artsy-crafty babe

round two

As soon as I finished my weekend sewing dress, I was ready to make another one, you know, while it was still fresh in my mind.  On Sunday night I took a chance and cut this one out of "good" fabric, an older Amy Butler print that I was saving for something special.

Oh yes, this is what I was after - I love this dress!  I wanted something simple and comfortable, something I could throw on with flip flops when I didn't really feel like getting dressed, but looked pretty darned dressed when I had it on, know what I mean?

For this version, I trimmed my sleeves a bit and lowered the neckline another 2 inches.  Again, I applied the placket to the outside, just because I like it that way.  I narrowed the back piece to line up with my skirt piece, so no back darts, but I did add darts to the front, which was the only thing I'm not thrilled about - I placed the vertical front darts too far apart, I think it would be more flattering if they were a little closer together.  My plan was to lower my original bodice piece by an inch or so, but I didn't have quite enough fabric, so I had to piece it.  I like how that adds a waistband detail to it.  I fitted this dress about as much as I could while still getting it over my head.  I added some back ties to give it a little more fit.  Oh, and I also lengthened the hem a little bit.  I feel more comfortable chasing after my kids with this hemline.

Overall, I'm very pleased!  Do you mind if I make a dozen of these now?

catching up on blocks

This weekend I was able to catch up on my virtual quilting bee blocks (Pieced Together and twelve square), for now.

First  up, I tried paper piecing for Sara.  I love the outcome, but it took me a try or two to get it right.  Once I got started, I enjoyed it, but then cursed it as I was trying to get the paper off the back.   I do like the finished product very much.

Stephanie is making an alphabet quilt.  She sent us all an alphabet piece along with pink and green fabrics.  I think this till turn out to be a darling quilt.  Stupid me, I forgot to trim off that pink line around the alphabet.  Maybe I can add some embroidery to hide it?  Should I re-make it?  Stephanie, what do you think?  She said we could embroider the letter if we'd like.  Unless you're in a big hurry, Stephanie, maybe I will.

Last but not least, here is Tracy's block.   I love how this came out!  Tracy requested grey with pops of color and some texture.  This block evolved out of the process.  I started with the grey textured piece, then built the rest around it.  I happened to have a gray fabric in my scrap pile, that one with the lines on it, which I think went really well with what was going on. 

These are so much fun, I can't wait to see what arrives in my mailbox for April.

my weekend sewing

 

Well friends, all my lucky stars did line up - it was a very productive sewing weekend!  Here's my dress, a cross between the summer blouse and the trapeze sundress. 

 

I made a size L, with a full bust adjustment.  The back ended up being too wide, so next time I'll have to adjust that.  The front was also a little wide, but I needed the room for the girls.  I ended up trimming off some at the shoulder and arm opening.

I lowered the neckline by 2" at the front.  I cut off the blouse about 2" below the placket, which I ended up applying to the front of the blouse instead of the inside.  I used  the trapeze sundress pattern piece for the skirt.  To accommodate the difference in width between the top and the skirt, I added some gathers at the center front.  At this point the whole dress was too wide, so I added some darts in the back to give it a little shape.  Because this goes on over my head, I couldn't fit it too much, which is how the belt came about.  To hit at the knee, I cut off about 4-5". 

I ended up using some thrifted sheets for this first version.  You can't really tell from the photos, but I used the same pattern as the belt for the placket and binding on the arm holes and neck opening.  I used a wide binding because I wanted the decorative effect, but that made the neckline a little stiff.

I'm not sure if I'll ever hear this outside the house.  Truthfully, I'm not sure where I'd wear it.  Without the belt, this is a great night gown or around-the-house dress.

If I were to make this again I think I'd lower my waistline by a few inches.  It looks kind of maternity-ish to me right now.  I'd also lower my hemline.  This ended up a tad too short for my comfort.  I'd use narrower bindings and maybe add some side shaping.  Even with all my personal "critiques", I'm still quite pleased with it.  I loved the challenge of making this, using the basic pieces in the book to come up with my own unique dress.  Who knows, maybe I'll make another next weekend :)

some weekend sewing

Yes, I got the book.  Tonight I traced and modified.  My goal is a sleeveless tunic dress, using the summer blouse pattern as my base.  I haven't chosen the fabric yet, but I'm sure I have something in my stash.  Now that I think about it, maybe I'll make this first version from one of my thrifted sheets.  If it turns out badly, I could always use it as a night gown, right?  That's how I've been using this dud.  So, if all my lucky stars line up just right, I'll have a new dress to show by Sunday night.  Happy weekend, friends :)

i {heart} painted wood

Some people love the look of a natural or stained wood grain, some love smooth, glossy finishes.  I love painted wood.  Rough or smooth, it doesn't matter to me.  I love furniture painted in bright colors.  I love furniture painted white. 

This was on my mind today as I was looking for more paint to finish this blue rocking chair (there's a reason I'm not showing the top).  I don't particularly like this chair, but it has sentimental value.  I've always wanted to paint it, but didn't have the courage.  I don't know why.  As I looked around my house, I found a painted piece of furniture in just about every room.

There's the red bookcase in Alex's room, which was made by my grandfather.

The cedar robe I received from my great uncle.

The dresser that once belonged to Matt.

And now I have a new undertaking.  A few weeks ago I picked up this buffet and bed frame for the girls' room.  I'm thinking blue.

While I'm at it, I might as well tackle this TV cabinet which has been unfinished for 5 years.  Yes, f-i-v-e.  I'm thinking green, like the pillow in the rocker (which looks gold in that photo).  Maybe.  If I do that I'll need something painted for the other side of the room, which is dominated my unpainted wood.  Maybe a poppy red chair?  

 Now, the actual painting of furniture, I don't love so much.

a couple of bags

Okay, so I didn't spend all my time in the yard.  Late Sunday night I made these, or rather, I finished them up.  I would have gone to bed, but Matt was staying up to work on lesson plans - I didn't want him to stay up all alone.

I think this is the last of the curvy bags, yet another variation.  It was started a few weeks ago.  My favorite part of it is the quilting on the orange section. 

 

To keep with the quilted theme, I did some wavy lines on the back.  Maybe now I'm ready to do some quilting on an actual quilt!  You know, I have almost 4 quilt tops near completion.

This bag is the result of my orla bag.  I wanted to play around with the proportions a bit.  After having used the orla bag for a little while, I realized that it was too long.  This one is just right.  Both of these will be available in my shop in the near future.

the weather made me do it

 

On most Friday afternoons I make a list of all that I want to accomplish craft-wise for the weekend.  Because on Friday, the weekend is ahead and it seems like I'll have all the time in the world - oh the possibilities.  I dream big.  I'll list the 'have-to's' and the 'want-to's', many of which I know I'll never get to.  This weekend was no different.  I had a list as long as my arm - finishing quilts, making dresses, working on quilt blocks, repairing slipcovers. Yeah, right.

Right now, the weather in south Louisiana is absolutely perfect.  Really, I couldn't imagine it getting any better - sunny, highs in the 70's, light breeze, low humidity - PERFECT.  When we have this sort of weather you have to enjoy it right then and there because it doesn't last long.  Needless to say, I hardly glanced at my list.

On Sunday morning I did pull out my sewing stuff, and noticed that my sewing projects coordinated with my coffee cup, then put it all away.

I got dressed and headed to the garden center.  I worked in my yard a bunch.  My flower beds are full of weeds, so I've been trying to clean that up.  I got one section cleaned up and planted.  My kitchen window box got filled with geraniums and marigolds.  I planted a little herb garden for the patio.  I cut down a huge bush to make room for an extension to our vegetable garden.

On this Monday morning I am tired and sore, but ready to do it all over again.

dresses

I can not stop thinking about spring/summer dresses.  I'd sew myself a whole wardrobe of them, if I could.  I have the fabric, I have the patterns, now all I need is the time.  Ah, time.  Who couldn't use more of that?

Even though I'm not too crazy about it, I'm wearing a dress I made a few weeks ago.  I don't think this dress is very flattering on me.  Hmm, I like it better in this photo than I do in real life. I'll still wear it, but I certainly don't love it.  It is comfortable, though.

Before I made this one I started another one (hanging in the background), but I'm still not done with it .  That Vogue Simplicity pattern was purchased at least 10 years ago.  I think I'll like that one a lot more.  It's a wrap dress, which is pretty flattering to most shapes.  All that is left are the sleeves.  I can't decide what length I want to make.  Short?  Elbow?  I'm leaning towards elbow length sleeves.  This is one that I would like to make more of, but there are other patterns I'd like to try out.  So many patterns, so little time!!  Oh, and in case you're wondering, the cropped sweater is from Old Navy - the dress is McCall's 5039.

wearing o' the green

 

I finished it in time!  My modified rusted root was done in time to wear on St. Patrick's day.  I finished with not much time to spare - I was weaving in the ends before bed last night.  I haven't even blocked it yet!

My modifications were to lower the neckline a few inches and I didn't do the puff sleeves.  The sleeves were an accident.  I was so focused on the neckline that I forgot about the sleeves.  The only thing I'd change if I were to make this again would be to pick up less stitches under the arm.  The sleeve under the arm is a little baggy, but this is a minor detail that most people probably would never notice.  Overall, I'm very happy with this.

Oh, and the skirt I have on that matches this top so perfectly - it's from 2 years ago.  I had forgotten how much I like this pattern, I think I need more :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

weekending

It was a rainy, yucky weekend here.  It has been a rainy, yucky Monday as well.  It's the kind of Monday where you want to stay in bed with the covers over your head, or at least that's what I felt like doing this morning when the alarm went off.  I'm tempted to say that the weekend was a washout, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it was a really good one. 

This weekend I:

• mostly caught up on the housework
• almost finished the laundry
• went out to dinner with Matt
• made him buy a pair of jeans that fit
• browsed around a book store
• took a nap
• wore stretchy pants
• knitted a little
• watched a movie with the kids
• listened to the rain
• started a new quilt
• enjoyed the hugs and giggles

There was much rain and sogginess, but yes, it was just what I needed.