A weekend away

I hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing Memorial Day weekend!  We were fortunate enough to get away this weekend.  It was so nice.  

Enjoyed some coffee and reading.

There was rock gathering at the beach. 

(Someone didn't like the water.)

This one couldn't get enough of the water!

However, she had enough of sea lion watching.

We enjoyed some beautiful parks.

and a little bit of sister love.

Even some kite flying!  She had so much fun with the kite, and although in this picture she looks depressed.  Not the case. She fell and jumped right back even more excited than before! *whew*

I forgot my camera, so I used my iPhone and the Instagram app to edit these photos.  Love how they turned out!  Now we are back to some real life.  Summer is officially here, and while I am excited I feel like we have to develop a whole new routine.  I have a couple of sewing projects with looming due dates, and I am ready to get back to sewing!

The Last Day of School

I don't know how it flew by so fast, but today was the girls' last day of school.  I now have a preschool graduate!  It really is amazing to look back on this past year and see how much both girls have grown.  Juliana is so ready to be in kindergarten.  I look at her and see a fine little girl growing before my eyes and not the cute chubby toddler I keep thinking she is. She has such a good, kind heart, and she tries so very hard to listen and learn.  She makes her mommy and daddy so proud.

I made fat quarter aprons for all the teachers.  I needed a quick project since I needed to make so many and kept debating what to make.  Then I remembered the apron Darci made me for a giveaway!  Who doesn't like an apron?  Plus, they were perfect for using up some of those more random fat quarters in my stash.  The tutorial can be found at Prudent Baby.  Juliana and I went to go find one of her teachers to give her the apron, and we found her crying in the closet. *sniff, sniff*  We were so lucky to have such wonderful teachers who so obviously care for our kids.

Giveaway winner:  Lucky #225!  I will be sending you an e-mail!  Thank you for all your lovely comments and entries!  I read them all, and some of you are so clever.  I was chuckling at some of your answers. ;0)

Anonymous said...

cute!

I buy bag and quilt patterns!

kgshen at pocketinet dot com

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

Welcome!  I am participating in Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day!  Check it out!  There always so many fun giveaways!

One person will win these three fun patterns!  A bee softie pattern by Melly and Me, a satchel pattern by Fig Tree, and a little girls skirt pattern by Favorite Things.  I am also including a little scrap pack of some of my favorite Heather Ross fabrics because who doesn't like Heather Ross?!

To enter:

1)  Leave me a comment: what kind of patterns do you like to buy? Bags, clothes, quilts?

2) If you want a second entry, become a follower and let me know in a separate comment.

This giveaway is open to US residents!  (Sorry, international folks!)  I will pick a winner on Thursday, May 26th and get it out to you by May 30th!  Please don't forget to leave your e-mail if it isn't linked in your profile!

Hope everyone wins something fun!

A Convertible Tote

I have had this bag in my head for the longest time!  It was so much fun to actually get it made!  I have all sorts of ideas in my head, but so often I put them on the backburner.  When I saw that Angela and Kaelin started the Goodie Bag Swap, I signed up hoping that my partner would want a nice, big bag like this.  She did!

Since I was making this bag on my own, I decided to make a prototype first in order to get it right.  I am in love with ticking right now and used some that my mom got me for my birthday.  For the bottom I used some fake brown leather that I got off of Etsy.  

For mine I decided to make it nice and big because I love big bags.  However, I think this is a little too tall and will shorten my next one a couple of inches.   I also added some shorter handles to have options for carrying, since who doesn't like options? ;0)  I used some fun webbing that I have had in my stash forever that went perfectly with the ticking.  Love when that happens!  I folded and sewed the webbing down a bit to make it easier to hold as a handle.

I made the longer strap convertible, so that you can either use it either as a cross body bag or shoulder bag.   So, I ordered some more purse supplies, and I am ready to fix all the little things and make a big, beautiful bag for someone else.  

I have been wanting to design a bag pattern for a long time.  What do you think?  Would you be interested in a pattern for a bag like this? 

Come back tomorrow, as I am taking part in Sew Mama Sew's big giveaway day!

I am linking up to Tea Rose Home!

Rainbows, Unicorns, and Sunshine...oh my!

I have finished this little cross stitch that I have been working on for the past month.  This has been my "while watching TV" project.  I found this little cross stitch pattern at The Floss Box.  She has lots of fun little pattern downloads, and so reasonably priced!  I couldn't resist since I can't tell you how many drawings Juliana has made that look just like this...unicorns, girls, hearts, rainbows, flowers, and sunshine.   

I was indecisive about what to do with it when I finished.  I was going to just keep it in the hoop, but when the girls started fighting over whose bed it was going to be by I nixed that idea. ;0) So I went with a little rainbow pillow to go on their window seat and can thus be shared by all. Now I am working on a little princess to go with rainbow girl.

Skirt and a Shirt

Okay, I admit that I started off with a lot of excitement for Kid's Clothes Week, but after I finished the rainbow tunics I haven't touched the sewing machine until today.  So this skirt is my only other finish.  I do have a bunch of other patterns ready to be cut though! 

 This is the Ruffle Bustle Skirt by Lil Blue Boo.

It is a free pattern, and I have to admit that I have become completely enamored with Ashley's style.  I want all of her patterns!  Juliana seemed a little suspicious when I showed the skirt to her, but as soon as she tried it on she commented on how soft it was.  I used some pink modal spandex and cut up an old pink stripe shirt of mine that got holes in it.  My shirts always end up with holes in them in the same spot!  I think I have discovered that it is when I am snipping threads while I am sewing!  Dang. 

A totally fun skirt for running...

and doing the chicken dance in?

Last Sunday I also whipped up this tank top for myself.  I altered the Pieced Tunic pattern to draft the pattern for this tank top.

Then I used this tutorial from Tea Rose Home to embellish it.  I didn't add as many ruffles however, since I didn't think it would look as flattering on my curves. ;0)  This fabric is so soft and buttery.  I just like to stroke it. 

Linking up to Tea Rose Home!

KCWC: Tunics!

Have you joined in on Kid's Clothes Week Challenge over at Elsie Marley?  I have participated the last couple of times, and it is always so much fun to see what everyone is creating.  So many talented people out there!  

I cut a couple of t-shirt tunics for the girls on Monday and sewed them together yesterday.  Remember this rainbow fabric?  My girls have been stroking this fabric ever since they saw it.  I used this tutorial for their tunics.  

I made Juliana's first yesterday and tried to sneakily have her try it on to make sure it was going to work, but Felicity caught us and let out the most pathetic wail of despair.  She has been begging for a rainbow outfit and to see big sister trying something rainbowy on was just too much to bear.  So, I stayed up late in order to finish hers up as well and lay it by her bed for her to see first thing in the morning.  My husband said he caught her in the morning in her underwear trying to put it on as soon as she got up.  I love sewing for my kids.  

I appliqued some little hearts to the top of shirts to add a little pizazz as they were looking a little plain on top.  These were so easy to whip up that I am dying to head over to Goodwill and find some cheap t-shirts and make some dresses too.  I have had this tutorial bookmarked for a long time!

The girls got into a bit of a silly face challenge at the end of our "photo shoot".  

Yes, another swap

Yes, another swap.  Have you done a swap yet?  Flickr has some really fun swaps, and I really can't resist them.  I love looking at my partner's likes and trying to figure out what to make.  I find in some ways it has really helped me hone my sewing skills and stretch them a bit since I am sewing for another sewer.  Then you get to wait for the mailman to bring you something fun in return!

This clutch is for the Pretty Little Pouch Swap.  I made the Inset Clutch Pattern (Click here to view more details) by Keyka Lou.  This is the big version of this pattern, and it really is quite large.  However, my partner specifically requested a roomy pouch.

I love the recessed zipper on this pattern.  It really gives it a nice finished look.  Her instructions are excellent as usual.

This is the back of the pouch which I like just as much!  I used some Far, Far Away II for this pouch.  Those little moons are one of my most favorite fabrics ever, and Sleeping Beauty was just the perfect size for the center panel. I will be sending this off to my partner next week!

Tiny Pocket Tank

Here is another top finish!  I was Flickr browsing last Friday and came across this super cute top, which led me to the pattern for the Tiny Pocket Tank.  I loved the simplicity of this top, and the pattern is only $2.50!  I was sold.  I had just bought this pretty floral print from Joanns.  I totally have a weakness for pretty floral prints.  So many of the fabrics in my stash are florals.  I can't help.my.self.  I don't know what it is.  Do you have a weakness for certain prints?  It is a cotton/linen blend and perfect for a lightweight top.

The pattern was very well put together and came together quickly.  The only problem I had was with the size of the bias strips she had you cut.  For both the neck and the arm holes they were about an inch and half short, but I just added a bit.  Not a super biggie, but maybe measure yours to be sure before cutting!  The pattern calls for about 2 yards, but I only had a little over a yard of this print.  So instead of making my own bias binding.  I used some ready made binding.  This pattern has darts which is nice and gives the top some shape.    

It is 95 degrees today, so I think I will definitely be making some more of these!

(Fluffy dog tail.)

Juliana was my photographer for these shots, and I have to say she is getting pretty good! ;0)  Overall, I would definitely recommend this pattern.  I already have my next one lined up.  The only thing I am going to change is to raise the neckline.  It is a little too low for my taste, hence the use of a cami underneath.

So are you sick of these pieced tunics yet?  I made another one yesterday out of the modal spandex I got.  I really love the flowy nature of this knit, but it did make it a little trickier keeping it together.  I recommend lots of pins! This one is for my mom for Mother's Day.  She has already received it, so it is safe to show pictures. ;0) 

Happy Mother's Day weekend!

Cathedral Windows- The Quickie Way

For my birthday my mom signed me up for a class at our local quilt store, Strawberry Patches, for a raw edge applique Cathedral Window quilt.  It was so much fun!  The lovely Kara was our teacher, and it was a great group of ladies.  It was so neat to work on the same project as everyone else, yet see how different the same pattern can turn out depending on your fabric choices.  I used two charm packs of Dream On from Moda for my quilt.  I love, love the fresh colors, and this is going to be my table topper for the spring.

 We used the pattern, Abundantly Blessed by Cotton Way, for this little quilt.  I only got to sew a few rows of the little oval shapes before it was time to go.  I was determined to finish this up though.  So I packed the kids and sewing machine in the car yesterday, and I finished it up at my mom's house.  

I am so glad I took the class for this because this would definitely have been one of those things on my to sew list that would have probably stayed there for a long time.  While this is much easier than the traditional way of doing Cathedral Windows it still was time consuming!  It took me a while to find a rhythm to applying the applique.  Since they are curved it was trickier applying them than I thought it would be.

  

The nice thing is that as you are applying your oval shapes you are also quilting your quilt.  I love how it looks on the back!

The edges are left raw on this quilt as well, and in the end you cut off around your applique and end up with a lovely little scalloped border.  

Throw it in the wash to soften the edges, and your little quilt is done!

I am linking up to Quiltstory's Fabric Tuesday!