creative little daisy

Thanks for all the pattern love!!

I wish we all could have been at Hancock's together to have a big ole party in the pattern section!

I've looked through the pattern this weekend and wanted to share a few things I thought might be helpful. I didn't actually "write" the pattern. Simplicity has a staff of talented pattern writers who do that. I designed and constructed the items you see on the pattern jacket and sent them off to New York along with a detailed list of materials used, my written instructions on the steps I took in construction and pattern pieces needed to reconstruct the items. I knew the patterns would be written in Simplicity language, not Autum language, after all,  they've been speaking pattern talk longer than I've been alive. From reading over the instruction pages, everything seems fairly clear and easy enough to follow.  It's my feeling that at times the big pattern companies make things seem more complicated than they really are, sometimes with their wording of things.  Most of the instructions are written essentially the way I did them. There were a few differences though.  For instance, the method of installing the zipper in the cosmetic bag was not at all the way I install a zipper,  but like that old saying goes, there's more than one way to skin a cat, right? 
One thing that I felt like may be a little vague and lead to some questions, especially for beginners was the materials used.  Talk of interfacing  confuses me with all the different weights, fusible vs. non, variations from one brand to another. It can be baffling. In my opinion, the interfacing is probably the most important aspect of bag construction. It totaly dictates how your bag will look and function in the end. To give these particular bags softness and structure at the same time, I use a combination of heavy weight fusible and polyester fleece.
The pattern also calls for a stiff non fusible for the gusset portion of the bag. This is to give it a lot of structure, so it can stand on it's on. At the time I designed the bags, I used Timtex.
I've found several discussions online about interfacing, like this one at Sew Mama Sew.  You just have to find what works best for you. Don't be afraid to experiment until you get the look and feel that pleases you, there is no one right way.
Thanks again for all the kind words and encouragement about the pattern.  It was certainly thrilling to see something that came to life in my little sewing room in the pages of a major pattern book.

Many of you commented that you couldn't believe they didn't let me know the pattern was going to print. Actually, I did speak with someone last fall and was told it would be in the summer book. I just didn't realize the summer book was out.

An actual post that involves sewing

Some quilting bee sewing.

For Julia. She requested red crosses on the drab green background. I struggled with this one a bit. I hope she'll like it.

And for Beki,

She requested stripes.

Alyssa requested Christmas stockings for herself, Derek and Bayleigh. I'm not so sure Derek would have chosen lime green with polka dots for his stocking, but perhaps if Santa fills it will goodies instead of coal, he won't mind.

Remember me?

 
I finished the cushion experience, and yes folks, it was an experience. A learning experience from beginning to end. So many lessons learned!  The first being, think twice before agreeing to take on such a large task. After thinking twice, think once more. If after thinking twice + once more, I still agree to take on such a large task, consider the time I think it may take and double it, then add a week or so, just to be sure I have enough time set aside each day to do little things like eat, sleep and bathe.

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I'm doing a lot of talking about me and the job I took on, but the truth is, Mitch worked just as hard and just as long as I. He did nearly all the cutting, he inserted the foam, made covered buttons and tufted the cushions.His dad put in several hours holding cushions as Mitch tufted and my aunts, Mary and Pat volunteered for deconstruction duty when several had to be redone. It was a group effort and I'm so thankful for such a great group of helpers.

It wasn't all cushions all the time since my last post. Almost. Maybe more like all cushions 98% of the time. Can you tell I'm burnt-out on cushions? Bayleigh enjoyed her first Halloween. She and my niece Julie were flower fairies.
  

Alyssa put together their costumes. She followed this tut to make Julie's fairy skirt and also made their headbands. I was quite proud of her craftiness.

Have you ever seen as cute a fairy?

Alyssa is still having weekly ultrasounds to monitor Olivia. The last two have shown a slight increase in the amount of fluid accumulating in her body, but her little heart beats strong. We know that whatever happens, it is a part of God's plan, even though it's difficult for us to understand.  This little angel came into our lives for a reason and I pray that I will be able to hold her in my arms, for now I hold her in my heart.
 

We'll see if they actually use them...

Sometimes, usually when I have other things I should be doing, things that have deadlines, things that are important, I get an uncontrollable urge to sew some random, out of the blue thing. Avoidance, perhaps? A coping mechanism I call it. Saturday, I coped by making coasters. Then I coped a little more by making a little basket to keep them in.

So I cleaned the cobwebs off my sewing machine...

And guess what? I remembered how to sew! I wasn't sure I would. So maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, it hasn't been all that long, but it felt like ages. I am participating in The Busy Little Quilting Bee and this is the block for October.

It's for Dana who likes squares upon squares and prefers them wonky.

Two very different frocks

I made myself a couple of dresses and I have to say, I think photographing them was harder than sewing.



This is my least favorite of the two. I've worn it once, on a breezy day resulting in a couple of near misses on the church steps, so before I wear it again I need to  figure out an anti-flashing remedy. The pattern is Butterick 5046 (fast and easy). For me it was neither fast nor easy. I think it could have been, but there were some confusing steps that sent the quick part right out the window.  I'm sure there has to be an easier way of attaching the inset to the bodice and then the skirt but I don't think I'll be making this one again to figure it out. It's not a very flattering fit for a string bean.



This one (Vogue 8351), I'd probably make 10 of if I could find reasonably priced, decent looking, knit fabric. This is a poly- spandex knit from Hancock fabrics- $4.99 on sale.  It was my first  attempt sewing knit and just like everyone says, it's not as hard as you think. I'm not sure why I was so worried. I started  it the day before Bayleigh was born and finished it yesterday. Does that qualify as quick? When I tried it on last night, Casey looked at me and sounding rather surprised said did you make that? It looks like something you'd pay like... 65 dollars for.  I'm taking that as a compliment. Alyssa laughed and said, no you wouldn't. I'm  notoriously cheap when it comes to clothes and she's right, I definitely wouldn't have paid $65 for it, but I do love it.

(edited to add) Shannon mentioned in her comment that she'd like to see more pictures of Bayleigh. Well, you know we proud nanas are always eager to share pictures, so that's no problem Shannon. I take lots of pictures of the rapidly growing sweetie-pie, you can see them on my flickr page. Click here or there's a link in the sidebar to the left.

How I've been keeping myself busy

While we wait...

Making blankets,

and itty-bitty dresses

with matching shoes.

Lots of people have asked where to find the patterns for the shoes and dress. They are linked in the post, just click the word shoes (above) for the shoe pattern, and itty-bitty dresses for the dress pattern. Whenever a word is a different color in my posts, it means it is a link to another page- usually with more information about what I am discussing in the post.

Oh yea, one more thing- Rae has started an itsy-bitsy baby dress flickr group, if you use her pattern to make the dress, be sure to join the group and share a photo. 

Loungey

I made some lounge pants from a sheet. A super soft sheet. Now I think I should go find some more sheets, or else I'll be wearing these everyday. I'm not completely happy with the fit. What is up patterns and high waisted pants? I do not wear my pants pulled up like Steve Urkel, but the major pattern companies seem to think I should. I made these from New Look 6060 specifically because the pattern jacket stated that they are worn 1 1/2 inch below the waist- they didn't say where the crotch would fall if they were worn 1 1/2 inch below the waist though. I ended up cutting about an inch off the top and they still ride higher than I wanted. Any suggestions on the best way to alter a pattern to lower the rise?

Tweet, tweet

Because I love birds and aqua and red and linen....

and because you know she'll be spending lots of time at Nana's house...

I had to make a pretty place for her to dream her sweet little dreams that goes with my decor.

I think it looks right at home here. The mobile that came with the bassinet had little white bears. They were easily replaced with tweet little birds, made from the Bird Ornament pattern in Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. The fabulous bird fabric is by Kristen Doran Design, it's called Mollybirds.  I've had it for quite a while but could never think of a good enough reason to cut it, until now.

OK Miss Bayleigh Caroline,  Nana's ready when you are.

Welcoming spring...

More feathering. This little girl is certainly going to have a sweet place to lay her head, but I'm sure much of her dreaming will be done while being held and adored. I'm getting all excited and filled with butterflies in anticipation of nuzzling that sweet baby's head against my neck, feeling her warm breath on my chest as I hold her and watch her dream her baby dreams.... It's really getting close, I'm going to be someone's nana (I'm thinking I like nana) Mitch a papa, our baby girl is going to be a mama. I can feel our lives changing direction, entering a new stage, a good one. I feel spring time in our lives, sweet new beginnings, just as welcome as the blanket of jasmine blooms growing along the fence

and the songbirds nesting outside my window

Spring is all around, inside and out, and it feels good.