Hip to be Straight

I have been known to blog almost exclusively about my kids and sewing projects that I've made for other people but today I've decided to switch things up a little. It's not that I don't make things for myself, oh wait, I think that's exactly what it is. I get so excited making things for the girls that even little things like sewing buttons on a shirt get pushed aside when it comes to me, although how exciting is sewing on a button. But last night I took matters into my own hands and produced a couple things that I am very proud of.

When I went back to work after my maternity leave, in August, I went through my closet and tried on everything that I thought might fit. After an exhausting afternoon I realized that my wardrobe needed a little update. I love pencil skirts, narrow, knee-length skirts, for work but I searched high and low and could not find any in the stores. I did a search on line to find out how to make one and I came across a blog demonstrating how to turn outdated A-line skirts into pencil skirts. "The New Professional" blog from October 2010 gave me the inspiration to try it myself. Last night I set aside some time and decided to try turning two of my older skirts into pencil skirts, since I don't wear them anymore I couldn't do them any harm. With a quick pinning of my skirts I sewed a new seam, cut off the extra fabric and adjusted the hem. I couldn't be any happier with how my new skirts turned out. I haven't made garments for myself before, but after this attempt at alterations I think I might try it out in the future.

Updating a out-of-date skirt has really added to my wardrobe. Who wouldn't love having a few extra items in their closet that are truly made to order

As you can see it is hard for me to not include the girls in my blog. When I told Sophia that I was going to take some pictures of my new skirts she decided to put it up on the bed and sit beside it. That's right, beside the girl with the bright blue eyes and the cute smile is a skirt : )

Boy o' Boy

It's no secret how much fun I have making things for Sophia and Layla. The fabric that it available for girls greatly outnumbers the boyish type prints. But I have had my eye on a certain Funky Monkey fabric, by Erin Michael, for a very long time. When I found out that friends of ours had a baby boy I finally had an excuse to stock up.

This has to be my favorite rag quilt that I have made to date. I used 6" squares, which I typically do, but I used an extra layer of flannel for added softness. I know that it is being loved and I can't wait for an excuse to make another one!

Which brings me to the second "o' Boy"

This could be the reason that Sophia thinks blue is for boys. I just love how the blue and brown go so well together, and oh wait...do I see more monkeys?

Where does the time go?

It can never be too late to post Christmas pictures, can it? I can't believe how fast the time has been going since I've been abck at work. I wanted to take some time now to show everyone that even though I haven't made time to post anything on my blog I have still been sewing.

Sophia got her "big girl" bed for her birthday, with the quilt that I made for her and I thought she would like a semi-matching one for her doll for Christmas. Can you see the difference?

I made the doll blanket from 3"x3" squares of scrap left over from her quilt, using the Sandi Henderson Farmers Market fabric. And while I absolutley love how it turned out, the pink and white polka dot binding with the blocks, this is how Sophia has decided to showcase my work. I guess that's why the backing has to look as good as the front!

One of the other projects that I wasn't sure I would have time to make was a bathrobe. Sophia loves putting mine on after her bath, and after we roll up the sleeves about five times it sort of, kind of, fits her. I bought a pattern to make Sophia a bathrobe and when I found the perfect fabric 50% off at Fabricland I decided to squeeze in one more project before Christmas morning. I don't have a picture of Sophia in her bathrobe but I hope these pictures do it justice, it has to be the softest fabric I have ever felt.



I can't believe that I started this blog a little over a year ago. It started out as a way to show family and friends some of the sewing and craft projects that I was making last Christmas and turned into a diary of all of my sewing projects and time off with my girls. Who would have thought that I had more time to sew, and post, when I was at home with Sophia and Layla then when I returned to work. I am hoping to post a few different times this week to get everyon caught up with what I've been making.