A Productive Birthday

                                                  This week was my 36th birthday!

For my birthday gift I got a Silhouette SD Machine!  I've been seeing them all over the web and it looked like a fun toy.  So I took advantage of a blog promotion on V and Co. Blog and got one for myself.

Here are a few of the things I've made in the last few days:

This is a dress that I had splattered bleach on.  I used the heat transfer to cover the bleach spots with these birds.  I have yet to wash it, so I'm holding my breath.  I'm worried this will wash off!

I made this vinyl decal by scanning a sketch I made of Totoro. 

Of course I had to do a little scrapbooking.  I have a ton of time to catch up on.  I think it will be easier now that I no longer have to buy stickers for the words and I can print them myself.  I'm setting a goal of one layout per week.  I'd rather be sewing, but my kids enjoy these albums so much!!

Sew Serendipity skirt done!

I loved the photos in this book!  I had to have it.  I needed the skirt on the cover.  I looked around in my fabric stash and found this great blue and brown combo. I'm happy with how this came out. I've already worn this skirt out twice.

I thought this was a pretty easy pattern and I was glad this book had full-size pattern pieces included.  I heeded the author's advice and bought a ruffler attachment for my machine.  I love it!  It was so easy to make the ruffles on the skirt.  I'll definitely be making more from this book in the future.



detail - I think the pocket makes the skirt!



pretending to be a catalog model

UPDATE!  I can't believe it, this skirt won skirt week 2011 for the A-Line skirt category!!  Here is my blog post about it.
I'm so excited!  I even get to be a judge for 2012.

freezer paper stenciling - I heart you

When I don't have much time, freezer paper stenciling is such a great quick craft fix.  (I learned it here: freezer paper stenciling tutorial) It also saves me money! I've been sewing more for my family this year than ever and I love it when I make things that I would normally buy for the kids. Like this Totoro shirt! Maura's been wanting one for awhile and on ebay they're like $17 + shipping . Here I've made one for about $3. This is made with one of those cheap Jersey's T-shirts that are on sale everywhere.   The greatest thing about this method of stenciling is how well they wash (using tulip soft fabric paint)!  I'm so glad to have found something that works on shirts that can stand up to repeated washings.

Don't you love Totoro?!

Right now I am also working on a skirt from the book Sew Serendipity.  I am making the skirt on the cover.  I totally did not need another sewing book, but this one I couldn't resist!!  It comes with full-sized patterns to save me time.  I'll show off the skirt when it's finished.

a few quick projects

It's been so hot here in New Hampshire in July that my sewing area has turned into a literal 'sweatshop'. I've been opting for some quick and easy projects for the kids.

bomb shirt for the T-Bomb, especially true in restaurants. This was another freezer paper stencil. I can't get enough of those.



A quick and awesome project for a 12 year old boy! The CD Pocket from the book One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects; Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric! It was quick and easy and my son is loving it. It has 12 pockets for his video games to keep them safe from the T-Bomb!