My Heart's Debacle

water and air

2012-02-07T19:57:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling lighter these days. Still indoors awaiting the return of summer. This outfit was not inspired by warmth, as everything is light and airy. I felt like I was wearing a jacket and boots leaving work today... all the same I love the stockings.I may venture out of doors with a certain someone taking pictures soon... tomorrow??

Just keep on using me 'til you use me up

2012-02-06T08:09:00.000-08:00

I have worn this jacket pretty much every day that it has been cold for about the last six or seven years.Needless to say, it is a little worn... Worn out perhaps? I've been avoiding the thought. It feels like the death of a pet to me... really quite a loss, but inevitable. So like anyone I refused to let it happen! Garment Reaper be damned!!!So Friday I spent tracing each pattern piece in the

Every dog has its day

2012-02-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

This morning was overcast in a way that some movies are shot with a filter to leave you feeling cold. As I was getting dressed I had this feeling. I tried a new shirt today. I don't know where it came from, as I don't specifically remember buying it. It has floated from closet to craft room and back again for years and I've never worn it. But every dog has its day... As they say.I really wasn't

Decemberist

2012-01-30T09:19:00.001-08:00

December and the holidays got away from me. I am awaiting the return of the summer sun with great anticipation.I love the uneven frayed hem of this skirt.Shirt: thriftedSweater: miller's outpostskirt: made by mebelt: made by meShoes: paloma by dv

Frumpy Chic

2011-11-22T09:00:00.000-08:00

I am all for a less "put together" look, but there are days where I feel down-right Frumpy, with a capital F. The other day I wore slippers and jeans to work, no hair do, no make up. I was so ill, and Mr. R, bless his heart said I looked cute... "Frumpy chic". Which led me down the fashion imagination path. Is there such a thing? Would it indeed include slippers and a hoodie? Probably not... But

Breakfast...

2011-11-17T14:00:00.000-08:00

For the longest time I would sit in front of the computer in an envious daze looking at all the wonderful blogs I read and think of the life I dreamt of, the place these blogs took me. Now that I have achieved a little more of that dream life, I would like to introduce you to some of the blogs that inspire me continually.This is one that has forever caught my eyes, just because of beauty captured

Looking forward to spring already?

2011-11-14T20:31:00.000-08:00

I am hoping the weather in New Mexico holds out like it has been so I can don these looks now instead of waiting until April...I love these brown pants...Flowey dress and big chunky sweaters are my fall uniform.Socks and peep toes. I'm still not sure how to wear this. This is some inspiration.Add some tights and a sweater and its winter wear!...See!This is my personal favorite.I love the mix of

It's a sew along!

2011-11-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

I've been participating in a holiday sew along with the girls at the designers lounge that has been mucho fun. We all start with the same pattern. New Look 6723; a very basic party dress. We then all make our own alterations or chose a view, post our progress to the blog each week and then have a fancy dress party afterwards! Yay!I'm pretty much a week behind in posting this but here you go!

wear to start?

2011-11-11T09:08:00.000-08:00

Hello all,I've been away from the blog for so long that it has given me time to think about what it is about other blogs that I love so much and what I wanted mine to be like. I had a hard time deciding where to start. But the blogs I love the most are mostly outfit posts... So we start with the most recent picture I have of me and an outfit post! Enjoy.Outfit details:scarf: gift, Steve

These times are a changin'

2011-11-09T09:00:00.001-08:00

Life is good. better than ever. I find more beauty every day and I've been bitten with the urge to share again. Sorry for my absence. Its taken a year to heal enough to open up again.

Hey there!

2010-08-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

I've been gone for quite some time and its because I was getting ready (i.e. going insane) for my craft punk Fashion show... And I literally woke up to sew until I fell asleep again. SOOOO.... for those of you that have missed me, I'm very sorry. I still love you all dearly and I promise to give you lots of goodies for the eyes once I get pictures back from ...eerrrmm... who ever was taking

Craft Punk Fashion Show: previous volumes

2010-06-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

I was asked to be involved in the third installment of a local fashion show by a friend of my husband’s. I know that I’m in no way really able to consider myself punk, but crafty I am, so I agreed to be involved. I had my reservations about it all, but decided in the end to send in my required submissions: sketches and photos of finished pieces. This was on the 12th of June and the fashion

When can I call you my own?

2010-06-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

I have been recently wondering about how much one has to alter a pattern in order for it to be considered and original design. This brings in to light a great many questions such as: “What exactly are the copy right laws?” “How original am I really?” “Who can really claim rights to the blazer?” and the more nihilistic “Can one really come up with anything NEW?” I also struggle with the fact that

New Specs

2010-06-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Spectacles, that is… I got my federal tax return the other day (more like a month ago) and since new glasses are on my wish list and the desperately need list… I decided I would do some shopping around. I went to a number of different shops about town and found the same old same old. Nothing I was really thrilled with and hadn't already tried on a million times. All frames these days look the

The Alison- Bathing suit

2010-05-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

Recently I downloaded a free pattern at Burdastyle.com for a vintage inspired bathing suit that I fell in love with. Unfortunately there were only six steps in the instructions on how to construct said suit. So, through a lot of trial and error, i.e. seam ripping and extra pattern pieces, I wrote up some pattern instructions!SO,with out further ado...From BurdastyleAlison Vintage Inspired Bathing

Call me the Commissioner, Batman.

2010-04-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was commissioned to make a dress for a friend in another state. She sent me some inspiration links and we emailed back and forth to get the details hammered out. Things have been rolling along and I thought that this would be a fun little project to follow along on the blog. (Not to mention she would be able to see my progress!)She is a real fan of Japanese fashion and all things

Day or evening....?

2010-04-13T10:59:00.001-07:00

I found a cute pattern I thought would make a very nice summer dress. It was flowing and loose with an interesting inset and cute sleeves that reminded me of butterflies. And here is my version. I am in love with this dark green olive color. ( I will explain the cop out of the dress form picture) My issue is.... it kind of looks like a night gown, right? I am all for the granny look, but I feel

I checked myself and I almost wrecked myself….

2010-03-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

I've been away for two weeks but it feels like months. I apologize, but I thought I had cancer. (how's that for an attention grabber?) So I'm taking this opportunity to tell you ladies, check yourself. Self breast exams are vital. I did one two weeks ago and found a lump four centimeters in diameter. I almost went crazy with anxiety that first night. I cried. I hugged my husband. I call my

Virtual Vacation

2010-03-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

I have not been on a vacation since 2005. My wanderlust is overcoming me with visions of far off lands, winding side streets and unexplored woods...I officially have Spring fever, so today the first day of my spring break, in order to satisfy my nostalgia for the places I've been, take a virtual vacation on me...Prague, Czech RepublicThis is the hostel I stayed at. Nice people, clean rooms, and

Tattoo inpiration

2010-03-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

I've been watching instant netfilx episodes of LA Ink and have been craving a tattoo…. I have so many ideas for the tattoos I want so I thought I would share a little inspiration for what I've been wanting...This will probably be my next tattoo when I save up the scratch. I want a low stomach piece that combines a little lettering I already have in a banner and Dia de los Muertos or Sugar Skulls

Where I find the spark…

2010-03-10T07:54:00.000-08:00

I've always kept inspiration in a lot of different places, sketch books, file folders, on my computer, bulletin boards, notebooks… I'm a pack rat, can you tell? I've tried to keep things in more definite and distinct locations. I have a sketch book for imaginings and doodles that I used for print making. I have an idea book for pattern drafting and clothing sketches.Over time I've collected more

Shoe Lust

2010-03-01T21:51:00.000-08:00

A reader of mine has asked that I share the contents of my shoe collection. At first I thought "oh yay! An excuse to talk about shoes!" But as I got down to the task of taking pictures of all the shoes that I own, I quickly realized I had underestimated what I had gotten myself into. I recently purged my collection of all the ill-fitting and out of date shoes, so this is my collection a bit

spring wish list

2010-02-26T17:58:00.000-08:00

I'm still sick, but not so much that I can't get out of bed... It feels like its been forever, but I'm slowly making my way back into real life... so in order to get back into real life my first blog post is about a wish list! haha I know. I live in a fantasy world most days... so here it is, the things I most want (and need) for spring. New hand bag Balenciaga shoes. (yeah,

...nnnggghghhg... I almost made it to spring

2010-02-21T15:30:00.000-08:00

I've bnnng sick... slurp. Again. bud I do hab much do possd aboud when I can thingk straighd an hear oud of my righd ear again... slurp. hack. hack. I'm goingg bagk to bed.

Monday Rant....

2010-02-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

I have to start the week off with a rant about a certain frustration I found this weekend.Now you all know my love for Mary Kate and Ashley and their high end line Elizabeth and James. This weekend I came across a video of their appearance on Good Morning America promoting their new line called Olsenboye that is available at JCPenney's. I know... I know... what a name, right? And then... they

2.4.10 outfit

2010-02-04T14:36:00.000-08:00

I know its been a really long time since I have posted an outfit, but this is the finished product of what I gave you a sneak peak at in my zipper tutorial! Today we had a two hour snow delay and my morning was actually productive which is why I now have outfit shots! Happy day!The dress was inspired by Elizabeth's dress over at Delightfully Tacky. I wanted this dress so badly, but I had no idea

I dream in high fashion…

2010-02-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

Dior. That is all ladies and gentlemen… Love in one word.I was looking over the Spring 2010 slide show and as always Galliano delivers the most opulent and drool worthy couture. The first set, in my humble opinion, was by far and away the best. Equestrienne, meets dominatrix… sigh.AMAZING!I will say the second set was a little to whimsical for my tastes. Frills and lace are all well and good, but

Zippers!

2010-02-01T13:37:00.001-08:00

I know zippers are a pain the behind to put into anything unless you sew them in very carefully. The easiest thing to do is… follow the instructions. Lol! Seriously! Your pattern will have specific instructions on how the zipper is to be put into your specific garment.If it says to press one seam allowance more than the other (half an inch and five eights is popular) it's because they want the

Fabric Choice

2010-01-31T08:18:00.000-08:00

Hi all! I thought that since Penguin would not let me sleep in like I had planned on doing today I would pop in with a little sewing advice before I jump into the more meaty topics I have planned for the week. So here is a little continuation on my "Teaching Blythe to Sew Via the Internet" project I started. I know... it's been slow going... anyway...Now that you have chosen your pattern in your

Weekends Pt. 2

2010-01-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

The weekend before last I started a new method of sewing… Assembly line! I did all the things I would normally do one pattern at a time, for all the patterns I have been planning on making. I wrote down all the notions I needed, picked fabric, cut out the tissue, etc. for all these…I then started all the ones that needed to be sewn with black thread. Penguin was a huge help…It has proved very

Weekends

2010-01-24T20:48:00.000-08:00

I had quite the weekend this weekend (and last). I've been busy, and regrettably I have neglected my blog for the pursuit of other things, that have been most enjoyable.So to catch you up dear readers, I will share a few photos of this weekend!This weekend started off when I went to a birthday party of a friend who will be leaving the country soon. She gave me her entire fabric stash in the

Dear readers...

2010-01-15T08:24:00.000-08:00

It's me Sarah... Haha I feel like I'm writing to god or something... anyway, I've amassed a few readers as of late (much to my surpise!) and I've just noticed that I've been getting a few comments which is quite the ego stroke. Because what is a blog if not shameless self promotion? So to those of you who read my rantings, Thank you. It makes me feel loved in a strange distant way... And to those

Dress Exchange!

2010-01-12T19:53:00.000-08:00

I know I have talked a lot about how I am broke, but I know that there are people out there that are even less fortunate than me. So I want to reach out to them.I have long thought about helping young girls that don't have money to go out and buy a new prom dress to find an inexpensive alternative. My idea was that I would go out with a girl or two to thrift a dress and refashion it into a one of

The Shady Lady

2010-01-11T15:24:00.000-08:00

A long time ago my Granny T. started a quilt with appliquéd pieces of a girl wearing a bonnet and holding a parasol. She got sick with cancer and died before she was able to finish the quilt. She had only made six squares. This was enough to make one quilt out of, but since it was handed down to my sister, as well as myself, it was split between us. Since three squares was not enough to make

Pillow Talk

2010-01-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

Hi all! Broke Girl here, with a blog that is not about sewing! Although it is mildly related to fashion and definitely related to vintage. Since my mother-in-law no longer has a VCR, she gave us a box of VHS movies she had taking up space in her closet. Yay! For free entertainment! So as we were going through them I noticed that most of them were cheesy rom/coms from the 80s and 90s, but there

Vintage Kitchen

2010-01-03T17:51:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted a vintage kitchen ever since I went to an open house with my mother. The house was built in the 50s and the kitchen had never been remodeled. There was an old stove and oven and those wonderful cabinets. There was also a closet that opened up into an amazing work station complete with all these wonderful chrome gadgets. I fell in love! So when my hubby's sister gave me

Good Bye and Good Riddance 2009!

2010-01-02T09:31:00.000-08:00

I've taken quit the sabbatical this holiday season and it feels good to be sitting back at my own little kitchen table with my new tea pot (thanks Gram!) writing away and looking back over the last year. Some really great things happened. The invention of the cat mustache being one of those really great things, but I digress...This blog was started out of a new year's resolution and while I

Sizing! weee!

2009-12-16T19:34:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine who lives in another state has asked me for help learning how to sew. Since it is hard for me to get to California (being the broke girl) I will be posting tutorials and making videos prompted by her questions in the hopes that they will help her and any other happy seamstresses out there! So here is the first in what is hopefully a very helpful series! (side note: I can't get

Don't let it pass you by...

2009-12-07T13:11:00.000-08:00

I was thinking the other day I'm getting close to being 25. Very close. And while I know this is not very old, I feel like I am getting to the age where I should be acting like an adult. Scary I know, but I think that 25 will hold many good things for me. I love lists and this is going to be my "Five years" list. I borrowed this idea from BitCat blog. 25 things I want to do in the next five years

Pattern of the week 12.7.2009

2009-12-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

This week's pattern is a pattern I borrowed from a friend a while ago… more like last year. Eeep.. See and Sew 4902I started this way back in July, knowing that it would take me six months to complete. I'm a five-minutes-at- a-time-project-er. I've actually completed this and am very pleased and impressed with the ease and quality of how it turned out. I used a purple corduroy that my sister

Internet Junkie

2009-12-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

I have become so addicted to the internet since I got my laptop it has been torture to be at work (subbing at a middle school) all day with no access to the internet. But have no fear readers! The Broke Girl always finds a way!I figured most computers were all the same, right? Generally, anyway. And since all the computers here (not unlike my own) are password protected... I figured if I brought

Pattern of the week 1.11.10

2009-12-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

This is the first pattern of the New Year! I had to save it because I made one, but I gave it as a gift for Christmas, so I couldn't post it until after I gave it to my friend.This week's pattern is Simplicity 5510.This top pattern uses one yard or less of any knit and FLIES together. It is so cute I made one of the View 4 for my friend for Christmas. I plan on making myself one of each view! I

11.24.09 Outfit

2009-12-02T20:53:00.000-08:00

This is a recreation of a cute outfit I wore the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I got terribly sick that day and felt that my outfit had been wasted and I had to spend the rest of the day in hoodie and sweat pants. I was just angry about being sick...Dress: altered Anna Sui thrifted. Tights: forever 21. Shoes: hand painted. Sweater: Target Belt: thrifted.(I found a perfect place to take my pictures

Circle Scarf

2009-12-02T20:31:00.000-08:00

I bought some yarn hoping it would match my half finished short sleeve sweater I started last year and then ran out of yarn when all I had left was one piece left. Arggg… But alas, it did not. So, I made this purple circular scarf in the matter of a few hours of broken up crocheting at work and waiting at doctors' offices and such. Here are a few shots with outfits.

Completed Pattern of the Week!

2009-12-02T20:13:00.000-08:00

Hello blog world, it's me Sarah. I've missed you. :) I've been gone for so long it seems with school and holidays and being sick… ugh. So here goes.I've completed a number of projects and started some new ones over the break. This one is the pattern of the week Very Easy Vogue 8544. I posted some progress shots a while ago and here is the finished product! A little causal with a tee and

New shoes... sort of.

2009-11-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

So I have been loooonging for new shoes and just haven't had the scratch to buy them. I have been trying to be more inventive with my existing wardrobe and since I can't find in my expansive craft stash a way to MAKE shoes I started looking at my old shoes in a new way.All of my shoes I bought because at one time or another I loved them and HAD to have them :) but I had either worn them out or

Pattern of the week progress 11.9.2009

2009-11-09T19:34:00.000-08:00

Instead of another pattern that I "plan" to make ;) this week I will show the progress I have made on the first pattern of the week. Vogue 8544. I made this in the crepe back satin I had planned, using the crepe side. I'm trying out seam binding( although I don't think I'm doing it correctly) because the fabric ravels so easily. I put in a purple zipper to match the seams. I'm going to have to

A Recipe for a lazy Sunday

2009-11-08T10:03:00.000-08:00

For today, I am going to relax with a friend and maybe do some holiday crafting. But for the most part I will be doing not much of anything. After a large scale rearranging of the living space last night I am just a little... tired, so I will sit back and relax with a cup of motivation (coffee) and a warm little slice of pumpkin bread. And so all of you may do the same...Pumpkin BreadI cup Brown

Pattern of the week 11.2.2009

2009-11-04T17:33:00.001-08:00

Happy November! And to think it the year is almost over! I haven't done nearly enough of anything really! Well, in the spirit of doing what I said I would do… Here is this week's pattern.Simplicity 5878. (circa 1965)I absolutely love this little dress what with its little sash and pockets! I might just make one of each view. I will most definitely make at least one. Once I can finish the

No fuss Darts!

2009-10-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

How to sew a dart This is so easy I can't even believe I hadn't thought of it myself!!!! No need for chalk or to tie off at the end! Thanks for the link Casey!

Pattern of the Week 10.26.2009

2009-10-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I know I said tomorrow, but I've been in and out of cold medicine induced comas for a week, so this one is early for next week.This weeks' pattern is one I acquired from my mother's collection: McCall's 5135. I have no idea how I ended up with this pattern, but I still remember my mother in a floor length pink version of this dress as a house coat. I don't clearly remember if it was even

When I'm Sick...

2009-10-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

I had the misfortune of falling ill on a Friday. Which leaves me to be absolutely miserable all weekend when I should be out having fun with my husband. Although, there is something oddly comforting about being sick. The excuse to stay in bed all day and have my husband take care of me instead of the other way around is a nice one. I think a truer self comes out when one is ill. I am a creature

Sewing away happily

2009-10-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

Last night I started the pattern of the week! I just wanted to pop in and give a quick cost break down. • Fabric- $0 (My sister gave me the remnant of a lovely black crepe-back satin she used for her bridesmaid's dress for my wedding)• Pattern- $5 (Vintage)• Zipper- $1.5 (Hobby Lobby)• Bias Tape- $0.10 (thrift store)• My time- Priceless ( I couldn't resist :D)So in all I've spent just under 7$

Pattern of the week 10.12.2009

2009-10-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

This week marks the debut of my new "pattern of the week." This week I start with my most recent find: Vogue 8544. A wonderfully easy skirt pattern that I will be starting shortly (hopefully). I found this among other little treasures in a lovely little antique shop in Roswell. I could spend my life in there! (the shop, not Roswell particularly…) It has only two or three main pattern pieces and

Style Inspiration 10-10-09

2009-10-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

Saturdays are going to be my "style inspiration" days. Today’s outfit is inspired by Mary-Kate Olsen. Click to enlarge any picsI know I am missing the awesome scarf and Ozzy sunglasses and my hand bag cost me two dollars instead of two thousand... but I got some looks in the grocery store today, lol! :)Sweater, shirt, watch and ring: Target (various sale merch. Remember; never buy

For the love of hubby.

2009-10-10T09:48:00.000-07:00

My fuzzy hubby had been pining for a new Raiders sweater since I bought him some new jerseys a while back, but since they are somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty bucks, I was inclined to find a creative way around that and still get my man his football gear. So…. This is what we came up with:He found a ten dollar hoodie at our favorite store (Target) and I sewed the words and logo from a

A day off....

2009-10-09T20:41:00.001-07:00

Today was my first do-nothing-I-don’t-want-to-do day off in a very long time. I wanted to sleep in so I did. I wanted to light scented candles and have a quiet cup of coffee so I did. I wanted to get dressed up and do fancy makeup so I did. I wanted to go to lunch with my hubby and go look at a second hand store so we did. In all today was not a very productive day and it isn’t quite over but I

wanderings...

2009-08-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

I've been following some lovely and amazing blogs with the time that being The Broke Girl has afforded me and I must say that it is almost like following a path through the woods or an unknown park. There is wonder around ever corner! I am particularly fascinated with all the lovely women that have amazing blogs about vintage clothing and such. I watched a youtube video about how to spot vintage

Bargain hunting for sewing bits!

2009-08-13T10:52:00.000-07:00