The Verdict : L.O.V.E.

~The Dress is Finished and I Love It~

The Pattern: Quick and Easy! "Miss Madeline" from The Handmade Dress
The Fabric: "Love" by Amy Butler
The Flower: Tutorial Coming Soon!!!!!!
The Verdict: L.O.V.E.



Note: I just found out that Wee Share is hosting a giveaway of the COMPLETE line of patterns from The Handmade Dress. The Madeline pattern is the only pattern I have from the lineup, so you can be sure that I signed up! I would love to make the Miss Mary dress next!

Birthday Pattern Weights

***This Giveaway is Now Closed to more Comments.***
A winner will be Announced Soon.

Today is my birthday! Following Trudy's example, I am giving a birthday gift to one randomly chosen reader of Sew Chic. Your gift is a set of pattern weights, made by me.

The weights are covered in brown fabric from Moda designer Sandy Gervais. You will receive a set of two large and two medium sized weights. The large weights are 4.5" in diameter and bigger than the metal washers you will find in your typical hardware store. The medium weights are 3.5" in diameter.

To win this set of weights, leave a comment on this post telling me if you use pattern weights when sewing or if you use pins. Or tell me what your favorite sewing notion is. For an extra entry, become a follower of Sew Chic and leave another comment to that effect. I'll close this giveaway next week, sometime between April 10-12, and I'll announce the winner then. Because these weights are heavy, I can only ship to addresses in the United States.

More pattern weights are also available for sale in my Etsy shop.

Happy Sewing!

Spring Update

Saturday, I did another craft fair, my 3'd actually. I had a good time and am glad I did it, but it was so slow! I haven't done enough of these to know what's good for me or not, but I made less than 1/3 of what I did at the two last fall, so I'm thinking that's bad. =(

One thing that made me happy though was having this new crafty apron to wear! It was perfect for my change and my little craft fair odds and ends.

(Forgive the blurry picture. I didn't get any photos at the craft fair, and I took this one using the mirror in my bedroom.)

Apron pattern is from the One-Yard Wonders book. I love this book!

I did get a chance to chat with some of the other vendors and that was a blast! Everyone was very encouraging and nice despite the slow day. I met another "fabric nerd"...hehe. Check out the beautiful outfits she makes HERE in her etsy shop.

Spring is finally here and I am so happy!

Elliot helped me plant my little garden a couple days ago. When we were digging the dirt up, I mentioned that we were preparing the bed for the seeds...A few minutes later when we were planting them, he piped up that the the seeds needed to go to sleep! He's very excited for them to "wake up" and start growing!

I don't think I've ever shown this little dress here, but it's been one of my favorite outfits that I've made for Marie. Last fall it was a dress, then in the winter she wore with with jeans as a tunic, and now it's a mini-dress! I just love these Amy Butler prints.

(can you tell she was so mad about having to let Elliot have a turn on the baby swing?)

It's getting a bit short on her for a dress, but I don't care...those baby legs are just so cute!!

The pattern is the Easy Empire Waist Dress from Amy Butler's Little Stitches book. Haha...it looks like a simple pattern, but it was so not easy!! If I remember correctly, I finally ditched the confusing instructions and just sewed it together...and I think the final product was worth it!

I need to get a photo, but you'll never guess what I'm sewing now...

Dancewear!

Yes, I'm helping a friend of a friend out and sewing these little alligator print, lycra fabric shrugs for a high school dance performance. I think the main reason I agreed to do this is that I now have a chance to use my new coverstitch machine! So, n0 new Easter dress for me, (I am so glad I sewed Marie's dress weeks ago!) I'm working on dancewear!

Oh yes, I didn't want to forget this, Randi, at i have to say... is having a fabric giveaway. I heart fabric...especially $50 worth of free fabric! She is also having a 20% off sale in her esty shop. Check it all out HERE.

Have a great week everyone!

Jessica

Pink Shoes and Love

Easter is just one week away, and I half decided not to make Emily an Easter dress this year. After all, she has a handful of just-her-size smocked and heirloom sewn dresses that I made for Ellen about 10 years ago when I was in the smocking phase.

I don't hang onto everything that I sew, but I have kept the hand-smocked dresses I made in years past. Emily does not need another nice dress, but the funny thing is, when I pulled these dresses out of the closet I felt inspired to dig out my pleater and start another smocked dress. Common sense won out (who has the time to smock? Not me!), and I decided not to make another fancy dress. Besides, the dress I made last year still fits, albeit a bit shorter, but it still fits.

Instead, I'm going to sew a simple peasant-style dress. Samantha at The Handmade Dress once had a giveaway on her blog and I won the "Miss Madeline" pattern. I'm excited to start it, and I have the perfect fabric to use. Perfect, because it matches the to-die-for hot pink shoes that Emily fell in love with at the shoe store. Reminder to self: never take an almost-5-year-old fashion diva into the shoe store unless you plan on buying her sparkly, glittery, or hot pink shoes.

I'm off to sew!

Easter 2009

Birthday Suprise for Me!

My heart just about stopped beating when I opened this package from my sister-in-law on Monday night. 

Yes, it's what the box says it is.  A coverstitch serger!

I am still in shock actually...I had NO idea I would be owning one of these anytime soon.  I am so excited.  Think of all the possibilities!!!

Just had to share my excitement!

Jessica

Nursing Covers now available...

At the Green Bambino, Oklahoma City's new cloth diaper and eco-baby product store.  Be sure and check them out, if you are in the area!

I am so excited to be making nursing covers for the Green Bambino!

These covers feature an adjustable neck strap and boning in the front that allows the fabric to stand out some so the mom can see her baby, but still be completely covered up.  

I also put a flannel pocket in one corner to hold little things like pacifiers and nursing pads.  Also so handy to wipe baby's milky mouth after nursing!

Blessings,

Jessica 

Birthday Gift

Last week when I wrote about a flopped top I was making for my niece's first birthday, several of you asked to see the fabric. Mom even had a few good suggestions for fixing it, but after I let it sit for a couple days I decided to remake it into something completely different.

I cut ruffles off of the top, took the hems out (yes, I do a lot of ripping out too!) and fashioned the ruffles into a simple tiered skirt with an elastic waist. I was really happy that I didn't end up wasting too much of the fabric after all.

Then I bought a plain white 12mo shirt at Walmart and appliqued a simple flower on it. Viola...it's an outfit!

The hat was from the original pattern I was using. It came out huge...seriously, it fits my 3 year old. Oh well...it will fit her someday!


Jessica