The Dog Days of Winter

 

 Good day to you all!  Just popping in to say hi, and to show you that adorable time-lapse. :) Currently on the sewing table... a Valentines Day dress for Emmy!  People really, if all goes to plan, this will be the cutest, epicest (yeah) dress I've ever made her.  We'll see!  I designed it myself and made the pattern myself!  Eeep!  I think I'm going to take photos as it comes together, so if it seems like it's going to come out a success, I'll share the process with you!  If not, I'll curl up in a shame ball.  Wish me luck!

Hello, beautiful babychild. :)

 Love to all! Pin It

Seriously.

Sorry for another lengthy absence, friends!  This mess happened:

I'm in that circle there.  We were out of power for SIX FREAKING DAYS.  That's longer than the tornado.
Long story short, we got hit by a big epic snowstorm before the trees had time to drop all their leaves.  So pretty much every tree within a hundred mile radius (probably more, actually) is half of what it was a few weeks ago.  I think Mother Nature is trying to eradicate us.  Fo realz.
But since there have been trees falling all around me for months, I figured, Hey!  Let's make something outta all this timber!  Here's a sneak peek - I'll write a non-half-assed post about it here soon.  I've had no crafty/bloggy mojo lately - too much going on.  But trust, I'll be back.  Always am. :)

LOVE to all!

Summer

Hello friends and family! As is now evident, I am no good at summer blog updates, summer sewing or summer anything-that-takes-time-away-from-summer things.  I do apologize!   The Hubs works evenings most of the year, but in summer he works days, so we've just really been enjoying our family time while it lasts.  I've got a slew of crafty things on the horizon, but for now I'm making sure I soak up this time with Emmy...  It's been an awesome summer so far. :)   Hope yall are having a good one too! 

Testing the waters with Grampy

Yes, that IS a Coors Light cowboy hat, why?

First braids!  SO sweet!  :D

Playing with fancycamera off the back deck of the beach house...

Collecting rocks...

Score.

Helping Papa build Stonehenge...

Beach bath! (aka token funny bath picture to show her boyfriends) 

Rainbowy goodness...

Ahh... want to go back!

  

  

This was Jonas's first stay at a beach house, if that wasn't already made clear by this photo.  lol


 Also, awesome Kim added a spot to the side of the blog for things 'in the works'... I think it'll help me stay focused!  Keep a look out there for upcoming projects and whatnot.    Enjoy the rest of your summer everyone! 

New Computer & a New Site!

Hey all!

I dropped my laptop off at Staples yesterday, and should have my new one - complete with all of my pictures and music and whatnot  - by Thursday or Friday!  WOOT!

So in the meantime I thought I would just pop in [from my work computer... shh] to tell you about this new site that Tara from The Trendy Treehouse has started!  It's called Make it Sew it Love it!

She's compiling all of the FREE patterns, tutorials and projects from around the CraftBlogosphere!  Great idea, no?!  Aaaand, she has kindly added my Pattern Weights tute, and my Lucky in Love Onesie tute!  Yay!!  Thank you Tara!  Awesome site.  :)
If any of you have anything to add, pop on over there & fill out the contact form!  Easy peasy!

And just because it's adorable, here's a picture of my darling Emmylou eating her first grilled cheese sandwich.

G'day.  :D

Some Housekeeping

I got no sewing done this past weekend!  The horror!

We have family coming in this week for Emmys FIRST BIRTHDAY (!!?!) so we spent the weekend [talking about] cleaning.  I couldn't justify sitting down at the sewing machine when I have so sososoo much else to do!  Ugh!  Damn you dust kittens lions!

But, I will certainly try to sew up at least 2 pillow case dresses by the end of the week for LBG Studios' cause.  There's still time to participate, so if you're so inclined, check it out here:

  In related news, I officially get a FAIL in sew-alongs.  Dof!  Let me sum it up: The Marie Skirt:  I'm not totally sure what I did, but the waistband needs to be completely removed and redone.  It's like 3 inches too short around (?).  I would certainly redo it if I thought this skirt was going to be something I'd actually wear.  I shimmied it on to see how it looks and it ain't pretty.  It's not the skirt - I love the skirt - it's just not. ok. on me.  So for now, it's a wadder.  Sorry Regan!  I loved your finished skirts - so inspiring!  Maybe I can get my isht together for your next sew-along. :)And then oh dear lord, the Vintage sew-along.  FAIL x 10.  My progress?  I've picked a pattern (below).  The time line for that sew-along was January through February.  It's now the Ides of March.  So I'm just granting myself an open-ended extension on this one.Do yall think this polka dot stretch cotton would be too much for the long-sleeved version of this dress?  I'm tending to think so...  Maybe I'll go sleeveless for Spring.  That way the polka dotness will be less overwhelming, yes?  I just love this fabric - it's so soft & it wants to be a dress.  This dress.

Thoughts?

 Plus, what a simple pattern!  If I just got to it, I could probably bump it out in a couple of evenings and get on with my life.  Gah.

And last but certainly not least... The Pendrell!  I think I'm putting this one off because I'm just so excited to make it!  Makes total sense, right?!  Plus, the sew-along is very, very over and my first fabric choice is a little too Wintery.  Enter this spectacular firework-ish poly-charmeuse...  Perfect for Summer!

Pardon the washed-out pic

Maybe it's the 80's kid in me, but I love love neon colors on a white background.  Oh, and the real reason I haven't sewn the Pendrell?  I'm still petrified of silky fabrics.  

Anyone have tips?  I'd love to hear them, 'cause I have sewing to do!  Silk needle?  Stabilizer??  Wash-away or tear-away?!??   I'm dying to hear your advice!

K, see yall later!  I may be absent a lot this week and part of next due to my daughters impending ONEness, but I'll still be stalking all your sites.  :D

Love to all,

My vintage sunsuit pattern obsession, and some thoughts

Peter over at Male Pattern Boldness recently posted about the cost and value of vintage patterns.  It's a really interesting read, and the comments are also very thought provoking.  Of course, I had to chime in with my two ten cents.  Enjoy some eye candy whilst I opine.



1975 McCall's 4494



I have only been in the sewing world for a year or so, so I am certainly no expert on vintage patterns or their true values.  But from my personal experience, some sellers seem to push the envelope (ha) as to how much cash they are owed in exchange for their pattern.  I get that some are very rare, and that condition is a major factor.  But since there is no formal set of guidelines for pricing these patterns (is there?), where do sellers get their figures?  For example, one pattern I'm currently coveting on eBay has the Buy It Now price of $47.61.  Really?  It's not necessarily the steep 40 dollarness of it; it's the odd figure.  Where does that amount - that ultra specific amount - come from?  Plus, if I had $47.61 to spend on a single pattern, do you have any. idea. how much more fabric I would have?!  Cripes.

Butterick 4631 (No date that I could find.  Early 80's?)

I don't mean any disrespect to vintage pattern sellers, I truly don't.  We can all choose where and how we spend - and make - our money.  And like I said, I don't speak from a place of expertise.  On the other side of the coin, I sometimes wonder if the people from whom I've bought my el cheapo patterns knew what they were selling, and that they possibly could've gotten more for them.  Did they not know the pattern had value (above .99¢), or did they just know they weren't going to make the rent by selling it?

1977 Simplicity 8041

((*UPDATE - See the above pattern sewn up HERE!*))

There are people who sell these vintage patterns on the cheap and there are people who do not.  I intend to sew with them, not have them matted and framed, so I will continue to seek out the affordable patterns.  They are plentiful.  Admittedly though, a few of the pricey ones do haunt my dreams.

1980 McCalls 6944

1945 Simplicity 1338 (I die.)

((*UPDATE - See the above pattern sewn up HERE!*))


Every pattern pictured above was 3 bucks or in most cases, less.  I'm not a completely cheap bastard though.  I would probably spend up to $15 if I just haaaad to have a pattern.

So what do yall think?  Do you buy and sew with Vintage patterns?  If you do, how much are you willing to spend on those bad boys?

Love to hear your thoughts!

Cheers!

A (good) break in sewing.

No Pendrell.  No Marie.  No vintage dress.  No quilting.  No nothin'.

YAY! 

Why yay?  Because I'm moving into a brand spankin' new sewing space!!!  I'm sharing it with the washer and dryer, but they have been alloted about 10% of the space in the room.  Ha.  Take that, Kenmore.

We have been working on it for the past two weekends, and it's almost ready to occupy!  I use 'we' loosely here - it's actually been my uncle Kev and stepfather Bobby - thank you guys!!!  This room required a complete overhaul - Robins Egg Blue faux wood paneling removal (I know, sad), new insulation (we actually didn't think it was insulated, it was so cold!  But, oddly, it was), stud repair, drywall, new flooring, some minor electrical fixes... Phew!  So it's been quite the transformation, and well worth the wait!

Before: washer and dryer hogging too much space.

Oh paneling, you were lovely, and I will miss you.

Drywall up!

Washer and dryer behaving in a more civilized manner.

Future home of Sewingville!  And carpeting!

Aforementioned 10% of alloted laundry space.



My new nook... with glowy paint going up.

My paint color is Cool Morning by Valspar, and it absolutely gllllows in daylight (but is subtle at night).  Exactly what I was looking for.  I also got a Minwax stain called Special Walnut (fun) for the baseboards and trim and whatnot, but I can't decide whether to stain or to just paint all of it white.  The stain matches most of the wood in my house, as well as the door into the shiny new Palace of Sewdom, but I also like the freshness of bright white trim.  Thoughts?

 

What would yall do?

So anyhow, all things sewing/craft related are in bags and boxes and upstairs and downstairs, etc.  You know the drill.  But, I should be done painting and staining and moving furniture by the end of this week!  And [in my dreams] I will have the most fabulously productive sewing weekend! 

YAY!

Love to all!