easter dress

Keeping it simple, I used an older Lizzie McGuire Simplicity 3513 as the pattern to my daughter's Easter dress this year. I had purchased in several years ago when a big fabric store here was going out of business. In fact, I picked up a lot of patterns then, but in digging through my box of patterns I realize that most are size 1-4T which is too small for my daughter.

So, I guess I will have to save those for when I make gifts!

I bought this fabric at Hobby Lobby last Fall knowing I would use it for a dress for Mallory some time in the future. I love the new fabrics that they are carrying at Hobby Lobby. They are a fraction of all of the other lovely fabrics that they carry at the quilt shop. This pattern has a an elastic bias gathering in the front, bias in the arm holes and gathered fly away sleeves. It is still a bit big in the arm holes, but not too big. It has plenty of room for growing and when you sew something it's always good to get plenty of use out of it.

custom mother's bracelet

I made a bracelet similar to this last year for my mom last year for Mother's Day and one for my mother in law too.

I was excited to make this one a few weeks ago as a custom order.

I haven't added this to my etsy shop yet, but will soon in time for Mother's Day.

Each charm has a child's initial and the birth order number on the other side.

a few baby gifts

I have been sewing quite a bit lately - mostly small projects(pjs for the boys and the little girl, an Easter dress, baby gifts), but just haven't taken photos of the finished projects with the exception of these gifts for the babies.

With a double baby shower this week, I got to make a few gifts for a future little boy and a future little girl. As usual, I stuck with quick projects that I know well. Someday I will branch out, but until that day, I will be able to swiftly put together a package for a new baby.

The gift for the little girl was a one yard flannel blanket using purple and white striped flannel on one side and a flannel patchwork pattern of vibrant colors on the other.I used a piece of turquoise flannel to applique a heart on the purple and white side for a pop of color.

I just sewed the blanket right sides together leaving a 6 inch opening for turning it right side in. Then, zig zagged stitched all the way around the perimeter.The gift for the baby boy was a set of four bibs using two different rocket ship fabrics, flannel and terry cloth. I used the bib pattern found here at juicy bits blog. I use industrial snaps at the top instead of Velcro because I like the look of the big shiny round snaps on something so delicate!

sweet baby quilt for baby boy

One baby quilt at a time - that's my progress timeline with quilting. I like to quilt, but just a bit! A few years ago, I printed off this Sweet Baby Quilt pattern by Jackie Clark at Windham Fabrics online. I forgot about it until I was going through my big binder of sewing ideas and found it. I thought it would be a great easy pattern for me to go beyond the last two baby blankets I made with just strips like here and here. I changed up the sides a little because I didn't have enough fabric to do a solid strip on all four sides, so I added another fabric to help. The back of the quilt is a soft grey corduroy that I got at WalMart a few years ago when they were getting rid of their fabric department. I just used a very lose chain pattern for the quilting to keep it simple!

layered skirt and bunnny applique just in time for easter

When I saw Dana's tutorial for a layered skirt, I was hoping I could get a few made for Mallory. So, I started with one that would match the bunny applique shirt I had just finished for her. I didn't quite have enough of the vintage floral sheet left, so I used pink chambray for the ruffles and the floral sheet for the straight pieces. It went together so quickly which means I need to get out my yellow and purple seersucker to make a few more.

bunnies and chicks in the etsy shop

A little shop update full of bunnies and chicks!

going in the shop this weekend

check out the updates to the shop HERE

charm(s) winner(s) announced

If you knew me really well, you would know that I couldn't just pick one winner. So, I picked two! The WINNER WINNER (the first name my son drew) will win the round beveled LUCKY charm with 18" ball chain! And she is:Michele Steel - who left this comment on my facebook page: Traci you are amazing! I love them all!Now, the RUNNER UP WINNER will get this 1/2" X 1 1/2" so LUCKY charm with a vintage Irish lad on the back and a 24" nickel ball chain. And, she is:

HereIAM who left this comment on the blog: I so love the custom name charm. My 4 babies names are going to look so cute in it. Can't wait to order!

So, ladies, email me your mailing addresses to traciu73@yahoo.com. I am excited to send these out so you will have time to wear them before St. Patrick's Day.

are you feeling LUCKY giveaway

I have been wanting to have a giveaway for awhile now and when I made this charm, I knew it was the perfect one for one LUCKY winner. So, here it goes:

LUCKY SOLDERED CHARM (WITH 18" BALL CHAIN) GIVEAWAY

Here's how you get a chance to win:
1. For one entry, go over to my etsy shop and look around. Then, comment on this post telling me which charm you like.
2. You can get another entry if you leave a comment on Amazing Mae Charms Facebook giveaway post/album.
3. The deadline is Wednesday, February 29th at midnight Eastern time.

slice of life

I was looking through my camera roll on my phone and found some photos that describe my children so well and thought I would share.

My seven year old, Gage, is an electronics lovers. His weekend request is to go to the mall so he can hang out at the Apple store. Last weekend we did just that and I took this picture of him in his element.

I have a teenager now. Trevor is only 13, but his teenage attitude is starting to creep out a wee bit. Here he is on a Sunday night after church hanging out with his mom - at least he will still do that!Mallory (5) is in love with stuffed animals, especially the Muppet, Pepe. She sleeps with him every night. I took this picture of her Saturday morning when she came in to our room to wake us up - Pepe in tow.
Boston (10) took this picture of himself with the Old Camera app on my phone. He took a few others, saved them and left my phone on my bed side table before I even knew he had come and gone. He's always quick.

an apron for her

When your daughter is constantly wearing her brothers' aprons (which they rarely wear), it is time to make one for her. It was probably time a long time ago, but better later than never. I made her this quick two sided apron as a Valentine's Day gift. I just traced one that I had bought for her brother Gage and used that as the pattern.

One side is a pink and yellow Moda fabric which I added a pink polka dot pocket to so that she can carry her whisk and spatula.

The other side is a vintage looking green fabric from Darlene Zimmerman that has animals on it. I added her initial "M" to that side.

She wore it that night and later asked, "Where did you buy this apron for me, mom?" I told her that I made it and she said, "You know how to make these?" I guess she forgets that I sew!

valentines eve

As I sit here eating the last bit of sweetened condensed milk out of the can from my Seven Layer Bars I thought I would share a few of our Valentine ideas that I hadn't yet posted.

Last night the boys and I worked on their Valentines for their classmates. Their school doesn't allow for them to bring any sugar (good and bad, I think), so this allows us to be a little more creative with what they bring in. I saw Dandee's Ball Valentines on Crafty Crow and thought the boys would love to give those out since they love bouncy balls themselves. Boston, my 10 year old, helped me pick some out on Oriental Trading. He chose the billiards looking bouncy balls and we chose a variety pack for my 7 year old. I made up the tags using Photoshop Elements and we put them in jewelry bags (since I have many of those around). The boys loved how they turned out.

I bought Mallory this striped turquoise shirt on clearance at Old Navy and thought it needed a giant heart in the middle to make it complete. I appliqued on the heart which is out of jersey knit scrapped from one of her dad's old shirts.

Lastly, I made one more pillow out of this totally cute cupid fabric I picked up at IKEA last February and forgot about until I started digging in my fabric last week. Yea to finding it in time!

bee mine appliqued shirt and pattern

It's time to find a shirt and add an applique for Valentines Day! And with a few days until Valentines, you know you want to. I have a good friend who encourages us to make these for our daughters at each holiday and I am so grateful that she does because we get it done and have so much fun in the process. This time, she came over along with Melissa (who made a little something else and I am sure she will share with you soon) and we had fun (I mean- got to work).

It was a Bee Mine applique this time and HERE is the pattern for you to use as well. I used the original size of the pattern and for my friend, Vicki, we enlarged it 115% so that it was more proportioned to her t-shirt since her daughter is a bit older.The bee is done in fabric while the "mine" is freezer paper stenciled with fabric paint. The stinger is a zig zag satin stitch that gradually gets smaller. I attached the googly eyes with clear fabric paint. I think they should last in the wash if I turn the shirt inside out. But, I will test it!

Here's Vicki's shirt for her daughter Molly.