Sometimes I like to Sew...

It's been WAY too long...

Well, I had a great trip to Chattanooga. While there we attempted to learn to stiple. I have yet to put it into practice for real, so no guarantees. I'm not ready to add that to my list of sewing skills quite yet.

Next weekend I'm signed up for a class on how to start your own embroidery business. Now that is a skill I am confident I can offer. Let's hope we learn lots and maybe I'll actually put some things in my etsy shop!

Last night I finished sewing an Oliver+S 2+2 Blouse (View A) for Lulu. It's one of the first things I have sewn for fall. If only it were a little bit breezy in Houston so I could justify letting her wear it out of the house!

I made the 18-24 month size everywhere except for the length which is a 3T. I wanted it to be a little more tunic-like to go over some little brown leggings instead. It turned out just as I pictured. I'm considering making my next one even longer for little bit to wear as a dress! 

I opted for a button closer at the neckline instead of the ties because she's at the age where she would just try to either eat them or pull them off all day.

Here's the 2+2 Blouse (View B) I made for her last fall. I don't even remember when she was that little!

I have lots more to share including my first dress using entredeaux and lace! I'll have to wait for her to wake up so I can take pictures.

I caved and purchased these as soon as they became available. I couldn't resist. I'm not proud of it. Now I am just waiting patiently for the package to arrive at my door.

Christmas in September

I am Chattanooga bound!!

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There are a few things wrong with this picture...

                - "the stockings were hung by the TV with care..."

     - There are 3 members of our family. There are only 2 stockings.

     - The 3 wisemen's journey is being impeded by Reid's X Box.

    In effort to restore us from this dark place I am going to go ahead and make Reid's stocking before the craziness begins. My goal was July but "Christmas in September" is still kind of catchy. 

We now live in a different house, (twice the size of the above pictured house), and although still lacking a chimney I have high hopes for a much improved setup. "The stockings were hung by the bannister with care?" "The stockings were hung by the back door with care?" "The stockings were hung off the kitchen bar with care?" "The stockings were hung by pantry with care" Hmm...I'm working it.

When I return I will update you on Lucy's newest dress for fall and mine. I'm about 3/4's of the way through with my first Anna Tunic and barring disaster I will have a picture of me wearing it sometime next week!

These are neat.

I like this.

My newest weekly read. This Q&A is hilarious.

Out with the Old, In with the New...Birthday Banners!

Lucy's birthday was June 14, and we just took her birthday banner down on Friday, August 20, only to replace it with one for my dad's birthday. I just print the letters on card stock with fun, usually fabric inspired backgrounds, sew them together with a quick zig-zag stitch and we're ready to go! 

I wonder if I can justify leaving this one up until my mom's birthday in November...

Holly and Hunter Jumper and Playsuit by Bonnie Blue

I do sew patterns other than Oliver+S, just not often! This is "Hunter" by Bonnie Blue. I lengthened the legs and added a tad bit of a ruffle to make it a little bit more feminine for Lulu. I also made it button at the crotch since she wears diapers, being just 1 and all. I've never really had great luck with snaps and haven't ever been able to find the snap tape so I usually, much to my husbands chagrin, just make her rompers button!

She is clearly being uncooperative in this picture and the hair, well you'll have to ask her father about that. His looks similar most mornings! I love to make her outfits that aren't always typical girly pink and this is one of them. I added a bird applique from here to the front. 

My husband thinks it's time to embrace new animals since that's pretty much the only one she can identify. She looks around her room and says, "bird," pointing to a picture, "bird," point to her bedding, "bird" pointing to a pillow... speaking of birds, I'm planning on posting some pictures of her room next week!

Simplicity #2629 Vintage '48 View A

I bought this pattern and began sewing this dress a few months ago, and thought I would post a photo...even though it is still unfinished. I'll have to add it to my "unfinished projects" list. eek! 

It was very simple to sew and looks so sweet in white swiss dot. I had leftovers after I made Lucy's pillowcase dress and couldn't resist sewing a tiny dress for  a newborn. I forget how small babies are at the beginning. It seems like Lucy has been this big for her whole life! Well, no babies on the way for us so whoever has a baby that is the appropriate age when I finish it up gets it! All I have left to do is buttonholes and a quick blind hem, but who knows when it will happen. For now it will hang in the closet with the other items that need buttonholes, buttons sewn on, or other finishing details!

Oliver + S Birthday Party Dress in Midwest Modern

Well, there's not much to say except I still love Oliver + S.

I realize it seems like that is all I have been sewing, but I'm okay with that! I've been reading more about their boutique sewer program, and maybe its something I should seriously consider because I seem to be such an avid Oliver+S sewer already.

I made this dress about a month ago, but just now had it ironed up enough to actually take a photograph. I entered it in Amy Butler's Midwest Modern contest. It looks very cute on little bit and I think it may be one of those dresses that can later become a tunic with some cute ruffle britches or bloomers. 

Oliver + S Popover Dress

I've been debating about whether or not to order the issue of Sew Hip that contained the Popover Dress by Oliver + S, but now I'm glad I didn't because it's free at their website. I'm sure the issue of the magazine was great, but I love instant gratification and couldn't resist quickly downloading, printing and assembling all in one night.

Little bit was so moved and excited when she woke up to find a new dress she was brought to tears. Because of this I was forced to take a picture of the back of her - excuse the wrinkles - which worked out well since she actually has the dress on backwards. (I only put rick rack on one side.) All in all it was a cute and sweet pattern that is very easy to assemble in not long at all! 

You can download your own Popover Dress here.

An old project just put to use

I made this awhile back when I had a friend in town for a weekend of sewing. It got lost in moving and messiness and has now been found and put to use. It is the Magazine Holder from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing. You can find it here.

You also get to see a corner of my sewing room.

& a close up!

{RIP Domino}

Update on Reid's Anniversary Quilt!

Reid's quilt is based off of this quilt pattern from Joelle Hoverson's Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts. I attempted to cut it according to their directions, but something went terribly wrong. I think it may have had something to do with a narrow hallway, a self-healing mat that is only 18" x 24" and knowing that Lucy's nap could end at potentially any moment. The only part I messed up was the back of the quilt. Instead of being able to cut two long pieces and sew them together for the back, I'm going to have to do some piecing. No big deal right - except for the fact that all the cutting for the white sashing and piecing is based off of this first step! Due to this, I was forced to do this...

I'm sure I made it way more complex than necessary, but I figured out how big each rectangle is supposed to be. After all that hard work all I could muster was to cut out the colored fabric.

I'm very pleased with my fabric selection. I think it "goes" together well and is very "manly" as my husband requested.

Stay tuned as I one day, hopefully before our next anniversary, finish this quilt!

Quilting 101

I should take Quilting 101 because I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm excited about starting Reid's 2nd Anniversary quilt, but I already had the quilting bug before the fabric arrived so I started this one...

Here are all the strips cut up and ready to go on my ironing board. I just got a new cover a couple of weeks ago, so it still looks nice!

Here are my first 3 squares...

& my first 5!

It's going to be 5 squares by 4 squares which should end up around 55" by 44" if my math is correct. It's a baby quilt, but I think it's a good start and a great way to use up lots of scraps.