Stop staring and start sewing!

I need a bigger plate

I'm finally out of my flu fog so I'm attempting to get a few things done around here.  I'm trying to get my website re-designed and at least semi-functioning by next week.  The current look, although a lovely dedication to Heather Bailey's still fresh Freshcut fabric, is not as inclusive as it needs to be (I guess I'm looking for more of a dedication to Heather, Jennifer, Denyse, Joel, Sandi, Dena, Amy, Tina and anybody else who shows up).  I've made a pretty site on my new computer (remember when I said this was a sign from God that I would soon have a Mac?  Well, alas it was true!) but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to publish it into an actual website and I'm running out of time (but I did manage to make a blog banner.  What do you think?). 

I'm trying to be ready to catch the wave of Mary Engelbreit fans (of whom I am the fanniest biggest fan, I'm sure!)  who will read the next issue and then feel compelled to look me up.  I had the chance of a lifetime in helping Heather out with it (that's a whole 'nother post and believe me, it's coming) and my stomach is all atwitter with anticipation as I know it should hit my mailbox in approximately 11 days 1 hour and 14 minutes (or there-abouts).  Pile a little PMS on top of it all and you've got me cowering in the corner of my closet sucking my thumb while rubbing my earlobe between my thumb and finger and humming to myself.

In the meantime my paypal account (or latte fund) is growing quite anemic so I'm working on a few little things to help plump it up again.  Including some more super secret sources revealed!

I've got a couple of twirly sets on my sewing table and they're looking pretty cute so far.  This one is made from Rachel Ashwell's Simply Shabby sheets (Target!) and I used the fabric from an IKEA duvet for the bias hem.  The ruffle is from some Pottery Barn Kids sheets.  Fun!  I have a sweet tank top to go with it.

And this one is that darn bird fabric again (still loving it and have tons left!).  The bias is from Jennifer Paganelli's Basics line (the lime Casey stripes) and this is why I love stripes...they make the best bias because they slant like a barber's pole and it's so cute!

But most importantly I need to get this sweety sent out to Kelly who won my drawing back in January and was expecting her outfit last week (dang flu!).  It will be a great outfit for Easter I think.  I love working with nice fabric like this, it just feels good when it's running through my hands as I'm sewing (in fact I just ordered a bunch for Fabritopia and I'm crossing my fingers that Free Spirit still has some in stock).

Anyway, I've got some other things on my plate and some more super secret sources to share soon but it's almost 80 degrees here and I may just have to go out and get a good dose of vitamin D.  Thanks for all the great comments and questions you've been leaving!  I love reading and answering them!

We've come a long way baby

There's this great bookstore it town that has a "free cart" where they dump unwanted books.  The cart sits in front of the store every day and you can pick through it and take whatever you want.   Well one day a few years back I hit the free cart jackpot and got this WHOLE SET of Creative Hands books circa late 60s to early 70s.

Behold.  Volumes 1 - 22.

They are full of hundreds of ideas.  My daughter made these mice recently.  Definitely a worthy project even 40 years after somebody first thought of it.

This sweet pinafore is another classic idea.  They include the pattern for the pinafore and on the next page is the embroidery pattern for the pocket.  Nice.

But considering it was the 70s you have to expect things to get a little interesting.  Check out this quilted skirt (I believe it's a "maxi" skirt).  Can you imagine the poor gal that wore this to her Weight Watchers weigh in one day and left in tears?  "What do you mean I've gained 8 pounds?!  I've had nothing but carrots and broiled chicken breasts all week!"  Dang.

Fortunately the groovy factor is offset by some truly worthwhile sewing tips like help with pockets and other useful ideas (with nice illustrations to boot).





My industrious hubby Joey bought me this gorgeous new cutting table and assembled it (you can see the top of it in these pictures.  I will post better pictures of the whole thing soon).  I'm really grateful and want him to know it.  I'm thinking of making this for him (yes, that's a dude).  What do you think?  Very Keith Partridge.  Far out.

Thinking outside the bolt

Sorry for the post-less week.  We're tearing up my sewing room and turning it into Fabritopia (insert chorus of angels here) and trying to design our website and have it ready for the March grand opening.  All this while tending to a sick baby who's flu had decided to jump hosts (from him to me).  On the bright side, it's not finger flu so I can still type (There ya go honey.  Way to find that silver lining).
I'm so thrilled to have placed an order with Oliver + s company for some of their way darling patterns.  It will be fun to try them out.  I'm also placing an order with Montessori by Hand for some of their patterns (the apron is gorgeous!).  And I've got goo-gobs of fabric on the way (I'm taking requests too!).

In the meantime, here's something fun and cheap to encourage you to try something fun (and cheap!).  I bought some velour blankets at IKEA for around 5.00 each on clearance.  Don't you love the owls?
I used the cute and easy Olivia pattern from Farbenmix to make this snuggly hoodie dress.  I think I used an old New Look (old New?  My foggy brain just got stuck there.  Just move along.) pants pattern for the tights. I just narrowed them a little.  The dress took a little more than two blankets worth of fabric because of the layout (I didn't want some of the owls to be upside down) but I used the scraps from the second blanket to make the baby sack below.

I used Simplicity 4153 for this little baby sack.  It's the same pattern I used in this post and I love it because of the neck opening.  I have a big headed baby and sometimes I really have to squeeze to get regular t-shirts on him.  So sweet.

So there are a couple non-fabric store sewing ideas.  Think outside the bolt (teehee).  Hey, I like that!  I'm going to change my page title.  Fun! 

Mama's got a brand new bag

I love my old bag but it's really been showing signs of wear (since I take it wherever I go) and finally this last week one of the magnet snaps just ripped right out.  So I've been working on a new bag for a few days now and I'm really glad I took my time because Joey kept giving me super ideas to make this a really great bag.  For the shape (curved at the top instead of straight across) I was inspired by some bags I saw on ebay and I was tempted to bid on those because they were so pretty, but I really needed a pocket situation that was practical for me.

Here is the finished look.  I used some of my favorite fabrics and then added some butterflies as an afterthought (but before the final assembly) and I think they really add a touch of whimsy.  I used some heavyweight decorator fabric for the bottom (the same print I used on my ironing board cover) to give it more stability and stain resistance where it's really needed.

But what I really really love about this bag is the inside.  I don't need tons of pockets, just the right kinds of pockets.  So I made a couple of pockets for things like pens and pads (both the paper kind and the "feminine" kind). 

But my favorite pockets are the ones Joey recommended.  First is the one for my sunglasses.  It's lined with flannel (pink polka dots but you really can't see it) and I used one of my precious scraps from Amy Butler'sTemple Flower line just because it makes me happy.  I placed it at the end of the bag so I can just reach in and grab it without digging around and this way they won't get crunched in with my other stuff. 

If you look at the where the strap is attached to the bag you can see my secret "Joey pocket" (this pocket was his idea when he saw the little space there on a previous bag and I thought since a kangaroo has a baby joey and it sleeps in a pocket...well you know).  So I keep my cell phone there and this way I'm not digging frantically for it.  I added a little elastic to snug it up a bit.  I love it!

Here's another view.

Here's the backside of the bag.  I wanted a pocket there but I didn't want it to be out in the open so this way if I put something in there it will be on the side facing me.  Another cute butterfly! 

I'm so happy with the way it turned out!  It's both pretty and practical and allowed me the opportunity to use lots of my favorite fabrics in one item.  Snazzy!  This was a really cheap (and actually quite relaxing) way to spice up my sad wardrobe.

Eventually I would like to post a pattern and tutorial for this but in the meantime I highly recommend getting a simple pattern and some great fabric (it doesn't take much) and play around with it.  Fun!

I may be developing a crush on my Fedex guy

Look what he brought me yesterday.  I think he likes me.

It's Sun Drop (or is it Sundrop?) by Dena Fishbein (go check out her site, too cute)!  I saw it on the Free Spirit site last week and went "Ack!!!".  I instantly ordered it (I think I'm one of the first stores to have it!) and here it is.  I love love love Dena's artwork and to have it on fabric is the best!  I couldn't wait so I listed it in my etsy shop for now.

And look at how beautiful it looks with Jennifer Paganelli's fabric, a marriage made in heaven I'm sure. I took the drool covers (plastic wrap, whatever) off for this picture (then put it right back on).

My sons have developed the nasty habit of making stairsteps out of the fabrics when they arrive. And I have developed the nasty habit of yelling at them "Hey! You'd better get good grades because you're going to need a scholarship if you keep stepping all over your college education!".  They don't appear to get it.

I've got some other fun things I'm working on including a really cute (I think) purse and a super exciting new toy/tool which I quasi-mentioned in this post.  I'll get cracking on that real quick here.

Every girl wants a pony

Here's a "cheep" (and darn cute!) little pony I snapped together today.  I love making these.  You just used a covered button (I put a second layer of white fabric underneath to keep the metal from shining through) and then string an elastic through the shank (I used my pointy tweezers to give it a shove).

Here's what it looks like underneath:

Fun!  And you can make these in a variety of sizes.

I made a pair of these to go with this frothy confection I listed on ebay today.  I love the way it turned out and I especially love the striped bias hem, so spunky (and I'm still loving this bird fabric)!

I've just ordered a bunch of more fabrics and patterns (don't tell Joey!) and I've stared listing some on etsy (I made my banner myself, what do you think?) whilst I get my fun and fabulous (that's the goal anyway) website ready to go.  Feel free to check them out!  I will be adding more tonight!