whatchabuildin

making for me, again

Well, I have successfully carved out enough time to make this little top for myself. I really like it, except in my excitement to have a little time to myself, I forgot to line up the stripes on the material before I cut it out and, well, they don't match! You would think in all the years I have been sewing I would remember to do this, always. But I don't, obviously. Anyway. I will still wear it because it is really comfortable.

I used a cotton seersucker fabric that is so soft and cool. I am so glad that seersucker has come back in style! When I was a little girl my mom and grandma made lots of outfits for me out of seersucker. Love it.

 

This is the pattern that I used. The only hangup that I had was, there is a side zipper and for some reason, I had issues sewing it in. I think it was the weight of the material, how flimsy it was, but I eventually got it.

Well, off to cut out another pattern, for me! Smiles!

  

frozen whip and working away

This is that time of year where whipped cream is said in the same sentence as strawberry shortcake, at least around here that is the case. As much as I love whipped cream, and do pile it high on the strawberrys and shortcake, we still have a lot left over and it doesn't last very well in the refrigerator. I discovered a couple years ago that you can freeze it for later use, and it works really well!

Take some waxed paper and lay it out on a cookie sheet, and place serving sized dollops of the whipped cream on it. Freeze it for about an hour. Take it out and cut the waxed paper into squares around the dollops and place into a freezer container.

When you are ready to use them, take them out for about 15 minutes to soften. Then pile it high on your strawberries, or pie, or gingerbread...or...! Yum, you get what I mean!

I am working away on my goodies for the shop update on Monday. I will have some fun summer totes, refrigerator magnetics and a few children's smocks. And hopefully a few more goodies, if time allows. Off I go to the studio! 

shop update next monday

I am finally having a shop update! A little one, but some new fun things for summer. Stop by next Monday and check them out!

sewing for me!

Yea! I finally got to do a little sewing for me. I love this little blouse! The fabric is from Purl, it is called "shot cotton" and it's really light weight, perfect for hot summer days! I washed it once and forgot to just let it hang dry so I will have to iron it again. I think that if I just let it hang dry I won't have to iron it.

 The pattern was quite easy and it only took about two hours to make. I even made french seams so the inside has a clean finish. I want to make more now! I like that the pattern has several different necklines so you have choices. Choices are good!

Now back to making, for me!

   

one last little thing

This is the last little thing that I needed to finish up for Mom...for Mother's Day. Am I the only one who takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r to finish projects like this?? It is disgusting that I can't even get this done on time! Anyway, this is a little change purse, and I didn't even use a pattern. Which made it quite frustrating to make. For some reason I couldn't get me head around how I get this little guy to come together! With some struggling, and a little swearing, I got it to work. And I like it. I am going find a pattern though, or make one that works for me.

Have a good weekend!

weekend catch up

Well, I was finally able to get caught up on making things this weekend.

We have a "brand new" baby nephew in the family, so I finished up my goodies for him (you know, before he leaves for college!)

I made some burp clothes out of really soft flannel.

A mobile for his room. I couldn't get this to photograph very well for some reason. I really need that new camera!

And a pillow to match the quilt that mom made for him. Hope you are having a lovely weekend! I'll be back in a few days!

finally. i'm making.

So, I finally carved out some time to make a few things last weekend. Things have been a little crazy around here lately, no time for anything. Well, no time for things that I really want to do!

Here are some hankies that I made for Mom. *Ahem* a belated Mother's Day gift! Ugh! I know!

I started with a 12" x 12" square of fabric. Then I used the mitered corner method like I did here. I like these so much, I think I will make a few for myself!

Next, I made a small pillow for my little guy's bed. He moved into his toddler bed a couple months ago, and the adult standard sized pillow was too big for him. So I bought a 12" x 22" pillow and made a cute cover for it. He loves the frogs! I think a few more fun fabric pillowcases are in order. And, no, I won't wait two months to make them! Ugh, bad mom, really bad mom! Two months without a nice pillow? Bad mom...bad...

And, I even had time to make some stuffed shells and stash them away in the freezer for dinners during the busy week. I make the shell stuffing using a basic ricotta, cheddar cheese, garlic, onion, and oregano filling. Oh, and an egg. Fill the pre-cooked shells and place them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. I stick them in the freezer until frozen (a couple hours) them I place them in a freezer storage container. Then I can pull out as many as I need for dinner. Heat them up and pour sauce on top, and there you go - dinner!

That's it for now! Be back in a few days! 

bunting, birthday and just busy!

Wow! Well, where have I been? Sorry for the long absence. I meant to post over the past few weeks...um months, ...but my time has been devoted to family stuff lately, and that has taken me away from my blog world! And I have to say, I really miss it!

My mom visited us for almost a month back in March and early April. We sewed, baked, went fabric shopping, laughed and just caught up on "things". Also, Colin turned three at that time and we were preparing for that monumental event. Three. I can't believe sometimes that he has already been on this earth for three years! I've discovered that motherhood is a very bittersweet journey.

So, I have lots to post about. Hang on, here we go!

First, the bunting. I've wanted to make a "happy birthday" banner for a long time now. So I finally decided to make one for Colin's birthday. I still have to machine stitch around the letters so they stand out more, but basically it is done.

The background fabric is vintage paisley that my mom gave me a long time ago. She said that Grandma was going to use it for a duvet cover and never did. That was back in 1955! Wow, this fabric has been in our family for a long time! I had to use it for something special. I think I did.

 

And the birthday. I made these really cute "car cakes" for my special boy. He really loved them. The car cake molds are from William Sonoma, but I am afraid to say they don't seem to be available anymore!

These were a couple gift bags that I made for Colin's birthday. The friend that came for his birthday has the same initial as Colin! What fun to watch them open the goody bags at the same time!

Fabric, fabric and more fabric! When mom is here she goes a little overboard (oh, in a very good way) in buying fabric for me. She helped me buy the rest of the fabric that I need for the quilt I am making for our bed (more on that later)

And books! My mom also bought me some really great books that I had on my "to buy someday" list. Now to find the time to read through them all!

Well, I think I am caught up now! Whew! I feel better! Now back to my regular programmed scheduling of busy...busy and busy!

I'm back to the garden...planting that is. Have a great day!

for my little one

I know I was supposed to sew for myself this weekend...well that didn't happen. Soon, I keep promising myself! I did make this little tote for Colin though, and he loves it. He fills it up with his little cars, then carrys them to the other side of the room and dumps them. And repeats that. Several times. Today he was carrying the bag around and came up to me and said, "you made dis momma, you made dis for mmeee!"

So, this little bag only took me an hour to do it! Wow! I even made my own bias tape. I have always been leery of using bias tape for my sewing projects. No matter what I do, it always puckers. Worse yet, when I looked on the back side of the tape, part of it didn't get sewn in while stitching. Ack! This always resulted in me swearing  having a fit and being very frustrated. I'd rip it out and try again, and again. Usually on the third try I would finally get it. Still frustrated though, I'd vow to never use bias tape again. Until now. Whew! Well, that was a long way around to telling you that I found a great technique for applying bias tape!

USE A QUILTER'S WALKING FOOT ATTACHMENT. It really works great! I have had such great success with this that I am using a lot more bias tape these days and being really happy about it! I usually use a zig-zag stitch, but the straight stitch works good too. The way the walking foot works seems to keep the tape straight and doesn't pull so I get a nice finished bias tape edge. Try it, you'll be amazed.

Sorry this photo is a little fuzzy, it is very hard to keep a toddler still for too long! Anyway, I am loving this little bag for Colin. You may see some of these in my Etsy shop soon.

Have a good week!

from friend to friend

I know I am not the only one who does this, so I'm not going to be embarassed about what I am going to say. This is a belated Christmas gift to a dear friend of mine. I finished and mailed yesterday. There I said it! Why is it that either close friends or family always get the short end of the stick when it come to gift giving in a timely manner? Anyway, it is a table runner in colors that are so her.

And, that same dear friend visited a couple weeks ago (I know, I didn't even have it done for when she visited, ugh!) gave me this vintage piece of very cool folk style fabric! I love this! Now I need to find a very cool project to use it with. For the time being, in the ever growing stash it goes!