single feather pillow

February 21, 2013February 21, 201317 Comments

Em’s school has its annual auction coming up, and while i have been mostly flying under the radar as far as my sewing knowledge goes (no requests to make the class quilt, phew!), i did decide to make something to donate to the silent auction (and earn fundraising credit) – a feather pillow!

the block pattern is from Anna Maria Horner’s feather bed quilt, and if it looks familiar, it’s because i already made one for Caila around Christmastime. i had even saved a couple extra feather halves for this purpose. this time, i went with just a single feather against yarn dyed black essex for a bolder statement.

i quilted it with some red/blue/purple variegated thread (never used that before, kinda fun) and i hope it’s not too crazy looking for the school auction attendees because i want them to bid it up – you know, for the kids! it closes with a zipper.

the back is leaves and berries from hello pilgrim by lizzy house. i only got a fat quarter but need more – it’s so pretty.

i can’t remember how big the pillow is, sorry – sort of a lumbar size i guess? i wanted to keep it – maybe if it doesn’t get many bids at the auction i’ll just buy it back. 😉

oh so here’s a confession – i rarely, like almost never, buy fabric online. i’m spoiled to have four awesome fabric stores within about 20 minutes of my house that each serve a different purpose depending on what i need, PLUS a JoAnn, PLUS a little shop near work just in case i need a thread run on my lunch break. i love being able to touch and see my fabric before buying it and have built good relationships with the gals at Bolt, especially. but this local convenience does pose a bit of a problem with blogging, since none of the stores I shop at have much of a web shop presence (my first lovely fabric sponsor, Britex Fabrics, has amazing fashion fabrics online but not much in the way of quilting cottons, which i sew with often).

enter my newest sponsor, Pink Castle Fabrics.

i reached out to them because i wanted a place to link to when i’m posting my projects so non-locals have a place to actually buy the fabric if you like it. i browsed a few online shops before contacting Pink Castle. i love their general shop aesthetic, and they stock almost all of my favorite designers, so i knew pretty quickly that they’d be a great fit. want to go drool over some fabric/add to your stash? here are my favorite lines that Pink Castle has in stock right now:

Lizzy House – Constellations

Carolyn Friedlander – Architextures

Rashida Coleman-Hale – Tsuru

Anyan – Cotorienne

Essex Yarn Dyed Linen

plus so much more!! Brenda, the owner, has a really great eye. Pink Castle is in the process of opening a storefront (in Michigan), which is very cool too. oh and have you heard of Camp Stitchalot? how fun does THAT look?! anyway, i’m so happy to have them as a sponsor and i hope you’ll check them out.

now to pick out an outfit for the auction (it’s a “through the decades” theme and her class is assigned to the ’90s which i guess means the husband and i are supposed to dress like that for the event. doc martens and plaid shirts? not the fanciest decade ever…).

PS – film petit is coming!

flip vest pattern testing and giveaway!

February 19, 2013February 24, 2013173 Comments

i know you all know how much i adore pattern testing – i learn something every time i do it, i feel like i’m able to help fellow bloggers out, and it’s just a neat way to see other people’s processes. so of course when dana of MADE emailed me asking if i could test her newest pattern, i jumped at the chance.

i’m pretty sure dana’s blog is the first blog i found that helped me discover the world of modern sewing 4 years ago, and it’s an absolute must-read. she covers lots of different crafty topics (in addition to sewing), has a fresh, clean aesthetic, beautiful photography, and a lighthearted attitude that makes her just so fun to follow. i admire what dana has built so much, and was so flattered she asked me to test this pattern for her! i really enjoyed the process and bouncing ideas off each other as i sewed.

the pattern is called the flip vest – a cozy little vest for babies and kids that’s perfect for layering as we head out of winter and into spring. O has gotten so much use out of his vest already – it’s been under a coat on cooler days, over a light sweater on warmer ones…it’s really a fantastic transitional piece (i’ve got plans to make one for Em to wear on the playground too!).

last Friday, we happened to have the most gorgeous day – and the little fella grabbed his “noculars” to head out for a walk. i had actually taken different photos of the vest already on a more typical overcast february day, but the sunshine definitely called for a reshoot.

the flip vest is designed to be reversible if you use velcro, though i made mine button up so i could show off the essex yarn dyed black linen which i’ve now decided is my favorite fabric of all time. inside is a dark olive green micro fleece from Joann, and the rib knit is cream (also from Joann). this pattern is a very quick sew and takes very little fabric, which i love.

one of my notes to Dana was to see if binding the armholes with a sort of bias bound method would work and she was totally open to it, so i tried that and it ended up in the final pattern as one of two armhole finishing options. you probably should use a walking foot if you do this, as the fabrics get a bit thick all together, but i think it gives you a really nice finish.

i sewed this vest in a 2/3T, and the width came out great but it’s just a tad bit long on 2-year-old O – Dana shortened the length from what you see here in the final pattern. his sweater underneath is this sailboat top made last year, which fits perfectly now!

don’t you think the vest looks sort of old timey with the linen and buttons? it’s like i’ve already got the “There Will Be Blood” film petit halfway done. ha!

okay, so how about a giveaway??

Dana has generously offered THREE flip vest patterns from her pattern shop for me to give away – that’s three different winners! you may not fully realize how much you need this pattern, but you DO. you NEED it. it comes in size 6m – 5T and i can see it becoming a wardrobe staple for both of my kids – a fun and easy gift to make for others, too (did you see Delia’s versions? adorable).

to enter the giveaway:

leave a comment, any comment. i’m feeling ready for spring these days, so if you need an idea of what to write, how about telling me your favorite flower!
giveaway is open until friday, feb 22 at 5pm PST.
make sure you leave a valid email address with your comment.
i’ll pick three winners on friday and put you in touch with Dana to receive your pattern.

good luck!

*giveaway is now closed and the three winners, Maryna, Ivana, and Stacey, have been emailed. thanks to all who entered and happy sewing!*

P.S. did you see Dana and Rae are joining forces for Celebrate the Boy again starting next week?! soooo fun. can’t wait. i’m always in need of some good boy sewing inspiration.

two little sweetheart dresses

February 12, 2013February 12, 201320 Comments

it’s almost valentine’s day already! how did that happen? i feel like i was just making christmas presents. i must be getting old – get off my lawn!

anyway, valentine’s day is just around the corner, and when it comes the most perfect valentine dress pattern, you can’t go wrong with the sweetheart dress by luvinthemommyhood!

this is the second time i sewn this cute little dress – i blogged about Em’s here. i made this dress for my niece to wear on her birthday, whose party was delayed a bit due to the slightly earlier than expected (but not TOO early) birth of her new little sister! of course Em wore her dress for the photo op, too. i just couldn’t help myself.

they had too much fun in their matching dresses. literally. one of my more difficult photoshoots ever. these two little girlies were moving CONSTANTLY and thought it was funny to run away and hide under a bed rather than let me take photos. SO. i’m lucky to get what i did. there were bribes involved to get them to hold still – what can i say, they sure do love playing together!

for my niece’s dress, i made it in lizzy house outfoxed triangles (from bolt). i added mint green piping between the bodice and skirt as a fun little detail. the button is pink and sparkly.

my niece is more average in her proportions than Em is, so the heart fits her even better! she doesn’t wear dresses too often, but she seemed to really love twirling in this one.

pretty great little spring dress, eh? you can buy the sweetheart dress pattern right here. as i mentioned before, there is a little bit of a different method of joining the lining and outer due to the cutout – be sure to read the directions carefully and let shannon guide you on through, and you’ll quickly make one of the sweetest dresses in the land!

are you doing homemade or store bought valentines this year? it’s Em’s first year at school, and we just went with store bought. but then Anna posted this super cute duo of free printables and i’m sorry we had already bought some! so cute, you guys. gotta remember it for next year.

happy valentine’s day!

I am an affiliate of Go To Patterns and this post contains affiliate links.

straight up belgian style

February 11, 2013February 11, 201311 Comments

happy monday! today i’m doing some international blogging over at StraightGrain as the first guest in An’s new series…kid’s clothes belgian style!

what is “belgian style?” well…i had the same question. thankfully, An put together a pinterest board to enlighten us, and man, belgian style is cute!!! bright colors, fun layers, happy prints. it’s different and cool and exciting and i want it to catch on in America very badly.

i already knew i loved An’s own style (especially this and this – she offers some adorable free patterns, too). in fact, I was so inspired by An’s pastoral dresses, i had already made this dress two days before she even asked me to guest post! that’s called psychic overachieving, folks.

so yeah, i’m pretty giddily excited about this one. it’s fun and silly and somehow high fashion too? i never thought i’d be shopping in the “photographic wildlife” section of the fabric store, but now i’m curious what other outlandish prints might make great kid dresses – potatoes? ferns? 1980s mcdonald’s prints (actually seen at a the same store i got this fabric…)?? maybe so. maybe so.

come check out my guest post at StraightGrain to see more!

hope your week is off to a great start.

it’s flashback friday!

February 8, 2013February 8, 20135 Comments

oh hey! hope you had a good week. i was out of town for work for half of it, and i’m sure enjoying being back home to my little ones and husband again. the one nice thing about out of town work trips is i now have blog pals all over the country, and this time i got to meet Carolyn, a longtime favorite blogger of mine (this post is one of the greatest ever). so nice to meet you, Carolyn!

today i’m over at Sew Much Ado as a part of Abby’s flashback friday series. i’m so grateful to Abby for asking me to be a part of this series – i’ve really enjoyed reading about early projects, high school prom dresses, sewing from the heart.

it really got me thinking about why i love to sew, which has seemed to come to me in a way that feels very natural – almost like it was waiting for me to discover it all my life. i grew up hearing the sounds of my mom sewing, watching her cut patterns and put together beautiful garments, and wearing clothes she made. i need to find some examples of her sewing and show that off sometime. but today, i’m going waaaay back to 1940 and talking about my dad’s mother, my grandma, and the beginning of her sewing journey.

one night recently, i came across a package my grandma had left to me when she died a couple years ago but i hadn’t ever opened. what i found when i opened it struck me in a really emotional way and made me certain that sewing is in my blood…won’t you come read about my discovery?