french ruffle dress

I keep putting off the birdie sling (not to sure why) to try some projects I have wanted to do for awhile. I bought a red sheet on clearance the other day for $2 that I had slated for lounge pants, but when I picked up the pattern for the french ruffle dress again, I thought it would be great to try it with an inexpensive sheet first to make sure I got the fit right for my 2 year old. I had heard from someone that it runs small, so I cut out the 4T. I knew that it would be okay if it was too big, but not okay if it was too small. It fits perfectly and this dress is great for a beginner sewer. I know you might not believe me, but I am still a beginner. I don't attempt too many projects that require more than an elastic casing, a hem, and maybe a ruffle. I would like to think it's because I really do enjoy a quick project, but I am sure there are a few fears mixed in there as well. All in due time. This dress will be a great little Christmas dress (just 4 months early!) and now I am going to make it in brown cord with a different color ruffle. You could make so many variations. But, just remember it does run a bit small.

newly covered chairs

We were given these chairs last spring to replace the benches that we had there before.  I like the chairs because the kids always fell off or rocked the benches. The chairs had white seat covers and like any family with kids (and the adults sometimes) they get spilled on often.  

I knew I wanted to recover them sooner rather than later.  The joy of recovering chairs is that it is easy and you can always change them again.  I didn't even take the old fabric off.  I just went right over the top -extra padding never hurts.  I bought this red polka dot fabric at joann's with my 40% off coupon. Then, I was going to apply the iron the vinyl over them to help wipe away spills, but because iron on vinyl isn't the cheapest and requires more work, I just went with the clear plastic sold by the yard for only $1.50/yard.  It looks a little like the sofa coverings that grannie's sometimes have on their furniture, but if it protects the fabric from food, I decided I didn't care.  Plus, I can always pull it off when they get older or I get sick of it.  So, for a few hours on Saturday morning, I have a fun new set of chairs.  

still cutting and fusing

I got the fabric for the Birdie Sling while on my trip to Utah. My sister in law happened to have an extra pattern and was generous enough to give it to me. She told me that the prep for it took longer than sewing it. I am going with that theory since it is taking me so dang long to get this bag ready to sew. I, of course, am doing it a few minutes here and there so I can't really tell how long it's taking me. I am banking on the fact that the prep work is harder than sewing it. I hope I am not alluding myself.

Here's the fabric I chose for the outside fabric - it's from Joel Dewberry's Deer Valley collection.


The lining is Hey Sugar by Cosmo Cricket.

And, the handles are Swanky by Chez Moi for Moda.

Now that I have described the whole thing, let's hope I really get this bag done. I am loving it's potential!

from shirt to tote

My neighbor is very kind and gives my boys her son's clothes when he grows out of them. They are usually very nice, but when it comes to my 7 year old, if it isn't a pair of "slick shorts" (basketball shorts) or a t-shirt, he's not interested. She gave me this nice denim Gap shirt which I knew I would not be able to get the boys to wear, so it was going in to the future sewing projects pile. With my nieces birthday coming up, it made great fabric for a new tote. I made handles for it similar to those from the Simple Tote in the bend-the-rules Sewing book by Amy Karol. But, I just made up the dimensions and added the apple applique to cover up the Gap logo on the front. I think I will fill it up with a sketch pad and put pencils in the pockets on the front.  That ought to keep a 6 year old happy. Right?

right in the middle of summer

I sent my kids back to school today. I feel like we are on a year round schedule because they are starting so early this year. Summer was just picking up speed and then it came to a crashing halt as we hurried up and put them back in school. I am a bit sad today. Yes, of course I like to get my "me" time that comes much easier when they are in school, but I really was having fun with them. I feel like I get so little time with them and especially lately, they are seeming so grown up. It's this little guy's birthday today and he is 5. He could have started kindergarten today, but we decided to wait until next year for so many reasons. As I looked at him from across the table when he was blowing the candles out on his birthday cake, I could not imagine him on that long hot bus ride today with his older brothers. We have all day kindergarten and wow, it's just so long for a little guy. But, this little guy, his sister, and I will have fun together this year while their older brothers are at school. I can just feel it. So, as the dust settles from a short, but fun summer and we start to get more in to a routine, I do look forward to some sewing time. I got some great fabric on my vacation to Utah. I also cut out a great bag that I want to sew up quickly. I had fun just being away and especially seeing my kids loving their cousins. That's always the best part of any trip. We just live too far away from all the cousins. Hopefully, I will have some projects to show soon.

new headbands

Check out Melissa's tutorial for cute elastic headband tutorial at the polka dot chair blog. I just cut all of my hair off (not that it was super long), so I am thinking these will really help me while I am still trying to figure out how to style this new do.

on vacation again

We're having a mini family reunion in Utah this weekend. Then, my boys are joining their cousins at this for the rest of the week. I am hoping to spend my time getting some great ideas - there's always great ideas at all the stores here. Plus, we are staying at my sister in law's house and she lives across the street from dear lizzie, which is one of the cutest shops/boutiques that I have ever been in. It has an amazing lunch menu and cupcakes as well. Oh, and we went to the Provo Famer's Market where there were some awesome booths with food and crafts. I found this girl selling the cutest headbands, birthday banner, and earrings. Check out her etsy shop. So, I will be back to blogging soon. When we come home, the boys have one day of summer left and then, it's back to school. That will be a bitter sweet day. I have loved our summer adventures, but having a predictable schedule is very healthy for me. So, until then....

*fixed the links!

this outfit went with the blanket

I sent this outfit along with the blanket to the expecting mom.  I just embellished a little pair of Old Navy jersey knit pants and a long sleeved onesie.  I got the pattern for the elephant from martha stewart here.  

simple baby blanket

This is for a baby boy that is due very soon.  I made my first baby blanket like this when my friend who is due with this baby boy had a set of girl twins about 3 1/2 years ago.  I got to use some bright pink flannels and polka dots.  I like this blanket because I can make it in a day and l love to see how each of the different fabrics fray.  I used a stripy quilters cotton that I have been saving for the perfect boy project (this was it), some flannel, and some soft gray corduroy. I  made my strips anywhere from 3" wide (by 32") up to 8" wide. My mom made a great tutorial for this blanket on her blog here that I refer to when I forget the dimensions and need a refresher! 

slowly growing

Just a quick update on our tomatoes plants that we are growing in buckets that I wrote about in this post. They are all doing great and the cherry tomatoes are ripe and ready for picking. The others are growing slowly, but surly. It's been nice watching the progress of these and all the while knowing how easy they were to plant. The cherry tomatoes are growing down so low that it's like a little tomato vending machine for my four year old who loves them. My friends that are already getting their tomatoes from their gardens are sharing and since ours might be awhile, we can share when theirs have come and gone.

greetings from

This was such a needed two week vacation. I forget how much I love this place, but especially how much I miss my family. Kentucky and San Diego are just too far apart. I wish we could squeeze these two places closer together. I am just enjoying the time I do have. We are heading home Wednesday. I am sure I will sit in my sewing room and be excited to start some new great projects because on this trip the only creative things I have done have been making lunches and deciding what our plans are for the day. It's been a fun change of pace. Some of the highlights from this trip:

• Eating here, here, and here.
  
• Taking a class for this.
• Having my friend and her kids with us the first week.
• Peanut butter shakes from here and Slurpees from here.
• Dinner and swimming with my family (the extended family) here.
• Meeting up with dear friends at the beach. 
• Seeing this and one of these games all in one day.   Poor team!  Still love them though.
• Taking the ferry to here so that we could ride bikes.  
• Visiting this world famous place. 
• Touring this and being just amazed. 
• Lots of swimming in my parent's pool and lots of great visits with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

I am grateful for my family and friends and for the fun times we had together. We have one more trip planned at the end of the month and when we get back from that one - I am talking a day or two - school will start.  A little bit of a whirlwind, but totally worth it!

tutorial contest

Shannon over at luvinthemommyhood is having a fun contest while she is on vacation. You can vote for your favorite tutorial in several categories.  The linen ruffled skirt is over there and you don't have to vote for it, but you should check out the other tutorials in all the categories because there are some pretty darn cool things to add to you "to do" lists!  Just what we need more "to dos," but if they are fun, they will be well worth adding.  That bubble dress is worth adding.  We are off for a 2 week vacation to the grandparent's house.  I am looking forward to the swimming pool and the beach close by.  I can make it on the 6- 7 hour flight with my four kids by myself.  I always make it - the condition that I arrive in is just debatable!  Check out the button on my side bar to see all the great tutes.  And, thanks to those who have left comments on this skirt post.  I have been wearing mine this summer with success - it didn't fall down yet!

i need deadlines

I am finding out that you can't just tell me "whenever" when it comes to a time when you want something done from me. I need deadlines people. I tend to do what I want and work on whatever I want if I don't have a finish line for projects. I have had several things on my ULTIMATE TO DO LIST. You know, the one by the side of my bed that I keep making each night or week that has some of the same things on it for months. Well, this week I am finally getting all of those things done. I think. I am leaving on vacation next week to the west coast and I am making this my own deadline to finish projects. I have had these t-shirts on that ultimate to do list (embarrassingly) for at least 6 months. But, it was a favor and I always thought that I would get to it soon. Yesterday was the day and now I can proudly look in my friend's eyes when I see her at church each week because I got these BOYS ROCK shirts done for her 2 boys. I took so long that I had to go and buy a new t-shirt for the youngest since she gave me a 6-9 month onesie and now he needs a 12 month shirt. That tells you how long I took. I promise I am good with timing for birthdays and other occasions, but you see, those are all deadlines. I guess I need a bit of structure to get me to follow through. So, if you ever want me to do something, just tell me by a certain date, and it will be done. Don't say, "whenever!"

*the guitars are appliqued with felt and the BOYS ROCK is a freezer paper stencil. 

just a few things

- I won a giveaway at Taiya's blog A Cargo of Joy!  What a great summer treat.  She was giving away a Moda charm pack of Urban Couture for her 100th post.  Now, what to do...what to do with it!  Options are endless and I like these kinds of challenges.  Check out her blog because she has some great photos and she might be doing another giveaway for her birthday that is right around the corner!

- I got a new stamp for future? etsy sales.  I got it from a great stamp maker on etsy - terbearco.   She has some of the best stamps I have seen and at such great prices.  

- Made a few more clothespin dolls and some stationary.  Sorry gift recipients, but these are my favorites right now, so that's what you will probably be receiving.  

road trip pillow cases

When we were young, my mom made us all these cool pillow cases for our family summer vacation. They had a pocket for our coloring books and a handle so that we could carry them in to the hotels. If I remember right, the fabric had multi colored cars on it. And, what I remember the most is that I loved mine. I kept all my favorite coloring books and crayons in that pocket. She made them for our big road trip that we took in our yellow Volkswagon Vanagon up the coast of California, Oregon, Washington, and then on to Utah. On the way home from Utah, the Vanagon blew up (not literally, but it really did die on the side of the highway) in Las Vegas. So, we (and I think there were about 6 kids...or was it 5 then?) flew home from Las Vegas to San Diego. It was quite the adventure. Okay, but what I am getting at is the love of the pillow case. I wanted to make something similar for our friends who are moving across the country this summer and fill the pockets with special gifts for each child. I couldn't remember mine exactly so I came up with this simple one. And, I made some directions so you can try them out. Of course, I am not sure if they are extremely clear, so let me know. What I do know is that this is an easy project. I am always attracted to the projects that can be finished in a few hours or at least in one day. Great for the beginner sewer and for those, like me, who want to finish something quickly.

*Download the directions here!

molly's apron

I have so much fun when my kids get invited to a little girl's birthday party.  I know that the little girls like the princesses and Barbies, so I don't want to disappoint, but I am convinced that they will get plenty of those from the other party goers.  I tend to sew something and I know it won't be the hit, but maybe when things have died down a bit, they will like the apron or the doll that has been made for them.  I am hoping! Both of my youngest children (a 4 year old boy and a 2 year old girl) were invited to their friend Molly's birthday party (thank you Molly's mom) so I fancied up an pre purchased apron for her.  It's just applique gone wild with a ruffle on the bottom.  We filled the pockets with a whisk and dishtowel (perhaps for playing restaurant) and also put a little red headed clothespin doll in there since our dear Molly is one of the cutest red heads ever.  

the lazy, yet crazy days of summer

It's a combination of having nothing much planned yet feeling totally busy.  That's what summer always feels like to me.  I think just having everyone home makes it slightly chaotic mixed with playing the day out by ear.  Kind of fun.  So, with those types of days passing, not much sewing is taking place.  Oh, there's a little when I can escape upstairs, but it's awfully hot upstairs (my sewing room is the bonus room above the garage) and I tend to stay downstairs with the kids and where it's cool. My kids have awesome friends who have invited them to their pools and to the local amusement park.  I hope to be one of the parents that does more inviting when the baby gets a bit older.   Yes, I am aware that she is two and probably not a baby anymore, but because she is (probably) the last, I tend to think of her as a babe.  

I got this book in the mail last week and I am so excited to try many of these printing projects out.  It's Lena Corwin's Printing By Hand.  Have any of you seen this book and if so, have you tried anything? I just threw it in my cart at Amazon trying to reach a total of above $25 for the free shipping and thought it looked great. Thumbing through it made me just giddy, so I'll add it to my fun to do list.   Hope you all are enjoying your summer days!

bucket gardening

We have this huge space on the side of our back yard set aside as our garden area. And, we used to be so great at getting it tilled and seeds planted with a bit of everything, but especially many varieties of tomatoes.  Since last year we just didn't get it in, we were determined to get it in this year, but ran out of time again.  So, I got on the internet to find a way to get our tomatoes going and going quickly.  I read about bucket gardening and we gave this a shot.  We have 9 buckets with holes drilled out the sides and bottoms the size of a quarter.  We put our tomatoes plants in and surrounded the roots inside with spanish moss. Then, we filled the buckets up with Miracle Grow Soil and hung them on our fence.  So far the first one we got going (about a week before the others) is taking off great and even has baby green tomatoes on it.  I am excited to see if this will really work.  I had a lady tell me you can order cucumbers on the internet that are to be grown in buckets and pots.  I wish we would have planted other vegetables, but I am happy that my tomatoes will be here soon so I can make caprese salad.   One of the buckets has little cherry tomatoes coming out the bottom and I thought it would be like a little tomato vending machine for my 4 year old who loves them.  Now, I just have to watch their progress.  

directing

I thought I would direct you to a few cool things that I have seen out in the world of blogs since the things I am making aren't quite done and need to be under wraps for a bit.  That sounds like I am on a secret craft mission, but that isn't the case...just have to wait to give the gift before I do some show and tell. Also, all the birthdays are winding down around here.  Still have Father's Day and a few more brother/nephew birthdays which are all so much harder to craft for.  Sorry boys.  For Father's Day this year it is just a nice sentimental card.

Okay let the tour directing begin (you know I did study that in college...really!)  

1 - Showing much bias, here is my mom's blog where she has made up a pattern (but yet to reveal) for the Darcy bag.  So cute and I love all the pockets.  Go leave her a comment telling her you want the pattern for it!  

2 - Kristen at fiddlehead has an adorable pattern for a little girls top that she created by looking at one of her daughter's gymboree shirts.  Check out the side bar for the downloadable pdf.   And, she has another girl's top that she has created for her daughter that is just as cute using one of her own patterns as well.  

3 - Rea at Made By Rea has made one of the cutest yet quickest bags called the Lickity Split Bag which is even reversible.  She is asking whether you would spend a little money to get the pattern. Go see it and comment "that of course you would." 

4 - Check out the martha stewart craft of the day from yesterday - the petit collages.  So cute and the best thing is that she provides the templates for these animals and what great appliques they would make.  

Okay, that was a short tour, but it was all about quality not quantity for this one.  On a non related note - I am addicted to the breyers carb smart almond bars, I got some new pj patterns last night, more fabric for the shirt, but now I think I want it for a skirt, and tonight I am going to this if you can believe. 

thanks

Thanks for all your suggestions on my last post.  I think I am grasping how I am going to do it.  I am going to make the sleeve a bit longer and in a triangle shape that has elastic at the cuff and make the shirt fuller. Now I need to find a minute to make it to the fabric store since I don't have any flowy fabric on hand.  That might be a big job with all the kids home from school, but I am determined.

photo from mani mini on etsy

I ordered this pattern the other day from Mani Mini Studio on etsy.  I just bought some coral color linen from denver fabrics that I think (I always think) will work great with this pattern. Check out her other beautiful patterns and clothes.