The Everyday Summer Skirt

For years, I have had a skirt I bought on the street in Cold Spring that I love because it is easy (read: pull on and walk), comfy (read: elastic waist), yet stylish (read: undeserved props from mom friends).  

I am not a super-confident garment sewer, but after the busyness and chaos of the last few weeks of school, I really needed to do something for ME.  So yesterday I decided to buckle down and try to recreate this fave skirt.

I learned a couple of tricks on the first attempt, but I am really happy with how it turned out overall---so happy, in fact, that I just ordered a whole bunch of fabric to make a pile of these and stock up my Etsy shop, so keep your eyes peeled for that link!

School's out for Summer

 The first Monday of summer vacation was SO lovely.  I really treasure the change of pace. Instead of starting the day with waking and rushing and packing, we slept in (a little), cooked together,

ate a delicious, leisurely breakfast,

did some work, theirs

and mine, 

 swam 

and then, slept again.  Wake up and repeat.  Oh, it's going to be a good summer!!  

What are you looking forward to?

Paper Piecing Pinwheels

This is one of those happy accidents. And it's February in the Northeast---a dark and wet time, so I am telling you---I can use all the happy accidents I can get!! 

In searching for a pinwheel pattern I liked for my latest round of Flickr quilting bees, I came upon this pattern by Peggy Miller.  Turns out it was included in a Craftsy class that Peggy had done. As I have mentioned before, I am a big fan of the Craftsy platform, so I hopped over there and got myself a whole class on paper piecing.  

Paper piecing by definition includes a LOT of paper! Each of these blocks comes with four quadrants.  So for 6 blocks I had to make 24 of these squares:

After I ripped off the paper---before assembling each block---my 5 year old decided to make a puzzle of the piles of paper on the dining room table and make me a Valentine! Love him.

The resulting block has two layout options: 

 I went with having more of the lighter layout and here is the finished result:

So the happy accident is this:  I meant this as a Bee block---I would do one for each person in the group.  However, I misread the pattern, thought I needed to resize it (which I didn't) and so this original block came out bigger than expected.  I liked it so much I decided to run with it and make a quilt I never intended to make.

What do you think?  Leave me a comment!

So Skirty Giveaway

Summer Flouncy Skirt Giveaway!!!

I am looking for some *new* followers, so please follow my blog and leave a comment.  On Friday, July 6th, I will pick a winner of a flouncy skirt.  Thanks!!

This giveaway is closed.  The winner is #12, FLS!  Congrats, Farley! And many thanks to all the new followers! 

And some boys who really enjoyed Beacon Riverfest!!

Baby Girl Dresses

This is the beginning of what (I have a sneaking suspicion) will be many, MANY posts about baby girl dresses I have made.  Caveat: I had three boys first, so I am teensy weensy bit excited about sewing girl clothes!  All the boys ever wanted was Batman pants...not as motivating (for me), happiness for them.

The dress pattern I just made is the "Pretty as a Picture" dress from Anna Maria Horner's book "Handmade Beginnings".

One of my all-time favorite sewing books, the patterns in Anna Maria's book are not only easy to make and well-written, but her fabric is to-die-for!  When I saw the yellow version  of this cotton voile for sale online I was ready---and got enough for a skirt for me too!! (More on that soon) Note: Don't worry about the slight difference in the yellows because the flower centerpiece gets trimmed down.

Cotton voile is a softer and finer cotton than regular quilting cotton.  It is great for apparel and linings---it feels just yummy.  Voile is also slightly sheer, so you will want to line it.  

The pattern was a dream to make, 9 simple pieces---so cutting was a cinch.  And, get this---the inside is as beautiful as the outside.  Made with French seams (ooh la la) inside, all the raw edges are hidden (Yay! says me, the sewer without a serger). One night.  I am not kidding.  It's THAT easy! I might make 10.  Love you, Anna Maria!!

The perfect thing to wear to her cousin's First Communion party!

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

And enough for a pocket square for the dapper Uncle Kris.

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Love this girl.  Love this dress. LOVE my sister's pictures!

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly