Riding Pinks

This is the bag I made for Hawaii. I know it isn't very tropical but I wanted to make a bag that I could use all year round.

I made it without a pattern. I took apart a gift bag for rough dimensions. Adding the zippered pocket to the middle was a bit tricky as was inserting the cardboard bottom. I am very, very pleased with this. It is gigantic. It can hold books, knitting, wallets (a purse even) kids stuff, a spare pair of flip flops and a swimming suit!

I made a little place to clip on my keys. Bought the handles at Joann's.

My only disappointment is the red tabs that attach the handles. There were just too many layers of (10-14) of drapery fabric and even Violet couldn't handle that very well.

Coolest scripture case ever invented progress report

I have been planning on getting new scriptures for quite a while. Part of new scriptures was designing "the coolest scripture case ever invented." I received new scriptures for Christmas, and since then I have been rejecting ideas right and left. Last week I saw a post on Craftster that delivered the answer to my dilemma "Plastic canvas!"
And so construction began. Technically this will be a tote not a case, but I had decided about a month ago that I would make an embroidered, zippered book cover for the scriptures and a tote of the carrying thereof. I hope to be able to show it off at church next Sunday. Take that Kiera and your clever and perfectly sized basket/tote.

Cute leotard on the cheap

I can't find an affordable leotard for my little prima ballerina. So I snagged this remnant of raspberry knit for a buck and borrowed this pattern that is the general idea. Last night I pulled out my handy pattern making book and altered the pattern to be tight like a leotard. Worked pretty well. Forgot to adjust the sleeve pattern to be puffy so I have to draft that and re-cut it. Also when fitting I cut the leg holes right where I wanted them and forgot to allow for casing - woops. We will see how it turns out. I think I will call it Raspberry Plié

Favorite ski sweater transformation

I bought this fabulous 60's ski sweater from Tree on the Roof back before thrifting was cool. It shrunk a few years later. I have kept it for years because I loved it so. Finally I cut it up and made a cool scripture tote to give to Roo at his baptism. I still have a lot of sweater left, I see more projects in its future.

Nutmeg in Basil an Easter Dress

Here she is. I did finish the dress in time. I am very pleased with it. However the collar is too big for out little Nutmeg being so narrow of shoulders and the sleeves look too big to me. Smocking is very fun and I enjoy it fun but I don't know if it is one of my favorite looks. I would do it for other people since I enjoy it and would like to master the technique.

Ran into a bit of a problem with the hem and had to go back to the store for more fabric.

Moose took these pictures and there aren't any of the cute yellow flower buttons on the back. Must fix that.

DO NOT SEW VOGUE 7435!!!!

Teresa Layman is NUTS or whoever it was that designed this pattern. Whatever you know about dressmaking throw it out the window if you want to make this dress.
First my pattern was in French, and now I find the English pattern is just as hard to comprehend. There is No extra information on this pattern, none. I am not sure that there is even all of the necessary information.
Luckily, I am an accomplished seamstress and I can follow a pattern. Also I have only made one tiny mistake so far and it was an easy fix. The good part is that the pattern calls for a french seam on the skirt and since I always make french seams I didn't feel like I was obsessive when I was making it.

Finished so far:
smocking, embroidery, gathers, bodice attached to skirt and side seams.
Scary parts left:
sleeves and ruffled collar, buttonholes, tucks and lots of facings.

Will I be done for Easter, who knows?

Lirez vous francais?

Yeah, so I purchased the pattern in September, opened it and cut it out last night. So I was at the store today buying fabric and notions and I decided to look up how exactly the "cord" was applied when I discovered that while the pattern layout and smocking instructions are in English, my pattern only contains sewing instructions en francais! I tried to read it and those are words I did not learn in high school or college french. So I called Fabric Depot and got the number so I could call Vogue and asked for new instructions. I HOPE that they get here in time. You see Easter kind of snuck up on me this year. Yes it was only yesterday that I realized that Easter is 12 days away an my duty as a Mormon seamstress/costume designer/crafter/mother of only one girl is to make an Easter dress for Nutmeg. Fortunately, I found this pattern in my stash. Unfortunately, there was not an appropriate fabric in my fabric room, yes room. So, I had to go to the fabric store which is always dangerous when you are low on funds. I purchases the notions and fabric needed for this dress. The fabric itself cost only $4.90 the notions however cost $17.27. I admit that I did get one or two too many skeins of floss and I didn't need both buttons, but I knew that I couldn't choose the right buttons until the embroidery was finished. But still $15 for notions???????

La Piece de Resistance

I made this for my brothers wedding. The wedding colors were dark purple and I had the hardest time getting inspired for this dress. Finally a commercial pattern with an enormous bow and Sunny's dress in A Series of unfortunate events combined to make this. I had to completely redo the bodice pattern as Nutmeg's shoulder's were too narrow. I love it, it is my masterpiece.