Sarah's Quilt

So I haven't even started working on Emmie's maxi-dress because I recently had some plans change around here, instead of going to the US for July with my whole family, now only I am going for a week, to see my Gramma (who will be visiting from South Africa,) and be part of Sarah's baby shower (oh by the by, I can't remember if I said it or not, but her lil punkin is a baby boy, due the last few days in September!) I mean I am going to see my family, and not JUST my Gramma, and Sarah's baby shower, but those things are driving the timeline! We will all be heading back to the US for a visit in September/October (to meet the lil punkin) but this end of June visit is not that visit.

ANYWAY to make a long story longer, I have a lot I need to do, and not a lot of time to do it in now. I am making the bedding set for Sarah's nursery, so I have spent the last week making the top of her quilt, so that I can take it up to Seoul to be quilted (I usually do my own machine quilting, but there is a quilting machine at the army base, and I want to try it out, it's computerized, so it makes pretty pictures, and I want to see if I like it for Isaac's viking quilt too, since one of the sets of pictures they have to quilt into things is viking based with horned helmets and everything.... I know right? who knew.) I still have to make the bed skirt and bumpers, but here is the quilt top.

   I seriously don't know why this looks blurry, it wasn't in my phone. I'll be sure to take non blurry pictures of the finished product! This was made with a Moda Hideaway charm pack and the border used parts from a jelly roll from the same line. The white was just 5" squares I cut out from white cotton. Sarah Picked out the pattern (she's going with a coo coo clock/Dutch/garden gnome thing in the nursery that I thing is going to be beyond adorable.) 

Anyway, I am trying to get a lot of stuff done, in addition to getting the kid's last few weeks of school out of the way. Summer is hard here on base because there are a lot of nice people moving, but I guess there are a lot of nice people moving in too, so that is good!!! The weather has finally warmed up, so we are getting outside a lot more (Paul and I walk 3 miles almost every night) and I need to do a lot more sewing for the kids to have their summer wardrobe. (although I am tempted to buy a bunch of that in the states during my visit, that is in-between double-fisting American food and smooching on family! Oh, AND standing in Target, man could I be happy just standing in a Target right about now.)

I have been making over a shelf/cupboard thingy too (if you follow my instagram you have seen the before) so I just have finishing touches on that before it's ready to hang in the kid's bathroom, and my burlap wreath, and my front door makeover, etc. anyway I have lots to share as always, but instead of sharing, I just move on to the next thing!!!

Flip This Pattern

Have you heard about Flip This Pattern? It's a really amazing year long series that the girls over at francessuzanne are putting together!  

The way it's going to work is that every month for a year, there will be a different pattern that 3-4 different bloggers are going to sew up into their very own snazzed up version, and then by the end of the month the viewers at home with get the chance to vote for their favorite take on the pattern! (not to mention the great sew along competition that everyone can participate in!) 

The very awesome part is, Ashley and Emily have asked me to participate as one of the guest pattern flippers! 

Mommy's Apron Strings | Winter Wonderings | doguincho | SoCalSewingMom |  nest full of eggs

cathgrace | Welcome to the Mouse House | S is for Sewing | Sewing Like Mad | Elegance & Elephants | Call ajaire Little Kids Grow | Daisy Chain Creations | Once Upon a Notion | Handmade Martini | iCandy handmade | you & mie If only they would Nap |  Foster Ramblings | Designs by Sessa | Shaffer Sisters {Jo} | greendoodle | Shaffer Sisters {Al} Siestas & Sewing | mama says sew | Sewing Mama RaeAnna | sewVery | Nap Time Crafters | {lbg studio} Shaffer Sisters {Scary} | Sweeter Than Cupcakes | Once Upon a Sewing Machine | Crafty Cupboard | The Powell Family

Aren't there some killer fun names in this bunch? I am excited and intimidated for my month!
(I'm up in July in case you were wondering) 

 | Pattern Anthology  Figgy's | Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop | Shwin Designs | Clever Charlotte  Violette Field Threads | Blank Slate Patterns | Heidi & Finn | The Cottage Mama

Anyway, I am so excited for this series, how fun is it to be able to watch something progress for a whole year, and to get to see some really fun takes on the same pattern! (Thinking caps and outside of the box thinking is a must for this series!!!) 

What do you think? are you going to sew along this year with Flip This Pattern?

A Knock Off Dress in the Making........

I have just received some fabric in the mail to make a dress that I have been thinking about for ages, The Truly Me Chevron Maxi Dress by Bunnies Picnic. 

(the picture can be clicked on and is a link to the pinterest pin, but the dress can be found at it's source here.) Other than the fact that the original dress is sold out which means I cannot get my hands on it anyway, the main reason I wanted to make this dress rather than buy it, was because I didn't feel like there was quite enough coverage in the top (mostly the back of the dress, but the front scoop neck is a little low for my taste too.) The original dress is made out of jersey, but I couldn't find any knit fabric in the right sort of stripe, so I am using quilter's cotton instead. 

I got the blue and cream faux shibori from Joann's ages ago before we moved to Korea, but the stripe just arrived today from fabric.com. I know the faux shibori isn't quite the same as the original dress, but I like it anyway, and this way I don't have to dye anything :) 

Anyway, I am going to try to come up with a pattern for a top I like, and then will try to do a tutorial on my version of the dress. Any suggestions for keeping the spirit of the dress, while adding a little more coverage for a little girl to be able to play comfortably in??? 

Finished "Home is Where" Sign

I was able to finish my sign this weekend, it took a lot of lettering - so we can never move again because I am OVER the hand painting :)  Actually it shouldn't be that big a deal from here on, because I will only have one at a time now that I am caught up. 

It's sort of funny to see the last 13 years summed up; Isaac was at all of these bases with us, but Emmie was only from Hill AFB forward, lots and lots of packing/unpacking went into this list, and we have been enjoying the adventure!

Home is Where.....

I've been working on a new project today......

The plaque is from Hobby Lobby (Yay! for them shipping APO) and I first painted it black, and then hand painted the white lettering. Next I sanded it back a little, and then sealed the whole thing with a clear poly. This is only part 1 of the project, as I am now hand lettering 7 more smaller pieces of wood with all the places we have lived with the Air Force. (I am hanging this outside my door, opposite a wreath that I just made, and will have a tutorial for.)

I certainly didn't invent this type of sign, but I really like how this one is turning out, usually these are red white and blue, or military service colors, but I like the black and white, and the more simple feel.

Breaks Etc.......

So I know I've been missing, but I haven't been lazing about, just taking a break from blogging for a bit (not actually on purpose, I've just been super busy and taking pictures and editing them, then writing a post just wasn't making the cut.) 

We got back from China, and the kids went back to school while I have been trying to finish a lot of projects around the house (I sort of let things slip during So You Think You're Crafty and Project Run and Play.) I have also been closing out the fiscal year for my volunteer position in the Osan Air Force Base Officer's Spouse's Club (I'm the Welfare Committee Chairperson) so that is involving a lot of buckling down with numbers and record keeping for my doomsday report. (Not my strength.) 

Anyway, around the house some of the changes I have made have been to the hallway, I bought and had framed a giant map of the world. The kids are loving using white board markers to write about where they've been, where people they love are, and where they would like to go. (If you are wondering how big the map is, it is about 56" by 33" framed) 

And then in my entryway I shopped around my house to make a new collage of stuff (I had things here before, they just weren't working, and I moved a table so we had more room here.)

My sister brought me chair pads from IKEA when she came; they were plain cream ones that I asked her to pick up for me, because I already had the velvet fabric for them here in Korea (I brought it with me when I came) It's a lovely woven fabric with a velvet pile in the teal blue parts (which explains the dark spot, it's not a stain, the velvet is just brushed backwards in some spots.) I like the modern print with all the more antique stuff in my house, I think it's the pop I needed to youthen it up.  

 And then I also made 2 throw cushions for my recliners, I made plain pillows from the crewel embroidered fabric that is in my curtains, and then made a pillowcase out of a vintage grain-sack (I even found one with my kids initials on it) that buttons on with antique mother of pearl buttons. (I've never seen another pillow quite like this, but I am pretty happy with how they worked out even if they are a little unusual.)

I still need to paint my dining table, but when I do, that will be the final task in my living/dining room so I will try to take pictures of it all then.

I am trying to get to my craft storage area, finishing off the family room, and Isaac's bedroom too, over the next little bit (although that will have a few tutorials associated with it) I really do plan to share our vacation pictures, I am just trying to prioritize what needs to be done, with what I would like to do over the next little bit (I am much more unplugged than usual right now.)

Anyway, while I have been away have I missed anything exciting?

Emmie the Chef

We are back from China! We have actually been back a couple of days, but since it still has been spring break, I haven't been on the internet much. But as all good things must come to an end, everyone is back at school and work now, so I am trying to clean the house and catch up with photo editing so I can share our China pictures. 

To prove I am not dead, I have a couple of pictures to share, (sorry if you are on instagram, because I already shared one of these over there.) Emmie has joined the cooking club at school, and obviously needed a chef's outfit (tell me we are not the only family that needs specialty outfits for everything?) 

 I made her a quick and dirty double-breasted smock off of a t-shirt pattern I had (I just split the front and added some length to the middle) and although you can't see all the details, there are side vents, and 10 buttons down the front. The collar was just one I threw together, since a t-shirt pattern obviously wouldn't have one like this. The sleeves are full length, but Emmie assures me that all chef's fold their sleeves back. I used my Embroidery machine to embroider her name on the front.

The apron has 2 pockets built into the front, and it was made from a 1/2 yard of Japanese fabric I have had in my stash for ages. The hat is just a circle of muslin gathered into a band. 

I am pretty sure she will be the only one dressed up (Emmie is in middle school, but because she skipped a grade, she is only 10; I love the fact that she just doesn't buy into any of the middle school popularity, what's cool/what's not, stuff yet) but she has been practicing her French chef accent, so I bet no one even notices the outfit because she will be too busy saying "magnifique!"and "héhéhé" as she whisks things!