A better picture? Better sewing technique? The library saves the day!

With my newly acquired public library card, I am checking out books.  Many books.  They let you check out 50 at a time here.  AND, there are a ton of libraries here from which you can request books.  I just go online, search for what I want, request it (if it is in their library catalog), and wait 1-3 days if it isn't on hold or already checked out.  Then I pick it up at the nearest library.  This. is. awesome.  Having lived in a smaller town and not really frequenting libraries, I have never done this before (I could probably count the number of visits to a public library on one hand until this week).  I know, you all probably already knew about this great thing called a public library.  I am just not into reading (it sucks me in and I accomplish nothing).  I am changing that.  My girls were thrilled when I told them we were going to the library (I think I took them twice when we lived in Oregon).  So I've been requesting books left and right.  Sewing books.  Photography books.  I've also been reading online.  I've found blogs.  I keep deleting blogs I'm following because I find new ones that are awesome but there is a limit to how many you can follow.  300.  Can you believe that????  What is blogger thinking? Alas, this is my life lately.  Obsession with becoming a "professional" at photography and sewing.  I want to knock your socks off with my work.  Might be awhile though.  I'm still learning.

So follow along.  It might be a slow, tedious journey, but I plan to post pictures as I discover more about my camera and photography.  I plan to sew more clothes (hopefully for myself and not just the kids).  I might not post much between now and the end of the year due to all the projects I've got going on all while reading stacks and stacks of books, but I'll be back in full swing in January. 

P.S.  I did get my stockings done and will post pictures in the next few days!

what I'm working on

I'm still working on my Christmas decor.  I have the tree up and decorated.  I have the nativity set on display.  I am working on new stockings.  They are mostly finished.  After I finish the stockings, I am going to make coordination pillow covers for the couch and chairs in the living room.  Then I plan to sew some leggings to go with Alona's shirt/dress and some pajamas for all of the kids.  The four pajamas I sewed for Ashley when she was 4 (that 5 years ago) just aren't cutting it for all three girls.  They fit, but they are wearing out and we need more than 4 nightgowns for 3 girls.  I am hoping to make some cute ones!  Of course, I am planning to make several pair for Drew since he doesn't have a whole pair of pajamas yet.  Poor kid.  He really is lacking in the pajama department.
Hopefully I will get the stockings finished tomorrow and maybe even get a little done on the pillow covers.  I will post pictures just as soon as I get them done!

It's in the past, but I'm still hanging on!

So I finally decided that I really should have a way to access all of my past sewing posts from my personal blog on this one.  That way (if anyone really wants to) you can see more of my sewing endeavors over the past few years.  Just click here and it will take you to the sewing projects posts on my blog.  There are handbags and slipcovers and a few other things in these posts.  If I could figure out how to just import the posts, I would.  Unfortunately, I'm not THAT good. 

A Christmas Wish List

Ok, so maybe I should call this my "in your dreams" list.  I'm pretty sure I won't be getting any of these this year!  Here goes:

Threads Magazine Archives DVD
Oh, the things I could do with this!  So much information, tips, how-tos.  Fitting.  Sewing.  Sigh.

A bigger SDHC memory card for my camera (so I can take more than 177 pictures at a time).  Ok, so I'd take a 16gb or even a few 4gb or 8gb cards to switch out when I fill one up.

Wood and Supplies for this craft table (it would be my cutting table).  I'd even take it already built, but am willing to do the work myself.

A Playstation 3.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I know this has nothing to do with anything craft or hobby related, but I want one all the same.  You see, I love Rock Band.  I miss Rock Band.  It was a sad day when our PS3 died.  The kids miss it.  The husband misses it.  I miss it.

An Award!

We received an award! We received the One Lovely Blog Award from Sewing Is Hard.  Thank you very, very much!

The conditions that come along with this reward are:

1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog along with the name of the person who awarded it along with a link to their blog.

2. Pay it forward to 15 other bloggers that you have recently discovered.

3. Contact those bloggers and let them know they've been chosen.

So, here are the fifteen blogs!

1. Dear Mom & Dad

2. eighteen25

3. Erica B's DIY Style

4. Flavorful Fiction

5. Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing

6. Great Scotts!

7.  Just the 8 of Us

8. Raven's Nest

9. The Andrews

10. The Bartron Family

11. Warren Family

12.  House of Smith's

13. Centsational Girl

14. Already Pretty

15. The Gilmore Girls (and Guys)

Finally completed: KCWC

Remember that Kids Clothing Week Challenge back in September?  Yeah.  That one. 
Well.  I finally finished Alona's dress/shirt.  Can you believe it?  I can only believe it because I have the pictures to prove it.  I also finished the pajama pants for Drew but not the top.  I'm hoping to get that done in the next week.  I am trying very hard to finish all of my started-but-not-completed projects.  We'll see if I can do it.  I am the queen of starting new things without finishing the ones I've already started.  I've set a goal to improve on this.
Anyway, here are the pictures:

I am pleased with the final result.  Working with seersucker is a bit trying at times (ironing flattens out the puckering in it).  It also can be very forgiving when lining up stripes (because you can stretch a bit or kinda bunch it just slightly to make it fit properly).  Most importantly, she LOVES it!


I used McCall 6156 view D without the ruffles.

 I think it turned out looking pretty much like the pattern picture.  She is so skinny that the size 7 I made it in is just a tad big.  Mostly noticeable in the shoulders to me.  I plan to make coordinating leggings to go with it.  The pattern was fairly easy.  It was well written and easy to follow.  The collar would probably be the most difficult part of it for a beginner, but it isn't impossible to do.  I have a great machine for buttonholes, so those were no problem for me.  I would however put the buttonholes in the front before putting the whole thing together (the pattern has you do buttonholes at the VERY end), but it wasn't difficult at the end either.
I would recommend this pattern and I plan to make another one for Ashley (same fabric in pinks).


P.S.  When I finish the pajama top for Drew I will post pictures and a pattern review.

Free Amy Butler Pattern

Get a free pdf pattern of Blossom Handbag/Shoulderbag from Amy Butler’s Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags from Sew Mama Sew. 

Even if you aren't sure you will make it, it is worth getting!