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Little Lizard King {Amsterdam}

Little Lizard King {Amsterdam}

It has been a LONG time since I’ve tested for Little Lizard King, but I’m glad I was able to join in on the Amsterdam test. You can read about my last one here.  I think this pattern features some great things that some of 

One Thimble {Issue 15}

One Thimble {Issue 15}

It is time for the newest issue of the One Thimble Magazine!  It’s been a few issues since I’ve joined in on the release tour and I’m happy to be back on board. For my feature post I’ve stitched up the Josephine Dress from Bella 

Sew Pony Tour {Juliette Dress}

Sew Pony Tour {Juliette Dress}

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A few weeks ago I was asked to join a group of ladies showing off the Juliette pattern.  This great new pattern was a collaboration between Jill of Kneesocks +Goldilocks and Suz of SewPony. I basically stalk Jill and all her creations on Instagram (I mean, who can make standing in front of a couch in pretty things look so good? I want to be able to do that! Also, I think she’s secretly superwoman), so I was happy to jump on board with this tour.  Suz at Sewpony is kinda new-ish to me, but I’m glad I’m getting to see her work through this tour.  Thanks for having me ladies!!

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A little about this dress pattern… The Juliette pattern has both dress and top options.  I have to admit, that the dress versions are my favorite as of now.  Juliette is an A-Line silhouette with many options to choose from.  You can make this with or without sleeves, with the neck ruffle or without, and you can add a faux button placket to the front if you like too!  The back closure has options of a loop and button or bias ties.  Both of these options make this dress perfect for the beginner sewist and a great make for anyone.

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I love the collar detail on this dress.  It’s like Jill and Suz have been snooping my Pinterest account and know things that I like.  This ruffle just so dainty and feminine, I love it.  A few tips for the sewist on making your ruffle collar look great… 1.Don’t cheat on the gathering stitches!!  You need to do more than one gathering stitch, and overachievers would probably do three.  It really does make your gathers nice and even.  2. Make your own bias tape.  The pre-made stuff works okay, but making your own is just a different ballgame altogether. (Plus there are pattern pieces for this, so you don’t have to have a bias tape making process.) The results are totally worth the extra few minutes on these points, I promise!

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If you haven’t followed me for long, you may not know that I am kinda a floral girl.  I’m wondering if people every get bored with my overuse of florals?  But, it’s spring now and that is a perfect excuse to bust them out, right?! I’ve been saving these florals from Lecien Fabrics for several years I think…  I’m glad I finally cut into them. The blues and pinks are lovely and I just love the floral in the collar!  It gives a nice pop of color to her face.

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Sale and Contest Alert!

So, now that you’ve gotten to scope out this dress, I’ve got some good information to share with you!  There is a 10% discount on all Sew Pony Patterns through June 2 with the Code DRESSEDINSEWPONY.  Not only is there a discount, but Suz is also hosting her very first contest featuring her patterns.  It’s a great opportunity to try out a new designer if you haven’t already, or to get a chance to win at some awesome prizes.  All the contest details can be found here.  Read all about the contest and the great prize packages here.

Tour Schedule

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I hope you have enjoyed this stop along the tour!  Lately I’ve been having some fun sending people off with a fun photo from our shoots that will leave you smiling.  These are kids doing our modeling, and even though we share all the “good” ones with you I love sharing the “real” ones too.  It shows everyone we are just real people having some real fun.

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Primavera: by Patty Young for Riley Blake

Primavera: by Patty Young for Riley Blake

Patty Young has a recent line out and I for Riley Blake, Primavera, and was asked to stitch it up to show it off.  I loved this line at first sight.  It’s screams SPRING TIME! I decided to use it for one of my Easter 

Coffee + Thread Tour

Coffee + Thread Tour

Woot Woot! I’m back with a second post for this week!  Today I’m joining in with a plethora of bloggers showing off makes from Coffee + Threads patterns.  There is so much awesome going on with this group of ladies.  Be sure that you catch 

Gnome Matter What! Fabric Tour

Gnome Matter What! Fabric Tour

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I am so excited to be part of the Gnome Matter What! fabric tour!  I have to say I feel like the small blogger on the totem pole of these stops, and I’m so thankful to have been invited.  Check out all these rocking blogs along the tour!  After you scope out this post, don’t miss the raffle copter waaayyyy down at the bottom!

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Ink & Arrow Fabrics is a new to me company.  There is a store locator to help you find fabric stores close to you that carry it.  I was just playing around with the locator and totally discovered a shop I didn’t even know existed just 6 miles from my house.  How does that even happen?! It’s almost too embarrassing to say.  I guess I’ll be checking that out this week sometime.  I’m hoping to attend quilt market next fall so maybe I’ll have my eyes opened to even more of the companies out there that I’m not aware of.  I can’t wait.

Alrighty then, how about we show of some of the Gnome Matter What! line, designed by Alicia Jacobs Dujets.  This line is full of cute little features that remind me of summertime fun in the back yard.  I made looks for the littles to show off these fun designs.

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This first look features a floral design, Sketchbook Garden Natural using the Swallowtail Top from Lil Luxe Collection.  It’s such a feminine top and a perfect pattern match for this print.  This is probably my favorite of the line because I am totally a floral girl.  If you follow me, you probably already know that.  I paired this floral with the Square Dot Blender in Charcoal for the flutters and the bloomers.  I used that Tadah Flexi Shorts which is a pattern I hop back to from time to time.

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This print features dainty sketched flowers with faint colors of green, purple, coral, and blue. It’s just enough color to keep it simple but not boring.  A nice balance.  The background also features a faint grid print as well.

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For our second look we just had to get our hands on those cute Gnomes! I’ve thought Gnomes were cute before Gnomeo and Juliet hit the theaters and they got cool. 🙂 I stitched up the Willow Skirt from Violette Field Threads in Lawn Ornaments in Seafoam with the Madelyn Top in Snails in Natural.  You see, I got sucked into that sale a few weeks ago and needed to justify the purchase by actually sewing up those patterns.  I guess I can check that off the list now.  #justified

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We topped of the top with the Square Dot Blender in Lilac for the collar.  It was a great way to pull some of that purple from the other prints.

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And sometimes I just don’t want to do button holes, so check out those Kam Snaps while you look at these cute little snails.  You can see that this also print features a faint grid paper background as the floral.  The math teacher in me is doing a little happy dance at that design feature.

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And before we get to the rafflecopter, we have some fun moments.  We have started getting rather goofy in our shoots lately, so here is a little bit of the craziness we had while wrapping up.

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Giveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ends at midnight, Wednesday, April 12. The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Don’t forget to swing by the rest of the Gnome Matter What! Tour featuring fun fabrics from Ink & Arrow Fabrics.  Don’t forget to scope out the other Ink & Arrow Lines.  I absolutely love the Zola Line, so I’m going to see if my newly discovered shop has any of that in stock.

Monday, April 3- Izzy & Ivy Designs

Tuesday, April 4- My Sweet Sunshine

Wednesday, April 5- Pear Berry Lane

Thursday, April 6- Lily Shine Creates

Friday, April 7- Pattern Revolution

Monday, April 10- That’s Sew Kari

Tuesday, April 11- Recap- Izzy & Ivy Designs

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Project Run and Play Week 3: Gone Boho

Project Run and Play Week 3: Gone Boho

Welcome back to Week 3 for Project Run and Play!  This week the theme was Boho Chic.  I did a lot of debating and changing up plans throughout this week before settling on these final looks.  I ended up with a plan that focused on 

Project Run and Play Week 2: Spring Greenery

Project Run and Play Week 2: Spring Greenery

We are back for Week 2 of Project Run and Play  (click link to go vote) with a theme of Greenery.  Greenery happens to be Pantone’s color of the year. Green is my favorite color so I was completely happy with this theme.  For my 

Project Run and Play Week 1: Parisian Pantsuit

Project Run and Play Week 1: Parisian Pantsuit

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Welcome, Welcome!  I’m so glad you have stopped in to see my creation for the first week of Project Run and Play.  Let me tell you, I spent way more hours putting together this first look than I ever imagined. I can’t really go any further without giving my husband a huge shout out for playing Mr. Mom for multiple days while I’ve been in working on this project.  He has been a rock-star!  After you scope out my post, don’t forget to view all the makes and return to Project Run and Play to vote for your favorite week one creation.

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The theme for week one was “It’s all about that…place” or possibly better understood as a creation based on/or inspired by a place you would like to visit.  I opted for a European travel destination and created what I have called a Parisian Pantsuit.  I wanted clean lines, pleats, and a complete look that flows together.

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I started with the pants.  I knew where I wanted and how I was going to get there.  I mashed together several patterns along with some of my own pieces to create these trouser pants with a scalloped front yoke, pockets, and knife pleats.  The scallops, pockets, and knife pleats are features of my favorite short pattern from Lil Luxe Collection.  You can read all about that pattern here.  I used the Sewlosophy Serendipity Trouser pattern as the base and then added all these features I love to make my final creation.  I love the fit of these pants and the flat felled seam it features in the rear.  I learned how to do a flat felled seam when I first sewed up these pants several years ago.  The gray suiting used throughout my collection is from my local JoAnn’s.  I’m always nervous ordering any kind of fabric that isn’t quilters cotton online, so I went in and pet all the fabrics before settling on this.  It worked wonderfully.

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For the Voile blouse I used the Lauren Pintuck Top* from Made for Mermaids.  I made several alterations for my finished product.  I removed the collar and the facing and finished the neckline with handmade bias tape from the same voile as the blouse. Handmade bias tape is a thousand times better than that pre-made stuff you buy in the stores. In the back of the shirt, I removed the keyhole closure and opted for a full button down placket.  I love how buttons in the back add a nice surprise to any garment.  Who says the back of things can’t look just as good as the front?  Other features of the blouse are a gathered capped sleeve and front pin-tucks. Classic design features for pantsuit I think.  The fabric and buttons for the blouse were a last minute snag from one of my local sewing spots, Let’s Sew.  They have quite a collection and an online store too. I’m so glad they humored me while I spent an ungodly amount of time sifting through buttons to find the perfect fit.  You can even follow them on IG here.

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Up next for my look was the cape.  How cute are capes?! I created the cape starting with a circle skirt as the base and some model measurements. I drew up the collar being sure to leave room for the bow to be tied in the front.  The cape is lined with light pink satin I grabbed at JoAnn’s.  I used the same satin for the ties as well.  The pink gives the suit a nice soft look for spring innocence, which I was totally going for with this look.

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Lastly, I finished off the look with the perfect ending to a Parisian inspired creation…a beret.  This pattern came from Sewlosophy.  I only made minor adjustments with the elastic to get a good fit.  The pieces come together perfectly.  This hat made me feel like maybe I should give quilting a try in the near future.  It was a seam matching success.

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And now for some action and funnies.  Prepare for photo overload.  Seriously, the photos are why you are hear anyway, right?  Thanks again for stopping in to see my creation from week one!!  PLEASE don’t forget to return to Project Run and Play to vote for your favorite week one creation!!

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And that’s all folks… Thanks for stopping in.

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Simple Life Pattern Co. Anniversary Tour

Simple Life Pattern Co. Anniversary Tour

It’s a two year celebration over at Simple Life Pattern Company!  I was lucky enough to be in on several of the recent tests for releases during the anniversary celebration and to get to share with you one of my most recent creations to help