Sew What!

One part attitude, one part sew along and all fun baby!

This is something that has been in the works since April. Albeit a little halfheartedly until recently because I just couldn't get inspired for the graphics. I know, I can be weird sometimes. But, the more I sewed, the more I got 'into it' and the other night it just fell into place.

What the gosh darn heck am I talking about? A sew along of course! This is the brainchild of Cynthia from Confessions of a Sewing Dork and myself. But mostly Cynthia. I had initially asked her if she wanted to contribute to my denim month (Also coming in June, expect a post soon.) but she voiced a fear of denim but made up for it with an affinity for linen. I own linen but have never sewed with it so I just had a deer in the headlights sort of look. Then, she suggested a sort of sew off. (Not the sort that gets judged though.) I would work with my chosen fabric (recycled denim) and she would work with hers (linen). Brilliant I thought!

But wait, there's more! I thought, why not do a project a week?! Awesomeness. Then Cynthia had the brilliant idea to make rules! Normally, I am more of a guideline kind of person, but these rules are fun! Each week, along with a project, rules will be given, such as what materials you can use (if any) and/or techniques.

You're invited to play along! That's right, this is not just about The Dork and I. We really want everyone to sew along. Cynthia created a Flickr group (you have to be a member to post to it)to post your creations. We will feature reader's projects on the blogs as well.

The sew along is set to begin in June. I will give you a heads up on the first project now, and a reminder once a week for that and each following project.

Quick rundown of the project and rules:

Choose a single fabric. Choose wisely because this is the fabric you will be using to participate all month. It does not have to be from the same bolt or anything, just the same type of fabric e.g. recycled denim, linen, 100% cotton weaves, recycled t-shirts etc.

The first project is a skirt. It can be for mama or babe, but as a little hint Cynthia and I are making skirts for mama. Just a heads up, not every project will be an item of clothing, we tried for some variety!

We went straight up denim for these, no extra materials. Feel free to do whatever you want with your chosen fabric though.

Okay, there you have it. Sew along is set to begin Sunday May 30 and will run through the month of June. We will try to give you lots of notice for each project and it's guidelines as well as reminder posts.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your participation PLEASE feel free to contact myself (There is a button on my sidebar) or Cynthia. We welcome your questions and comments.

Class dismissed!

Don't forget to grab a button to show you are playing with us!

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My Crafty Weekend : Where did it go?!

What a super busy weekend! I feel like I didn't get anything done, but I did. I painted a ceiling at the new place and began disassembling an old swim deck. (That will be one of the greatest recycling projects ever! I can't wait to show you what we are doing!)

I did some graphic work for a Sew Along I'll be announcing later (But the barest of details can be found here @ The Sewing Dork.) I did some more graphics for an Etsy shop I have in the works and even started brainstorming a new look for this place!



But in the tactile world, this is closer to being My Crafty Weekend.

I gathered stuff together to make something awesome, which I'll be posting as a how to tomorrow.

I finished one of the projects for the aforementioned sew along.

I practiced cutting and folding fat quarters.

I moaned about only getting three buttons to cover in the package. (Good thing I only needed two for an upcoming how to!)

And that's it. Like I said, it felt like I didn't accomplish anything even though I know I did!



But, KJ of Let's Go Fly A Kite was accomplished. Such a crafty mama. Last week she linked to these adorable felt Matryoshka (nesting) dolls. Who doesn't love nesting dolls? And felt? So when you combine the two, you get a brilliantly adorable combo of felt puppets! If you follow the link you will get to see pics of an enviable collection of the real things, and I LOVE that the only one that is off limits is a porcelain one from Anthropologie. I think having toys in the house that kids cannot touch is just mean! :)

Okay folks, show us what you got! What have you been up to? Baking? Gluing? Sketching? Sewing? It's all good in the hood! As always, here are you buttons! Usage is optional but I love seeing them on other blogs, seriously it almost makes me giddy!

   
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Wednesday on Wednesday

To make up for the crappy weather this morning, I set up Wednesday's princess tent on the bed to read in and watch movies from. We ended up having our nap in there as well and when Daddy came home he snapped a couple photos. Is there anything more lulling than a child's warmth and rhythm? Sometimes it is just too hard to get up after she falls asleep. I know it is late but it is still Wednesday here in Ontario, for almost four more hours in Western Canada! 

My Crafty Weekend - Only Not So much...

Happy post-Mother's day folks! I trust you had a brilliant weekend? I hope the weather was good for most of you. The weather here was the pits all weekend. Cold, wet and windy! But it was a wonderful weekend. So wonderful in fact that I didn't get too crafty! I did some sewing on Friday but that is for another post and I started some refashioning this morning but that is for another post this week. So what do I share with you?

I thought about sharing with the you the pictures of the gorgeous fabrics I have been acquiring lately, vintage sheet style. But instead of inspiring stash envy, I will share with you my favourite link from last week.

I love this dress I mean frock. Made by Erin of Luck & Bliss it is indeed frock-a-liscous! The garment is lovely, and springy and I adore the little guy and his fedora! The reason this was my favourite post was because after reading it, it really drove home the importance of making a muslin mock up. Right now, most of my sewing is refashioning so muslin mock ups have only been a thought, but the more confident i get in my skills, and the more patterns I acquire, the more I will need to adjust my techniques and understand my skills and limitations and I think muslin mock ups are a perfect way to do this.  Luck & Bliss though, is one of my new favourite blogs to read. I found it through Wardrobe Refashion when she posted her freshly made bathing suits. I fell in love with her writing style and have been reading ever since. I encourage you to do the same. :)

Okay folks, show us what you got! What have you been up to? Baking? Gluing? Sketching? Sewing? It's all good in the hood! As always, here are you buttons! Usage is optional but I love seeing them on other blogs, seriously it almost makes me giddy!

   
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Recipe : Strawberry Banana Cheesecake

What says Mother's Day more than cheesecake? Nothing. I defy you to find me a woman who does not enjoy a quality cheesecake. So, naturally it fits that you would make the mother in your life a delicious cheesecake. This one is a New York style made with bananas and topped with fresh (and cooked) strawberries. It is big, and rich and there is nothing healthy about the combined ingredients but I promise you,it is one of the best cheesecakes you have ever eaten!

Crust
2 pkgs Lady Fingers biscuits (Should equal two cups when crushed) (Or Graham crumbs if that is what you have/prefer.)
3/4 Cup butter (melted)

Mix crushed biscuits with melted butter and press into bottom of springform pan. This recipe is large enough for a 12" pan.

Cake
(3) 8 oz pkg of cream cheese (softened)
1 sugar
1/2 tsp sea salt
4 eggs (room temperature)

Beat cream cheese until soft, add sugar and salt. Add eggs one at a time and beat until super smooth. Pour over crumb crust and bake @ 350 for 50 minutes.

Take out and let cool for 15 minutes.

Topping
1 1/2 cup sour cream
1 large very ripe banana
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Mash banana really really good. The more you mash it, the less you see the bits. Blend all ingredients as smooth as possible. Pour over cake after the 15 minutes is up. bake @ 450 for 10 minutes.

When cool, top with fresh fruit. If you want even more delectable goodness, make a super quick berry reduction by heating one cup of berries with a couple tablespoons of sugar. Simmer until thick. Pour over individual slices of cake.

This cake can be made in a twelve inch pan and feed twelve easily. Or it can be made in a ten inch and still feed twelve. It just bakes higher in a ten inch, but the slices are just as heavy, just not as thick.

Bring this to yoru Mother's day tea party luncheon and you will leave with more than one Mom!

Bon Appetit!

Wednesday on Wednesday

May is here. The weather is gorgeous and we are still trying to get outside as often as possible. The Great Outdoor Adventure Challenge being hosted by 5 Orange Potatoes is technically over but the spirit keeps on. In light of last month being so very wonderful partly in thanks to the challenge for Wednesday on Wednesday I am posting a slide show of my Outdoor Adventure Challenge Flickr Photo set.






Thank you Lisa and family for giving us that extra bit of motivation we may have needed on those cloudy and cool days. Here is to many more days of making dandelion chains and jumping in puddles.

How To: Add Ruffles To A Swimsuit

Hello and welcome! I cannot believe it is already after four! Busy day busy day! But, I have the photos uploaded and I am ready to show you my latest attempt at refashioning. A couple weeks ago I came across some brand new swimsuits at the thrift shop. I wasn't sure if it would fit Wednesday (Although the tag said 4) but I thought for two dollars, it was worth a shot. Well, at first it seemed to fit but I think I was distracted by the utter plain Jane-ness of it. This swimsuit was all business. I thought great, you can never have enough swim suits in the summer and I am sure I can girlify it somehow. I did, and it looks darling!

Isn't it adorable?! I think it is. But alas, when I was taking an action shot, I noticed something...one side of the suit crawling right up her little butt. Boo-urns! But it was not all for naught. I did take photos, and I did get a tutorial out of it. And I did learn for next time AND I cannot wait to do this to one of my suits! (As soon as I dig them out and brave the mirror.) Okay, on to the instructions!

Materials
Swimsuit (Preferably one that fits, but whatever makes you feel good.)
Stretchy material. Something with a lot of Lycra I guess. To be honest the polka-dotted fabric you see was bought as a remnant with not description. If I had to hazard a guess I'd say it was something you would use for dance or skating outfits?

Construction:








Measure, add and multiply by three. That will give you the length of fabric you need to cut for the ruffles.



Keeping the ruffle lengths with the stretchiest direction, cut your pieces for ruffles.



Pulling both away from you and toward you with each end edge stitch your Lycra to give it the lettuce edge. If you are not familiar with the technique I have a tutorial here that turns a onesie into a top.



Finished ruffles. See the edges that are curling themselves? That is the 'lettuce edge'.



To cut each ruffle, I pinned it to one side and then cut about a half inch past the the other side. repaeat this for all your uffles. (Or just eyeball and cut, whatever works for you.)



If you don't have a toddler sized dress form like myself, just use a 1kg plastic coffee can to keep the suit taught while you pin. We do not enjoy this kind of coffee, we are self proclaimed coffee snobs who try to only drink organic, fair trade varieties. But that is a whole 'nutha bag o' beans!



To sew ruffles, I used a three step zigzag stitch while pulling a little on both the suit and the ruffle. I tacked it in three places along the edge of the ruffle to help it keep it's shape.


Rinse and repeat for the front ruffles as well. I found it do-able to pin and sew three ruffles at a time.


And you are done. This is the front of the suit. It turned out great, although the ruffles are more taught when it is stretched out, but like I said the suit is too small for Wednesday.


The back ruffles turned out great both on and off the model. They do not cover the bum because I didn't realize the bum was so low.


It does look great though. I can't wait to do this to my plain Jane black and white swim suits. I also have some purple Lycra I am just itching to do something with!

Okay, I am running really late so I am going to post this now. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask! Happy refashioning ladies!




Proudly linking to:




Creative Share Wednesdays @ The Trendy Treehouse
Idea Sharin' Wednesdays @ Women Who Do It All
Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday CraftsMake It & Wear It @ The Train To Crazy

My Crafty Weekend

Oh my goodness it is a new week already! heck, it is a new month! May is officially in full swing. We were busy around here with a 50th birthday celebration, some baking and some sewing.




Cupcake recipe Triple Citrus cupcakes from Martha Stewart Cupcakes. The glaze is my own recipe of Lemon Rum, Lemon juice and icing sugar. Don't let the smell of the rum fool you, they are delectable (That is a fancy word for delicious!). be warned though, the cupcake recipe calls for nine eggs. Personally, without the glaze they taste a little too egg-y for me. Just saying.



The only sewing I did was some super fun ruffle-making and adding to a swimsuit for Wednesday. It just was not girly enough! You can bet this was so awesome I will be doing it to a couple of my own swimsuits! Stop by tomorrow for the full tutorial.



I got in an action shot of the bubble skirt today! I am going to try hard this week to write up a new tutorial. One with bigger pictures. But for those interested the flickr set that collage came from has all the steps with instructions. I just love this skirt so much I am making another soon. I'll give a heads up when it is posted.

Okay, enough about me, lets talk about you. well, one of you in particular.

This is a lovely dress made by B @ Sweet Limes. I thought since last week I had been on a girly streak that this would be the perfect link to feature. Not only is the dress stunning but the post is about how every woman needs a pretty dress and sometimes, we need to make the occasion to wear it. I wholeheartedly agree. It is a rare treat that I get to wear a pretty dress and in the past two weeks I have worn two! Mine were thrifted treasure (that fit off the rack none the less.) and not handmade like this pretty lil' number though. If you enjoy quality sewing be sure to visit her blog for great examples of sewmanship particularly The Headache Shirt (another incredibly feminine number).

Okay folks, show us what you got! What have you been up to? Baking? Gluing? Sketching? Sewing? It's all good in the hood! As always, here are you buttons! Usage is optional but I love seeing them on other blogs, seriously it almost makes me giddy!


   
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Spring Top Week Contest Entry

I have never entered a contest of skill before. Giveaways sure, I have even won a few of those but a contest dependent on my abilities, not a chance. I am rarely confident enough in my skills to compete. Although I did win a photo contest once but I think that was pure odds. Regardless! I am entering a contest now. Made By Rae's Spring Top Week Contest. And I am so excited. I actually think I have a chance. With this little number:




Rarely do you see me in something strapless, having a small chest I normally like to pretend I have more but I could not resist trying this one out. And I love it! I was inspired by the leftover material from my bubble skirt but I did not have enough to do what I wanted to do so I waited. And then I had the idea to make this. For once, having a small chest did me a favour.




The pillowcase was found a couple months ago on a thrifting trip. And after I realized the only seam I had to take apart was the bottom seam I was super happy. I turned the pillowcase inside out and folded the scalloped edge out so that the embroidery face out. I then three-step-zig-zagged elastic underneath it, out of sight. To hide the one seam that was now showing I sewed pink bias tape over it and then lace over that to soften it up. It looked a little too 'athletic stripe' for me.

That was it. Oh yeah, and I had to cut a few inches off because as small as my chest is, my hips don't lie lol. I did a rolled hem and double stitched it. Turned out great!




I am pleased as punch with both the shirt and my execution. (it looks exactly like I pictured it!) I think it really does stand a chance. I also think I shouldn't wait any longer to enter it. The contest closes tonight at 8pm eastern time.

Wednesday on Wednesday

Wait for it...


Wait for it...


There it is!


Ta-Daa!