Whats your talent?

I have been thinking a lot about a new contest for my Facebook page that would get people thinking and doing... and doing and thinking.
"You are so talented"
I have been hearing that a lot these past few months and as good as it makes me feel (I really love hearing that from happy customers!) some of the people have also said "I wish I had a talent".
As much as I love hearing people say how much they love my duds.. I can't stand hearing people say that they don't have a talent.
I think everyone has been gifted with some sort of  talent. Everyone. It is just up to the individual to recognize it, mature it and put it to good use!

This leads me to my contest.

OK, lets start with the prize.. shall we!?
I am willing to give away anything listed in my Etsy store, any one item (some listings have two items in them and they are available too!) to the winner. I have lots of custom spots so there should be something for everyone. Think gifts too! Christmas is only 6months away (is it sad that I am already preparing for the Holidays..lol)!

Now on to the contest... whatcha gotta do to win the prize..
I am looking for you to tell me what your talent is and if you can, show me a picture of what you do or a picture representing what you do. Be creative.
Post them on my Facebook Page here and then come to my blog and comment under this post that you have "done" so.
I am going to give you until I reach 1600 fans to do so!
That means this.. if I have 2 or if I have 20 entries once I reach 1600 fans on Facebook I choose a winner.  No matter what!
Sound good?

Please only one entry per person but DO get as many people as you can to LIKE my Facebook  page.

Thank you and GOOD LUCK!
PLEASE ask questions if you don't understand any of this mumbo jumbo ;)

To Do list

My To Do list is extra long this month. Or maybe I am starting on a new and "Extra Busy" path.
Either way.. I can feel the pressure!
I am having fun with it all though. That is the most important thing. I want to keep what I LOVE to do.. fun.
On my sewing forum (not "mine" but the forum I participate in) hosts swaps and I love to get involved when I can. I signed up for two this month and am running the line with my shipping date. I signed up for the Toddler clothing swap (2t-4t) since this will be the only time the twins will be able to be in that one.. and I also signed up for the mama stuff swap. A swap entirely mama based. All kinds of goodies get swapped in that one!

I am switching between sewing for the two swaps and today I decided to try something I have been dying to do.. upcycle a men's dress shirt into a girls dress. SoOper fun!!
I got a bunch in the last clothing swap we had and they are in a pile screaming at me to cut them up.
 I went with the flow and made my own pattern as I went along. Great outcome.

I really love the design of this dress. It can be worn as a dress with leggings for sizes 2 through 5-6 as a top!
Thanks for reading!

Playing Dress Up

My little Brother is getting married this weekend!
Congrats Kurt and Mel!
I needed a dress. Those who know me, know that I am more of a... oh I don't know.. I don't usually wear dresses. We will leave it at that.
But for this glorious occasion I felt it was appropriate for me to adorn a dress.
Problem number two then arises. I NEED A DRESS!
I am pretty picky about my clothes, I guess I am lucky that I can sew. I knew from the get go that I would be making the dress I was going to wear. That saves loads of stress from shopping, right? Nope..
I am still pretty stressed..lol.
I found fabric that I adore. Bought 5 yards of it at a great clearance price. Fun.
Never could quite choose a design though. I prefer the boho, hippie, simple style. Easy on, easy off... that sounds worse than I mean, but you get my drift. I prefer my clothes simple.
The fabric I found was alight pink on pink stripe. Very faintly seersuckerd on the lighter stripes. Beautiful drape and flow.

I paired it with a cream colored, organic bamboo cotton blend. This stuff has been in my stash for over a year. I love it. They look great together too.

Very spring. I only used the cream as a lining but it peaks out here and there so I wanted something nice and soft under the pink.

The original dress I wanted to copy, as adorable as it is, wouldn't work with this fabric and I realized that as soon as I cut my circles for the skirt portion of the dress. The knit fabric that I intended to use for my dress was too drapy for the more formed circles of the original. Not good for that pattern.. but still good! I also needed straps on my shoulders. So.. needless to say.. I ditched the original plan and went with my imagination. The dress.. it is O.K. I already have the chest piece picked off so I can straighten the pleats. That's what I get for "quickly finishing" it late last night. I get to fix it today.
I am also NOT sold on the ruffled waistband. I don't like it. I am almost done taking that off but I have no clue what to do in it's place. I am down to scraps of the pink but have lots of the cream fabric. Ideas welcome. I could just remove the top ruffle and reattach the bodice.. that is an option. Well.. he is it now. I will post after pictures.. after it is fixed.

 The necklace rocks with this dress.. should I keep it or ditch it?

Sewing for the soul

Taking what you are good at and using it as a tool to help others. In any small way you can.. that's one thing that I think all people should do. It adds fulfillment to your life. Satisfies the soul. In my experience it has.

With all that people have going on in this day in age, people forget that. Or they just don't have time.
I understand the time aspect. I am a busy mama. 5 wonderful kids that help to occupy my time as well as a husband, 2 dogs, a house, sewing etc etc etc.. you know what I mean. Juggling time is a lost art ;)

Well.. anyways.. in my "free time" I like to quilt. I am a beginner quilter, but have intermediate sewing skills so I think they both work to my advantage with  the kind of quilting I do.
My sisters I and I, along with a great friend of ours, decided to use our talents and abilities to help others and founded a not for profit mission called Enraptured Embrace. Our intent is to help provide a sense of comfort to those suffering the loss of a loved one. To do that we offer quilts and pillows made from their loved ones clothing, free of charge.
We think of these quilts as a stepping stone in the grieving process and hope that they offer the bereaved a sense of love and comfort.

Our first request came from a woman grieving the loss of her daughter. She was well into her second trimester in her pregnancy when she found out her daughter had passed. She gave us what clothes she had gathered during her pregnancy and we made her a beautiful memento. Something we hope she cherishes for a lifetime. Something we hope will help ease the pain that comes with the loss. Something small but filled with love.

 We left on buttons, snaps and little duckie flaps. We also added in the bodice of two adorable dresses. The back is made from the stretchier fabrics and the front is made of all woven fabrics. Our good friend and Enraptured Embrace Volunteer, Mandy, hand binded the entire quilt. Beautiful end result!

To see more, learn about what and why we do what we do or even send a request PLEASE visit our blog :)
http://enrapturedembrace.blogspot.com/

Thanks for Reading!!

Inspired to sew for ME!

I am a hippie chick. I think it's in my jeans (pun. ha ha ha) because my style is similar to that of my sisters and my mother.
I am a HUGE fan of the hippie clothing store Soul-Flower. Huge huge. They are pricey but it is well made so when I can afford to .. I buy... but when I can't afford to... I sew!!

This scoop neck, backless hoodie made me squeal inside. A MUST HAVE in my book.. in as many colors as possible! My checkbook this month though.. not allowing it. So plan B.. copy copy copy..lol.

This was my inspiration (by Soul-Flower)


and this is my version. PLEASE keep in mind that this is my first copy. Perfect for me.. but far from what I would call a done deal. I have plans for more of these.

I changed the top to fit my taste a little more.. I am not fond of elastic in my clothing so I decided to omit that back elastic and in it's place I added a drawstring with extra long ties. The ties are long enough to tie in many different ways allowing for creativity in the wear of the top. I like that the BeSt.

                                                     To save from using my nice fabrics on a proto type I recycled a jersey knit sheet from the thrift store (pre washed of course..lol)

So!! What do you think??

Lovely little Leo

Fist off   HAPPY 10th Birthday to my oldest princess, Tiara!!!! I love you doll face!!!

My beautiful diva turned one year older today.
Makes me feel... old. LOL. How many times will I say that in my lifetime.

She grows more and more beautiful every year and makes me more and more proud as well.
This year.. all year. .she asked to be enrolled into Gymnastics classes.
She has always shown an interest but was always easily distracted by the other sports.. you know, the ones that don't cost as much as a used car :sigh:.
There was no holding her off anymore.. she had played baseball too many times and was ready for gymnastics.

I, being the sewing mama that I am, HAD to try to make her a leotard. HAD to.. and I received the most beautiful piece of cotton/Lycra in a trade that was Perfect for her. And there was enough left to make something for me too :D

So without further ado.. here is Tia's new (only at the moment) leotard! I LOVE it and so does she!

I see LOTS of these in her future!
Thanks for reading!!!!

Hansel and Gretel!

Hard by a great forest dwelt a poor wood-cutter with his wife and his two children. The boy was called Hansel and the girl Gretel.

Hansel sz 10, shown on my sz 7 so it is a little big on him. Fully adjustable and hidden elastic behind front panel allows for a comfortable fit.

Gretel sz8 (also made a sz 6) shown on a sz 8 Mackenzie. Beautiful fit. Adjustable ties on the side of the dress as well as elastic encased in the arms allow this costume to fit a wide range as well.

I also made 3 Squirrel costumes but want to adjust and attach the tails before I post them :D Gimme a few hours and I will have them up. They are off to the post office in the morning!!

A New Twirl in Town

Adorable and less time consuming! My new Girly Twirl dress design!
Made in Double and triple layered twirls! I hope to get some action shots for tomorrows post (I made some Sweet costumes and plan to show them off tomorrow!) so watch for that!

I have a dozen or so more of these all twirled out and ready for sleeves! I am geared up for the Think Spring Arts and Craft Fair at Serb Hall on April 3rd!
Thanks for reading!