What I've been up to...in pictures

It has been busy around here the past couple weeks!  I have been spring cleaning, planting early veg outside and starting seedlings inside, completing two projects for Burda Style's Vintage Modern Design Contest, and trying to untangle several balls of yarn (more on that topic later)...

A very sad mess of yarn 

A planted row of peas, complete with twigs to support their vines

A couple radish seedlings pushing up

A jaunty row of spinach shoots

A freshly planted spray of viola

And... my Mom's wintered-over strawberry plant already has flowers!

Will issue more updates as time permits!  I am also swatching for a spring sweater, and will have pictures soon.

A New Sweater For Renaud

Renaud finally got to model his new hoodie!  See below for lots of pictures, and a link to the pattern on Ravelry.

It was hard to take a picture of the hood, until he was laying down...

The best part about doggie sweaters?
They make for a sleepy pup!

More details about the project can be found on Ravelry.  Happy Friday!

Getting Started

I love the color of this vintage sweater;
It's mainly dusty aqua, but with green flecks to liven it up.
Also love: grograin plackets with real shell buttons! 

Little pockets on my new lacey dress from Shae

Cutting out pieces for a new skirt!
The fabric is tencel, which will be underlined with cotton voile.
The black bias strips will make a contrast piping.

There will be more updates later this afternoon, as I am also cutting out for a lace dress with contrast piping.  I had plans to photograph Renaud in his new sweater that I finished seaming on Sunday, but right now it is pouring rain out.  Will have to wait and see what the day brings.  Happy sewing!

Things to come

Spring is returning and so am I!  After nearly two year's hiatus, I am ready to take up long forgotten sewing plans and knitting projects.  I hope to be able to share the results of my efforts with you here, and to reconnect with the online sewing community.  Airing out and cleaning stored yarns and fabrics has been taking up a lot of my time-- it is so exciting to take these pieces out of their boxes and to remember what I had dreamed up for each one.  

Now that I have collected all the drape drape books, I hope to start making a few of the projects!

Right now I am finding mossy patches around the yard...

Even the weeds are starting to bloom!  We'll let them think the garden is theirs for now, though I have already started to plant radishes, carrots, spinach and green onions right next door.  I'm so excited to pick out seeds for planting once the last frost has passed!  Right now I have a variety of heirloom tomatoes, pickle bush cucumbers, hot peppers and ground tomatoes.

Amidst all the excitement of spring's arrival, we also have one tired little boy back from the groomer.

How are you getting ready for spring?

Full Floral Skirt

Another month has past without a single blog post.  I can't believe I've been so lax.  Or maybe I can.  I've spent much of the last month straightening things out for a big move in August.  I have been making time to sew, but the projects I've chosen… Let's just call them high maintenance-- as in I've spent more time hunting for buttons than sewing!  


On the bright side, I found the right project to give me a little instant gratification while I wait for those buttons to materialize.  Using some gray floral poplin I bought from fabric.com and Verypurpleperson's very excellent easy full skirt tutorial, I made this: 

Styled with...

Racer-back pocket tank - Uniqlo

Drapey Silk Cardigan - TJ Maxx

Gladiators - 80%20

And one last shot-- testing out the twirl factor of the new skirt...

It looks like a keeper to me!

I should add that I made a couple modifications to my full skirt.  The waistband was created just like a self-fabric casing, only i left about 2 inches above the casing to make the paper bag effect.  I also added side-seam pockets in a contrasting (vivid fuchsia) fabric.  All skirts must have pockets!

It feels so good to finally finish a new project, and to be able to twirl in it.  What type of projects do pick when you're looking for a quick sewing fix?

May 31: All good things come to an end

I can't believe Me-Made-May is over!  The time has gone by so quickly.  My challenge to myself was to wear one self-made garment each day of the month, and I'm proud to say that I did achieve that goal.  This has certainly been the longest period of time in which I've worn something I made each day.  So often I cultivate a love-hate relationship with the clothing I make.  I'll stop sewing for weeks, months, unsatisfied with my own creations-- despite how hard I worked to design and sew them in the first place.  


If there's one thing that I've learned from Me-Made-May, it's that most of the garments I've made are actually very versatile pieces.  I may need to make a few more pieces in order to create an entire wardrobe, as I don't have very many basics.  Instead of making practical, wear-with-anything pieces, I tend to pick the most intriguing patterns (or fabric).  The end product of this approach?  Mostly stand-alone pieces, unless I'm feeling very daring.  And Me-Made-May has made me daring!  I have learned that it is just as easy to throw on a self-made ensemble as it is to put on the workhorse jeans and t-shirt.  Not only is it easy, it also makes me feel more confident about my sewing.


Here's what I wore:

Swiss-dot overblouse by me

Black shell (worn under) by me

Shorts - Cynthia Steffe 

Gladiators - 80%20

The overblouse is the one new item I finished this weekend.  This is one of those projects that was in my head for the longest time before I finally made it.  And, it only took one day, for both cutting out and sewing! I will share more details soon :)

May 30: A well-loved skirt

Yesterday I realized I needed to mix thing up a bit and wear a me-made item that hasn't gotten a lot of love recently.  So I dug up this skirt that I made about five years ago, from a dress that I made about five years before that.  The fabric was given to me by my Grandmother, one of the last pieces of material she had from when she still sewed.  I've always been attracted to the bright colors of the print, and the very fine transparent gauze fabric.  

Wearing the skirt reminded me that it's time to remake it once more, into a more durable, better lined garment.  The skirt that I made from the fabric last time was put together in a hurry, by making a basic casing using the lining fabric, and inserting a ribbon to cinch it up.  The construction neither looks very attractive, nor benefits the delicate fabric.  After wearing it belted at my natural waist, I think the next go-round I will make this into a high waisted skirt, using a nice cotton voile for lining, darts to shape the back and some gentle pleats to add dimension to the front.

 A very sad casing indeed...   

                

                        But a very pretty fabric!              

Here's how I wore it:

Black Leotard - had it forever

where did it come from?

Skirt by me

Belt - Thrifted

Gladiators - 80%20

May 29: Red White & Blue

Today I wore: 

Floral Camisole by me

Tank top (worn under) - Express

Cuffed Shorts - Target

Gladiators - 80%20

Sweater - Forever 21

And for lunch I made:

Bulgar Wheat (cooked up last night)

English cucumber, diced

dash of EVOO

pinch of sea salt

Lime, juiced

New Free Patterns from German BurdaStyle

Hmm... what do we have here?  It looks like Burda (via Burdastyle.de) has some new free patterns up.  Don't get too excited though, as one of them seems to be a tutorial? to create a pair of destroyed jeans like the ones Carrie/Sarah Jessica Parker wears in SATC II.  

 

Images from Burdastyle.de

The photo on the right is Burda's interpretation.  I don't know they're just not the same without the Uggs and tiara-headband are they?  heh.  Well, if you're still interested, you can find the tutorial? pattern? here.  Be forewarned, you will need to register as a user on the burdastyle.de site first.  

Now for the good news!  Burda has also gifted us a lovely blouse pattern available here.  

  

Images from Burdastyle.de

I'm glad to see a couple new free patterns up on the site, but I hope they will also add patterns for purchase, as I've let my subscription lapse again.  I really miss the old Burda World of Fashion some days, as the new trendy reincarnation of the magazine is not as satisfying.  If I'm going to spend the time sewing my own togs, I don't usually pick very trendy styles.  

That said, I am still hoping for a pattern for the pleated trousers featured in the June issue.  After a closer look at the technical drawing, though, I suppose I could try my hand at drafting something similar myself.

 

Images from Burdastyle.de

Alright, that's enough of my rambling.  This has been a nice break from outfit posts, no?  Now back to cutting out some new projects!  Happy sewing :)

May 28: Sapphire Blouse and Soup

Yesterday my sapphire blouse made its debut for Me-Made-May.  Since I have not yet made many trousers, I did wear a pair that were store bought.  This is a problem I hope to remedy in the near future, as the fabric quality of these trousers is not so hot, AND all the pockets in them are fake.  What?!  Why would you make four completely ornamental pockets on pants?  Seriously--I have more functional skirts! Oh, and speaking of functional skirts, have you seen Caroline Woolard's The Work Dress on BurdaStyle?  Very cool.

Sapphire Blouse by me

Lace Camisole - Kohl's

Cropped Trousers - The Limited

Ballet Flats - Me Too via Filene's

In addition to my daily Me-Made-May rambles, here are some photos of what I made for dinner last night: Three-Step Lentil Soup and Artichoke with Mayo-Balsamic dip.  What a lovely way to begin the long weekend!

Mirepoix

+

Lentils

=

Assorted Herbs

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SOUP!

And then we had an aftertizer: fancy, I know ;)

Thanks for stopping by-- please come back later for today's outfit and some sewing updates!