Another Secret Dress

HI ALL!  Sorry I've been absent for a bit, I'll catch up sometime.  I keep taking "blog pictures" but they never seem to make it off my phone.

Do you all remember when I told you my biggest secret?  I bared my soul here on the internet?  My huge secret that I had kept, even from my husband, for several years?

Go ahead, I'll wait....




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Basically, I've been saving and making and creating things for future kiddos for a long long time.  Before I was pregnant, I had purchased furniture knowing it would be good for a changing table, I'd decorated using the colors for our nursery (decorations that someday would get moved there), I'd sewed major projects for non-existant kids.  Phew.  Feels good to let go of that secret.

Well I'm at it again.  We have a TON of friends who are pregnant; seriously, it's everywhere.  (Side note: I think I'll make a blog post of what worked well when I was preggo so that I can stop forcing my opinion on these poor pregnant ladies in my life.  I keep having to bite my tongue so maybe if I write it here I won't have such an urge???)

So I have been making a few things for said pregnant friends and I figured that while I was at it, I would whip out another tiny dress for future babies.  Now, I'm not pregnant so just calm yourself down. Also, don't get all "Oh she wants a GIRL" on me either.  I think boys are fun!   I just like to sew baby things, and dresses are easy and cute, and boys generally don't wear dresses.  Find me a cute boy sewing pattern and I'll give that a go, it's just that those patterns are harder to come by. 

If we don't have any more kids or if we don't have a girl, I'll pass this (and all the other dresses I've made) along to a cute friend! 

THIS is the dress. Well, it's the dress with very different fabric, buttons instead of a zipper, contrasting trim at the neck, and shorter length sleeves (whoopsie!)

Notice the perfect little gather at the front and the WOWTHATSIMPRESSIVE skinny trim along the neck. 

Auditioning buttons, I think I need to go pick up some small navy ones.  Maybe in a girly flower shape

It sewed up quickly and looks adorable!  I love when I can use fabric from my stash (although it calls for 3/4 yard and I think it needs a full yard.  That's how I got 3/4 length sleeves).  I'm glad to be done with it though, as sitting in my basement during naptime is NOT the best use of our spring weather!

So it'll be hanging in the closet for awhile and I can look at it whenever I want.  I know, I'm a strange lady.

I see all these cute craft rooms online.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who sews in a basement (this is the most brightly lit area of the basement) next to wood and brooms.  Just keepin it real!

One hour project

I have a lot of things that I need to do.  Tis the season for decorating, baking, cleaning, more decorating, working, buying gifts, and growing a baby (20 weeks today-woohoo!).  Tis NOT the season for sewing things I won't need for another 5 months.  But I had a nice chat with another pregnant friend on Tuesday and got pretty excited for our impending bundle of joy.  Looking through my pinterest page dedicated to all things baby, I found a project that I've been waiting to make for a long long time.

You see, I've been hoarding things.  For the past year or two I've been buying the occasional thing for the day when we have a baby of our own.  Also, if I've made any baby items for preggo friends, I probably made two and kept one for myself.  That's not weird, is it?  (Sidenote: maybe I'll go through my stash to highlight all my goodies here someday!)

Anyhoo, I picked up some laminated cotton fabric from JoAnn's while it was on clearance once, with the thought that I'd make something for a baby one day.  Well, yesterday was the day.

This is the project I made, a portable changing pad.  Although I didn't follow the instructions because I just used what I had on hand.  Meaning my changing pad is longer than hers with no pocket, and I didn't use any stabilizer.  I used scrap fabric for the back (the polka dots), so I just cut the largest rectangle I could get out of my scrap.  Then, I used batting for the middle to give it a bit of cush instead of stabilizer because I misplaced my stabilizer stash.  Yes I have a stash of that.  No judging!

I just made a sandwich with my batting on the bottom, cotton facing up, and then laminated cotton facing down.  It slid right through my machine, no problem.  I didn't even use a new needle like every tutorial told me to.  Though I have heard quite a few people have trouble with this stuff sticking and pulling. The most ingenious and cheap solution I saw was to add a layer of tissue paper  which you rip off after sewing. 

(here you can also see the sheen of the laminated cotton fabric, which is definitely wipe-able, waterproof, and still impressively soft)

Well I just used a 1/4ish seam allowance all the way around my rectangle, turned it inside out, and sewed right up close to the edge to finish it off.  I LOVE the tiny finishing seams, they make me feel like a professional.  According to the tutorial, I was supposed to add a button with a loop for fastening it closed and fold and sew a short section to create a "pocket" for things like wipes and diapers, but once it was finished I didn't think it would be long enough for a whole child (especially once they are a bit older) with that section folded (I would lose about 13 inches of length to put baby on).  So I just left it flat.  Also, I just now realized that if I wanted it to actually hold a diaper and wipes, I would have to unfold it at home and put in a diaper and wipes container which, lets face it, I would never do in advance.  I'll be carrying the diaper bag around anyway.

I successfully completed this in 1 hour 15 minutes.  Meaning I failed my attempt to get it all done in an hour.  But I did run out of bobbin thread and have to wind it mid-project.  And find my supplies buried in the basement.  If you have a dedicated sewing space, I'd say you can easily make it in an hour.

Much less than the the time dedicated to making this bambino in my belly for whom I have to keep using the bathroom.  Every 45 minutes. 

Quilt Completion and Anniversary

Over a month ago, D and I celebrated our One Year Anniversary (yup, it's so special it deserves capitalization). We used our state park pass that we purchased earlier this year and hiked around a nearby park on Saturday, and then on Sunday we saw my parents and went out to dinner. Relaxed and low key---that's us! I made some cupcakes, and attempted to make them "our wedding" themed with green and cream colors. I had coconut on mine and D got mint-flavored for his, since he doesn't like coconut. They were not as pretty as they were tasty.


In other news, I finished the quilt that I showed that "sneak peek" of last time. We have a friend who is pregnant, and I am way too excited about this upcoming little one. Therefore, I made my first quilt ever. EVER. and it turned out adorable!!!

I followed the tutorial from the Purl Bee with some fabric I bought impulsively from JoAnn's a few days prior to deciding on a quilt. I was very nervous about the binding, since I've never done anything like this before, but I used tutorials for a mitered corner and making my own green double fold binding, and it really wasn't too bad. I used my sewing machine for one half and then finished it off by hand. I didn't swear once while making this!!! Now that's impressive.

I am so happy with how it turned out. I wanted to make one that would be fun and bright, and also gender neutral, which I think I accomplished. Plus that animal fabric is so cute! Hopefully the future momma will like it.......

Oh and by the way...

I've been busy. Here's a sample. Ok, you're right, it was more than a sample. I am SO bad at secrets.

Sewing Projects

I've been sewing up a storm this week trying to finish some projects I've promised to people. 

First of all, I've been meaning to make a microwavable heating pad thing for awhile, but when I crawling into our freezing cold bed last week I made a realization:  I could heat up a rice bag and put it at the foot of the bed before I get in (cue the angelic chorus or mental light bulb).  So I got a nice, 2lb bag of rice and sewed it into a little bag, then made a tiny pillowcase for it so that it can be washed.  A minute or two in the microwave will be perfect.  No more freezing feet.  YES!!!

And once again, Thanks Rach for the birthday fabric!

Additionally, I told Dillon's coworker that I would make him a reusable sandwich wrap similar to Dillon's one that I made him last Christmas.  Since I will be taking sandwiches to work with me (YAY WORK!), I whipped up two.  They are basically a cut up plastic Ziplock bag and two pieces of fabric, sewed into a flat square with plastic on one side (and the right side of a piece of fabric showing through it) and fabric on the other side.  Add velcro to each corner.  To use, you place a sandwich at an angle on the square wrap, fold opposite corners to each other and fasten. Then, fasten the other corners and it holds a sandwich perfectly!  Hope that makes sense, here are some pictures to help:

I used the manliest fabric I had for Brian's, and the prettiest fabric I have for mine.  There is no reason not to make everyday things beautiful.  And yes, I left the pretty selvedge edge on purpose!




                     Have you made anything lately?

Pants!

Nope, I don't technically know how to sew.  But I do try my darndest, and thus far, most of the projects I've attempted have turned out okay.  So when Dillon got this hole in his pants, I patched it.  Technically, this is the same pair of pants that I already patched near the back pocket, the front left pocket, the zipper, and the knee.  But this was a new hole, so I patched some more!  I'm not sure that this patch is going to stand the test of time, because I didn't stitch the peripheral, or use pinking shears to guarantee that the patch wouldn't fray, or use super strong fabric for the patch (I did a lot of internet research about the best methods, then I ignored them and did it my way).  Anyway, here's the final product, and I'm proud.

Getting ready for the holidays

What have I been up to you ask?  Well aside from my intense search for a doable, light and fluffy bread recipe for my first official "you are an adult now and need to bring something" Thanksgiving, I've been thinking about Christmas.  Although it may seem early, I've been working on ornaments to hang on our tree.  I gratefully received a batch of antique ornaments from a friend as a wedding gift, but I think we need more.  I purchased a pack, but want to be as thrifty as possible with our tree, so decided to make some ornaments with supplies I had on hand.

German stars I made from some brown paper that was packaging from Ikea items.  Free=oh yah!

 Felt snowflake, bird, stocking.  The felt was leftover from the felt food I made.  Free = oh yah!

A few stuffed birds I made with fabric my lovely sister gave me for my birthday.  I love these and plan on making some more.  Free = oh yah!


I'd say I did pretty well with the thrifty ornaments this year.  I think it will be cute to have some of these forever and remember our first Christmas together... (sappy sentimental moment)  Have you made any of your Christmas decorations?

I made myself a birthday present

It's a gathered clutch, based off of this tutorial (of course, I love my tutorials!).  It was missing a few steps, but I figured it all out pretty well, I think.  I love the final product, and am very happy to have had an excuse to guilt-lessly purchase some $7.99/yard fabric.  It IS my birthday present, after all ;)

Over the course of this project, I used my first fusible interfacing (not very scary at all), and made my first project with a zipper (super intimidating, but it went well).  That means that I got to whip out my zipper foot for my sewing machine, and it means that I broke my first needle before I knew what I was doing.  I also got to replace my first needle.  All experiences that were going to happen eventually. 

 (If you look closely, you can see the pointy part of the needle still threaded.  Oh those zippers and their trickiness)

I love my new clutch, it has enough room for a camera and cell phone, money, and a couple of pockets for cards (ID and credit card).  Perfect for when we go to see the play Wicked this weekend for my big day.  I read the book years ago, and have wanted to see the play ever since.  My darling husband is fulfilling a dream with this birthday, and I am a happy lady.

First Felt Food creations

I successfully made a carrot, two pieces of bread, two tomato slices, lunchmeat, two lettuce pieces, jelly, peanut butter, an obese banana, and a carton of milk.  More to come!!  So excited!!  I love this new crafting!  And the best part is that it doesn't have to be perfect:  Kids will just believe you when you tell them it's a tomato if it doesn't look perfect.

Opinions needed!!!

Hey guys!  I finished the skirt that I was working on (in a hurry since some friends decided to stop by last night!) and I'm not completely convinced that I like it.  What do you think?  Would you wear this?

My darling husband told me it looked like a cheerleader's skirt.  So, should it be a halloween costume, or can I wear it to a wedding today? 

I'm pretty proud of how it turned out, since I didn't have a pattern.  There were a few structural issues that I encountered, but a bit of fabric sewn here or there really did the trick!  Nice, low expectations are the key.  You'll surprise yourself that way!  This skirt, for example, only needed to fit at the waist.  Then, every other seam can be off, lopsided, adjustable, or what not.  You should try making one!  But first tell me if I should wear this one to the wedding...

The craft I was supposed to post yesterday...

Well I didn't post (obviously) last night.  I was entirely distracted by a game of Lego Star Wars on the Xbox.  Yup.

But I did make a craft that was blog worthy. 

Sashiko is an embroidery technique that I thought I would try my hand at.  It turned out pretty well.  You can buy a bunch of samplers, like mine, at this website.  I have big plans for this little guy, and have the feeling it will turn into a present for a very special someone in my life.  You are supposed to use sashiko thread and needle and thimble, but I just wanted to try it out without the financial commitment, so it's just embroidery thread, a quilting needle, and a piece of scrap linen.  It's certainly not perfect, but I love it.  Like a lot of other things in life.

Thrift store finds

I took a trip today to the DMV and the Social Security Office to (finally) start getting this name of mine officially changed over from the wedding.  It was a surprisingly quick trip. After the Social Security office, I discovered a goodwill store across the street!  Finally, I found some great thrift store goodies to hopefully keep my little underemployed self occupied for a few more days.

Hmm, what's that I see?  A huge men's sweater that is begging to be turned into a cute cardigan?  And a vintage looking box that is the perfect size to hold sewing supplies?  That's a swell find for the day!

New apron

I made the most successful sewing project I've ever completed.  While making it, I discovered that I am in love with sewing and my new sewing machine.  My project was this beautiful blue and grey apron.  I followed THIS tutorial (of course I couldn't do it myself), with a few modifications due to not buying enough fabric and not having a giant snap press.

I decided to use a button from my button jar instead of a snap.  Thus, I made my first buttonhole.  It's super easy, for any of you who haven't tried one yet.  And it looks super professional and makes me feel awesome about my sewing skills. 

I don't think I'll be using my apron for dirty jobs for awhile.  Maybe just flour or something until the newness wears out and it gets its first stain.  Wouldn't it be cute with a little adorable dusting of flour in all the right places like in a movie?  Unfortunately, this isn't a movie.