Pattern Choices for my spring wardrobe—a few anyway

It looks like the weather is going to get cold and yucky again.

That’s okay.

I can still plan for spring.

For this:

I think I’ll aim to make:

• a pair of skinny capris
• a pair of shorts
• a white shirt
• a boat neck tee
• and a little black dress.

These two patterns have made their way to the top of my sewing table.

I love the sleeveless version of this dress. 

I will have to figure out the size though, as this one is a mite too small.

I will try these pants, and I may try the top too.

For my shorts, I’m leaning toward this pattern. 

I’ve seen it made up into really cute shorts.

I’m still looking for a boat-neck tee pattern and maybe a pattern for the white top. 

Now, what about those fabrics………

A little more inspiration for my spring wardrobe

I found all these goodies on Etsy.

Dresses:

 

 

Tops:

 

Accessories:

 

 

and one for Adriane.

 

 

 

Credits: 1  2  3  4  5  6

A Spring Wardrobe Challenge

It’s been a while since I’ve sewn a mini-wardrobe. 

So, when I saw this pretty link button…

 

I had to follow it.

And of course, I’ve decided to participate.

Here are a few pictures that are inspiring me as I plan:

 

         

Seersucker, Crabs and Summertime

It’s really been cold here. 

Not like in other places around the US.

But cold for us.

Really cold.

I’m doing some summertime dreaming.

And a little summertime sewing.

You can find these seersucker jon jons and jumpers at www.personalitychildrens.etsy.com.

   

My Straight A, Top Reader, Swimming Rockstar!

Some days, a Mommy just has to brag.  Today is one of those days.

My Big Girl rocks!

She has swim practice on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays,

church on Sundays and Wednesdays,

piano lessons on Tuesdays,

piano practice every other day,

school choir rehearsal at the crack of dawn on Tuesdays,

plays the Wii a little almost every day,

keeps her room pretty neat,

helps make breakfast almost everyday,

goes to bed by 7:45 every night,

AND

she still makes the straight A honor roll.

Plus, she was the top reader in 3rd grade again—for the 2nd straight 9 weeks!

What a ROCKSTAR! 

Tags!

I love tags!

Especially pretty tags!

With my name on them!

Don’t they look pretty?

And yes, that is seersucker!  Look for seersucker jonjons and jumpers in my etsy shop later today!

On another note…

I’ve linked up my clothes pin bag tutorial here:

 

Why do you do what you do?

I had the best of intentions to blog every week day this month. 

I was doing pretty well with that. 

Until yesterday. 

I could have blogged yesterday. 

I could have sewn for my shop yesterday.

I could have done lots of “important” things.

Instead, we spent the morning with dear friends.

Just talking and playing.

And eating cheese balls.

Then last night, we went to January Bible Study at church.

We go again tonight too.

Yesterday, just when I thought I regretted all the things that didn’t get done,

the Bible Study leader taught on Galatians 1 & 2.

Kinda puts everything in perspective.

 

For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God?  Or am I striving to please people? 

If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ?  Galatians 1:10 (HCSB)

Yummy!

 

With Christmas being over,

you might think that all the

cookie-baking and sugary sweets are gone at my house.

Think again!

It’s King Cake time.

Here’s my favorite recipe!

Dabbling…

As if I needed another hobby…

At least this one kills the time during carpool line.

I found the patterns here.

Burr!

Remember the big red fleece coat that I made in late 2009?

I said then that we only need warm coats about 3 days a year.

I think today qualifies.

Seriously?!?!? In Louisiana! That's cold!

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Look what my Mom made—again!

Check out the new quilt our Little Man received for Christmas! 

My mom had him draw a few dinosaur pictures. 

She used the pictures to create the appliquéd blocks. 

She also pieced the rest of the quilt and my aunt quilted it!

   

He also got a new set of bright orange (his fav) sheets and two Mommy/Momo-made pillowcases.

The great orange and green blanket at the foot of the bed was also a Christmas surprise from his Grandma B.

Both grandmothers say they didn’t know about the other’s project, but everything coordinates fabulously!

Now, we just need to find the boy a headboard…

What do these 3 pictures have in common?

 

These pictures were taken in the same 24-hour span! 

“If you don’t like the weather…” 

 

Upcoming Sewing Classes

Needles, Nuts and Bolts-Beginning Sewing	Thursdays at 6pm, Jan 13-Feb 3	LSUS	Sign up here.
Sit & Sew	Monday at 5:30 Jan 24	LSUS	Sign up here.
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Needles, Nuts and Bolts- Beginning Sewing	Mondays at 9am Feb 28-Mar 21	LSUS	Sign up here.
Sit & Sew	Monday at 5:30 Feb 28	LSUS	Sign up here.
Sewing & Applique for Children	Thursday at 6pm Mar 10-24	LSUS	Sign up here.
Sew More-the Next Step	Mondays at 9am April 11-May 2	LSUS	Sign up here.
Purses	Saturday at 9am April 16	LSUS	Sign up here.
1 Skirt, 3 Ways	Thursdays at 6pm May 5-26	LSUS	Sign up here.

Upcoming Sewing Classes

Needles, Nuts and Bolts-Beginning Sewing	Thursdays at 6pm, Jan 13-Feb 3	LSUS	Sign up here.
Sit & Sew	Monday at 5:30 Jan 24	LSUS	Sign up here.
Sew More-the Next Step	Thursdays at 6pm, Feb 10-Mar 3	LSUS	Sign up here.
Needles, Nuts and Bolts- Beginning Sewing	Mondays at 9am Feb 28-Mar 21	LSUS	Sign up here.
Sit & Sew	Monday at 5:30 Feb 28	LSUS	Sign up here.
Sewing & Applique for Children	Thursday at 6pm Mar 10-24	LSUS	Sign up here.
Sew More-the Next Step	Mondays at 9am April 11-May 2	LSUS	Sign up here.
Purses	Saturday at 9am April 16	LSUS	Sign up here.
1 Skirt, 3 Ways	Thursdays at 6pm May 5-26	LSUS	Sign up here.

On the 12th day of Christmas

Happy Epiphany!  (Or whatever you are supposed to say!)

It’s the true 12th day of Christmas,

the day that many celebrate the Wise Men’s visit to a young Jesus.

In this neck of the woods, it’s also known as 12th Night,

or the kick-off to Mardi Gras.

 

These can be found at www.personalitychildrens.etsy.com!

Simplicity 2470-Gone wild

I showed you a picture of this little dress while it was in progress. 

Here it is finished:

Pretty close to her sketch.

Sorry I don’t have a picture of my Big Girl wearing it. 

You can find the step-by-step pictures of how I made it here.

You can find my PR review here.

   

A Laundry Goodie

I hate doing laundry.

But, we must.

This past year, we made an effort to hang our laundry on the line to dry.

I did okay, but somedays it was just easier to toss it in the dryer.

One obnoxious thing:  keeping up with those silly clothes pins.

I’d seen some different tutorials for a clothes pin bag. 

Some I liked.  Some I didn’t.

I really liked this tutorial, but I didn’t have a super-cute vintage placemat to use.

So, I tweaked it and made my own clothes pin bag.

Start with 1/3 yd of fabric, about 18 inches of ribbon and a button. (You could also use a fat quarter, but your clothes pin bag would be a little smaller than mine.

Cut 2 rectangles, each 12 x 18 from your fabric.  (If you are using a fat quarter, yours will be about 11 x 18.)

Center your ribbon along the top edge of the right side of one rectangle of fabric.

Top that with your other rectangle, right side down.

Pin the edges.

Stitch around your rectangle with 1/2 inch seam allowances, leaving a 3 inch hole for turning.

Trim your corners.

Turn your piece right side out and press it well.

Fold your rectangle in half.  Pin the edges.

Sew these side seams with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

To make the boxy corners on your bag, pinch the sides down to the bottom. 

Match the center seam and the center bottom. 

Make a line about 1 inch in from the tip of the corner. This line should be 2 inches long. 

Stitch along this line.  Stitch another seam, just outside of the first. 

Trim your corners with pinking shears.

Top stitch around the top edge of your bag.  (I forgot to take a picture of this step.) 

This will close the opening you left for turning.

Decide how long you want your ribbon.  Mine is just long enough to wear on my wrist. 

I folded under the raw end of my ribbon.  Then I put a buttonhole in the grosgrain.  (If you don’t like to do button holes, you could just do velcro here.)

Add a button, inside the bag on the same side as the ribbon. 

Embellish the front of your bag with something fun.  I choose this “Count Your Blessings” label from my stash! 

Hopefully, it will remind me not to whine about the laundry!