Double Wedding Ring Pillow

I've always wanted to make a quilt with this pattern... I decided to try it out with the last bit of scraps left from Bellas quilt and this quilt and also this quilt.  So when I say scraps I mean SCRAPS -not the best way to try out a new pattern. As in not sure I will ever do this again. 

I attached it to gorgeous dark grey linen with a blanket stitch and then I sandwiched it with batting and a piece of cotton on the back and went to town with small kantha-esque stitching. All with yummy varegaited purl cotton thread.  Then it was turned into a pillow for my living room. I LOVE this pillow. 

Backpack and Dress

There are so, so many things I haven't shown you. 

Way back at the beginning of this year, I had a request for a backpack. 

FYI - I am now a licensed seller of  Made By Rae Toddler backpacks. 

I gave her a few choices and this was the combo she liked. The fabric is Chocolate Lollipop Pink by Anna Maria Horner. The piping is Kona Cotton in corn yellow. 

I really like the way it turned out. 

This dress. 

I found some gorgeous linen on clearance at Joann. There was just enough to make up the Ice Cream dress by Oliver & S patterns for Bella. I bought it without Jess knowing. She pinned this dress about the same time. You can't see it much in these pictures but the neck and pocket facings are almost the same color as the inspiration dress. I actually had it in my stash! Of course, Miss Bella has grown so much in the last few months, it's now more of a top on her.

Maybe one day, she will enjoy modelling for us.....

The One Where I Thought "Uh Oh" and Did It Anyway

Aka, Butterick 5639, why did you have to be difficult?

Have you seen this dress? I pinned it 33 weeks ago. It's been sitting in my "clothes to make" board. The link goes to her Flickr site but there are only three pictures of her version, none of which is her wearing it. I did a search and she seemed to be the only one who'd made and shown it. I never thought to look on Pattern Review......

Gorgeous, isn't it?

I purchased the pattern about four months ago. When I got it home and really looked at it, I thought... Uh Oh. 

The pattern front as they show it is kinda meh, but obviously from the picture above can be very cute with the right fabric. I wanted to make the same view, down there, on the left. For some reason, I thought the back view would be similar to the front. 

Then I turned it over. Moo, straps. I so did not want straps. I know, I live in the land of heat and sunshine, but strappy dresses will never be work appropriate for me. You may think that's silly and that's ok. 

So, I said all of that to say, it took me until two weeks ago to try and make this pattern how I wanted it to be. It's made with a linen look fabric from Joann's. I used the same basic pieces from the front bodice for the back. 

I think it turned out pretty well. It did take a bit  a lot a whole lot of tweaking and it is not perfect by any means.

After I finished this today, in preparation for blogging it, I did another search for this dress. That's when I found the link to the reviews on Pattern Review. The beautiful dress I showed you for my inspiration? She says the back was so bad that it was not salvageable. As in train wreck and wadder pile, her words not mine. It was only then that I read the fabric suggestions. Linen or even a linen look like mine was not recommended. Hmmm, I am even happier with my choice to alter the back and how it turned out after reading that. 

 I made my guy take me to the beach this evening for a sunset photo shoot. I guess the next few pictures are as much about me having fun as they are about the dress. It is utilitarian yet feminine. The princess line fit and flare are flattering to my, ahem, shape. The pockets are amazingly usable. Seriously. 

All in all I think it is a pretty and comfortable dress to wear. Appropriate for both beach and office.

Evenings like this make me wonder why I don't go jump in the water more often. 

Oh and no, I do not mind being the crazy person jumping in the water while people walk by wondering why is the crazy woman jumping around in the water in a dress....

Toy Bags

I bought this fabric a few months ago intending to make toy bags for Micah. Somehow, I never got around to it. I may or may not have bought him a toy at Christmas that has pieces. Pieces that can get lost. Pieces that need a bag. 

Remembering that I meant to sew bags, I finally pulled this fabric back out and did it.

 I really love these little robots.

 I bought what ended up being a very scant half yard. I used it all. The drawstring bag is unlined with a clean finish seam. The zipper bag is lined with Kona cotton. I wasn't sure there would be enough so I even use the selvedge edge for the strap. Instead of hiding the writing, I let it show. 

This was my first splurge on Kokka fabrics. It's a linen/cotton blend and sews beautifully.

Have you made a bias skirt lately?

A quick revisit to Mum's tutorial from a few months ago... I needed more... these things are so comfortable and easy to make that it can be rather addictive. Mum did cut these out for me (and iron the hem...I hate doing that!) but other then that I did all of the sewing.... not that there was that much of it to do... 

 We added a lining in these since we were a tad worried about them being a touch see through. 

 Grey and Black will be much easier for me to wear through the winter.

Now if I could just figure out how to keep this booger from hanging off of them. 

Bias Skirt

If you don't follow Crafterhours, (you should really check them out, they are nice people who say nice things about me....) then you don't know about this skirt. Jess and I made this tutorial for their skirt week.  It is an easy bias skirt we made from linen and jersey knit. 

I want to wear mine all the time. 

Seriously.

Go to Crafterhours for the tutorial.

If you happen to make a shirt, the skirt waistband and the skirt in the same color fabric, you can have something that looks like a dress but is far more versatile. 

Outtakes.........

We're so lucky he puts up with us.

Hammock vs Uber

Guess who won?

Simplicity 2975

Made with a gorgeous linen in one of my favorite colors. I added pockets on the side seams instead of the front patch pockets it called for. Sorry there are no closeups.

I love this tree. It hangs over a pond in the gardens by the theatre district. You know who thinks I am a huge goof for wanting a photo of myself here. I thought I could walk out farther..... the water is shallow and very not clean. Yeah, he also had to help me down.

Hope you've had a great weekend!

Wool, corduroy, cotton and linen

I've made this coat in all of these fabrics and I'm still not bored with it. Jessica sent this fabric combination for me to make her one too. I was actually able to start and finish it yesterday. She didn't get to send the buttons so I will have to put those on when I get there.

I love the drape of linen. This is a fairly heavy weight and having to hang it to take the photos makes it look slouchier than it is. I think it's so fun that she chose Mendicino Two sisters by Heather Ross for the lining. Hope you like it Jess!

And just for good measure, I made my green scrap bucket. Funny, I had a lot less green than I thought.

For those of you who haven't got the new improved upload (yep, they gave us strike through) I'm sure that you all will have an easier time than I am getting used to it. Old dog, new tricks and all that. The link button is better, it allows you to check it before you post. Once I figure it all out it will be great.

Full on Cute

This is what I did instead of combing my hair this morning. After I made the sailboat top, I really wanted to make the pants. I found some linen in my stash and it was exactly what I had imagined. What little one doesn't need a soft flowing pair of linen pants? I cannot say enough about these patterns. I hope she starts making patterns in my size. Start to finish it took me 2 1/2 hours. I even made it to work on time.........