Thanksgiving Dress

I was digging though my fabric stash the other day and stumbled on this funky fabric and it screamed Thanksgiving dress.  When fabric speaks to me ... I listen :)

It's from my vintage fabric collection.

I had this pattern that I haven't tried out yet and it was the perfect fit. 

Butterick B5030

Here is my Thanksgiving dress all finished!

My silly turkeys and me.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  

Now time to get cooking!!!

A "Totally Not Me" Dress

I have been slowly working my way through all the vintage fabric I was given by a neighbors friend.  I have posted all my creations along the way.  I had only one dress and a shirt left to sew from this pile of fabric and patterns you see below.

I paired the grey and coral fabric together (upper right hand corner) and chose the pattern below to experiment with.  I used pattern A.  The fabric wasn't exactly the perfect fabric for the pattern, but I went for it anyway.

 Here is how it came out.  It is completely lined with the coral fabric.  The grey is pretty sheer.  I had to add a bow to the front of the midriff because the seams were showing through the coral fabric and the fabric sort of hung limply on the top instead of being bunched up.  Just not a good fabric choice for that type of gathering.  I'm not a huge fan of bows, but it kind of works.

Here is a side view.

And the back.  I haven't pressed it yet ... oops!

It took me forever to get around to doing this dress.  It's not a favorite for me.  I'm not sure if it was the fabric that I wasn't feeling or the pattern.  I doubt I would have ever picked these fabrics to work with if they hadn't been given to me for free.  I was a little hasty in making this dress, too, since I wasn't really feeling it.  I cut it a little short.  I probably could have taken even more time perfecting the midriff.  Sewing takes a lot of time and altering takes forever!  There is a point when you have to assess how many hours of wear a garment is going to get against how many hours you spend constructing it.  I don't really think this dress will get much wear, so it is what it is and here it is on me.

I realized something after I tried this on and that is that I really don't like gathered bodices.  I have another dress I made that I want to like, but every time I wear it it bugs me  ....  and it's the gathered bodice!  I actually went in and tacked down some of the gathers on either side of the bodice on this dress near the midriff.  It was super bubbly on the sides.  I guess I just prefer something a little more fitted.  We will see if this gets any wear.  Not sure what it would be good for, but it most likely be hanging in my closet until spring.  

At least I can check it off my list.  Only one more garment to go from my Fun With Free Vintage Fabric collection.  I fired up the Serger for the first time the other day, which I need in order to finish the final garment.  That thing is crazy!  I'm going to need a little time getting to know my new Brother before I tackle it.  That and a LOT more thread.  

I'd Rather Be Boarding

It's been a while since I've posted anything.  Foolishly, I thought the kids starting back at school would free up some time for me to sew ... HA!  I've been more busy than ever. Aubrey only goes for 3 1/2 hours, so it doesn't leave me with tons of free time. Between preparing food, taking kids back and forth to school, squeezing in shopping and laundry during school hours,  and all the extra stuff we do after school (hip hop/piano lessons/play dates/homework/etc), the days just fill up and fly by.

 I should be honest, though.  Now that school is in,  I do use many of my 3 1/2 hours of freedom to do something for ME.  As much as I do love to sew, one of my other passions is working out.  I love to exercise and stay fit.  My most favorite way to do this aside from lifting weights and walking is to body board.  I just love it!  Unfortunately, I did not get to do much of it this summer, when you would expect me to.  With school out, I have the kids all but a few days for those 2 1/2 months, which means no body boarding for Mama.  The kids aren't old enough for me to be able to leave them on the sand and paddle out just yet, so I spend most of my time in the sand or shallow water jumping the waves.  Which I also love to do.

Since school has started, my body board, wax, and fins have a permanent spot in the back of my truck and the surf report is my morning news.  If there are waves, I try to get myself down there at least two to three times a week or more if possible.  I probably should be sewing, or cleaning, or doing something around the house, but I NEED the break.  More importantly, I DESERVE it.  I work really hard and even Mom's need to do something for themselves, to fill their cup, to make their heart happy. For me ... that is body boarding.  Something about a morning spent in the water catching waves makes a tremendous difference on my attitude, my day, my life!  I always feel fantastic when I get out of the water.  Best natural high there is.  I've been in love with it since I was a child.  I tried surfing for a while when I was in Jr High and again as an adult, but my true love is body boarding.  I got my first body board when I was 5 years old.  My mom kept us at the beach all summer long.  I spent the entire time in the water.  After the Painted Cave fire that took our home when I was 13, the first thing my mom replaced was my Mach 7.7 body board and Church Hill fins.  As long as I had those, I was going to survive.  Here is a picture of me, probably 6 years old or so, on the way to the beach with my first body board.  Impatiently waiting for my mom to hurry up and get me there, so I could get in the water.

Who knew that 30 years later I would still be as passionate and as anxious to get in the water and board as I was at 6 years old.  I still love it!  People always ask me why I don't surf instead.  It's not that I don't like surfing, but I never got very good at it and never really cared to.  I just prefer to sponge.  That is what surfers always call body boarders ... Spongers ... because the board is ... well, like a sponge!  They also like to call us speed bumps .... I prefer sponger for obvious reasons :).

Recently, a neighbor gave me a bunch of new, blank t-shirts and I have been finding fun ways to re-fashion them.  I have had a silly idea for a body boarding shirt design for a long time.  It's hard to find body boarding shirts, since most brands cater to the surfer population.  I still haven't gotten all the supplies I need in order to do real screen printing, so I just did a ghetto version using modge podge, sheer fabric, and a quilting hoop.  Here is my vision come to life:

I had an idea of using the image of the women on the back of the truck flaps that you always see, but having her sitting on top of a body board with fins.  I don't know if anyone else in the world would get a kick out of this, but I do!  Probably only other "spongers" will get this, but that's ok!  I'm just happy to have the idea out of my head and onto my shirt.  Now I have the perfect shirt to slip my salty self into after getting out of the water.  I know it's a little silly, but I'm entertained and that's all that matters :)

Today, I'm dreaming of the beach.  The waves are up and although we have reports of Great Whites in the area I am still dying to get out into the water.  We had no surf for a week and then Bayne was sick all last week, so I haven't been out in two weeks.  Aubrey was sick all weekend and even though I wanted to keep her home an extra day, she was well enough to go back to school.  The thought of waves and the warm sun we have shining down on us today were helping me motivate myself to turn off the over protective parent and push her back to school.  Unfortunately, the over protective parent was right .... my little girl threw up just before we left for school.  I'm a little sad I can't get in the water today, but I'm secretly happy she gets to rest at home another day and very grateful she got sick before we left home or I ended up in the water and unable to be reached by the school.  

With Aubrey and all her medical issues it is very hard for me to turn off the "Mom" and let myself be "Erinn".  I get worried every time I paddle out. 

"What if the nurse calls?"

"What if Aubrey passes out at school and I'm boarding?"

"What if they get sick and is stuck waiting for an hour or more while I'm in the water?"

"What if Bayne gets hurt and I miss the call?"

I have a lot of worries that bounce around in my head and it's hard to turn them all off, but "Mom" does deserve a break and a chance to be "Erinn" and I have to allow myself some time to enjoy and relax and trust that they both will be ok and are safe while at school.  The ocean keeps me sane.  A sane Mom is a good Mom. :)

Tomorrow, it's on, though...

Let's Sponge Bitch!  

Back to School!!

It's back to school time!!!  I did my best to not buy too many new clothes for the kids.  

My son, Bayne, needed jeans.  I can't really make those, so I bought a couple pairs.

My daughter, Aubrey, is growing like a weed.  She needed new underwear and a few t-shirts.  Two things I also can't really make from scratch.  She also needed some shorts.  Those I CAN make myself.

Recently, my neighbor has taken an interest in what it is I do.  He has his own marketing business.  I had asked him (and anyone and everyone) if he had any old jeans he no longer wears or even shirts because I love to re-fashion things.  Next thing I know he gives me a whole arm full of brand new t-shirts.  He had them as examples for his clients, but the t-shirt end of his marketing business never grew legs.  He also gave me a bunch of old jeans to work with, too.

(I love my neighbors!!)

As soon as I got everything washed up I started thinking up ways to re-fashion the shirts.  Three of them fit Bayne perfect.  I got started thinking up some applique ideas that he would like.  Here is what I came up with.  

My kids both LOVE Super Mario Brothers!

The first idea I had was to make Bayne an Invincible Star shirt.

Then a simple Rock Star shirt.  

Luigi is Bayne's favorite of the two Super Mario Brothers, so I made him a Luigi shirt.

I have been wanting to make Aubrey a cute piano outfit, since she is really enjoying her piano lessons.  I found this cute tank top at American Apparel and appliqued a heart made of piano music fabric.  I love this fabric.  I am making her a pair of shorts (like the ones you will see below) out of this fabric, too, to go with the top.

We had these cute white capri pants Aubrey wore for her Hip Hop recital this summer.  Unfortunately, white is not a good color for anyone in this family.  Somehow she got a big glob of melted chocolate on her back side.  Rather than tossing them, I just covered the stain up with a little applique heart.  It looks so cute on her little behind!

You can see the stain on the inside.  Gross.

As I mentioned, I planned to make Aubrey some shorts.  Here are my first attempt at shorts for her.  I really like them and she seemed to also, which is great!  I have two more pairs cut up and ready to sew. They are so light weight and comfortable.  I also made her Pokemon ball shirt, but not recently. :)

I also finished up this cute CHD Zipper Heart shirt.  I should be listing it for sale soon.  It is size XS, 4/5 Girls.  A little too small for Aubrey, I'm afraid.  It was for an order, but it never went through.  If anyone is interested, feel free to let me know, but it should be listed on Etsy by the end of the week.

Here are my two awesome kiddos, ready for their first day of school!  Their first day was August 29th. Aubrey started Kindergarden and Bayne started Second Grade.  Both of them are growing up so fast!  I love that they both picked out a Super Mario Brothers shirt to wear on their first day.

Aubrey with her Kindercone!

Their father was born in Germany, where his father was stationed in the Army at the time.  His mom adopted some of the German traditions while there and passed them on to him.  One tradition JJ really wanted to pass on to his kids is the Kindercone.  After the first day of Kindergarden the kids come home and receive a cone filled with presents.  Little things like pens, pencils, candy, etc.  We also got a cool set of Star War characters she saw at Disneyland and a mini doodle bear.  As you can see, she was very happy.

We just started day four of school today and so far everyone is still having fun :).  Once I get caught up on all the things I got behind on during the summer I'm going to get back to my sewing machine and get to work.

Hope all of the little ones out there are enjoying their first day's back at school!

Birthday Gift For Me!

I celebrated my 36th year on the 17th.  I decided to make myself a gift :).

These fabrics lured me in from the remanent rack at Joanns and I could not resist their temptation!

I have so much fabric at home to work with I really don't need to be buying new prints to work with, but hey ... I found a good excuse.  So I bought it and I sewed together this outfit.

The top I did without a pattern. Here is the process in pictures.

It's not perfect, I could have taken more time to make it more symmetrical, but it still wears nice.

I gave it a longer back. 

The red fabric has little cream colored dogs on it.  It's so light weight and adorable.  It screamed shorts with ruffles, so I tried the first pattern from the group below.

M6320

These patterns make great shorts, but I struggle through it every time.  I'm going to keep at it.  Practice makes perfect.

Here is the front,  I added the buttons for a little more style.

Side

Back

I wore it out with a denim jacket and my brown Sanuks (no more heels for this girl!).  The denim complimented it very well.

 Happy Birthday to me!  

Shirt to Skirt Refashion

The kids and I have been enjoying the beautiful, sunny weather we have been having.  Yesterday we went to the pool.  I slipped on a skirt that I recently made from a shirt and I realized I never added that to my "portfolio" (aka: blog).  

Once upon a time I had a mens shirt in black and gold, otherwise identical to the one below.

Then I had a pair of scissors and one more black shirt.  I started cutting, sewing, and pinning onto my dress form.  And now I have the perfect little beach/pool cover up!

Here is the finished project - shirt to skirt:

Front

Side

Back

I realize it is hard to see the patchwork, so here is a little better view of the front.  Very raw, but I like it.  It's not meant for out on the town, just for playing in the sand :)

Hope you like it!  Now I have to figure out what I am going to do with it's twin in grey and black .... hmmmmm.....

New Fabric Art Piece!

I just finished a new piece of fabric art and I wanted to give you a sneak peek! 

I have had the idea for this for a while and had sketched it out.  I finally pulled out my big box of scraps and started digging around for colors to match my vision.

I'm not sure what I want to call it yet. 

I'm thinking about "Messages of Love" or "Love Letters" Or "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" or "Love Waits" (although, I believe that is purity saying and I am ~so not pure~ lol).  The kids like "Messages of Love".  Let me know if you have any ideas.  I would love to hear them.

The idea or inspiration behind the piece is a story of true love.  The two birds, who were once together and free, are now separated because one was captured.  The bird that flies free can never forget its true love and move on.  Every day the free bird collects hearts (tokens of love), flies back, and delivers them to its love in the cage, so it never feels alone and always feels loved.  The two may be separated by bars, but it can't stop them from loving one another.

Just a little something in my head and now on fabric.

This is one I plan to sell.  I really want to keep it, but I have no more walls for all my art :).  I haven't decided on a price yet or listed it ... must take better photos tomorrow.

I hope you like it!