The day I broke up with my TV tray

Ever since I bought my sewing machine a little over a year ago, I’ve been using a sad little TV tray for my sewing setup. Yes… a TV tray. Wah wah.

TV Trays: Ideal for lunch, not for sewing machines.

I recently moved from a tiny apartment to a luxurious townhouse, and in the process, moved into a new bedroom with the most spectacular sewing nook in the universe. The angled walls create a picture-perfect alcove that screams “CREATIVE THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN HERE!”

I refuse to let this cozy nook be anything less than amazing.

It was immediately clear that a TV tray sewing setup would NOT do my sewing getaway any justice.

I’d like to introduce you to my new best friend: the HEMNES secretary desk from IKEA.

I promise I will actually read that Econ book once I'm done using it as a photo prop.

My love for this desk is threefold.

• One: The need for a new sewing oasis (Sorry, TV tray… this just isn’t going to work out)
• Two: A place to do my schoolwork for grad school (Studying: a necessary evil)
• Three: The desire for a neat and orderly bedroom… (i.e. – shove all my junk inside the desk and close it up. Secret messes.)

And as a bonus, this desk matches my already existing HEMNES bedroom set.

Yep. I might love this desk more than I love fabric softener.

Anyone need a sad and lonely TV tray?

How to build an army bunker

As the owner of this blog, I have access to some pretty magical tools that give me all sorts of site stats to scrutinize and take personally (Only three visitors today!? What!? Is my blog not good enough for you!? My sewing projects aren’t pretty enough!?). I can also look at a list of the Google search phrases that lead people to my blog. The number one topic that leads visitors to my blog?

Pascal / Tangled: Yep, this little guy is the number one reason that people visit my blog – all because I posted this sewing-related photo from Tangled. Thanks for making me famous, Pascal! Despite the fact that you really have nothing to do with sewing…

Pascal: Cuter than your average dressform!

Summer Sewing Projects: I have to admit, I really enjoyed putting together this compilation of summer sewing projects  a few months ago, and plan to write more collective tutorial posts in the future. My blog visitors must have enjoyed this entry too since it led lots of Google’ers to Sew Lindsay Sew! Did anybody out there make any of the projects that were listed?

Photo and tutorial courtesy of purlbee.com

Project Linus: I still haven’t gotten a chance to sew a blanket for this outstanding organization. Has anyone else volunteered with Project Linus?

Sewing blankies for those who need them most!

Sewing nook covers: Everyone out there with an e-reader must want to make their Barnes & Noble nook just a little bit cozier, ’cause “Hooked on my nook” is attracting lots of visitors to my blog!

Hooked on my nook!

Rotary cutters: I talked about rotary cutters in an entry about the top five sewing tools I can’t live without. Not much else to say about rotary cutters other than this: They are magical and I can’t live without them, and apparently, neither can you because they’re one of the top Google search phrases in my site stats.

Blissfully straight lines!

While the top phrases are pretty darn fun, I know you’re dying to know some of the awkward phrases that have led people to my blog!

Wallpaper sewing: Huh? This one baffled me for awhile until I realized they were probably looking for desktop wallpaper for their computer. In my head, I initially had a vision of sewing wallpaper onto walls in lieu of wallpaper paste. Strange.

How to build an army bunker: Yep, this is just your typical army-bunker-building blog… LOL!

Troll pigtails: What!?

So what led you to stumble across my blog? Or are you simply a Facebook friend who took pity on me and my sad little site stats? LOL!

Regardless of how you got here – thanks for visiting! And I’m sorry if I misled you – I do not actually know how to build an army bunker.

The Secret Summer Sewing Project

Recently, I referenced a big sewing project without being able to mention specifically what the project entailed. Now it’s finally time for the reveal!

My dear friend Cait got married last week, and asked me months ago if I would make six jewelry rolls (initially presented in this Mother’s Day blog entry) for her bridesmaids. Although the idea of making six – plus one more for Cait – seemed a little overwhelming, I didn’t hesitate to say yes! But the project had to remain a secret so I wouldn’t ruin the surprise for Cait’s bridesmaids.

Being responsible for even a tiny portion of someone else’s wedding plan might be a little intimidating to anyone who has seen an episode of the TV show “Bridezillas.” But I know Cait, and I knew she would be the complete opposite of a Bridezilla.

I now present to you three pieces of evidence that prove my point:

1) When we took a trip to the fabric store, Cait was torn between a so-so fabric that matched her wedding colors – yellow and gray – and a stunning green fabric that she knew her bridesmaids would love. She ultimately put her bridesmaids first and chose the fabric that she knew they would like, despite the fact that it didn’t match the wedding colors. Awesome!

The winning fabric combo!

2) While trying to balance the start of my MBA program and moving across town all in the same month, my life was in utter chaos and I didn’t finish the jewelry rolls until just a few weeks before the wedding. Cait didn’t hound me for the finished jewelry rolls once. Awesome!

3) Cait wore yellow Converse chucks down the aisle… and then broke out in a surprise hip-hop routine with her dad during the father/daughter dance. Now THAT… is an awesome bride.

Photos compliments of Brie at rgbrie.tumblr.com

Her wedding was beautiful and I feel lucky to have been a part of it. Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs!