Serena and her friend Leslie (who is visiting from Pittsburgh) came over yesterday afternoon.  Due to a sick kid the day before and a little tension problem with my sewing machine yesterday, our little craft party was an abbreviated one.  It was more like a whirlwind applique class with a tissue holder bonus.  Serena brought over her machine (mine had a four hour stay at the shop) and we got to work.

People ask me how I applique on t-shirts.  I just cut out and sew on.  Not entirely, but mostly.  I showed them how to use a double sided fusible web, like Wonder Under or Heat and Bond Light.  First you fuse it to the wrong side of your applique fabric.  Then you draw your design on the paper backing and cut it out.   Next you fuse it to the t-shirt.  Finally, you stitch it in place.  I generally use a small zig zag, but you can use a straight stitch or a decorative one if you've got it.  It is really that simple.  The key is to keep your needle in the down position when you shift the fabric.

This skull and crossbones number is for Leslie's little guy Carson.  I think it turned out great - it'll be even better when she embroiders some x's for a mouth.

We also made up a tissue holder using this tutorial from tutti fruiti (thank you to the other Leslie from PA).  No lie, it takes five minutes.  Edited to add:  I cut the top two rectangles, 6.5 by 4.5 inches, just like Leslie did because I like the overlap, too.

I would have loved to do more, but we ran out of time.  I was extremely nervous the entire time they were here (could you ladies tell?).  I am in my element when I am sewing.  It's the teaching part that gets me all jumpy.  Next time, you guys have to teach me something.  There will be a next time, right?

Do you like my new toy?  Hooray!  I have been saving up for a serger for awhile and with some birthday cash from my parents (thanks Mom and Dad!), I finally had enough to buy it.  It was worth every penny!

I made this shirt yesterday - sorry for the fuzzy photo.  I used this tutorial.  I am pretty happy with how it turned out.  I did have to take in the sides a bunch - like four inches.  I thought the pattern looked really big after I drew it out and it was.  I don't think that the tutorial is wrong - this was entirely my fault.  I must have had a math mistake somewhere, but, luckily, it was easy enough to fix.

After I got the fit right, I serged up the side seams to finish them off.  So fast and so easy!  Then I serged the bottom edge before I turned it up to hem.  So professional looking, too.

I was a bit hesitant to make this shirt mostly because I need to wear a bra.  The thought of a strapless one makes me shudder - I hate those things so much.  The solution:  clear bra straps.  Whoever thought of those is brilliant!  And while I wouldn't wear them with a strapless dress, they do the trick for wearing a summer shirt around town.

The craft party yesterday was cancelled due to a sick kid (not one of mine).   We postponed until this afternoon.  More on that tomorrow.

I bought the fabric for these on Saturday, cut them out on Sunday night, and sewed them up on Monday.

for Kate

for Jane

Both are from my Japanese craft book.  I think they turned out cute, but I wish I would have added a bit of length to the top part of Jane's.  It doesn't really matter, though.  She refuses to wear it.  And she picked the fabric and the pattern.  I swear I am about to give up sewing for her - every single thing that I have made this spring sits on a hanger and is never worn.  I am talking about this outfit, this skirt, this top and the new one, too.  She tries them on once, wears it for awhile and never puts it on again.  I feel I need to repeat:  I let her choose the fabrics and I show her the patterns.  I always get an enthusiastic response.  What's a mom to do?

Kate's an entirely different story.  She loves it all.

At least I have one kid to sew for!  Good thing that my girls wear the same size.  Kate can wear Jane's clothes.  That is, if Jane will let her.   I am taking advice...help!

School is out for the summer.  Really, it just began about 30 minutes ago.  And I am such a sap...I cried on and off all last Wednesday because Kate was leaving preschool.  Then today, I got teary over having a second grader.  Gee, what is with me?

I did make totes for the teachers - 6 in all.  These are the ones I finished yesterday and photographed early this morning then wrapped for Jane to take in today.  I didn't get photos of the ones for Kate's teachers - too little time.  When will I learn?

We're off to the pool - trying to get into the summertime groove.  I hope that I can balance fun and housework with two little girls in tow.  I did it last summer, but just don't remember how.  I think it'll be trial and error.  Wish me luck.

Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't rain.  I don't have any kind of back-up plan at this early date.  Got to get on that too.

I have all the photos uploaded for the tutorial - I just need to write up the directions.  That is the longest part.  It is easy to sew and snap pictures as you go - matching the photos to words is more difficult.  Bear with me....I will get it finished soon.

This is the pile of shirred garments (two dresses and one top) sitting on the kitchen chair waiting for my girls to agree to a photo shoot.  It didn't happen yesterday so keep your fingers crossed for today.  I may have to whip up another little number, just to make the kiddos happy.  We are busy today:  school, Kindergarten check-up for Kate, birthday party for a friend and craft swap (woo hoo!) tonight.  (Just a side note, I finished my craft yesterday unlike last time.  Feel free to pat me on the back because I am happy not to be having a craft-a-thon today!)  Tomorrow is an entirely different matter - not much planned, but Fatty has the day off and I can't wait to spend the day with my man.  And those teacher gifts.....Kate's out on Wednesday so I had better get cracking on that.

OK - off to tackle a bit of the tutorial.  Thanks for being patient with me.

Did I mention a giveaway?  No?  Oh, well, just stay tuned....

I appliqued some flowers on to a maternity t-shirt for my friend.  The flowers came off of an Alexander Henry print leftover from this shirt.

The light is horrible in this photo, but the shirt was given this morning and I didn't have a chance to take another one.  The color is more true in this detail shot.

I find these appliques extremely satisfying.  I like looking at what I already have and trying to use it in some other way.  My friend liked it too.

And just because, here is a photo of a beaten egg.  The girls and I found ourselves alone for dinner the other night so I made pancakes.  I really like the yellow in this picture - something about this shade is making me smile.

Happy Friday!

I like giving gifts.  I especially like giving gifts that I have made.  This is for a friend.

I was inspired by one in the Lotta Jansdotter book.  I gave the directions a read, but made mine differently.  The straps are longer on this one.  I also lined it and added a pocket.

I am so pleased with the results.  I think I am going to make some for teachers' gifts.  Gotta get on that - Kate is out next Wednesday and Jane is finished the following week.  Yikes.  Has it been a whole school year already?

I am working on the sun dress tutorial, but have been delayed a bit.  This is partly due to the procrastinator in me.  I started later than I had hoped.  The other reason is that the fabric I am using right now has a white background.  The elastic thread is white and so is my sewing table.  All that white is making it hard to see the details in the photos.  I am going to finish this one up and then do another colored one.  I think that should make it much easier to see what's happening in the photos.  Hopefully, it'll be worth the wait.

Oh, and since a bunch of you asked, I bought my labels through Namemaker.  Be warned:  it takes awhile to get them.  About three weeks or so, but definitely worth the wait.

You all are pretty smart.  Indeed, I made a sundress.

And, no, it is not for me!  This is a little one - European size 90 or 18m/2T/3T (There is a similar one in this book).  See that is the beauty of this dress - with the ties at the shoulders and the elastic thread up top, there is growing room.  Gotta love that.

Thank you, Hannah, for turning me on to the wonders of elastic thread.  I was a bit skeptical, but once I started sewing, I knew this was going to work.  It was simple and easy.  I found myself wondering what took me so long.  Fun to make, I tell you!

I find this type of dress hard to resist.  I remember wearing them when I was a kid and I just love them on my girls.  I think it would also make a cute top to wear over shorts.  That was Jane's request.  Kate has put in an order for a dress.  They have both picked fabrics from the stash.  Good!  That means more sewing for me!

I would be happy to make a tutorial if you all want.  Let me know and I will get on it.

Enjoy your weekend!