My March Favorites

Hey Stashbusters!
This is the last post for March even though it's not actually ending for another couple days. So if you're like me and feeling the procrastination, you still have the weekend to whip out a few special somethings and still have them count for March.
Cation has opened up the link party so please go add yourself! It's so nice to get to see what you all have been making and you encourage me to keep sewing! On that note, here's a few of my favorites from the flickr pool. I just want to say you all make it so hard to choose cause you all make lovely things. I'm sure as soon as I get this post up more wonderful things will be added so be sure to check out our flickr group for yourself if you haven't yet.

Comfy sleepwear

A fun Tiramisu!

One Classy Lady

Someone's ready for summer!

Stashbusting Costume

Happy Hats

 I just want to say, you all make it so hard to choose because everyone is creating lovely things. I'm sure as soon as I get this post up more wonderful things will be added so be sure to check out our flickr group for yourself if you haven't yet.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend! I'm going to shut the internet off and spend it with my family and the sewing machine. I'll see you all in April when we announce our second Challenge. I'm so excited about the next two months! See ya then!

Spring?

Hi Stashbusters!
  While we've had more snow the last two weeks than we've had all winter I've persevered in the hope that spring will come and decided to keep on my with my sewing plans. Spring dictated a lightweight jacket for Not Niece No. 1, since she is the oldest, and runs out of clothes first as she grows.

I picked up this sweatshirt weight knit at our first sewing swap in December, knowing it would be made into something for my Special Girl who loves every shade of pink. The zipper also came from my stash and I love the pop of color it brings!

Now, my lesson for you today class, is never judge a pattern by its cover. I was in need of a quick fix project. Something I could get done start to finish but I didn't have a kids jacket pattern.

A quick perusal through the pattern drawers turned up this poor sad excuse for a girl's dress. (Please tell me I'm not alone in thinking this is one of the most depressing children's patterns) But it had the essential details I was looking for: a straight bodice with long sleeves. Plus it had width added to the center front, so I could easily insert a zipper.

Some careful tracing gave me the shoulder, armhole and neckline I needed. Then I simply lengthened the side seams to cover that long little girl. Since I didn't make any changes to the armhole I was able to use the pattern sleeve which I tapered out for a looser fit.

I measured the neckline and sleeves for quick cuffs and Tada! A cute little jacket in a couple of hours! It was so nice to be able to quickly complete a project and have the results turn out so well. Now for some warmer weather so she can wear it.

How about you? How's the stashbusting going this month? I feel like this month has gone faster than the other two! Also, have you ever had an unpromising pattern save the day?

Creating While Traveling

If all goes according to plan I will be off on a trip later this week and everyone knows a creative can't travel without taking something to make with her. Since I'll be flying with a small child, space is limited and I need something quick to pop in and out of my bag; not to mention be able to sneak my sewing supplies aboard. After much waffling between a couple projects I finally decided on embroidery.
I was recently rebitten by the embroidery bug and I don't have to buy any of my supplies so we'll call it stashbusting too!
I forget how I got there, but Sublime Stitching sucked me in with their modern take on embroidery. When I saw their free pattern of the moment I knew what I needed to make!

Isn't he cute! You can still snag him for free Here!

According to the website, needlework supplies are allowed on flights and I believe my tiny scissors will pass inspection too. All I need to do is transfer my pattern and I'll be good to go.

How about you? Do you have to travel with a craft? What do you take? Any tips on embroidering on the move?

A Sewing Poem

Here's a little ditty I wrote just to send you off on your weekend! I'm looking forward to mine!

The Work Week has ended and I’m full of glee

For Patterns and Fabric are waiting for me.

All week I’ve worked hard in my Etsy shop,

Or altering clothes that others have brought.

Now the Weekend is here with my own time to spend

With projects galore my mood’s on the mend

Shall I finish my sweater or mend my new jeans?

The choices are endless which is just fine with me.

I Spy

Next week I'm off on an adventure that involves children, airplanes and hospitals. I've been thinking of SMALL fun things I can pack to make the trip fun.

I've been wanting to make one of these I spy bags for a long while now. This seemed like the perfect opportunity.

I made a mistake when I decided to write down all the items you are supposed to find. Once I pieced it all together it ended up being much to big and heavy for me to want to tote it through the airport. It ended up being about 9x6 inches.

I used left over stripes for the cloth body and cut a piece of heavy plastic out of one of those zipper bags that you get your sheets or bedding in.

While I only left about a three inch hole to pour the rice through, I ended up sewing all across the end to make it look a bit nicer. I figured machine stitching is going to be more secure than me invisibly hand stitching it closed. It's not a total fail though. We had some impromptu babysitting to do today and the new toy went over very well.

Photo Booth went over even better.

Hope you all have a great week and Happy Sewing!

From Beastly to Beautiful

Tale as old as time, true as it could be

 Can you guess my very, very loose inspiration for my new favorite shirt? I had this icky greeny brown colored knit in my stash that felt Oh so soft and squishy it had to be made into a warm something. Digging around in my knit scraps had me rediscovering a bit of one of my most favorite knits! This lightweight grey with pale pink roses was outlined in almost the same shade of browny green as the main knit. There was only a bit of it left especially when I decided to fussy cut the rose for the bottom. But by that point I was sure this was the perfect, everyday, wearable tribute to one of my favorite stories.

I used a lightweight double sided fusible and carefully topstitched
close to the edge. The fusible added just enough stability to
the knit to make the sewing a breeze.

This was on my stashbusting list and used two pieces from the stash as well as some "ugly" buttons that happened to be a perfect match and not so ugly after all.

I love all the little details! One of my best attempts at topstitching yet. I love when a bunch of random stuff
comes together to create something beautiful!

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite stories in ALL of its many written and filmed versions. I think what has drawn me to it through the years, is how it captures the transformative power of love. While the love of books and longing for adventure have me solidly identifying with Beauty there's also a part of me that recognizes without the unconditional love I have been given I would be a pretty wretched beastly creature myself.

So who's with me? What is your favorite version of Beauty and the Beast? What makes you love that story so?

An Honest Look at Stashbusting

Hello Stashbusters!
 Today was the monthly get together of Tub's Anonymous. See, it's not just the world wide interwebs that has a stash problem, I have a local group of ladies ranging from 7 to 80 who get together to sew and each have enough fabric stored away to inspire our group name.
  I was able to get two large pieces of fabric up and out of the stash today. My friend and I cut out four knit tops and got three sewn up and ready to wear. I was happy to bring Pavlova home to sew up on my own time, since it is my first time making it. Sadly in the midst of all the fun and games I didn't get any pictures so you'll just have to take my word all this was accomplished!
  My Mom, (who is learning to sew) also helped me make a dent in a secret sewing project (you'll see it in June) so we got a decent amount of sewing done in the midst of changing poopy diapers, keeping an eye on nine kids and two babies, checking each other's projects out, and eating. (Our seven year old has an amazing button collection.)

Never fear, this isn't going to be a picture-less post! I prepared ahead for you, my intrepid stashbusters. Alas, planning was foiled by lighting conditions so I'm sharing with you an honest look at my work/living space with this project.

It was quick, it was fun, it's a CUPCAKE SKIRT!!

This picture is terrible too... I think this will be worn as some sort of petticoat for my 50's dresses. I've been asked not to wear it out of the house unless it's as a costume.

I like this better, at least it makes the picture look
intentionally bad.

Yes, I've watched one too many anime and k-drama. Yes, it is too long for those anime girls to wear. What can I say, I love my thighs but that doesn't mean I want to share them with the world.

Ok, I'm done rambling now.... 

So can you guess what piece of housewares/bedding I repurposed this darling eyelet fabric from?

Happy Stashbusting friends!