Sew-a-bration of Womanhood: Flame Circle Skirt

Welcome to my contribution to the wonderful series, the Sew-a-bration of Womanhood!

I saw a call for contributors and wanted to jump in on the fun of sewing for, and celebrating, our amazing-ness. I just had to wait a while to figure out what I wanted to sew!

At first I decided to sew a wrap skirt. I had one out of 4-way stretch a while ago and loved it. But the change that kids did to me, well it doesn't really fit any more. Then I wanted to do the knew California Peplum Top by EYMM (affiliate link). It has a modification for nursing moms. Perfect? Yes! But then, I decided to sew a circle skirt. I was helping a friend sew one for her daughter's birthday outfit and decided as I was drafting the patterns to make one for myself too! So glad that I did, it was so easy! Though I am still gonna have to sew up the California Peplum Top. :)

I used the tutorial here and even used an elastic waistband. I was going to make a casing and thread elastic through it, but this was inexpensive at the discount shop and it works so well! It is comfortable and stays up! :)

Plus, I can be like a kid and spin! :) So fun!

I cut the length at 24 inches and used a bit longer radius so a friend could use the pattern too (only about .25" difference), but I think the size is just so cool! Cannot wait to wear it out! I've been told that it is a good dancing dress...

Head over to Shaffer Sisters to see what Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop has made and Call Ajaire to see my 'interview' and previous projects!

Check out the participants blogs and their awesome projects.

Remember, We are worth it. :)

The Life Of A Compulsive Crafter | Serger Pepper | House of Estrela | sewVery | Our Busy Little Bunch

Modern Handmade | Golden Rippy | Sew & Tell with Mama Eggo | Shawnta Sews | Fishsticks Designs
Ali Cat & Co | Paisley Roots | Like a mother | Giggles & Beans | Call Ajaire
Shaffer Sisters | I Married Superman | A Jennuine Life | If Only They Would Nap | Once Upon a Sewing Machine

Naptime Creations | Pattern Revolution | Two Many | Rebel & Malice | Simple Simon and Company

SewingSober | Handmade Dress Haven | Daisy Chain Creations | Swoodson Says | I'm Feelin' Crafty So Cal Sewing Mom | Keep Calm and Carrion | DandelionDrift | The Crazy Tailor | Max California 

Falafel and the Bee | Lexi Made | Winter Wonderings | Kid Approved | Scientific Seamstress
Becca DuVal | Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop | The Berry Bunch | Little Kids Grow | leighlee
Feathers Flights | That's-Sew-Kari

Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop: Outfits for the Kids {Memorial Sale}

*This post contains affiliate links. All view expressed are my own*

I have discovered Goodwill... And man, they have a lot of neat stuff there. Like this gem...

The shirt was an adult large. But since I have had a hard time finding these types shirts in kids sizes, I figured making them as repurposed old shirts is so much better! I used the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop's Classic Ringer Tee for the shirt and the classic chinos for the shorts (I repurposed a pair of pants for those too, got another pair of shorts out of them)...

Though Baby Girl's clothes are repurposed shorts from a knit shirt, the fabric for the shirt is Michael Miller that I got from the discount fabric shop. :) She is sporting the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop's Rio Racerback Tank and the Lullaby shorts. :)

Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop Has revamped up the website! And because of that (and memorial day) is having a sale! 20% off an order $20 or more! It's good until the end of Monday (5/26). There is rarely a storewide sale like this, so take advantage if you want some patterns! Just remember to use the code "grandopening".

Happy Sewing!

What Did I Do To My Hair?

I cut it. Chopped it off. Hacked it.

before the cut

I have been so sick of my hair for a long time now. It was falling out, splitting at the ends and the middle. I wanted it shorter.

immediately after the cut

But now it is super short.  And... Guess who cut it? ... Someone trained? Nope...  At least it wasn't my son. :) And for not being trained, my hubby doesn't do too bad a job. He tried to get what I wanted, but cut too short on one side... Ooops...

after a washing

It is getting a little easier as time has passes (this happened in the late afternoon yesterday), I know that once I figure out some ways to style it I will like it more.

I think I am going to try to train the sideways bangs...

Here are some not-so-great side views. Pics were being taken with my phone because I could not, for the life of me, find the sd card... Yes, I would probably loose my head if it weren't attached. I feel like I loose everything. Like the other day, lost my keys. You know where they were? In plain sight, on top of the dining table.

Hey, I found the SD card!

now, I'm just tired... and don't mind the mess in the background. Toys haven't been earned back yet and I am running out of room to put them.

tangent... check it out, I have an old 1988 National Geographic World Map hanging on the wall! I should really get that framed...

Baby girl would not look at me for several hours. But at least before bed I think she felt bad. She showered me in kisses.

So, honest opinion, what do you think?

Mother's Day: A Coraline for My Mom {Swoon Sewing Patterns}

This post contains affiliate links. I make a small commission only if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. All views expressed are my own.

I am a fan of upcycling almost anything you can, especially when it comes to clothing. My mom gave me 2 huge plastic containers FULL of clothes. One of them is an old vest that I remember her wearing when I was growing up. One thing about the vest? It was so outdated. The fabric was cool, even if it was 20-ish years old, the buttons are fun. But the style itself? Old; not vintage, just old. 

When I went through the clothes before bringing them home my mom seemed sad to part with some of them. Why must we place sentimental value on clothes? Well, what's better than to create a use-able item from something that was once treasured? So I made my mom the Coraline Wristlet from Swoon Sewing Patterns (affiliate link). I love how it turned out!

Here is the outside. I used almost all the fabric! The little fabric I had left I pieced together for the wristlet part. I had to literally cut the different patterned fabrics apart at their seam and re-piece them together in order to get the pattern pieces to fit!

I also used a firmer interfacing. I loved the one I had received from the swap with the firmer interfacing, I wanted to use that too. I had some sew-in stabilizer left over from Halloween a few years ago that I used to make my viking corset. I just used some webbing to attach it. 

For the top zipper part I used some quilting cotton with the shape-flex. 

For the lining I used some blue crushed satin I had left over from a shirt I had made years ago (before hubby and I even met!)... I used some lightweight interfacing for that. I wanted it to maintain that flow-y feeling that satin has. It also makes it just seem so... nice... I just love it! 

I love making things for people. I think homemade gifts are the best! This one was well received and liked so much more than the vest it was originally. I loved sewing it! I wish I had taken better pics than the with the phone.. Oh well. It went strait to it's new home and I was too excited to get it there! :)

Mother's Day MOMery: Reminiscing about motherhood...

MOMery = a mommy memory

How cute is that? Very! It's those things that stick out in your brain as a mom, or of your own mom. The good people at Dropcam are doing a few weeks compiling the wonderful love of mom and are selecting posts to highlight on their twitter account at the end of the week. It's similar to the set up we have in little man's room, but more complex, and they have security set ups too (not just baby monitors). It's video you can stream through Wi-Fi (ours uses our router). We thought it was a little weird at first when we started using a camera like that in his room. But it is far easier, especially being able to move the camera remotely is easy to see where he is (like when he falls asleep in his tent)... Nor I or drop cam are receiving any compensation for this post, all views are my own. 

As a mom, from the way my little guy said hot dogs (hok-gons no longer) to pajamas (jamanas still).

But this week with the busyness of my birthday and mother's day, something happened. A thing that really melted my heart! What is this thing that happened that can melt a mother's heart? A thank you.

My 3 year old thanked me. Out of the blue. Just walked up to me talking about what he was playing (cars on his quilt) and then thanked me. He thanked me for the quilt I made him over a year and a half ago.

It still goes on his bed every night. He asks for it to be on his bed every night. He uses the blocks for roads, pretends to be under the water during the day.

It looks like it glows during the day, with the lights shinning through the jelly fish. It's so fun!

He thanked me for it, unsolicited. It melted my heart.

I am appreciated. I am loved. There are no words to express how I felt. His sincerity, his smile and then a hug that followed. I love it. I love him. Hard work does pay off, and not just the kind from sitting in front of the sewing machine.

Leave a comment: What have your little ones done to make you feel appreciated and loved, or what have you done for you mom (or mom-like figure) to show your love and appreciation? I would love to hear your stories

GYCT Designs: Tinley Tee {Pattern Test and Release} and discount!

I have had the honor of yet another pattern test for GYCT Designs. Love this pattern! It is so cute an so many options/looks! I did the gathered cap sleeve with a banded hem. I love the look of banded hems! And it looks great on my niece!

You can find the pattern release on her blog GYCT Designs Tinley Tee Pattern Release
You can find the pattern on Etsy
or you can get it on Craftsy

It also has cutting lines so you don't have to use them, and so many sleeve options! The is a flutter sleeve, a normal sleeve, the cap sleeve, and a long sleeve! Ooh, the possibilities! She even gives a brief direction on how to layer the sleeves! Oooh the potential! It's simple, girlie, cute... I adore this pattern!

They look so great with the Love Me Knot Shorts!

I even repurposed a tee that my mom had given me and some left over knit fabric from some other sewing projects for the sleeves, hem and neck binding! 

excited she gets to keep the shirt!

I already have one cut for Samara!

You can find the pattern on Etsy
or you can get it on Craftsy

Super excited, cause guess what?!? The pattern is on sale today and tomorrow only for 5.95! That is $2 off normal price, then it goes back up!

Check out some of the other testers that are doing blog posts/pages and their photos for inspiration and cuteness!

Two Novembers

Sew Shelly Sew

The Berry Bunch (that's me)!

Three Penguins

Growing Everyday

Sewing 4 Sophia

Sprouting Jube Jube

Jaime Sews

Dresses By Sheila

Savannah Grace

Amanda Rose

Rebel and Malice

Daker Girls Designs

Inspired by Ava Boutique

3 em linha

Costura con Ternura

Feathered Ruffles

Little House on the Dairy

Angel Kissed Kids Boutique

Sarai Joy Photography

I think I am gonna go sew one up for baby girl. It's a fast sew!

Happy sewing from our desert home to your home! :)

Mommy & Me Round-Up: EYMM Sale!

*This post contains affiliate links. All views expressed are my own.*

Remember the blog post I did yesterday?

In case you missed it, here are the wonderful ladies and their posts!

4/28 – Lisa www.piepiedesigns.com

4/30 – Deborah www.sproutingjj.blogspot.ca

5/1 – Alyssa www.calmandcarrion.blogspot.com

5/2 – Tasha www.FriendsStitchedTogether.wordpress.com

5/3 – Emily Www.justanothersewingmama.com

5/4 – Nienke www.pienkel.blogspot.com

5/6 – Melissa www.rebelandmalice.blogspot.com

5/7 – Erin www.craftybiggers.com

5/8 – Jessica www.bunchoberries.blogspot.com

And now, for the sale! 

Head on over to EYMM.com, she even has rewards points (1point = .01) for making purchases, leave a review and earn 25 points and a 10% off coupon! It's an awesome time to buy a bundle! :)

Happy Sewing :)

Mommy & Me Blog Tour - 4/28-5/8 {EYMM Patterns}

*This post contains affiliate links. All views expressed are my own.*

Welcome to the last blog stop of the EYMM Mommy and Me Blog Tour!

When I saw that Everything Your Mama Made & More was having another blog tour, I jumped at the chance to sign up! Perfect for leading up to Mother's Day! How awesome is that! Just don't forget to check back at Everything Your Mama Made & More tomorrow for a surprise!!! :)

I have sewn up the Dolman for both myself and baby girl.

I already have the Dolman tops for both the kids' sizes (12 months - 20) and the adults' sizes (xs - 5x). You can buy the bundle, which is what I did! Yay, bundles! I have 2 of the Dolman Tops already, it was just about time that I sewed up some for baby girl! Didn't hubby take great picture?

The cool thing about the Dolman Tops is that there are so many different versions to pick from! There is the high-low hem (that's what I did for baby girl) A basic one, or you can sew on a waistband (which is what I did for mine) or a longer version with ruched sides (perfect for your beautiful preggo belly)! The pattern makes printing your selected view easier with the page numbers listed for the one you want to sew! Hurrah printing ease!

check out those stripes at the seam!

She might be a little small for it yet, I did take in the size 12 month to accommodate for my little skinny minnie. But when she is crawling around the house with the low hem covering her little tush, it is just so cute (no pictures of that though) ... 

I just love her little smile!

And... Guess what?!? Today I turn 30!!! It is so hard to believe, I am entering the 30's! So long 20's, nice to get to know you. Right when we thought we were starting to get along you leave. But 30's, we will start off on a great foot and it will be great! :)

I really like this top. So comfortable. I will be honest the sleeves scared me. I thought it would feel baggy. But it doesn't! It flows so perfectly, is roomy but not baggy. It's perfectly comfortable! I love it! I sewed up another that just needs to be hemmed (4 way stretch so that scares me a little)...

Don't forget to check out the other lovely ladies and what they sewed up for the tour!

4/28 - Lisa www.piepiedesigns.com

4/30 - Deborah www.sproutingjj.blogspot.ca

5/1 - Alyssa www.calmandcarrion.blogspot.com

5/2 - Tasha www.FriendsStitchedTogether.wordpress.com

5/3 - Emily Www.justanothersewingmama.com

5/4 - Nienke www.pienkel.blogspot.com

5/5 - Shino www.nutta.typepad.com

5/6 - Melissa www.rebelandmalice.blogspot.com

5/7 - Erin www.craftybiggers.com

5/8 - Jessica www.bunchoberries.blogspot.com

My little man wanted to jump in with the pictures too. Since he is three, he wanted to hold the '3' cupcake. And it only made sense that baby girl should hold 0 since she isn't even 1 yet, right? LOL

and he is too cute not to take extra pictures of...

Don't forget to check back for the surprise tomorrow! So excited to find out! :) And don't forget to check out her other awesome patterns at Everything Your Mama Made & More!

Happy sewing from our desert home to your home,