I did it - I made the alterations and am very happy I did.  It was pretty easy to do - just alot of ripping stitches out.  I took the arms in (about 1 1/2 inches each!) and let out the sides towards the bottom (3/4 inch each).  Once those adjustments were made, it wasn't too terribly short.  I didn't have much extra length to hem it so I just enclosed the raw edge in the same bias tape I used on the arms (brillant idea courtesy of my hubby!).  It isn't very visible in this photo - kind of blends in with the black shorts - but the black band along the bottom makes it look finished.  It is super comfy and was nice and cool for our very fun croquet party last night.  I love my shirt!

Mmmmm ... last night was the ice cream social for Kate's preschool, Highland Pres.  School doesn't start until September 5th, but she cannot wait.  She is constantly asking how many days until school starts.  I'm hoping that this will make the wait seem a little shorter and a little sweeter.

I rarely make clothes.  Sometimes for the girls, but never for me.  When I saw this fabric earlier this summer, I knew I wanted to make something to wear with it - I thought maybe a skirt.  The fabric sat in the bag and I kind of forgot about it until I began cleaning out the sewing room.  When I rediscovered it and found this pattern, I thought ok, this is what I'll make.

Mistake #1:  When I cut it out, I decided NOT to lengthen the torso.  I kept holding the pattern up to myself and thought, "this is definitely going to be long enough."  Wrong, wrong, wrong.  It was a really dumb call on my part - I have to order long torso bathing suits.  What was I thinking? 

Mistake #2:  The armholes are huge!  I don't understand why - must be the pattern.  I should have looked a little more carefully.

Mistake #3:  At the bottom, it's narrower than at the arms.  Another pattern thing, I think.  It barely fits over my hips.

This is why I don't make clothes!

The result . . . still to be determined.  Part of me wants to scrap the whole thing because I am so frustrated.  The other part thinks I am up to the challenge of multiple alterations.  I guess I will wait and see.

Inspired by Mia (and her mom) over at Little Birds, I set up the girls to do some hand embroidery.  Being artistic, Jane jumped right in.  She drew a cute kitty that I transferred to linen using a water-soluable pen.
 
After picking her thread colors, she started stitching the cat's outline.  She has been working on it a few days now.  When she finishes we are going to make it into a pillow for her room.

I have been lurking about some craft blogs recently and decided to jump in myself. Welcome to my adventures in craft.