X-wing block tester!

I have loved Kristy Lea/Quietplays patterns for a long time, so when she asked if I would test her new pattern for a 12''  paperpieced x-wing block, I said yes!

 I am not the most skilled paperpiecer ever, but this pattern is so well made, that even I could follow it :)

The block came together so easily, just follow her very simple instructions, and everything will fit together perfectly. 

This pattern is ready in the Quietplay pattern shop on Craftsy, you can also try one of the other patterns - I know I will - and go take a look at her instagram feed, there are so many beautiful projects!!

Dressmaking, Part 1 (....of who knows how many!)

I have made some clothes before, but I try to stick with the not too complicated patterns. I am ok (sort of) with zippers, but no lining or stiff interface-heavy collars for me.... Oh...and buttons are not my favorite either.

Anyway...the dress. The kids have this week off, so I will be taking them on day trips - and not have much time left for my sewing project. But a little each day will make a difference. So today: tracing the pattern!

I had forgotten the crazy look of the pattern sheets in Burda magazines :-) Oh well, I got it done. The pattern is traced, cut out and ready to go! But then it was time to cook dinner, and play a board game and bed for the kiddos. So...I will make more progress tomorrow. I hope.

Looking at curtains

I really really need to do something about the curtains in our living room....if I can say that when in fact we don't have any curtains in our living room.

Our living room windows face north, and we are on the third floor (fourth floor to you Americans!) so the sun is a "problem" in the way that the room gets too hot and stuffy and everything is bleached/ruined. Sooooo....I need to do something. We have been looking for curtains for a while (a couple of years...shhhhh...) and I have been planning to sew curtains for at least one year now.

I like the curtains in the pictures, they have a country-cabin feel that I really like ;)

A very productive day!

Hmmm...it feels like today has been a productive day, but really all I have done is get the laundry under control, and clean my house.

One good thing about a clean home is, that I get to decorate a little.

Miss V chose these yesterday on the way to the movies :) She has wanted to get some of these for a really long time. And now I can actually put them out somewhere, without having to either move a pile of stuff or put them on top of it!

I have also been thinking of what to do about curtains in our living room. We need to be able to close some curtains duing the middle of the day ;) Right now we don't have any. I want to sew some, but I am not sure what kind - any ideas?

I have also been thinking about Christmas sewing...nothing like dreaming of future sewing projects while folding laundry, right?

These 2 patterns are on my list of bags I want to sew. I absolutely love Keyka Lous patterns. The one I have here is the "Foldover Clutch". The other one is Amy Butlers "Blossom Handbag".
Amy Butlers pattern will be a challenge, but I am going to give it a try....sometime!

Less than a month and so much to do...

These are going to be Ask's Christmas present.
I bought the Wee Wonderfuls pattern a while ago, and I thought I had everything I needed to finish Spaceboy and Robot tonight. But no. Turns out I need more felt to make embellishments, the pieces I have are too small. And I need more wool, I didn't even have enough to stuff Spaceboy :(

But on the bright side, that means I get to go to the craft store tomorrow. I also have to go to a meeting with my teacher......and I have to bring Ask, he is not well yet :(
The kiddos have been home from daycare almost 2 weeks now, which is absolutely messing up my planning :D I am so behind schedule! I have a ton of reading to do for a paper that is due January 5th and my Christmas sewing list is downright scary :/

We have had our first snow....I don't know if you can see it all that well in this photo, but it's there!
That is also the view from my kitchen window....

And....just to make my planning even worse I actually gave Charles this fabric grocery bag I made him. I was planning to give it to him for his birthday...but no....why not give it to him now, and put another thing on my endless to-do list?! Sounds clever right?
Anyway...he loves it. I made this from a sheet he had when we first met. I saved it because I like the print :) The tutorial is here, it was pretty easy to make...
Here it is hanging on Asks chair. It folds up so you can keep it in your bag, and not buy any more plastic grocery bags!

I found a new favourite place to shop!

I went to a fabric store today, that is only a 10 minute busride from my house, and so incredible!
They had so much fabric! Bolts and bolts of quilters cotton! -there was lots of other types of fabric as well, but I'll have a look at that some other time!
There was so much fabric, and was cheap! I couldn't decide on anything (too many choices), and went with something I know I will need for my upcoming projects. LOL!

I bought the 6½" ruler, because I can't seem to forget this quilt!

That quilt also needs a lot of white, so I chose two white prints.

These solids are for another project I have planned for this summer, we'll se when I get started.

So many projects.... Maybe I'll get started on cutting tonight?!

Happy me!

Today I got a package from Diana Martin in the mail...

She sent me so many beautiful pieces of fabric, Viola's favourites are SpongeBob and a blue print with stars and silver glitter, the candycanes, the cherries...... You get the idea :-)
I love the birds! The blue fabric on the bottom, it's so beautiful! I wonder if I'll be able to cut into that?!

Diana also sent this fun project:


This is going to be so great, Viola and I will get started on that asap!
Thank you so very much, Diana! I am completely overwhelmed! Now it's on to cutting, and then sewing! Exciting!

My mail-man also brought me this fabulous pattern I found on etsy

I looooove that red dress! I want that to be my wedding-dress! Only...in white and a little longer.

But today I had to sew a balaclavae for Viola. Can't let those little ears get cold...


Here's the pattern, if you have little ones prone to ear-infections...

Hopefully, I'll get all the cutting done soon, it's such a pleasure when working with such beautiful fabrics!
And then, it'll be on to sewing!!!

Thank you!!!

I ordered two patterns from Lisa Boyer not so long ago.....and look what I received in the mail today!


The patterns I ordered....and fabrics and a pattern for Ask and Viola! I have made plans to re-do their room, and have been thinking that a wall-hanging would be a good idea.
Now I just need to get started! Can't wait, I'll start as soon as they are tucked in tonigth!

Done!

The skirt is finished and in use!
The flowerprint works really well on a small skirt, I think, and Viola loves it.


-Please ignore the messy room-


A few corrections, and this pattern is the easiest skirt ever! But this one doesn't twirl like the purple skirt, so that's still her favourite!

Another skirt

This time, Viola chose this Amy Butler print that has been sitting in my stash for over a year now. I think I bought it for a skirt for myself, but ended up thinking the colors were wrong for me.... Having red hair, I am VERY pale, even in summer!
But Viola is a blonde, and tans beautifully, so this will be perfect on her!

We spent most of the time making the pattern, she is very ticklerish = very hard to get measurements :-D
Hopfully we'll sew it tomorrow!

I have been tagged again, this time by Denise from Happy Apple Quilts :-)
I am not going to tag anyone, pretty much everybody I know in blogland have done this.

Anyway, I love doing these quirky things, so here we go:

1: I'm always cold...
2: I love the beach, but not in summer
3: I like to bake
4: My favourite book is John Miltons Paradise Lost
5: I drink tea, not coffee
6: I love Disneyland!
7: I like to wear skirts and dresses, but somehow I always end up in jeans. LOL!

Wonderful indeed!

Look at what I got in the mail today:

These patterns are from Wee Wonderfuls, and I can't wait to get started!

Since I don't have a lot of time to do crafty stuff these days, I seem to be buying a lot of fabric, patterns and other fun stuff.... Then I can sit and dream of days to come, when I can spend a whole day (or even just a couple of hours) sewing!

I need to get Ask equipped for daycare, so today he and I bought him his first pair of shoes! Aren't they the sweetest little shoes?!


Unfortunately, wearing shoes makes it really hard for him to walk.... Oh well, such is life. Loads of stuff to learn!