GIVEAWAY || FAT QUARTER SHOP FABRIC GIVEAWAY!!

I've been on a sewing kick lately and have some new projects to show you on the blog soon! I've been having lots of fun and I thought what better way to have you join me than to giveaway some new fabric!!!!  

 Who doesn't love new fabric right? One of our awesome sponsors Fat Quarter Shop is hosting today's exciting giveaway!!!! One of you lucky readers is going to win a lovely gift certificate to get some yummy new fabric from them! Whether you're looking to make a new quilt or an outfit you can find tons of fabric at Fat Quarter Shop! They've also got patterns, tutorials and lots more fun things you can join in with on their blog as well!

One of my favorite things about Fat Quarter Shop is the way you can find fabric. I hate cutting and love buying precut bundles for my quilts. You can find all the specialty cuts bundled in all your favorite new fabric designs at Fat Quarter Shop. They also carry a wide range of solids as well. You can find fabrics sorted by designer, manufacturer, specialty cut and more! They also have great prices and good customer service! I buy from them regularly and have always had a good experience with shipping and I'm in Canada. Make sure you pop by and see all the new lovelies they just got in stock!

YOU READY TO WIN SOME NEW FABRIC?

\\ PRIZE \\
- one lucky winner will win a $50 Gift Certificate to the fabulous Fat Quarter Shop!!! Wahoo!!! Thank you Fat Quarter Shop!

\\ HOW TO ENTER \\
- simply leave me a comment letting me know what fabric line you would buy if you won!
- bonus entry: like Fat Quarter Shop and/or Very Shannon on facebook and then leave a separate comment on the blog here letting me know you did that too!

\\ RULES \\
- you must leave a valid email address with your comment or you will be disqualified.
- giveaway is open until Sunday, January 19th, midnight (PST).

You can find all things Fat Quarter Shop below:

WEBSITE || BLOG || FACEBOOK || TWITTER || PINTEREST

Good luck and a big thank you to Fat Quarter Shop for the generous and awesome prize! Happy fabric shopping!

READING || SEW CLASSIC CLOTHES FOR GIRLS BOOK REVIEW

I'm so excited for today's book review of Sew Classic Clothes for Girls!
I am so gosh darn proud of the author of this gorgeous book - Lindsay Wilkes (from the blog The Cottage Mama)! She's a dear and special friend of mine and I'm beyond thrilled with all of her successes over the past few years. She's hardworking, loving, kind and a genuinely lovely and special woman. She deserves so much success and I'm just over the moon with her new book!!!!


Lindsay and I first started chatting years ago when she first started blogging and I've been a loyal and dedicated fan of her style and aesthetic ever since! She's got a special flair for fabric combinations, notions, design, and a style that has such a strong voice! She's also great at teaching and explaining techniques and how to's. So when Lindsay told me the news about her book Sew Classic Clothes for Girls: 20 Girls Dresses, Outfits and Accessories from the Cottage Mama I just knew it was going to be awesome! Now we all get to share in her wisdom and tricks & techniques!


Lindsay's patterns are just like the book says - classic. They are timeless styles that any little girl would be happy to have in their closet and any momma would be lucky to sew. The patterns in Sew Classic Clothes for Girls result in professional and clean finished garments - the kind I love! I love a gal who pays attention to finishing and the little details. Makes me happy.


The book is laid out so nicely as well. Let me walk you through it:

GETTING STARTED
Fabric Selection \\ Pairing Patterned Fabrics \\ Trims & Embellishments \\ Patterns & Size Selections \\ Tools of the Trade \\ Techniques
This section is always my favorite part in sewing books! I learn something new from everyone and Lindsay did a fabulous job teaching me a few new tricks! She covers some wonderful techniques and does it well! 

SMOCKS & FROCKS
Patterns for a top, frock, smock, a dress and a skirt.

YOU BET YOUR BRITCHES
Patterns for multiple capris & shorts and knickers!

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE
2 Adorable coat patterns!

A IS FOR A-LINE
3 patterns for a-line dresses & 1 top.

SUGAR, SPICE & EVERYTHING NICE
Patterns for 3 gorgeous dresses.

THE FINISHING TOUCH
Learn how to embellish a bib shirt, make a fabric covered headband, embellish a ruffle shirt & make a vintage style hair accessory!

This patterns in the book are accompanied by clear and colored photographs as well as well written instructions. I've made Lindsay's patterns before and her fit and instructions are always spot on.  She also gives you little hints and options for each pattern called "make it just sew". I really enjoyed these little boxes of info.

I highly recommend this book to any sewer looking to add to their collection some wonderful, lovely, classic and timeless patterns. The patterns in this book are so versatile and easy to customize to your taste and fabric choices. I'm so happy to have one on my shelf :) I can't wait to sew from it! First I have to get the girls to stop fighting over it! They love looking at it and trying to choose their favorites!

Thank you so much for having me along on your tour Lindsay. I adore you and from the bottom of my heart I am so proud and happy for you girl! It's been such a gift to be your friend and to be able to watch your dreams come true!! Love ya lots! xoxoxox

You can find Sew Classic Clothes for Girls here on amazon. It's also for sale directly on Lindsay's site here. You can find all things Lindsay and the Cottage Mama below:

WEBSITE \\ BLOG \\  SHOP \\ FACEBOOK \\ PINTEREST \\ TWITTER \\ INSTAGRAM

MAKING || MODERN HOLIDAY DIY ROUNDUPS!

fernliving christmas tree blanket

CHRISTMAS IS MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR.

I love being able to feel like a little kid and let all that special excitement fill our home! I feed off the kids joy and I just go for it! The first few years my hubby and I had xmas together we didn't have a lot of money for decorations and I made 90% of our ornaments (thank you martha stewart). Well not all of them have survived the last 6 years or so but some have and I treasure them. So this year I vowed to make a few new ones for our tree and do some annual Christmas crafting & decor for our home.

Life has been crazy busy over here and I got knocked over by a nasty flu bug. I like quick and fulfilling unless it's truly worth it :) So instead of doing 3-4 roundups like I usually do each year this time I decided to put them in one AWESOME roundup of what are my 5 fave choices for the year to possibly make in our home. Not everything will get done, heck I might not even get one done (I'm not a machine...lol) but I love making a good roundup for me to go back to for inspiration and more in one easy place.

<<<---------------------DIY WREATHS--------------------->>>

geometric wreath tutorial \\ marshmallow wreath \\ snowflake wreath \\ duct tape wreath \\ pom pom wreath

First let's start off with one of my favorites - the wreath! Who doesn't love a wreath right? 
Such a statement piece that can so easily reflect your whole Christmas style in one piece! I have tried a few different wreaths but fell head over heels for this one which remains up on our wall all year round. So this year I thought I may add to our arsenal of wreaths. It's about time I think. Above are my faves for this year.

<<<-------------------DIY SNOWFLAKES------------------->>>

paper snowflakes \\ star wars snowflakes \\ printable snowflakes \\ coffee filter snowflakes \\ fuse bead snowflakes

Next the snowflakes. We have a big crush on snowflakes in our house.
Each year since the girls have been babies we make a boat load of snowflakes and adorn the apartment with them. So fun! This year we decided to look into doing some "fancy" snowflakes instead of our usual winging it ones (though those are equally as fun). Above are some of my faves for the year:

<<<-------------------DIY HOLIDAY DECOR------------------>>>

wall art diy \\ honeycomb chandelier \\ honeycomb tree \\ paper party ball \\ ornament balloons

And ohhhh...the home decor! Lovely little jewels of diy to adorn your home with!
I have a thing for pine cones. I spread them all over the house year round. I think my hubs thinks I'm nuts but I still do it..lol. This year I thought to myself though "branch out a bit Shannon, try something new"...so I'm going to give it a shot. Above are some of my faves for the year.

<<<--------------------DIY ORNAMENTS-------------------->>>

diamond ornament \\ let it snow \\ felt ornaments \\ himmeli ornament \\ felt tree ornaments

Now - the ornaments. We can't leave out the ornaments! These can be the most fun to make!
Those first few years I made only my own ornaments were sure fun! I bought rolls of some awesome silver shiny wrapping paper and saved up for a month all of our used cardboard and set out to cut out ornament shapes from templates and then the same sizes from the wrapping paper. I painstakingly glued them to each piece of cardboard. Then for some special ones I would print out pics of us and the girls and glue them to the wrapping paper. Hole punch and hang with spare thread. Voila! Well last year I was too darn tired to make them. So store bought ornaments finally made their way to our house and we loved them too! So this year I'm going for a happy mix! A few handmade each year to add to our collection. I don't need to go nuts and do the whole tree if I just can't swing it. I think that's the trick with xmas - don't add too much too your plate. Just do what makes you happy. If it's stressful - skip it. It is afterall a happy time of year :) Above are some of my faves for the year.

<<<---------------CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRTS----------------->>>

bright & colorful \\ very bari tree skirt \\ chevron tree skirt \\ snowflake tree skirt \\ pom pom skirt

And last but not least the tree skirts - we can't forget those! Who wants a nude tree! Not me!
I admit for about 5 years I used an old white receiving blanket/sheet for a tree skirt...hangs head in shame and finally whipped one up last year. I loved it then and love it still. I waited all that time until I had the skills to make one I would really love. Above are some of our favorites for the year (ours included).

Want to keep track of all the other lovelies I will add during December? Follow my "Holiday Love" Pinterest Board to keep track of all the fun things I love during the holiday seasons!

HOLIDAY LOVE PINTEREST BOARD

What are your fave diy's of the year? What did you make for the holidays? Any fun ones you'd like to link up to or share? Happy making!!!

CRUSHES || RAPTURE BY PAT BRAVO

I don't know about you but I've been feeling pretty cold lately. 

Winter is definitely here but that doesn't mean our fabric choices have to reflect the grey weather! I finally got my hands on the lovely Pat Bravo's new line for Art Gallery Fabrics - Rapture, and boy do I need myself a pina colada! This cheerful, colorful and yet soothing palette of prints just hit the spot for me during the endless days of rainy gloom we've been having. I swear I can feel the Miami breeze blowing! I love that Pat's prints always make me feel happy and that I can escape merrily into my imagination and create with them! They make me feel so creative and inspired! If you pop by AGF to check out Rapture make sure you don't miss the free Blissful Quilt Pattern Pat released as well. So pretty!

I was so excited when I saw my Patricia Cowl (named after Pat) in the Rapture Look Book shown above (you can also see it in the pics below)! Doesn't it look so awesome! The Patricia Cowl is a free tutorial I did for Art Gallery Fabrics this year and you can find it here. It is seriously one of my favorite go-to gifts to sew.

Img Src - Art Gallery Fabrics

Want to see some of the prints close up?


 You can find all things Rapture and Pat Bravo below:

Blog || Pinterest || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram

I'm gearing up for a lovely and long winter break this year and can't wait to get sewing with this pretty bundle! This is the first year in a very long time (and I mean like years time) that the hubs has had 14 days home in a row with us! We are so very excited! So after this week I won't be popping up in this space until January 6th. 2 week vacay for me! I can't wait!!! Wahoo!

I plan on filling it with family, fun, fabric, yarn, sleep, coffee, yummies, friends and more! But don't worry - there is still this week! Make sure to pop by our facebook page today for a fun surprise and also for an awesome book review, giveaway winners and more this week on the blog!

And did you notice anything new around here? That's right!!! We got a new look!!! I've been working madly away in the background updating and revamping the blog! You may have noticed that the "luvinthemommyhood" banner is gone. I'll chat more about that and what to expect for 2014 this week on the blog. I can't wait to share it all with you guys! I hope you like the new look as much as I do! I'm loving it!

But wait, before you go, tell me which which print you love from Rapture! Are you loving this line as much as I do? What would you make with Rapture?

GIVEAWAY || VERY SHANNON THANK YOU PATTERN GIVEAWAY!

I am so grateful to each and every one of you. Thank you for reading and for being the best readers ever!

As promised when we reached 6,000 facebook likes I would host a giveaway for you all! So here it is! I'm keeping it short and sweet and easy to enter! I've been busy working in the background on a new look for the blog that's coming very soon and also a new pattern is coming out this week - yay!!!!! Can't wait to show you all!

|| THE PRIZE ||
Three (wahoo!) lucky winners will win my entire pattern collection (includes both sewing & knitting)! You can see all my patterns here on my website www.veryshannon.com

|| HOW TO ENTER ||
- simply leave me a comment below letting me know which of my patterns is your fave.
- bonus entry: follow me on facebook , twitter, and/or sign up for our free newsletter and then leave me another comment letting me know you did so.

|| THE RULES ||
- A valid email must left in each comment or you will be disqualified. Giveaway is open until Monday, December 16th, 2013, midnight, PST.

thank you decal || anchor decal co.

Good luck and thank you again from the bottom of my heart for reading. It means more than I can type here. I heart you guys.

MAKING || HANDMADE WINTER eBOOK RELEASE & GIVEAWAY!!!!

EBOOK ||  BUY NOW

I'm so excited to tell you all about Handmade Winter - a very special project that I was so lucky to be involved in!

Handmade Winter: A Season to Gather, Make & Share eBook by the Creative Mamas Collaboration is here! I've been drooling over my copy ever since I got to see it! Such an amazing and wonderful collaboration of talented ladies and I feel so honored to be included! This gorgeous eBook just shines with the love and passion for home, family, handmade and inspiration. Every page just begs you to turn to the next one. The cover alone makes me want to curl up on the couch with my fave quilt with the fireplace on and a cup of tea in hand, to sit and reflect and read this special eBook.

The talented women who worked to bring Handmade Winter to all of you are some of the most inspiring, loving and generous women I've had the pleasure of meeting and working with. It was so fun to see what everyone brought to the table and what ideas sparked from all of our conversations. The end result was above and beyond what I could have imagined and I'm just blown away by the sheer awesomeness of these gals! The words gather, make & share truly resonate with all of us creative mamas on a daily basis and we're so excited to share this book filled with recipes, crafts, sewing, jewelry, essays, poetry and more with all of you!!!!

Would you like to see more of the inside of Handmade Winter? Yay! Keep reading to see some sneak peeks of the eBook below!

The eBook is easily broken down into 3 sections.

Under Gather you can find...

DRINK 
This was one of my favorite sections of the book! I seriously am trying every one of these bevvies! Each one is more delicious than the last! I think I squealed with delight when I saw these. I'm always on the lookout for a new "adult" bevvie during the holidays.
EAT
From soup, salad, veggies, chicken & more you cannot go wrong with any of these recipes!
SAVOR
Cookies, masala chai, and did I say cookies? LOL! This section is just delish!
HOST
Learn how to host a favorite things party as well as a winter cookie exchange.

 

Then we come to MAKE...

There are so many fun crafts and goodies to make. Walnut fairies, leather jewelry, chalkboard blocks whimsical winter decorations and more!

And under SHARE...

You've got my super fun quilted coasters (4 different patterns), cushions, felted tablet cover, child's maxi skirt...and the list goes on!

That's not it though! In between the projects and recipes there is gorgeous photography, essays, and poetry. It truly is a gorgeous eBook.

HOW MUCH IS IT & WHAT'S INSIDE?
For just $15.00 you can get the Handmade Winter eBook filled with 50+ patterns, tutorials, recipes, crafts and more!!! So much good stuff to keep you making all through the winter season. To see the entire Handmade Winter Table of Contents for all projects included, click here. 

WHO ARE THE CONTRIBUTORS?
21 talented and creative women came together to form Handmade Winter (including myself)...

The Sewing Rabbit || MollyMoo || Simple as That || Things for Boys || Curly Birds || Little Stories || Buzzmills || Sew Jereli || Maker Mama || Crafting Connections || My Life at Playtime || A Golden Afternoon || Rajovilla || Craftstorming || Small + Friendly || Living on Love || Classic Play || Salsa Pie || Hideous! Dreadful! Stinky! || The Southern Institute

|| HOW TO ENTER ||
Simply leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite thing to make/bake/cook during the winter season.

|| RULES ||
You must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified. Giveaway is open until Sunday, December 15th, 2013, midnight PST.

I hope you all enjoy a Handmade Winter as much as we did putting it together. It's such a special collaboration and I'm so excited for you all to see it!!! Find out more details and purchase your own copy of Handmade Winter here for just $15! Enjoy!!!

You can always keep track and join in with us and the other creative mamas on social media using hashtag #creativemamas and #handmadewinter on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook & more!

BOOKS || SIMPLE SEWING BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!!!

Don't you just love a good sewing book? One that you can't decide what to make first when you open it?

I do and today I'm so excited to be part of the Simple Sewing Blog Tour for Katie Lewis of the blog The Red Kitchen for her new book "Simple Sewing: 30 Fast and Easy Projects for Beginners". Now don't be swayed by the word beginner. Yes, the patterns aren't difficult, so yes, they are suited to beginners but you definitely do not need to be a beginner sewer to LOVE this book. The projects are quick, fun and such great sews. There are so many to choose from it honestly took me a good few weeks to decide. I won't deny I love that.

In the end I went with the pattern for the fabric basket. I have been procrastinating on making one for eons and thought to myself it's time. I'm going to give some of that clutter on my sewing desk a new purdy home. I love how it turned out and in fact, after making it, decided it may even get a home for a while on our coffee table :) I used some of the new line "Minimilista" from Art Gallery Fabrics. I combined Script Turquoise and Darts Turquoise and they make me so happy together. They look so great with the same color turquoise walls in my sewing area.

Want to see some more of Simple Sewing? Yay! I can't wait to show you! 

Simple Sewing is bright, cheerful and easy to follow. Featuring clear instructions, full color photographs, and a helpful beginning section on sewing supplies, fabric, stitches, and terms & techniques that will aid a new sewer to conquer any of the projects in this book. Simple Sewing is organized in the following fun chapters - Accessories, Home, Celebrations, Baby, School Days and Toys! Each chapter has 5 awesome patterns! I love that the book also represents Katie's style and aesthetic as well. It would make a great gift or addition to any sewers book collection.

You can purchase your own copy of Simple Sewing: 30 Fast and Easy Projects for Beginners by Katie Lewis at the following:

AMAZON  ||  BARNES & NOBLE  ||  BOOKS & THINGS

or 
ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF SIMPLE SEWING BELOW

HOW TO ENTER: Simply fill out the rafflecopter entry form below.

PRIZE: 1 winner will win a copy of Simple Sewing by Katie Lewis

RULES: Open to US Residents ONLY. Giveaway will end on Dec. 9th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for having me on the tour Katie!!! Congratulations on the new book!

Make sure you guys also stop by the fabulously talented April Rhodes blog to check out what she made!

SALE || HOLIDAY PATTERN SALE!

Who's in the mood for a sale? I am! We've already had our Thanksgiving here in Canada but heck, I figure I can celebrate yours in the US too! 

From November 29th (Friday) through to December 2nd (Monday) I'll be running a sale!!! Get 25% off  the entire shop!!!!! Woot woot! Use coupon code "Thankful25" to get your discount! Discount is valid on my ENTIRE pattern shop except for patterns from JOURNEY (Antrorse, Onward & Swift). You can use the discount code at the following places:

RAVELRY SHOP  ||  VERY SHANNON SHOP  ||  ETSY SHOP

So eat some turkey, hang with the family, have some laughs and get making! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday weekend! Happy Thanksgiving, sewing & knitting! I'll see you next week - we're still sick but on the mend here. ♥

p.s. here's 2 handy links that are AWESOME lists of other sales going on this weekend! 
- pattern revolution sale post
- marly bird sale post

SEWING || PILOT HAT PATTERN REVIEW

I had so much fun making the outfits for yesterdays post I couldn't resist making a few more pieces!

When I spotted See Kate Sew's Pilot & Trapper Hats in the Winter Wonderland Collection from Pattern Anthology I just knew I had to whip up a few for the girls! And what better print to girly up the Aviator Style than Briar Rose by Heather Ross. My girls love the prints from this line! I lined the hats with a super soft white fleece to up the cozy factor! I mean seriously - how cute are these? I already have another one cut out for my nephew as well!

The Pilot Pattern is soooo fast! Once you do the first one it's bing, bang, boom - new hat done. Quick, easy and a super awesome look! The pattern even comes with bow instructions & pieces so you can add one if you'd like as well! The Trapper Hat is as equally adorable and I can't wait to try making a few of them too! Kate's instructions are clear, concise, and her diagrams are clear and easy to follow. 

Because they are so cute and I looooove this pattern so much I can't resist showing some more adorable pics!

You can still purchase the Winter Wonderland Collection from Pattern Anthology - today is the last day! 

You can find all the information on all the patterns here and you can see my reviews of the Sweet Bonnie Top by Shwin Designs and also the Holly Trousers by Go To Patterns here.

Have you sewn a hat pattern before? What fabric would you use to make the Aviator or Trapper Hat from See Kate Sew? Which one would you make first? Let's chat ladies!

SEWING || WINTER WONDERLAND COLLECTION FROM PATTERN ANTHOLOGY

I'm so excited to be part of the Pattern Anthology Winter Wonderland Tour today!!!! 

I had so much fun sewing the patterns I made from the Winter Wonderland Collection! I cannot say enough how much I loved both of these pieces. If you're a reader of my blog you know how picky and clothing sensitive my girl is. She seriously lives in leggings and that's it and even those bug her sometimes. So to see her in pants - real pants - just made me soooo darn happy. And a top with a zipper?? It's a miracle! And she loves them!

I made the Holly Trousers by Andrea Pannell of Go To Patterns. I did the elastic waist version and made a Size 5. Those adorable front pleats are so darling! I have a soft spot for the pleats paired with the modern slim leg. You can even do belt loops and a zipper if you like too! They also come with an equally awesome shorts variation too! Andrea's patterns always leave you with a professional finish and excellent fit. I really enjoy her patterns. I sewed my Holly Trousers using Robert Kaufman's Yarn-Dyed Essex Linen in Denim (one of my all time fave fabrics) with some soft pink thread used for the entire garment.

Next up is the Sweet Bonnie Top by Shwin Designs! Swoon. Peter Pan Collar. Nuff said. Sold. 


I really liked the construction Shauna used for this top. First thing I have mention is that my kid hates zippers. Like she won't wear anything with zippers but she really liked this top and felt comfortable in it. The zipper has a facing as does the collar and I think that makes a huge difference for clothing sensitve kids. She can hardly feel it and let me tell you that to even get her in something with a zipper is a huge feat in itself so that speaks volumes about this pattern. I mean how cute is this top? I made a Size 5 for this and used Playful Fox in Pink from Timber and Leaf from Sarah Watts because I was feeling foxy..lol. I added a little pieced detail to the pocket to break up the fox print but highlight the collar color and also a fun bright yellow zipper! 

Together they create one of my favorite new outfits for her. 

M was such a trooper for this shoot. It was freezing cold and very windy and she rocked it with no complaints! We even paired up the outfit with my Mallory Cowl Pattern (child and adult size available for only $1.99 - 2 for 1!) and I just LOVE it! Seriously can't resist a kid in a rockin' cowl!

Overall every piece in the Winter Wonderland Collection is a great addition to your pattern arsenal for both boys and girls! There are great unisex patterns in this bundle ranging from tops, pants, shorts, capes and hats! Make sure you check out all the tutorials, remizes and style posts for the whole tour! There is some AWESOME clothes being made! I even plan on making more.

In fact tomorrow I will have be reviewing another pattern from the collection so stick around for that! 

You can get the Pattern Anthology bundle for Winter Wonderland through till the 18th of this month!

Have you been following along with the tour? Have you sewn one of the patterns? Which one would you make first? Faves? It's Sunday...and it's a special treat for me to have a weekend blog post some come say hi! Coffee's on.... />

CRUSHES || YUMMY

I've got some new yummies to show you! Mmmmmm....

To me, new yarn, fabric..etc are just as good, if not better, than food. So yes...this stuff is YUMMY! When they show up at the door I get all giddy and run around my condo like a fool. Now my kids join me. They don't know why I'm excited they just know when the delivery person comes mommy is gonna be in one good mood! It's like Christmas when I make orders. I'm sure you other die hard makers can agree and relate.

This month I'm crushing on......

Mini Confetti Dots in ALL COLORS from Dear Stella. 

Seriously, how could this not brighten one's day? I get all giddy and smiley just looking at it which is exactly why I haven't cut into it yet. It's just so darn purdy.  That big FQ bundle? That's gonna be 2 quilts for my girlies. Can't wait. And the yardage you will have to wait and see....hehe.

Yes, more knits from Girl Charlee! How can I resist right? 

I have been having so much fun sewing with knits and have plans for tons more! I've already cut into that adorable penguin print on the top for some baby leggings for a friends new arrival! So freaking cute!!!! I can't wait to sew up the rest! Not sure what it will all be but most is for clothes for the girls and one is a for a top for me :) I finally bought the Renfrew Top from Sewaholic Patterns. Tasia is such a sweetheart and lives in Vancouver so I'm lucky to get to see her when we're over for Knit City and other fun events. I highly recommend her patterns.

Oh cashmere, how I love thee.

Recently while at Knit City I managed to snag these 2 new additions to my Sweet Fiber stash. Oh my gosh...I seriously cannot resist the lure of Cashmere. It's taken over my mind...lol. It's just so soft and glorious to work with. I grabbed 1 skein of Cashmerino Worsted in Spanish Coin and 1 skein of Merino Twist DK in Bloom. Melissa's yarns are seriously amazing. If you have a chance to try some take it.

I'm also working on a few secret projects. 

The pictures above and below are all in the works. I can't wait to show you more! There will be a special weekend post this Sunday as I join in on the Pattern Anthology Winter Wonderland Tour! Can't wait to show you! So make sure you pop by on Sunday and Monday to see what I whipped up for the girls!

Ok, so you know what's next right? My favorite part! I loooove to hear what new yarns/fabrics etc you're crushing on this month!!!! Fill me in. Spill the beans gals!

READING || BOOKS ON THE TABLE

you all know i have an addiction to books right? i loooooove books.

before i became a blogger i was a hairdresser. but before i became a hairdresser i worked in bookstores. i love bookstores almost as much as i love books. i worked in all sorts of positions involved in running a bookstore. my favorite was working behind the scenes. getting to choose the new titles being bought for the store, meeting with publishing house sales reps, reading advances, running book clubs - you name it, if it meant being around books i was there.

both of my folks are avid readers and i grew up with a strong passion for books and reading. i was the kid the librarian actually tried to cut off my book borrowing limit. she didn't believe i could read all the books i was checking out and tested me once and low and behold - i did :) yep, and guess who else has the same issues? my girls! i adore it! when we come home from the library we can almost not carry our library bags they are soooo full.

so lately i've been compiling a stack o' books on my desk and thought it was about time i shared some of them with you! keep reading to see which craft books i've recently had added to my library.

first up is the newest release from knitwear designer - hannah fettig! knitbot yoked is stunning. the photos are true to the quince & co signature style and the patterns...swoon! classic and clean patterns (all designed with round yokes knit from the top down) that will be timeless additions to anyones wardrobes! this book just makes you want to jump right into it and whip out your knitting needles. i loved it!

you can find more on knitbot yoked here.

sewing for all seasons is the gorgeous new title released by author susan beal (west coast crafty). susan's awesome. she's so talented and also super sweet. i just looooved the styling of this book. the pictures and projects all work well together and bring together a lovely compilation of patterns to sew throughout the year! she even has all the projects in the book sorted by season with lovely, lovely, lead pages. swoon! i can't wait to get making from this book! the pieced throw below is my absolute fave! i want to reach in and steal it from the page! love it!!!

you can find sewing for all seasons here.

can i just say that when i was a kid i adored flip dolls? so imagine how excited i was to see "flip dolls & other toys" by laura wilson come out? this book is a must have for any sewer looking to make some awesome dolls & toys! i squealed when this book arrived. it's filled to the brim with projects that are all fun, creative and ones you can have as much fun making as your kids will playing with them!

you can find flip dolls & other toys here.

OTHER TITLES ON MY TABLE

:: instacraft by Alison Caporimo and Meera Lee Patel
:: Craft-a-Doodle: 75 Creative Exercises from 18 Artists by Jenny Doh
:: Quick & Easy Baby Knits by Sarah E. White

what books have you been reading? what are your current faves this fall? mmmm...coffee's on and i'd love to chat ♥

SEWING || TOVA TUNIC LUXE IN BLOOM

knit city is this weekend and i needed a new dress! 

i decided that with my limited sewing time that i would whip up a pattern that i had already done before to save on tracing/cutting time. i've got a stack of new patterns just waiting to be sewn up for me but when time is of the essence i went straight for the tova tunic by wiksten.

i wear my first tova all the time. i love it and it was my wearable muslin and the fabric was like $2/yd on sale..lol. so i figured it was time to make myself a tova in a fabric i adore. i LOVE the line luxe in bloom by sarah watson for art gallery fabrics and knew as soon as i saw extravagarden bold that it had to be a dress. art gallery fabrics are made from 100% pima cotton and the drape/hand is just lovely! if i do use a quilting cotton for a garment - it's one of my favorite to sew with and so soft to wear!

i love that the items of sewn garments for me is growing in my closet. i go to them before anything else now when getting dressed. 

a tunic/dress with leggings/boots is my staple outfit for the fall/winter. throw in a cute bag and you're all set! i can't wait to wear this on the weekend! comfort when you're working a booth for 2 days is key and i just love the pop of colors this outfit has! so pretty!

i can't wait to get sewing the rest of the "must makes" on my list! what sewing have you been doing for yourself? do you have a favorite pattern out right now that is your staple dress/tunic to make? i'd love to see or hear about it! come chat!

>>> PATTERN NOTES <<<
- pattern used: tova tunic by wiksten
- fabric used: extravagarden bold (LIB-8025) from luxe in bloom by sarah watson for art gallery fabrics
- modifications: i like to stitch the neckline flap opening shut an inch or 2 so that the cleavage isn't too wide if i only wear a tank under it.
- size made: xl
- boots: old navy (almost 2 years ago)
- purse: hautelook

SALLY DRESS PATTERN TOUR ROUNDUP!

sally dress sewn by girl like the sea

i could not resist stopping in today to say a giant THANK YOU to all the fabulous ladies who joined in for my sally dress pattern tour! 

they are all amazing, kind and super talented gals and i so appreciate them all making the sally! i also want to say thank you to all of you for reading and showing some love to all my special guests and congrats to all of you who won patterns along the way! wahoo!!!

now without further ado....here's all the AWESOME versions of the sally dress made for our pattern tour!!! 

sally dress sewn by lbg studio

sally dress sewn by petit a petit & family

sally dress sewn by caila made

sally dress sewn by 1. emmyloubeedoo 2. buzzmills

sally dress sewn by alida makes

sally dress sewn by the sewing rabbit

sally dress sewn by welcome to the mouse house

sally dress sewn by 1. the train to crazy and 2. sew very

sally dress sewn by 1. if only they would nap 2. a jennuine life 3. simple simon & co.

sally dress sewn by skirt as top

sally dress sewn by 1. made with moxie 2. sumos sweet stuff 3. imagine gnats

sally dress sewn by 1. sew a straight line 2. sewing mama raeanna 3. sew like my mom 4. rae gun gamblings

sally dress sewn by elsie marley

thank you again to everyone!!! i heart you gals! it seriously makes me tear up to see all these gorgeous versions! 

and just in case you missed the tour you can see all the posts for the sally dress pattern tour below:

>>> CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SALLY DRESS PATTERN TOUR <<<

you can find the sally dress to purchase here in my shop on etsy. thank you for all of your support <3  

have you made the sally dress yet? please upload your pics to our flickr group! i'd love to see them! or share them here or on our fb page!!

BOOK REVIEW || BRAVE NEW QUILTS

this is the hardest post i have ever written on this blog of mine. one that has found me, of all people, at a loss for words. how do you write about someone who inspired you, encouraged you, awoke your creative spirit, nurtured it, challenged you, was kind to you, was a friend to you, and one who helped you find your path, that is now gone?

this post is about someone who means so much to not only me but to our whole creative community both online and offline - kathreen ricketson (author and blogger of whipup.net). she needs no introduction from me. she was and still is part of the very roots of creativity as we know it now. she was a trailblazer and a true artist. she embraced the true meaning of making and in teaching our children to also embrace and to grow this very important message. she believed in family.

i am so very honored to have been included by stash books for the legacy tour for kathreen's newest book "brave new quilts" along with an amazing line up of women who i am regularly inspired by and look up to. it means so much to me.

so many times i have sat down to write this post. thinking back to the 4 1/2 years i have been blogging and how kathreen played a role in every single one of them. how she took chances on me, answered my emails even when i was a newbie looking for advice and encouraged me to keep creating. her blog was a daily read and a fixture in my life. i can truly say she helped to shape my path to where i am today.

her books are on my shelf. her calendar (that inspired me) from years ago still in my desk. her action pack magazines still read in our home....and then i realized it - she is still here. she always will be. the most evident proof of this is "brave new quilts". this book is truly kathreen. she was so excited and passionate about this book when she was working on it and i can feel her energy just bouncing off the pages even now. i can still see kathreen.

so while struggling to write this without being a bawling mess i placed her book near me, poured a cup of tea and took some time to just fully reflect, to miss kathreen and to tell her how much i truly love this book and how much she meant as a person and as a woman to me and all the others lives she touched.

to say that brave new quilts is a great book would be a lie. it's not just great, it's on a whole other level than other quilting books out there. as someone who has a passion for books & art and who is obsessed with lines, patterns and textures this book feeds my soul. it truly, in every sense of the word inspired me. i keep reading and re-reading it finding new things, new ideas, new trigger points for projects, but mostly i feel like i'm sitting with kathreen. i feel like she showed a side of herself and her creativity she hadn't yet revealed.

brave new quilts includes 12 new projects inspired by 20th century art. from art nouveau to punk & pop. it's so crazy good. the best part is kathreen not only gives you the 12 project patterns but also teaches you how to take the basics and create & personalize your own using 4 aesthetic elements: line, color, motif and text. yay! seriously i find this so exciting!

and as always, my favorite parts of books are usually the parts that aren't the projects. i loved pouring over the hidden jewels in this book. the design, layout and instructive elements in this book are clean, expressive and exciting. her husband did the illustrations and was her technical long arm assistant, her children modeled, her friends helped sew and photograph. the color, the lines and the overall design of the book made me hungry to create. kathreen would have loved that....... i had to force myself to keep reading after the first chapter because i immediately wanted to grab my sketch pad and draw and sew. that's what kathreen has always brought out in me. the need to just sit and nurture the creative self and feel 100% ok with that. the laundry can wait.

 the book also features sections on the following:

//design principles //
- space, proportion, pattern & texture, line and shape, balance & symmetry, color

// use of line //
- russian constructivism
- bauhaus
- art deco/cubist

// use of color //
- abstract experssionism
- bauhaus

// use of motif //
- art deco
- art nouveau
- midcentury modern

// use of text //
- dada
- punk
- pop art

as well as sections on your toolbox, finishing quilts, calculating yardage, metric conversions and more. this truly is a book that is a must have for any quilter who has a passion for modern quilting.

kathreen, wherever you are, i miss you & love you. thank you for everything you have taught me, inspired me to create and for your kind friendship. you will be remembered always.

thank you to stash books for releasing brave new quilts and for allowing us to have this special part of kathreen to cherish always. you can read the other touching and special posts in the legacy tour below and by following the hashtag #LegacyTour on social media accounts such as twitter, facebook, and instagram.

To follow the legacy tour:

Tuesday, Oct 1 Heather Jones               Tuesday, Oct 8 Ellen Luckett Baker
Wednesday, Oct 2 Kristin Link               Wednesday, Oct 9 Andrea Jenkins
Thursday, Oct 3 Maya Donenfeld           Thursday, Oct 10 Shannon Cook
Friday, Oct 4 Alexandra Smith                Friday, Oct 11 Mimi Kirchner
Monday, Oct 7 Sonya Philip                   Monday, Oct 14 Cheryl Arkison

SALLY DRESS PATTERN TOUR || PETIT A PETIT & FAMILY and SIMPLE SIMON & CO.

oh my.....so excited over here! i love both the versions today and am just so excited with all the versions we've had of the sally dress for the pattern tour! today is the last day but i promise to do a nice ol'roundup this week so you can see all of them together. they are all just so pretty i can't help but show them all again!

first up is what has to be one of my favorite versions - celina of petit a petit & family. i was super thrilled to have this pinning superstar along on the tour. her style and aesthetic is widely known across blogland and i swear it just oozes out of her every pore. she's a sweetheart who is a multi-talented, sewing, designing, blogging, curating (and the list goes on) mommy! i am constantly inspired by her creativity so make sure to pop over to petit a petit & family to see all the pics of her version (they are gorgeous) and visit her wonderful blog.

you can find all things petit a petit and family below:

blog \\ facebook \\ pinterest \\ twitter \\ instagram

and our next and final guest is simple simon & co...

the gals over at simple simon and company are a super talented and super busy duo! running both project run and play, project sewn and, of course, simple simon & co, they have a strew of fabulous talents! they are also 2 of my fave gals! so i was so happy to have them join in on the tour. their version of the sally is so classic and pretty. i love the juxtaposition of it compared to the modern vibe of celina's above. so fulfilling to see how both are equally as lovely. make sure you stop by simple simpon & co to check out their version and their fabulous blog!

you can find all things simple simon and company below:

blog \\ facebook \\ pinterest

thanks for joining in ladies!

>>> CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SALLY DRESS PATTERN TOUR <<<

follow along with the whole sally dress pattern tour for inspiration, reviews & giveaways galore! 

you can find the sally dress to purchase here in my shop on etsy. thank you for all of your support <3

SALLY DRESS PATTERN TOUR || THE SEWING RABBIT & IF ONLY THEY WOULD NAP

we've got 2 more awesome guests (both Jess's) for the sally dress pattern tour today. both of these versions are so precious & sweet and just make me so happy! from teardrops & balloons to adorable strawberry prints from our childhood how could you not smile!

our first guest is the lovely jessica of the sewing rabbit. i love this gal. she's one of my fave people. she's talented, sweet, funny and a great friend. i love the way her sally dress turned out! such a fun print and paired with the pocket fabric it's a win/win! make sure you pop by the sewing rabbit to see an awesome amount of good stuff! between jess and her team on the sewing rabbit you are sure to find your new fave tutorial, diy or interesting post! 

you can find more of the sewing rabbit below:

blog \\ facebook \\ twitter \\ instagram \\ google+ \\ shop \\ pinterest

and our next guest is if only they would nap...

i love, love, love the fabric that jess from if only they would nap used on her dress! who else has fond memories of this print as a child? i adore it and am so happy to see it used for the sally dress! my lovely friend jess sewed this sally dress up for her adorable niece (she's got 4 adorable boys so this was a treat for her)! how cute does she look! pop on by if only they would nap to see more pics, enter to win a copy of the sally dress and also to check out jess's fabulous blog filled with sewing goodies galore!

you can find more if only they would nap below:

blog \\ facebook \\ twitter \\  pinterest

   
thanks for joining in ladies!

>>> CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SALLY DRESS PATTERN TOUR <<<

follow along with the whole sally dress pattern tour for inspiration, reviews & giveaways galore! 

you can find the sally dress to purchase here in my shop on etsy. thank you for all of your support <3

FANFARE FLANNEL LOUNGE ROBES & A FANFARE FAT QUARTER SHOP GIVEAWAY!

who is in the mood to win some GORGEOUS new fabric? yay! i'm so beyond excited for the release of rae hoekstra's (made by rae) new line of organic flannels called fanfare flannel from cloud 9 fabrics!

so excited in fact that our awesome sponsor fat quarter shop is hosting a giveaway today! woot woot! so yep - that means that one of you will get to win some fanfare flannel to sew with! i'm also beyond thrilled to be part of my friend rae's blog tour of fanfare flannel! we're lounging it up on this tour! i mean seriously, when i got these flannel's i did not want to share with the kids. i wanted them for myself - sheets, jammies, pillows, blankets, robes - you name it, i wanted it.

but when my kids spotted it (and boy did they spot it) they immediately began fighting over who got which print and what they would be. i had to hold back from taking all of it and hiding it in my bedroom for myself..haha..cause that would just be mean...right? lol...well good thing i didn't. my girls and i all agreed that these begged to be robes. not just any robes though but pretty girly lounging robes! we wanted pleats! pretty pleats that added a bit of a vintage dress style to their modern robes!

the robes have a 3/4 length sleeve, a simple neckline (although i would love to make a few more with collars or hoods just for fun), belts complete with belt loops and pretty, pretty box pleats all along the front and back of the robe. i'm so happy the girls loved how they turned out as much as i did. they each played a role in designing the robe (what they wanted/didn't want) and choosing their own fabrics. for example we did 3/4 length sleeves because they don't like washing their hands or brushing their teeth with long sleeves cause they get all wet in the sink or they have to roll them up. now they can wear their robes and not worry! so adorable and so perfectly girly!

i had such a gret time making these! only downside was that now i need more fanfare flannel to make myself one...haha! mom needs in on the lounging fun too now! it's just so darn soft and comfy and i'm still swooning over those foxes! i hope you all like the fanfare flannel robes. would anyone be interested in seeing these as a pattern of sorts? 

i know you'll absolutely love rae's fanfare flannel! it's luxuriously soft and so great to sew with. i promised myself i wasn't going to gush too much about rae but i can't help but say how proud of her i am. she's been a friend of mine since i started blogging and she's an amazingly talented, funny and sweet gal. i'm beyond thrilled for all her successes! yay rae - love ya girl! if you'd like to know more about rae and her new fabric line be sure to check out this interview:

fat quarter shop designer tidbits with rae hoekstra

and now i cannot resist showing some more pics :)

alright...now back to the giveaway! i know you're all dying to win some! here's the deets:

\\ the prize \\
- one lucky winner will win a fat quarter bundle of fanfare flannel from fat quarter shop

\\ how to enter \\
- simply leave me a comment letting me know what you'd make with the prize
- bonus entry: like made by rae and/or luvinthemommyhood on facebook and leave us another comment letting us know you did that too.

\\ the rules \\
- you must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified
- giveaway is open until oct. 13th, 2013, midnight, pst.

be sure to check out all the other fab gals along the tour! so many gorgeous projects! you can see them all here:

- fafare for the little ones at skirt as top
- lounge pants at noodlehead
- comfy, cozy nightgowns at craftiness is not optional
- lounge pants in fanfare flannel at whipstitch
- quick release scarf at whipstitch
- lounging in fanfare at probably actually

Fanfare is printed on 100% organic flannels from Cloud9 Fabrics and is being sold in shops now. For a list of shops that have stocked the line, see this post.

SALLY DRESS PATTERN TOUR || IMAGINE GNATS

i hope you all have been enjoying the sally dress pattern tour! today's guest, rachael of imagine gnats, is showing one more option for the sally dress - knits! 

she sewed up her version of the sally dress using a knit fabric! so fun! i love the look and plan on doing one like this for my girls as well. want to see more pics? head on over to imagine gnats to see pics and enter to win a copy of the sally dress pattern as well and while you are there make sure you stop and visit imagine gnats. rachael's blog is filled with awesome patterns, diy's, and more! she's one of my fave crafty people!

you can find all things imagine gnats below:

blog || facebook || twitter || instagram || pinterest || shop

thanks for joining in rachael! 

>>> CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SALLY DRESS PATTERN TOUR <<<

follow along with the whole sally dress pattern tour for inspiration, reviews & giveaways galore!   you can find the sally dress to purchase here in my shop on etsy. thank you for all of your support <3

SEWING || BIMAA SWEATER TAKE TWO!

yep, i made another bimaa. i couldn't resist. i also made more go to leggings to go with. my excuse is that my heather ross jersey needed (yes, needed) to be a bimaa. it told me...i swear ;) 

my little one loved her first bimaa sweater (click here to read our pattern review) so much she asked me for another. i happily obliged. who could resist that sweet face asking me to sew her some more clothes? both of these items whip up so quickly they are very rewarding projects to sew and practice your sewing with knits skills with.

i really enjoyed sewing with the heather ross briar rose jersey. it's a nice thick knit that still has lots of stretch and drape. it's gorgeous and i have some of the strawberry print too! can't wait to sew with it as well! the leggings are a fun coral toned stretch from girlcharlee.com. it's been so fun this week sewing for the sew fab e-pattern bundle sale. it really got my butt in gear to make some new clothes for my girls and also support other independent pattern designers. i have more on my list to make from the bundle. i really want to get a greenpoint cardigan whipped up as well. we'll see how the weekend goes :)

i now need to order some more heather ross "briar rose" jersey (from windham fabrics) to make myself an adult sized bimaa! you can get the renfrew top from sewaholic patterns that looks just like it. sweet!!! i'm going to order one asap so i can be twinsies with my girlies! lol!

want to know more about the awesome sew fab bundle? click below to find out more! or click HERE to buy it now!

SEW FAB E-PATTERN BUNDLE INFO POST

what have you sewn from the sew fab e-pattern bundle? i want to see!!!! share your links and pics so we can see what you've been sewing!