craftiness is not optional

Vintage May: feedsack Geranium with peter pan collar

2013-05-20T01:01:00.000-07:00

More Vintage May is on the way! We've got one more week of the fun-I can't wait!

So is it just me, or was Miss Charlotte MADE for vintage style clothing? Her little cherub face and curly pigtails...she just kills me. :D For her look I nabbed this awesome feedsack fabric from Joanns and made her a Geranium dress out of it. (this is like my 5th geranium...I heart that pattern) I went with the cap sleeves because they're adorable, easy, and easy. Did I mention easy? I drafted a peter pan collar for it, and added navy blue piping before sewing it up. (see this tutorial for some tips on drafting/sewing a pp collar) Then I sewed a piece of bias tape right under the collar, and tied it in a sweet bow.

I love the bright red candy-like buttons on the back! And the piggies. Sheesh.

I also shortened it a bit to show off those cute toddler knees! I sewed up a size 2T and chopped off about 2.5" before hemming it up.

Now enjoy the rest of our vintage photo shoot!

Also, you have GOT to see Kristin's gorgeous swing jacket she made for her daughter-we both must be crushing on gingham lately!

vintage may guest: Alida Makes

2013-05-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today's Vintage May guest is the charming and funny Alida, from Alida Makes! I count her blog among my tip top fave list-she is an amazing seamstress, and I love reading what she writes, she makes me feel right at home. (she's southern, so that makes sense, right? :) She is always encouraging and positive (and made me tear up with this post) I adored her Calling All Kids series-she is an awesome momma-always sewing for her kids tastes-which I need to do more (which means much more pink...) Plus...she has a daughter named Charlotte so that makes her even awesomer. ;-) Oh and did I mention she is amazing at creating her own fabric!?

So in short, hop on over to Alida's blog to see her awesome Doli tank-made with the most fantastic vintage raccoon fabric, ever. Swoon! I am in love with it.

And please, pin from her blog, not mine! Thanks!

And of course, click over to Skirt as Top so that you can check out the vintage goodness from her guest, the amazing An from Straight Grain!

Vintage May guest: Melly Sews

2013-05-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today's Vintage May guest is the prolific Melissa from Melly Sews! Sheesh. I am in awe of this lady. She is a superstar! Not only does she REALLY know how to sew...she has an amazing pattern line, works magic with her computer skillz and know-how, and has so much fantastic sewing knowledge that she graciously shares on her blog! Whenever I have a sewing question, her blog is one of the first I search! I am always in awe of what she accomplishes! *cough* superwoman *cough*

Make sure to hop over to Melissa's blog to see her fabulous board shorts and shirt-the shirt is made from a vintage pattern, and the board shorts are a sneak peek at one of her fabulous patterns coming out soon!

And please, pin from her blog, not mine! Thanks!

As usual, I'll steer ya over to Skirt as Top so that you can check out the adorable Gatsby-inspired outfit Heidi from Elegance and Elephants made. It's ah-mazing.

Vintage May Guest: MADE

2013-05-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today's Vintage May guest needs no introduction. Seriously. You all know her very well, I'm sure! I am soo excited to welcome the fabulous Dana from MADE to Vintage May! She is the amazing author, blogger, and go-to tutorial gal for most of crafty-blogger-land! I have used many, many of her well written tutorials-the circle skirt is one I am constantly referencing, her shirt to dress tutorial was one of the first items of clothing I ever sewed, and her recipe tab is full of scrumptious-looking treats! Dana has an amazing knack for photography-her step by steps pictures are just as awesome as her final project shots! Now that's talent!

Make sure to hop over to Dana's blog to see her fantastic vintage placemat bibs! (and how cute is Clara in them? love her cheekies....I've got a soft spot for 'em. ;)

And please, pin from her blog, not mine! Thanks!

Of course, make sure to head over to Skirt as Top to see the adorably 80's outfit Jess from A Little Gray made her son...it's rad, dude. :-)

Vintage May guest: Delia Creates

2013-05-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today's Vintage May guest is downright amazing....Delia from Delia Creates! On top of being super sweet, a fantastic seamstress, crafter extraordinaire-she takes fab-ulous pictures. I aspire to be on Delia's level of photography someday. I loved everything she made when she competed on Project Run and Play-but this outfit was my ultimate fave of hers! I've also been meaning to make this doorway puppet show for like, years. Seriously. But she knocks it out of the park with these amazing baby shoes.

Make sure to hop over to Delia's blog to see the adorable bonnet she made for her daughter!

And please, pin from her blog, not mine! Thanks!

And you have GOT to head over to Skirt as Top to see the adorable vintage dress Miriam from Mad Mim transformed! So inspiring!

Vintage May: Gingham "romper"

2013-05-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hello there dahling....Vintage May is here! I am so excited! :-D

When it comes to vintage style, I am especially enamored with the style of the 40's and 50's. So for Sadie's look for Vintage May, I was inspired by this picture and romper! I decided to make it a "faux romper"....basically two pieces made with the same fabric so that when worn together, it looks like a romper! Brilliant, eh? Actually, I'm sure someone else has thought of this before...but anyways. Let me have my moment in the sun, mmkay?

So for the bottom of the "romper" I made a pair of Oliver and S puppet show shorts for Sadie in a size 3T, but gathered them in a little more and used the 2T sizing for the bias tape band on the bottom. I also lined them since my gingham (from Hobby Lobby) was a little thin.

For the top, I used my Leah Tunic tutorial, changing it into a basic top, ie, leaving out the gathered portion, then added a ric rac trimmed ruffle around the neck and a faux button placket on the front! And although the whole get up is really adorable, it might be considered a bit "costumey" for normal life, so this way she can wear them separately!

Oh and I thrifted those saltwater sandals for $2 the other week. #bestthriftingever

The cream sodas I got for the shoot were a hit!...man I have not seen such serious soda drinking faces on kids before. lol. (also, another little glimpse of Charlotte's look that you can see next Monday!)

I had to whip up a Rosie the Riveter-esque hair tie like the one the model is wearing in the inspiration shot. So cute!

We had our shoot in our quaint little downtown, and I have so many more pics to show you next week when I post Charlotte's outfit! All I can say is....knobby little toddler knees and piggy tails. Be there!

See Kristin's gorgeous 30's inspired skirt with pocket tutorial over on her blog today! I pretty much want to steal it. ;)

Vintage May is coming!

2013-05-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Some of you have asked, so let's put you out of your misery. (cause I know you're moping around waiting for this announcement.... ;)

Vintage May is back! For the next two weeks, the fabulous Kristin of Skirt as Top and I will be hosting guests on each of our blogs with lots of..you guessed it...lots of vintage sewing goodness! I cannot wait! We'll both be posting twice, and then each week will have four guests. You guys are going to love it!

Our super talented guests include:

Disney from Ruffles and Stuff

Jess from A Little Gray

Delia from Delia Creates

Miriam from Mad Mim

Dana from MADE

Heidi from Elegance and Elephants

Melissa from Melly Sews

Alida from Alida Makes

An from Straight Grain

Jen and Autie from iCandy Handmade

Miranda from One Little Minute

Kirstin from KoJo Designs

Shannon from Luvinthemommyhood

Jessica from Happy Together

Erin and Caroline from Hungie Gungie

Vanessa from LBG Studio

wowzas. Quite the line up, you'll agree! I cannot wait to see what this fabulous group of ladies have in store for us!

You can see last years projects here, and here....please feel free to add any of your vintage inspired outfits to the Vintage May flickr group!

Here's a tiny sneak peek!

See you Monday!

updated craft room

2013-05-07T22:35:00.000-07:00

Well it's about time. I've been hinting about a craft room makeover-ok makeover is the wrong word....slightly updated craft room. I mean, craft studio....don't I sound legit now? Anyways, it's changed a little from the last time I did an update, (wow that was ages ago) so check that one out if you want to see the difference! For now, let's delve into all the little updates, changes, and organizational whoozits and whatsits galore that I added!

The layout is still the same...new shelves for my fabric were in the cards, I wrote about those here.

Let's start with the fun stuff! The fabric ~~shop~~ stash!

Read on for more craft room fun!

Ahhh....sometimes I just sit in front of these shelves and soak it all in....the possibilities! I use comic book boards (affiliate link) to fold up my fabric into little bolts...it works great and is an inexpensive option!

On the top shelves, I store my 1 yard cuts, button cards, book, and solids, as you can see by my labeling. I'm nosy so I like to see where people store their stuff...maybe you are too?

On the bottom shelves I store my 1.5 and 2 yard cuts, home dec, flannel, voile, go Baby cutter and dies, (affiliate link) knits, knits, and more knits! Also some minky, chiffon, and laminated cotton.

next lets move on down the row of storage things and check out what's in the big one!

This is a hand me down storage thingy from my parents, and I love how much it can hold. Definitely does it's job. So in this one I have my....well...just read the labels. Most, if not all of my storage containers were thrifted-the others came from Joanns/Michaels/Hobby Lobby/Target.

Then over to the little wooden shelf I think we inherited/stole from my in laws. I love having my freezer & pattern paper, & interfacing all together in that wire basket...so handy and organized. (pats self on back)

I may be growing out of my piping and bias tape storage...just sayin'.

Thread! I mostly use Coats and Clark, with some Guttermann thrown in there when they have the color I need. I also hang my measuring tape on this holder. Easy to grab!

Then over to the sewing table! I have a Brother SE-350 sewing machine-(affiliate link) have had it for 5 years and love it. (but still, saving my pennies for a Bernina all the same!) I have only used the embroidery attachment a whopping one time. Not a fan of machine embroidery I guess. It's a tough machine and has done it's job. I also love the start/stop button instead of a pedal.

This is my "ultimate" pincushion-love this thing. I don't use the thread catcher anymore, but I love the pockets for my seam rippers, fabric pens and pencils, and corner turner. Above it I keep my most used sewing feet, tiny scissors, and the random tools you need close by. I also have a wrist pincushion which travels around the room with me when I want to gather and pin whilst catching up on shows. I throw my scraps and thread into the collapsible box above-I kinda want to make a cuter one that is sturdy...maybe someday.

In between the sewing machine and my mini ironing board are my fabric weights.
I like the flat ones made with large washers the best, but the small ones are great for holding down skinny pattern bits-like shoulders, etc. Behind that bowl, in a piece of pottery my little bro made, I store my rotary blade, scissors, pencil, hem gauge, pinking shears, and chopstick (for turning corners).

Alright! Over to this bright corner! You may have noticed the new curtains-I made them using this fabric.(looks like it's out of stock but at least you can see the name) I love the bright colors. I also have my calendar where I keep track of guest posts, my posts, and giveaways. My wooden scissors and sewing sign hang right above.

Now you can see my new little shelf, too. Love that one! It brightens up my day!

And...more labeling in case you're wondering. If not...moving on...

Or moving down, I should say. Under the desk I have the remnants of a great civilization....just kidding. The remnants of my scrapbooking career. And my paper cutter and small cutting mat.

Above the desk I hang up current projects to brighten up the wall! That yellow circle skirt was a PR&P muslin-will blog about that someday... I also made a quick oilcloth garland to go across this wall-using some oilcloth from Oilcloth Addicts, my oval die from Go Baby, and some twill tape.

I covered my computer stand with some more of the removable wallpaper Chasing Paper sent me awhile back. I honestly love this stuff-it's so easy to apply and looks fantastic!

I made this inspiration board lickety split-it was so fast. Just cut some pine boards, screwed them together, whitewashed it (white paint with water mixed together), then wrapped jewelry wire around it and stapled that on. I used this idea for my inspiration. I love keeping pretty pictures, helpful tip cards, and cute things the girls have made me up here.

Here's the little nook that is right inside the door. You can see my foam board glitter art, and bulletin board in this corner, and my newest adoption-a child size mannequin that my pal Jessie grabbed for me when she saw a kids clothing store going out of business. It's about the right size for both of the girls-since Sadie is such a skinny minnie.

Over a little bit, here's my spot where I store some other stuff....look below for the deets.

I hang my FQ's-then some 1/2 yard cuts, and stuff to refashion in the wire drawers. You can see I named my mannequin. She's part of the family now, yo.

Ahhh shield your eyes! Messssy. Anyways...I keep a lot of stuff in here-party supplies, jewelry stuff, yarn, wool felt, adhesives, beads, craft stuff, leftover party table coverings, jars, present wrapping stuff, clothespins, spray paint, batting, poly fil, some large pieces of foam I keep for some reason....it's so messy but seriously better than it used to be, so that's sayin' something.

Here's a closer look at the top of the little shelves-I used more of the wallpaper to cover the top-it had some stains so it was the perfect solution. I sewed up a new Silhouette cover with some awesome (echino?) glasses fabric.

Ok...still more! Stick with me! Over in this corner is my newly repainted dresser, some organizing cubes (with more wallpaper-I HEART that stuff), washi tape in jars, some ribbon spools, and my serger table. Oh and the best collection ever.

My vintage toy sewing machine collection! I love these and they are so fun to collect...so unique. They are pricey, but I love them so much it's worth it. You can see the other one in the pic above-it's yellow and awesome and might still work...I'll have to tinker with it someday.

My serger is a Brother 1034 D (affiliate link), and I love it. This table is NEVER this clean. That's how much I love you guys. I picked up all the crap on this table and threw it in the hallway. That's love.

I love organizing my PDF and homemade patterns in this magazine holders-found these the other week at the Target $1 spot...cute & budget friendly! I added some chalkboard label stickers I got at Michaels, and labeled them accordingly.

So there you go! That's my craft ~~room~~ studio. It's definitely my favorite room of the house...big surprise there!

Bonus question: How many sewing machines, real or decorative, are there in my room? (hint: it's excessive/obsessive)

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Fabric Match-up Giveaway! it's gonna be epic.

2013-05-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

**this giveaway is now closed! The winner is Tegan Nilles!***

Ever stumbled across a project online and wished for the same. exact. fabric they used? Or wished that your favorite sewing bloggers would magically send you an assortment of awesome fabric? (me too) You are in luck if you have ever (randomly) wished for that!

Eighteen sewing bloggers have picked out a yard (or two!) of a fabric from their stash and we're giving them ALL away today to one lucky winner!

The way we're choosing a winner is reaally fun, too! All you have to do is match up the fabric to the blogger in the google docs form below! Eeeshk, kind of hard, right?! I know which one I chose...but I'm stumped on a lot of the others! This is going to be an epic battle, I can tell.

(hint- most of us have used the fabric we chose in a recent project, so our recent posts are the perfect weapon for your epic battle-although...mine is NOT the fabric used in the most recent post on my blog. Just a friendly hint.). The first person to correctly match all of the swatches will receive ALL of the fabric shown! So what are you waiting for? Go Go GO! Good luck and may your fingers type faster than the wind!

Have I mentioned the epic-ness of all of this?

A- 1.5 yards, Mini Dot in Sunspray by Lotta Jansdotter, B- 1 yard, Paradise Garden in Periwinkle by Amy Butler, C- Florescent Pink & Gray Striped Jersey Knit, D- 1/2 yard Heirloom Tile Flourish in Garnet and 1/2 yard Heirloom Opal in Fuchsia both by Joel Dewberry, E- 1 yard, Houndstooth in black by Michael Miller, F- Pink/Orange Stripe knit, G- 1 yard, Orange and Light Heather Gray Stripe Cotton Jersey Knit, H- 1 yard, Light pink linen, I- 1 yard, Mustard and Ivory Stripe by Girl Charlee, J- 1 yard, Rally Cream/Grass by Dan Stiles, K- 1 yard Riley Blake Ombre Dots in Aqua, 1 yard Target Polka Dot Sheet Fabric, 1 yard Lizzy House Pearl Bracelet in Persimmon and Michael Miller Happy Tones Charm Pack, L- 1 yard, Remix Triangles B/W by Ann Kelle, M- 1 Yard, Novella Rain Rayon in Aqua by Valori Wells, 1 yard, Lush Running Stitch in Purple by Patty Young, and 1 yard, Porcelain Tile Garden Wall in Olive, M- 1 yard, Mustard cotton sateen, O- 1 yard, Summer Totem in Grapefruit by Anna Maria Horner, P- 1 yard, Black and white chevron, Q- 1 yard, Parenthetical in Berry by Anna Maria Horner, R- 2 yards (1 yard each), ABC 123 by American Jane for Moda

And the answer key!

Here is the list of bloggers

Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy crafts

The Cottage Mama

crafterhours

Craftiness is not Optional

delia creates

girl. inspired.

icandy handmade

If only they would nap...

And just to sweeten the pot a little, every reader who submits a guess will be entered in a fabulous pattern bundle giveaway.

The prize- The Sugarplum Top + Dress pattern by See Kate Sew, The Surfer Slacks Lounge Pant pattern by See Kate Sew, The Casual Lady Top and Dress pattern by Go To Patterns, Two "Winner's Choice" patterns by Blank Slate Patterns, Pattern 5 Pack ("Winner's Choice") by Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop, Riding Pants pattern by the Sewing Rabbit, the Roly Poly pattern by imagine gnats, and the Ruby Ruffle dress pattern by The Cottage Mama! WOW!

Good luck!

*Giveaway ends at midnight MST on Friday, May 11, US residents only.

tie top tutorial for Girl Charlee (and giveaway!)

2013-05-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I am so excited about this knit tie top tutorial I created for Girl Charlee! (and a $40 gift certificate giveaway! woohoo! enter waay at the bottom...you might as well check out the tutorial while you're at it....just sayin' ;)

Also make sure to check out their blog! Today they're showing off all the projects I've made with Girl Charlee fabric-hint...it's quite a few. :)

So this tee... It's figure flattering with some elastic around the waist, and has an adorable tie neckline-I just love shirts that have ties for some reason. It adds some fun interest to a basic tee.

Squirrel!

First, some tips for sewing with knits!

*Use a ballpoint needle to sew knits. Regular needles can punch holes through your knit fabric, instead, the ballpoint needles slide in between the tiny loops that make up the fabric.

*Don't forget to press! Your iron is a great tool to use with knits, often times a good steam can "set" a slightly wonky seam and make it lay nicely.

*You can use spray starch to help sew with jersey knits with edges that roll. Just spray and press with your iron to get it to lay flat!

*I like to use a walking foot for my machine when I sew with knits-it moves both the bottom and top layers of the fabric through at the same time, eliminating a lot of the "slippery" problems that knits can have.

*I generally use three stitches when sewing with knits-a straight stitch (for side seams mostly, and even then I don't use it much), the lightning bolt stitch (looks like a wonky zig zag), and a regular zig zag. It's important that the garment be able to move and stretch with you, and the lightning and zig zag stitches work best for that. You can also use a serger, which creates stretchy seams, but I'm going to make this top with the sewing machine only. I would recommend using some scraps to play around with the stitches and see which one you like best!

*Use a double needle for hems (See how I use it for the cap sleeves in this tutorial) for a professional look. Most machines can work with double needles, mine actually has a double needle setting, but read your machine's manual to find out how to set it up. The good thing about double needles is that they create a stretchy seam, with two rows on stitching on the top, and a zig zag on the underneath. It's awesome. I'll show you how I set up to thread below!

I jerry rigged a chopstick to hold an extra bobbin of matching thread off to the side of the thread spool. You can use another spool of thread if you have the same color, but it's much cheaper to fill an extra bobbin instead. I have an extra bobbin underneath to help it spin better, it was getting a little stuck. MacGyver would be proud, right?

Anyways, I thread the machine with both threads at the same time...then separate the threads and put them through each needle so they don't get tangled.

Now onto the tutorial!

First, let's make your pattern-so go grab a tee from your closet that fits you well. I did a cap sleeve with this tutorial, so find one like that or trace a normal tee and extend the shoulder piece over to create the cap sleeve. Fold the tee in half and trace around it, adding seam allowance to the sides, shoulder seam, and armhole, but not the fold.

That'll get you a pattern! Make sure to trace the back and front neckline onto your pattern. My tee I traced was loose fitting, but I planned to cinch it in a bit with some elastic...also make sure to add length on the bottom for the hem. Dont' forget like I did, but see how I added a band further down if you do! ;)

If you're not into making your own patterns, Kristin has a free one that you could use (size small/medium) and the Casual Lady from GoTo Patterns is also similar! You can use those as a jumping off point and then add the tie, elastic, and bottom band.

Next with your pattern cut out on the fold of the fabric, a front and back of the top, taking care to line up stripes if you are using them. I also cut some 1.5" strips for the tie. These don't need to be on the bias, but can be...I cut them to be contrasting, and to save fabric.

1. Cut a small piece of knit fabric 1.5"x4". Fold it in half lengthwise and iron to crease. Do the same for the front of the shirt (only iron four inches down)
2. Place the fabric on the shirt front, creases and right sides together, pin. With a fabric pen, trace the ironed crease, stopping an inch above the bottom. Sew 1/8" down, across, and up, using the line as your guide.
3. Carefully cut in between the stitches.
4. Flip the fabric pieces around so that the wrongs sides are together like so. Press with iron.
5. Top stitch 1/4" around the notch.
6. Carefully trim excess fabric.

Next pin and sew the shoulder seams right sides together. I used the lightning stitch, but a zig zag would work as well.

Next sew a few of your 1/5" strips together on the short ends to make a tie long enough to go around the neckline, and make a tie in the front. This will depend on your preference and size, so use your discretion! Then I pressed one long side to the middle of the tape. I didn't create standard "bias tape" because I found that some knits can be too bulky with 5 layers to sew through, (not this one, though!) so I omitted one just to show you another option. Knit doesn't fray so it wasn't an issue. Feel free to use "traditional" bias tape, ie where the edges are pressed to the middle of the long piece, then in half....if your knit is thin enough!

Next line up the middle of the tie with the middle of the back neckline and pin around the raw edge of the shirt. Make sure the raw edge of the tie is on the inside of the shirt. Pin like crazy!

Next starting at one end of the tie, sew along the edge, around the neckline, and back down the other side of the tie.

ca-ute! Press.

I thought I'd show you another way to finish a raw edge, this time on the arms. I cut some strips of off white fabric on the bias this time, and ironed them like I did the tie pieces. Then open up the bias tape and pin one side to the edge of the curved cap sleeve edge. Sew along the ironed crease.

Next fold under the bias tape, pin, and sew with a double needle for a nice professional look.

Then pin the sides together like so and sew down the sides, back stitching at beginning and end.

My tee turned out a little short like I said, (oops!) so I decided to add a band on the bottom. I love how this turned out, it keeps the shirt weighted down, if you know what I mean....doesn't ride up at all...which is nice for a busy momma bending over all the time to pick up cereal and barbie shoes.

So...measure the bottom of your tee, then add seam allowance to that measurement, and cut out two strips of fabric.

Mine were 7" wide x the width of the shirt bottom. (they are folded in half in the pic above)

Sew the short sides right sides together. (zig zag here)

Then fold so the wrong sides are facing and press with an iron.

Pin the band and shirt right sides together around the bottom, then sew with a zig zag stitch.

Next I added some elastic around the waist to cinch in the loose fitting shirt. Wrap a piece of 1/4" elastic around your waist to see how long to cut it, and add 2" or so. (so you have something to hold on to at the end.) Mark on your shirt where you want the elastic to go (mine was easy because of the stripes!), then start sewing on at one of the seams with a zig zag stitch. Sew a few stitches to get it in place.

Then sew carefully down the elastic, stretching from the back and front slightly like so. You can see I pinned the middle of the elastic to the other side seam to keep it as even as possible.

At the end of the elastic, back stitch to keep it in place, then trim off the extra elastic you added. Tada! Try on your new top and pose awkwardly! :D Thanks, hope you enjoyed the tutorial and tips!

Enter to win a $40 gift certificate to Girl Charlee below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

belgian style kids clothes (hint: they rock!)

2013-05-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to be guest posting today over on Straight Grain, for An's Kids Clothes-Belgian Style series. All I had to do was take a peek at her Belgian kids clothes pinterest board to know that I. loved. it.

The bright colors, the pattern mixing, the layering! It seems like the Belgians really know how to let a kid dress like, well...a kid! So I had the time of my life sewing this outfit, and Sadie in turn loves it too!

So hop over there to see all the details on this fun outfit!

KCWC wrap up

2013-04-30T08:56:00.002-07:00

KCWC wrap up time! Here are all the pieces I made, minus Charlotte's ruffle top, which somehow escaped the washi tape line up. Do you like how much tape it took to keep that coral skirt up? Apparently that was the heaviest garment I sewed last week. ;) So...the final count is 14...although I did make 3 more pieces for a guest post going up in a few days. Call me Nutso McGee. (or something equally weird...?) I lucked out and my kids took great naps last week, plus Sadie and Charlotte had a blast "helping" me pick out fabrics and the like. Plus I stuck to easy items like tees and simple leggings, shorts, skirts, and only one dress. I think that's the way to do Kids Clothes Week-stick mostly to things you've already made, or reliable patterns, and sew them up production line style. (Like Jill did, holy COW!)

I tried to make some of the items mix and matchable, so it was fun to play "make an outfit" when it was all said and done.

This one is my fave, probably because I wish I could wear it myself....also the cardi is a teeny sneak peek at my upcoming guest post. (and a tutorial in the works)

What'd you make for Kids Clothes Week?

KCWC: arrow shorts and ruffle peasant top

2013-04-29T19:55:00.003-07:00

Ok! Last outfit, finally! Look for a round up post asap!

After pinning these shorts a little while ago, I had to make my own version of them...using some Chevrons in Mint from Deerfield Anthology Fabric. Love this fabric. I had to make another pair of the Bubble Pocket shorts, too. Sadie's in desperate need of shorts so she may get some more, we'll see.

I'm pretty sure those pockets have it out for me. I cut them out wrong not once, but twice. CURSE you pockets! Totally my bad, nothing to do with the pattern. So after unpicking (already serged) seams twice...I was ready for them to be done. Finally they were. ahhh.

The tee...I had an idea to do a peasant tee out of ruffle material. So it worked, but not perfectly. I wouldn't really recommend it..lol! It was tricky to cut out the pieces with the ruffles intact, and I used fold over elastic for the sleeves and neckline, which was also interesting, to say the least. Anyway, I persevered, and though it needs a tank underneath, it's not bad.

My two lovely ladies posing together...those girls are the best but they drive me bonkers with their catfights. Girls!

KCWC: Leia is my homegirl cap sleeved tee (and a striped one)

2013-04-29T07:27:00.003-07:00

I have one more KCWC outfit after this tee, almost done with the posts for that, I had so much fun!

OK, so this tee is definitely a wish-I'd-sewn-it-for-myself type of project! Rory and I are huge Star Wars fans, but not having any boys is cramping his style. Or so he thinks. I'm doing my best to indoctrinate our girly girls about SW mythology, by having them ~~memorize~~ read this awesome book,(affiliate link) so they know a lot of the characters, and of course, Sadie loves Princess Leia, having dressed as her for Halloween a few years back. I don't generally like tees with things written on them, but I can make an exception for awesome Star Wars ones. (no-brainer)

So when I saw this awesome tee, I had to do my own version with the heroine of the story! I used Transfer Artist Paper (TAP) (affiliate link) which is fantastic stuff. You can basically color, print, write whatever you want to it, then transfer it with your iron to the fabric. The results are amazing! Just make sure you mirror image your words before printing...don't ask me how I know or how I ruined a whole page once....grr. Anyways, I love playing around with it and have been meaning to post about the things I've made with it.

I found an image online of Leia and edited it in Lightroom to be a bit more contrast-y, and then used a free Star Wars font for the wordage. (truth, I've had it on my computer for years) I do wish I'd lowered the words a half inch, but oh well! What's done is done!

She was getting into having a big tall ponytail to swing around, as you can tell! She's loving all the high buns and ponys we've been doing lately! I should've put her in Leia buns for the shoot, as Kristin pointed out on Instagram! Missed opportunity! darn. (catch all my latest happenings there: username is craftinessisnotoptional)

I made the shirt using my self drafted cap sleeve pattern-it fits her really well. Used some white interlock from Joanns.

Aaaand....another simple cap sleeved tee, in this awesome mustard striped fabric from Girl Charlee.

KCWC: puppet show shorts and liberty top

2013-04-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

So...starting to wind down from the high of KCWC-I personally challenge myself to make as many pieces as possible...and I think I averaged 3 pieces per day. I don't recommend this. I am wiped out! But hey, Sadie's spring/summer wardrobe is looking pretty good! So there's that. :}

This outfit is one of my faves! Let's talk about the top first, cause that print is fabu-freaking-tastic. Amiright? (I'm just makin' up words left and right today, peeps!) It's been on my wish list for a loong time, but I finally added it to my cart after seeing Jessica's top using fabric from the same collection, Bloomsbury by Liberty Lifestyle. It's fantastic because you get the look of Liberty, but at about half the price...and the hand is still very lusciously splendid. I used my Olivia top tutorial-need to get this made into a pattern, it's so easy and fun. I wanted to keep the top simple since the fabric was pretty loud.

The shorts were made with a teal linen blend from Joanns-on sale so these only cost $5 in materials to make! Not including the pattern. Which is the Puppet Show short pattern from Oliver and S, available in a digital pattern...instant gratification! Again, fantastic pattern, I definitely recommend it. I have more linen coming to make more of these shorts! Although I think I will gather them more next time on the hem for my skinny legged gal.

Her eyes are a little glassy after a mid-shoot meltdown. Yeah, I think I'll give her a break from photo shoots for awhile now...poor thing. She loves them but runs out of patience fast so she gets frustrated. She informed me I had two shots and that was it. Ha, ha.

KCWC: ruffle top for Charlotte

2013-04-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Well, after saying no to Charlotte's questioning "Dat por me?" while I've been sewing for Sadie this week, I gave in and made her a top...how could you resist that face, I ask you? You can't, don't bother ~~talking to your computer screen~~ answering me.

The cheeks will eat you aliiiive!

Anyways, I used the Ruffle Top/Dress pattern, and it was perfect! I sewed up a size 2T, and it came together quickly, the fit is spot on, and is super cute, no? The fabric is Mod Green Pod for Robert Kaufman-poppies in aqua. I used some bias tape on hand for the ties. I want to make Sadie the dress version someday! As for this little Miss...she's ecstatic that I made her something...awwww.

Way to work the mommy guilt, Miss C.

Geez my kids have more clothes than they could ever possibly wear. Mo clothes, mo problems?

KCWC: fox peasant dress

2013-04-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

Definitely, this dress is one of my favorite versions of the peasant dress that I've done. I'm enamored with the fox fabric. Sheesh. FOXES. They're like the new owl, folks. Or duck-bill platypus. (inside joke) So lemme give you the deets:

Fabric: Playful Fox in Blue from Timber and Leaf
Pattern: the Sweet Dress by Leila and Ben, adapted with my drawstring waist tutorial.

I've always used this pattern since I received it for my first season of Project Run and Play, though I always adjust the hem, it's too curved for my liking. I sewed this up in a size 4T, which is perfect for Sadie. I also left the elastic out of the sleeves, I loved them without it.

FOXES.

She loves it, wore it the rest of the day. That's when I know I have a winner-if she refuses to take it off after the shoot!

Also if she starts doing ballet moves, that also means she likes it.

KCWC: hot air balloon tee and applique skirt

2013-04-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Outfit #3! a skirt and shirt combo...with my favorite color combination right now-coral and gold! (obviously) I drafted this cap sleeved slightly gathered neckline top, then stamped the heck out of it with my hot air balloon stamp and some gold paint. I got lazy with the sleeves and haphazardly sewed them under 1/8", but whatevs. It fits and I was done that day, if you know what I mean? The jersey is from Girl Charlee, of course. ;)

The skirt is just your basic gathered elastic waisted skirt, with some circle appliques above the hem. I used my Go Baby to cut them out and then ironed them on. I may go around and sew them down, but we'll see how it holds, or I'll hand wash this one, cause I don't feel like sewing 36ish circles. The gorgeous coral fabric is from The Ribbon Retreat.

Still in fine form, I see.

KCWC: bubble pocket shorts and polka dot tee (and giveaway/coupon code)

2013-04-23T17:47:00.002-07:00

Outfit #2! I'm loving this one...these shorts are my favorite part. I have plans to make a few more pairs! I used the Bubble Pocket Shorts pattern and it was a great pattern! I sewed up the 3/4T size, & they should definitely fit her at least a year, yay! It was easy to sew up (about 1.5 hours for me, and that was while being semi-distracted by Vampire Diaries), they fit and look great on her, and perfect for the warm weather we're already getting here in Cali! I used some burnt coral shot cotton, which I got on my trip to Berkeley with Stef. It's so pretty...though the color is freaking hard to photograph. Gersh. It's less orange than it looks here.

EDIT: I'm kind of an idiot and didn't read through the waistband portion of the pattern well enough I guess....(I'll blame Damon)....I just started doing it the way I'm used to, so mine look different then they are supposed to. oops! I've got another pair to show ya (done correctly) soon. :}

Sadie goofing off...whatever gets her through a shoot, right?

The pockets are of course, the defining feature of these cute shorts-and they are plenty big and bubbly!

The polka dot tee is self drafted, with some flutter sleeves and an added pocket. I actually did hem up the bottom nicely, just tucked it in here to show off the shorts. Aha you can see it below! Proof! I got the fabric from Girl Charlee, looks like they don't have it anymore, but I get most of my knits there, they have a great selection and the quality is fantastic.

Want to win your own copy of the Bubble Short Pattern? Enter below!

Also, Heidi has an awesome discount for you CINO readers! Use the coupon code CINO and save 10%. It's good till the end of KCWC (April 29)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

KCWC: family reunion top and go to leggings

2013-04-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

I kicked off Kids Clothes Week a little early and finished up this top on Sunday...then the leggings today! I had just enough left from making this top (from Girl Charlee: use the code Crafty10 for 10% off your purchase) to sew up the capri-length leggings. I used the Go To Leggings pattern (affiliate link) and I love it! The fit is just about perfect, and the way Andrea does her elastic waistbands is so professional-looking. I added some ruching on the bottom but apparently I suck at ruching so you can't tell. merp.

The top I made using the Family Reunion pattern from Oliver and S. I say it every time, but I adore their patterns. They always fit perfectly, are classic with fun details, and you come out with a beautiful garment, inside and out. This one I have had cut out for awhile...(I was afraid of the pleats for some strange reason), but now that I finally made it I have no idea what had me so scared. (wuss!) I made this in some gorgeous aqua shot cotton, sorry no details I have no idea where I got it. :}

I LOVE the buttons down the back-so did Sadie. Buttons from Joanns I think.

Most of my sewing if not all this week is going to be for Sadie...that's just how it goes, right? The oldest gets the new stuff most of the time...

project run and play recap

2013-04-22T07:18:00.002-07:00

Didja hear? I won Spring Formal Wear Week! Cue jaw to drop...wow...can't believe it! :)

Well, it's over. Project Run and Play All-Stars was SO much fun. I had a blast-you know me and a good theme....so I was in heaven! Not to say I didn't feel the stress of competition and deadlines (definitely did!), but it was so fun to be pushed creatively, sewing and photography-wise.

I had a blast competing with a FANTASTIC group of ladies, and true friends. Each one of those gals are super talented, sweet, and soo nice. It was an honor to sew along with them. Also, a huge THANK YOU to the awesome gals over at Simple Simon for all their hard work on this season! They always do an awesome job, love those ladies :)

I sewed a few things for the first time during PR&P-a cardigan (can you believe I've never done one of those? That I can remember at least...), lace (now that was a pain), a lined and exposed zipper, notched sleeve, circle bubble skirt, etc...the list goes on. I also had a Lot of muslins and cast offs-lol. See above. Missing 2 tops from the pile, actually....

I also couldn't have done it without my idea-bouncer-offer-person.... Kristin! Thanks for listening to my rambling emails and texts about, among other things, the Wonder Woman bodice and fabric and design choices....and then dishing out advice like the sewing rock star you are. :D Also my BFF Cassy for her advice, and letting me vent to her about sewing frustrations and failures!

Exhibit A: Wonder Woman bodice. Most crappily sewn thing eva made in this here sewing room. I blame the fabric...and laziness. Mostly the peach fabric though....it was twitchy stuff.

Also, although she has no idea I'm writing this, and will maybe only see it when she's older-I want to say thank you to my little Sadester. She was SUCH a trooper with all this sewing. Many, MANY fittings, photo shoots, and bribes went into PR&P. And of course the requisite blood sweat and tears. (all mine, don't worry. I never poked her with a pin, as afraid of that as she was.) She handled it like a champ....with some whining and stubborn moments of course..but what do you expect from a 4 year old?

Oh mom, not ANOTHER photo shoot so you can email Kristin your progress.

Also, I don't really have any tutorials prepared-I was sewing by the seat of my pants most of the time. :} Sorry bout that. I do have one for the notched sleeve, and I'll try to get that up soon. Maybe some patterns down the line....we will see!

Most of all, thanks to YOU for your support throughout this amazing month. (well, longer than that for me...lol) Thank you for your votes, and your amazing comments with encouraging words and compliments. You all made my day twenty times over every Friday. THANK you. :-D

Next on my list: the Kids Clothes Week Challenge! Sadie is in desperate need of certain items so I am already busily sewing. Can't wait to show you! Stay tuned for a giveaway this week too!

Project run and play week 4-ballerine de corail

2013-04-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

Vote for your favorite look here!

I had SO much fun with this week....and so did Sadie! The theme was " Spring Formal Wear"....and after all, what's more fun than dressing up like a princess? A ballerina I guess! She even got to wear a little make up-she was in heaven when I told her that she could. She also relished getting her hair curled. Such a girly girl...I love that kiddo. :)

So as usual I went through a few sketches and wrecked muslins (Kristin knows about the wonder woman bodice fiasco...remind me to post that someday so ya'll can have a good laugh...) but I finally settled on this look, which also evolved as I was sewing, as it often does! I found this amazing coral fabric on clearance at Walmart of all places ($2 a yard or something ridiculous) and paired it with some stretch polka dot lace. (Joanns) It's a somewhat simple look, but has some lovely feminine and delicate details.

I created a ballerina neckline with the lace and coral fabric, which then tapers down in a V shape on the back, and closes with some vintage white buttons with a fun bumpy circle texture to them. (hard to see but cool!)

Then I made a "bubble" circle skirt! I just love how it gathers and sways when she moves. (circle skirt part using MADE's tutorial)

For the accessories, I made a floral sash and headband, using the wrong side of the fabric for some contrast! I cut tons of circles for petals, then basically burned my fingerprints off by melting the edges just so. The things we do....then I arranged, layered them, and stitched them in place, then hand stitched on each tiny pearl in the center. The material was some sort of satin stretch blend, and it was perfect for this sort of thing. I loved working with it!

I did the same for the headband...just made the flowers slightly smaller and 3 of them. The sash is removable and the flower pins on...good thing cause I might just have to "borrow" it. ;)

I hope you like this look as much as we do!

Vote for your favorite look here!

Oh, and I found the tutorial for the backdrop here! For the gold ones I simply cut them in the zig zag shape I wanted before cutting the strips. Easy, cheap, and high impact!

And, of course...Sadie's faces! This girl is on fi-yah!

bandanas to catch the drool

2013-04-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

So. This kid, Ava. She is constantly....and I mean CONstantly, drooling. My other girls, sure they drooled when they were about to get teeth, and maybe Ava is-but she is always chewing on her hands, too...which just makes it worse! We were going through our bibs way too quickly, and they were not nearly thick enough to keep her dry.

Enter: the amazing bandana drool catcher. I found this tutorial from the Purl Bee, and knew it was perfect! It was simple to make, and had at least 4 layers of fabric that spit had to soak through before it could get to her shirt. Sold. I whipped up one quickly to see how the sizing was (just right, but some of my others are smaller than the tutorial specifies, mostly because of the size scraps I had on hand.) I made this one above from some corduroy and gorgeous scallop material that my good friend Kristin sent over, and I love it! It's my fave, probably because it's not one of my normal go-to color combinations. (ie, see below) It's always fun to shake things up a bit!

Come back tomorrow to see my last look for Project Run and Play!

Lots of Buttons review and giveaway

2013-04-16T00:00:00.001-07:00

Have you all heard of Lots of Buttons? It's a fantastic site, with hundreds of....you guessed it! Buttons. Ohhh my gosh, you guys. You will die-they have SO many amazing buttons to choose from. Great prices, too! I had such a hard time choosing....but I wanted to add to my orange and purple stash...and I cannot keep away from the aqua even if I tried. Srsly. It's an illness. That I don't mind in any way having. I love the way they package up the buttons-so handy for shipping reasons, and it's really fun seeing them all lined up so nicely. It makes my OCD side happy.

I stuck mostly with their synthetic buttons, since it's what I'm used to working with, but I got a few wooden ones, too! They have such a huge selection-I had never seen any of them before-so fresh and exciting to add never before seen buttons to my stash! The aqua ones with the metal in the holes....be still my heart. (if you're wondering, yes, I do swoon over buttons this much, and yes, I'm aware that's slightly odd. I'm betting that you're a button swooner, too. yes?)

I've already used a few in projects that you've seen here and here. Can't wait to use the rest!

p.s. I love sticking things in mason jars.

See my disclosure about reviews here.

Enter to win a $25 gift certificate to Lots of Buttons below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RE-LOVE your stuff: stenciled dresser drawers

2013-04-15T07:37:00.003-07:00

First off-wow! I won the details week of Project Run and Play! I am so honored and flattered! The other outfits have been soo amazing, I'm just excited to be up there with them. Thanks for voting!

Here it is! My other stencil project that worked out better. Although I reeeally need to learn how to place stencils better...there's a few places that I'm cringing at right now. I think I had the middle drawer upside down while I stenciled. oops! Oh well. Onwards and upwards! It still looks a million times better than it did before. Witness: (in this reeeally old pic of my sewing room)

You can barely see it but since I didn't take a before pic (too busy hauling it out to the backyard by myself...you can't tell, but I'm flexing my guns right now...oh yeah....er not), but it was an old dresser I'd thrifted when we bought our house. Hey! In the pic below you can see how my bulletin board used to look, too. (again, a loong time ago) Also, how I decorated like a teeny bopper.

It had some scratches, stains, and old brass handles that were worn out.

I actually ended up keeping the handles-I liked the "patina" yep we'll call it that....but the rest of the dresser got a facelift! I primed and painted it with some leftover paint from the girls new dresser (which I haven't blogged about either! shame on me)...then I went to town with more of the same stencil set I grabbed at Michaels. (I am planning to go back and raid Martha's stencil section again...they had so many choices!)

I made sure to grab some of the special stencil tape to hold the stencils in place-and cut the stencil down to size, with as much of a border as I could. I used just some basic white paint and a foam brush, also from Michaels...and dabbed it on-I tried to hold my brush upright as much as possible so that paint wouldn't seep through under the stencil, but it did a great job! No paint leaking problems.

So I'm pretty happy with how it turned out! So much cuter now, and my paper straw collection finally has a home. In the other drawers I keep the kids art supplies that they can play with while in my room, and tissue paper and shipping supplies.

Now, what else can I stencil?.......

Check out projects ideas and more over on Michaels Stores Lookbook!