Thursday, May 22, 2014

Munchkins

I always seem to believe I can finish a project quicker then I actually can. Always. When I am on a deadline and procrastinate, there is no pleasure in the act of creating something. Probably why I haven't really been quick to jump onto the make things to sell bandwagon. I want to enjoy the process as much as the product.

I volunteered my sewing skills to help make munchkin tutus for Ella's dance class. Which of course meant that I was sewing them until the very last minute.

Several people ordered chiffon skirts from ebay that came flat, too short and rather disappointing. I took them apart, added length, tulle and sewed fishing line to the bottom edge to give it some flounce.

All of them looked like this before

 Sewing, sewing, sewing



My sweet model, Thea

 This one was for a little peanut 


 I used every bit of the chiffon




 I think this one might be my favorite. I took one strip of chiffon, then sewed it to one strip of tulle that was folded in half (longways), then another strip of chiffon sewn to the back piece of the folded tulle and then one more strip of folded tulle to the chiffon (does that make sense?). Then I added the fishing line to the tulle strips that were hanging out.





 Munchkins!


The fishing line technique is very simple, although tedious. I bought 30lb weight line at Meijer's. It was $1.99 for a spool of something like 300 yards. I used my regular foot, and just folded the bottom edge of the skirt over the line. Center the line under your foot and zig zag over it, sewing like normal. I set my stitch length to 2 and width to 5. If I wanted it really clean looking I would do a stitch length of 1.5 or 1. 

Friday, May 9, 2014

Sewing, failing, sewing

I am stuck in a cycle of things I must do and procrastination. Normally I can pull off this cycle and get my stuff done. This time, I am doing a horrible job of being realistic about how much the baby needs me and how much time I have to get stuff done.

Fail.

Right now I am nursing, itching to get back to the tutu on my machine. I should be using this nursing time getting teacher survey's done for preschool.

Fail.

Sigh.


Friday, May 2, 2014

More project spam

Why make a post about each project when I can just toss them all in one? If anyone out there reads this and wants more info about a specific project, I will do a post.


Ella decided she wanted to learn how to embroider. She did these beautiful hearts on burlap and I surprised her by getting them framed. She makes my heart explode!

Some Pillowcase dresses

 Decor for Ella's 5th birthday



 Decor for Thea's 3rd birthday

The kids favorite part (it was an "art" party) was the spin art. We used salad spinners (purchased at the dollar store) and thinned out tempura paint.


 Ella is "rain" painting




Patchwork Swoon Christmas Quilt (just the top). QAL found here http://hopefulhomemaker.com/wp/2013/01/07/scrappy-swoon-fabric-and-cutting/
                                               

Brownie Batter Parfait for Luke's Rugby team dinner (well, the dessert portion). Um, these are amazing.  http://cookiesandcups.com/brownie-batter-parfait/
                 

 Easter dresses. Both patterns are from Ottobre, just different issues. I have a crush on that magazine at the moment and want to make everything.




Summer dresses, although I should call them Spring dresses because they have worn them the minute they come out of the dryer, so every 3 days or so. Pattern is the same one I used on the blue shirts in the last post, McCall's 2025.


Munchkin dresses for the Wizard of Oz. I still have more to go. They all started as $3 chiffon skirts that were too short and no volume. I said I could fix them. Never say you can fix things. I have bits of chiffon and tulle all over the house. The edging is done with fishing line. SUPER easy!





Thursday, May 1, 2014

Tap, tap, tap. Is this thing on?

Wow. So, excuse, excuse, excuse. And, excuse. Now that that is out of the way, I think I am going to start posting again. I am not great at it, and I am definitely not a photographer. Posting my finished projects feels like a giant check mark on my never ending to do list, and I like check marks. Heck, I even put things on my to do list that I have already done just so I can check them off.

I need to work on saying "No". I think the hard part is that I can really do what ever is asked of me, so I say yes and then all of a sudden I am sewing 9 Munchkin tutu's for the Wizard of Oz, a fireball for the Wizard of Oz, making meatballs and dessert for dinner for my sons Rugby team (and the opposing team), sewing the straps on 7 ballet dresses, hosting the preschool Mother's Day Tea and helping with the preschool Family Fun Night. I might be insane.

Here are some pictures of completed projects (or almost completed. I count quilt tops as completed even though they haven't been quilted yet).

A fabulous tutu. Pattern from Princess Averie's Tutu's. http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrincessAveriesTutus 

A Summer outfit made from 2 pillowcases.


A "Minnie Mouse" Summer dress. I used the Sydney Pinafore tutorial. http://www.sewmamasew.com/2013/03/the-sydney-pinafore/ I found it to run a little big.



 Coming home outfit for our newest little one. Pattern is a vintage simplicity day gown and crochet booties.

Felt flower headbands for the Ren Faire.


 Crochet toe sandals


A flower headband.

Minnie Mouse Halloween costume. I just winged it and it was far from perfect. I was pregnant with Ana and sitting upright for any amount of time equaled me hugging the toilet.

Party treats for Thea's preschool friends


Shirts for photo's. McCall's pattern 2025 I think?

 Photo's by Stevie B. Photography. https://stevieb.photography

A Stocking for Thea.

More projects to come!