Half Pak Designs

French Food in Chicago

transparenteyes — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:22:23 +0000

Hello dear and faithful readers (I’m not sure if I have any…).

I know I haven’t updated much, but with the move to California for my new gig at Disney, I’ve been super super busy. But I digress.

The creator of Apartment Farm, Amanda Olsen, is writing pieces on French Food in Chicago for The Examiner. Her most recent article, 5 Essentials for your French Kitchen, is up now. I know some of you are foodies so get to reading.

xoxo

Zipper Foot

transparenteyes — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:37:26 +0000

I love my Brother sewing machine. It has treated me very well these last few years. I do not, however, love the zipper foot it came with. It’s so wide and awkward and very hard to use to actually sew a zipper on. It looks like this: . If you suffer from zipper anxiety and you have this same kind of zipper foot, rest assured there is hope. There is a Vertical Needle Zipper foot that looks like this: you can just take off the entire foot attachment on your machine and put this one on. It’s like heaven, I’m sure. I just replaced my giant zipper foot with a vertical needle zipper foot and I’m so super happy. You should be able to find them at your local fabric store. I got mine at The Needle Shop

Completely Unrelated

transparenteyes — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:01:44 +0000

I just need to vent about a non-sewing issue. I’m completely freaking out. I desperately need employment in my field (computer graphics and motion technology) and I’ve been applying and applying places much to no avail. I received a voice mail from the recruiter at Walt Disney Animation Studios for a Talent Development program, which lets face it, if I am accepted would be so bad ass, but when I called him back I received his voice mail. I mean I know he is a super busy guy, I half didn’t expect him to answer, but I’m SO nervous. This guy and I have exchanged numerous amounts of emails and I was sure that he was ready to tell me I am in! But his voice mail says he has some more questions and wants to know more about my career goals. I don’t know what my career goals are! I mean I know I don’t want to be working for MTTV any more. And I know that I want to work in feature films. But doing what exactly? I DON’T KNOW. I have a fear that I am going to completely screw this up.

Bow Ties, Bow Ties, Bow Ties and Chocolate cake ;)

transparenteyes — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 03:58:04 +0000

Today I made a chocolate fudge cake from scratch AND made 2 bow ties. Flower Tie Heather Ross Fabric “Far Far Away II” for Kokka, Dots Tie Alexander Henry Fabric “Farmdale Crosshatch”

Do men wear bow ties with flowers? Either way, one day I will make some man very happy.

xoxo

Tea Party

transparenteyes — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 06:32:15 +0000

I think I previously mentioned how all my friends are having babies. Some of my friends with babies are luckier than others because I try out making baby stuff for them. Or maybe they are the unlucky one’s. Anyway, I’ve recently fallen in love with Oliver + S. She makes amazing patterns for kiddos. Today, I am tackling the Tea Party Dress. It’s taken me all day despite being only 1 scissor in difficulty. Apparently, I’m not as good as I thought I was haha. This was my first time working with buttons. I’ve been nervous about trying my button hole foot. But it turns out it was easy peasy. Anyway, without further adieu, here it is.

Oliver + S' Tea Party Dress

Fabric used: “Farmdale crosshatch” – Alexander Henry and orange cotton (not sure who made). The pattern and fabric were purchased at The Needle Shop (big surprise there I know).

Groupon + The Needle Shop = ♥

transparenteyes — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:56:10 +0000

Today’s groupon is for $15 for $30 worth of supplies! Grap them while you can!

Dress a Girl around the world

transparenteyes — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:37:51 +0000

This looks like an excellent opportunity to do something good with your sewing talents. I will be contributing to this charity this year.

Mommy Mat

transparenteyes — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:17:19 +0000

The term burp cloth just sounds so icky to me. So instead of calling mine burp cloths I’ve decided to call them Mommy Mats. That way it allows for multi purpose use. I suppose a mommy could use it as a changing mat as well. Anyway, here is my first attempt at a Mommy Mat.

It’s a Dr. Seuss (purchased at The Needle Shop) cotton print on the front and blue fleece on the back (purchased at Hancock Fabrics). I think it looks pretty good for the first try. I will need to remember to trip my seam allowance prior to flipping it right side out next time. I didn’t really follow a pattern for this. I just kind of looked at some burp cloths from stores and what other people have made and just kind of guessed at what to do.

Where to Start?

transparenteyes — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 18:26:02 +0000

Today I plan on having a sewathon. Well, after the grocery store and before the movies, so roughly 5 hrs of sewing. During that time I hope to make headway on a few projects that need finishing up/starting. I have a couple of clutches that need to be finished, basically all that is left is to sew the shell and the lining to each other. I have a lot of fabric already cut to make cute pot holders and oven mitts. And I also have some great fabrics for some new ties that I want to get started. It’s just the where to start that I’m having problems with. Then there’s also the haunting, I just finished my masters in Computer Graphics and Motion Technology and I need to find a job in my field because lets face it the job i currently have is a dead end life suck and I need to work on my demo reel, work. Direction, guidance etc?

The Needle Shop

transparenteyes — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:12:40 +0000

I am in love with this place. They sell the best fabrics, they teach a variety of classes, and everyone who works here is super duper friendly.

They have recently started a Friday night “Sewcial” where 1 Friday a month they host a sewing party for a different charity. Last month it was blankets for project night night, you can see photos here . A total of 40 Blankets were donated through the Needle Shop. This month’s “Sewcial” is making pj’s for patients at Children’s Memorial Hospital. Totally a good cause. I urge anyone who is willing an able to donate handmade pj’s. They are accepting donations until January 31 at The Needle Shop so even if you can’t make it to the event you can still contribute.