Hello All!

I have come to the realization that I am unable to keep up with 2 blogs. I will be only posting on my main blog Happily Homemaking from now on. Please join me over there! You can also find HH on FB.

Skirt for Hannah, Thrift Store Find

I wanted to make myself a skirt so I dug through my fabric stash and found this pretty material. I had the perfect pattern: full, elastic waist with big, pleated pockets on the side. I added peach ribbon to keep it from being too orange. I tried it on before finishing up the elastic and it was a bit too big. I always do that when I sew for myself. The pattern says I'm one size but I should always go down. 

I thought of my Sister-in-Law Hannah and hope it will fit her better then it does me! So I'll be shipping it off to Virginia soon.

I am really in need of some fabric to work with so I packed up the kids in the car and headed to the Thrift Store this morning. 

It wasn't a huge success but I did walk away with a vintage sheet that will make several pretty dresses.

I hope to find some pretty ribbon and lace to match!

Sewing with Ethan + Tip

My son loves to watch me sew. I think it's so neat how patient a 2 year old can be when he's really into something. 

Here's a helpful sewing tip:

Put a container, I use a sour cream cup, wherever you are sewing/cutting to put all your trash in (loose threads, bits of fabric). That way you keep your space clean and don't have to keep running to the trash can. I have one near my machines and one on my ironing board. Then teach your toddler to empty them in the trash!

Do you see how the iron's cord is wrapped around the doorknob? That is in case Ethan runs into the ironing board and the iron falls it will not fall off the board onto his head!

The Two Pillowcase Dress

Pretty Yellow Dress was made with two vintage pillow cases. It is a size 4. It is made with the same pattern I've been using just a different skirt and longer sleeves. I like this because the skirt seems a bit more flowy.

Happily Sewing

A few weeks ago I got fed up with how messy my kitchen was so I took all my sewing stuff and hid it away.

My kitchen was clean! I enjoyed it for several weeks.

Then the other day I told my husband that I missed sewing. Why would I give up something that makes ME happy?

With a little organization I can have a clean kitchen and keep sewing. Plus my husband has given me a little space in his office to store my plastic bins

I've decided to start sewing the same dress pattern with different variations until I can do it in my sleep. I have a ton of ideas rolling around in my head but can't seem to keep up with them and I never get anything started let alone finished. If I keep it simple I can get projects done and post on my Etsy store.

Remember this little dress:

A friend of mine bought it for her little girl. It's the same pattern as the newest dress up on my Etsy. You will be seeing it again very soon!

When I started my store I didn't want it to become a "have to". I want to keep it a "want to". I love matching a vintage fabric, an old dress or a skirt with a cute pattern and make it my own.

Pink and White Flower Upcycled Dress

Newly listed on Etsy!

New Leggings Added to Etsy!

A few of the new Leggings I just added to my Etsy store:

Sewing Saturday

I thought I'd start a "Sewing Saturday" to link up what I've been sewing on. Maybe I'll get a button and you can join along!

Wrist Pincushion  I've needed one of these for soooo long! I guess my wrist are small because I had to take this up about an inch but it still works great! My wrist measures 6 inches and I wanted the pincushion to fit tight.

Bohemian Beauty Skirt I need some pretty skirts for the summer. I'm in between sizes and hopefully will drop a few sizes this summer so I don't want to spend too much money. This one looks pretty and flowy.

I'll post pics when I"m done!

Free Patterns-Link+ Christmas Hat and Changing Blanket

I just found this site- Sewing Stuff - that has a HUGE amount of free pattern links for just about anything you could want to make. Thought I'd pass it along.

Recently I have seen several WAHMs making Changing Blankets and thought I'd give it a try. Here is what I came up with:

Velcro holds it together.

It's a nice size so baby does not have to touch yucky public changing table or floor. I made it out of soft fleece and flannel with a thin padding in between.  I think I will like it much better then the towel I would carry around with my first!

I also made my son a fleece hat, with left over Veggie fleece, to go with his Christmas Pjs. I used the tute from Made By Rae. She has some great stuff! I think I will make baby girl one with the flowers.

I am ready to get started sewing more. Now I just have to find the time an energy!

A Very Veggie Christmas

 

My son is 23 months and is in love with a couple of vegetable movie stars. I have known that I wanted to make him some plush toys for a few months now and have been thinking and researching how to do it. I finally came across this fabric beach ball tutorial from The Purl Bee and it was perfect!

I used the Med size for the Tomato.

I "free handed" both their faces and the leaf top. I machine sewed their eyes and mouths but hand sewed the black part of the eye and the leaf top.

I used the Large size for the Cucumber plus added 3 inches into the middle. If I was going to do it over again I would add a total of 5 inches to the middle because his face should take up half of his body. With just the 3 inches, he seems a little short to me.

I'm sure my son will LOVE them!! Check out The Purl Bee for some great tutorials for all things crafty.

Not Sewing But Knitting!

I have taught myself how to knit! I've only used single knitting needles so far but find it very fun but a bit slow. I'm sure my speed will improve as time goes on. I bought some "round" needles but haven't tried to use them. I still need some double point needles so I can try out new patterns. This is one of the only newborn hat patterns I have found that you sew up the side.

I'm making 2 hats for Elliot (Here Comes the Sun). One baby blue wool hat and a bright yellow. The wool hat turned out much smaller then the others but that's okay because he will most likely be born early. I used the same needles and the same pattern so I don't know what happened. Maybe it's the yarn? We'll see about the yellow one when I'm done with it.

My next hat will be from this supper soft pink yarn. Next up will be baby booties!! Hopefully I will sew again one day. I have so many cute patterns I want to try out for the little girl.

Upcycled Pink Yoga Bag

After making the kimono for Violet, I knew I had to do something great with the rest of the skirt. When I made my self a yoga bag I thought this would be great material for another bag!

Sorry for the baby foot!

You can find this bag on my Etsy store!