My Goodness…..

 

It’s been a whole week since my last post!! MY GOODNESS!!!! I am SO sorry!!! It’s been crazy and hectic around here. I am still unpacking… I am working on my sewing room/library. That’s about all that’s left except for figuring out where to put some little things. I have most of MY books put up but there are still boxes and boxes and BOXES of the kids’ books. YILES!!!!!!

I have also been fighting yet another ear infection. MY GOODNESS!!!!! What is up with that????? And of course, we are in between insurance, again…. So I have just had to suck it up and deal with it. Thankfully it seems to be getting better now.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what my first sewing project ought to be once I get up and running again. I am in desperate need of some new clothes so I think the first few things will actually be for ME!!! LOL

I have been thinking a lot about this pattern-

Simplicity 2947

It looks SOOOO comfy and perfect for summer!!!

 

I wish I could remember what other patterns I have. They are still buried in a box somewhere.  MY GOODNESS!!!!

 

I think I am going to keep an eye on the Joann’s ads. I want some more patterns!! Like these…..

 

M6744

 

 

M6747

 

 

M6758

 

 

B5879

 

 

B5897

 

 

V8896

 

 

OH!! I got a couple of books for Mother’s Day!! Right now I am almost finished with Ken Follett’s Fall of Giants. MY GOODNESS!!! It is sooooo good!! I have never read anything by Ken Follett before and if this book is anything to go by then I have seriously been missing out. I wish I had the next in the series!!!

The Hubby got me Dan Brown’s Inferno!!!! I should be starting it tomorrow! I just LOVE his Robert Langdon series and have been reading it from the beginning.

Joshua got me Charlaine Harris’s Dead Ever After. It is the very last Sookie Stackhouse book!!! MY GOODNESS!!!! WAH!!! It was a great ending to an awesome series and I just don’t know what I am going to do without any more!!! WAH!!!!!!!

 

 

 

<3 Pattern Love <3

 

 

While we are packing and packing and packing, I have nothing new on the horizon. :/ It’s been sooooo long since I did any kind of sewing!! I am starting to go through withdrawals now!!! LOL To tide me over, I have been looking at and Pinning patterns. I thought I would share some of them with you! You know, I am SUCH an enabler!! LOL

 

Isn’t that DARLING????? Butterick B5901

It’s under things but I’m thinking it would be cute as an outfit if the bodice was lined!

 

 

McCall’s M6689

I love this silhouette!!

 

 

McCall’s M6735

That looks perfect for summer!!

 

Now for the grown ups!

Butterick B5881

Not crazy about the color but I love the silhouette!! I would probably pair it with leggings.

 

 

McCall’s M6758

I LOVE THIS!! It has a definite 60′s Megan Draper vibe, don’t you think???

 

 

Butterick B5895

There is absolutely NO WAY that I could ever pull that look off BUT I love it!!!!!  And I reallllllly want those shoes!! LOL

 

 

 

Simplicity 1609

This is a remake from the 60s…. Yeah, I’m going to have to get this one!! LOL

 

 

Here is a link to my sewing board on Pinterest where you can find tons of patterns and sewing inspiration!

 

 

Liam’s Leggings and Bandanna Bib

 

I promised pictures of my little cousin Liam in the clothes that I made, there he is in his leggings and bandanna bib that I made for him!!!! Isn’t he an absolute DOLL?????  If you want to more pictures of Liam the cutie patootie, just go to Rivas & Co.

 

I am still feeling a bit BLAH. This fibro flare up has dug in and won’t let go. Pray for me, please! We have Birthdays and travelling coming up and I need to be feeling better!!

 

Tomorrow I will be posting a new unit study and on Friday it will be time for a new Fly on the Wall!!! YAY!!!!

After all of that I am hoping to get my art inspired dress done in time for the linky party over at Project Run & Play. So far my machine isn’t playing well with others. GRRR!! My stitches are all off again. I think I need The Hubby to take it apart. The last time this happened something had broken loose inside. :/ I have had to rip out some stitches in the bodice twice already!!!

 

Reverse Applique Knee Patches Tutorial

 

 

Here is what I have been working on for so long…. A while ago my cousin (Sandra over at Rivas & Co.) commissioned me to make a t-shirt into short-alls and a pair of leggings with diamond shaped reverse appliqued knee patches with a matching bib. It took me FOREVER, or at least it felt that way!! I goofed SO many times on this…. I think I made 4 different sets!!! The first time my machine at the leggings. GRRRR!! The 2nd time I cut and/or sewed the patches in the wrong way. The print is a little crazy and the lines are not straight. I had to cut, pin and sew them JUUUST right. Then on the 3rd, I did every thing just right but when I went to cut the top layer over the patches, I cut the leggings instead!!! YILES!!!! Finally the 4th time was a charm! Good grief! LOL

So here is what I did.

 

 

The 2nd and 3rd attempts were made from this black t-shirt. The 4th attempt was from a different one. The 1st attempt was from some black jersey knit.

First I cut off the sleeves and collar. Then I cut the shoulders and sides. That left me with enough fabric to make 2 pairs of toddler leggings.

 

 

 

Then I cut the legs. These are for leggings so the legs are skinny and there is more room in the seat.

When I cut them, I used the t-shirt hem for the leggings hems.

 

 

Next, I cut the diamond shapes from 2 fabrics, 1 main and 1 for stabilizing.

 

 

 

Then I pinned and sewed the patches to the INSIDE of the leggings.

Next, I trimmed the excess from around the stitching. Be very careful here! THAT’S where I cut the hole in the leggings!!!

 

 

 

Now, I very carefully snipped the fabric from over the top of the patches and cut off the excess.

After that is done, you simply sew the leggings like you would any pair of pants.

 

 

 

This is the matching bib. I hope she loves them!!!

 

If you would like a step by step tutorial for making the leggings, you can follow my tutorial for the T-shirt Tunic and Leggings.

If you feel that you would prefer a pattern, try SquigglyTwigs Designs Quick Pants (you might recognize the model over there), just be sure to cut the legs narrower.

 

My next few projects will probably be very hush-hush. I’ll be working on my Pay It Forward gifts for 2013! I can’t wait to get started!!

HAPPY SEWING!!!!!

 

Sunshine Day Tunic and Clam Diggers – Tutorial

 

 

Well, the name is Sunshine Day BUT the pictures for this were taken on the COLDEST day we have had since moving here!!!!! LOL There was no way I was going to make Cailey stand outside in 40 degrees…..

 

For some reason this outfit (or maybe just the striped fabric) reminds me of…….

 

 

Y’all remember that, right??? LOL I loved watching Brady Bunch reruns after school when I was a kid.

 

 

ANYWAY…. Here is the tutorial.

 

 

What I used - 

3/4 yard of the stripes (very silky and flowy)

1/4 yard of the gold cotton for the yoke at the top

1 yard of heavier, stretchier cotton for the clam diggers

1″ elastic

 

 

 

 

I had this idea… I was going to make the front and back yoke one piece…. with lining….. Yeah… I even cut a muslin (above).

It took me a bit to figure out the problem. LOL

One I realized that I wouldn’t be able to turn it right side out after sewing the lining, I resigned myself to 4 pieces instead of 2.

 

 

So, then I made a pattern piece after much measuring and figuring. LOL

 

 

 

 

Pin the lining pieces to the main pieces and sew all around, leaving the bottom open.

 

 

 

Clip the corners, turn right side out and press.

 

 

 

Cut the pieces for the bottom of the tunic. I cut the top of it about a 1/4″ wider than the bottom of the yoke.

Make it as long as you like, widening as you go and curving the bottom.

 

 

 

Pin the bottom of the yoke to the top of the bottom piece, with right sides together. Sew then press your seams.

 

 

 

 

Now, pin the front to the back, with right sides together. Sew the shoulder and the sides.

 

Next, fold up and press 1/2″ on the bottom. Then fold up and press 3/4″. Sew the hem.

 

 

 

Remove the cat from your work space.

 

 

 

Grab a pair of your child’s pants to use as a cutting guide for the clam diggers. Turn up the leg bottoms to your desired length.

 

 

 

 

If you have a right side/wrong side fabric, you will want to flip the pants guide over to cut the second leg.

 

 

 

Sew up the inseam from the bottom to the start of the crotch curve.

(If your child is very small, you will want to hem them first.)

 

 

 

Turn one leg right side out and slide it into the other leg. Pin and sew.

 

 

 

Now for the elastic casing. Fold over 1/4″ and press. Fold over again by just over 1″, press and sew the casing, making sure to leave a section open to insert the elastic.

 

 

 

Pin the ends of the elastic and insert into the opening.

Then pull both ends out and secure with zigzag stitches.

Sew the opening closed.

 

 

 

Fold up and press the bottom of the legs by 1/2″. Fold up and press another 1/2″ and sew the hem!

 

 

Turn right side out and press!

 

YOU ARE DONE!!!!

 

 

As always, let me know if you have any questions. You can always use the Contact Me button at the top of the page.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

 

 

 

Another Pattern Remix

 

Here is my version of Me Sew Crazy’s Spring Fever Dress! None too soon, the linky party opened yesterday at Project Run & Play!

 

Here is a picture of the original dress.

 

 

Here are some more pictures of MY version!

 

 

 

 

 

The little bunny is my very first attempt at making my own iron-on. I LOVE IT!!! Get ready for some more! LOL

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was also my first attempt at covering buttons. It was SO much easier than I thought it would be!

 

 

 

 

I printed out the pattern in the largest size available and then set to making it a size 8.

 

 

 

Here are my pattern pieces upped to size 8.  (Please excuse the messy writing!)

I changed the back of the original dress to the front, left off the sleeves, and changed the skirt quite a bit. Instead of having 4 ruffles for the skirt I have one over a regular skirt. I didn’t mix it up a whole lot but I think I did enough to make it MY way.

 

 

 

 

Here are my pieces all pinned and ready to sew!!!

 

I had thought about using some of the eyelet trim for sleeves but then thought it might be a bit too much…. Still not sure about that. LOL

 

So, there it is! I hope you like it!!!

 

In other sewing news, I am STILL waiting on my shipment from Joann’s. GRRRR! Amazon is sooooo much faster! I ordered the owl pellets, Magic School Bus Electricity kit and 2 books a few days AFTER ordering from Joann’s and the Amazon shipment got here days ago! SIGH……

 

 

SEW Excited! Another Pattern Remix and Other Cool Stuff!

Project Run & Play is doing another pattern remix challenge!! YIPPPEE!! The pattern is from Me Sew Crazy.

 

 

I can’t wait to get started on it!!! I have so many ideas floating around in my head!! I was thinking that I wouldn’t have time to try it out but I just got confirmation YESTERDAY from Joann’s about the fabric I ordered. GRRRR! I ordered it LAST WEEK!! It’s for the outfit my cousin Sandra (Rivas & Co.) hired me to make.

ANYWAY, I have tons of ideas for this remix!! Now, I just have to get started!

 

In other “exciting” news, our owl pellets arrived yesterday! YAY!!!!

 

You get 5 for $9.95 and they come with a little pamphlet about barn owls. The pamphlet shows the different types of animals that barn owls eat and what those animals’ bones look like. Not bad for $10.  Our fake pellets from Hobby Lobby were more than that and we only got 2 (maybe 3).

 

We have A LOT of hands on stuff going on this week. We started owls, Spain, vikings AND rocks and minerals yesterday.

 

We will be using the minerals (kit 7) and the crystals (kit 8) from The Young Scientist Club.  We USED to get the monthly subscription until I realized that buying them from Amazon was MUCH cheaper. The monthly subscription is about $17 a month and you only get 1 kit where as at Amazon you can get 3 kits in one set for $24.97. Doesn’t take rocket science to figure that one out!

 

Yesterday Cailey was sick ( fever, sore throat and a headache) so we took it easy. She basically just watched videos on Discovery Streaming.  Speaking of Discovery Streaming, some states provide free access for homeschoolers!! It is SOOOOOOO very awesome! Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina are the 3 I heard about. In Georgia, we access it through our PBS website.  You e-mail the education department and provide your DOI (Declaration of Intent). They will then email you with your user name and password. I have to say, if we ever move to a state where it isn’t free, I might just have to suck it up and pay for it. It is SUCH an awesome resource. Cailey watched Jeff Corwin in Spain, a video introducing the rock cycle, a video about vikings AND one about owls! On YouTube she watched Schoolhouse Rock Multiplication and Schoolhouse Rock Grammar. After that she read a couple chapters in The Hundred Dresses, copied her spelling words and called it a day.

BUT today I promised that we would dive into the owl pellets and science kits. Colin was begging to get into them last night! LOL

 

It just occurred to me that I never write about what the big kids do for school. I guess because I no longer create the units for them. :/ I will start adding their stuff, too! Homeschooling high school can be so intimidating but it isn’t really much different than the younger years.

 

Sew Quiet Lately

 

I am so sorry for not posting the last few days. I have been having a little quiet time. Well, as quiet as can be with 4 kids in the house… LOL   I have a few projects in the works that I will be sharing in the next few days. My cousin Sandra over at Rivas & Co. has hired me to refashion a t-shirt into a short-all (plus a couple of other things) and I will be sharing that tutorial with you shortly. It’s going to be SOOOO cute!!

I stopped at the tiny local fabric shop yesterday to pick up same navy thread (for the short-all) and while I was there I grabbed a couple  more than a couple of things…. LOL

They have a couple of baskets on the counter and everything in them is 50 cents!! I grabbed a bottle of Fray Check and a few appliques. YAY!

 

 

I bought 2 fat quarters of Paris Ville by Michael Miller. Very cute but when I got home I noticed that the grain line runs so that the print would be sideways instead of the way it is pictured now. WEIRD!!

 

 

I bought  1 1/2 yards of this Robert Kaufman print. It was just SO cute!!!!! I’m thinking a spring outfit for Cailey!

 

 

 

This is a remnant piece, maybe 1/2 a yard. It’s nice and thick, perfect for a purse or maybe a tote.

 

 

This is just a tiny piece, about 12″ x 43″, but I think it will make a perfect book cover for my Dad.

Speaking of my Dad, yesterday was his 60th Birthday!! YAY!! There were many times that we didn’t think he would make it to 60. He has so many health problems. He was supposed to be on his way to visit us but has been delayed by a massive migraine that has lasted 3 days so far. Keep him in your prayers, please.

 

 

 

IF he can make it down here he can look forward to the cake we got for him. (If I can keep the kids out of it long enough. LOL)  I asked for a western theme and this is what they gave me. :/ Not bad but not what  I was expecting, either. That’s what happens when you only have 2 grocery stores to choose from and no real bakeries!!!  LOL

 

 

Like I said, I have some project in the works and some study units I need to get together. The posts will be coming, I promise!!  I guess I just needed a little down time after Jacob left. I miss him so much and the time just seems to fly by when he is here.

 

 

Sewing and Craft Ideas for Easter and Spring

I have a confession to make. I haven’t sewn a single thing this week! GASP!!!! I don’t know what has gotten into me! I do have tons of ideas floating around in my head but….. I think I need a trip to a fabric store. My stash just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Some of the ideas I’ve had are for Easter! It’s right around the corner!!!! Colin keeps reminding me because it’s on his Birthday this year!

 

Here are Easter sewing ideas from around the Web!

 

Little Girl’s Bunny Rabbit Apron - Etsy Shop

 

 

 

Bunny Pillow Pet

 

 

 

Bunny Easter Basket from Disdressed

 

 

 

Fluffy Stuffy  Bunny from  Allsorts

 

 

 

The Cotton Candy Skirt from Simple Simon & Co.

 

 

Sheep Pattern – Count the Sheep

 

 

McCall’s M6642

 

 

Easter Bunny from Apine Industriose (It’s in Italian but Chrome will translate.)

 

 

 

A Kid Designed Dress from A Home, Made

 

 

 

A Spring Wreath from Four Girlies

 

 

 

Emmaline Dress Pattern – Violette Fields Threads

 

 

 

Ruffled Easter Egg Tee – Positively Splendid

 

 

 

Modern Folksy Bunny Pattern – Gingercake

 

 

 

Spring Chick Skirt – iCandy Handmade

 

 

 

Simple Easter Dress – Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night

 

 

 

Easter/Spring Dress – Sew Dang Cute Crafts

 

 

 

Vintage Spring Dress – The Valencia’s 

 

 

 

Marshmallow Bunny Plushies – We All Sew 

 

 

 

101 Handmade Easter Craft Ideas – Everything Etsy 

 

 

 

Egg Topiary – She’s Kinda Crafty

 

 

Bunny Wreath –  Too Stinkin’ Cute

 

 

 

Here’s a nice list from Dana Made It

A nice list from About.Com Sewing.

 

 

 

 

 

Flower Power – by me

 

 

High-Low Dress – me

 

 

 

Eyelet Tank – me

 

 

Orange Crush – me, again….

 

 

 

Fox Trot Part 1

Fox Trot Part 2

 

 

Change the fabrics and the Gingerbread Dress turns into an Easter dress!

 

 

Fab Mod Dress

Gosh, I miss our old house. :/

 

I hope these tutorials and patterns help to jump start your Easter and Spring sewing and crafting!

 

I have something coming up. Think eyelet and pink gingham.

 

 

 

SquigglyTwigs Designs Pattern Tests AND My Signature Look

I was planning on creating a separate look for the Project Run & Play Signature Look Challenge BUT I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the way the pattern tests for SquigglyTwigs Designs Cute and Quick Pants and Peasant Blouse turned out so I will be entering them.

I have very eclectic tastes and style.  Just like my preferences for reading, music and movies, they seem to be all over the place! I love modern, retro, vintage AND classic looks, so it’s sort of hard to pin down just one look to describe my signature style….

 

 

I used SquigglyTwigs Designs Pretty Peasant Dress pattern for the tunic. I used the standard size 8 with added ruffle.

The capris are SquigglyTwigs Designs Cute and Quick Pants custom size 7 with added ruffles.

 

 

 

If you’ve been following my blog for a while then you’ll know how much I LOOOOOOVE eyelet! I can’t get enough of it! LOL And I think it goes wonderfully with the 2 vintage look prints.

I have to say, though, that print was a pain in the rump to sew with!!! It’s woven but it reacts like knit!! PAIN IN THE BUTT!!! And every time I took the iron to it, it would expand! I love it but it was a PAIN!

 

 

 

 

 

I also made Colin a pair of pants from the same pattern. I used the standard size 6 with added cuff. I used a heavier weight knit for the main pant portion and a medium weight knit for the cuffs. He LOVES them. He would rather wear knits than anything else!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will be linking this up with the sew along linky party at Project Run & Play tomorrow!! You should go check out all the AWESOME looks that link up every week! SOOOOOOOO much talent!!!!