Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Link Party #5!

Ok A little late today. Linky tools doesn't email you when your supscription is up? Crazy. By my record anyway It shouldn't expire until February 1st. Not today... Anyway frustrating, but over. The Link Party #5 can start!
Last week you guys linked up some great stuff! I don't get the chance to comment on as many things as I would like but I do check out each link and I love what you guys are doing! Here are some a of my favorites from last week:

The ever so talented ladies over at icandy Handmade never disappoint. Shared this super cute tutorial for a layered knit skirt. I want one for myself with that yoga style waistband, and fun stripes! So stinking cute!


P.Goodys shared this awesome braided infinity scarf. I love the look and I know it is right up Shwin's style.


Decorating the Ville shared this lovely family tree art. I love that she found her family history and what a beautiful piece of art. I also love the stripes on the wall.

Thanks for sharing!

So are you ready to link up what you made this week? We can't wait to see it!

New to link parties? That's totally fine here's what you have to do:

Find a entry on your blog that you want to link up.
It can be ANYTHING (unless it's an ad or something let's keep it spam free)
Say it is a great new project you just made and have been dying to share it with the crafting world. 
the link should look something like this:
http://(your blog adress/website)/(the post you want to link).html
Linking to the post is the easiest way for people to get back to that post.

Then click where it says "click here to enter" 
follow the steps to link your post and create a title, and select your picture.
Keep in mind the picture will be small thumbnail so pick a picture that shows it off the best. 

Lastly if you were so kind to add our button to your page or post, or where every you store your link party things that would be super cool. You don't have to use the button to link up, it's just there for you if you can't live without it. 

cool? cool. Let's get the party started!



Monday, January 30, 2012

The Spring Collection {new Patterns}

A week (and a little more) of downtime isn't all bad. It did allow me time to finish up the edits from the patterns (Thank you pattern testers!) The Spring Line is officially complete! 

For the Spring time and to get spring on the brain I made nearly the entire collection from an assortment of linens. I LOVE linen. It is so great to work with comfortable, forgivable and breathable. Great for kids since it gives them a little more polished look without being over the top or uncomfortable.
Of course most other fabrics are plenty suitable as well.  


 First up is the Prudence Jacket. With a cute puffy short sleeve large floppy collar, and faux belted waist.
The Jacket is fully lined and could be reversible if you so desired. (I would just make the inside collar match the lining if you wanted it to be truly reversible) There is a snap closure, and in seam pockets to keep little hands warm, and treasures safe. I love the fullness of the jacket. The length is easy to customize for longer jackets or shorter lengths perfect for layering in the springtime. 
There are 2 patterns available 
 Next up is the Maggie Mae Tunic. Seriously one of my favorites! It has all of my favorite things, clean lines, pleats, pockets, color blocking and buttons!
 The sweet curved lines and color blocked body is cute and fun and so easy to mix and match with any combination of fabrics. I made two for Abbey. One in this mustard and teal linen (made in her current size) I love the big fabric covered buttons for the back and the fun bright colors.
 The other one I made her was actually the first one I made her, it's a touch big since I made it one size up but it's nice that she will grow into it, and still be wearing it when Spring actually arrives (ha!) This one was made with a slub linen and cotton. I just love the clean lines and modern feel to the tunic. The pattern also offers a dress length. It would make a great easter dress!
 A little something for boys! I have a few others in the works but seriously they will likely be for fall, for now though I have the Nowhere Man Pants!
Wonderfully basic pants. They can work for a boy or girl but they were designed with boys in mind. Flat front and elastic back make them easy to customize, they have a great relaxed fit to them. Optional belt loops that are extra wide. Two front pockets and two large back pockets. The front pockets can have a different color for the lining for an added detail. Top stitching adds interest to the pants. Jude wears them everyday he can. Both the green linen and his super hero pants (made from this pattern)


 Next up is the Sadie Tunic. This one almost got scrapped. When I started the Spring collection I made 8 designs. Some got scrapped right away, some were just too complicated (as in if I can barely figure out how to make is I certainly can't tell someone else how to make it) Some just don't "inspire" me enough. Sounds weird. Well this one was one of those, I liked it but I didn't love it. Then I remembered the Penny Lane dress. I am still in LOVE with the button shoulder, so with a little edit the pattern finally made me happy. Out of the scrap bin, and wouldn't you know it's my husbands favorite top, to think it almost got passed up.
I call it the "art smock style A-line" It has a cute A line shape but the tunic stays very simple in style. A pop of buttons at the shoulders and some sweet welt pockets for treasures. The tunic is nicely loose fitting so it is comfortable to wear and just a fun little style. 
Availble here:
 Last but not least some girly little slim cut pants.
(shown Abbey is wearing the 2T when I made her 3T later but I didn't change the pictures out so they are a touch short on her)
These are some darling little pants flat front and elastic back. 4 pockets and a little button flap at the ankle. They can also be made without the button flap for just a regular leg pant. The leg is a slim leg, like a skinny but not uncomfortably tight like a "jegging". They can be perfect with most any fabric but something with a touch or stretch would be the most comfortables. Shown is denim without stretch, but stretch would make them be a tad more comfortable and gives a little more wiggle room, although I would not recommend making them from jersey or other knits, since they would likely be too large for something with that much stretch. Maybe go one size down if that is the case.




Oh and if make something from the pattern share it in our flickr group!
We would love to see your fabulous creations!

Friday, January 27, 2012

Instagram Friday

Welcome to Instagram Friday!
A little glimpse into life beyond sewing and crafting. 

So I have been rather absent this week. Apparently growing a large ovarian cyst is painful. It's been a long 3 weeks and the last week has knocked me out. Hopefully I am getting to the point of resolve, they thought it had ruptured a week ago but instead it grew. Lots of fun. Hopefully I can get back to my old self again soon, resting and not accomplishing things is hard on me. My sweet sister in law brought me this lovely bulb as a get-well-soon seeing it in my window sill does make my day.
 Jude got reacquainted with his train set. (best thing we have ever bought him) He does have a thing with putting people on the tracks but don't worry a super hero comes to save the day.
 Abbey is our little match maker. She loved playing the match game and almost always wins.
 Jude got a "paint your own car" kit for Christmas. He has been begging me everyday since to paint the car. Well this week Jude got double pink eye and an ear infection. (yeah it was a rough week) So since he was a trooper with all the drops and medicine and what not so his reward was painting the car. He painted 95% himself and he did a great job.
Jude has also taken to self decortating. Give the boy some tape and he hangs his "art" all over the house. He will even hang some of Abbey's art which is sweet.

So how was your week?

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Link Party #4!

What? I am late to my own party? Ok... it's true. I am recovering from some health issues from this weekend, so I am taking a few days off. (doped up posts are not much fun I am sure) Hopeful I will be back to my self in no time at all. So sorry there isn't any link love today but last weeks links were great! I love seeing all the great things you guys are creating! Since we all like to party, I didn't think we should skip the party!

So are you ready to link up what you made this week? We can't wait to see it!

New to link parties? That's totally fine here's what you have to do:

Find a entry on your blog that you want to link up.
It can be ANYTHING (unless it's an ad or something let's keep it spam free)
Say it is a great new project you just made and have been dying to share it with the crafting world. 
the link should look something like this:
http://(your blog adress/website)/(the post you want to link).html
Linking to the post is the easiest way for people to get back to that post.

Then click where it says "click here to enter" 
follow the steps to link your post and create a title, and select your picture.
Keep in mind the picture will be small thumbnail so pick a picture that shows it off the best. 

Lastly if you were so kind to add our button to your page or post, or where every you store your link party things that would be super cool. You don't have to use the button to link up, it's just there for you if you can't live without it. 

cool? cool. Let's get the party started!



Saturday, January 21, 2012

Jane Marie Blog*DIY*Photography

 Don't you just love pretty pictures? Some people are so gifted at telling a story with their pictures. They captivate you, inspire you and draw you in. Well Jane Marie Blog of Jane Foster Photography, (our newest sponsor) is just that, she shares beautiful pictures, DIY know-how, photo tips, and she is a family photographer for the Houston Area. (so wishing I lived there right now) So if you are looking for a photographer and you live in the Houston Area then you should contact Jane Foster Photography so you can have some stunning family photos to show off. If you are sad that you don't live in the Houston Area, then cheer up, you can still enjoy the beautiful blog Jane Marie Blog where you will find things like this:
 Beautifully photographed recipe tutorials. Like this one for some delicious lemon berry cookies.
 She also shares color inspiration boards for wedding ideas. Like this Green Board (all of the links for each photo are found on her blog)
There are also some amazing DIY crafts (with beautiful pictures of course) I love this one she shares for a teething guard for a baby crib.

So go ahead hop on over to Jane Marie Blog Careful though you may spend a whole day getting entranced by her photos.

Follow her Blog you won't be sorry.
Leave her some love. (comment style) We all love that don't we?

Friday, January 20, 2012

Instagram Friday

Welcome to this week's instagram Friday! 
(a little glimpse into life beyond sewing and crafting)

 This could be the one and only picture I share this week. It sums up my week quite well. You know when you have one of "those" weeks. (plus I got to wear the "slippers" I got from santa for Christmas they are sweet)
 The kids got really into Legos this week. I love watching Abbey's little face concentrate. Jude teaches her how to build things. It's sweet.
 Do you have a toy graveyard? We do. You know you buy your kids a toy you think they will love and then the toy gets lost in the corner of the playroom never to be played with again. Well every now and again Abbey will find a toy and it will become her favorite for the week. Despite the look on her face she was loving her "roller coaster beads" They said "weeee" on every curve.
 We got rain this week. Rain! It is January right? It has been so warm. I shouldn't complain we get to play out side and all but, I do like my winters...
Jude is taking over the tooth brushing. Well at least one brushing a day. He is doing great with it, and I kind of love watching him care for his teeth.

So how was your week?

Thursday, January 19, 2012

A country Ruffle Top

 Who made a resolution (or goal if you like that term better) to finish what you started? I know I did. I mean I finish a lot of the things I start but every once in awhile I start something get distracted and then never get back to it. I usually find that half finished project later down the road when it is too small to fit the child I was making it for. (like the blessing dress I found when my daughter was 18 months, and the onsie set I found for Jude last month mind you he is almost 5) So it's time to finish stuff. I started making this top a while back (long while it was going to be a dress but Abbey grew) I made the ruffled part and then never finished. It was inspired by a dress I saw somewhere I can't remember where (before the days of pintrest)
 I didn't know what I wanted to pair with the ruffles. I thought maybe plaid, or a nice pop of color, I thought about ombre dying the ruffles and making it cool and colorful. Then I made this dress and it reminded me how much I LOVE neutrals. It let's Abbey pop. SO I mixed tan and white linen to get a cute country ruffle top. Want to make your own? It's pretty easy, just a little time consuming with all the ruffle sewing, but not bad.

 Let's start with the pattern. You can make your own by following this tutorial I made a back piece only (I just lowered the neckline for the front) and I had the bodice stop about 2 inches below the arm pit. Then for the back cut 1 on the fold. (2 if you want it fully faced but I just cut a neck facing for the back if you need help with facing check here) Then using the same pattern piece I cut out my front pieces. I cut 2 (from the white linen) not on the fold the same size as the back piece (with a lower neckline)and 2 (from the tan linen) not on the fold but I extended about 2.5 inches so that the piece would overlap in front. (same lower neckline)
 So then I had something like this. Sorry I know the white is hard to see.
 Now for the skirt part I cut out 3 skirt pieces (we will just pretend the ruffles are not done since I will show how to do that later) The top width of the skirt pieces should be the same as the width of the back bodice piece, then just angle down from there. I cut 2 from the tan linen one for the back and one for the front. Then I cut one from the white for the ruffle layer.
 Then I cut one of the tan pieces with a curved edge starting at one corner and going up the top. I just kind of free hand cut it how I wanted it. Then cut another curved piece. I cut mine from white linen to match.
 Now for the sleeves I had my basic sleeve drafted but I wanted this sleeve to have a nice amount of poof to it I I moved the sleeve over from the edge and cut 2. Then I cut to cuffs rectangles that will be folded length wise. I cut those to fit her arm (with a little room for comfort)
 So the sleeves pieces looked like so. Now we are ready to sew.
 Sew the front and back pieces right sides together at the shoulder.
 Then sew the lining front to the back neck facing at the shoulders. Then with right sides together sew the facing to the bodice. Sew up the front edge and around the neckline.
 Turn the facing to the inside and you have some nice finished edges. You can top stitch the whole edge or just the back neckline to secure the facing in place.
 Next set your sleeves. I did small pleats from the middle out the edges. You could also gather the sleeve the set the sleeve. Sew right sides together.
 Next fold the cuff length wise.
 Then pin it to the right side of the sleeve. I added the same pleats to the sleeve at the bottom so it fit the cuff. Sew in place.
 Then with right sides together sew the under arm and side seams. (the black lines)
 Now you have a bodice. Pin the bodice front flap in place.
 For the ruffle layer Draw lines straight across the skirt piece to act as the guide. I made 3 inch wide strips folded length wise and gathered. This gave me 1.5 inch ruffles and I spaced them all 1 inch apart so they would overlap.
 Start up a little from the bottom so you can still hem the bottom edge. Then sew the ruffles in place along the lines. I used a close zig-zag stitch when sewing them down so that it would help the raw edge from fraying like crazy.
 Then after a lot of sewing of ruffles you are done with a cute skirt piece.
 Next sew the two curved pieces right sides together along the curved edge and turn right side out. This lines the piece and gives a nice finished edge.
 Place the curved piece over the ruffle skirt.
 Then place the back piece over the top. Sew down the sides. Then hem the bottom edge by turning it under.
 Next step is missing a picture. But you want to sew the bodice to the skirt piece by sewing right sides together matching up the side seams and sewing around the waist. Then add some button holes and buttons to the top bodice flap and you are done.
 A cute little country chic top with plenty of lovely ruffles.
 What's not to love about flowing ruffles? So girly and pretty and I love the Pop from the poppies hair band from yesterday.
It's a perfect neutral for Abbey and her neutral dog. (she is an animal whisperer, they love her, she loves them)