Just 4 to go!!!

Well, I have one month left in PR's Wardrobe Contest, and I think I can do. I just finished my 2nd top, so that leaves 2 tops and 2 bottoms. This is a tunic from Simplicity 3535.

The fabric is a fun green/blue/teal polka dot seersucker that I've had in my stash for a few years. The yoke, cuffs, and tie are white eyelet. This top is very light and great for this summer. It should look great with my white linen pants.

As for the pattern itself, I cut the top, used the short sleeves and added the cuff, adding about an inch to accommodate my upper arm (it is designed to be used with 3/4 sleeves and fit the forearm). The pattern is easy to sew. All that said, it is not destined to become one of my favorites. First, I really don't need many tunics like this. Second, the pattern didn't wow me. I have boxes full of others that I want to try.

LSMSA Arts Gala

Last night was a wonderful break from the daily ins and outs of my life. For just a few hours, the kids were left at home and I had the opportunity to reconnect--to wonderful mentors and professors, to other alum, to my innermost Giftie.

If you aren't a Giftie, the rest of this might not make sense...

It amazes me that I can walk in to a room almost 14 years after graduation, and my professors still call me by name. Not just that, but Dr. Art can recall where I went to undergrad and Ms. Gleason was quick ask me how the town of Zwolle was after all this time. With the passage of time, they are so much the same: Dr. Delery, Mr. Allen, Dr. Findley, Mr. Ebarb, Ms. Sharon. Conversations are what you'd expect. Do you live here? What are you doing now? How are your children? How's your Addie? (Dr. Findley has an Addie too.) Have you started piano lessons? Your children are the right age for Suzuki. How's Jane? (Yes, Ms. Sharon remembers our friendship. She just laughs when she learns that we talk daily.)

And that's just the pre-gala reception.

At 7pm, we moved into theater. The crowd was small, but perhaps only a few could truly understand the talent, the labor, the passion, and the drive that was to be on display. And then it began. For the next 2 hours, I was transported to a world that only lingers in my memories. The performers might have been students from the Classes of 2008 and 2009, but I wasn't seeing them. I was watching Trish and the dance company and remembering the bruises that girl would come back with after hours and hours of rehearsal. I was watching Alex at the piano. I was reliving Matt and Randy and "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". I was listening to the beautiful voices of Tanya and JoAnna. I was at Jane and Jill's senior recital, purple daisies in hand. I was remembering the days of Valley food, Caddo Hall and Social Hour; of Calculus and Chemistry and World Religions and Brit Lit. And somewhere in it all, I remembered me.

Where could the time have gone? Where ever it is, it has with it the creativity, the expression, the enjoyment of art. Those things have been replaced with the daily, the ho-hum, the dancing dinosaurs and little red fuzzy monsters.

Kudos to Dr. Widhalm and his faculty on a wonderful evening. The talent was exceptional, and the students were professionals. We expected no less.

White Linen Pants--Modify and Adjust, Again and Again!

Oh my goodness! These pants!

I found 2.5 yards of a beautiful white linen aging in my stash and knew I immediately that I needed white linen pants for Easter. (Keep in mind that this was Friday night and Easter was Sunday. If you know me, you aren't surprised.) I also knew just what pattern I wanted to use. So, I pulled out Simplicity 3688...

As my waist is one size and my hips another, I've never done real well at fitting pants. I decided to do it right this time. I first drew the pattern off onto white broadcloth. I increased the seam allowances to 1 inch so I'd have room to work with. I put the muslin together with very long basting stitches. The only real fitting change I needed was to move the crotch point to increase the crotch depth. I altered that on the front pattern pieces and the fit was great! It took a while, but I think it was worth it. The muslin fit beautifully.

So, with great fear and trepidation, I pulled out my white linen (and, for the sake of modesty, I pulled out some white lining also). I put the lining together first. It fit great! Then I started with the linen. The darts looked great, the linen was pressing beautifully, and I was so excited. Then...
I got a little too careless with my serger. One guess where the hole is. Needless to say, I threw those dumb pants on the floor and stomped off to bed. My sweet husband picked up the pants, hung them up, and then came to bed. Then he said the one thing could motivate me, "I don't think you can fix those."

Well, not being one to back down from a dare. I got up immediately and started thinking. I sewed and pressed and top-stitched--all while texting a friend who was at the vet with her 70 pound monster that stumbled upon a huge bag of Easter candy! What you see are the result:

Not a beautifully tailored, high-waisted, well-fitting perfect pair of white pants. Instead, they are a much more casual white linen pant with huge patch pockets. Oh, and they fit well.

I will definitely make this pattern again. Next time, I will be more careful and I won't sew while distracted. Yeah, right.

These are replacing the white eyelet skirt in my PR Wardrobe Contest storyboard. That means I've finished 5 pieces and I have 6 to go and I've sewn 14.5 yards! I might actually finish!

NOTE: Duke, the dog, is okay too!

Nothing like a deadline!

I'm always the last minute finishing things. I just seem to work better that way. But not this time! I've finished my Big Girl's Easter dress with 3 days to spare! Here it is:

This is Children's Corner #230-Lillian. It is made up in 100% cotton eyelet and lined in a white batiste. I love the simplicity of it--perfect for Easter Sunday.

Here's the back:

Toph floats!

It was a beautiful weekend. We fished, we flew kites, we ate yummy foods at Popos, we worked puzzles, we learned that the Little Man floats!

He was just back from a boat ride around the lake. Standing on the dock, he tried to toss his life vest back into the boat and then SPLASH!!! The longest half-second of my life! Then he surfaced and tread water until my hubby and my dad pulled him out.

I am so grateful that God protected his little 3-year-old head. With only about 24 inches between the dock and the boat, it is only God's grace that he didn't bust his head!

As for the swimming, well, thank you Justin and Leah!!! The folks at the Swim School are worth their weight in gold!

And in only his special way, he offered this: "I didn't get to feel any fish." I think he was disappointed.

As for my Big Girl: she learned to fly a kite!

I wish I were a frog...

You can always count on the Little Man for a bit of perspective. The conversation went something like this:

"I wish I were a frog."
"You do. What would you do if you were a frog?"
"I'd catch waterbugs with my tongue."
"That's sounds yucky."
"But you wouldn't have to fix me breakfast anymore."

What can I say to that?

Wardrobe contest-Day 15

Yeah! I've finished 4 pieces! I have 7 to go!

Here's my purse:

I had originally planned to make Simplicity 4178, but...I decided I wanted something with a little sparkle. I told myself I would only create this wardrobe from fabrics and patterns I already owned. Unfortunately, I only have 2 handbag patterns in my huge pattern collection. So, I broke my own rule!

This is McCall's 5340. I haven't decided if I like it yet or not.

The purse is made in a silvery-gray linen. It calls for hair canvas as interfacing. Since I don't have that in my stash (not really sure what it is actually), I used some left-over light weight denim. I really like the drape of the linen when interfaced with the denim, but the facings are almost too thick. It is lined with the teal satin that I also used on my jacket and one of my tops.

The pattern calls for 17 mm beads. This might of worked with wooden craft beads, but I wanted something a bit "blingier". These are 14 mm beads.

The beads also cause another problem. The patterns instructs you to thread 3 strands of 1/16-inch cord through the beads to create the handle. Even 1 strand wouldn't fit through these beads. I wound up stringing the beads of the handle on microfilament and knotting the microfilament to the cord.

And another problem. Even braided, 3 strands of 1/16-inch cord makes a very skinny strap. I'm afraid the purse will cut into my shoulder.

All that said--I think this is a really cute purse. It coordinates nicely with my wardrobe plan and I think I'll enjoy using it this summer.

Just to keep track, that's another 1 1/2 yards out of my stash. That means 8 1/2 total!

2 down...9 to go! (and 1 UFO!)

Yeah!!!!! I've finished 2 pieces for the PR Wardrobe Contest. Here are a few pictures of my dress (HP 102) and jacket (HP 104) modeled by my favorite dummy!

This dress is made of 100% cotton jersey in solid black. It is a beautiful, wash and wearable fabric. The style itself is perfect for me: easy to wear, wrestle kids in, and take care of. It is made from Hot Patterns 102 No Sweat Easy Sew Triple T-Shirt Dresses. I used the low-scooped bodice, short sleeves and the straight skirt. It took about 1 1/2 hours to start and finish this dress. I love projects I can finish quick! (4 yards of my stash used! 2 for the dress, 2 for a muslin)

This jacket is made in a sweater knit I bought at Hobby Lobby some time ago. I have no idea what it's made of, but that's part of the fun of stash shopping! The facing on the jacket are actually the satin I will be using on a top. (2 yards from my stash!)

The jacket is also a Hot Patterns pattern. It is from HP 104 Sugar Babe Set. I will be finishing a top and pants to match this week, I hope. The biggest change I made on this piece--I didn't use the drawstring neckline like the patten recommends. Having made this once before, I found the drawstring terribly impractical, especially for the Mom of a 3-year-old imp. Instead, I measured the neckline I wanted and cut a piece of 3/4 inch elastic. I ran that through the facings, stitching it in place 1 inch from either front edge. From there I can adjust the gathers as needed. As for a closure--it is being debated. My Big Girl wants me to use a big rinestone button. I'm leaning more toward a fancy hook and eye type closure.

Nope, this dress doesn't match my wardrobe. It's actually a dress for Mom. I started it back before Christmas, but I stopped, dreading the lapped zipper. I decided to finish it so that I could reposition the cushioning on the dress form to fit my figure instead of hers! She tried it on today and it fits quite nicely, I must say. It is Simplicity 3744 and you can read my review here.

Yummy Potato Soup

Every once and a while you can throw things in a pot, turn on the the heat, and hope for the best--and get it!

Here's how we created our Yummy Potato Soup last night.

2 pounds baked potatoes (we had tiny Yukon golds that we scrubbed, poked, and microwaved)
1 can cream of chicken soup
milk
cheese
bacon
sour cream

Stir together the cream of chicken soup and 2 cans worth of milk over medium heat. Add peeled potatoes and stir/mash until the potatoes are the consistency you want. Heat thoroughly and you're done! We served ours with shredded cheddar, crumbled bacon and sour cream.

1 down...10 to go!

I finished my little black dress today. The whole thing took about 2 hours--which is easily accomplished when you are home with yet another sick child! Yep, the LM has a stomach bug. Lovely.

In case you're following along: I made the Hot Patterns No Sweat Easy Sew Triple T-Shirt Dress. I made a low-scooped bodice, short sleeves and straight skirt. I cut and sewed a 6 out of a beautiful solid black knit. (I think the knit is cotton, but as I'm stash shopping, I really have no idea.)

My review on PR and pictures tomorrow. Promise.

Finally--I've cut something for the Wardrobe Contest

It has been almost 24 hours since my last pain pill (I had my wisdom teeth removed Monday), so I felt safe to pull out the fabric and actually begin.

I decided to begin with my little black dress. After reading PR reviews of the Hot Patterns No Sweat, Easy Sew Triple T-Shirt Dress, I pulled out some old $1/yd knit and whipped up a muslin. Why waste good fabric, right?

Actually, the muslin fit well, but as it was very sloppily cut and sewn (and I look like a chipmunk) I won't taking any pictures. (Did I mention the fabric was $1/yd and printed off grain?)

What I like about this pattern:

1. It's quick.
2. It's simple.
3. It's an easier fitting garment.
4. I can mix and match the patten pieces to get the dress I want.
5. It will dress up or down with the right accessories.

I'll be using the low-scooped neckline, the straight skirt, and the short sleeves. I hope to have the dress finished by Friday and reviewed over the weekend.

Dear Tooth Fairy,

Dear Tooth Fairy,

It's us again. Nope, not the BG this time. It's her mommy instead. Do you show up for Wisdom Teeth? If so, I like to make a few requests:

1. enough cash to reimburse me for the surgery (preferably not in quarters!)
2. several bottles of Advil
3. 2 ice packs

Thanks very much. We'll be waiting.

-Us

What's a Mom to do?

What's a mom to do?

I know the same rule that y'all do about keeping a child home until they are clear of fever for 24 hours, so when my big girl ran a fever 101.3 Sunday afternoon, I choose to keep her home from Kindergarten on Monday.

First dillema-is it worth taking her to the virus-filled doctor's office waiting room to get a school excuse? I called the MD and here's what my MD said: yes, I was right to keep her home and as long as the fever is completely gone by Monday pm, I can just swing by and request an excuse without seeing the MD. In days past, they would've faxed it to the school, but thanks to privacy policies (thank you Mr. Clinton), I now have to go in and pick it up.

Second dillema-it's back to school on Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday. My Big Girl seems to be running and playing fine, but when she is resting, doing chores, and working on homework, she complains about a headache. I'm giving her tylenol or ibus when she complains, but is she sick? Yet again, is it worth risking all the germs at the doctor's office for a sometime-headace?

Finally, on Thursday, this Mom has had all the whining she can handle. So, I send my hubby to the pediatrician with BG. Get this--the child has strep! Not once, has she complained of a sore throat! What the heck? In fact, after she returned home from the MD, I asked, "Does your throat hurt?" The answer--"no".

Apparently this bout of strep is one of 3 things: 1. A new case (not likely); 2. A flare-up of the strep that we had on Mardi Gras Day that never went away (after a 5-day Z pack); or 3. The child is a carrier for strep and will always test positive for it, in which case, removing her tonsils would help to prevent recurring infections. Lovely.

And all this on the weekend before I get 2 of my wisdom teeth cut out. It looks like it'll be Wednesday before I get back to my sewing machines. I guess I can wait that long.

BTW, check out the new froggy jon-jon on www.personalitychildrens.etsy.com and the new strawberry jumper and bloomer set on www.personalitychildrensclothes.com in the summer section of my boutique.

Happy Leap Day!