Sew What Club: Taylor Dress

Sew What Club has another amazing pattern coming out.  It is the Taylor Dress, featuring a high-low hem with layers of tulle and the option for an overlay or a less fuss fitted pencil skirt dress.

Other than the layers of tulle, this a fairly simple dress to make and turns out fantastic.

The only change I made was shortening the tulle by 6 inches (I'm rather short) and shortening the main skirt a little, but left the lace length.  Now I want to make a version with more tulle and tea length.

HCF Review

I was provided this supplement to review it.  The opinions are all mine.  I was not paid.

HCF or Happy Calm Focused is a brain supplement of amino acids that is intended to return a person's brain chemistry to how is supposed to be.  I found it wasn't very helpful for me, neither my husband or myself noticed an improvement in any of those areas, though perhaps with prolonged use, the effects could become more apparent.  

For the first week or so I noticed an large increase in headaches, which they do warn as a possibility while the brain is being cleansed and restored.  The occurrence did reduce, but I did notice more headaches than is usual for me the whole time I used it.

The supplement also has very specific instructions on taking it.  They need to be taken on an empty stomach with a large amount of water and not to eat for 20-30 minutes.  I found this to be very inconvenient on days that are rushed or short on notice when breakfast will be.  Because of this I wasn't able to take them daily.  Another down side is that they don't taste pleasant and I kept finding the taste to return throughout the day. 

Overall, I wasn't very impressed.  There are a lot of happy reviews, however I may just be an exception.

Sew What Club: Butterfly Dress

I hope it doesn't feel like all I sew anymore is from Sew What Club.  It just happens to be what I either need to take pictures of (for testing) or what I want to blog about.  I used their free pattern (for signing up for the newsletter) Butterfly Dress for the girls' Picture Day dresses.  I love the bows!

It was a really fast sew.  I was able to get both sewn in one day.  The fabric for Laurel's is Castles and Carriages and feels amazing and so soft.

  The girls love them and they turned out so cute. 

I've decided that this dress works best with a large print.  Without the belt, Eleanor's looks like a hospital gown.  It is still cute though.

Eleanor decided to get a little goofy at the end.

Sew What Club: Sanibel Dress

The next pattern from Sew What Club is the Sanibel Dress/Romper.  There are lots of details and it can be made with long sleeves or short.  I made the dress version with long sleeves.

It is very comfortable, though I think next time I would lengthen the skirt.

Sew What Club: Trouville

Sew What Club just released another women's pattern; the Trouville cover up.  It can be used on the beach as a cover up or wear it to town or even in the Fall throw on a cardigan and you are ready to go.

The fit on this dress feels wonderful and comfortable.  Other than all of those buttons and button holes, it is a fairly quick sew.  It has front and back yolks and you can add fun trims to the front yolk to jazz it up.

Sew What Club: Lille

I recently made me a new dress using the Lille dress pattern from Sew What Club during testing for them.  It is a really versatile pattern in that it can be made casual or dressy so easily, just with fabric selection and accessories.

My version isn't 100% accurate of the pattern released since quite a bit of tweaking to the pattern was done after I made this one, but I still like it.  The contrast pockets are a fun addition; for them I luckily found the same green as the leafage on the bird fabric.  I had also planned to take nicer pictures, but the temperature outside was way too hot to brave it.

Sewing in No Man's Land: Taking Notes Skirt

This first blog that I ever started following was Sewing in No Man's Land.  Her oldest daughter is just about the same age as Eleanor so finding her tutorials for the cutest outfits in the size I needed was perfect, plus her photography is just amazing.  When I saw that she was looking for pattern testers for her Taking Notes Skirt, I jumped at the opportunity.

 I tested both the girls' and women's.  The pattern is lovely and so quick and easy.  Eleanor's has a curved waistband, ties and is simply gathered.  Mine has the straight waistband and box pleats.  

The Taking Notes Skirt is available to everyone who signs up for her amazing new project, Sew What Club, which is a monthly subscription to amazing patterns at a great price.

Also, my blouse was made from Ottobre 5/2013 #8 Girly Touch with the sleeves from #12 Peplum Blouse.  I really like it and the fit is lovely.  The placket was a horror to figure out.

FramedArt.com Review

A little while back, I was contacted by FramedArt.com to do a review for them, so I got to do a little art shopping (they allowed me to choose one piece under $75 for free).  I found their website a bit overwhelming at first with all the options they have, to help with that I really had to think about what it is I want exactly, which was elegant, soothing and with a touch of whimsy.  After hours of searching, I narrowed it down to Summer in Bloom 

II by Timothy O'Toole, Layered Butterflies I by Sisa Jasper, and Fields in Spring 1884 by Claude Monet.  I asked three people's opinions to help me figure it out, but they all picked a different one, no help.  Eventually, I settled on the butterflies with a light blue mat and glass.  There are lots of framing and matting options to customize for you.

I did have to wait a while for my print to arrive since it got damaged along the way, but the second time around there wasn't even a scratch on the frame.  It comes with mounting bar bracket things that are rather awesome.  They make it easy to hang the piece level and keep it level (no more constantly adjusting frames that have shifted).

Currently, it is hanging in my dining room, which was quite void of art.  Now there is a fun bit of color, that I don't have to fiddle with to keep level.  I'm really happy with it.

I've noticed that FramedArt.com frequently have sales and coupons.  If you are looking for some art for your home, I suggest you look here.  They can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, Houzz, and Youtube.

Project Run and Play May:Summer Chevrons Shirt

This month for Project Run and Play, everyone is working with Crafty Cupboard's Summer Chevrons Shirt.  

For my version, I used knit and left off the elastic waist, because shirts like that tend to get caught on her little belly.  Since it was for her and I wanted a few minutes quiet while she rummaged, I let Laurel pick the fabrics.  The kitty knit is from an inexpensive 3xl tank top that I got to make something for the girls.  

By the time I took these pictures, she had already worn it several times (and at the end of a full day field trip with kindergartners).  I probably should have ironed it, but it is a shirt for a child and who has time for that.  I also only got these few pictures, though a couple are from the field trip, because the battery on the camera died.  It has been a long day.

The changes I made was to curve the neckline and not include the waist elastic or the button closure.

Pattern Testing - Love Notions: Lotus Blossom Blouse

Another pattern testing!  This time I tested a really quick sew for Love Notions.  The Lotus Blossom Blouse looks complicated with the twist in the front, but actually is fairly simple and it comes in a full range of sizes; from little girls' 2T all the way up to ladies XXXL (though girls and ladies are sold separately there is a discount for buying the bundle).

I love that there is also the option to have a lace inset at the back neckline.  I would have loved to do that, but I didn't have any stretch lace and I'm not allowed to buy more fabric.

I also made my jeans.  They were full length, but my fabric seems to keep shrinking even though I prewashed it, so I just rolled them up into capris.  I made them using #9 Lady Fit Jeans from the 5/2012 issue of Ottobre Design.  They turned out really well, though I have to keep pulling them up all the time and my zipper gave me issues.  I love that I used a floral fabric for the pocket bags and waistband lining for a little bit of fun.

Sewing Rabbit: Knot Dress/Julie's Dress Mash Up

This month, Project Run and Play's challenge is to make something with Sewing Rabbit's Knot Dress.  I used it to make the girls' Easter dresses with some sweet rosebud fabrics.

Both girls were made a size 4 bodice and then for the skirt I used both skirt lengths and had a layered look like Sewing Rabbit's Julie's Dress pattern.  Laurel's is the size 4 lengths and Eleanor's is size 5.

Eleanor's dress is white lined in the pink fabric and Laurel's is pink lined in the white.

They loved the dresses so much, they insisted on wearing them and their crowns to buy milk after photos.  Such silly girls!

The crowns were made using this darling tutorial.

My Treasured Heirlooms: Springtime Jubilee Pattern Testing

I've been finding/making more time for sewing lately and one of things I did was to test the under dress for the Springtime Jubilee pattern by My Treasured Heirlooms.  This is the same designer as the dress I made here.

The pattern includes an under dress and a smocked apron, both are really darling.  I used a fun puppy and kitty fabric that I was given.  Since I got it, I thought it would be fun to use it on a more traditional style dress.

 The under dress has a peter pan collar, puff sleeves, and button closure on the back.  On Eleanor's, I added lace to the bottom for extra length (and to cheat on the hem, I do not like hemming).  Eleanor loves twirling in it.

Silly face!

Ottobre Design: #24 1/2015 Jeanie Skirt

Eleanor recently wore out her last pair of jeans (plus they might have been a tad short) and since she is allowed to wear jeans on Fridays at school, I decided I should probably make her a new pair.  I made myself a pair a little while back and had some leftover fabric.  Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough for pants, but it was enough for a skirt.

I used #24 from the latest kids edition of Ottobre Design, 1/2015.  It was a rather fast sew and turned out so cute.  It has an elastic waist, faux fly, pockets with flaps that snap closed, and topstitching. 

 The only changes I made was to lengthen it a bit and use a fun pansy print for under the pocket flaps.

Chandelier Update

When we got our new house I was super excited, because I got to have a chandelier.  After removing a wall of mirrors and painting it just didn't show up as much as I would have liked, plus from the start I wanted to paint it.  After Christmas, I finally got around to doing just that.  

One of the house listing pictures

Gold before painting

I used Modern Masters Metallic Paint in Pewter and it took two coats.

I love how it turned out.  It shows itself off so much better now.