Distractions

I was on such a roll with sewing.  I mean...such a roll...and then...I found a book which led to an author which led to a distraction.  Such a distraction.  I'm a sucker for anything Dutch.  Anything.  I spent one week there when I was a senior in high school and I found my home.  My soul felt at home.  I needed to get back there.  I needed to get back home.  I have never felt so connected to a place.  One week and it was my home.  It was luck or God or...God but I got back there.  I was set to play softball for a team in Belgium that summer (I figured...Belgium is close enough to Holland) but at the last minute I got a call from a Dutch team and I ended up playing softball for that Dutch team for four months.  I got on a plane one week before my high school graduation....alone...and had an adventure.  I wish I hadn't been quite so scared but I did it.  I lived there for four months with two different families...one of which didn't speak any English...the other is/was a second family.  I met some lifelong friends...hi Marieke, Joost, Michael, and Ida!  I loved every person on my team and every person that was a part of my time there.  Joost and Kristel came to my wedding in Massachusetts!  Good. friends.  I miss them every day.

So.  Gayle Forman.  I found her b/c If I Stay was coming out in theaters (a week ago).  I read the book and it was...ok.  I learned that there was a second book and read it....holy crap.  Where She Went.  It HOOKED me.  I reread Where She Went immediately.  I could have read it again but I decided to try another book by Gayle Forman.  Well, if it wasn't written to hook me..I don't know what was.  I read Just One Day.  It is about an eighteen year old girl (!!) who goes on a trip to Europe (!!) and meets a Dutch guy (...!) and....well, you'll have to read it to find out.  She had me at the first mention of anything Dutch but I really loved this book and the follow up and the short and very satisfying third e-book.

So..have I been wanting to make many things on my list? Yes.  Have I been making anything?  No.  I am currently rereading Just One Day and will be rereading the two books after it as soon as I finish it.  I will be working on some stuff but I am so distracted...and homesick. Sigh.  So I will be rereading, making, and planning a trip to Europe.

First Day Dress - A-line version

Oh Oh Oh.  This pattern by MADE is so much fun to make.  There are so many options.  Swing Top, Swing Dress. A-line Top, A-line Dress.  On top of that...each of them is a blank canvas.  I sketched probably 10 versions of the A-line I could make.  10!

Here is one of them.  This one has been in my head since I first saw the pattern.

I LOVE PURPLE!

I don't have a lot of words.  It was so easy to sew.  It is fully lined.  It fits well.  I will be using the pattern for years to come!

Glass Onion Top Pt 2: Pleats and longer sleeves.

As soon as I finished this version of the Glass Onion Top by Shwin Designs I could not stop thinking about the pleated version.  All I could see in my head for days was the pleated version in a lavender linen.  Sadly, I couldn't find the color of linen I wanted at Joanns.  When I got home I decided to use a fabric I already had.   I HAD to make this shirt.

My main concern with using this cotton fabric was that it wouldn't hang the way I wanted the shirt to hang.  But when I finished it and  put it on the hanger I was surprised at how much I liked the look. The pleats looked great and the it hung well over all.

When she put it on, though.......I loved it!  It looks gorgeous on her.  The design surpassed my expectations.  The pleats and shape of the back make it so unique and beautiful.  Shwin Designs knows what's up.

I can't get enough of the back!

By the way...I am in awe of patterns with pleats on a curve.  I am sure there is an app for that or some business but I wouldn't know where to start if I had to make them up on my own.  They blow my mind. 

There are three sleeve options.  The earlier version I made was a cap sleeve.  This is the mid length sleeve.  The third option is a long sleeve.  I can't even comprehend the need for a long sleeved anything after the week of heat we had recently.  I was hesitant, even, to make the mid length sleeve!   

One more time

It's a good thing the back of this shirt is my favorite part...Whit and the camera were not getting along.  Most of the pictures were half closed eyes or her mouth was hanging open.

See you later!

Rigby Polo

Truth...I made this for B in the...SPRING!...but I really don't enjoy sewing buttons so it sat unfinished.  Unfinished through the spring...unfinished through most of the summer.  Oh how pathetic I felt after it only took 15 minutes to sew the stupid buttons on.   I avoided a 15 minute job for for 4 months.....shameful. 

The pattern is by Shwin Designs again...the Rigby Polo.  I made it out of linen....which wrinkled as soon as I put it on him, of course.  What was I thinking?! Whatever...it looked great on the hanger and the first 2 seconds he had it on.  Is there a tutorial for photoshopping wrinkles?  I'm joking but also I'm sure that's a thing.

You don't want to know what bodily function I had to shout to get the above picture.  

When I cut this shirt...months ago...I didn't know as much as I know now and I didn't have the confidence to cut one size width and a different size for length.  Now I do and I will make a smaller width next time.  I really, really love this shirt but I it will look better when it's not..you know..too big.  You can see what I mean if you look at the placement of the pocket.  When the shirt is laid out the pocket placement is correct.  But the way the shirt falls on B makes the pocket look offset to the right.

The collar of this shirt is my favorite part.  Shwin Designs patterns always have such nice details.  I learn something new with each Shwin pattern is make.

This picture is for the grandparents.

Glass Onion Top

If I do something creative at night it takes me FOREVER to come down from the creative high. Does that happen to anyone else?  Anyone?  Well, after two nights of sewing I planned to take a break and get a good nights sleep.  Whitney had different plans, however.

"I've got a plan."

She picked up some pattern pieces, got some fabric from my work room and laid it ALL out on the floor.  Unfolded....perfectly laid out.  She picked the fabric she liked best and then laid out the pattern pieces on top.  She told me she was going to make it herself but after looking at it for a few seconds she changed her tune and asked if she could help me.  I said no because it was bedtime so she changed her tune again and told me I was making her a shirt to be done in the morning.  I mean....how can I not?  My kid is excited for me to make her something.  That is probably the biggest compliment I can hope for.  It honestly makes me feel better than any other form of flattery I have ever experienced.  So..I sewed another night.

I wasn't sure about the fabric and tried to change her mind but she was adamant.  I love me a girl who knows what she wants.

I used the Glass Onion Top pattern by Shwin Designs.  I saw it for the first time Thursday and bought it immediately.  My heart was pounding.  There is variation with pleats in the back that I NEED to make.  I was dying to try this pattern, though, and the fabric Whit chose was only a half yard which was barely enough for the non pleated version.  Woot woot High School Geometry.  It was a puzzle but I got every piece cut out of the half yard I had...the instructions call for a yard of fabric!

GEOMETRY AND PROBLEM SOLVING FOR THE WIN!

The thing I love most about this pattern is the shape of the back of the neck.  It adds interest.  There are a few patterns out there similar to this but that low back with an option for pleating makes it special.

The back is open with overlapping panels and a low-ish back.

I finished the shirt and it was cute.  I wasn't in love but if Whit likes it then so be it.

She put that thing on when she woke up in the morning and refused to take it off all day.  Good news is that once she put it on I freaking loved it.  It works great on her in that fabric.

"Trust me, Mom.  I know what I am doing....about everything...ever" -Whit's face

It feels like it wasn't long ago that I had to bribe her to try anything on and she automatically hated everything I made.  Now she loves it.  (Please let this last!)

Best part of it all?  I was at Joanns with B, Whit, and my Gma.  My Gma Gigie kindly took Whit and B on a tour of the store while I shopped for fabric.  She told B and Whit she would buy them each a treat and do you know what Whit went to right away?  The SEWING MACHINES.  Be still my heart.  This girl and I are going to get along just fine.

Lacoste Redux pt 2

I did not have another navy or orange shirt to use for B but I did have a black and gray.

I finally made the Anywhere At All tee by Schwin and Schwin.  I have had this pattern for a ridiculously long time.  It was fast and easy even with the changes I made.

I offered Brady one of the variations in the pattern and my variation.  While I was explaining it Brady kindly said, "Can you please stop talking to me about this?"  I sweet talked him and got to finish my pitch and the pic you see is what he chose.

Ahh.  Should have ironed the the hem so you could see it isn't wobbley.  Ah well. He wanted to try it on asap.

"Show me how this shirt makes you feel?":

"HAPPY!" -B

Details:
I cut the arm band from the original shirt and sewed it to Brady's when the sleeve looked like it would be too short if I hemmed it. I made the collar out of the shirt fabric so it looked like a t-shirt and not like a polo missing a collar. This kid measured a 2T width and 5T length. AH.  I made a 3T width just b/c 2T felt crazy small.  It's a skinny shirt but....he is like it Dad and that is how he likes it.

It doesn't get much better than your kid loving what you make.  I have had good luck this week.  

Wah Hoo Wah

What have I been up to lately, you ask? (And by lately I mean the last year that I haven't been blogging?)  I have been sewing mostly.  Sewing tiny clothes for my kids.  Most of the sewing I have done closely follows the patterns which has been a great way to learn and get better.  But I am a little bored with it.  In order to up my game I have set some goals for myself.

First, I want to make clothes with style.  I have been pinning pinning pinning (!) kids clothes that catch my eye.  I plan to copy some and design original things based on styles I like.

Second, I will alter patterns I already have to make the styles I like.

Third, slow down and get all the materials I need/want before sewing.  What happens to me is I get an idea and it takes over.  It is all I can think about...all I can see.  I have no inspiration for anything else until I make what I see in my head.  Sometimes...usually...if I am being totally honest I can't wait to get everything I need and I power through with what I have.  I have a crazy collection of stuff that I have collected in order to combat this problem....have-everything-I-could-ever-possibly-need-so-I-don't-have-to-go-shopping-for-it-when-I-actually-need-it-at-some-point-in-the-future.

Here is an examples of this problem in action:

I had this idea IN MY HEAD for days.  I really wanted black bias tape. I couldn't wait.  I had pink.  I made it with pink.  It's not bad.  Whit loves it.  But it would have been much better with black.  It looks cutesy.  Blah.  It's a win if your kid wears it...right?  I win...I guess.

FOURTH, use what I have creatively.  Get creative, self!  I have so many supplies that I need to use what I have or I am going to have to get a bigger house.  Oy.

Ok.  So.  I have a bunch of clothes from friends and family members that they donated as fabric.  It's taking up so much space.  My brother worked a Lacoste and has about 30,000 polo shirts that he abandoned at our parents' house.  Now I have a few:

and I decided to cut them up:

I used the same pattern as the raindrop shirt...the First Day Dress.  The raindrop fabric is quilting cotton. Lacoste polos are not.  They have stretch.  Blah blah.  I can't even begin to explain how I altered the pattern to account for the difference in fabric.  I did what felt right.

As I was making it all I could think was Auburn Cheerleading Uniform.  That's a problem b/c we are Gators.  I can't have Whit mistaken as an Auburn fan....you know what I am saying?  I was thinking I should iron on "Wah Hoo Wah!".  The only Navy and Orange we wear in this house is UVA.  I digress.  I didn't end up looking like a cheerleading uniform but it did look plain.  Good news...Whitney loved it. I tried to add a little embellishment on the shoulder and took a family vote.  B and Sean were for the shoulder addition.  Whit was not and said, "Isn't this shirt for me and not B?"  Hello sassy and well-spoken three year old and yes...you are right...no shoulder embellishment added.  Don't stop reading b/c an embellishment was added after sassy, well-spoken three year old went to bed. I just have to include these pics of the sassy, well-spoken three year old:

First note: Doing what felt right led to a shirt that fits and is ok.  I would change it a little now that I see the finished product but...woohoo for having learned something in the last year so that I trust myself enough to take a chance and CUT THE FABRIC.  I have a lot of fabric b/c I get scared of cutting the fabric and wasting it.

This (above) is her go-to face.  Anyway.  The shirt is ok but it is boring.  I want to make more interesting clothes.  Leaving it as is would be a waste of a challenge. 

(Also...I struggled to find some bottoms to go with it.  Will have to remedy this problem.)

Ok.  Child with many opinions goes to sleep and I brainstorm and come up with this:

This orange isn't so offensive in real life.  I used my iphone and....well....sorry.

I made this..placket?...thing.  I stretched a strip of fabric as I zig zag stitched the sides to create a ruffle.  It wasn't ruffle-y enough so I gathered it.  Then I sewed the center piece on and then the buttons.  It turned out better than I anticipated.  Woot.

Now let's hope that Whit still likes it in the morning!  (Fingers crossed)

B has requested a boy shirt in these colors.  If anyone has Navy or Orange polos to donate let me know b/c I used almost every inch of both shirts I had. :)

I'm back!

It has been a while.

pic taken by Walt

When we lived in Boston I used this blog as a way to keep my Mom up on all my creative stuff.  It was easier to get her advice when she knew exactly what I was thinking. :)  When we moved down the road from her....blogging just felt very "look at me".  But now...I don't care.  I miss it and it is a great way to keep track of all the things I have done..how things have changed...and to laugh at myself.  I was looking back at some of my first sewing projects from a few years ago and I can't believe how much I have learned and how much better I could do it now.  I am still proud of them but boy did I like to do things the hard way.

Anywho.  My third go at blogging.  Here goes!

Let's start small.  Small pillows that is.  I am so excited about these pillows for two reasons.  I have wanted some leopard print in my life for a long time.  It's hard to settle on just any leopard print when I know this exists:

via

Honestly...it has been a roadblock.  (Second reason I'm excited...through the road block!)

The other day I was browsing the remnant table at our local fabric store and found two 17"x17" samples of leopard print for $1 each.  (!!!)  I loved the print immediately and I couldn't wait to get home and make a pillow.  On the drive home I decided I wanted two pillows.  I needed to make these little remnants WORK for me. I had been waiting a long time. Luckily, I had a large remnant of black dupioni silk that I scored on sale and decided to use it as welt and backing.  Boom.

I made two 12"x16" pillows.  I feel like I am growing up a little bit.  Everything use to be COLOR COLOR COLOR! MORE COLOR! MORE COLORRRR!!!  I still like color...I just don't need it everywhere. Also...I guess brown and black and gold still count as color...they just aren't COLOR!

Here is an example of the growth and change I am excited to track on this blog.  A before and after.

COLOR

It's hard to say goodbye to these pillows not because I love them so much but because they are a bunch of firsts that gave me confidence in my sewing.  First welt & first zippers.  I remember the frustration I felt making both and I am happy to say I have learned multiple short cuts and methods to make both easier.  I also have procured some helpful tools along the way.....WHAT WHAT I GOT A WELT FOOT! (Thanks Mom!)

MORE COLOR

Grown up color.

 I think this print is fun fun fun.  The silk welt and backing turned out to look a little more..leathery...than I expected.  I think it is because of the shine.  At first I was afraid it would look tacky but really they just look badass.  Maybe you will feel that way when I up my photog skills.  I'm working on it.  After years of hating it and opting to just apologize over and over I am determined to get better.

Lovely Leopard Print

 Finally, if I knew how to photograph white better...you would see the blue and white pillows are now covered in a very feminine pillowcase I bought at Ikea.  The center has adorable vertical pin tucks and the sides have small, cute ruffles.  Leopard and ruffles.  Yes, please.

If anyone is still out there say hey!

Make it work. Upholstered bed.

The last time I checked in I was blowing off some steam about some roman shades I was making. When I started the project they were going to be plain roman shades.   I ended up with juuuuuust enough fabric.  Sewing a pocket for a wooden dowel was not something I wanted to deal with.  As a result, I decided mid project to make them relaxed roman shades.

I should have taken a minute and re-evaluated the situation.  I had put off starting these for a long time because making roman shades is...a bunch of straight lines and ironing.  Add pinning to that list if you include a blackout shade.   So...so...so boring. When I finally got the urge to start I didn't want to stop.  I wanted to get it over with.  As a result, I ended up with a variation of balloon roman shades.  When they are done right they are awesome.  Unfortunately, mine were obviously would-be-plain-roman-shades-trying-to-become-relaxed-roman-shades-but-ended-up-mostly-balloon-roman-shades....mostly.  I thought I could live with it because....they weren't terrible.  But something wasn't right.

Two of the three shades.

The third and largest shade.

Mom And Me Brainstorming Session Commence.
We both agreed they were fine.  There were some missed opportunities in finishing them to look...right.  I am really trying to graduate from crafty/amatuer hour to polished in the things I create.  All that work I put into them and.....and they looked DIY.  Kind of cool but kind of...unpolished.

Mom and I spent some time brainstorming some ways to fix the issues we found with them.  If we had found a brilliant fix I would have been all for it. Unfortunately, nothing felt right or excited me.

THEN........

I swear we both had the same idea at the same moment.  "Upholster the bed in that fabric."  (You were thinking that too, weren't you??)  I had planned to upholster the bed from the get go.  I was going to do it white with black trim which I knew was a terrible idea with a two year old sleeping in it but I had convinced myself that mine would magically remain white.

This is the bed I have in Whit's room:

It screams, "Make me pretty!", right?

After my mom confirmed we had enough fabric I tore those shades down and started ripping the seams.  I had them taken apart in no time flat.  Then Sean and I worked together to cut the headboard shape out of Luan.  He screwed the Luan to the bedframe. He included support pieces along the curve and along the bottom.  Being only 1/4" thick, Luan is flimsy!

Headboard

Support Pieces

After we had that done my mom came over with her arms full of upholstery tools and materials.  Check out the size of this spool of welt!


Sean took the kids to school and we got started around 8 am.  We took a short lunch and were back to work.  When our planned delayed naptime came around we were on a roll so I let Whit skip her nap. We got that thing DONE at 5!

Whitney checking out our progress.

I love it.  It uses the floral pattern in a great way.  I learned some upholstery tips today and actually contributed instead of just learning. Best of all....it looks polished!  My mom is a pro so it has nothing to do with me but still...it's polished!

Whit got to watch us put it together and so she feels like it is extra special.  She loves it which makes me love it more.  B is already planning how we can make his "bed more handsome".