A Dress.

I decided to be frugal and use a pattern I already had to make one of the dresses on my "summer list". I used the peony pattern (my Easter dress) again but did it in a very vintage looking cotton and added pockets and nixed the cumber bun and bought a red belt instead (I had to return it for a smaller belt later). I wanted to create a dress I could wear during the week in my regular life, so it needed to be cool for summer and washable.

Love the vintage inspired cherry fabric. Good one JoAnn's

I happily sewed along very quickly as I had just made this up for Easter and then I tried it on... Oh. My. Word. It was awful! The neckline was so huge I looked like I was in Queen Elizabeth's (the first) Court, or that my head had been shrunk by an evil voodoo doctor. I cried. Then I cut a new neckline and finished it with bias tape, AND... Had a huge bubble in my back. The dress would have fit Quasimodo perfect. I cried again. Then I did some last minute "hail mary" stuff with the shoulders put it away and tried it on in the morning AND... It fit!!! Not only did it fit but it totally had a 1940's silhouette that I adore. I have no idea why the dress worked for Easter and not for Mother's Day. Maybe it had something to do with the different fabrics but I probably won't be making up this pattern again. Love the two I ended up with though.

The second time I wore the dress I threw on an apron to get ready for lunch without thinking much about it. When I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror I thought "Wow I look like I stepped out of a Time Life photo." The pose on the right is my "Homemakers for Victory" pose.

Another New Dress.

From Sew Serendipity Studios.

There is a funny story behind this dress. Well, maybe a better word would be amusing.  At our local independent sewing shop (SewUnique Threads, which if you sew and haven't been there you must it's fabulous and the owner is so helpful and sweet), I saw this dress pattern. Probably at least six months ago if not longer and have been ogling it since. I go in and look at it and sigh and then go on about my business. I've even had in-depth discussions with the shop owner about this pattern. It's difficult for me to spend $12 on a pattern plus the fabric because it can get costly fast and you can usually get a pattern from the big three on sale for like $2 (though, my splurge for my birthday dress pattern showed me that using these boutique patterns makes a world of difference in your sewing.) 

I made this pin holder out by affixing a magnet
on the bottom. I got the dish at Amazing Grace in Marshall
for $3!

Then I turned 30 and one of my gifts from a lovely and very generous couple in our church was this pattern plus a gift certificate to SewUnique!!!!! I was so thrilled and a little amazed that out of all the patterns in the world she picked out the one I have been wanting for so long (my dad calls that a side blessing. Something God gives to us not because we need it but just to bless us and remind us He's here.)  The card was really cute it said: We bought you a dress, you just have to make it. You know your a strange person when that makes you all giddy inside.

The trim is vintage I got it at an antique store.
I actually think I would leave it off if I was doing it again
but I do like the scandinavian feel it adds.

Back to the dress. The directions were great until the very end.  I seriously could not figure out the very last step in the directions. I finally just used my common sense and in all honesty it probably would make sense to some one else. I always struggle with construction but this pattern was a breeze to work with. I even installed an invisible zipper with out crying or swearing!  I'm happy with how well it went together (pretty fast for me I think I worked on it in little spurts for a week), though I'm a bit disappointed in how it looks on me. I don't think it looks bad just not as good as my birthday dress.  I didn't realize that it was an empire waist because it doesn't really look like that in the picture and I don't think that's the best style on someone as "well-endowed" as me. Still, it's cute and summery and I'll definitely wear it  through out the rest of the summer (I have a cousin's wedding shower coming up, perfect.) and I left space so that I could take it in next spring if I continue to loose weight so hopefully I'll get more wear out of it since it's already August (doesn't that just make you sick?).

 I have to take a sewing break while my dad and I work on remodeling the basement but I think you will all be amused with my next project.

So apparently once warm weather hits it is impossible for me to actually get any blogging done.  I am too busy at the beach, on vacations, weeding the flower beds.  Things I am not too busy doing; laundry (well I just hate doing laundry), mopping the floors (what's the point they'll just get dirty again), cooking (it's too hot to turn on the stove or oven), scrubbing the toilet (am I the only person in this house that knows how to scrub a toilet?) and dusting (I only dust twice a year whether it needs it or not!).  I do have big plans to take you all on a picture journey to and through Maine but I'm not sure I have the time to do that before the kids wake up so today I thought I would just catch you up on the bazillion crafts I have finished this spring/summer.  Don't be too amazed the following pictures are covering several months although I do feel semi-productive in this area.

I made this tea pot shaped birthday cake covered in fondant flowers for my friend and neighbor's daughters first birthday.  I don't think Isla ate the entire thing but it felt good to finally make this cake I've had the recipe card for it since I first got married it came as a freebie in the mail.

This is a mini diaper bag that I made for my dear friend Beki.  It was made out of a decor weight children's fabric with vintage space ships and astronauts.  It has an attached changing pad that unfolds from the side.  The bag is designed for a quick trip to the store or coffee shop.  I filled it with post baby essentials such as gift cards for take out and lanolin.

Did I talk about this dress already?  Well it turned out fine took too much time and looks awful on me.  Before you begin your "Oh your probably just being picky" stop because it does but it looks really cute on one of my coffee club girls so I have a few minor alterations to make and it will be all hers.  I'm just relieved some one will be able to get use out of it makes it feel like it's not a waste .

This adorable little fly away jacket is made out of a super light super soft children's fabric covered in a three little pigs motif.  I made the trim myself and you can't really see the closure is a pewter pig I found at my local yarn shop.  I will make this jacket again it turned out so well and was so simple.  I am currently making a blue checked romper to go underneath and am almost finished with that.

This shirt I made for myself from the Book "Weekend Sewing" which has a huge variety of really nice projects.  I got the fabric for super cheap from Fields of Fabrics in Kalamazoo.  The cool thing about this fabric is that it's a linen blend and I love linen but it's really expensive; I got this for $3 a yard!!

Also I had just bought this camisole without any thing to wear it with and it matches perfectly.  I was very pleased with how the shirt turned out and while it's not perfect I was pretty happy with the sleeves especially.  The unfortunate thing with the shirt is that it has been way too warm to wear so it's waiting for autumn I suppose.  Also I think this pattern would make a great light weight summer shirt if made in a nice cotton fabric.

Remember the Eighty Granny Squares I made earlier this year?  Well this is what they turned into and I'm quite happy with the finished product and with the fact that I actually followed through and finished this baby blanket I've always had a knack for getting super excited about a project taking on way too much and not finishing (I'm sure this says something bad about me but in this case I finished and I'm so glad)  I even "blocked" the thing although I don't think it made much of a difference so I probably won't do that again.  The blanket was for my new nephew Eli and has tons of colors but the predominate ones are blues and greens because his nursery is oceany.  Also notice the crochet hook case, I made that to keep all my sewing things organized while traveling, I love the bird fabric and have used it in several different things.