BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY || DOODLE STITCHING EMBROIDERY & BEYOND

doodle stitching: embroidery & beyond by aimee ray

who's in the mood to get stitchin'?  i sure am! i was excited to get a chance to review the newest book by aimee ray - doodle stitching: embroidery & beyond: crewel, cross stitch, sashiko & more!  this cute book is filled with bright colors, adorable projects and helpful how to's! covering everything from cross stitch, redwork, crewel , sashiko, stumpwork & more - aimee's got you covered!

i really enjoy how aimee brings an element of hand drawn art to embroidery & it's techniques in her newest book. being someone who loves to draw i get very excited at the idea of recreating a sketch of mine using fabric and thread.  it's so exciting!  this book gave me a great starting point to learn how to execute those ideas and transfer them into the right stitch and technique to use it in.  the book also features pretty projects ranging from a baby quilt, project bag, to storybook panels & my fave - the cuckoo clock! there's something for everyone in this lovely book from lark crafts.  the layout is clean, bright and easy to follow and the book feels fresh and cheerful! a happy addition to my book collection.

would you like to win a copy? yay!  read how to enter below!

||  THE PRIZE  ||
- one lucky winner will win a copy of doodle stitching: embroidery & beyond as well as one of aimee's lovely cutwork felt bookmarks (see above)! gorgeous!!! thanks for the awesome prize lark crafts!

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||
- simply leave me a comment below letting me know what your favorite thing about embroidery is.

||  THE RULES  ||
- you must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified. 
- giveaway is open until wednesday, april 17th, 2013, midnight PST.

happy stitching & good luck everyone!  and a big thank you to lark crafts for the giveaway! 

SEWING || 241 TOTE FOR ME!

PATTERN:  241 TOTE BY NOODLEHEAD

i recently went away to seatlle and bellevue for the weekend for vogue knitting live (was sooo fun but more on that later) and needed a rockin' tote to carry around some of my loot.  i decided to go with the awesome 241 tote pattern from my pal anna from noodlehead.com.  i just adore this bag and love the shape.  i knew it would be perfect to highlight one of my fave prints of the moment - motif madness in vermillion from tsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics.  i love the bold colors and shapes. it's right up my alley and i knew when the mail carrier brought it home to me that it had to be a bag.

i really enjoyed making the 241 tote.  it's just the right size for a daily tote yet can hold way more than you think.  trust me when i say it really took a beating on my trip. it even needs a day trip to the spa (aka - the washing machine).  i filled this sucker to the maximum and it held on for dear life (my strap may or may not have started to fall apart..shhhh...don't tell).  if you've made a 241 tote before though you may notice my oopsie. yes, i am not a robot and yes, i do make mistakes too.  in my excitement of making the bag and sewing with my tsuru i forgot to make the darling pleats on the bottom side curves.  that tsuru motif madness print is so awesome it blinded me with excitement! ooops!  oh well, i like it anyways and i think it may have given me a tad bit more room to fill the bag which i definitely needed :)

i really enjoy sewing from anna's patterns and not just because she is a friend of mine.  her instructions are always clear and concise and her photos are clear and easy to understand.  i don't often make myself bags but when i do i head to her pattern selection.  remember my envelope clutch from her envelope clutch pattern? i still love that one and use it often. i realized the other day that whenever i go somewhere really exciting on a trip or event i always whip up a new bag. so fun! they all hold special memories for me.

>> PATTERN <<
 - 241 Tote Pattern by Anna Graham of noodlehead.com

>> FABRIC <<
-  OUTER BAG: motif madness in vermillion from tsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics
- OUTER BAG: robert kaufman yarn-dyed essex linen cotton  
- LINING:  motif madness in ivory fromtsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics
- OUTER BAG & LINING: 1000 cranes in cerulean from tsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics
- PELLON  931TD fusible midweight white interfacing

>> NOTES <<
- i forgot to make the bottom pleat detail.
- i would use a midweight-heavy weight interfacing on the handle next time.  i wear my bags hard and put them to the limit (bad me) so i would interface the strap next time and maybe add some batting to soften it up when carrying a heavier amount.
- i used a brass toned magnetic snap. can i just say how much i love magnetic snaps? they. are. awesome.

what's your favorite tote of the moment?  do you have a go to bag that you sew up up regularly? have you been sewing with tsuru? do you love it too? i missed you all while i was away so come chat! i'd love to hear your thoughts!

GIVEAWAY || PETITE KIDS BOUTIQUE PATTERN GIVEAWAY

maia dress

i've been doing a bit of selfish sewing lately.  it's felt fabulous but i'm almost ready to get back to sewing for my girlies :)  i know a lot of you are gearing up for the newest season of kids clothes week starting up at the end of april and what better way to get ready than with some new patterns from our lovely sponsor petite kids boutique!

1. little missy bolero 2. sasha jumper dress 3. lucy skirt

petite kids boutique is filled with fun patterns that really let your fabrics shine!  from dresses, shorts, rompers, pants & accessories - you name it wong's got them!  her patterns are for all skill levels from beginner to advanced, are simple to follow and include clear, colored images.  you will find that most patterns are sized for 12M-8T and some even go as low as 6mths! wong also even allows small quantities of your garment to be sold as well!  so if you're an etsy shop seller or someone looking to sell some adorable handmade goods at craft fairs this fall these would be an excellent choice.

1. ceci shorts 2. johannah romper 3. london pants

||  THE PRIZE  ||
- three lucky winners will receive 1 pattern of their choice from petite kids boutique! thanks wong!

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||
- simply visit petite kids boutique and then come back & leave a comment below letting me know which pattern you'd like!
- bonus entry: like petite kids boutique and/or luvinthemommyhood on facebook and then come back and leave a "separate comment" letting me know you did that.

||  THE RULES  ||
- you must leave a valid email address to be eligible to win.
- giveaway is open until wednesday, april 10th, 2013, midnight PST.

thanks for the giveaway wong and good luck to everyone! you can find petite kids boutique on facebook here and their etsy shop here.  happy sewing!!!

SEWING || BOX BAG LOVE

this weekend i'm hitting the road. heading on a road trip (and ferry trip) with some awesome pals to hit up vogue knitting live in seattle! i cannot wait! i'm sooooo excited! needless to say since i'm going away i needed some handmade lovelies to accompany me.  i have my laurel dress from last week and next up to show you is my new box bag.  box bags rock.  i heart them...but remember what happened last time i made one (read about it here)? yep. not so good. silly me.  oh well. lesson learned. i knew i would try again and if i did i wanted it fully lined with no exposed seams.

my fave parts of this bag are the fabrics.  aren't they awesome? they are from katherine codega.  her illustrations and prints are some of my faves!  i splurged on 3 prints a while back and just adore them.  it's taken me eons to get the guts to even cut into them i love them so much.  i'm happy i did now though. i absolutely adore my new bag :)  you can find katherine codega's shop here.  if you pop over tell her i sent you :)  she does custom listings as well so if you see something you want and it's sold out odds are she can print it for you.  that's how i got one of my prints.

i used the tutorial from my friend libby of the blog truly myrtle to make the box bag. i knew what i wanted and still remembered what i had done the first time so it was a piece of cake this time round.  box bags can be a bit tricky to wrap your head around at first if you're a new sewer so take your time and i strongly recommend really visualizing what you are doing.  hold the pieces up in front of you as you read the instructions and envision the end result.  there are a tons of tutorials online showing  how to make these but i really liked how libby's is fully lined with absolutely no exposed seams. i hand stitched my small opening closed and i'm super happy with my results.  looks fabulous! these bags are also a really good way to practice your zippers too!

all in all they are fun little bags to use for just about anything small you want to tote around.  mine is for my sock knitting at the moment.  i'm super hooked and wanted a small bag to fit 2 small projects in for my trip.  you can make them bigger though.  the box bags are really easy to customize to whatever dimensions you would like yours to have.  you can even make them quite large to fit sweater knitting in - just be sure to use a strong interfacing :)

||  NOTES  ||

FABRICS USED:
>> pastel triangles and  bows & arrows pastel by katherine codega

PATTERN NOTES:
>> fully lined, hand stitched opening, pellon medium weight interfacing, zipper pull on one end, followed same sizing as truly myrtle tutorial.

such a fun and quick sew!  i think i need a few more :) i've got another lovely to show you this week for my upcoming trip & an announcement as well so stay tuned!

are you going to vogue knitting live? if so let me know so i can look for ya!  do you use box bags for your knitting?  how do you make yours? share pics! i'd love to see them!  happy sewing!

SEWING || THE LAUREL DRESS

pattern: the laurel dress by colette patterns

after posting last week about my love for the new colette pattern - laurel, i set aside as much time as possible on saturday to make one. i sewed like a madwoman and wore that dress out that night to knit with my girls.  now i know i could write a few paragraphs gushing but my love for this dress but i'll keep things easy - I. LOVE. THIS. DRESS.  plain and simple.

i ended up having a chat with one of my fave bloggy pals anna from noodlehead last week after i initially posted about the laurel dress (read it here) and we decided it would be super fun to post our finished laurel dresses on the same day!  i ADORE how hers turned out - i mean really, anna oozes awesomeness out of her fingernails..lol.  she looks gorgeous!  so when you are done here go pop by noodlehead and show her some luv too :)

now back to laurel....

the pattern is true to colette style with lovely finishes, fabulous fit and hand stitched details that make a big difference in the finishing of your garment.  going from what i like to call "holly hobby" to "where did you buy that fabulous dress"?  i purchased the pdf version of laurel and even the cutting/piecing didn't seem to take too long. it was pretty easy to find the pieces and not too many to cut out.  with a pattern complete with 4 options (and more in the e-book variation) i was happy to see it not going to take me a few hours.

i went ahead and went a bit nuts and didn't make a muslin - i know....dumb and daring at the same time!  i feel like i'm starting to get a good idea of my bust sizing for a fitted shape and felt comfortable going ahead with this one without worries of a full bust adjustment or making changes to the pattern piece.  thankfully luck was on my side.  i made the size 14 for the 42" bust (i'm about a 41"-42" depending on my bra..lol) and it fits fabulous.  what worries me more lately is not my bust but my shoulders and smaller back compared to my bust size. i either get neck drape or armpit gaping so have had to make changes to previous patterns for these size adjustments.  for laurel i was a-ok.  i'm really happy with the fit on my back, arms, and bust.

what i am most in love with for this dress is my tummy.  i love that laurel skims and hides lumps and ahem...bulges (two kids sure did me in for life) but still shows off the assets i do like - my legs and bust without being too revealing or clingy.  i feel really comfy in it and can see myself wearing it often. in fact i've already worn it 3 times!!!! that's a success in my book!  i've got fabric to cut out another and the blouse version is in the queue as well.

all in all, the dress does take some time to make but it is worth every minute!  you hand sew your sleeve bias and neckline and hem.  i chose to finish my hem on the machine for time purposes because i refused to go out to my knit night without it on...lol...but if i hadn't i would have hand stitched it.  it was fun!  and honestly - the finished product looks gorgeous! only thing i haven't done yet is sew on my hook and eye. still  have to do that :)  i made version 2 with pockets and no sleeve cuff.  next one i hope to do the sleeve cuff - so adorbs! i also want to make the blouse which still features the laurel dresses bust and back darts (hello....how awesome are back darts!!! let's hear it for the back darts ladies! i mean c'mon...these things make me look just a wee bit fabulous!) but no zipper! sold! right there. done.  can't wait to whip that one up too!

and yes, i said zipper. don't be scared. trust me. laurel has an invisible zipper and it was my first time putting one in and honestly it was so easy. such an easy zipper to sew in.  colette patterns has a wonderful tutorial for you to follow as well if you need help as well as many other tutorials and tips throughout the pattern.  only thing i did change (and this was the daredevil in me coming out again) was sew in my invisible zipper with my regular foot. i know, i know...bad girl, but i don't have an invisible zipper foot and didn't want to leave my house to go get one.  i read how to sew the zipper in and realized quite quickly that i could do it without the special foot. my passion for edge stitching came in handy here. i simply unrolled the curled part of the zipper near the teeth as i sewed slowly and stitched as close as possible to my zipper.  done like dinner. worked like a charm and i had a heckavu good time while i did it...lol.  let's hear it for the selfish sewing!  i could get used to this!

||  PATTERN  ||
- laurel by colette patterns

||  FABRIC  ||
- some sort of brushed cotton from fabricland (wish i had more details but i don't :(  it's very soft though and i like it.

||  NOTES  ||
- sewed size 14 and made no full bust adjustment or alterations to the sizing of the pattern.
- hand stitched sleeve hem, neckline but machine stitched the hem.
- sewed my invisible zipper in with a regular zipper foot
- i made option 2 with pockets and no sleeve cuffs
- bias trim was store bought - not handmade
- hemmed my dress as per pattern.  did not find dress too short at all and i'm 5'4". so those of you wondering about the dress length it's great!
- overall i give this pattern two thumbs up! will be making many more!

what do you think?  are you planning on making laurel? what fabric and version will you be sewing? what's your favorite colette pattern? i'm thinking of trying the pants next! fill me in!  i've got coffee for all of you & i'd love a visit!

p.s. wishing you all a wonderful long weekend with your loved ones!  here's some lovely tulips that sit beside me as i type to all you lovelies! see you next week! xoxox

FREE TUTORIAL || JENI REVERSIBLE APRON & AN ART GALLERY FABRICS GIVEAWAY

It's Fat Quarter Gang time for Art Gallery Fabrics! I've got my newest project out today - The Jeni Reversible Apron Tutorial! As soon as I saw Jeni's fabulous line of fabrics - "Color Me Retro", I knew I had to figure out a way to make a fun new apron using fat quarters! I always have a hard time getting an apron to fit me right when they are store bought so I was very excited to make an apron just for me - the Jeni Reversible Apron Tutorial! Yay! It's always a good thing to spoil yourself a wee bit. I hope you will all join in and make one and spoil yourselves a bit too :) It's fun - I promise!

I love that this apron is completely comprised of fat quarters.  You can easily add more prints or take some away but you can do it all with fat quarters :) There's a bit of measuring & cutting involved but nothing too tricky. Overall it's a quick sew with some topstitching (my fave) and an interesting construction technique with the vintage inspired pocket strips on the apron skirt. Plus it's got long ties to make the perfect big bow! Who doesn't feel feminine with a pretty bow on their apron?  So next time you see the latest Art Gallery Fabric fat quarter bundles pop up online whip up a fun new apron!

Head on over to the Art Gallery Fabrics blog to get the full pdf tutorial!  Yeppers - that's right! You get a nice printable pdf for this one!

And in the meantime don't forget to enter here to win a fat quarter bundle of Color Me Retro!!!

||  THE PRIZE  ||
 - One lucky winner will win a fat quarter bundle of Color Me Retro from Art Gallery Fabrics!

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||
- Leave a comment to let us know when you have done ANY (or all) of the following:

-Follow Art Gallery Fabrics on your fav social media platform (Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter)

and Subscribe to the Art Gallery blog to stay up to date on all thing AGF & the Fat Quarter Gang..ohhh..and lets not forget Flickr!

||  THE RULES  ||
- You must leave a valid email address in your comment to win.
- Giveaway open until March 29th, 2013, midnight, PST.

Have fun and happy sewing!  A big thank you to AGF for their awesome fabrics! I love this apron and cannot wait to see all the fabric combos & fun details you all come up with!

SEWING || CLOTHES FOR ME

i've been feeling the urge to spoil myself a tad these last few weeks.  i've been dreaming of finding the time to sew for myself.  not for the kids, not for a gift, but just for me.  with some fun events coming up and me not feeling 100% lately i figured a new dress was in order.  but what to make?  i have 2 washi's now and i was feeling in the mood to spice things up a tad.  then literally (i'm not kidding here) as i was perusing the wide world of the intranet the colette newsletter popped up in my inbox and low and behold the new Laurel Dress!!! love at first sight!  this shift dress had me dreaming.  off i went and boom - in my cart it went without a second though. i never. ever. ever. do that. i'm cheap..lol. i could not resist the lure of the laurel...lol.

the laurel dress by colette patterns

pretty right? i just love the ease and simplicity of it. i also love the ability to really make it your own. so many possibilities and options!  and i'm hoping it will hide that tummy of mine..lol.  darn tummy...i digress.  since i'm in canada and the fabric i really wanted i would have to order online and wait 2-3 weeks to get i decided to shop local and find some random print that i will pay way too much for just so i can whip one of these up for myself.  this soft denim blue cotton print with black roses had me swooning. not sure what it was about it but i fell for it. i could just picture it with a hand knits and boots so i grabbed it with my screaming kids in tow (yes, i even braved the dreaded fabric store with both kids! i'm nuts) and bought my first invisible zipper, bias tape (i'm too lazy to make my own this week) and thread.  now i just need to find the time to sew it.

you can get the laurel dress here and if you buy it today you can still scoop up on their 15% off deal! plus as a bonus you get a free e-book with extras for the pattern, tips, techniques and more!  it's awesome!  and if you're feeling really creative you can head to the colette patterns blog and enter their awesome sewing contest for the laurel dress! the prizes are ahhhhhmazing! just sayin' :) you know....cause i can't help but make you all sew one right side along me.

and in case the laurel dress isn't your vibe check out another fave i've got on my list - the staple dress!  how cute is this one!  this looks like it will be next on my list after i'm done a laurel dress & blouse.  april rhodes designed a fab and figure flattering dress that's great for all skill levels! check it out here!

then of course i still need to make my tova tunic, and more wiksten tanks....and.......

what are you all sewing for yourselves lately?  have you found a new pattern that you just had to drop everything for to sew?  what's your go to ladies pattern of the moment?  i'd love to hear about it.  yes, i want to add more to my to do list...lol.  the more lovelies to make the better!

have a wonderful sewing, coffee and sunshine filled weekend! luvs <3

p.s. i'll be announcing the winner of the botanical knits giveaway next week.

CRUSHES || FABRIC & YARN

motif madness in vermillion & ivory from tsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics

the mailman brought me some new lovelies yesterday! so excited to cut into these pretty new fabrics!!!  i've been drooling after tsuru by rashida coleman-hale (for cloud 9 fabrics) since she first sneak peeked it ages ago.  i saved up my pennies and finally was able to indulge and get a few prints from the line. i'm so in love with all the prints i got!  i'm now kicking myself wishing i had ordered more...lol.

but that always happens when i order fabric online right now.  the shipping hurts right now so i'm trying to be smart about my online ordering and only doing it when i need to or have a project in mind.  this whole being canadian thing is tricky sometimes.  makes me sad it costs so much now to ship fabric from the us to canada and vice versa.  hard on the wallet :(  i've been trying to take advantage of special shipping discounts when i see them pop up.  i also have a new sponsor spool & spindle  that's located in canada and she offers $5 flat rate shipping in canada and free shipping for orders over $150!  our other sponsors fabricworm, contemporary cloth & fat quarter shop all also have regular deals on shipping as well.  i try to share their deals when i spot them on my fb page whenever i can :) us fabric addicts gotta help each other out right? lol!

1. 1000 cranes cerulean 2. of a feather ivory 3. of a feather indigo - from tsuru by rashida coleman-hale for cloud 9 fabrics

along with my tsuru i also picked up more prints from timber & leaf by sarah watts for blend fabrics (you can see the other prints i got here) to add to the others i got from the line a few weeks ago.  these have a special project in mind for them and i can't spill the beans about it yet :)  the whole line is lovely though and i'm really happy with all the prints i have.  the girls love them as well.

brush bear ivory & gerbara turquoise from timber & leaf by sarah watts for blend fabrics

as well as fabrics i recently picked up some more of one of my go to worsted weight yarns - cascade 220 heathers in colorway aliki beach/sand.  i love this subtle neutral and hope the project i have in mind for it works out and i can show you all what i have planned in the next week or so :) think spring/summer & knitting ladies! wink wink....

cascade 220 heathers in colorway aliki beach/sand

i also could not resist ordering some of knit picks newest yarns billow.  as soon as i spotted these colorways i was sold.  this bulky yarn is 100% pima cotton! i know right! so soft! not sure what it's going to be yet but i'm working on something fun!!! 

billow from knitpicks in colorway tumeric and sagebrush

what fabrics have you splurged on lately? anything new you're lusting after? yarn goodies you recently picked up?  let's chat what you're crushing on! coffee's on!

GET INSPIRED FOR SPRING GIVEAWAY!!

 
With warmer temperatures around the corner, we want to help you get inspired for Spring!

Some fantastic bloggers and companies have teamed up to help you get your Spring Sewing On. Enter the Sewing Collection Giveaway for your chance to win one of SIX incredible prizes, including a brand new PFAFF® ambition essential™ sewing machine, with the total of all prizes being valued at more than $2,000! 

Get inspired this Spring!

FABRIC GIVEAWAY || FAT QUARTER SHOP

1-3. urban mod by art gallery fabrics 4. small cotton dots from riley blake 5. comma slate periods by zen chic  6. fresh blue ikat by another point of view

i've been under the weather the last few days so to keep the momentum on the up and up around here - cookies (mmmmm...yum!), i figured i might as well throw in another fabric giveaway! i mean who doesn't get cheered up by the chance of winning some new fabrics? especially with the selection at one of my fave fabric shops - the fat quarter shop!  boo ya!  i smile just thinking of the email i get to write in a week telling one of you ladies that you won!  it's almost as good as if i won myself :)

the fat quarter shop has selection galore!  i love that you can find all your faves there categorized in easy sections - designer, theme, collections, manufacturers, top sellers..etc.  you can also get all your fave cuts - fat quarter bundles, fat eighth bundles, charm packs, mini charm packs, hexagons, dessert rolls, jelly rolls and layer cakes!  wowsa!  you can also find awesome quilt kits, patterns, quilt clubs & block of the month!

and speaking of blocks of the month you should check out their 2013 Designer Mystery Block of the Month Club!!! so awesome!  fat quarter shop has gathered 12 amazing moda designers to each create a fab block to their mystery sampler quilt.  the block of the month starts in june 2013 and runs until may 2014.  member who join up receive fabric, instructions for each block of the month and in the end will finish with a gorgeous quilt! fun!!!  but hurry, the club is almost full!  with designers like v and co., bonnie & camille, fig tree quilts, kate spain and more this is sure to be a gorgeous quilt! you can read all about the 2013 designer mystery block of the month club here and also about their blog tour for it here as well.

who's ready to win some new fabric?  yahoo!!! here's the deets for the fabric giveaway!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
||  THE PRIZE  ||
 - one lucky winner will receive a $35 gift certificate to fat quarter shop!!!! yessss!  thank you fat quarter shop!

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||
- simply visit fat quarter shop & then come back & tell us what new fabric line you're crushing on that you would buy!
*bonus entry - like fat quarter shop and/or luvinthemommyhood on facebook and then come back and leave ANOTHER comment letting us know you did that too.

||  THE RULES  ||
 - you leave a valid email address in your comment to be eligible to win.
- giveaway ends march 13th, 2013 @ 12pm PST.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

good luck everyone and happy fabric shopping!!!!  you can find all things fat quarter shop here:

website  |  blog  |  facebook  |  twitter  |  pinterest

moments in the mommyhood || creative space

i'm trying to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel this week :)  and of course eating the cookies from yesterday doesn't hurt.  my hubs loves to take sunset and sunrise pics and i couldn't resist sharing this gorgeous shot he got the other week.  this is taken off our balcony and one of the views that he sees more than i do since i'm not a morning person.  since i sleep later than he does (i stay up later and he goes to bed earlier so it works out) i get to bask in those gorgeous moments through the lens he captures them in.  they always fill me with a sense of peace and i thought you may all love this one as much as i do.

i realized this past month that i have never gotten around to showing pics of my sewing wall.  the area i took on last year and revamped for my own office/sewing space in our condo.  i still plan on doing that but you have to wait just a little bit longer because i'm revamping again! yay!  the hubs and i are hunkering down to brace for tax season. that means lots of  cleaning, reorganizing and purging of our wee home.  but this time we are doing some redecorating as well.  we've got some lovelies that we are hoping to switch up and freshen up in our home as well as something that i cannot wait to show you all in the next few weeks!  i promise this time that i will take shots of all of it and show you where i keep my chaos...lol.

even though i have a good system i'm still trying to keep a lot of it under control.  i have an issue with getting lazy and then not rebolting my fabrics and then i run out of my mini bolts and just fold - and not always nicely i may add (tip: i use comic book inserts for my mini bolts. works fabulous and is really inexpensive! i picked this up from maggie of smashed peas and carrots). plus those pieces that are bigger than scraps and not nice fat quarters always end up in this one spot staring at me saying "shannonnnnnn...clean us up....how are you going to get inspired by us if we are all a big ol'mess....shannnooonnnn" and it drives me a tad bonkers.  so even though my current system is working well it has a few kinks that only living with it can work out and i'm hoping to solve those very soon and show you all what i've done. so excited!

in the meantime though i'm hoping to get better sooner than later so i can get back sewing :( i haven't sewn in 2 weeks and it's killing me. i just haven't been feeling up to it and it's one of those times when i'm thankful for at least my knitting.  the hubs snapped the pic of me and harper napping the other night and i thought it was a priceless moment of us both not realizing the other was asleep and both of us laying and curled up in 3 separate handmade quilts.  nothing better to nap with than quilty goodness right?

i'll see you all tomorrow with another giveaway!!  wahoo!  i'm so in the mood for giving away some more goodies! also stay tuned to find out who won the contemporary cloth fabric giveaway!  

how do you organize your fabric? do you fold or bolt?  do you keep them hidden or out for you to see?  does the disorganization get to you like it does me? let's share our tips so we can all have a fab creative space! plus if you have pics of yours pls share! i loooooove seeing shots of other spaces that they sew or craft in!

FABRIC GIVEAWAY || CONTEMPORARY CLOTH

who's in the mood for some new fabric? i am, i am!  are you? yay!!!!!  our awesome sponsor contemporary cloth is giving away some yummy new fabrics today!  i'm crushing big time on rashida coleman hale's line tsuru for cloud 9 fabrics and contemporary cloth has stock!!! woot woot! you could also stock up on cloud 9 fabrics other new lines micro mod and geocentric and don't miss out on architexture from kaufman fabrics and mecca for moderns from alexander henry (shown below)!

mecca for moderns from alexander henry

contemporary cloth is filled with fresh and modern fabrics and the owner sondra does a fabulous job selecting unique and gorgeous prints to fill her lovely shop with. on top of that she's a wonderful lady that i've had the pleasure of getting to know.  sondra opened contemporary cloth to provide a "resource for interesting, contemporary/modern and retro-look textiles for home or office, and original textiles created by fiber artists."

and guess what! sondra is so awesome she's giving all my fellow canadians a deal on shipping right now. enter the code "ThanksShannon" in the comments section of the order form to get 50% off your shipping to Canada!  you will then be refunded 50% off the shipping after your order is processed. thanks sondra- you rock!

on top of that you can also find 25% off selected kona, cloud9 fabrics & more here and 25% off selected pre-cuts here as well.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

||  THE PRIZE  ||

- one lucky winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to contemporary cloth! thanks so much sondra!

||  HOW TO ENTER  ||

- simply visit contemporary cloth and then come back and leave a comment below letting me know what fabric line you'd love to buy if you won.
- bonus entry: like contemporary cloth and/or luvinthemommyhood on facebook and then come back and leave ANOTHER comment letting us know you did that too.

||  THE RULES  ||

- you must leave a valid email address in your comment to qualify.
- giveaway will end march 5th, 2013 at midnight, pst.

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good luck everyone and thank you sondra for the great giveaway.  happy fabric shopping! you can find all things contemporary cloth here:

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

rainshine & learning processes

it's friday! phew! it's been a long one this week.  i don't know about you guys but i'm dying for some sunshine. of course living on vancouver island we're basking in the rainshine instead of the sunshine. you know that grey that is so bright yet dreary at the same time you have to put sunglasses on?  it's cold, windy and pouring buckets out today so harper and i are curling up with a quilt, a new movie, my knitting, her barbie and some fresh coffee.  i thought i would pop in and say hello to all of you. wanna chat? yay!

i'm so excited to let you guys know i've been working away busily behind the scenes here on the blog.  i've got some news to share hopefully in the next week or so that i can't wait to show you all!  i'm also super excited to let you lovelies know that i finally started working on some new sewing patterns!  yahoo! about time right?  lol..i know. it's been a while. i'm hoping for an early summer release for 3 patterns (i hope)!  after the craziness of the fall it will be fun to start sewing up some of my designs that have been waiting patiently for me to bring them to life. the sketchbooks and journals are on fire over here.

 

i've also got 2 new knitting patterns coming out soon!!!  1 for sale and 1 freebie!  i loooove them and they are my newest go to knits.  i hope you will all crush on them as bad as i have been :)  i swear every time i put out a new pattern it's like having a little wee baby.  they are all special too me in different ways and because i've been loving designing knitting patterns so much i'm jumping in with both feet.  i've busy been beefing up my resource library with some classic knitting books.  i couldn't resist picking up a copy of "the knitter's handy book of top down sweaters" and "the knitter's handy book of sweater patterns" both by anne budd.  i also have in my collection "knitwear design workshop" and a few more on the way - "principles of knitting" and "knitting from the top".  i don't know about you guys but i'm a visual learner and do really well learning by books. i'm also a book whore (sorry for the language but it's true..lol) so the more of my faves i can splurge on for my collection the better :)  i watch for sales and scoop when i can get huge discounts and free shipping. fyi- knitpicks has 40% off sales for books and when they do i advise taking advantage! happy early bday to me!  oh it's hard being a book lover sometimes...lol.

ok so now i want to know what you've been making this week? i ask this question a lot on facebook and get tons of responses. it's fun!  but i would rather chat with you all about it over here especially since it's tricky to even get my facebook statuses to show up to all of you on a regular basis. so fill me in.  have you been knitting, sewing, crocheting?  what project? got pics or a blog post to share? link them up in the comments. i love to see what crafty goodness you've all been up to.

do you have a fave knitting resource book that you use for technical things?  what do you find yourself reaching for when you learn a new technique?  i'd love to hear your thoughts on your process as well.  do you take online classes or search for videos on youtube? c'mon..spill the beans! 

wishing you all a new technique, crafty, coffee &  sunshine filled kinda weekend! xoxoxo  


p.s. i was so thrilled to find out that i was chosen as one of babble's top 50 mom craft bloggers for 2013!!!!!!!!!!! wahoo!! i'm doing cartwheels over here people!!! it's my 3rd year and i swear every year get's more and more exciting! thank you to all the peeps over at babble and to all of you awesome readers!  thank you, thank you, thank you!  this means a lot to me and my lil'ol blog :)

FREE PATTERN || SLOANE JACKET TUTORIAL

after recently taking part in film petit for one of my fave flicks of all time - ferris beuller's day off, i knew after having so much fun making my daughter's "sloane jacket" that i had to do a pattern for all of you!  this jacket is such a blast to make! it was probably the most fun sewing i've had in a long time!  the fringe, oh the fringe!  i heart it and my daughter hearts it too!  i hope you enjoy embracing your inner sloane and whipping one up for your little girl or heck - even for yourself! you could easily use the tutorial portion and draft up your own pattern pieces based on an existing jacket of yours.

i made this jacket to fit my daughter so it's roughly a 4/5T size.  she's a small little thing though just to give you a heads up for sizing.  i've written a tutorial for you all below and there is also pattern pieces you can download for the size 4/5T.  to see more pics of my sloane jacket and to read my film petit post click here.  This is a quick and easy sew with no seams at all whatsoever to finish! yes! using a soft fleece makes this kid friendly and also super simple to sew! a winning combo in my book especially since my daughter is super sensitive to what she wears.

||  SLOANE JACKET TUTORIAL  ||

*Copyright 2013 www.luvinthemommyhood.com All rights reserved.  This tutorial is for PERSONAL USE ONLY.  Please do not sell items made with this tutorial unless permission has been given.  Thank you..  Please email luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca for more information.

MATERIALS

- Approx. 1 yard soft fleece fabric
- Co-ordinating thread
- Washable fabric marker

PATTERN PIECES

- Click below for the pattern pieces for the Sloane Jacket.

SLOANE JACKET (FRONT, BACK, SLEEVES & BACK FRINGE) - SIZE 4/5T

 *Please set your printer to "no scaling" or "actual size" before printing your pattern pieces.

You will also need to cut out the following sized rectangles:

- (2) @ 8"W x 6"H (Sleeve Fringe)

- (2) @ 4.5"W x 8"H (Front Fringe)

- (1) @ 10"W x 8.75"H (Back Fringe)

 

INSTRUCTIONS

*All seam allowances are 1/2" unless otherwise noted.

STEP ONE:  ASSEMBLING THE JACKET

Print out your pattern pieces being careful that the sizing is accurate.  Be careful to also make sure that you have noted the RS and WS of your fleece. Mine is white and it can sometimes be a tad tricky to tell the difference if you're sewing coffee deprived or in dim lighting :)  Cut out your pattern pieces.  You should have the following:

(2) fronts, (1) back and (2) sleeves

You should also have (5) rectangles to make your fringe from (sizes are noted above in the materials section).  Do not cut your fringe until instructed too later in the pattern.  Make sure to transfer the lines on your front and back jacket pieces for where to sew your fringe (make sure whatever fabric marker you are using is ok for the kind of fleece you are using).

With your back piece and your left front piece RS facing sew along your shoulder seam with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Repeat for the back piece this time with your right front piece.  Trim your seam allowance.

Now fold your neckline (this should be your entire neckline meaning your 2 fronts and the back) down 1/4" and topstitch it for a nice finish from the RS.  *See illustration to the left.

STEP TWO:  MAKING & ATTACHING YOUR SLEEVES

Gather the sleeve cap in between the pattern markings by using the longest stitch length (or gathering setting on your machine) with no backstitching and a 1/4" seam allowance.  Leave a long tail after sewing and pull gently to gather your sleeve cap.  Repeat for your other sleeve.  *See illustration below.

With RS facing each other lay your sleeve on your jacket sleeve opening and pin in carefully adjusting your gathering to make sure it fits your sleeve opening.  *Option: You can also choose to baste (sew in with a 1/4" seam allowance & no backstitching) in the portion of your sleeve cap that is gathered to eliminate any shifting or moving of your gathering while you sew in your sleeve.  Sew your entire sleeve cap into the opening with a 1/2" seam allowance. Trim your seam allowance.

We are now going to sew your sleeve arm and the side seams of your jacket on the side you just attached your sleeve cap to.  First though you need to place (1) of your rectangles along your sleeve arm centered between the cuff & underarm, RS facing RS of front sleeve (you want to see the RS of the fringe when you look at the jacket from front on when you are done making the garment). Pin along sleeve seam (sandwiching the sleeve fringe piece inside) and side seam.  Next starting at the bottom corner of the side seam of your jacket with RS facing each other and using a 1/4" seam allowance stitch your side jacket seams with RS facing each other continuing up and along your sleeve enclosing your sleeve (also sewing your sleeve fringe piece to your sleeve) and sew along the length of your sleeve. *See illustration above.  Fold the bottom sleeve hem 1/4" and topstitch to finish sleeve.  Repeat the above steps for your other sleeve and for the other side seam of your jacket.

STEP THREE: FINISHING EDGES

Hem the bottom of your jacket at a cropped length that is good for your child. I folded mine up 1/4" and topstitched along the hem.  Next fold your front sides under 1/4" enclosing your neckline and bottom hem underneath and topstitch this down as well close to edge. Trim all your seam allowances neatly.

STEP FOUR: ADDING THE FRINGE

Fold your back fringe piece in half.  Mark 4.25" down from top folded edge. Draw a line from this mark to the top opposite corner. Cut along this mark.

With your jacket RS facing up pin the back fringe pattern piece RS facing up on your back jacket piece along the pattern lines designating where to place fringe. Stitch along top edge of rectangle from one end to the other.  Lay jacket flat and cut your fringe evenly approx. 1/2" spacing for each cut.

Next take one of your front fringe rectangles and pin down on your left front side along the pattern markings.  Sew along the top edge of the rectangle.  Lay jacket flat and cut your fringe evenly approx. 1/2" spacing for each cut.  Repeat for the right side of your jacket front.  Your fringe length should just hit the bottom of your jacket.

Now using the same 1/2" spacing cut the fringe for your sleeves.  I did mine on an angle for fun going from short near the armpit down to a longer length before the sleeve cuff. 

That's it! You're done! So easy and fast right? Don't you love not having any seams to finish?  I hope you have fun with it!  If you have a child that is younger or older than a 4/5T size find a jacket of yours that's a similar shape and use it as a guide to make your pattern pieces. There are a lot of tutorials online showing you how to draft a pattern using an existing garment.

Try your new coat on your wee one and go rock out to "deunkeshein"! Tell Ferris and Cameron I say hi! Happy sewing!!!

p.s. if you make a sloane jacket please email me pics or add them to our flickr group! i love seeing your finished projects and so do my readers!

CRUSHES || FABRIC & YARN

lolli socks mcn in colorway pink lemonade

i am smitten.  in love.  crushing galore on this skein of yarn or what is now a lovely yarn cake!  it's from the lovely melissa of sweet fiber yarns and is lolli socks mcn in colorway pink lemonade and i swear it should be called shannon in a yarn...lol.  it's bright, fun, cheerful and has some of my fave colors of the moment in it! i can't help but smile when i look at it and someday soon it will become my very first pair of socks! wahoo! i haven't made socks yet, they've always slightly intimidated me up to this point, but i feel like this year is the year for me to take those bad boys down and what better yarn to use than one i am so in love with!

silk cashmere aran in colorway hippolyta

i got to meet melissa of sweet fiber yarns in person when jane and i were on the ISLAND book tour and she is just the sweetest thing!  and her yarn - well, it's to die for! seriously!  it's amazing! if you can get your hands on some scoop it up! i also received a lovely gift from her of 2 skeins of her stunning silk cashmere aran in colorway hippolyta! i am a lucky lady! thank you again so much melissa! big hugs!

melissa's skeins can hold their own right next to madelinetosh so if you are a tosh addict you will not be disappointed by sweet fiber.  trust me on that.  gorgeous!  i was lucky enough to get some of her adorable stitch markers as well that come in the cutest bottle evah! i squeal whenever i look at them!

i also finally found a skein of yarn to match my bright coral colored winter jacket so i could make some rathtrevor mitts.  i love the colors in this yarn and the new rastita by malabrigo is so lovely to work and knit with!  i saw many a pair of rastita rathtrevor mitts on our tour and couldn't resist knitting up a pair for myself in this slightly felted super soft yarn!

malabrigo rastita in colorway piedras

and i can't forget about the fabric! oh......i've been on a mad crush lately with some fabrics!

 

 

i'm working on my next fat quarter gang project for art gallery fabrics using one of my fave peeps line - "color me retro" by the adorable jeni baker of in color order! i love that it matches all my pyrex!!! you rock jeni!  i can't wait to sew with this!

i also ordered from one of my fave online shops (& our sponsor) fabricworm some of sarah watts new line "timber and leaf " and stocked up on my robert kaufman yarn dyed essex linen in denim and flax as well.  i can never have enough of these. they are truly a staple in my fabric arsenal.

1. fox portrait brown 2. pine stickers pink 3. playful fox pink

i've been drooling over my fat quarter bundle of sarah watson's debut line "luxe in bloom" it's so gorgeous and so pretty!  this is going to be a quilt for me for sure! it's stunning and such a soothing and lovely palette! i am such a huge fan of sarah's work and can't wait for he new line coming out as well "indian summer".

and coming soon is a new tutorial of mine featuring some of  pat bravo's new line - carnaby street! so bright, colorful and filled with prints that are stylish and happy!  i will definitely be using this line in all sorts of fun projects! pat always does such a great job creating lines that are so interchangeable and exciting!

so what are you guys crushing on? any new fabric lines or yarns you just got or are saving up to get?  i'm eagerly awaiting tsuru by rashida coleman hale for cloud 9 fabrics. i am buying the whole darn line. i luuuuurv it!  grab a coffee and let's share our crushes! it's a great way to find new fabrics and yarns to spoil ourselves with! have a wonderful crush filled weekend <3

SEW FAB E-PATTERN SALE & GIVEAWAY!!

So excited ladies! Today is the day!!! The Sew Fab e-Pattern Sale starts today!  Woot woot!  I'm thrilled to be part of this awesome bundle of fabulous sewing patterns all just waiting to be made up by you!  There's clothing for your wee ones (boys & girls) and for you too!  Accessories, bags, toys, and even suitcases!  I don't even know which one I would make first! 

I'm a huge fan of all of the talented ladies involved and we hope that you will all love this fun bundle as much as we do.  When I got approached to join in I thought it was such a great idea!  I'm always on a budget and have a long list of patterns I want to make but can't afford to buy.  This is an awesome way to get a huge chunk of your faves all in one shot!  $24.95 is usually what you would pay for about 3 patterns never mind 18!!! Such a great deal! And they are all fabulous!  Trust me on that one! I've made a few and I would buy the bundle just for those alone.

You will find my Commuter Cowl pattern in the bundle and this is one of my fave times of the year to wear it! Try mixing up your different weights of fabrics for different seasons!  It's a quick 30-45 minute sew that's fun and also makes a really great gift!

You all ready to hear more about the Sew Fab e-Pattern Sale? Yay!

Today is the 1st day of the 1st ever Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle Sale and giveaway, sponsored by The Southern Institute and Fat Quarter Shop!

Over the past eight weeks a lot of behind the scenes work has taken place to bring you this amazing bundle of ePatterns from several of the top pattern designers and bloggers in the sewing and blogging world. The result is a bundle of 18 PDF sewing patterns that you don't want to miss.For one week only, ten pattern designers have come together to bring you 18 of their best PDF patterns, valued together at over $139.00, for the incredible price of $24.95! That's over 80% off of the combined retail value! Plus you can enter to win a dream of a giveaway valued at $390 from some really great shops!

For less than $25.00 you will have a library of resources that you can use over and over again. The designers that have joined this sale are experts in their craft. They have been sewing for a very long time and are well known in blog land and elsewhere. Each designer has contributed one or two of their favorite patterns to create a bundle that is sure to please! Whether you are sewing for your own family or making gifts for others, these are patterns that you will love to use.

If you've never sewn with a PDF pattern before, let me tell you how great it is! After downloading your pattern instructions and your pattern, you will print out the pattern itself, creating pattern tiles, if you will. Simply tape the tiles together to create the full pattern! At that point you can cut out the size that you need and pin the paper pattern directly to your fabric or you can trace the pattern size that you need onto sewing paper or tissue paper and cut it out, saving the paper pattern for later when you need to sew another size. PDF patterns are so convenient because you can print them out as many times as you need!

Now let me tell you a little bit about the giveaway! The Sew Fab Giveaway is amazing! One lucky winner will win a bunch of amazing prizes from Craftsy, Fat Quarter Shop, fabricworm, Jennifer's Jewels Custom Labels on Etsy, Green Bee Patterns, author Deborah Moebes, Mee a Bee, Gussy Sews, I'm Feeling Crafty, and Ball and Chain on Etsy. See the end of the post for giveaway details. This giveaway is not to be missed!

I know you're dying to know "What is included in the pattern bundle?"

18 well-loved ePatterns from 10 well-known designers are instantly accessible to you by PDF download upon purchase of the Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle. Here are the patterns that you will receive (click on the links below to see more details):

The Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle is only available for one week and will never be available again! You can purchase the bundle from February 4th at 8 a.m. EST through February 11th at 8 a.m. EST and there will be no late sales offered. Due to the nature of the sale there will be no refunds offered.

You don't want to miss this unique opportunity to purchase a ready made collection of 18 PDF sewing patterns from 10 of the best designers out there!

And now for The Sew Fab Giveaway!

You are not going to believe the prizes included in this giveaway! Can't buy the bundle? It's okay... purchase is not required to enter. Take a look at what you have the chance to win:

A Sewing Themed Box of Goodies from Pick Your Plum ||  Fabulous Wristlet from Gussy Sews (not necessarily the one pictured)  ||  The latest release, Stitch Savvy, by Deborah Moebes  ||  Sterling Silver Sewing Machine necklace from Ball and Chain on Etsy  ||  $50 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop  ||  $50 Gift Certificate to fabricworm  ||  A free online class from Craftsy.com  ||  The Scoop Tote Pattern from Green Bee Patterns  ||  60 Custom Tags from Jennifer's Jewels  ||  Red Riding Hood Little Girl's Satchel from Mee a Bee  ||  Handmade Sewing Machine Cover from I'm Feeling Crafty

YES, ONE WINNER WILL WIN ALL OF THOSE GOODIES!!!

There are lots of chances to win and no purchase required to enter the giveaway. Just use the Rafflecopter widget and enter to win this amazing prize package that will inspire you in your sewing as well as keep you stocked with fabric for many projects to come!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle Sale!

Sew Much Inspiration right at your finger tips...

only $24.95!

Get your bundle now!

Graphic design by Andrea Panell for Sew Fab E-Pattern logo.

FILM PETIT || FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF

if you were to ask me what one of my fave movies of all time is "ferris bueller's day off" would be on the list.  i'm going to be 36 and i was raised on these kind of cult classics.  in fact i used to think, ok i still do think, sloane peterson was the bee's knees. i wanted to be just like her.  she was the embodiment of style, class, grace, beauty and was just plain cool.  i dreamed about that outfit but never felt brave enough to wear it.  so when kristin and jessica asked me to join in for this round of film petit and that the flick was ferris bueller's day off i did a bit of a squeal and a happy dance.  i've been dreaming of that white coat ever since and i'm so excited to show you my version of sloane.

i was really inspired by the idea of taking sloane into 2013 and also to make her outfit kid friendly.  i knew first off that my daughter would not wear leather or faux leather so i decided to go with a nice, soft fleece so that i could still fringe to my hearts content without finishing all those strands.  i also knew that i wanted her to stay true to my aesthetic and also be something that my daughter would actually wear.

when i finished drafting the jacket and started making my sloane version i swear i have never had so much fun working on a sewing project in my whole life.  i was laughing my head off and boy did it take all i had not to share the pics to all of you.  the icing on the cake was when my daughter got her hands on it. she looooves it.  she was posing her little heart out and just begging to wear it to school.  oh my....now that would be interesting.  i say bring on the fringe...but not everyone may agree with me on that one :)

my daughter asked me about the story behind the outfit and i gave her the 5 yr old version but in doing so i could hear myself talking about sloane with the same glorified eyes i had when i was a teenager.  she was beautiful, confident, and well....sloane.  i told her about the scene i wanted to capture - that sloane was waiting for her boyfriend, whom she loved, named ferris to come pick her up.  i told her she had hair just like hers and she was about to have a very exciting day off from school with ferris and her friend cameron and that ferris wanted to marry her.

i told her they were about to go on an adventure.  my little girl sparked up with a new found energy even though it was freezing cold, raining and a wind storm.  what a little model hard at work...lol.  she has now aptly named her new ensemble the sloane outfit.  i think it suits her.  i hope she holds onto the spirit of sloane and grows to be every bit of a confident and lovely woman that sloanes' character was.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- pattern used is the "banyan shorts" from figgy's patterns.
- mods made: faux fly with no zipper insertion.
- random suiting fabric from a store i will not list because i detest shopping there and went out of desperation.
- suiting has a bit of stretch to it which makes these super comfy but a bit of a pain to sew.  my daughter has lots of issues with clothing and comfort so i kept these a tad on the baggy side to keep her from feeling uncomfortable.  i made a size 4.

- pattern used is self drafted.  i love this little coat and drafted it on my own and guess what...if you like it as much as i do i may just do a sloane coat tutorial...hehe.  i want one in my own size.
- fabric is a soft white fleece from the same store i will not mention...lol.
- the sloane jacket is cropped and features a fun fringed back that dips down to a point, no closures, front fringe on each front panel and an asymmetrical fringe in the middle of the under sleeve. i chose not to go all the way to the armpit or the cuff simply for my own taste. i really liked how it looked not covering the whole arm and so did my daughter.  the jacket also has a lovely little gather on the top of each sleeve cap.  my version of the infamous shoulder pad. love it!

 - pattern used is the "banyan tunic" from figgy's patterns.
- fabric is a weird stretch blend. the lady at the store that i will not mention couldn't find out what it was nor could she the other fabrics i purchased there for this post...lol. it's soft though and has a lovely light grey blue color.
- i made the size 4 for the tunic but had to take up the length quite a bit to allow the shorts to still show.  my daughter asked me for 3 more of this top and loves it.

i also self drafted a pair of black leggings from an existing pair of pants my daughter had.  it was too cold to make her go bare legged and i thought the black tights went perfectly with her black boots.  i decided not to do the white boots as i knew there was no way in heck i would ever buy my kid white boots...lol.  talk about ruined in one day!

click here to hear the tunes!

i really enjoyed sewing both patterns from figgy's and would definitely recommend them and make them again. sooooo...whatdoyasay? want to dance with us? i think i hear "danke schoen" playing in the distance....oh ya....i do.....danke schoen, darling, danke schoen.................

go get your ferris groove on! embrace your inner sloane peterson and don that fringe jacket and strut your stuff ladies!  and while you're at it make sure you also pop on over to see kristin's adorable cameron (so cute!) and also jessica's awesome ferris (love it!).  i want to say a big thank you to these uber talented ladies for letting me join in on their fun and have a gosh darn good time sewing for my girlie.  luv you ladies <3

thanks for joining us for another film petit!  and make sure you add your pics to the film petit flickr group!

Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle Sale - Coming Soon!!!

Coming next week!

From February 4th- February 11th...

the first ever....

For one week only, ten pattern designers will be joining together to combine 18 of their best PDF sewing patterns (valued together at over $139.00) and selling them to you for the incredible price of $24.95! That's over 80% off of the combined retail value!

That wasn't a typo! For less than $25.00 you will have the chance to purchase a library of resources to get you started on several great projects that you can sew over and over again. The designers that are joining this sale are experts at their craft. They have been sewing for a very long time and are well known in blog land as well as in children's and women's sewing pattern design circles. Each designer has contributed one or two of their favorite sewing patterns to create a bundle that is sure to please! Whether you are sewing for your own family or making gifts for others, these are patterns that you will love to use.

Figgy's Patterns, Go To Patterns, peek-a-boo pattern shop, Seamingly Smitten, One Girl Circus, Sew Much Ado, luvinthemommyhood, Gingercake, Sew Fearless, Me Sew Crazy... this is the lineup! But you have to wait until Monday to find out exactly which sewing patterns are included in the pattern bundle. I can tell you that you won't be disappointed!

We are offering an affiliate program for this amazing sale too! If you think your blog readers, Facebook friends, or Twitter pals would be interested in buying this bundle of sewing patterns, why not sign up as an affiliate? As a Sew Fab Sale affiliate you can sell the pattern bundle on your blog and earn 40% of all of your sales! Contact Jenny at thesoutherninstitute @ gmail.com for details.

Oh! And there will be a giveaway! The Sew Fab Giveaway is amazing! One lucky winner will win a bunch of amazing prizes from some of your favorite companies and online shops! I can't wait to reveal the giveaway package next week!

Don't miss the Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle Sale

starting Monday, February 4th!

Sponsored by

The Southern Institute and Fat Quarter Shop

We'll see you there!

The Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle is only available from 8 am EST February 4th through 8 am EST February 11th. Due to the nature of the sale there will be no late sales or refunds.

Flashback Friday over on Sew Much Ado!

i'm thrilled to be over on "sew much ado" today for flashback friday!!! fun!!!!  i was so excited when abby asked me to join in! i'm a fan of this series when she first ran it and was happy to see her doing it again!  so pop on by sew much ado and check out my flashback friday post where you can see how i got from this.......

men's dress shirt sleeves to pants tutorial by luvinthemommyhood

to this.... 

emerson tunic dress tutorial from luvinthemommyhood

i'm still chuckling and boy oh boy was it fun to go back to those days and see what the heck i was thinking....so hilarious! i hope you enjoy the post! wishing you all a wonderful weekend and thank you so very much for having me abby!

what would your flashback friday post be about?  what project did you first sew? who or what inspired you to start a new craft or to take up sewing?  i'd love to hear about your flashback fridays!!!

secret projects & new addictions

i've been working away on a fun and exciting project the last few weeks!  i'm getting to play with some fun fabrics that i haven't yet sewn with!  suiting and fleece! i can't show you the fleece yet because it's a surprise!  eeeek!  i also got to make some sewing patterns that i have been dying to try out for my kiddo!  i always enjoy sewing someone else's patterns after spending a lot of time designing and making my own.  one of the items you will see when these are done will be mine but other than that....it's all just fun sewing for me!  i also got to whip out some stretch sewing and you guys know how much i looooove sewing with knits!  needless to say i've been having a great time getting some much needed sewing time in.

i've also developed a crush lately on pleats and darts to hang out with my addiction to topstitching.  i can't stop adding them to projects and i have found myself drawn to clothing with special details lately.  i love the texture and shape that they add to garments.  swoon! along with working on my secret project i've also been madly working away on my "stripe study" shawl in my spare time.  i've got a ton of other knitting projects and designs on the go but i am sooooo in LOVE with this shawl that i am having a hard time putting it down. i can't wait to wear it!  short rows = fun!!!!! plus the madelinetosh yarn is just heavenly! don't you just love that red? i can't get enough of it!!!

pattern:  stripe study by veera valimaki  yarn: madelinetosh merino light in colorway tern and torchere

hopefully i will be able to show you all what the sewing project is that i'm working on next week!  i can't wait!!!!  anyone have any guesses?? lol.

what have you been working on?  what type of fabric have you been wanting to try? any new fabric and sewing details that you've been drawn to or are dying to work on?  have you started on any new projects that you're excited about?  i can't wait to hear about it :)