A Few of My Favorite Things

 I just wanted to pop in and do a post with a few of my favorite pattern test pictures of Kessa.  I'm thinking this might be a fun time of year to do a post like this for each of the kids and we'll start off with K since she's the oldest!

Above are the Just a Jersey shirts I made for all the kiddos.  (Pattern by Blank Slate Patterns)

Above: The Soda Pop Polo from Candy Castle Designs (this one has soo many options and it's a great unisex pattern!)  

Girl and doll Avonlae dresses from Cole's Corner and Creations (she gets soooo many compliments every time she wears this one!)  

This one has me ready for summer!  The Capsule skirt from EYMM with matching doll capsule skirt!

A fun Asymmetric top from EYMM

A High Low version of the California dress from EYMM

An upcycled hack of the Calla Lily Skirt from EYMM

A Riley dress from Made for Mermaids

And last but not least, the Mayfair dress from my beloved Terra's Treasures!

Alpine Shorts and Trousers

Ya'll, Terra's Treasures has done it again!!!  Her newest pattern, the Alpine Shorts and Trousers, are fantastic!!!  Terra is seriously one of my favorite pattern designers.  Her designs are always unique and original, comfy and a step up from the everyday ordinary stuff...plus...they fit!  This pattern starts at 0-3 months and goes all the way up to a 16!!!  There are side seam pockets, patch back pockets and they can be made with the fun diagonal design or as straight shorts or trousers.  Her directions make putting these together a breeze and you can choose to do a plain, flat front or a faux fly.

Want another reason to buy?  Terra even made this pattern with no trim pages!!!!  Call me lazy, but that makes me so excited!  

There's a lot of opportunity for top stitching too which really can takes these up even another level to make a really outstanding finished garment.

My son loves these shorts and I can't wait to make both boys more...and pants for that matter!!!

So have I convinced you you need this pattern yet?  It's on sale for only $6 through Friday!!!

Talor Tank

Made for Mermaids has just released a totally amazing tank in the perfect time for summer.  This shirt is a seriously fast sew.  We're talking like 20 minutes start to finish (once my pattern was put together...and even that didn't take long!)

The Talor Tank is the girls version of the Free Spirit tank from designer Patterns for Pirates (the designers behind Made for Mermaids and Patterns for Pirates are sisters.)  and they're offering a mommy/daughter bundle this weekend only!  

The Talor Tank comes in sizes 1/2 all the way up to size 14 and has top, tunic, and dress lengths, as well as a full back or racerback option, AND curved, highlow, or straight hemlines and several options for adding a bow to the racerback!  It's packed full of options.  I've already made Kessa two and she loves them.  I see a lot more in our future!

(promise my hemline isn't that wonky, it was just windy!  lol)

Pier 7

I got the pleasure of testing Terra's Treasureshttp://terrastreasuresdesigns.com/ new Pier 7 top pattern (which is also part of the Bundle Up Salehttp://bundleupsale.com/!)  Like all Terra's patterns is unique and cute!  

(you'll have to pardon my photos.  My photographer is the size of most 5 year olds and I didn't think to get her a stool!  lol)

It's hard to tell in my pictures/with the fabric I chose but there are 5 cute little pleats/pin tucks in the center of the bodice.  The bodice neckline has a facing that super easy to put in and several testers left off the flutter sleeves if those aren't your thing.

The bodice skirt can be gathered with shirring or with elastic and I think this would be totally adorable as a maternity shirt too!!!

The pattern is written for light weight, flowy woven fabric but I know at least one tester used knit fabric and her top was adorable!  

Women's Bundle Up Take 2!

It's Bundle Up time again!!!  The Bundle Up sale consists of ELEVEN brand spanking new patterns that are perfect for the rest of Me Made May and all that self care sewing you've been meaning to do.  

With the Bundle Up you can pick and choose which patterns you actually want and get some rocking good prices!  You have to buy at least 6 patterns to be able to bundle up but the more you buy...the more you save!!!  

PRICING DETAILS

•$4.50 each for 6-7 ($27-31.50 total)
•$4.25 each for 8-9 ($34-38.25 total)
•$4.00 each for 10 or more ($40- $44 total)

 I got the pleasure of sewing up Greenstyle's Jillian Tank and Love Notions Bluezette dress.  (Be sure and stop back later this week when I'll be sharing my take on Terra's Treasures Pier 7 top which is also in the Bundle too!)

First, let's talk about this Bluezette.  I made one of the most simple versions but this pattern has sooo many options you could probably make a dozen or more and never have two alike!  Three different sleeve options (tank, cap, and this 1/2 length), 5 different skirt options (maxi, tulip, half circle, high low, knee length), and two different bodice types (fitted and more full so it looks like it's been tucked in) make this one of the most versatile patterns I've seen in a long time.

I choose the fitted bodice with the knee length skirt and the 1/2 sleeves.  I'm already itching to make another one with a circle skirt.  The bodice is a comfy knit and the instructions for lining or doing facings are incredibly clear and easy to follow.  One thing I LOVED about this pattern was the fact that it has hyperlinks between different options!  It makes jumping from one spot to other as simple as clicking your mouse button.   It comes in sizes XS to XXXL and has no trim pages, layers so you can print only the size you want, and lots of ideas and inspiration for great dresses!

Next up is Greenstyle's Jillian tank. Here's what the pattern description says - "The Jillian comes with so many options! An outer, layer tank, an inner tank, a bandeau, and a sports bra are all included in one great pattern. The outer tank can be made with a dressy chiffon and layered over the inner tank for a night out. Or, you can make it sporty by using your favorite performance knit for your trip to the gym or out for a walk."

I used a lightweight burnout knit for my outer tank.  The binding instructions push this over the top making it incredibly professional looking.  You can also use a lightweight flow-y woven fabric for the outer tank.   

The inner tank can have a build in sports bra and there are instructions for making your own binding for the straps and using 1" FOE.  I chose to go the FOE route and omitted the built in bra and this tank was incredibly quick sew up!  The fit is great and the back is super cute!  I see a lot more of these in my future!  Once you have the pattern cut you can probably whip up both the inner and outer tank both in under an hour!

If you want to check out some more reviews be sure and stop by all the other bloggers on the tour!  

Avonlea Dress

I was so thrilled to be able to test Cole's Creations new Avonlea dress and matching dolly dress last week!  Now, if you're like me, the first you'll want to know is why should I buy this pattern, right?  I mean, there are multiple out there with knit bodices and woven skirts already right?  Right.  

Well Cole's Creations Avonlea dress comes in sizes 1/2 - size 14 so that's a big selling point!  The biggest selling point for me though would be that it has a lot more options than most of the other dresses.  Because there were so many options not all of them are going to look different from the other patterns.  I did the basic long sleeve version with a ruched sash and ruffled skirt.  There are also options for basic short sleeves, puffed sleeves, puffed sleeves layered over long sleeves and the skirt can be done with or without the ruffle.  The pattern is designed to be much shorter but I made the skirt a size longer and added the ruffle.  Kessa loved this length and was very excited about the "twirl factor!"  

The patterns are on sale through tomorrow (Thursday 2/26)!  The girl dress is just $6 and the doll dress is only $2!!

(how 'bout them zebras?!?!  In case you haven't figured it out yet Kessa has a thing for zebras.  She LOVES this dress.)

I'm getting a lot better at tying those sash bows too!  lol.  I'm pretty sure Kessa would wear these every day if I made her enough.  

I'm also itching to start making the girls' Easter dresses with this pattern.  It's SOOO cute with special occasion fabric!

So what are you waiting for?!?!  Go grab the pattern while it's still on sale and whip up some matching dresses for your girly and her daughter so you can get a smile like this from her too!!  

BundleUP Girl!

I feel super privileged to get to be on the Bundle UP tour again!  If you remember from the BundleUP Boy tour the BundleUP sales are a super fun pattern sale where you get to pick and choose from multiple (11 this time!) patterns and buy them as a bundle for some great savings!  If you buy 6-7 patterns they're just $4.50 each and they get cheaper from there if you buy more!  

I sewed up Jocole's Wide Leg Pants and FooFoo Threads Adeline Knit Cardigan, Dress, and Top.  

The pants are great!  Super fast sew, super adorable, super great deal!  They come in sizes doll - 14, can be made with inseam pockets (as I did), patch pockets, or no pockets at all and they have three different knit waistband options!  I made Kessa a size 7 with a size 4 waistband (per the measurement charts) and I probably should have gone with a 6 instead.  Oh well, she can wear them longer this way!  lol.  

Now let's talk about this cardi!  The FooFoo Threads pattern can be made as a cardigan, a shirt, or a dress!  AND it has a ton of different sleeve options including sleeveless, long sleeves, short sleeves, elastic cuffs, ruffles, and probably some others I'm forgetting!  It also has a great Peter Pan collar that I chose to leave off so that I didn't cover up any of the "Zebracorn" on the back.  lol.  (can you tell Kessa likes zebras?  :p )  

The front and back bodice are also totally lined which gives you a great opportunity for a pop of fun that's not overwhelming (or even seen at all in some cases!  lol)  I chose to use a neon green zebra print to line the inside.  It's fun...and bright...but you only get little tiny peeks of it so it's not overwhelming.  The pattern includes sizes 3months - 10 and I think I'm going to have to make some more because the dresses are just so sweet and adorable!  BUT, as you can see on Kessa, the pattern is great for older girls that aren't into all the ruffles any more too.

Be sure and check out the other blog tour stops!

Ain't No Party...

Like a Time Lord Party!!!  Am I right?  This month's theme over at Crafting Con is Doctor Who!!!  Could I be more thrilled?  Ummm...I'm pretty sure I couldn't.  I just wish I had all the time in the world to sew all these great ideas!  (And money to buy more fabric too!  :p )

So, I have plans for at least one thing for the sew a long but I thought for now it would be fun to just post some of the Doctor Who things I've made the past year.  Most of these were customs so there aren't modeled pictures (my girls don't like Doctor Who.  *sniff*  but my boys do!!!  So I'll be sewing for them this month.)

This one is actually MINE!!!  I used Patterns for Pirates Boyfriend Tee V-neck pattern with some of this great My Little Dalek fabric. 

Upcycled hoodie for a little dude that got to go to the Doctor Who experience over in Great Britain this past February.  

Doctor Who pillow cases (oh how I wish these were mine!  I may have to make myself one...)

Cute little upcycled bubble tunic

Upcycled top using Funktional Threads pattern (did I mention that Kessa doesn't like Doctor Who?  She was just modeling the top for me.  Silly girl doesn't know what's good!  ;) )

And a fun upcycled Town Square dress (from Terra's Treasures).  Now that I see these all together I REALLY want to get my sew on!  Guess I better get my "have to" stuff out of the way so I can get on with my fun sewing!!!  

Be sure and stop by Friends Stitched Together and see all the great contestant entries and guest posts!  

Reading for 2015

Hey hey!  This post is mostly for me, but if you love reading you might like it too.

I set my Good Reads challenge at reading 36 books this year.  That's just 3 a month.  Totally doable I think.  So now I want to make a list of some of the other challenges I hope to complete this year in regards to reading...and maybe list some of the books I want to read.

First off I'm trying to read all the books on this list (not this year, just as a general goal.)  So I want to make sure I read several off this as some of my books this year.

I also want to make sure I have at least one spiritually enriching book going all the time.  (One a month would be good, but I'm not going to set that as a goal in case I get one that's good but so deep it needs read most slowly.)

Now I also want to try and incorporate this challenge from Bringing Up Burns into the books I read this year.

(Except I don't think I can do number 19...I'm pretty sure I read everything I was supposed to read.  Reading was NOT a problem even in school.  lol)  

So far this year I've read The Clockwork Princess and I'm in the middle of Hidden Wings (a friend suggested it and it was free through Amazon Prime)  and The Little Girl Who Fought the Great Depression:  Shirley Temple and 1930s America.  And as soon as I can find it again I plan to finish The Explicit Gospel (which will also count as completing challenge number 11!)  Not bad considering it's just the 2nd of January.  ;)  

So what are your reading goals this year?