Wardrobe Contest: 1 down 9 to go

It's been a long time since posting any projects because we've been busy since school got out.  I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I decided to join a contest on PatternReview.Com   It's a wardrobe contest.  I'm required to make 10 items. . . 10 items!  Four tops, four bottoms, one topper (i.e. vest, jacket etc.) and one free item.  The contest closes on August 31st and voting will start September 2nd.  Ack!  So, I've been busy working on this and another separate project which I will post about soon.

For my first top for the contest I thought I would do an easy tunic.  Grrrrr this top frustrated me. First, the fabric had a rip in it that I had not seen in the store.  This made it difficult to cut out my pattern.  Luckily it's not too noticeable that the front is two pieces cut in two directions!   Next, I struggled with the instructions when I had to sew the neck band onto the tunic.   I tried for hours to figure out the instructions.  I finally figured it out and finished up the rest of the tunic, BUT it turned out waaaaay too big.  So it sat for weeks.  Last night I decided to take it out again and try to fix it.  I had to take in the side seams by 2 1/2 inches and the shoulder seams by 1 inch.  It fits so nice now.  I even wore it to a baby shower today.
Here is top 1 of 4:

Pleats in the front and back add some cute detail.

The contrast neck band is unique but gave me grief trying to figure out the sewing instructions.

I can dress it up or wear it casual with shorts.  My kind of top :)

Hurray for one item done.  Nine more to go (gulp).

Link to my review

Pattern Challenge: Coffee Date Dress

I completed the Coffee Date Dress!  I have been looking and looking at this pattern and everyone's versions for a long time and finally made one for myself.  This adorable pattern is designed and offered for free by The Selfish Seamstress.  As I follow her blog, I'm really doubting her title...

Here is my dress:

 I added the wide belt for fun detail.  It also helps camouflage the belly.

 If you know me, I won't be drinking coffee in this but most likely tea.  I drink tea morning, noon and night.  I think Rod needs to take me on a date now in my new dress. Then it can be my wine and a movie dress, he he he.

View of the back with my invisible zipper.  It looks pretty invisible, I'm getting better.

My Coffee Date Dress is made from charcoal grey linen (100% cotton) that I purchased from JoAnn's.  This pattern was pretty easy and fun to sew up.  I liked adding the ruffle to the front.  I had to take in the dress almost 2 inches around the waist and chest and then adjust the front seams.  I thought I read the sizing correctly but I guess I should have cut out one size smaller than I did.  I used french seams for the first time and it really makes a pretty and professional finish on the inside of the garment.  I also used a blind hem for the first time.  That's gonna take some getting used to.  It might have been easier if I had cut the skirt on the bias.  This was also the first time that I used my dressform.  I love it!  It really helps when you are pinning and sizing.  I'm so glad I have one.  I've decided to name my dressform Genevieve after my grandmother, Eudalia Genevieve.  She used to sew and she bought me my first sewing machine.  I'll have to do another post introducing Genevieve and my sewing space.

Recipe: Swedish Pancakes

In case you missed it, I did a guest post over at Come and See the Seitz. 

I shared a very special family recipe for Swedish Pancakes and I thought I would share it with you one more time.  It's that good. 

 
Ingredients:
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
dash of salt
1 Tbl sugar
2 1/2 cups milk
1 stick of butter (melted)










Directions:

Beat eggs till lemon colored.

Add flour, salt and sugar.

Add milk IN THREE GROUPS. Batter will be very thin.

Add melted butter
Let stand for 15 minutes.


Pour 1/4 cup of batter into a hot skillet and tilt pan to thin out and make pancake shape.  When edges are set, flip pancake.

Makes APPROXIMATELY 30-35 pancakes. Serving size is about 3-4 per person or more for the hungry guys.

We like to scoop some fresh juicy strawberries and whip cream in side, roll them up and drizzle syrup on top.  I also like to eat them with just whip cream inside and syrup.  Yum! 
Be creative.  Fill them with your favorite fruit.  I originally had this with lingon berries which is more traditional, but a bit too tart for me. I’ve never tried it, but I bet scrambled eggs and ham would be delicious.  On this day, we had powdered sugar, bananas, chocolate chips, mixed berries (from frozen bag) and some fresh strawberries smashed with sugar.

 

 

 

Yum and watch out! They’re so thin and scrumptious it’s hard to stop eating them.

Enjoy!

 

 

Lovely Weekend

This last weekend was so beautiful up here in our mountains.  It was a comfortable 76 degrees or so with a slight breeze.  Yesterday we took advantage of the nice weather.  First we took Mason to the dog park, where he got to enjoy the millions of different scents.  I thought to myself, "Why doesn't he want to run around with the other dogs," then I remember he's a scent hound and this IS fun for him.  After the dog park, Rod made some sun tea on the back deck and we sat out there with our iced tea and enjoyed the afternoon.

Me sitting in the shade of our umbrella, knitting and drinking some iced tea.  Perfect relaxing afternoon.

Rod enjoying an apple and tea while Mason sits and waits for his piece.

 

Carefully watching that apple.

KeKe came out on the deck too.  Here she is looking before stepping out into the sun.

Avery in her sun hat.

Later, we went inside and had some Play-doh fun.

Avery's hair is finally getting long so I put in her first pony tails.  So cute!

Cool shot.  You can see her left eye in the hole of the tea pot lid.

It was a lovely weekend!

Mother's Day Scarves

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!  Hope your day was special.

For my mom and mother-in-law I made them a Summer Scarf, following the tutorial from

This scarf is really easy to make once you hem the edges.  It was a little difficult working with the fabric I chose.  It was a silky polyester and wouldn't crease when I ironed over the edges so I just had to eye ball it when sewing the 1/2 inch hem.  This is when I really wish I had a serger to finish off edges.    The fun part was sewing with elastic thread.  I had never used it before and it was fun to see the fabric bunch up.

 

I was a bit disappointed with how short the scarves ended up being.  With the elastic they shrank more than half their original length (128").  Oh well, they still add some fun ruffel-y-ness around the neck.  I think both my mothers liked them.

 

 I love you mom and Judy!

Guest Post

Today I am guest posting on Come and See the Seitz!  

I was so excited when Sarah asked me to do this.  Her blog is filled with hip sewn clothes/projects and bEUTiful quilts. I'm really itching to get back to quilting because of her.

Go check out my post for a YUMMY Mother's Day Brunch idea!

Vote for me!!

 I made the top 60 in Made by Rae's

I'm in the Day 2 round and couldn't be more excited!

Please go HERE to vote for my top.  You'll see the voting in the right column.  Thank you!  This is so fun.  I'm just so pleased I made it into the Top 60 out of 368 entries.

~Kristie