A few changes...

I have blog envy. There I said it. I look at all these wonderful blogs that are so easy to read and are pretty on top of that. Then I come to mine. Eh, it's okay. There are tons of great tutorials and free graphics out there to work with and I've only scratched the surface.

This morning I finally got a header I like. Of course, I ignored my kids for 2 hours while working on it. There's no telling what I'll find as I head upstairs to check on them.

I also have camera envy. I've taken to borrowing K's camera since mine is a dinosaur (5 years old) but even hers isn't all that. I've been lusting after a digital SLR with a telephoto lens. Have you seen the prices on those? My jaw dropped!

I finished up a few sewing projects yesterday. K's slim fit tee is done. I also got a picture of the Fern and Faerie smock that used to be K's top.
If you look back at my second post in February, there's a picture of K wearing it. It had become too tight through the shoulders for her so I added 2 rows of shirring to the waist to make it into a dress for MG. However, BK ended up in it first.

I like how with just a minor tweak I'm able to get more wear out of an item.

Dresses for Wedding, Take 1

How great is my mom? A thousand times great!! She always knows when I'm feeling stressed and overwhelmed and steps in to help me with out being asked. This time it was making the wedding dress muslins. K and M are often hard to fit out of the Big 4 patterns with out major refits so I needed to have the dresses made out of muslin (or cheap fabric) to test the fit and see where they needed to be adjusted. I had an Ikea sheet set aside to use. Mom whipped these out on Friday and brought them with her when she came to M's ballet recital. K's fits well (usually the bodice is a problem). The only adjustment that needs to made on hers is the elastic in the back of the dress. M's needs the bodice tweaked a little to have it lay flat but otherwise is fine too. Now I just need to email the bride and see if she's happy with the way the dresses look or wants to make changes and then it's on to making them out of the satin. Thank you Mom!!

Progress in the sewing room....or not

Not much sewing has been happening over the last few days. I've had the time but not the desire. I did finish one SWAP shirt on Tuesday (pictures to come soon) and have a pair of leggings that only need elastic put in the waistband. I also started the slim fitting t-shirt.

I'm starting to feel the crunch of having too many projects to do and not much time. I'd really like to complete the SWAP by the deadline. I also have K's junior bridesmaid dress and M's flower girl dress that need to be done soon (the wedding is the 18th of Sept!). I haven't even cut out the muslins yet. *looking sheepish* There are also tons of ideas for fall/winter outfits that are running through my mind. Kind of makes it hard to concentrate on what needs to be done.

Cowgirl Ensemble

M and I found the pink cowgirl boots at a thrift store earlier this summer and couldn't resist bringing them home. While going through my fabric stash I came across the cowgirl fabric. I had bought it last fall to make toddler backpacks for the school craft fair but never got around to using it. There was just enough to make her another Oliver+S Lazy Days skirt.

I also had a white t-shirt that my mom was going to embroider w/ pink boots but the machine "ate" the shirt. The skirt and boots were just crying out for a matching shirt to complete the outfit so I pulled an Ottobre Design pattern (03/07 #4) out that was already traced off. The actual pattern has flounced, layered sleeves and a ruffle around the neck. I opted to use hot pink FOE for the neckline and not do the layered sleeves. Since donning the outfit, Miss M's been running around shouting, "I'm a cowgirl, I'm a cowgirl!". Mission accomplished.

Autumn Tree double layer Tunic

Autumn Tree double layer Tunic
Originally uploaded by beach_mom_3

This is the the shirt that I was almost done with in the previous post. I used a cotton/lycra jersey for the top layer and a bamboo/cotton knit for the lining and neckline binding. The lining fabric isn't as stable as the top layer so it ended too wide for my piece of mind. After trying it on K, I ended up taking an inch off of both lining side seams. Once again, my pintucks aren't the best though they are better than my attempt on the leggings. K loves this top too!

Girls's Top and Cropped Leggings

Girls's Top and Cropped Leggings
Originally uploaded by beach_mom_3

I've completed 2 of the clothing items for the SWAP. The top is made from fabric I bought on clearance at Hobby Lobby while in WI. At $2 a yard, I couldn't resist. The top is from an older issue of Ottobre Design and doesn't reflect the longer body length of today's tops. I did add an additional inch to the bottom but really wish I'd added 2-3 inches so that I could do a better hem. As it is, I barely turned under the hem and used a double needle to finish it. Because of that, the edge has a tendency to flip. A bigger hem would alleviate that. I made a note on the pattern pieces so next time I make this shirt, I'll know better.

The cropped leggings from the current issue were a snap to make with the exception of the pintucks. I really struggled with making them even and didn't space them correctly even though I had drawn the lines on the fabric.*roll my eyes* It's difficult (at least for me) to press and then sew tucks on a jersey knit fabric. The fabric doesn't hold the crease like a woven would.

K is thrilled with the outfit and keeps asking to wear it so I must have done something right. I have another SWAP shirt that is 90% completed that I'm hoping to finish tomorrow.

SWAP09 update

I've started cutting the fabric and am hoping to start sewing tomorrow. I'm starting off with the double layer tunic, cropped leggings, and striped shirt...all in pink!

SWAP09 Fabric

SWAP09 Fabric
Originally uploaded by beach_mom_3

Having assembled the fabric for the "collection" I'm going to be sewing, I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed!


Here's what I'm hoping to turn that pile of fabric into:

Tops:
-pintuck blouse: aqua and brown flowered woven
-short sleeved shirt: pink striped jersey
-long sleeved knit shirt: aqua jersey
-hooded vest with zipper: aqua velour and turquoise rib knit w/ the striped jersey for the hood lining
-long sleeved tee: green knit w/ brown rib knit at neckline and bottom hem
-short sleeved tunic: black striped knit I haven't picked the fabric for the tie yet.
-double layer tunic: dark pink jersey and light pink bamboo/cotton knit

Bottoms:
-cropped leggings: dark pink knit
-double layer skirt: dark brown print (Michael Miller "Carnival") corduroy and dark brown solid corduroy
-jeans: light weight dark indigo denim
-long leggings: black knit
-miniskirt: medium weight dark indigo denim

I might make another pair of cropped leggings in one of the other colored jerseys if I have time and enough fabric left over.

It's set in how ambitious a project this is turning out to be.