happy halloween

what i learned

Sorry to butt in post-wise again Tracy, but I think I need to do this as therapy for having spent so much time on something that turned out so wrong.

The dress is Vogue 8468. I've spent the past couple nights cutting out the pattern and all day today sewing. It's fully lined - I mean fully. Even the sleeves are lined. I opted not to line the sleeves.
Sewing is about learning and here is what I learned. I guess you could consider this a pattern review of sorts:

1. Too much floral really is too much. Even if you love the pattern. Solid is probably best with accents of the floral. Unless you're a kid. Then anything goes.

2. Just because the drawn picture looks cute on the drawn model on the pattern cover doesn't mean that it's cute as a real dress on a real person.

3. The gathering is just above the chest causing that part of the dress to poof out - and not in a flattering way to those of us that could use a little poof.

4. I did learn how to put in a zipper (that's not an invisible one) and practice putting in sleeves. I made one size smaller than I measured.

Right now, I can't decide whether or not I'd try the dress again in a solid color. Maybe. Right now is not the time to decide. I would gather the top going all of the way across versus just "in between the small dots". I think that would solve the "poofing" problem. I'm not sure all of the lining is necessary either. It makes the dress feel very heavy. I would rather wear a slip underneath. Or use a silky lining.

Luckily there is enough fabric on the dress that I can use it for a dress for Anna or some bags or something. Bibs maybe.

Day 2

Here's the outfit from Day 2 on the list. It is this pattern. I found the fabric at Joanns for 50% off. It's very sweet little trick-or-treating teddy bears. Completely not my typical fabric choice, but there is just something sweet about it. I made it a dress for this year so that next year she can wear it as a long top with leggings.

Punkin Pie

We went to the BEST Halloween party a couple weekends ago. You can see pictures here and here. I brought a pumpkin pie that I made. It was for completely selfish reasons - I love pumpkin pie and will make it whenever possible.

Tracy is the true connoisseur of pies having made the desserts for a nice restaurant in Utah for a few years and gone to school studying culinary arts. I will fake it for you. I just use the recipe off of the Libby's pumpkin can BUT with this one alteration - split up the sugar, meaning do half granulated and half brown sugar. Mmmm. . . pie. . .

Book Favorites!

    I love craft/sewing books. I mean how could you not?  Even if I don't read them or do any of the projects inside the books, they are most always very inspirational and full wonderful eye candy photos.  I thought I woulds tell you about three of my favs. The first is one of the first sewing books I ever bought "Denyse Schmidts Quilts" I love this book it is filled with basic projects and some really beautiful quilts. It was the first time I had really ever seen modern quilt patterns and it transformed my perspective on quilting.  The quilts in this book are not your Grandmas quilt they are unique and really fun.  Not that I have anything against traditional quilting patterns I just think this book is really refreshing. 

  The second book is "Sew U" by Wendy Mullin. This was one of the books I bought when I decided I wanted to start making clothing for myself.  It is a great place to start, with out being to simple. This is also one of the books I have read from cover to cover, and have used all of the patterns.  There is a basic skirt, shirt and a pair of pants and the best part is that she also shows you how to change the patterns to suit your style needs. I still use this book all the time as a reference.  

  The last book I have to admit I just got yesterday, but I already love it! It is "Seams To Me" by Anna Maria Horner.  I had to buy it!  I have used her fabric for a while and I also read her blog. I think she is amazing.   I was really excited to get this book, and so far the projects look really creative and different.  Which is one thing I have noticed in some of my other books is lacking.  I have several book that seem to contain the same projects. I mean how many instruction on making napkins does a girl need? but I really didn't find that from this book the patterns are more original. I can't wait to get started on the "Bow Peep Skirt" in this book.  

 Well these are my favorites I would love to hear what your favorites are, and I am always looking for the next book to buy so please post any suggestions!  

13 days of halloween

I took this picture last year, but it still give me the creeps just remembering it!

Just for fun I thought we'd do the 13 days of Halloween count down this year. Here's out list just in case you're interested in counting down too!

Day 1: (starting today - sorry for the late post!): pull out the Halloween decorations and put them up. I got some really fun bat garland from Michael's (courtesy of Martha of course!)

Day 2: Wear a fun Halloween outfit to preschool (picture to come).

Day 3: Make spooky invisible suckers.

Day 4: Make pumpkin ornaments.

Day 5: Watch a Halloween movie.

Day 6: Read some Halloween stories.

Day 7: Make a pumpkin bird feeder.

Day 8: Make Creep Cakes.

Day 9: Write a Spooky story.

Day 10: Color some spooky pictures.

Day 11: Stitch some dot-to-dot cards.

Day 12: Carve Pumpkins.

Day 13: Happy Halloween!!!

for lisalou - and you if you want

me and t bib - Upload a Document to Scribd

Lisalou asked that I post the pattern for the bib that I used. Here ya go!

i'm sensing a theme in my fabric buying. . .

Here are some bibs that I made for a friend who is having a baby. It wasn't until I was finished with them that I realized all of the fabric I chose had a blue/turquoise background. I want to keep them. But I won't. Still a little too girlie for baby C.

I have a bib that I really like the shape of that I just used as a pattern (cut a little wider than bib. Sew right sides together leaving an opening, turn right side out and top stitch). On the back I used terrycloth and flannel, but I think I like the terrycloth best. It makes the bib feel a little more substantial. Coolest of all though is the nifty snap presser thing my MIL gave me 5+ years ago that I never took out of the package because I had NO idea what on earth I would use it for. Laying in bed one night I realized the coolness of the tool and remembered where I had put it in my closest (a small miracle indeed). So. The bibs close with a snap. It's wonderful!

Oliver+s Patterns

I love Oliver+s Patterns this is the second one I have tried. I think the designer has captured the sweetness of childhood. My older daughter is almost eight, and when we go to stores to find her clothes I feel that most of the clothing are patterned after adult clothing. In turn they make her look older then she is. I really don't want her to grow up to fast. So I was really excited when the fall line of Oliver+S patterns came out with sizing up to size 8.  To bad she doesn't always like the things I make for her. That is why I guess I sew for her little sister who is more than happy to wear mom's homemade goods.  

ideas of gifts to make for christmas

I have to admit, I am not much of a procrastinator. I think my husband feels left out every year at Christmas because I have most of the shopping done by November. This year, I will save time for him, but I have to admit - I know what I'm making for pretty much everyone. I've even got it all cut out and in bags so that it's ready to sew whenever I'm ready to sew. . .

Here's a few ideas in case you're thinking about Christmas in October.

Beanbags: I'm thinking of making these for Carson. He likes throwing things so I might as well make him something that won't break.

Ponytail holders: great for little friends.

A list of 54 Free apron patterns.

If you're not going to make your grandma fabric grocery bags, maybe you could help her tame all of her plastic bags with a nifty grocery bag dispenser.

A belt for your stylish sister or friend.

Dish towels - always a great idea. Plus, cute and easy.

more to come. . .

crafty cork board

I had never considered myself "crafty" until this project. Perhaps being "crafty" has held a stigma of my mom and aunt toll painting cutesy pumpkins and other Relief Society-making-wreaths-out-of-garden hoses type projects. But, now I give in. I'm crafty and that's ok dang it.

I've been on the hunt a while now for a cute cork board or magnet board that I can put in my laundry room to post notes on (or more likely stuff I want).

Anyway, the space that I wanted to put it in was sort of limited so I decided to make my own. Walmart sells a 4 pack of cork board squares that are 12 x 12 (but they are pretty thin) for only $5. I wanted them to be thick as if they were on a canvas so I decided to hot glue 3 of them together. (Also, one is too thin to use - the pin would just hit the wall).

Here's how I did it. It's so easy I'm not really sure that a tutorial is necessary but what the heck.

1. Hot glue the cork board together. I did 3.

2. Cut fabric 16 x 16. I also cut out a piece of muslin to put in between the fabric and the cork board so the cork board wouldn't show through. Don't forget to iron your fabric.

3. Layer the fabric (wrong side up), muslin, and then cork board and pin up two (opposite) sides. I just used push pins to stick the fabric down so I could use the fabric again and switch out the fabric when I wanted to.


4. Fold up the other two sides. The easiest way to explain how to do this and have nice corners is to fold up the ends like you do when you wrap a gift - except fold that top flap towards the board with the bottom flap following.

5. Make sure everything is pulled nice and tight.
Viola - you're done. I covered some buttons and hot glued them onto push pins so the pins were cute too.


edit:: I should have put on here what I did to hang mine. Sorry for those of you that have had their boards fall off their walls (and then destroyed by their toddlers). I just hot-glued a picture hanging hook to the back of it.

Her name is Emily.

I had so much fun making this little doll.  She took forever. So much so that I am having a hard time giving her away. I actually made her for my darling little niece but I can't seem to part with her sweet smiling face. I got her pattern from one of my favorite blogs  by Hillary Lang She is very talented at making all things small.  I think I will have to make another one for my niece for christmas.     

7 things about these two BFFs

Jen tagged us a few days ago and I thought it would be fun to list 7 things about us you didn't know!

1. I remember Tracy's first day of school in 7th grade (or was it 6th?). We were in gym class and she came in. She was wearing jeans and a stripped bodysuit (remember those - not these).

2. I got married before she did. She had kids before I did. Her youngest is the same age as my oldest.

3. 1 year Tracy and I sent out the SAME Christmas card bought from Target. Out of the millions of cards we picked the same one. Funny!
4. This is my favorite picture of us.

5. The first time Tracy came out here for a visit I got in a car accident on the freeway on my way to pick her up. It was my fault. . . I guess I was just too excited!

6. Tracy married her hairdresser. She "stalked" him while he was in hair school. I think she got her haircut twice a month. He moved to Atlanta after graduation then later moved back to Provo. Somehow she found out he moved back and started going to him again.

7. Tracy makes amazing quilts! Maybe she'll show us her Halloween one (hint hint).