Something To Look Forward To!

This morning I'm reading through some favorite blogs, because it's good reading and because they're almost all sewing related and they motivate me to get to work.  It's what I do when I have an order or project waiting to be completed.  Or started.  Today I have two pairs of eyelet overalls to knock out and I will procrastinate no longer, because they need to go out in the mail tomorrow because Spring Top Week has been announced!  Last year I made my first adult garment ever, and have worn it exactly one time since then:

I have noticed that I smile big and cheesy for every picture, no matter what the occasion is.

This top wasn't difficult to make, amazingly I didn't even have any issues with the fit.  I can't remember what the pattern was, Simplicity something I think.  However, I can't wear it unless someone is here to help me button the back so it's gotten pushed to the middle of my closet (where rejects get shoved together to make room for the things I wear often).  I guess I could put it on and button the top and bottom buttons and then just ask the first person I see in public to help me out, somehow I think I'd get some strange looks (or strange advances?). 

It's one year later and I'm still not sewing for myself but I do have one or two tops that I'm going to attempt to duplicate for the contest, and maybe I'll find a pattern while I'm fabric shopping.  I keep thinking that a dressform would make this easier but I just bought a serger and can't justify another big sewing purchase, if we have enough duct tape maybe I'll get Zack to help me make that kind today.  For now though, I'm getting my work out of the way so that I can start on the fun stuff!

I'm Back!

I know, I've been a very absent blogger!  There's just been so little time for creativity lately.  You ever have a day where you're about 20 minutes behind schedule for every single thing?  That's how the past two months have felt around here!  I've finally got all of my big projects out of the way and the house in order, and like magic I immediately started getting more sewing done.  Here's what I've been working on this week...

I can't take credit for the shirt but it was a sweet picture so I didn't crop :-)

A jumper and more ruffle pants, a custom order from a friend-of-a-friend.  Once I put it together I liked the look of the eyelet with a full lining so much that I'm going to make it available in the shop.

Eyelet pants (already in the shop) with a halter top that buttons at the back of the neck (coming soon).  Not that it's warm enough for her to wear either right now but it can't hurt to get a jump on Spring sewing.

More pics and updates to come now that I've come out of hiding!

My Holiday Sewing, and Our New Marsupials

It has been the busiest and most sleep deprived holiday season of my life, and I loved it.  Back to school and work and reality today though, and I love that too!  My house is in a state of limbo right now, we've moved Gunnar into the guest room while we paint his room, my sewing room is in a state of chaos until I replace my bookshelf with some better form of storage, and Christmas is still all around us, although slowly being packed up.  One tree down, one to go.  I didn't get much holiday sewing done for myself but I did knock out a challenging Etsy order, now on its way to the UK.  They weren't for immediate wear so I had to take her boys' current sizes and measurements and upsize them by 6-9 months.  A challenge when it comes to my own kids, not to mention someone else's!

On a non-sewing related note...  About a week before Christmas my husband learned about Sugar Gliders and developed a full blown obsession with them.  He researched them online and visited local pet shops, and constantly talked about them.  In case you're like me and not up on new pet trends, they're tiny marsupials indigenous to Austrailia and Indonesia, and I was not on board with the idea of owning one.  Being the sweet guy that he is, Zack waited until the day after my birthday before he brought one home, along with a giant cage and its various accessories.  Once I saw her riding around in his pocket I started to come around and asked for my turn.  She slept on my snuggie while I watched tv and ate apples out of my hand, and apparently I hogged her because the next thing I knew he was bringing her sister home, who is much less laid back. 

He named her Pogo and I named my lazy girl Pippi Longstocking.  They're cute in a strange way, and despite their resemblance to possums, and my deep seated fear/hatred of possums, I'm now a fan.

Happy December 29th!

The holidays officially sucked every bit of energy and free time out of me, preventing me from posting about my family and our nice normal run-of-the-mill Christmas.  Who needs more details about someone else's kids opening presents and saying sweet things and playing with the packaging all day anyway?  It's now four days later and that means today is my birthday, and my 30th birthday at that.  Zack cheauffered me around town to furniture stores, bed and bath stores, pet shops and other estrogen-rich environments.  He made me breakfast, took me to lunch and wrangled the kids all day long.  But the best part was getting home and finding this shirt in the mail:

He had it made on Zazzle, and even though he got me a super great and much needed camera, the shirt is what got me giddy.  I did use my camera to take the picture though.  A proper post will follow, although I can't guarantee that it will happen in this calendar year. 

Best Holiday Wishes,
Lauren

Another Winner!

Congratulations to Erin of http://www.dinnertimechimes.com/!  She wrote:

"I'm a blog follower and I love the Jumper in Red / Pink Floral"

Thank you to Erin, and to Tiffany at Steals, Deals and Heels for hosting a great week of giveaways!


On another note, this year Zack picked out and brought home the Christmas tree we have downstairs.  I am not exaggerating when I tell you it is the fattest tree I've ever had.  Definitely not height-width proportionate.  This tree has so much branch space that we had to buy double the lights we used on last year's tree and we needed lotttts more ornaments.  I came up with a bird template for making some stuffed birds, which is one of my favorite things to put on our trees.  The ones I made this year fill the space very well and show up really nicely on the tree.  I made a few more sets for my shop, maybe you've got space to fill (or gifts to buy) too?

Something Old, Something New

I've developed a thing for old sewing machines and, as is the case with so many things in life, the more I get the more I want.  I recently told my dad about my small collection and he said he'd be on the lookout, but he's less than reliable when it comes to, well, most things.  So on our last visit I was shocked when he said he'd found an old machine, and he produced a Singer Featherweight in its original case.  With original instructions and attachments, all bought for $5 at a yard sale.  It's in desperate need of cleaning so I'm dropping it off in the next day or two for service and TLC, I can't wait to set up a permanent home for it in my sewing room.

It's a 221 AD model, I checked the date here and it was made in June of 1935. Oh, and it runs!  I wish I could drag myself out of bed earlier on weekends, clearly I need to start yard sale-ing.

So I posted yesterday about my babydoll plans and I'm proud to say that as of this afternoon the first one is finished.  I used Emily Martin's pattern and tutorial (I lengthened the whole thing a little) and I must say it was quite painless. 

I've never embroidered by hand or even cross stitched but I consulted a book and was able to stitch some eyes and a mouth (no good permanent ink on hand here), now I just need to improve my stuffing skills.  After seeing how quickly this one went together I'm feeling more confident about making the next one as a Christmas gift, and I'll have plenty of time to properly accessorize her :-)

Let the Christmas Crafting Begin!

** Don't forget to check out my next giveaway! **

(link in sidebar to the right)

Do you know what this is?  It's our Christmas tree, on its way inside after being picked up by my favorite man in the whole world:

The weather even looks wintery.  Makes me giddy!  I'm also excited to start on a couple of gifts, but a little intimidated.  I've had multiple requests for tote bags so I'd like to make a few really good ones, something seriously gift-worthy.  I'm just not a tote bag person myself and when I do use one it's the one I got free when I signed up for the Barnes and Noble discount card.  I want to be able to cut a few at once and sew them all up assembly-line-style, I just need a really good all purpose pattern or tutorial.  Any and all input is welcome here!

The other project in the works is a babydoll for my daughter.  I've never made any toys or babies or even softies so I did what I always do and Googled everything I could think of.  I narrowed my possibilities down to a few and I'll share those, but first I must express how disturbing I found some of the handmade toys/dolls to be.  Maybe it's me, maybe growing up in the Cabbage Patch generation warped my perception of normal.  Either way, there are some very bizzarre dolls out there posing in some very life-like positions.  Creeps me out.

On to the ones I do like...

From Black Apple

The tutorial for these is on Martha, and so is a video with their creator, Emily.  Her blog is full of super cute dolls that she makes, they have the best facial expressions.  And accessories!

From One Red Robin:

Another super cute face, this tutorial is here.

I also like the idea of a classic old fashioned doll and I even started one by making the head to a Waldorf Doll, but I can't get past the fact that it will require hair.  My daughter is 18 months old, I still find crackers and raisins hidden on her person, a doll wig is going to become very gunky very fast. 

So maybe I'll make a couple and give her the best one for Christmas.  And again, any and all feedback from anyone who has made dolls/softies/totebags is most welcome!