Thinking About a Sewing Machine...Recommendations?

Hey there crafty pals! I am thinking about getting a sewing machine - anyone out there have recommendations for a novice?  I would like something with some cool features to grow into, but not one that will scare me off of learning. :)  Comments, links and feedback (good and bad) on machines you have tried or are lusting after would be greatly appreciated!

Six For Saturday or Sunday: DIY for Dad

This week's DIY round-up is a manly collection of DIYs for Dad for your creative inspiration heading into the northern hemisphere Father's Day weekend.:

1. Shirt Cards (She Knows)
2. Duct Tape Crowns (Hostess with the Mostess) 
3. Custom Dad Book (inspiration from Design Aglow)
4. Cuff Cards (Madigan Made)
5. Stamped Belt (Craftaholocs Anonymous)
6. Secret Decoder (Ambrosia Creative)

Looking for creative more ideas? Try the past Six for Saturday (or Sunday) posts, searching the blog under the DIY type of your preference, or I have a whole board full of of tutorials and DIY on Pinterest.  If you decide to make something fabulous, create a treasury, or post something special this weekend, you are welcome to share in the comments or at Creativity Unmasked on Facebook. If you are sharing your own post/site in the blog comments, you are welcome to include a live link for extra site traffic using the format <a href="http://www.yourlink.com">text you want shown for your link</a> 

Sage Social Media Words of Wisdom - Elsewhere!

I recently decided to make a Thursday mini-series to share some social media information here on the blog. I am not an expert, but I have been puttering for quite some time and am happy to share with (and learn from) all of you!  In addition to recent posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Blogging, here is the final installment with a mishmash of other ways to be social on-line.

There are plenty of other social media options out there - it is all a matter of time and personal taste.   For example, if you love beautiful visual inspiration, why not join Pinterest and share your style, favourite discoveries, and fabulous finds with others?  If you like trying new things are are not into Facebook, its still pretty quiet, but why not give Google+?

Not all on-line socialising requires your to create and maintain a social media profile or page. For example, if you are an Etsy user, you can join in your local Etsy team or one that suits your art, interests, etc or create Etsy treasuries from time to time, like interesting listings/shops, build your Etsy circles and consider getting in on a local or special interest team.  You can also visit and read the posts and pages of others and join in their conversations - everyone loves a good comment!

A few parting words of advice?  Social networks are about being social, so try and maintain a balance between chatter, your shares and sharing on behalf of others.  Finally, remember that you can't do everything.  Most social media is free, but it still costs you valuable time so pick your favourites and have fun!

"Time You Enjoy Wasting Was Not Wasted", John Lennon. Print by EyeSeeYouShop on Etsy

Wedding Palette Treasury Style Boards

Well...it had to happen at some point - I have finally started wedding planning (if you missed News! post, engagement details are here).  First stop: wedding palettes!  I have started using the Etsy treasury function as a style board - pretty handy actually...especially for future shopping! Mooohahaha. Here are some of my recent wedding palette collections, with full treasury links below.  If you were planning a wedding, what palette of colours would you choose?

CHOCOLATE: Chocolate Celebration | PASTEL: A Country Affair | RUSTIC RED: Rustic Red Romance  | NATURAL: Bridal Beige  | BLACK: Midnight in the Garden | EXOTIC: Exotic Romance  | VIOLET: Violet Vows | FERN: Woodland Wedding | MINT: Married in Mint

Long Weekend Links

Happy (if you are lucky like me!) long weekend! There won't be a Six for Saturday or Sunday post this weekend, but instead there is an awesome (if I do say so myself) creative round-up guest post by yours truly at the Plushka blog (pictured below) and a beautiful collection of lovely Long Weekend listings in my latest Etsy treasury to enjoy.  Have a fun and fabulous weekend, and I will see you again next week!