some awards are better late than never

I'm pretty late to this party! I was nominated twice for 2 different awards. I'm going to go through them all in one post. Hey, you are lucky to even get one post. Sorry y'all. (yep, I'm channeling my days of living in the South)

I was nominated for the Liebster Award by Heather at Handmade By Heather B and Joanne (who I call Jo) at Sew Little Time. Thank you, ladies, for nominating me! I am honored.

This award was is for blogs with less than 200 followers. There are 11 questions you have to answer from the person who nominates you. You are supposed to then give 11 random facts about yourself, and then nominate 11 other blogs. I think everyone I know has received this award, so I'm not going to nominate anyone. Sorry. :/

I'll start with Heather's 11 questions:

1. If you didn't spend your money on sewing stuff, what would you buy?
I would probably buy handbags and shoes. A woman can never have too many of either.

2. What song/album/artist are you really into right now?
I love Automatic Loveletter (who's singer, Juliet Simms, was on the Voice but we've been listening to them for years)  and The Material. I love strong female vocalists.

3. Is there some place you must visit or your life will not be complete?
I would love to visit Europe. I hope I can one day (especially Germany).

4. What's your favorite naughty snack/treat?
My favorite naughty snack is probably Oreos. They are so tasty, but not homemade- and they aren't really something you can make at home. I've tried, but it hasn't worked well.

5. Who are your pretend boyfriends? I know you have least one!
Well this could get me into trouble....  When I was 16 it was Val Kilmer. Nowadays, it is Adam Levine (but I will deny it).

6. What's the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you?
I don't think I've really had anything all that weird happen to me, so I will tell you about the most surprising thing. When I was pregnant with my oldest daughter I worked at a fabric store in Alexandria, Virginia. A lady came in to buy some fabric and I chatted with her about my soon to be born child while I cut her fabric. The next day I went to punch my time card in the break room and found an envelope on the pin board with my name written on the front. Inside was a check for $100 with well wishes for my baby. It being a check, I had her name and address. She was the wife of a very prominent senator.  She had been through some tough times and yet had taken the time to leave a gift for a random person she met one day. I'm sure it was a small gesture to her, but it was a huge one to me.  I wrote her a letter, thanking her. I have thought about this many times in my life. I am grateful for the kindness of strangers.

7. What is your favorite guilty pleasure song? You know the one that isn't "good" but you love it anyway.
I loved the self titled 8 track John Travolta when I was a teen. We didn't have many options, just whatever we could find at Goodwill (so I had Three Dog Night Naturally, Carol King Tapestry, and John Travolta). Razzamatazz and Never Gonna Fall In Love Again were my favorites.

8. What's your favorite pattern?
My favorite pattern is the old NYNY pattern, McCalls 4730. I made the jacket, top and skirt (exact same colors and everything) when I was 16. Yes, I wore this back then, but only to church. I still have it hanging in my closet. I wish I had tried the pants. They look great!

9. What movie have rewatched the most?
I think I've rewatched Cool as Ice more than any other movie (but that means I've watched it 4 or 5 times). It has an actual story line under all the Vanilla Ice-ness, and it is also a comedy if you watch it with the right mindset. Mostly, though, it has great sentimental value. My brother and I used to quote lines from the movie in jest.

10. If you had the skills to sew anything what would it be?
I'm not really sure. I think I probably have the skills to sew just about anything I set my mind to, it is my self doubt that holds me back.

11. What is your favorite thing about yourself?
Wow. This might be the hardest! My favorite thing about myself would have to be my eyes. I love when they become really green (although it mostly happens when I cry and my eyes are all red, oops).


Jo's 11 questions are:

1.  What is your favourite film of all time and why?
My favorite film is Summer Magic. We always fast forwarded through the title song, sung by the mother in the middle or so of the movie, as well as the ugly bug ball song.  I also really love The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band and The Happiest Millionaire. I love the old live action Disney movies!

2. What kind of holidays do you like- beach? city break? raving in Ibiza? Do tell!
The beach, for sure! I love the ocean air, the sound of the water, and the sand between my toes. If there is sunshine, it is like heaven.

3 I spend a lot of time commuting- if you had a spare hour on the train, what would you do?
I would read a good book. I don't get much time to read for fun these days.

4. What is the best sewing book you have read?
I haven't read many sewing books so I can't answer this one.

5.  Knits or wovens?
Chanel boucle. That is all.

6 What is your favourite blog?
Posie Gets Cozy Blogger Alicia Paulson is such a wonderful creator of beautiful things. When she writes it is like poetry. Her pictures are beautiful and welcoming. She makes the most delicious looking foods. I found her blog years ago- probably the first blog I ever read.  I sometimes wish I could live her life (but that might seem a little creepy, even though it really isn't).

7 What other crafts do you do and which is your favourite?
I don't do many other crafts. Sewing is my favorite.

8 What is your karaoke song?
Toy Soldier by Martika

9. Sweet or savoury?
Sweet.

10. What is your favourite accessory?
My mom's bead necklace. It probably isn't worth much monetarily, but it is priceless to me.

11. If I gave you £50 ($78 US, $82 Aus) to spend on fabric, patterns, or craft supplies, what would you make from it? Links please!

I would definitely buy this green silk jersey from Mood. I would make a wrap dress DVF style.

Now for the 11 random facts. Umm...

1. I've never had any pets.
2. I prefer to be hot rather than cold. No one ever seems to feel the same.
3. I always wanted to be a famous singer.
4. Or a famous model.
5. I belt out songs in the car. I just can't help it.
6. I love my Apples- iPhone, iPad, MacBookPro, iMac- I just need a Mac Mini (we had one but sold it when we were desperate during Jeff's unemployment).
7. I hate lima beans.
8. My first car was a yellow Plymouth Horizon. The doors didn't work, so we had to go in one side and out the other. It had an 8 track player. Like this, but yellow.

9.  My favorite vegetable as a child was cooked spinach.
10. My 2nd child is named after Alannah Myles. I was planning to spell her name the same way, but when the nurse came in and asked how it was spelled it came out Alona. It just happened! My husband was not pleased with the unexpected change.
11. I am one of 11 children- all from the same parents.


Now for the other award. I received the Super Sweet Blogger Award from Sandra at Sewist Stitch and Sally at Sally Bee Makes. Thank you so much ladies!

The rules for this award
1. Thank the Super Sweet Blogger that nominated you.
2. Answer 5 Super Sweet Questions.
3. Include the Super Sweet Blogging Award in your blog post.
(I'm skipping 4 and 5.)
4. Nominate a baker's dozen (13) other deserving bloggers.
5. Notify your Super Sweet nominees on their blogs.

The 5 Super Sweet Questions

1. Cookies or cake?
Cake, and I prefer it with very little or even no icing.

2. Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate - except when it comes to ice cream, then I choose vanilla.

3. Favorite sweet treat?
Cheesecake is my favorite of all time, but I do love me some ice cream.

4. When do you crave sweet things the most?
Every single waking moment.  I have a problem.

5. Sweet nickname?
I hate when people call me honey and I don't ever use it in reference to anyone else. I don't think I've had a nickname since I was 5 and I don't really use them for other people. I'm weird like that. My parents were all about nicknames so I'm not sure what happened.


If you made it through all of that, thank you!

Our New Look

Check out the new look!  It's awesome, right? 

Laura recently undertook the task of redesigning the blog and it's gorgeous.  Great job, Laura!

Don't forget to grab a button from our right sidebar to put on your blog before you leave, and also, let us know what you think of our new look.

Happy Creating!

Kristin

A better picture? Better sewing technique? The library saves the day!

With my newly acquired public library card, I am checking out books.  Many books.  They let you check out 50 at a time here.  AND, there are a ton of libraries here from which you can request books.  I just go online, search for what I want, request it (if it is in their library catalog), and wait 1-3 days if it isn't on hold or already checked out.  Then I pick it up at the nearest library.  This. is. awesome.  Having lived in a smaller town and not really frequenting libraries, I have never done this before (I could probably count the number of visits to a public library on one hand until this week).  I know, you all probably already knew about this great thing called a public library.  I am just not into reading (it sucks me in and I accomplish nothing).  I am changing that.  My girls were thrilled when I told them we were going to the library (I think I took them twice when we lived in Oregon).  So I've been requesting books left and right.  Sewing books.  Photography books.  I've also been reading online.  I've found blogs.  I keep deleting blogs I'm following because I find new ones that are awesome but there is a limit to how many you can follow.  300.  Can you believe that????  What is blogger thinking? Alas, this is my life lately.  Obsession with becoming a "professional" at photography and sewing.  I want to knock your socks off with my work.  Might be awhile though.  I'm still learning.

So follow along.  It might be a slow, tedious journey, but I plan to post pictures as I discover more about my camera and photography.  I plan to sew more clothes (hopefully for myself and not just the kids).  I might not post much between now and the end of the year due to all the projects I've got going on all while reading stacks and stacks of books, but I'll be back in full swing in January. 

P.S.  I did get my stockings done and will post pictures in the next few days!

How To: Make Your Blog Wider

This is a really simple fix for your blog, if you feel, like I have been, that your minima template is just too darn narrow.  Of course you can use these tricks on other blog layouts, but you'll want to make sure you make yourself familiar with what your HTML code is saying to you.

You don't really need to know all the mumbo jumbo in your code, but you do need to know what a few things are, and they're labeled pretty clearly, so it makes it easier.

*Note: before editing your HTML, there's a spot at the top where you can back up your entire template.  DO THIS!  That way, in case you mess up, you don't lose any other edits you've done previously.*

First step:
Let's start with widening your header.  First thing you do is go to your Layout Tab, then at the top, there will be a button that says "edit HTML".  Click there and it will go to your HTML codes.  Backup you HTML Code.

Next, scroll down in your code and find a section that looks like this:

#header-wrapper {
width:660px;
margin:0 auto 10px;
border:1px solid $bordercolor;
}

Change the numbers I've highlighted in red to be 900 and 0 respectively.  Preview your blog in between each edit, and you'll see what each section does and where it is, and you'll become more familiar with your HTML code and it's functions. 

Then scroll down and find this code, which should be two sections down from the one you just edited:


#header {

margin: 5px;
border: 1px solid $bordercolor;
text-align: center;
color:$pagetitlecolor;
}


Change that 1 to be a 0 also.
 
Okay got the header worked out.  Now we need to work on the body of the blog.  Find this section in your HTML code:
 
#outer-wrapper {

width: 660px;
margin:0 auto;
padding:10px;
text-align:$startSide;
font: $bodyfont;
}

Change the red number to be 900.  Then scroll down until you get to this section:
 
#main-wrapper {

width: 410px;
float: $startSide;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

Change the red numbers to be 615.  Then go to this section, which is directly below the previous one:
 
#sidebar-wrapper {

width: 220px;
float: $endSide;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

Now change this number to be 260.
 
You're done changing your blog width.  Now preview to make sure everything looks the way you want it to.  If it doesn't adjust the numbers so they fit your needs.  Remember, as long as you've backed up your template, if you screw it all up, you have a restore point to go back to, so play with it and make it fit you, then when you've got it the way you want it, go ahead and save your template.
 
I wanted to add one little extra edit that you may or may not want, but I'll add it here, just in case you do.  You know those little borders around your photos in your posts?  They drive me crazy and I don't like them on my blog.  All you have to do to remove them, if you don't want them, is to find this section in your HTML code:
 
.post img, table.tr-caption-container {

padding:4px;
border:1px solid $bordercolor;
}

Change that number to be 0 and those borders will disappear.  By familiarizing yourself with your HTML code, you can find all sorts of things to customize, and then, you're free to be as unique as you are.
 
If you want to see a finished blog before you start editing, please visit kristinslearningmoments.blogspot.com.
 
Happy Editing!