2014 Goals- From Sewing to Beer Drinking… :D

Tags

2014, Goals, quilting, sew exhausted, sewing

I love new books… I love turning that first page knowing I am embarking on a new adventure. A story that will pull me in and make me a part of it. I love the smell and the crisp edges of each page as I turn them. A new year is like a new book. Brand new pages to turn. 🙂

I used to scoff at resolutions. After all we can make commitments to ourselves any time of year. But now I realize there is something about starting the New Year out with 365 clean, fresh pages. Brand new pages that I get to fill! And what better way to start the New Year then with an outline and a fresh set of goals to fill those pages.

My goals are not all sewing related. Some I am carrying on from last year because dang if I did not completely succeed YET. Some are easy. Some will be more difficult. But here they are nonetheless.

LIFE GOALS

1. Do some form of exercise every day- even if it is just one loop around the block or running up and down the stairs 10 times.

2. Eat right MOST of the time

3. Clean out my garage so I can park in it!

4. Read at least 2 books per month. I am already compiling my list! I used to be a huge reader but have not made the time for it in several years. I love to read and am looking forward to enjoying some great books.

5. Once a month disconnect from everything electronic for the evening and just hang out with my girls. My girls are on board with this one- We already tried this once. We didn’t even use electricity! We sat together and played games and talked by candlelight. Fun times!

6. Be a better blogger. I counted 12 projects I never blogged about! One Archer, a red denim jacket, 2 Maxi dresses, a maxi skirt, one tank top, one dolman sleeved top, 3 Sol Hoodies (I am going to blog these in January), my Carnivale costume and a sundress for my middle daughter

6. San Diego now has 82 Craft Breweries. If you didn’t know I am a lover of craft beer. And I plan on having visited ALL 82 by the end of the year. I confess I have a head start. My brother was here last week and we knocked out 11! And I started a blog to document it- http://www.82SanDiegoBreweries.com. Hopefully I can keep up with it!

SEWING GOALS

1. Sew more items I will wear every day- Renfrews, Thurlows, a few maxi skirts, and another batch of undies! I am also thinking I’d like a denim skirt, a Robson, a Saltspring dress, and more!

2. Sew more thoughtfully. What I mean by this is I do not want to just sew to sew. I want to sew the things I have in my head and not “settle.” When I settle for a fabric or get distracted by quickie projects I am never happy. From now on if I buy a pattern and have an image in my head instead of settling for something else I would rather wait until I do find the fabric I need.

3. Properly fit everything I sew. If this means making up 6 mockups of a pattern in my quest for the perfect fit, then so be it. I want my clothes to hang right and fit right.

4. This one is pretty specific but I am making it anyway! I want to make all 3 of my girls a silky, beautiful robe and matching PJ’s this year. Ideally I would have these done for Christmas! Hey, I have 360 days!

5. I have a box full of clothes I would like to refashion. I figure if I make a goal of one refashion a month I can probably succeed at this.

6. This was one of my goals from last year. I did not do it in 2013. I managed to buy 3 different sizes of needles and some yarn but I never actually started the project I had picked out. I REALLY want to learn to knit.

7. More quilting in 2014! I used to ALWAYS quilt. I have at least a dozen quilts in use at my house- (HEY- it’s winter!) And I have fabric for at least 6 more hanging out in drawers. Top of the list is my Snow White quilt. I also have a Yoda quilt and by hook or by crook I am going to have a BATMAN quilt to snuggle with by years end.

8. Last but not least- I want to sew something beautiful out of silk. Without ruining it! I know exactly what I want it to be… but I think I will keep it to myself! (The toughest part of this goal is that I need to have enough cash to buy the silk AND I need to find exactly what I have in my head.)

WHEW! I am gonna be busy! But keeping busy is good. I always tell my kids it keeps me outta trouble!

Happy New Year and make it a great 2014!

Laurie xox

Cool! A Giveaway!

Tags

blogging, easy sewing projects, fabrics, fashion, Giveaway, patterns, projects, sewing, vintage patterns

I have so many things to celebrate this month.. A year of it being just me… a year of blogging… a year of getting back to sewing and finding that sewing is definitely MY thing… a year of finding more of myself… a year of creating and getting excited about something again… a year of making new friends… and dang I could keep going but I will stop there!

I told myself when SewExhausted hit 10,000 views we would have a giveaway. Well, that time has come and here I am with even more to celebrate! And actually in the last week or 2 we have shot well over the 10K mark so I am lagging! But it seemed like a perfect month for it to land. We started the blog 3 years ago but it was pretty much ignored for 2 of those years. Last October though we got going “for reals.” And here we are! 🙂

FIRST.. THANK YOU to everyone who has ever read one of Sew Exhausted’s posts. I could not have this giveaway with out you! I truly enjoy writing and sewing, and being able to share what I create is just pretty darn cool. (This is where I thank the internet! lol)  Just being a part of the blogging world has been a joy. I LOVE to read blogs and see what you are making. I also get ideas and feel challenged to do better with my sewing when I read what you are up to, or cheer you on, or learn something new from you. Seeing you on Twitter, or Facebook, or Instagram makes my day! Joining in with you on various sew-alongs and challenges is great fun too. I finished TWO vintage dresses this last month because of you guys. 😀

Here is what I have for you. And if I could ask one thing it would make it all the grander. (I saw this recently on someone else’s blog for their anniversary giveaway and really liked it!) If you would like to be in the drawing, when you comment, please tell me one thing you like about my blog, and a suggestion on a way I could improve. (I know there is ALWAYS room for improvement!)

And now to the giveaways.

Giveaway #1- I have this fabric and pattern from Simplicity. 3 and 1/2 yards will do up ANY of these views in any of the sizes. (Just let me know which pattern size you want me to mail you if you are the winner!)

Giveaway #2 Three patterns in sizes 6-14. I love the flowy dress on the right. It would make a pretty spring dress or something pretty for a special occasion. The pattern with the skirts has some great options!

Giveaway #3 Three patterns in sizes 8-18. The middle one I have carried around for years but still never used it. I adore foofy skirts… but realize they just don’t look good on me. But I know they look fab on quite a few of you!

Giveaway #4 One yard of this plummy Marc Jacobs quilted suede. It is 60 wide so if you are in to vests it would make a GREAT one- or maybe a pencil skirt? It for sure will make a great suede bag. That is what I am doing with the other yard! You can use the pattern I included or use on of your choice if you are the winner!

Leave your comments and let me know which giveaways you like. If you want to be in for all 4 that’s good too! I will be drawing next week on the 11th so be sure to check back after that. I will also ship ANYWHERE.

OH- and another thing. Most bloggers I know love comments, and I am no exception to the rule. I get really excited when someone takes the time to leave an idea or suggestion, a compliment or an observation. I try to always respond. 🙂 To date I have 746 comments- of course half of those are mine but I really wanted to give one of my “comment makers” a gift as well. Those comments sure can make your day when you have posted something new whether it’s an epic fail or a fabulous success or even a cry for HELP.  🙂 My top commentor is Gjeometry! She has commented 38 times on my posts!

I’d also like to thank  SewingForFun  who comes in at 23 comments, Pretty Grievances  and my flicker sewing friend Shar who come in tied at 21 comments. Thank you so much ladies!

Whew… giving stuff away is fun and exhausting! And I have not even done the drawing yet!

Finally, I wanted to mention something else. For those of you that have been a reader for the last year you may wonder where Kerrielee (my sewing partner in crime and cousin) has been. You also know she is a momma to 5 kiddos 2-18 years old. Welllll… she and her hubby are in the process of adding #6 so she has been taking a break. I hope she isn’t too busy to come back, and I hope I will suffice for now!

xoxo Laurie

PS… I think I will do this EVERY October… it is MOST fun!

PPS. I have another Anna dress finished and an exciting new project. (Well, it is exciting to me anyway!) I will share soon!

Something’s missing…

Tags

clothing, minion blimp, Paleo, Paleo Diet, Paleo foods, patterns, project, sew, sew exhausted, sewing, Simplicity, Simplicity 2215, Vogue, Vogue 8577

Laurie here… again… finally… My week off was wonderful. How could a week off not be? I relaxed, I walked, I sewed, I hiked, I sewed, I went to the beach, I sewed, I watched Justified and Suits and the rest of my Fringe episodes, I sewed, I ate Paleo foods all week, and I sewed… 🙂 I did not want to return to work EVER! But alas, no one else will pay the bills so I HAD to go back to work.

Here is just a sampling of what I ate all week. I felt really good so I have actually continued eating like this. Paleo is EASY! Fruits and vegetables- preferably organic, and grain fed free range meats. It is also called “The Caveman” diet. I am finishing up week 4! (The tomatoes in the lower right are from my garden. 🙂 )

I invited Kerrielee over to sew and she showed up for several of those fun filled days. Hopefully she will blog her makes soon! I should NOT be blogging mine… because… well… they aren’t QUITE complete!! For some reason- after I completely finished the skirt- I never fully completed the items I was working on!

The first project I started on I actually completed. This great skirt (90’s era!) with a lovely challis. Oooo, I love challis. I love the way it flows and I really enjoy working with it. I like the skirt a lot. The gathering on the sides of the yoke though add a bit of fluffyness I could really do without. But I think I have a fix for that. I am looking for a solid purple to make a blouse and then I can throw a black sweater over it. I think the hardest thing will be finding that solid purple to match. Seems like whenever I want to match something it turns in to a difficult process.

The rest of my projects? I am not sure what came over me. I STOPPED before they were finished! Why? I would like to say I did not find the perfect buttons. (In actuality I didn’t find the buttons I had in my head BUT I did get buttons.) So the truth is, I had buttons to put on… but… well… they just have not made it yet!

I made this super great little blouse out of a piece of fabric from the oh so special Anne at Pretty Grievances. I used Simplicity 2215- a Cynthia Rowley design. (Kerrielee has made the dress for her daughter and it is CUTE!) This fabric is a chiffon type so I sprayed it with starch and ironed prior to cutting and sewing. It makes it so much easier and I highly recommend you do so when you struggle with slippery fabric! The below pic is closer to the actual color of the fabric. I really really like it- and I don’t normally wear pink! One thing though- gotta add the buttons so I can wear it!

So, I skipped the buttons and started making my coat. You remember the adorable coat pattern I mentioned in my last post that I got from Katie at Kadiddlehopper. Sigh… Also unfinished. I think that MAY because it is summer? Or, because I still have to find the right buttons? Or maybe I am just making excuses here and I was just “not in the mood?” But here it is in it’s unfinished glory…

I actually have the lining in now- and just need to hand stitch the sleeve lining in. Then add the buttons. Look at the BACK! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the back of this coat. It also has a “kick pleat” (not sure what you call it on a coat) that I have not un stitched yet…

I promise when I finish I will take GOOD pics on me- so you can see the pleat, the lilac lining, and the buttons I end up with. (You think I should go with black buttons or cover my own?) I want to wear this coat with a hat.. yep- my kids are gonna die but I am going to do it anyway. A cloche hat I think- like this only in black!

Two unfinished items! Only, ummm… I am not done yet. I am ALMOST finished with my Vogue 8577. Let me just say these pictures do not do it justice. It is a FABULOUS dress! It has LOADS of pattern pieces and I almost put them all back in the envelope but decided that was silly. I am on vacation! I have LOTS of time!

This dress is FULLY lined. That means it was like cutting out TWO dresses … and all those pattern pieces! I lined it with a red broadcloth. The “khaki” is a broadcloth as well with a touch of stretch. I can’t remember where I got it but it is perfect for this dress. (Other than the fact I will have to iron it!) This one gets RED buttons… and red shoes. 😀

All I could think of when I turned this wrong side out was if I had used RED as the facing the dress would have practically been reversible! What’s left to do? The armhole finishing and … the buttons. Sigh… Again, well, when I finish I will photograph it!

I made 2 simple knit dresses for Kerrielee’s daughter and my youngest. But they are not photographed. And I managed ANOTHER pair of hip hop pants for my eldest daughter. Overall it was a pretty decent sewing week.

I also went to the beach and kicked my feet up and read a good book… This is Moonlight Beach… And there was a dolphin pod frolicking around out there!

Saw the Minion Blimp…

Minion Blimp over Oceanside Pier

Early morning walk…

Overall, a fabulous week off… Now I need another so I can FINISH what I started!

xoxo

~Laurie

May meltdown, but now I’m back at it!

Tags

cleaning, clothing, costumes, dance, daughters, dress, patterns, projects, quilting, sew, sew exhausted

(Kerrielee) Man it’s been awhile! It’s almost like I’ve have dropped off the face of the Earth! I have missed you all so much, reading your blogs, seeing what you have all been up to, BUT I am back!

I have been sewing this month, not as much as I would have liked. The first whole week in May I did not sew a single thing! (GASP, horrible I know) You know sometimes you just don’t feel like it!

But instead of focusing on all the negative this month,(not blogging, totally flaking on me–made-may) I am just going to jump right back in and let you all know what I have going on.

First, for me, how much I can sew really has to do with how I am keeping up on my house. When it’s a mess I have such a hard time focusing on my sewing, probably because of guilt….why should I be sewing when my house is such a mess!? So, at the beginning of the month I said “self, you will clean for at least 2 hours each day!” (Plus just the general pick up you have to do throughout the day and evening, oh and those never ending dishes and laundry!) Now mind you, there are 8 people living in my house, so we can generate a lot of mess, plus I think sewing in itself just makes things look messy, all that thread and fabric scraps laying around! So 2 hours a day really does not get that much done, but it has kept the bathrooms clean, floor clean, living room picked up and vacuumed, my room, and the little boys room cleaned. So the main areas of my house should look nice at anytime if someone drops by. All of those things take 1- 1 1/2 hrs, depending on if I have not quite gotten in the full 2 hours each day (you know life does come up sometimes). On the days that I do have extra time, I pick one of the projects I hate, wiping down the cupboards and walls, windows, dusting, decluttering, cleaning out closets…you know those fun things! All in all, this has been going pretty well and I am sure at any point now the other 7 people in my house are going to catch on 🙂

Now that I have a pretty good handle on that, I think I am ready to get back at hanging out with the blogging world!

Here are a few of the projects I have in the works for the next week or two…..

Shirt for Eleena for one of her dance numbers. This has to be done by Sunday!

Here is another flip flop quilt I am working on in bright colors. I would like to be done by the end of May so it can count as my quilt for the month!

Leggings for a friends daughter. These also must be done by Sunday (picture day at the dance studio!)

The same little girl with the leggings asked me to make her a dress for her 5th grade promotion ceremony. I have till the 6th to get this done!

And then I have a dress for me and skirt for Eleena…just for fun!

           Looks like I have a lot to do. Maybe you all will get to see some finished projects soon!

Happy Sewing

Kerrielee

Two Quilts!

Tags

birthday, challenge, cowboy boot quilt, fabric, flip flop quilt, footwear, friend, gifts, patterns, quilting, sew exhausted, sewing

We did it… We each made a quilt this month. From start to finish! And now we will each blog about our quilts! The funny thing is we both designed our quilts around footwear. 😀

I (Laurie) like to call this quilt my Boot Scootin Quilt. I realized my good friend’s birthday was coming up. She loves cowboys and country music. I admit I have made her other quilts for gifts. She has a Charger quilt (fave football team), a Winnie the Pooh quilt (she LOVES WP), and a daschie quilt. (Yes- she has a dachshund!) I know, I know- I have heard it before- “how many quilts can you have?” Well, I think you can have a lot! I have quite a few and I use them ALL! So, I made her a cowboy boot quilt!

I found a free boot template. (Link here). I cut 12 boots using 3 different types of fabrics, and then I mixed and matched the boot, heel and the tab. The block is a 10 inch square. I ironed the pieces on with Wonder Under, and then used a zig zag stitch to applique the boots onto the squares.

After the boots were all made I added simple sashing and borders. I used fabric from my stash- even the backing was a pretty green fleece I found while I was digging around. This quilt was simple, quick to make, and made the receiver very happy!

“These boots were made for walkin”… “Boot scootin’ boogie”…”What a great big star I’ll be in a pair of cowboy boots…” I guess you get the point! 😀

——————————–

Here is the quilt I (Kerrielee) made for my moms best friend. She has recently been diagnosed with cancer and I wanted her to have something she could either take to her treatments with her or just to have when she was at home resting on the couch. Laurie had actually made me a larger version of this quilt years ago for Christmas, and when my mom’s friend saw it she was in love with it, so I knew I wanted to make her a version of the flip flop quilt. This is what I came up with

I found the free applique pattern here at Craftsy.com

I used rick rack for the……you know, the part that goes in between your toe and holds the flip flop on your foot  (WHAT is that part called??)! I auditioned some buttons to add on, but didn’t like any enough to take the extra time to put them on (ya, I’m lazy!)!  Then I just added some sashing and a border. I backed it with a soft cuddly fleece.

It is now at it’s new home and I know it will be well loved. Isn’t that the best!? When you make something for someone and you just know that it is SO appreciated!

Laurie and I enjoyed making our quilts so much that we have come up with a new challenge for ourselves (like we don’t have enough challenges already!) We have so much quilting fabric waiting in our stashes that we thought we would challenge ourselves to make from start to finish 1 new quilt each month for the remainder of the year! Dang! that will be 8 new quilts by the end of the year (9 if you count the one we each made this month!)

Happy Sewing ~Kerrielee and Laurie

The Two of Us…

Tags

costumes, crafting, daughters, dress, easy sewing projects, fabric, fabrics, Family, patterns, projects, quilt, quilting, quilts, sew exhausted, sewing

I thought it was high time for a proper introduction… and so here it is!

For those of you that have been reading a while, you may have noted that there are two of us. Cousins… and we love to sew! And we LOVE our families! I, (Laurie), am older and admit it- SIGH… and when Kerrielee was 3, my mother and sister and I moved down to the San Diego area. Kerrielee became like my little sister. 😀 We lived next door practically, and she was always over (I could get her to help me clean my room) and when she was 8, I’d take her on dates with me- YES- my chaperone!

Through marriage and kids we have remained tight. Both of us started sewing as teens and we have kept it up. But only in the last 10 years did we start sewing together… and boy has it been fun! Anyway, here is a little about US…

Here I am with my kiddos… I have four. A son, who when he was little I would make button down shirts for, and three daughters. When I was pregnant with my eldest daughter I started sewing her clothes. She had a FULL closet before she was even born! I’d make matching bloomers for her dresses to cover the ugly diapers and because it was the 90’s she even had lots of matching hats. My youngest daughter had 3 times as many clothes because she got the hand-me-downs and new ones! Those were some well dressed girls! I still sew for them… and I sew for me too!

Here we all are- Casey, Kadi, Holly and Juliette. (And me)

Kerrielee has five children. Four son’s and one daughter. They are all much younger than mine and so she is kept a “little” bit busier in the “mama” department!

OKAY! Getting 5 kids to all smile at the same time can be a chore! But here they are- looking mighty adorable if you ask me! Kerrielee makes super quilts and even has designed a few. I keep telling her we need to turn those in to patterns and SHARE! But we seem to always be busy doing other things. You just wait though- one of these days!

Kerrielee and I sew together twice a week- Thursdays which we have affectionately dubbed Drink and Sew Thursday… and Saturday. From 11 AM and on until we can’t sew any more! If we have something hanging over our heads we may add an evening or 2!

We like quilting… and sewing clothes. We love reading all your crafty/ sewing/ quilting/ cooking blogs… We are on Facebook and Twitter… and you can follow us Via BlogLovin. OH! And Pinterest too- We can spend WAY too much time on Pinterest!

Most of the posts will be written by me- I have a little more time on my hands. But Kerrielee finds great tutorials and helps keep the FB page up. And every now and then I will nag her in to writing a post! 😀

And that is US- In a nutshell pretty much.

He he he…

Laurie and Kerrielee

Kerrielee: Gee, Laurie, what do you want to do tonight?

Laurie: The same thing we do every night, Kerrielee – try to take over the world!…

Laurie: Umm.. I mean SEW!

By Hook or By Crook… and a Tribute…

Tags

daughters, fabric, patterns, projects, sew exhausted, sewing, sewing vintage clothing, Vintage, vintage patterns

Hallooo friends…

Well, I have returned from Oregon– A little early due to the demise of my daughters parrot- which broke her heart. Aussie was a wonderful member of our family and I will miss seeing him perched on Kadi’s head, squawking every time I take the blow dryer out, trying to sneak under the bathroom door when I take a shower, and welcoming us home.

We did send him off in style… A brand new pot, messages, his fave snacks for his journey, and a beautiful blue hibiscus tree… (That is him just asleep btw!) Oh, and we played Somewhere Over the Rainbow for him too…

Anyway, Now I am BACK! And I need to get back in to the groove. So, last night I organized some of my “stuff” and found I definitely have some things to finish up and some things I better get started on! Here is what I have coming up- and by hook or by crook, some way some how, I am going to get these done! Before March is OVER!

I am FINISHING this darn Polka Dot Frock FIRST no matter what! I have sleeves, neck and hemming… And because it needs a slip and I decided NOT to line it- I am making a blue slip to go underneath- 🙂

This skirt is one I started on before I left for Oregon- I just need to do the waistband, zipper and hem… I made the longer version. I LOVE long skirts!

I WILL finish these 2 pairs of hip hop pants– black ones are Kadi’s and the brown ones are Juliette’s.

I would like to get this made for Holly for Easter– Do you think I am pushing it now?? FOCUS Laurie!!

This is my Sew For Victory pattern. I found it in the UK and HAVE to make this by April 1st. I LOVE this pattern and wanted some blouses so it seemed a no brainer. But now I can’t decide if I should make the long sleeve version with the 3 button cuffs or the most awesome sleeve version in View 3. I watched Romance on the High Seas with Doris Day and she had an aqua blouse on with those fab sleeves. Hers had buttons in the back but OH I fell in love with it! Guess I better decide quickly! Thoughts?

Sighhhh… One of my biggest problems is I have Sewing ADD… I have so many things I want to make, and I am constantly coming up with “OH, I want to make that” and so I get sidetracked. I hope I can follow my “rest of” March plan!

But I better get busy!!!!

~Laurie

Wellington Pattern arrival!

Tags

fabric, Giveaway, patterns, projects, sew exhausted, sewing, Wellington Pattern Pyramid

I am severely lagging in my Wellington Pattern post and bestow upon you all my most humblest apologies!

A week ago the well traveled patterns and a few extra goodies arrived from Pretty Grievances. Thank you Anne!

And because Kerrielee and I each wanted a different pattern, and got in a knock down drag out fight over which one we would keep, we each took one!

The dress for me, and the blouse for Kerrielee!

And because our mommies taught us to share, the LOVELY, oh so beautiful and luxuriously sheer piece of fabric Anne generously added to the package will be used by both of us. As a matter of fact Kerrielee is going to use the above blouse pattern on her half! Thank you, Thank you Anne! We LOVE the fabric!

We added 2 patterns EACH to the Pyramid. (Aren’t we awesome!)

If you would like to be the next receiver of the Pattern Pyramid (and you know you do!) leave a bribe comment below and we will have a drawing to see where the pyramid will travel to next!

We will draw in one week!!! (Tuesday the 13th)

~Laurie and Kerrielee

If you are interested in the Pyramids origins- here is where it all began!

Nothin like waiting till the last minute…Jungle January #3

Tags

baby, baby quilt, challenge, fabric, fabrics, jungle january, jungle quilt, quilting, quilts, sewing, wwe

Yes! that’s me…the procrastinator! I like to blame it mostly on the kids, you all know I have 5 right!?

For the last week we have all known that January will be ending here shortly, so Laurie has been gently nudging me each day to finish my Jungle January project. I would respond, “I don’t need to have it done until the 30th right!?”. “Yes, Kerrielee, but it would be nice if you could be done and we could blog about it before then.” (You  can go check more Jungle January madness over at Anne’s blog)

So last night my husband took the boys to see WWE Smackdown. My 10 year old’s fav, but the other boys like it as well. Here they are having a great time. My eldest Erik is in the middle, Ethaniel (10 year old) is to the left  and his BFF Max, to the right. Who knows where the other kid is!

SO…since he had 3 boys, Eleena was at dance until 9, I only had the baby( Emmett, he is almost 2, so I guess not really quite a baby anymore, but the baby in our house) and no excuses not to work on my project.

After rummaging through my fabric stash a few weeks ago, I found a few animal prints along with an all over jungle animal print, all in flannels. I figured I could either make pj’s or a quilt. Since I had yet to make a quilt for Emmett, I decided that was what I was going to do. I had started it all a few weeks ago, so last night I just needed to baste it all together, quilt it and binding. Between a little couch cuddling and dinner I had it all done by 10pm! Not too shabby.

I still feel like it needs something, maybe a few appliqued circles in the bright colors from the polka dot fabric? We will see, it will probably stay as is! I do love the “braided” border and his name appliqued on the quilt, and I think once I get it washed and it softens up he will spend much time cuddling with it on the couch!

Well I am done and now excited to get going on our next challenges. We are doing DaGMT 2013 with Quilting Hottie and Polka dot Frock Fest, but don’t expect to see any progress from me until the end of February!

Until next time Happy Sewing! ~K

Sewing Dares… and something ELSE for ME!

Tags

blose, clothing, dress, fabric, fabrics, fashion, patterns, sew exhausted, sewing, Simplicity, Simplicity 2254, top

A few weeks ago in the beginning of 2013 I was on Twitter, minding my own business (ummm- sort of) when I saw Gillian at Crafting a Rainbow challenge Anne at Pretty Grievances to a Sewing Dare. I innocently commented on the challenge and before I knew it I had been challenged to “sew something lovely for myself.” As a die hard quilter and sewing for my family fiend, this was something out of the norm for me BUT something I always tell myself I am going to start doing. So, it was not a malicious challenge, it was a challenge that I needed!

At the same time I was taking part in Jungle January, and at the fabric store stumbled on the perfect fabric for Pajamas and a robe and I decided they would be for me. You can read all about my venture in to Jungle Madness here. The thing was, I killed 2 birds with 1 stone- completed Jungle January- and made myself something!

But I realized I wanted MORE. I wanted to make MORE for ME! And so this past weekend I dug up a lovely sweater knit out of my stash and started sewing.

I have this pattern and have been wanting to make it. Simplicity 2254. When I grabbed it from my stash I did not connect the fact I was using a knit on a pattern that calls for a fabric with no stretch and by the time I realized it I was already cutting. And it didn’t matter because I really wanted to make it, and I wanted it to make it with that fabric. So, away I went.

For those that saw my machine was on the blink, I am using my daughters machine. It is a cheap one but it is working and that is all that matters to me! Whew!

Anyway, here is my top. Which I LOVE by the way.

My action shot- me on the curb making a phone call. (That seems to be about as much action as I see!)

My close up- Me wondering what I should do with my arms. (And yes- I like the cleavage. I have been informed that “boys like that.”)

My “OK, I just forced myself to take 3 pics of myself so I am gonna post them” look.

The top was a little big. Most likely because it was a knit instead of a cotton but I don’t mind. It IS comfy and I feel lovely in it! And because I already completed my Sewing Dare… I am challenging myself to another. Like Anne at Pretty Grievances I have never had a TNT or Tried and True. (I had to google that btw because I felt too silly to ask!) I do not like to make something more than once. I have sewing ADD I am sure of it. (That MUST be a REAL disability right?) Or it may be because I have 3 daughters who I used to make matching clothes for which means I made that pattern 3 times. By garment #2 I was a little bored! BUT, I love this pattern so much I want to make myself 2 more. I am going to make one out of a sweet white eyelet– (can’t you just envision the innocence?) and one out of a blue and black raised velvet chiffon. (Not sure what it is really but I bought it for something I will never use it for now so why not?)

Here they are in all their glory… waiting for me to cut them out. After this I may need to retire the pattern. But who knows? Maybe at the end of my own personal Sewing Dare I will find myself a TNT convert!

Go check out some of the other Sewing Dares. And if you dare, I am sure Gillian and her team of daring pals can dream up something challenging for you to accomplish this year!

In the meantime, take care my friends and I will see you soon. ~L

PS. Now why did WP pick the CLOSE UP to feature in the “READER” feed… Sigh…