Denim dress | Sil 4300

This is a long overdue post of a much loved dress.  My dear husband bought me the fabric at our local fabric boutique, Unique Textiles, as a Christmas gift for me.  It's a nice, almost shirt-weight denim that has some drape.  I have worn this dress so many time since finishing in January, I've lost count!

When I was in the UK last summer I saw this cute dress in Whistles in Bath with my friend Michelle. I loved the smart yet relaxed air about it. Then we went to another shop and saw a non-denim version in the same shape. I've since seen many in magazines etc.

 

I looked through my patterns and realized it was the Silhouette pattern 4300 without the bottom front and neckline lowered (for my body shape especially).

Birthday Gift | Monique (+ Mum)

My best friend's daughter, M, turned 19 this March and I wanted to do something a bit fun.  Yes, I know I'm a bit late doing this post, more on that later.

 

I sewed up this zip bag (got the idea from one of my favourite blogs, Noodlehead.  She has a great tutorial on how to make different sizes.  I made a matching tissue holder.  Thought this would be a good 'set' for travelling considering M was going to France this summer.

 

Oh and I put in my favourite Gin into the bag for a giggle.  I was asked if it was from London and I said yes, but I purchased it at the LBS (liquor board store for those not in SK)!

 



I love the photo of my daughter and Monique - they are so sweet together. 

 

 

 

Of course they are personalized...I wouldn't want her mum pinching her bag and tissue holder!

 

Which brings me to the gift I gave to her mum a few days later.  Guess it's just the right size for make-up brushes!  I lined this one with remnants of her napkin gift given last year. 

 

The fabric are spare pieces from the quilt I made from my bed, from Prairie Chicks in Hague (soon to be Warman, which my pocketbook is dreading as it's much closer to my house.)

Little Presents for Little People

Alistair has made many friends at his day-home.  Several of them are turning 5 this week, so I wanted to do a little something special.  Since my friend who runs the day-home is an amazing baker, I can't measure up on that front.  Jennifer is always so thoughtful sending baking treats home with the kids on special days so I wanted to return the kindness.

 

 

I sew better than I bake, so I whipped up some tissue holders.  With my 'icing' I added their names on it with home-made labels. I sewed up a couple fat-quarters from Periwinkle Quilting and busted a few stash pieces.  My sewing pantry is far from empty, but its looking less like a hoarder!

 

 

To make these tissue holders, I cut a piece 6" x 16" then sew it into loop.  If the scrap wasn't big enough, then I cut 6" x 8.5" and stitched two seams to form the loop.  Then fold into tissue holder, overlapping edges and stitch ends.  Turn right-side out.  Add your tissues.

Sparkle Top | Sil 312

This was the fastest, funest, cutest top to make.  It took less than an hour!  And I get to wear my birthday gift - Stella & Dot - necklace with it.

Using Silhouette Patterns  312 Giorgio's Top and some wonderful lightweight rayon jersey from Unique Textiles, this top is so comfortable and fun to wear.  Here is a close-up photo.  Makes it look sparklier than it really is.  It's totally wearable during the day.

 

There is a slight different between 'traditional' consruction and this pattern that makes it super quick to sew and fit.  You stitch all the vertical seams then at the end you stitch the shoulder-seam.  I basted mine and I thought I'd need to make adjustments, but I didn't.  Hurrah!

  

 

 

Pattern Tester | E & E Ruffle Top

Yep, it's official - I'm a pattern tester! A wonderful blog - Elegance & Elephants - who I've been following for a while decided to launch a children's pattern. She put a call out for testers, about a 100 replied...and 15 of us accepted the opportunity.  You can see from my version, I'm longing for Spring!

I was honoured to make the tunic in size 6. It's so sweet!  You can check out the post from Elegance & Elephants of all the tops and dresses, including images of Imogen wearing her top.  The pattern will be launched March 11th.

 

The fabric is "Luca" from the Alexander Henry Fabric Collection that I found at Unique Textiles. I found a Kona Cotton fat quarter in the perfect shade of coral from Periwinkle Quilting...just perfect to highlight the ruffles on the top.

Pattern was really great for all sewing levels as there are step-by-step photos accompanying the written instructions.  This will be a downloadable pattern - the wave of today in sewing.

 

 

I also got to use this beautiful vintage looking button - the only one of its kind in my stash. It was a perfect match!

 

Birthday Blouse | Sil 450

Note - birthday blouse, not birthday suit! 

 

While travelling this summer down to the states, we got to stay with my good friend in Minneapolis.  I had been following the blog Patty the Snugbug for a while and she worked at this cool little shop Sewtropolis. 

So on my birthday, after some fun water sliding, we found this adorable shop - it was so much fun!

 

The blouse is made form a Michael Miller coordinating quilting cottons.  Then I got the contract pink fabric (fat quarter) here at Periwinkle Quilting.  It needed something...or it was going to die from the blahs.

I did make it up and wore it a few times...and something wasn't quite right.  It fit but looked funny.  Then I realized - it was too short.  So I found more of the 'solid' blue print and added to the bottom, following the shirt-tail hemline.  Love it now.

This is from Silhouette Patterns - 450 Nancy's Blouse.

 

Yellow Swirl Top | NL6871

This is one of my favourite tops as it suits my body shape...and if you make the sleeveless version you can make it from 1m of fabric.  1m like Periwinkle Quilting sells when they cut and bundle the end of the bolts (remnants really).  They didn't have any more of this fabric, so I gambled on it.  I won.

I love that the fabric works so well with my pink cardi - really fun outfit!

The yolks were cut opposite grain on the edge beside the front and back.  The bias strips for the armholes were pieced from what little scraps there were.  In fact I don't think I had even 2" square of scraps.  Pretty efficient!