spring tops 2 & 3

My goal this year was to make 4 tops for Made By Rae's Spring Top Sew Along, and I'm almost there!  Not sure whether I'll finish all 4 in time, but it's been fun trying.

This one was made using the LBB Pieced Tunic Pattern.  The fabric is Modal knit, like spandex.  It's very lightweight.  I shortened it to more of a shirt length, I only had one yard of this fabric and I used it all!

This was very quick to make!  I'm not sure why this project didn't get done sooner.  I've made this pattern before for my friend, Sharon, and it looks great on her!  I highly recommend this pattern.

This version is very light and seems like it's even moisture-wicking.  This is my new favorite shirt for working around the yard!

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Here is Spring Top #3:

 It was made especially to match this skirt that I made last summer.

The pattern I used was the basic T shirt pattern included in the book Sew U Home Stretch.

I followed the directions for altering the pattern and making it a tank.  

Then I decided it needed something so I put it on my dressform and stared pinning pleats at the neckline.  Once I liked the arrangement, I just sewed it on.

The fabric is interlock from JoAnn's I had laying around.

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So those are my spring tops so far!  The first one is here.  Check out the flickr group for some great inspiration.  There's still time to enter!

Spring Top for Maura

I'm still working on Spring top #2 for the Spring Top Sew Along for myself, among so many other projects.  

I had to stop the presses when I found this ice cream fabric by Lisette at JoAnn fabrics.  I had recently downloaded this Wiksten Tova Top Pattern and knew Maura would love a new spring top too!

Interesting choice of insect necklace with the ice cream shirt, I guess bugs and ice cream do go together.

(These were taken on Easter at our family get together.  It was too cold/rainy/gloomy to get outside photos.)

Maura's serious pose

Close up of the shirt.  

This pattern was very straighforward and easy and I had it done in no time!

I'm definitely making more for Maura and myself.

Maura and her "little" brother, James. 

Scenes from Anime Boston 2012

We had ourselves a busy weekend! 

Saturday was the Anime Festival and Sunday was Easter and Travis' 4th birthday.

Here are some photos from the Anime festival.  This was our first time, and I loved the costumes!

Travis and the Mario gang.  This pretty much made his weekend.

My personal favorite, Kyoshi Warriors (from Avatar the Last Airbender)

I wasn't sure what many of the costumes were, but I still appreciated all the detail!

The kids got very excited when we saw Pokemon characters.  This is Cubone:

Maura was Jesse from Pokemon's Team Rocket.  The same as Her Halloween costume, but minus the uncomfortable wig and makeup.

While not technically Anime, there were some people dressed Steampunk style.  That was very exciting.  Maura and I both have a Steampunk fascination.  For Easter, in her basket, Maura got some books: How To Draw Steampunk and 1,000 Steampunk Creations.

It took every ounce of willpower for me not to buy myself a victorian style mini top hat, it almost killed me.

Check out this group!  Fabulous!

Here's Liam getting in on the Steampunk hats:

Anime Boston, a wicked good time!

Peony 2.0

Awhile back I saw This Peony Dress, and just HAD to have it.  I quickly located some of Jay McCarroll's Dropcloth Fabric and got to work! 

The only planned difference from the original is I used the plum colored version of the fabric.  I also made the self-belt, because I just don't have any cool belts!

Please ignore my hideous white legs.  I didn't have tights on hand that would match.  I did however find these purple shoes.  I'm totally wearing this for Easter!

My nearly 11 year old son actually complimented this dress!

Thanks, Camille, for the idea.

This is the dress on my "Mii", as Travis calls it. 

clothes for the kids

Playing catch-up!  Here are a few of the recent projects for the kids:

Another PBF Tee For Two for Travis.  I love this old school print from this Ebay Store.

Olivia Women's Shoes for Maura.  She loves all things Japanese, so I thought she needed some Japanese style room shoes.

and these Nowhere Man Pants. 

I like the details on this pattern, I wouldn't even guess they were homemade.

and lastly:

Kimono slippers for Travis (which he claims to like but won't wear)

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I still have so much to catch up with!  Next I'll show you some of the goodies I donated to this year's Libary auction.  I also need to show you my newest Peony Dress, Maura's Tova Top, and show you what's different in my sewing area! 

summer sewing: Rose T-Shirt pattern

When Melissa of Melly Sews was looking for testers for her latest pattern, I jumped at the chance. 

Here is my version of her new T Shirt pattern, the Rose T-shirt.

This is an extremely verstatile pattern offering sleveless (like mine), short sleeves (next on my list), 3/4 sleeves or long sleeves.  I also loved the fact that it uses a soft knit but with the extra touch at the neckline, which is a woven fabric.  That meant I could break into my scrap drawer since it only uses about a quarter yard!  I used one of my favorites, this bird print from Studio E Natureology, it was left over from one of my favorite skirts. 

Maura wants me to make one for her, so that's going on my list!

The pattern should be released around March 12th.

Thanks Melly for letting me try it out.  I'll be wearing this all summer.

The timing worked out perfectly, so this will be my first entry for: 

Hooray for Spring tops!!!

Colette Peony 1.0 finished

Hooray!  My first incarnation of the Colette Peony Dress is finished. 

This one is in a gray/black herringbone lightweight suiting fabric.

This pattern was easier than I thought, and I only had to make one adjustment.  The whole dress fit good except I had big time gaping at the back, so I took out my zipper and cut off the excess fabric from the upper back on either side of the zipper and it fits much better.  I made the adjustment to my pattern so my next version should fit well.  My ultimate goal for this dress is plaid. 

This dress looks "all business",  which I sort of like.  This would be good for any serious occasion, like meetings at the school.   I like excuses to dress up.

Here's the back. 

Overall I'm really happy I bought this pattern and I'll be making more Peonies in the future.

I actually got to take OUTDOOR photos!  It was windy but warm. 

C'mon Spring!!