I have done quite a bit of sewing in the few months or so- but no blogging. I seriously need to take stock and decide what direction I am going to go in 2017! Well, I have pretty much decided which direction… I have to stop sewing for everyone else and get into some selfish sewing – because what is a sewing blog without pictures? And long distance sewing isn’t cutting it for me! Especially when they don’t take pictures!
Regardless of all that I decided I would share some of things I have made and some of the fun things I have coming up. One of the main things I have been sewing this year is men’s shirts. All short sleeve button downs in fun prints. I use McCalls 6044 and don’t even need to read the directions anymore! I need to take a new count but I am pretty sure I have now made over 30 men’s shirts. My son is a lucky young man, as is my brother! I have also made a few for friends that have asked. Star Wars seems to be a popular choice since I recently made two “Darkside” shirts!
I also recently finished up a Superman shirt for a work friend.
And this last weekend I made my son a JAWS shirt and a Deadpool shirt. I am off to California next weekend for a wedding and wanted to bring him some new additions to his wardrobe. (Just a sneaky peak of these since I plan on taking pics next weekend and doing a men’s shirt post!)
I made a Blue Hawaiian dress for Holly from Simplicity 1607- a Cynthia Rowley pattern… This dress is for my middle daughter Holly and she has it in hand but never sent a picture of her in it so here it is on Dolores!
And boy was I SUPER thrilled when I posted it on Instagram and Cynthia Rowley HERSELF liked my photo. 😀 I even got proof since I happened to be holding my phone at that moment and took a screenshot of the alert!
A few weeks back I whipped up 2 skirts – red for Daughter #1 and blue for Daughter #2.
Again, NO pics were sent to me… sniffle… so here they are AGAIN on Dolores.
Shoot- just realized that pic is buttonless but I did eventually find some to match and added them…
I could not find any buttons for this one so made some. I remember back in the day JoAnns had an amazing button selection- now I think it is greatly lacking (my nice way of saying the button selection at JoAnns sucks!)
One of my FAVORITE makes of the last few months was a vintage dress I made out of a floral rayon challis. I used an old Advance pattern I picked up from Etsy…
I LOVE this dress and wish I had spectacular pics to share with you… Instead I have these tiny ones. 
It is a truly beautiful dress and I am very pleased with how it turned out. I even made a belt but unfortunately was afraid to put in the grommets so it is still in my possession!
I am adjusting to Texas summers and actually enjoying the thunder and lightning storms, humidity, and mosquitoes. OK- NOT the mosquitoes but I really DO enjoy the huge storms. I am taking Spin classes twice a week and walking every evening even if it is still 90 degrees F out. I have witnessed quite a few amazing sunsets on my walks!
When the time changes I am not sure what I will do since it will be dark long before I even get home from work!
I have some pretty exciting upcoming plans. 😀
I have a pair of Dr. Who Carolyn PJ’s on the deck for me, and Harry Potter PJ’s for Daughter #2.
I have been invited to TWO Halloween parties and plan on making a costume. I will be Regina, the Evil Queen from Once Upon A Time and plan to use McCalls 6818.
And my Christmas dress is also in the early planning stages. I am thinking about making this dress from Vogue (#1502) in either a navy or emerald.
On a final note, I thought I would share my latest commitment to lightening up my fabric stash. I made a year long deal with my cousin who also has quite the stash. We have to sew FOUR items for every piece of fabric we want to buy. I just finished my 4th item so am entitled to one piece of fabric. I am thinking that will cut down on the stash in record time! Hope I can keep to it!
Happy sewing my friends!
Sew Exhausted 
I love your stash deal – great idea! I may have to implement it! Your sewing is amazing – I especially love the red skirt. That pattern is delicious. But yes, it looks like 2017 needs to be the year of not selfish, but self-sustaining sewing. You clearly deserve it!
I thought it was a pretty good stash idea too. It also makes me go look through what I have and when I do, I find something I forgot about and really love! … I really hated writing selfish sewing because why is it selfish to sew for yourself? So, I love that you called it self-sustaining sewing and will use that from now on! I need and deserve new things as well. 😀
Yes! Good for you.
Loved everything you have made or are going to make (Halloween costume) but especially loved the skirts for daughters 1 and 2. Do you make shirts for boys under 12 in novelty fabrics? MauveKat
Yes- I do make shirts for boys. All the way down to a size 2! 😀 I am very pleased with the skirts as well. I want to make a solid navy one with brass buttons- Nautical!
Wow! You have been busy! Everything you make is superb. I think I need to adopt your stash rule, mine is out of control.
I stay busy to keep myself out of trouble! 😉 It is a good stash rule isn’t it?? My cousin was really upset about her stash and how much she spends on fabric and was actually considering quitting sewing! So, I came up with that knowing it would help her and me. We could still buy new stuff but we have to earn it by sewing what we have!
I think it’s a brilliant way to keep things under control.
Some gorgeous makes there, I especially love the skirts, what a great waistline! I like your stash rule, mine is getting out of hand too!
Thank you! When I saw this skirt pattern the waistline was what attracted me to the skirt. I wish the blouse pattern had been available but I searched high and low across all pattern companies with no luck. I want to make a solid navy one w/ brass buttons soon- nautical!
So good to hear what you have been up to. You will make a great Regina!
Thank you! I have to admit I am very excited to be Regina. 😀
You have some really cool garments there! I’d love to have the poppy skirt. Such a busy lady. Good luck with the stash busting! With all the items you have made I think you’ll do fine.
The hardest part is NOT buying fabric… And I look at it all the time! I guess I need to be disciplined now. (sigh) … I love the Poppy skirt as well. Thank you!
I only go into a fabric store maybe once or twice a year because I KNOW I can’t resist the temptation! ☹️
So many lovely garments! I love all the shirts. And your plans for Halloween and Christmas look wonderful.
Good luck with your stash deal, I’m trying to get mine down as I made the mistake of measuring it!! I was doing quite well this year till I bought 3 vintage silk saris, well thats 15m in one go!!
I started measuring mine last January but it was too much work. I ended up just categorizing them! I bet those vintage silk saris are glorious!
Amazing job on all the sewing and what a great like on Instagram, love the screen shot!
Thanks Lori! I was pretty thrilled! 😀
What a great post and showing all the wonderful makes you’ve been sewing the last couple of months. You had some beautiful fabrics in your stash. The detailing on the skirts are so well done.
Thank you! I do love those skirts! 😀
You’ve made some really cool things lately! I hope to see more of that fabulous advance dress. I love the way that your daughter has modernized it. I hope you’re back to selfish sewing soon.
I will be in CA next weekend and hope to snap some pictures for a real post of that Advance dress. I just love it!!
I think my stash issue is a short attention span issue. I’m excited when I buy it- then I’m bored when I look at it in my stash. Sigh…
I feel the same way a lot of the time! I go and dig around and look at it and can’t find anything I want to sew up!
A JAWS shirt?!?!?!?!?!? Okay, I need one. =) I can femme it up by using a vintage blouse pattern, right? =D You have made so many beautiful things, and I love seeing your in-progress and dressform shots on Instagram. (And I totally love that you got a screencap of the Cynthia Rowley “like”: that must have made your entire day!!)
I feel you on the stash issue: I have so much fabric but so little time to sew it! 😦 It’s depressing. I wish you the very best of luck with your goal–you can do it!!! =)
Looking forward to your upcoming projects!
Thank you so much! Instagram is where I usually hang out with my sewing projects. My blog does not see nearly as much! I look forward to seeing your Jaws shirt! It will be great!!
That’s so amazing that Cynthia Rowley liked your photo! And best of luck with the costume. Regina’s clothes are so fabulous when she’s in Evil Queen mode.
Yes! Regina is pretty fabulous! I can’t wait to get started!