Applique contest on Honeybear Lane

Just wanted to spread the word about this contest on Honeybear Lane :

The contest is only open through the end of September, so get your applique projects in now!  There looks like she has some amazing prizes.

I just entered a few of my favorite applique projects.

Check out the Honeybear Lane flickr page here.

KCWC - Day 5

for Day 5 of the Kids Clothes Week Challenge, I created this top for Maura's fall/winter wardrobe.  I love how this turned out! 

Maura is an quite an exceptional 13 year old author, and spends most of her time writing stories and reading.  When I saw this antique typewriter graphic in the Silhouette Store, I had to use this for her shirt! (I am in no way affiliated with Silhouette America, I bought my machine for my birthday this year).
I ironed the silver heat transfer onto a scrap of t-shirt fabric and reverse appliqued it on the shirt.

    She has a huge collection of leather and other types of bound journals that she loves.

I used Burda 9861 for this top.  I added the ribbing on the sleeves and hem.  I've had this pattern for years sitting in my stash.  I going through a few months ago and donating the kid-sized patterns for girls because Maura has outgrown all those, and I had a freakout when I realized that, yes!, she could still fit Burda since it goes up to 14 Junior!!!  Hooray.  It's a bonus that she absolutely loves bell sleeves (and so do I).  I will be saving this to make for her in a few colors.


"Portrait of the Author as a Young Girl" 

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I've had a great time this week doing the Kid's Clothes Challenge!!  I've gotten more sewing done than I thought I could in a week.  Huge thanks to Elsie Marley for hosting this sew-along!

Check out the awesome Flickr Pool of all the projects!





KCWC - Day 4

For day 4, I wanted a fun, easy project.  So I stuck with one of my favorite patterns right now, the LBB hoodie.  This is my 4th one to date!

This one is made from his older brother's outgrown T-shirt.  I wanted to use the basketball graphic, so I used it as a reverse applique.  I found a good technique for that here from That Darn Cat.

I used to think that sports-themed boys clothes were cliche.  Then I had boys, and I realized that most boys get pretty excited about certain sports!!  Travis included.  He LOVES basketball and football.  I guess there's a reason why so many boys say "ball" as one of their first words.

My favorite part of this hoodie is the basketball on the back!  I used my silhouette machine to cut this heat transfer.  I finally figured those out after a few failures.  Tip for Silhouett heat transfer: Press hard while ironing on, and WALK AWAY while it cools completely...lets just say I found it hard not to peel it off while it's still warm, my bad. 

He likes it!

KCWC - Day 3

Day three of the Elsie Marley Kids Clothes Week Challenge was today.  I worked on finishing the sleeves and hem of this costume for Maura, which was started last Friday.

This is a costume for both Halloween and King Richard's Faire, which we go to every fall.  This is made with simplicity pattern 4940 .  She picked out the pattern and all the fabrics for this.

Here is a closer look at the collar.  It was tricky for me to sew using these fabrics, I was afraid to iron them because they might melt!!  So I folded with my fingers and hoped for the best.  I think it turned out pretty well!

Perfect for eating a big greasy turkey leg in.

HUZZAH!!

KCWC - Day 2

For day 2 of the Kids Clothes Week Challenge at Elsie Marley, I tackled the hoodie that was on my to-do list for Travis.   

Travis picked out these buttons himself! 

 The inside is lined with a very soft aqua/white stripe I got on Ebay.  I find it a bit tricky to find good knit fabric locally.  The brown interlock is from my local JoAnn Fabrics.  The pattern I got here.  It is the Unisex Hoodie from Heidi and Finn.

I also finished this pair of underwear for Travis using yesterday's scraps!  I can't wait to make more of these.  This is another pattern found on Etsy, Undies Pattern from ThatDarnCat.

Time to rest!  HA, I mean, go clean up the mess.  .. then off to my Middle Schooler's Open House!

KCWC - Day One

I am off to a running start today for the Elsie Marley Kids Clothes Week Challenge.  With 4 kids in the house, I'm definitely not at a loss for fall sewing projects.

Today I finished these much needed pajamas for Travis (Thanks for taking a 3 hour nap, by the way):

These were, once again, from pattern New Look 6932.  Which is probably the most useful pattern I own, since it includes sizes for my 2 year old AND my 9 year old.  Can't beat that.

"Alas, Poor Yoric, I knew him well"

 I love these weird poses we got today!  Travis is a real character these days.  A recent conversation I overheard between him and his 12 year old brother:

James: "Travis, don't throw my things, that's not funny!!!"
(pause)
Travis: "How bout....funny?"
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Up next for the KCWC : Heidi and Finn Hoodie, and finish the hem of Maura's Rennaisance costume, also I'm dying to try the new underpants pattern from that Darn Cat...

Pavement Show - Boston 9/18/10



 pavement
Originally uploaded by helium heels

We took Maura to her first concert last night. It was so great. We are so lucky she likes our music.

As huge Pavement fans, we were not disappointed, the band did an excellent job and played alot of songs from Wowee Zowee and Slanted and Enchanted. We all had a laugh about the band having the exact same haircuts that they had in the 90's Cut Your Hair video...if it works, why change it?!

My phone pictures came out blurry so I found this one via Flickr.

Something I didn't notice at the time was the inflatable Mr. Burns on stage! Love it.



Pavement Groupies



Sewing cool stuff for boys is possible.

So Liam is my most fashion-concious child.  He is the most picky about what he will and won't wear.  He's a hard client to design for.  This hoodie meets his tough standards.  It's made from a clearance T-shirt I picked up in a size 2XL.  I can't imagine why someone wearing a 2XL would avoid bright yellow with a flashy design.  Anyway, yellow is Liam's favorite color and he loves graffiti-like designs, so I picked it up.  

This is my 3rd hoodie using this hoodie pattern by LBB. 

I've been accumulating quite a few knit fabric scraps, so I just bought this toddlers undies pattern so I can recycle the scraps and make Travis some cool underwear at the same time.  I love recycled clothes.

But first I have to start and finish Maura's costume for halloween and King Richard's Faire, which we take her to every year for her birthday.  I'm really nervous about messing this up since I've already spent 70 bucks on the supplies!  I'll post it when it's done, wish me luck.

new improved Gnome T for Maura

The Penny Carnival Back To School Sew Along continues! 

This is the second gnome shirt for Maura with this fabric.  The first one, made this spring, is so shrunk it is now only for pajamas.  This one seems perfect!

Pattern used: New Look 6321. I made the XS size for her. It's so hard to find the right size for her right now, she's too big for the kids and a little small for the adult patterns.  This one seems good! 

even more fall clothes!

Here is a new outfit for Travis.  The raglan t shirt is made with one of my all time favorite go-to patterns, New Look 6932.   The skateboard graphic is from my Silhouette SD machine, cut from freezer paper and painted in with tulip soft fabric paint.

So it's looks like it's for pajamas.  It's great for all kinds of comfortable clothes.

The pants are upcycled from some Land's End pants my mom gave me, I loved the stripes, but for some reason the butt was SO baggy.  Not very flattering. 

Here is one of my new favorite shirts for Travis:

Another version of the MADE 90 minute shirt which is becoming quite a staple of Travis' wardrobe all year round. This is made with one of those short sleeved colored t shirts I see on sale everywhere this fall.  I got this batch 5 for $10 at Walgreens Pharmacy!  Travis is a fan of the Aquabats because he loves them on Yo Gabba Gabba.  He looks pretty somber in this picture but earlier he was dancing and singing the Aquabats songs he knows.

I'm really enjoying sewing up fall/winter clothes for the kids since the weather has gotten a bit cooler.  I've decided to participate in Kids Clothes Week Challenge at Elsie Marley .  It is Sept. 20-26th.  I can't wait for it to start!!  I'm going to make a few shirts for my 13 year old daugther as well as a this unisex hoodie from Heidi and Finn.  Should be fun! 

on a roll for fall sewing!

Another finished back to school item!  Liam is very happy with how his hoodie came out.  We used plain white knit I had in my stash, and he tie dyed it himself.  This is my second lil blue boo hoodie Recycled T Shirt Hoodie this week.  I'm trying to see how many fall items I can make for the kids.  I've joined Penny Carnival's back to school sew along. 

If you care to join the sew along, post to the flickr group HERE.

recycled t shirt hoodie

I finished another sundress for myself, and even though it's still obscenely hot this week, I started on some fall clothes for Travis.  My favorite so far is this recycled hoodie pattern from lil blue boo.  I know I am going to make several of these.  This is completely recycled out of old t-shirts we had laying around.  Such a great use for my husband's favorite Pavement shirt, it had a bunch of holes but he still liked it, so I ordered him a new one and took scissors to the old one. 

This pattern is SO FUN to make.  I thought the instructions were so thorough and easy to understand.  I especially love how the sleeves are constructed so super easily and don't have to be set-in.  Set-in sleeves are a bummer.  I'm currently working on a tie dye version for my 9 year old.

Here is another finished sundress, Burda 8071, which I wore to our friends, Tom and Kristina's, wedding last week.  Probably the most fun wedding I've ever been to!  It was a 3 day camp out complete with swimming, boating and campfires.  They even had a sundae bar instead of the usual wedding cake.  We had a blast!