Twitter

I am on twitter now as jennywaj. Because, you know, I don't have enough to keep up with! I am trying to get the badge to work on my page. I don't know what is wrong, but more importantly, I am cutting fabric! Woo hoo!

Drive Carefully!

I am taking my defensive driving class online right now. All I can say is drive the speed limit and for goodness sakes follow the traffic laws! And if you ever come across a cop, thank him or her or better yet give him or her a big hug.. They don't get paid enough to put up with the stuff they put up with! Okay back to to my class.

Isn't she lovely?

I made this tunic as a gift for my sister Kelly. She just turned 50! Doesn't she look great?!? Not that 50 is old but she looks exactly the same as she did in her 30's. EXACTLY. I hope I look this good at 50! Anyway this is ANOTHER pattern by Jennifer P. and Carla C. The pattern is called the Patricia tunic and the fabric is Jennifer Paganelli's Bell Bottoms Georgette. I think I am going to make a few more of these! It was REALLY easy to make and I noticed in the YCMT I Made This! photo slideshow that some have been making these into dresses! Hmmmm I am liking the dress version too. Oh but I should note the pattern is only a tunic. But it's not hard to turn it into a dress, just lengthen the pattern pieces.

Mother's Day is coming!!!

Can you believe Mother's Day is SO SOON??? I can't. But I know what my daughter and I are gonna wear! This is the Marlo top and the Cathy Dress by the dynamic duo Jennifer P and Carla C. As always they are very well written and cute patterns. For the Marlo I started with a size small top and took in the bodice area so I would ensure the top not gaping. All shirts that are not a standard high round neck gape on me so I was REALLY happy to be able to make something for myself that had a different neckline AND didn't gape.  It changed the curved neckline to be a little more angular but I don't mind. It stays put when I have to bend down and that is exactly what I want.  I added about 10 inches to the bottom of the top to make it a dress and added about an inch on either side of the skirt to exaggerate the A line a little. The sash was just something I added. It's not in the pattern, but VERY doable! The fabric is of course gorgeous Sisboom Bellbottoms. Oh and my daughter doesn't like to have her picture taken so to get her to cooperate I promised her ice cream. Look how hard she worked for that ice cream! So funny! I call that cheesy smile overload! Gasp! I just read Jennifer's post! Can I say, and I know Melissa P will agree because we have blibber blabbered about it, Jennifer's work is so SO beautiful but it is not just her products. When you top off all that gorgeousness with the beautiful person she is, that makes everything she creates  THAT MUCH more beautiful. As if that were even possible?!? But it's true!  She is the one that encouraged me to start a flickr account and a blog. Her generosity and sweet words have been such a catalyst for me to dream big dreams. I am so grateful for her. Big BIG hug to Jennifer! Love you and all you do girl!

Sweet Melissa

A while back I posted pictures of the contents of a sweet package from Melissa P. at A Hundred Billion Stars. You may remember it. It had crochet books, yarn, crochet needles, cute clips that she had made etc. In return I sent her a package as well. In the package I sent was an assortment of things including a random multi yard piece of Valorie Wells fabric. It was a piece of fabric that I love but I didn't know what to do with it. I originally planned to make a skirt out of it, but then decided the pattern and color of the fabric were just too bold, even for me. So I sent the yardage to Melissa thinking she could make bags out of it and sell them or whatever. Well she made a bag, a gorgeous bag, but instead of selling it, she sent it back to me. Isn't it beautiful!?!

And not only did she send me this bag, but she included this beautiful sewing organizer, which I desperately needed, and these cute note pads. Such a sweet gal.

So soon after receiving my package I went home with my family for Easter weekend and I brought my bag. My mom LOVED the bag. So I emailed Melissa(which is not novel as we jibber jabber every day!)and asked if she had enough to make one for my mom. She did! And this is how my Mom's turned out. Isn't it cute!?!

You know she does great work and Mother's Day is coming up. If you don't have time to whip something up go check out her Etsy store. She has cute handmades at really great prices and her work is top notch.

Thank you Melissa!!!

Ladies start your engines!

The Bluebonnet Shop Hop starts tomorrow! Woo hoo!  A large number of  Texas hill country quilt shops participate and they have giveaways for participating in the shop hop. I don't have the participating shops list in front of me but I do know Quilt Haus and Seventh Heaven Quilt Shop are participating.  I have samples on displayed in both shops. Free stuff and gorgeous fabric perusing and purchasing,  whatcha waiting for?!


The is another sample I finished for Quilt Haus. Most of the fabric is Valorie Wells. The dots are Michael Miller and the bodice might be Dena's Monaco. Not sure on the bodice fabric. If you know pipe up! The pattern is Pink Fig's Lydia dress. It was a super easy pattern. the bodice and straps are shirred. The shirring and the applique on the apron makes the dress  hang funny on a hanger. I threw it on my little model this morning just to be sure and check the fitting and it looked great. It's going to the shop today, maybe the end of the day but today for sure! So put on your hopping shoes!

I've been sick! Boo!

I have been sick since Friday with a nasty cold. Blech. But am much better now so, that's all am gonna say about that. No use dwelling on it.
I did manage to sew a bit while under the influence of Sudafed. Not a lot, but some. Below is the result of a pattern I tested today. It is the Yaya apron pattern by Goosegirl Sews. Cute huh? And it was super easy and quick. She should have the pattern out later this week,so go check it out!

I also made my Marlo but I don't have the coordinating Cathy finished so I don't have a picture of both of them together to share yet.

Finally I am working on some samples for The Bluebonnet Shop Hop which is this weekend. ACK! I gotta get busy. Here is the first sample.

Okay it's hanging a little funny, but it's too big for my model and I don't have the right size hanger so just know it's not suppose to droop like that. I used gorgeous Nicey Jane to make this Pink Fig Lily top and head scarf. Isn't it cute!?!? I LOVE this pattern. It was my first time to shirr and it was super duper easy. Out of all the tips out there I think the best tip is to start with your owners manual. My manual advised me to shirr completely differently than the instructions that were provided in the pattern. I am confident the pattern instructions are sound, but considering my manual advised completely differently I am thinking that maybe different machines require different methods for shirring. Because if you think about it our machines are not engineered the same. So drag out your manuals first! Okay I am keeping this 'short'. Ha! I need to finish two more samples and then the coordinating Cathy. So I am off to sew!

Poodle!!!!

Jennifer has FINALLY revealed Poodle! So gorgeous! I don't know about you, but I don't think I can keep up with her! I am thinking I need some of the Marni, Maive and Tanya! And word on the grapevine is Marie Madeline Studios has ALREADY placed their order! Yay! So keep your eyes peeled! They should have it soon! Woo hoo!

Melissa at A Hundred Billion Stars is at it again! This time she has a pattern for a folder holder/organizer. Isn't this a cute idea!? I love it! And such a reasonable price for a pattern! Seriously, when is the last time you saw a pattern for 3.50? So worth it. I am thinking of making a few of these for my Carla C/Sisboom patterns that I print out. A great way to carry them around and cute to look at! So go check it out in her Etsy shop. OH and look at the binding, it's those great Bell Bottoms dots! Love that fabric! Love the paisley too! Of course. =)

Filled that envelope yet?

The Marlo is available at YCMT now!  Woo hoo! And don't forget to grab the Cathy for matching oufits! Now I gotta say, I was busy filling up my envelope when I received my first EVER email/correspondence from Carla C yesterday(she must have gotten my email from all those comments I left on her blog posts! =O. Jennifer had nothing to do with it.). She thanked me for letting you know about the Marlo and sent me THE pattern. Sweet gal! Sooo that means I have a busy sewing week ahead and, GASP, NEW clothes! My mom will be happy!(I am the uniform mom, same 3-4 outfits rotated throughout the week.) Woo hoo! Thank you Carla! Hope you are all having a lovely day! We have had a lovely Easter celebration weekend with our family. Sad for it to end.

Pssst!

Word on the grapevine is Marie Madeline Studios still have the scrap bags for sale here. It is a SERIOUS deal! So check it out! Oh, and on top of  that sweet deal, they are having an great sale too! It's until April 9th and if you buy $35 or more shipping is FREE! Find out more info here! Love the sweet Long Ladies! Tell them I sent you! Not that you gain anything by doing so, but tell them anyway!

I had a wild"hare"!

So my daughter inspired me by pulling out all that Sisboom fabric today. I decided to dive into those scraps I bought from Marie Madeline Studios a few months ago and this is what I came up with. The peeps bunny pattern is from the blog MADE. She made a cute garland out of felt peeps bunnies. Make sure you check it out. The skirt is inspired by Carla C's skirt that was featured on Jennifer Paganelli's blog a while back and by Anna Maria Horner's Maxi dress. I didn't use a pattern. I just cut the waist band 8 inches wider than her waist and started adding rows of gathered patchwork, ruffles and trim. So go buy those scrap bags of fabric! Just go on Etsy and do a search. For a while Gocks Frocks and Marie Madeline Studios were selling scrap bags from their Etsy shop. I would start with them first.

Oh, Sisboom. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways....

...1,2, 3 no closer to 15 yards of fabric pulled out of my stash! At first she spread them out to have a lollipop party with her imaginary playgroup of friends and then she decided to wrap herself in the fabric. Wouldn't YOU?!? Oh and Doll Dresses fabrics play really well with Sisboom fabrics don't they? Happy spring sewing!