40 minute skirt!

Here is my 40 minute skirt. Yes, 40 minutes from the first cut to the finishing the hem. I just used another skirt as a pattern, and wished for the best. I actually made 2 skirts. You can see the first blue one peeking out on the side. After that one worked out I was brave enough to cut into this beautiful fabric (Kaffe Fasset, Verbena Trees). Oh, If I were to design a fabric it would look just like this one. I can't wait to wear my skirt with brown tights and a cardigan. Since it has been near 100 degrees the last few days I think I will have to wait a little longer. The funny thing is that I made these two skirts on Monday, but I just have been so busy I didn't have time to photograph them.

Fall, Where are you?

I am officially tired of hot weather. I can't wait for the chill of fall. I will need to wait a while longer because we always have a long Indian summer in California. What is making me happy is making this new dress for Saga. It felt so wonderful making her something again. I have so many ideas right now. This is the simplest dress, but I love how it is so easy to add layers. A red turtleneck would be so cute. The trim on the neck came for i heart linen. I just love it, I wish I had more. When Saga wears this dress I know she is going to look like the big girl she is quickly becoming.

Last One

I have been working on this shirt for more than a week. It gave me quite a fight too. I am happy how it turned out in the end. It was so nice to sew on the buttons while it is on the dress form. This first night I had the dress form Saga walked into the bedroom and quickly ran out after seeing it out of the corner of her eye. I guess I am not the only one that finds it creepy. I have been working so hard in my classroom, and I am finally done. I have never finished early. Usually I am running around finishing in a race with the security alarm the day before school starts. Now I have next weekend to relax and spend the last restful days with Saga. I will try to make something for Saga this week. I so miss making a new dresses for her.

Almost there, #4

Surprise another shirt. This is one of my favorite fabrics. I have had it for years. I used it to make my ironing board cover a few months ago. Here it is finally a shirt. I really took my time with this one making adjustments to get the perfect fit. It was the first time I used this pattern and next time I will make a smaller size. I finally lost all my baby weight and have to realize that I don't need to make everything so big. I have transferred to a new school this school year which is life changing for me. This week a friend helped me move my classroom, and now I just need to to go organize the "mess". This is a lot of work. That is why I have been a little absent. Sunday is usually my sewing day, but today I need to work in my classroom. Believe me the move is worth all this work. I have one more week of vacation, 2 more shirts to make, one classroom to organize, and one sweet girl to hug every moment.

First Etsy Fabrics

So they have arrived and I love them!
These two are Two Young Street-Hugs and Kisses and Alexander Henry-Bijoux Dot
Heather Ross-Mermaids Mendocino line This will soon be a little dress for Saga. Two Japanese fabrics Little Red Riding Hood (be still my heart!) and Animal Village (This reminds me so much of 70's wallpaper, which is a compliment.)My Folklore from Lecien
I can't wait to use these, but I am happy just looking at them.

And another...

Here is another school blouse #3. I love the tie sleeves, and will use them again with a more fitted pattern. This shirt is the one that finally convinced me to order a dress form. I can never get the fit right by the process I use now; try on, alter, try on, fix alter, try on, and again and again. The only issue is my sewing table is in my bedroon and having that dress form in there is kinda creepy. I am I the only one that feels that way? I may need to cover it at night. Officially two weeks left of my summer vacation. The bummer work news was thankfully a false alarm, although it gave me quite a scare. I am starting to look forward to a new school year. If I could only find a way to sneak Saga in with me each day all would be perfect.

L'odeur de boutons

These are the vintage buttons I bought about 6 weeks ago. I finally got around to taking them out of their ziplock bag today. The reason it took so long is they have a serious stink on them. It is an old, musty, stale smell with a kick of something worse. I don't have a lot of experience with vintage buttons so maybe this is just how they smell. Today I washed all the loose ones and discarded the random nonbutton pieces I found in the bag. After I washed them the colors were so vibrant, but they are still stinky. If you have any advice please tell me! I am still trying to finish my school blouses, but I have been so distracted with organizing my home. There is not a nook or cranny that has been overlooked, everything now has its place. I am convinced the more organized I make our home will translate into an easier transition back to work. Well we will see how well it works soon enough.
Now I have those shirts to finish.

Another Blouse...

Who knew getting bummer news from work and getting up at 4am because you can't sleep can lead to so much productivity! I cut out two more blouses, bought fabric on ETSY (a first for me, too fun), bought a watch on Amazon, and caught up on my blog reading. I should get up at 4 more often. Yesterday after hearing the bummer news I came home, and made this shirt in 2 hours. Saga thankfully was spending the afternoon at the babysitters, where she has the best time playing with her buddies. I love the two fabrics, but they would be too matronly alone. So I made a contrasting collar. You will soon see as I finish these blouses I am very conservative, in clothing only that is. Remember my fashion icon is Caroline Ingalls, although I also love the stylings of Eliza Jane Wilder Walnut Grove's favorite teacher. Thank you sewing for being there when I get down, you are such a good friend.

Option #2

This little dress had a change of plans. After I put on the collar I just wasn't sure. So I looked at it for a few days and knew I really didn't like it. So I made it into this top. I have made so many of these for Saga and I adore them. I can whip one of these up in no time.
Now I need to get going with my blouses for work. It is hard to find time to sew with my husband away working. Above you can see what Saga does when I sew. Three more weeks before I go back to school, so I better squeeze out some sewing time.

Flea market treasures.

Early this morning Saga and I went to the Alameda Antique-Flea Market. I found a few things that I really love. I love this one stall that sell old nightshirts. She has the unbleached linen ones that are over 100 years old. I love just touching them. She also sells bolts of vintage linen. I finally bought a nightdress. I can't stop looking at it, with its beautiful French seams and sweet collar.
I also bought these gingham duvet covers and one sham. They are from Germany, and were just $5.00 a piece. I wanted to make a shirt for me and a dress for Saga, but I can't imagine putting scissors to them.
I picked up these vintage knitting and crocheting books. They have wonderful patterns. I have to make this coat for Saga. What a day. It is funny because it is always freezing there. Located on the bay, and always under the fog. I can't wait to go back next month.

Excellent news, minor freakout

Whoa, this is the longest I have gone without posting this summer, but I have a good excuse. My husband accepted a job and he begins on Monday. We have been running around buying everything he is going to need, like $175 boots. I don't know what happened, but I got so, well I had a minor freakout because so many things were changing in one week. My husband will be traveling for work and will be gone for 4 days each week. I also had to accept Saga will have to go to a babysitters during the school year, and summer is almost over! I also received an email I have been waiting 3 months for that will lead to an exciting (but challenging) change for me.

My freakout consisted of me not being able to sew. I was working on this shirt, and I just couldn't finish. Instead I started organizing the house with a mission to end all clutter. I gave myself a pep talk, and made myself sit down and finish this blouse. I like it, and it is comfortable enough for the classroom. I have vowed to upgrade my work uniform this year. I want to make six blouses for the start of the year. So I better get out of my, "Oh, my gosh summer is almost over!", funk and get sewing.

I was tagged for the first time, yeah~ Thanks Lisa. I will start working on that now.