to warm up the house for a little while.

As it turns out, I had a friend who needed a little cheering up, so I baked that person’s favorite cookie: Snickerdoodles.

And they turned out really well, if I do say so myself!

Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:

2 3/4 c flour

2 tsp Cream of Tartar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 sticks of butter, room temperature

1 2/3 c sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

Sugar and cinnamon for rolling

Directions:

1. Whisk together the flour, Cream of Tartar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla; beat until mixed.

3. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix until it forms a ball.

4. Using a 1/2 TBSP measuring spoon, roll the batter into balls. Roll the balls in the sugar/cinnamon mixture.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 -12 minutes.

 

Easy peasy! This recipe made a lot of cookies, so I’m going to be bringing the extras to work. My co-workers will be happy with me today!

Gussy

What is your favorite cookie? Maybe I will bake if for you if you need a pick me up. :)

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Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!: Living Room

Time again for Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop! This week’s theme is the Living Room. I am shy about sharing my living room, because it’s not “done” yet. But you know what – I am going to be authentic. This is what my living room looks like today. I have some plans that hopefully will be executed in the next six weeks or so. Check back to see what happens!

Here you can see the most important function of our living room: watching TV. I added the storage ottoman for extra seating whenever we have a large gathering. Also note the orange accent wall. I love the colors in this room. All of the burnt orange (in the couch, the accent wall, and the fireplace) is sophisticated compared with the rest of the house. I love this space.

The art above the DVD case needs improvement, though. I painted that sort of as a place holder until I could come up with something better. I believe that moment is quickly arriving.

This rose print? Awesome. By artist Bruce McClellan. Check out his work. I was inspired by this print to make the quilt that will be used in this room (for cuddling on the couch during the cold weather!). The quilt is currently not in my possession; I dropped it off yesterday to be included in a quilt show in October. Exciting!

This is one of the areas that needs some work. I love the mirror and the rose print above the fireplace. However, I need another … large thing … to go on the other side. And all of those little bottles are related to the fish tank. And that’s a male beta in that little box. So that all needs to be relocated to a more appropriate place. Soon.

One obvious things here: the fish tank needs fish! The Man has been working hard to get the ecosystem properly set up for fish survival in the 90-gallon tank. The time line is that we will have some fish this weekend! I am honestly excited to get it set up – finally. The background in the tank is actually blue. The lights must have distorted the color.

And then we come back full circle. I love this chest of drawers that I bought at a second-hand furniture store. It is solid and sturdy. This would have been in a shop, so the top three drawers have glass in the front to display the things that would have been inside. I am still uncertain about what to put in there. But the piece that is really missing here, again, is the art. I am hoping to find a large old map to frame and  hang above the chest. Wish me luck!

That is the quick and dirty tour of my living room. Like I said in the beginning, I can’t wait to get this room finished. I will update with pictures online as things come together.

Gussy

As always, a special Hello the folks visiting from Gussy Sews! Welcome. And a Happy Thursday to everyone. Do you have a big plans for your living room? Do share in the comments.

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Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!: My Favorite Color

I was delighted by this week’s topic for the Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!. My favorite color. Well, that’s easy: purple. I decided to photograph three things that I use frequently that are extra special because they are my favorite color.

Here are my glasses.

I wear them everyday. They contain lots of different shades of purple, so they usually match whatever I’m wearing.

Here is my favorite scarf.

I use this scarf a lot. It’s versatile. The color is beautiful. It is more of a pinky-purple, and I think it’s lovely.

Here is my wallet.

Now that you know what it looks like, please don’t steal it! I love the color and pattern, and I always get excited when I get to pull my wallet out. Obviously that usually happens when I’m shopping, so maybe my feelings are related to that experience rather than the object. Regardless of the reason, I have lots of positive connections with this bad boy.

Just for the fun of it, here is a picture of me!

See how awesome the glasses and the scarf look together? Almost like I planned it!

Gussy

Welcome, visitors from Gussy Sews! And hello to everyone else. I hope you’re having a great Thursday. What’s your favorite color, and what is your favorite object that is that color? Share your answers in the Comments below!

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Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!: The Front Porch

It’s Thursday, so time again for Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!

I had to laugh when I saw this week’s prompt. She read my mind! My front porch definitely needed some attention. The front of our house faces the road, and we never really even go out there. So the front porch was looking neglected.

First, it just needed a little TLC – specifically, a good sweeping. Next, I wanted to focus on those brass numbers (which can’t be seen from the road and are therefore useless) and adding a little curb appeal. I also dislike the brass light fixture outside, but I didn’t have time to address that for this little project.

Please note: I have edited my  house number for safety reasons. While it looks like it’s just the number 7, there are more numbers. I just wanted to clarify so there is  no confusion when I write “numbers” but it looks like there’s only one.

Without further ado, here is my mini-makeover of my front porch!

First I swept, although I don’t have any fancy pictures of that. Then I took off the old numbers. Here’s a shot of the old number 7 and the new number 7 side by side. Which one do you think will be visible from the road?

Then I potted a friendly hosta from my yard. I just wanted something with a little color before I switch to a mum for the fall. Don’t worry – this guy is going in one of the beds bordering the house. Better than his previous spot, randomly in the yard.

Last, I quickly made a wreath. This is also a place holder for a couple of weeks until I feel like it’s appropriate to put up a fall/harvest wreath. My goal for this one was just to make it bright so that, again, it could be seen from the road.

So there it is: my little front porch makeover. I paid about $10 for all of the numbers; everything else, I found around the house. It’s definitely not winning any HGTV awards, but for me, this is a definite improvement.

Gussy

So there it is! Have you done any small projects that have a big impact? Share!

P.S. Welcome, folks from Gussy Sews!

P.P.S. Happy Thursday everyone! The weekend’s almost here.

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Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!: A Day in My Life

Hi Everyone! It’s Thursday, so I am linking to the Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!. This week’s theme was A Day in My Life. I had glorious plans to take loads of pictures and share with you a rather detailed layout of my day. I had two problems with this – first, my days aren’t usually the same and second, I’m awful busy to be taking pictures all the time! So I am sharing three pictures with you today. The first is a typical morning picture, the second a typical midday picture, and the third, a typical evening picture. I like to think that what is lacking in quantity is made up in quality.

About three to four days a week, I take the bus to work. Usually I sit in the back so I can knit in peace. Here is the empty back of the bus on my commute.

And then on my lunch break, I usually try to find a quiet place outside to knit.

 

And when I get home, I usually take on some crazy activity. This week (Monday night), I made cherry jam.

Then I go to bed…exhausted! And excited to do it all again tomorrow.

Gussy

Welcome, folks from Gussy Sews and everyone else! What things are important to your day? What activities would you photograph that capture your life?

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Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!: The Beach

I recently started linking up with the Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop! on Thursdays for the Inspiration Workshop! Linky Party. This week’s topic? The Beach!

While I live in Connecticut, I have only been to the shore a handful of times. It’s simply not convenient for me. However, I have some wonderful in-laws whose house is convenient to me.

And they have a pool.

When the days are hot, this is where the Man, the Chihuahuas, and I usually end up. Even if we don’t go swimming, it’s usually a lot cooler sitting next to the pool than anywhere else. We enjoy relaxing and catching up with the fam.

This was when Bonne was going blind. She could feel the ground change from grass to concrete but wasn't sure what was out there. Don't worry - she's never fallen into the pool!

 Of course, I always bring my knitting with me. Even to the pool.

Gussy

Welcome, Gussy Sews folks and everyone else! What do you do in the summer to stay cool? Any good beach vs. pool rivalries out there?

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Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!: My Inspiration

This week’s topic for the Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop! is sort of a freebie: My Inspiration. Whatever inspires me. Well, this is almost too easy.

Yarn is my inspiration.

Yarn fuels my creativity. Yarn shops are generally over-stimulating for me, because I want to touch & knit ALL THE YARN. I can feel the potential in every skein and hank. I love the texture of the yarn, the colors, the fibers. Uh.mazing.

I realize this makes me sound like a crazy person, but sometimes the yarn tells me what it wants to be, as though there is a hat, or scarf, or sweater stuck inside, waiting to get out. I suppose if talking to yarn is the worst problem I have, I am probably okay. Although maybe not.

Gussy

Welcome to everyone stopping by from Gussy Sews! I am glad to have you. What inspires all of you? I would love to know.

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Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!: SUNSHINE

I am just now getting on board with this link-up party, and I am excited to dive right in!

The prompt for this week is Sunshine, and I knew almost immediately what I would post. These are my two dogs Mia (left) and Bonne (below). I took these pictures on a day when it was hot hot hot. When it gets like that, my dogs’ favorite activity is laying in the sunshine. I realize looking at the pictures that you can’t really see the shine, but trust me – it’s there. Bonne is a sunshine-laying champ. She is in it for the long haul.

And I will admit, when it gets sunny and hot, lying around seems like a pretty good idea.

See how other people are inspired by Sunshine:

Gussy