Great day for a walk!

We did it! Tarek, Mia and I participated in the March of Dimes Walk America today and raised over $1,500! Yippee! Thank you so much to all who sponsored us! It was a beautiful day here in NYC. We couldn't have asked for a better morning to get out and walk for a fantastic cause. What a great day!

Letting go

I thought about not posting this shirt. I don't think I like it. Then I thought about how this blog is meant to be about all my creative endeavors, not just the good ones. I actually made this shirt first out of a different fabric to test the pattern. It's a good thing I did, because I had to make some adjustments. From the waist line up is one size, the waist line down a size (ahem) larger. I also took the center back seam in about a half inch. I'm happy with the fit now. It's the fabric choice I'm not sure about. It's a Liberty of London print I bought seven years ago. Yes, you read that correctly. I've held onto this fabric for seven years. Why? That's the question I've asked myself a lot recently. I have a huge stash of fabrics that I feel are too special to cut. This was one of them. It was my first Liberty purchase. What's funny is that I waited seven years to use it and now am doubting my decision to use it as a shirt. Maybe it will look better with different pants. I don't know. Anyway, this shirt has helped me move past my fear of messing up with the fabrics I hold so dear. Dare I say it? It is just fabric after all. Time to move on, let go and break out all those others I have stashed away.

By the way, this shirt isn't actually finished yet. It still needs a hem and button. I'll do that tonight. Oh, and it's New Look #6483, view E.

Bibs 'n babes

I made this bib for Mia the other day. Recognize this fabric? As you can see, I have a lot of it. Tarek asked me if I'm ever going to use anything else. Maybe. You can't see in the picture, but the bib has a pocket at the bottom. Quite useful for catching green peas and the like. I covered the fabric in self-adhesive laminate that I found at Home Depot the other day. It's in the section with the shelf and contact paper. I covered both sides to make it wipe-able. The only problem I see with this project is that the laminate only sits on top of the fabric. It's not really bound to it within the fibers. So that means when I stick it in the sink to really wash it, the water will get between the layers. No big deal unless it's not able to dry. I made just one to test it out. On the edges, I used a binding I made with my bias tape maker. A must-have tool, in my opinion, for anyone that sews a lot. Initially, I used my binding attachment on my sewing machine to put it on, but found that just holding it by hand with the regular presser foot was better. Because of the laminate, the fabric was too stiff to feed nicely through the binding foot.

I have a few other projects to share, but haven't quite figured out the best way to photograph them. I'll work it out and get it up on the site soon.

Show your support!

This Sunday is the March of Dimes' Walk America event. This will be my and Tarek's third year to participate and Mia's second. Last year, she was such a trooper making it six miles in her stroller! I wanted to invite anyone out there to show your support for the March of Dimes by sponsoring me, Tarek or Mia. You can sponsor online really easily. Just click a name to be directed to the site. Any support would be greatly appreciated... we still have far to go to meet our goal. We need your help!

Ideas, ideas

Why so crazy about the a-line skirt pattern you ask? Well, here's why. I just have to make this. I saw a very similar design on a Carolina Herrera skirt in a magazine. I loved the embroidery and thought, "I could make that." Ahh, I seem to have that thought so many times during any given day, but do I actually make it? Usually not. Well, I think it's safer to say never. Ever. So here's my new challenge. Actually do it. Actually sew something I just have to have. Even if it means taking way too much time drafting a pattern. And way too much time on applique and embroidery. This one is a must. I must, I must, I must. Wish me luck.

Sometimes things really work out

Yeah, and sometimes they don't. Sigh... I had a goal for myself last night. To make a skirt in one evening. The pattern (New Look #6843) said it was an easy one-hour pattern. Ok. So that was the challenge. Sew the skirt in one hour and have something to wear today. I was doing well. Got the pattern cut in 20 minutes, but since the one-hour notice had a sewing time only disclaimer, I gave myself another 60 minutes to get it done. Now I was doing well. Especially if you factor in that I added a lining that the pattern didn't include for the alloted time. I mean, that's really sewing two skirts. Ok, minus one waistband, but still. Anyway, things were moving along, and I was getting excited about meeting my goal. But then I had this crazy idea that I should try on the skirt before I added the waistband and did the hem. And, well, that's where things went bad. To say that I hated the fit of this skirt would be an understatement. The waistband would have hit me at the true waist, meaning above my bellybutton. ugh. Not at all what I had in mind. And it was too short. I was so upset. I mean, shouldn't you be able to assume that a new pattern would have a modern cut? Uh, no. So, needless to say, here the skirt hangs. No waistband. No button. No hem. And it's going to stay that way. Unless one of you out there wants to takes this skirt to the finish line. I'd be happy to send it to you.

So, I'm back to square one. Who would have thought a simple a-line skirt could be so tough? I'm going to draft my own pattern, which is what I should have done in the first place. I'll let you know how it goes.

Totes for tots

Well, she thinks it's her bag. It's my first attempt at a hand bag. I think it's ok, not great. Mia loves it. I used your basic medium-weight cottons. A couple of them had some lycra in it. I used a very hevy weight interfacing to help give the bag shape and keep the fabrics from stretching. I think next time, I will double up on the interfacing. Maybe even use it on the lining. My biggest issue with this bag is the way I put the lining in. I lined the top part of the bag where the zipper is, which was a mistake. The lining doesn't hold up. It falls in and makes it difficult to use. I need to go back and stitch the lining in place around the top. That would probably help a lot. I added D-rings to the sides, so I can hang it on Mia's stroller. I also added a key clip and pockets inside. All the materials used -- even the key clilp -- I already had. Perfect for use-what-you-have April.

Top of bag. Zipper and D-rings.

Lining with pockets and key clip.

A week in paradise

We're back from paradise (Sanibel Island, Florida), and oh what a wonderful time it was. Mia absolutely loved the beach this time. She played in the sand and ran around like crazy picking up every shell she could find. Every shell was as if she had never seen one before. So so so sweet. We also rented bikes and had a little chariot that trailed behind daddy's bike for Mia. At first, I wasn't sure if she'd go for it, but she had a blast and would yell out "wee!" every time she went over a bump.

The bikini was a success. Held up well (I had worried about the gathers a little bit) and looked adorable. I did get that hat made too. I'm so glad I did, because she really needed it and liked wearing it.

Here's the bikini in action...

I'm not quite sure what my next project will be. I really need to get started again on those roman shades for Mia's room, but just don't feel motivated. I bought some new shirt patterns while we were in Florida. Sewing those sounds like more fun. We'll see.

OK, so maybe Spring isn't here yet

But the snow we had today in NYC didn't keep me from dreaming of warm sunny afternoons. Actually, they are only a few days away thanks to a trip down to Sanibel Island (Florida) planned for next week. We're leaving Sunday. Mia is all set with a new tropical bikini I made for her this week.

I made the pattern for it based on a bikini she had last summer. The top has six rows of shirring done by using elastic thread in the bobin. I've had that thread for years, but this was the first time I've used it. It took some practice, but I like it. You have to do at least three rows of stitching for it to gather. Otherwise, it just gives you a stretchable stich, which could be good for other projects. For this, I needed gathers, so six rows did the trick. I'm working on a matching sun hat now. It's about halfway finished just like the other project I'm working on. I'm making a tote bag for myself to carry my supplies to the Denyse Schmidt quilting class I'm going to this weekend. Yes, that's right. A Denyse Schmidt quilting class held in her studio in Connecticut. Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming! Oh, no wait, let me keep dreaming...

Oh, and since this is April, the bikini and bag are all made with things I already had.