Color block spring top

Okay, I've put aside my sewing-for-me hang ups and made a shirt for Rae's Spring Top Sewalong.

I drafted the pattern myself and used these great rayon/spandex knits.  The black one is from the April Johnson for Project Runway line at Joann's.  Do I feel facier that I was sewing with PR fabric?  Yup!

I get bored with the plain t-shirt and jeans option, but never feel like I find interesting shirts in my price range.  This color block option feels just interesting enough (without the "what were you thinking?" piece).

And, if you were wondering what the back looks like (or what I would look like being frisked), here it is!

Look for me in the Spring Top Photo Pool!

Wishing you the courage to tackle a new project!

Business card holder

Now that I have a snazzy new bag , people have been asking a bit more about my sewing endeavors.

Is there a better segue for handing over a business card?  But fishing through my wallet for one doesn't quite cut the mustard.

This little card holder certainly does!  Tutorial found here.

And look how nicely it coordinates with my new bag!

Wishing you some snazz and pizazz today!

Linking to:

Chalk mats...in the shop!

If you don't want to make one (http://www.roseleej.blogspot.com/2011/09/monkey-applique-shirt-some-news-and.html)...

...you could buy one instead.  

They make a great gift for a little one - for birthday, older sibling, Easter basket, or party favor. 

You decide.

Welcome, spring!

Spring for me is daffodils in one of my grandmother's Atlas mason jars. 

May your spring be filled with sunshine, renewed energy and light.

Hello, yellow! (spring bag - just for me!)

I wish I were a more successful clothing sewist - then I could be whipping up skirts and shirts for this lovely spring weather.  However, a new spring bag doesn't require fitting tricky curves - it just looks great!

 

I love the combination of this mustardy yellow (with a tinge of green), black, gray and pops of red.

 

 And this button!  I think it's the perfect soft accent for this geometric print.

 

Interior zip pocket (do you know these are actually really easy to make?  I never knew!) and blue dot coordinating lining fabric.

 And these pleats!  I love the double stitching on them - so crisp like the springy air today.

Wishing you something fresh and bold today.

The simple sewing project that jump started my plumbing career

We live in a raised ranch.  There are pros to this set up when trying to keep track of two little people.  However, we end up with this funky space in the basement that serves as a laundry room, furnace room and half bath (if you call a sink and a toilet stuck in a corner of an unfinished basement space a "half bath").  The ceiling is low, the beams and duct work are all exposed, and the lighting is poor (hence some less than stellar photos in this post).

 

 Recently, I stumbled upon several tutorials for taking mini-blinds and turning them into Roman shades.  I was excited to try it as our bedroom needs some better window treatments, but wasn't eager to hack apart our blinds and then have the project not work out.

Enter the laundry room powder-blue mini-blind.  The perfect subject for testing out the tutorial.  If I messed it up, I wouldn't really miss this thing, right?

 Look at it now!  With less than a yard of home dec fabric and some fabric glue, I have a lovely new Roman shade!  I keep going into the laundry room just to look at it (otherwise, the room is a total eyesore).

 

This simple transformation inspired me to move the washer and dryer to open up the space more.  Of course, nothing is as simple as that - I had to head to the hardware store to buy longer replacement tubes, and then learn to install them.  With my second load in now and no obvious floods (knock on wood!), I think I'm ready to start plumbing school!  That is, after I make more of these shades for every mini-blinded window (and finish all the laundry that was neglected during this project). 

Wishing you some surprising success today!

New recipe




new recipe from here