Top 5 of 2013- Reflections and Inspiration

2013 was a horrible year for blogging. I have been so much better in the past, but this year seemed to be the year I had no interest in it. I have learned a few things this year, though.

Reflections

1.  I love sewing, it is a part of who I am. I went through a period of time where I was unsure of this. I wondered if I should walk away from sewing. That may seem odd, but it really happened. After contemplating it for some time, I realized that I love sewing, but only if it is of my own will. I'll explain:

2.  Sewing for money takes all the joy out of it! At least, for me it does. This is probably why I was wondering about my desire to sew. I was sewing for others and it was killing me.

3.  I love sewing gifts for others. If there is no expectation, I am good. I just can't handle any additional stress- I give myself enough already!

4.  I don't suck at sewing! I know, you may think this one is obvious. (Or you are thinking I'm crazy and I actually do suck which, in that case, you are the one who sucks! :P ) I haven't really taken the time to do things carefully in the past. I wanted things done, and wanted them done right now! Well, I've realized that when I take my time and do it right, things really work out so much better.

5.  I love beautiful things. I don't want a closet full of cheap stuff. I want pieces that take time. No more settling for whatever I can find. I'm going to seek out the fabrics I really want. If I buy less but the fabric is more expensive, it will be totally worth it. I need to make things I love, and I love beautiful things.

Inpirations

1. Sewcialist! All my sewcialists friends from twitter and Instagram are such an inspiration to me. Thank you!

2. Ashley, my oldest daughter. She is an inspiration to me because she dreams big! She is so easy to please with my sewing. She loves everything I make for her. She also looks good in everything. She kinda makes it easy.

Okay, so it's kind of lame that I'm only doing 2 of these, but that's all I've got!
Thanks for a great year!

Top 5 of 2013- Hits

I'm a bit late, but better late than never!

This year I didn't do a very good job of blogging my makes, so some of these are previously unblogged.

1. Jeans! I set out to make jeans this year, and I did it. They aren't perfect by any means, but I did it.

 2. Sewing for my tween. She needed dresses, and she got a few.

3. Social sewing- I participated in some sewalongs and even finished some of them on time!

Sewcial Bee- the 1st one. I made a top in the 24 hours indicated. Not my best picture, but whatever.

Grunge sewalong- I didn't get pics of my flannel shirt after it was completed, but here are some in progress shots. I'll get to it eventually, I promise...

4. Teaching others- I took the time to help a few people learn to sew a little better.

My friend wanted to make a dress for the girl she watches for her birthday. It turned out better than she ever imagined.

My daughter and her friend made 8 pairs of PJ pants for the girls and leaders attending girls camp over the summer. I supervised (it was hard to let them do and not take over!).

5. Pattern testing- I love doing this. There is still one that is secret, but I can show you the other two I tested this year.

The Presidio Purse by Seamstress Erin was just what Ashley needed. She wanted a big purse, and this fit the bill! She LOVES it. (I will blog this one soon.)

The Camp Stitchalot Bag by Sew Sweetness is a fun bag if you are planning to sew when you travel. I haven't had the chance to use it just yet, but I hope to! I want to attend a Susan Khalje class and I'm aiming for 2015. This would be perfect for taking my supplies.

I feel like I did pretty well this year, apart from not really blogging.

some awards are better late than never

I'm pretty late to this party! I was nominated twice for 2 different awards. I'm going to go through them all in one post. Hey, you are lucky to even get one post. Sorry y'all. (yep, I'm channeling my days of living in the South)

I was nominated for the Liebster Award by Heather at Handmade By Heather B and Joanne (who I call Jo) at Sew Little Time. Thank you, ladies, for nominating me! I am honored.

This award was is for blogs with less than 200 followers. There are 11 questions you have to answer from the person who nominates you. You are supposed to then give 11 random facts about yourself, and then nominate 11 other blogs. I think everyone I know has received this award, so I'm not going to nominate anyone. Sorry. :/

I'll start with Heather's 11 questions:

1. If you didn't spend your money on sewing stuff, what would you buy?
I would probably buy handbags and shoes. A woman can never have too many of either.

2. What song/album/artist are you really into right now?
I love Automatic Loveletter (who's singer, Juliet Simms, was on the Voice but we've been listening to them for years)  and The Material. I love strong female vocalists.

3. Is there some place you must visit or your life will not be complete?
I would love to visit Europe. I hope I can one day (especially Germany).

4. What's your favorite naughty snack/treat?
My favorite naughty snack is probably Oreos. They are so tasty, but not homemade- and they aren't really something you can make at home. I've tried, but it hasn't worked well.

5. Who are your pretend boyfriends? I know you have least one!
Well this could get me into trouble....  When I was 16 it was Val Kilmer. Nowadays, it is Adam Levine (but I will deny it).

6. What's the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you?
I don't think I've really had anything all that weird happen to me, so I will tell you about the most surprising thing. When I was pregnant with my oldest daughter I worked at a fabric store in Alexandria, Virginia. A lady came in to buy some fabric and I chatted with her about my soon to be born child while I cut her fabric. The next day I went to punch my time card in the break room and found an envelope on the pin board with my name written on the front. Inside was a check for $100 with well wishes for my baby. It being a check, I had her name and address. She was the wife of a very prominent senator.  She had been through some tough times and yet had taken the time to leave a gift for a random person she met one day. I'm sure it was a small gesture to her, but it was a huge one to me.  I wrote her a letter, thanking her. I have thought about this many times in my life. I am grateful for the kindness of strangers.

7. What is your favorite guilty pleasure song? You know the one that isn't "good" but you love it anyway.
I loved the self titled 8 track John Travolta when I was a teen. We didn't have many options, just whatever we could find at Goodwill (so I had Three Dog Night Naturally, Carol King Tapestry, and John Travolta). Razzamatazz and Never Gonna Fall In Love Again were my favorites.

8. What's your favorite pattern?
My favorite pattern is the old NYNY pattern, McCalls 4730. I made the jacket, top and skirt (exact same colors and everything) when I was 16. Yes, I wore this back then, but only to church. I still have it hanging in my closet. I wish I had tried the pants. They look great!

9. What movie have rewatched the most?
I think I've rewatched Cool as Ice more than any other movie (but that means I've watched it 4 or 5 times). It has an actual story line under all the Vanilla Ice-ness, and it is also a comedy if you watch it with the right mindset. Mostly, though, it has great sentimental value. My brother and I used to quote lines from the movie in jest.

10. If you had the skills to sew anything what would it be?
I'm not really sure. I think I probably have the skills to sew just about anything I set my mind to, it is my self doubt that holds me back.

11. What is your favorite thing about yourself?
Wow. This might be the hardest! My favorite thing about myself would have to be my eyes. I love when they become really green (although it mostly happens when I cry and my eyes are all red, oops).


Jo's 11 questions are:

1.  What is your favourite film of all time and why?
My favorite film is Summer Magic. We always fast forwarded through the title song, sung by the mother in the middle or so of the movie, as well as the ugly bug ball song.  I also really love The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band and The Happiest Millionaire. I love the old live action Disney movies!

2. What kind of holidays do you like- beach? city break? raving in Ibiza? Do tell!
The beach, for sure! I love the ocean air, the sound of the water, and the sand between my toes. If there is sunshine, it is like heaven.

3 I spend a lot of time commuting- if you had a spare hour on the train, what would you do?
I would read a good book. I don't get much time to read for fun these days.

4. What is the best sewing book you have read?
I haven't read many sewing books so I can't answer this one.

5.  Knits or wovens?
Chanel boucle. That is all.

6 What is your favourite blog?
Posie Gets Cozy Blogger Alicia Paulson is such a wonderful creator of beautiful things. When she writes it is like poetry. Her pictures are beautiful and welcoming. She makes the most delicious looking foods. I found her blog years ago- probably the first blog I ever read.  I sometimes wish I could live her life (but that might seem a little creepy, even though it really isn't).

7 What other crafts do you do and which is your favourite?
I don't do many other crafts. Sewing is my favorite.

8 What is your karaoke song?
Toy Soldier by Martika

9. Sweet or savoury?
Sweet.

10. What is your favourite accessory?
My mom's bead necklace. It probably isn't worth much monetarily, but it is priceless to me.

11. If I gave you £50 ($78 US, $82 Aus) to spend on fabric, patterns, or craft supplies, what would you make from it? Links please!

I would definitely buy this green silk jersey from Mood. I would make a wrap dress DVF style.

Now for the 11 random facts. Umm...

1. I've never had any pets.
2. I prefer to be hot rather than cold. No one ever seems to feel the same.
3. I always wanted to be a famous singer.
4. Or a famous model.
5. I belt out songs in the car. I just can't help it.
6. I love my Apples- iPhone, iPad, MacBookPro, iMac- I just need a Mac Mini (we had one but sold it when we were desperate during Jeff's unemployment).
7. I hate lima beans.
8. My first car was a yellow Plymouth Horizon. The doors didn't work, so we had to go in one side and out the other. It had an 8 track player. Like this, but yellow.

9.  My favorite vegetable as a child was cooked spinach.
10. My 2nd child is named after Alannah Myles. I was planning to spell her name the same way, but when the nurse came in and asked how it was spelled it came out Alona. It just happened! My husband was not pleased with the unexpected change.
11. I am one of 11 children- all from the same parents.


Now for the other award. I received the Super Sweet Blogger Award from Sandra at Sewist Stitch and Sally at Sally Bee Makes. Thank you so much ladies!

The rules for this award
1. Thank the Super Sweet Blogger that nominated you.
2. Answer 5 Super Sweet Questions.
3. Include the Super Sweet Blogging Award in your blog post.
(I'm skipping 4 and 5.)
4. Nominate a baker's dozen (13) other deserving bloggers.
5. Notify your Super Sweet nominees on their blogs.

The 5 Super Sweet Questions

1. Cookies or cake?
Cake, and I prefer it with very little or even no icing.

2. Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate - except when it comes to ice cream, then I choose vanilla.

3. Favorite sweet treat?
Cheesecake is my favorite of all time, but I do love me some ice cream.

4. When do you crave sweet things the most?
Every single waking moment.  I have a problem.

5. Sweet nickname?
I hate when people call me honey and I don't ever use it in reference to anyone else. I don't think I've had a nickname since I was 5 and I don't really use them for other people. I'm weird like that. My parents were all about nicknames so I'm not sure what happened.


If you made it through all of that, thank you!

a swimsuit for me

I was planning to make myself a few swimsuits this year, so when Heather released the new Bombshell Swimsuit pattern I was ready.

 (It was also love at first sight!) I made view A, the blue one, this time. I'm pretty sure my next one will be view B in white with gold dots.  I love this pattern! If you make this, follow the directions exactly. If you read all the way through the instructions first, you will understand. If not, you might be scratching your head, but trust her. She won't steer you wrong.

Here is mine!

Swimsuits!

Summer starts early here. We opened the pool for the season during Spring Break, at the end of March. It wasn't really that hot here, yet- we heated the pool. With a pool in our backyard and temperatures in the triple digits (we hit 115 this weekend), we plan to spend most days in the pool. This means we all need swimsuits, and more than just 1 each. It was perfect timing, because Katie and Leila were hosting SwimAlong2013. I had never sewn a swimsuit before- there had really been no need when we lived in Oregon. It proved to be really quite easy and quick!

I started with a swimsuit for Ashley. We used her old swimsuit, the one that was too small, as a guide. This did not go so well. It was too tight in the hips. I cut the bottom off of it, and decided to make a tankini.  After cutting a new, bigger bottom for the swimsuit, I realized I wasn't getting the leg opening right. I pulled out my Jalie underwear pattern and used that to fix it. I should have started with this pattern to begin with! The fabric was purchased at lowpricefabric.com.

I made a swimsuit for myself next, but don't have good pictures yet. They are all blurry. It will get it's own blog post someday soon. 

Natalie was begging for hers to be made next, so I picked out an Ottobre pattern and got to work. I used Ottobre 3/2009 #38 with #39 for the top. She and Alona loved this pink camo fabric.

Alona's swimsuit was so quick. Hers was my 4th swimsuit in 2 weeks and the same pattern as Natalie. She has the same size chest and waist as Natalie, so I just added a bit to the hips for hers.

My girls all love their new swimsuits! Can you tell? I wonder how tan they will be by the end of summer...

Casual Lady Dress from Go To Patterns

I was asked to test the Casual Lady Dress pattern for Go To Patterns in April. They needed the XXS again, so Ashley got another dress!

I ordered these cotton/spandex jerseys from Nature's Fabrics. The top one is the same fabric Katie used for the leggings she wore to our meetup and I loved the quality, so ordered some of my own. The blue with gold flecks was much thinner, sadly, so I decided to use it for this dress.

The dress was quick! 2 main pieces, 2 facing pieces. Easy. The instructions were great, and Ashley was so happy to have yet another dress. I will definitely make this pattern again. I might even try making the top for myself- yes, it can be a dress or a top.

Doesn't she look thrilled?

Simply Lovely dress for Ashley

A few months ago, Go To Patterns was looking for a pattern tester for their smallest women's dress size.  After taking a look at their sizing, I realized this would work perfect for my 12 year old and signed right up!  They sent me the Simply Lovely Dress pattern.

I picked out a stretch woven I've had in the stash for quite some time. I fell in love with the diagonal stripe, but never knew what to do with it.

I think this fabric has a little less drape than the recommended fabrics, but it works.  I would LOVE to make this in a light to mid weight linen!

The instructions were well written. The elastic at the waist was put in a way I never have seen before.  I followed the directions, not sure how it would work, but it did!  The sizing is great! Ashley is quite thin, so I was surprised that a women's pattern would have a size to fit. I did lengthen the dress, as usual.  I will probably do the straps differently the next time I make it, making the underarm binding continue up as the straps, as I think it will sit better on their shoulders.

This pattern is FREE, yes, free. You just have to head over to GoToSew.com and sign up for their newsletter.  The dress was posted there back at the beginning of April, but I believe it is still available.