Project Run and Play: Greenery

I really enjoy sewing along with the challenges for Project Run and Play.  It helps me to maybe sewing things that I wouldn't normally or learn more about sewing in general.  This week I discovered that I don't buy green fabric.  I don't have anything against green, I just don't buy it apparently.  Given that this week's challenge focused on green, I had to think about how I was going to get it without actually having to buy more fabric (I'm trying to be good, I promise).  I was very tempted to get out the green dye from my tie dye kits and try to make a gingham like pattern, but I didn't was the mess or hassle.  Then one day I was putting something away in my closet, when I saw a dress I made when I was first learning to sew that I don't wear (the sewing on it is a bit embarrassing).  It just happened to be green.

So the outfit I made is green in a couple ways, color obviously and it has been recycled a few times.  The green fabric started out as a sheet before I turned it into a dress and the tan fabric was a slipcover I made for a couch that didn't turn out well before I used it in the dress as lining.

The pattern is Zephyr from Figgy's.  I changed the straps to be able to tie at the shoulders.  I've made it a couple time and the button loops always give me problems coming out the seam.  If I make it again, I will have to remember to find a way to improve on it.

The bows are so cute!

Bookworm Birthday!

Eleanor just turned 7!  To celebrate we had a little Bookworm Party at the park with some friends and family.  I didn't do a ton for it, but wanted to share a little of what I did do.  If you want to see my inspirations for this party, you can see them on my Pinterst board.

I made invitations to look like library cards.

My frosting job was beyond terrible, because I did it at the park and the cupcakes were sticky, but the fondant books and bookworm we made were really cute.

I used the 3D letter printable from Mr. Printables and glued book pages to the back before cutting out.  It took some reengineering since I made the letters inside out, but it wasn't too hard to figure out.  The worst part was being in the depths of despair from cutting up an "Anne of the Island" book I got from a thrift store.

Since the book was already cut into, I figured I might as well use it to make my wrapping paper and bow.  I love how where the pages meet it looks kind of like ribbon was wrapped there.

Eleanor just devours books (thus the bookworm theme) so we asked that if the guests wanted to bring gifts that they bring books.  She finished reading one of the chapter books in less than a day and a half and it would have been sooner, but we forced her to play at the park.

The Cottage Mama: Party Dress

This last weekend we went to the park right after church and I realized that I didn't blog about the girls' Easter dresses, so I took a few pictures before having them change into play clothes.

I used The Party Dress pattern.  It is a free pattern by The Cottage Mama.  I love the look of this dress.  It is a very easy sew, though it is a bit of a fabric hog.

I love this picture of Eleanor.  I just wish I knew how to edit the hair out of her face.

4th of July Outfits!

See, I don't always use Ottobre Design.  For Fourth of July of weekend, I made my girls and niece some fun matching outfits useing the Sweetheart Halter by Peek-a-boo Patterns.

This is such an easy pattern.  All the pieces are rectangles.  I lengthened my girls' to be dresses and left the baby's as a tunic for ease of crawling.

I even tried making stars in the girls' hair.  Eleanor's is made from braids and Laurel's has twists.  I found the idea on Pinterest.

The tunic needed a diaper cover so I used #7 Tiny Toes Bikini Bottoms from issue 3/2016 of Ottobre Design.  I love the little bows so much.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July!

Ottobre Design: #22 4/2015 Blackbird and Cherries Tunic

The next round of filling Eleanor's summer wardrobe involved sewing this darling tunic from the 4/2015 issue of Ottobre Design.

I love how it turned out, especially with that darling Paris fabric.  The shorts are from the shorts sewing spree a few weeks ago from pattern #21 Perfect Shorts from issue 3/2016 of Ottobre Design.  The shorts really are pretty perfect.  They have lots of pockets, elastic waist and a little bit of elastic in the back hems to give it a nice shape.

The tunic was fairly easy expect the hem band, which was a beast to do those curves.

Ottobre Design: #27 B 3/16 Retro Swimsuit

Eleanor has grown out of most of her summer clothes so I have been busy trying to fix that.  A few weeks ago I made her five pairs of shorts that I should share if I ever get around to photographing them.  

Yesterday, she had a water party at school so that meant she needed a swimsuit.  I started the weekend before, but had sizing issues so ended up making the final product all on Tuesday. 

I used Ottobre Design design 27 B from issue 3/16.  It has a cute little skirt and criss cross straps and the other version has ruffles along the top.

It was a fairly easy sew and will probably sew another one, especially since I have one all cut out and started that turned out to be way too big for her.  Eleanor is so hard to size since she is 118cm tall but her waist size puts her in the 92cm size.

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.

I sewed something for me!

You may have noticed it has been awhile since the last Sugar Baby post.  Well, that is because I've been trying really hard to get back to my pre-baby body and maybe closer to pre-marriage body.  So there goes super yummy sugary date night.  But thanks to losing weight and a lot of my clothing getting worn out, I got to go shopping and I also made me a shirt (along with buying a lot of fabric to make more). 

I used a pattern from the latest women's issue (2/2013) of Ottobre Design, called Lemon Juice (#13).  I was a bit nervous about making it.  It seems like everything I made for me turns out weird, plus I was working with knit (still scares me a little) and it was a very strange shaped pattern due to the side drape.  In the picture, it is the one on the far right.

Source 

I am so happy with how it turned out!  My only complaint is that it is a little big, due to apparently going down a size from the time I had Michael measure me to when I finished the shirt.  But thanks to the drape it is hard to tell.  So my complaint is also a good thing too. (Yay for losing weight!)

luvinthemommyhood Sweetheart Dress

More pattern testing goodness!  This time luvinthemommyhood let me test her Sweetheart Dress.  It has a lined bodice and a heart cutout in the back.  I'm sorry you are going to have to bear with grainy pictures again.  We plan on get a new dslr sometime this winter.  I should just use my husband's iPhone, since takes better pictures than our camera.   

The pattern was really easy to follow and came together rather quickly.  I think that even beginners would be able to sew this up without too much frustration.

I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with the heart shaped scraps.

Laurel loved spinning in it.  I think she looks like a dancer here.

Ice Cream Kit

Thanks to camp cancelling that last week, we got to go to a wedding!  So I needed to come up with a wedding gift.  A while ago, I came across this great link on Pinterest and knew that it would be so fun to make and give.

Family Bites

After buying a bunch of fun ice cream toppings and repackaging everything but the bottles, I arranged them in a basket with some crinkled shredded paper filler.  I repackaged the waffle cones in some clear plastic wrapping paper and tied them with baker's twine.  The candy and nuts I put in resealable sandwich bags and rolled down the tops and taped them.

I thought about taking the labels off the hot fudge and cherries and put new ones on them and everything else like in the original pin, but I got too lazy.  But I did print some great gift tags I also found on Pinterest.

Eat Drink Chic

After printing them, I trimmed them a little and then used a glue stick to glue them to the inside of a pretty blank card.  You could also print on the blank side of some pretty paper or glue on scrapbook paper.  Once dry, I cut them out and used a hole punch for where the twine would go.

 I also used the other half of the blank card to write a note to the happy couple, folded it in half, put two holes on the open side, and tied it closed with more twine (unfortunately I forgot to take a picture).  The last thing I did was wrap in more plastic and tied it closed with more twine.

Before making a bow I slide the tag on.

I think it turned out pretty cute.  Hopefully, the bride and groom agree.

Thimble Berry Goodness!

As you know I live at a summer camp next to a lake.  Well, all around our house and the back acreage of camp has thimble berries.  Last year, I decided to try making jam with them and found out that we really liked it.  So I decided I'd do it again this year.  This morning we woke to buckets of water falling from the sky.  So there went my plan to pick them today.  Luckily, the sun came out in the late afternoon.  While my husband watched a movie with the girls, I went out and picked as many as I could find.  I wandered all over our backyard area and down the back dirt road.

(After a quick tick check, yuck!) I washed them all up in a vinegar wash (1 part vinegar to 10 parts water) to kill any possible mold, bugs, and disinfect, thus helping them to last longer.  Then I put them in a container and froze them till I feel I have enough berries and time to make jam.  

When I do go to make it, it is super easy.  Here's the recipe:

 Equal parts berries to sugar

Boil for 2 minutes.

Pour into jars and let it set up.

That's it.  Super easy.  Be sure not to boil too long, otherwise it becomes impossible to spread.

This fall, I want to pick huckleberries, since we have those too and make jam from those.  I hope to have enough for gifts at Christmas.  

I hope you enjoy all the great food nature has to offer this summer!

Peek-a-Boo Patterns La Jolla One Piece Swimsuit

I got to test another pattern for Peek-a-Boo Patterns.  Yay!  This time it was a swimsuit.  I know sewing a swimsuit sounds scary, but she makes it so easy.  As you know from this post, I've used one of her patterns before for a swimsuit and really liked it.  This one is even easier.

I started with some super adorable fabric from Girl Charlee.  I spent hours and hours trying to find the right swim fabric for inexpensive enough.  Then I remembered Girl Charlee and fell in love.  They have so many great fabrics for a great price.  That is where I found this fabric.

Don't you just love that lace detail!

I cut into my maternity swimsuit for the black, since I didn't know what else to do with it.

I'm so glad I did.  I just love the contrast of the black bows.

I made the headband using a tutorial from my favorite blog.

I love how it turned out too.

My bald, baby girl needs something up there.

I pretty much love everything about this outfit.

I hope this helps you want to overcome any fear you might have to sew a swimsuit.  I'm even going to make one for me soon.  Now that's scary.  If you want to make your own, you can purchase the pattern here.  She's even having a sale on swim patterns through June 1st, just use the code "swim20" at checkout.

(Just so you know.  We aren't super rich with a fancy boat.  We are just lucky enough to live at a summer camp.)