Morning Glory

 Pattern used Burda Style 8/2009 Blouse #117

 I used this light weight almost see through fabric as my muslin just to see if I liked the pattern. I really did not care if it turned out with the fabric as I have a lot of it and it is not my favorite.

The blouse is snug on the hips but I like how it fits else where. I typically wear it with blue jeans and flats but today I was in the mood for red.

Vintage Butterick 5307 Dress

 I made this dress in March of 2012 right after my hysterectomy. I needed a comfy dress that would help camouflage my swelling. This pattern was larger than my other patterns (a size up) so it made the cut.

 I skipped the zip and instead added a button, my reach was not so good then. I also shortened it by 12 inches so it would be knee length on me.

 I added some lace trim to the bottom of dress.

I don't wear it often now, its real loose all over.

Sorry blogger keeps rotating my photos

I made option "C" in the middle.

This is was taken about two months after my surgery, I was still quite a bit swollen.

(Reason behind so much swelling: Hysterectomy was started trans-vaginally then was moved to laparoscopically, only to be ended with me having to be opened up. I have 4 punctures and one big incision.)

Prairie Picnic Dress

The Kindergarten class that I work in had a Prairie Picnic last week where everyone got to wear something prairie inspired. I arose to the occasion and made myself a Prairie Dress and apron to wear.

I think I could wear this every day it is so comfy.

  Dress is a variation of Burda Style 1/2013 blouse #117 extended to ankle length.

 Without the apron the dress looks just like a Moo-moo. I liked this pattern before I made it a dress but now I don't think it would look right on me as a top.

Apron is self drafted.

 I was running out of time and did not want to make fabric ties on apron so I used ribbon instead. I love the result it gave me using ribbon.

I added a gypsy skirt I made Sierra under the dress so it would have a little more volume on bottom.

Burda Style Carmen Blouse 01/2013 #117 in jersey fabric

It's Been A Long Road Dress

I started Dress #137 from Burda Style 5/2010 way back in December of 2009 it was a plus size pattern so I did not add any seam allowance and took extra large seam allowance while sewing. I had it pretty much finished except for buttons and hemming, then January of 2011 I broke my wrist, so it got put aside and I put on some weight. I remembered it last January 2012 and finished it up but it was way too cold to take any pictures and I did not feel so well. Two weeks later I had to have a complete hysterectomy and I did not want to do any pictures because of lots of swelling from my incisions. I decided this dress was Bad Luck and put it away, that is until today when I thought "Hey, its January again, bring it on". So without further ado here it is, and I think I like it better now January 2013, than I did when I first started it. 

My Burda Style 5/2010 Dress #137 dress

I used a remnant of thin floral upholstery because of its heavier weight compared to plain cotton fabric. I wanted a dress I could wear on colder days. I only made one change to dress and that was I got rid of waist seam pockets.

The waist is a tad snug and the bust is a little loose and too low for me. I don't think that I will making  another. The all together shape of dress is to hour glass for me.

I don't have any complaints about the back, it fits my shoulders comfortably and the darts are just right.

I'll will defiantly have to wear a pretty slip or cami under this dress so I don't show off my chest with the dress being so low in the front. I had to pull front of dress up and slightly back to take these pictures, my bra was really showing.

Burda Style 5/2010 Dress #137 on their plus size model

I noticed that the model had the same issues with dress being low cut (showing bra) and the waist looks too snug.

Tried It - Tie Dye with Sharpies

A week ago I posted about the discovery of Tie Dying with Sharpies. The project impressed me so much I had my sons to try it, and they absolutely LOVED it.

Here's some more pictures from them doing their shirts.

This is Daniel's Saturn you can see it at the very bottom left of the very top picture.

Christopher adding rubbing alcohol to his.

Christopher's shirt, this is at center bottom of his shirt.

Christopher adding more alcohol with a syringe to his crosses, crosses are at top right of his shirt.

Daniel's cross, it is at bottom left of his shirt

 The only thing we changed was we used coffee cans instead of dinky solo cups. Also the boys used the alcohol sparingly to get just the right amount of bleed for their artwork.

Cost of this project:

Shirts we had on hand: No cost

Sharpies 8 pack primary colors: 8.49

 Rubbing Alcohol 65%: .99 cents

----------------------------

Total 9.48

How To Make A Slip Tutorials

I did a search of the internet for tutorials and patterns on making slips/petty skirts, I came up with "FIVE" really good tutorials and one free pattern.

1. Design & Style: DIY | How to Make Your Own Extender Slip

She uses a preexisting Blah slip and shows how to make it cute by adding wide trim.

Photo from Design & Style

 2. See Kate Sew: the short dress fixer slip

This one uses a cheap slip from a discount store and sews ruffle fabric onto it.

Photo from See Kate Sew

3.  iCandy Handmade:  (tutorial) extender slip

This crafter uses "Thrift store granny slips" as the base, then adds trim.

Photo from iCandy Handmade

 4. Trendy Trinket: Pettiskirt Tutorial

This gal shows how to make it all from scratch using lace, trimmings and fabrics.

Photo from Trendy Trinket

5. SEW CRAFTFUL: Free Slip Pattern

A 1969 free slip pattern

Photo from SEW CRAFTFUL

TCL Etsy Store 75% Off

Have you been eying something on The Charlotte Letters Etsy Store waiting for the right moment to pounce, well now is the time to buy. Get 75% OFF your purchase from The Charlotte Letters Etsy store by using this coupon code SPRING75OFF

*discount does not include shipping

Say No to Autumn Shorts

I made these shorts back in July for a Party that I was to attend and never got around to posting any pics. So, here we are two months later and the temperatures are lower and I have decided to model them. Boy was it cold and windy this morning, it didn't make for a fun shoot!

 They look a little oompa loompa but they are very comfy.

 I decided to roll the cuff up and stitch it in place, I think that it added to the look instead of the un-cuffed look.

 Ashley seen this location from a previous job he had done and decided it would a great place to take pictures.

 The fabric I used was the left overs from Daniels old Knights costume.

 I did not have a zipper to match the shorts so I used a purple zipper and it looks great.

Pattern used: Burda World Of Fashion 5/2010 Shorts #136

Thrift Store Redo - Summers End Frock

After Redo

1 thrift store dress needing some attention 

+

1/2 of a favorite pattern 

=

1 really awesome Summers End Frock

The pattern I used was Burda World of Fashion 6/2010 Dress 118 (bodice pieces only)

All of the new bodice came from the top portion/sleeves of the old dress. I cut the skirt off of the old dress 1" below old seam (could not get old sticky stay tape to come off old seam) and just reattached it to the new bodice.

I did not get to do the gathers I wanted because of the fabric runs when pulled so I did small pleats.

Before Redo

It was very frumpy before and real hot to wear, now it is very breezy and a great choice for the sun.

Recycled Sock Mitts

photo from leethal

Ever wonder what to do with those cute socks you don't want to wear. Over on Leethal there is a tutorial for turning your socks into fingerless mitts.

Bandana Skirt

photo from V and Co.

Aren't these just too cute? 

V and Co has a tutorial for making these sweet things for little girls size 2-3.

Freezer Paper Stenciling

photo: sir bubbadoo

I have been doing this for awhile myself but never made a how to for sharing. Kristina at Sir Bubbadoo has put together a great tutorial on how to do freezer paper stenciling and it covers every thing you need to know. The only thing she does differently than I do is she irons afterwards (I never do that, I think should start), but the rest is the same. I love her the onesies she has made.

BWOF 2/2011 Dress 101

Sierra and I have been working on this on and off for about three weeks. We started off by working on two dresses one for both of us, but in the end only one of us was meant to have one.  

 The other dress, well it is hanging up in my closet waiting to be finished sometime in the future.

 We decided the other dress was going to be too small for Sierra so I gave her mine. Her original was all lined, mine as you can see just had the bottom lined.

This is a easy pattern but we added some extra layers and lining to it so it became hard for Sierra to do all by herself. That and the outer layer is super slick.

 The upper still needs some taking in but the rest is just fine.

 Next time I think we will go with something that is single layered so she can do all/more of the work.

 I added a cap sleeve effect to the shoulders of the dress, both of us had problems with the shoulders not staying in place.

 What I love about this dress pattern is it falls right above your natural waist and there for hides tummies.

   Model: Sierra

Dress: Sierra & Charlotte

Cute little brother: Daniel

Location: The Abandoned Spill Ways

Jewelry: Grandma