The Magrath Dress and Tunic

Abby from Sew Much Ado has released her latest pattern, the Magrath Dress & Tunic, and it is my new favorite!  I've been in love with the design since she first debuted it a few months ago and was lucky enough to test the pattern out.

The pattern is for size ranges 12/18 months to 12 years and has several different design options for the front and back bodice.  There are also three sleeve options - short, 3/4 length, and long.  

The front bodice features a beautiful sweetheart design that is achieved in a way I didn't expect.  I love when I learn a new method from a pattern!  

I also made the tunic version of the design and my little one LOVES this one!  She thinks the skirt is full enough for twirling.  

I did the plain back version for the tunic.  I love how the exposed zipper design adds a pop of color to the back.

If you're looking to get some Valentine's sewing finished this weekend, this pattern is perfect and currently on sale for $7!  You can get it here!

Floral Maxi Skirt ~ Not Just A Sunsuit Tour

I haven't blogged in a very long time, mainly because I didn't have anything new to share.  But today I'm excited to show you a very cute pattern that I had fun sewing!  Seriously, this was a very satisfying garment to make with maybe my favorite fabric ever.

As my girls are getting more aware that mommy can make them clothes, they have been requesting more items.  Sometimes they come up with some crazy designs that are impossible to make.  Sometimes they just want something with dragons on it.  But one of my girls has been asking all summer for a "fancy princess skirt" (maxi skirt).  

There are 10 different versions included in the Paneled Sunsuit pattern, with lots of different possibilities for mix and match.  When I looked at the several options I was excited to see that a maxi skirt (with pockets!) was one of them.  

The pattern is super detailed and includes every bit of information you need to select the version you want and the perfect size.  Really, Ajaire has thought of everything - I doubt anyone will have questions on how to blend sizes or what fabrics to use.  My favorite part is the printing chart.  With so many options, the pattern includes several pages.  Ajaire made a wonderful chart that includes all the views and their corresponding pages of the pattern to print, based off of the size needed.  So I could easily enter in the pages I needed to print View H (maxi skirt) in a size 4T, since that is all I needed to print at this time.

I had just enough of this rayon challis floral print in my fabric stash to make this skirt.  We both love the pockets!  She used them immediately to hold wildflowers from the yard.  I added some silver piping because the girls are drawn to all things shiny lately.

We both love the skirt and I am looking forward to making other versions of the pattern (pant sunsuit for fall?!?).  The waist fits great and there is the perfect amount of flare in the skirt for her to still run around the backyard dressed like a fancy princess :)

You can use the code SUNSUIT15 now at both Upcraft Club and Etsy through September 7th.  There will also be four patterns given away at the end of the tour.  Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And check out the other sunsuit creations that are part of the tour here:

Monday August 24th:  Max California | Filles à Maman | Hey June | House of Estrela

Tuesday August 25th: Skirt Fixation | Gracious Threads | Kimmie Sew Crazy | Shaffer Sisters

Wednesday August 26th: Kid Approved | Pinkel | Falafel and the Bee | Once Upon a Sewing Machine

Thursday August 27th: Buzzmills | Pattern Revolution | Sprouting JubeJube | Handmade Martini

Friday August 28th: That's Sew Kari | Lulu & Celeste | Paisley Roots | Modern Handmade

Monday August 31st: Sew Cool for the Tween Scene | Kadiddlehopper | Imagine Gnats | Nap Time Creations

Tuesday September 1st: My Sweet Sunshine | Straight Stitch Designs | Handmade Boy | That's What She Crafted

Wednesday September 2nd: Climbing the Willow | Rebel & Malice | GYCT Designs | Two-Many

Thursday September 3rd: The Crazy Tailor | sewVery | Just Add Fabric | Delia Creates

Friday September 4th: A Jennuine Life | Conversas de Hermanas | Made by Sara | Not Sew Fast

Soho Blouse by See Kate Sew

I haven't sewn an item for myself in a very long time.  One reason is lack of time, but the main reason is I'm not really at the "size" I'd like to be right now.  I gained a lot of weight in the fall rapidly on some meds I took for an allergy - then went back to some old eating habits that have been fun, but not good for health.  I've been working on getting back to what I'm used to and saving all my pretty fabric stash for later, which I know is silly.  

Then Kate of See Kate Sew came out with the perfect pattern for me that I had to try - the Soho Blouse!  The top has a light and airy bohemian style that has the comfort of a tee shirt, but is much more put together.  The V neckline compliments the bust line while the V bodice creates the illusion of a taller silhouette.  The V angle is also seen in the sleeves that can be rouched or not - I went with not.  

Of course I love the gathered skirt - which can be made with a straight or angled hem.  I chose the angled hem because I love it with the other V's in the bodice.  BTW - the bodice fabric is crepe de chine and the skirt is rayon challis, both from JoAnn stores a few months back.  The top drapes the best in light weight fabrics.

I feel so comfortable in this shirt!  My kids love it too and want replicas, which they can have since Kate also makes a mini me pattern (the Manhattan top).  

Breaking my selfish sewing fast has made me excited to sew more items for me.  Some things on my list include finally sewing a Washi dress and Ruby top.  time to get to it!

Peanut Butter Eggs

With Easter coming up, I've been making one particular thing in the kitchen that everyone can't get enough of...peanut butter eggs of course!  I was so excited to share that this isn't a thought out post with pinterest worthy pictures (iPhone pics only) - but it is pin worthy, believe me.

These DIY ones are very similar in taste to the store-bought Reeses eggs because of a secret ingredient.  Crackers!  The crackers add texture to the eggs that Reeses creates with ground peanuts.  I've made them with both Ritz crackers and graham crackers and either work great!  We did a family taste test and think that the eggs made with graham crackers taste more like store bought eggs, but the ones made with Ritz add a touch of salt that makes them addicting.  You could use half and half too.

So, to make these eggs, here's what you'll need from your pantry to get started:

• 1 stick of butter, melted
• 1 cup of crushed crackers (either ritz or graham)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 bag of dark chocolate
• tbsp of vegetable shortening

1. Mix the melted butter, crackers, powdered sugar, and peanut butter in a bowl.  
2. Form mixture into small egg shapes with hands.  If the mixture is sticky, add a dash more powdered sugar.
3. Place eggs on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and freeze for 30 minutes.
4. Melt chocolate and add shortening to it.  The shortening is optional - I skip it, but the chocolate is less stable (more melty) at room temperature without it.
5. Dip the pb eggs in the chocolate and then place them back on the cookie sheet and into the freezer for another 10 minutes to let the chocolate set.
6. Enjoy!  and try not to eat them all at once :)

The recipe makes about 16 eggs...if you don't indulge too much in the pb mixture like we do.  This is a really great recipe to make with kids, since there are no eggs involved and they can eat as much of the pb mixture as they want.  They also get to mold the mixture into different shapes - they don't all have to be egg shaped.  So go check out your pantry and get to making some pb eggs!

Bubble Tunic

Project Run & Play is back again and with a new format!  For the next year, they're doing a monthly sew-along instead of the quick four week seasons.  The best part is that their themes are going to be based on free sewing patterns.  You can sew up the pattern as is, or change it to your style.  

This month's pattern is Alida Make's Bubble Dress Tutorial.  I wasn't sure if I had time to participate this month, but I got it together just in time.  My idea was to sew up a tunic using the bubble dress tutorial and mashing it with another free tutorial - the Pear Picking Tunic.  The ruffled top of the bubble dress reminded me of the neckline of the pear picking tunic.

To make my tunic, I followed the directions of the bubble dress tutorial to get the bottom hem.  The lining fabric is knit (same as the leggings shown - they were made during KCW).  I could have just cut the knit shorter in width and stretched it while sewing it to the plaid to get the bubble effect, but I decided to stick with using the shirring method.  

The waist is also shirred - you can kinda see it in the pic above where the ribbon belt fell down a bit.  The belt is a very fun and quick accessory to make btw.  It's just some ribbon with a felt flower.  The flower is a bunch of felt circles pinched and then hot glued together.

I also shirred the neckline at first, but couldn't get it to shrink up enough.  So I cut a 17" piece of 1/4" elastic and stretched it as I sewed a small zig-zag stitch around - this made the neckline cinch up to a more modest neckline width.  

It was a bit cold outside while taking pictures, but this girl still was having a little too much fun striking poses she thought were cute.  Ha, and all I needed her to do was stand still for 2 seconds.  

Hopefully I can keep participating in Project Run & Play - once a month isn't too difficult!  I'm also trying to sew only from fabric I have on hand.  Lets save some money this year :)  I feel like I'm on a fabric diet.  It's going to be tough, but so far I've managed!

Catching Up

It's been a while since I last blogged.  I've had bits of time here or there but no motivation.  I've been sewing every day, but wasn't feeling like continuing the constant cycle of photographing and editing, then typing up something worth reading.  I also found that I wasn't focusing on family or enjoying daily life like I want to because I was always slightly stressed out about some projects I wanted to get started.  I think the solution isn't to sew or blog less (but I probably will), rather than to be more organized.  So better organization (of everything!) is what I am striving for this new year.

On to catching up!  Back in November our family took our biggest road trip yet to Horse Pens 40, Alabama to camp and do lots of climbing.  Before we went I noticed the girls were lacking in warm fall jackets, so of course I sewed some up instead of buying them.  I used the High Five Hoodie pattern and let the girls pick out fleece from JoAnns.  One is How to Train Your Dragon fabric (of course) and the other is Marie fabric (from the movie the Aristocats).

The pattern isn't as complicated as I imagined a jacket would be.   The steps were broken down well.  I didn't even need the directions to sew the second jacket after doing it once.  I love the fit of the pattern - roomy and a little long, but yet just right.  They should be able to wear these next year.  

I lined the insides, including the sleeves, with faux fur.  A layer of nylon ripstop is sandwiched between the fleece and the fur in the bodice, to help provide some wind protection.  It kept them pretty warm!

The climbing part of the vacation went incredibly well!  We've been waiting for the day that the girls were ready to go bouldering without getting too bored or walking off the edge of a boulder.  

They love climbing a little too well - we couldn't keep them off the rock.  That meant I did a lot more spotting and a lot less climbing, but it's worth it to see them excited.

I even made them their own chalk bags before we left.  Chalk bags are incredibly easy to make (used this tutorial)!  I'm never buying one again.

The last thing I have to share about are some crocheted hats.  I worked on the Toothless hat every night while sitting by the camp fire.  The hat was made by combining free patterns for pig, cow, and cat hat patterns.  The eyes aren't quite right, but it works.  After I completed that hat, a paw patrol inspired hat was requested - below is a Chase hat.  

They also had me make a Skye and Rubble hat.  We received so many compliments on them that I started selling them in the Etsy shop.  Keeping up with hat orders for Christmas delivery took up a lot of my spare time in December.  I'm so grateful!  I also started selling a Ryder (from paw patrol) inspired vest after my girls loved one I made for them.  Orders for the vest have been keeping me pretty busy sewing every night lately.  

As I squeeze in some selfish sewing projects in between Etsy sewing, I plan to continue to blog about them.  So you may hear from me very frequently or not at all for a month, depending on life circumstances.  I'm going to try to relax and not stress about sewing every idea I have right away - we'll see how that works out as I try to find some balance and also organize!

Stormfly Tank

Yesterday I showed you a flipped Everyday Tank to hooded fur vest, today I wanted to share a regular version.  Well, a "regular version" as in I followed the pattern instructions to make a tank.  A Stormfly themed one!  This girl asked me to make all her clothes to be dragon themed.  Her fall wardrobe is slowly getting there.  

I love the color blocking ability of the pattern.  The shirt colors are the main ones on the dragon Stormfly's tail.  I used some yellow ruffle knit on the side panels and the effect is pretty fun!  The girls think the tank looks like a fish with the ruffles, which works because dragons love fish.  

This is another bleached tee I attempted to make with a freezer paper stencil, but didn't turn out exactly how I planned.  The blue knit took to the sprayed on bleach a little too well, which is why the bleached area is all white instead of speckles of white.  BTW, the stencil was hand drawn and cut to be a side profile of the dragon.  I used one of their toys as a model when designing it.

She loves it, and was pretending to be a dragon in most of the pics, even giving me some dragon calls :)  Be warned, this is not the last dragon themed sewn item I will share.  I can't help but indulge this obsession, it really is a good collection of movies/tv episodes!