::grins:: Just one more tote bag

Okay, I promise that this is the last tote bag you'll see for awhile. =) I was inspired to make a "Musician's Tote Bag" for my friend, who will also be my violin teacher while I'm in MI.

Using brown corduroy and some more Heather Bailey fabrics, here is what it looks like:

It has the same button & ribbon closure, and instead of using vintage rick-rack on this one, I used a band of some left over fabric from my tote:

Up close detail

Sure hope she doesn't mind jelly beans. The inside is lined with jelly bean fabric! Maybe it will make her smile as it does me.

In Need of Tea

"Mrs Bunting! We are in desperate need of tea!"

quoting Mrs. Palmer from the 1995 version of Sense & Sensibility,

Eleanor and Marianne above after arriving to the Palmers estate

It has been a delightful few days for us as late with what some would refer to as "gloomy weather" of dark clouds and much rain, but I thoroughly enjoy it! Instead of sewing, I have kept myself busy around the house and this morning made some English Muffins.

One of my brothers (he'd be a perfect Englishman!) comes up to me, and says, "...We are in desperate need of tea!" He shares my delight and enthusiasm for English things, accents, and teas. I think I'll go put some water on the stove. Would anyone else like to join us? =)

The Musican Tote Bag - Revisited

Does anyone remember my first attempt at making this "Musician Tote Bag" this past spring? I really liked it except for two things: the really long shoulder strap and the ribbon loop closure that seemed a little ... wacky, maybe?

For a long time now, I have admired this messenger bag pattern, but have never been quite willing to spend $12 for a pattern that I could design myself. So with that thought, I started thinking more, and cutting into fabric,

and wala!!

The inside is just one big pocket to hold many books, with room for lots more!

The front pockets hold my metronome, music flashcards, and other things perfectly!

I love the easy front closure of just wrapping a ribbon around a button. I also LOVE the Heather Bailey fabrics combined with a brown twill. Mmm, just perfectly suited for each other!

Oh yes, and the shoulder strap is a perfect length. I have a feeling that this thing is going to go with me everywhere from now on! =)

Another Regency dress

I was planning on sewing & selling another Regency dress before I leave in a couple of weeks, but the more I cut into this fabric, the more I am convinced that I cannot sell it. ::wink::

It's being made using the Elegant Ladies Closet pattern from Sense & Sensibility. Earlier this year I had in mind to make Marianne's picnic outfit and made the peach robe; pictures here and here, and though I've had the white sheer voile fabric, it hasn't been until now that I've pulled it out of my stash to start working on it.

It's not even all the way cut out yet, and am I 99% sure that it will be a keeper. As much as I can, I'm going to attempt to do french seams on the inside instead of a serger, and hand sew all the outer (visible) seams. As much as I dislike handsewing, I think it would be worth it in the long run.

My apologies to anyone who was secretly wishing for it themselves. =)

Slate Blue Cotton Regency dress

I can't remember the last time I made a Regency dress. It is always a good feeling to finish one. Whether it is a beginner or an experienced seamstress sewing one, they always have an air of gracefulness and femininity about them.

I especially like the vintage buttons on this one. They almost match the fabric perfectly!

Want to see more pictures?

One more peasant shirt...

As I was falling in love with this peasant shirt while sewing it today, I held it up against me and asked one of my sisters how it would look. She made a face and said that it looked as though death had warmed over me.

To bad. I loved the way it looked with my thrifted J. Jill skirt.

So it is up in the shop this evening.

Also though, ending Saturday morning, I'm going to offer to all my blog readers a 10% discount off anything in the shop. Just send "a conversation" through etsy to let me know if you have your eye on any particular item(s).

Oh yes, and here is a sneak peak of the Regency dress that I'm currently working on to sell:

Almost done!

Well, I wish I could say that I finished the sundress Saturday night, but I didn't. I didn't have another covered-button-thingy, I learned after sewing half of the bias to the sash that I am about 5" short, and I didn't do the hem.
But that is what it looks like so far. =) Erin came to my rescue and let me have one of her unused covered buttons, so I could sew the buttons on now, and the skirt has been draping for well over 24 hours (I recently learned that sometimes it's good to let flared skirts hang before finishing them? For easier hemming or something?). And so far I haven't been able to get out and buy red bias, so it will have to wait a day or two until it is completed.

I'm curious how the original front looks like, but I made an insert that I slip-stitched to the white cotton lining inside. So even though the buttons could be working buttons, they won't be. That's what I have the zipper in the back for. =)

Busy, Busy!

Despite my lack of appearance on the blog, I have been sewing. I figured you all wouldn't want updates for every and every item that I add to my etsy shop, and so while I added an apron and 3 peasant shirts I decided to remain silent. =) Other than an occasional apron or two to be added, I will probably be done sewing for the shop for awhile.

Right now I am working on my sundress. I made a muslin (ie, a test bodice), made some alterations to it, and have cut into my fabric. Just yesterday I picked up the needed red essentials for it and this morning I have been trying to figure out how to draft the skirt. I'm using several patterns as a "base" and then will go from there. Hopefully by this evening it will be completed, that is, provided I have no interruptions and decide to not watch Jane Eyre for the 3rd or 4th time this week. (I just love Jane's simple gowns! I'm guessing the era is 1850's or thereabouts?)

I can hardly wait to get back into Regency sewing. I miss doing some historically inspired clothing and have some fun ideas up my sleeve that I'd like to try before I go back to MI. Try to imagine no sewing machine for 3 months and then you'll understand why I'm in the sewing room quite frequently these days! =)

Feminine Sewing Inspirations

I am such a sucker at seeing something I like, and then wanting to duplicate it.

When I met Laura, I just loved the jumper/dress that she was wearing. I wasn't sure exactly what it was until a few days later someone had asked about it on the S&S sewing board and linked to her sewing gallery and her blue seersucker sundress. The above was her inspiration, and I was amazed at how well she duplicated it and yet changed it for modesty sake. In fact, I am always amazed with her sewing creations, (she showed us her sketch for her wedding dress ... talk about gorgeous!!!) and so if you all enjoy sewing and lack inspiration at the moment, head over to her gallery and you'll soon be drooling. =)

So anyway, for a couple of years I have had this blue and white seersucker plaid with white flowers (same fabric as this dress; click on the picture to actually see it) that I just been stashing away for something. I think I found my something to make it in. =D Since I don't have the pattern Laura used, and can't find it anywhere, I think I just use my a-line princess seamed jumper pattern as a base and then go from there...

Well Laura, I hope you don't mind that I'm going to make another item like something you have!

No. 4 - Baby Blue Tote

Well, this is my final installment (for now!) of tote bags in the shop! I have peasant shirts and aprons waiting to be sewn along with some Regency gowns and other items.

So without further ado, here is the newest addition:


The rick rack and wooden buttons are my favorite about this tote...



Like it too?

Tote No. 3 - An Old-Fashioned Plaid

Thanks to all of you dear ladies in get-well wishes! I am happy to say that I am feeling much better and enjoyed doing nothing for a couple of days. =) This afternoon I was inspired to make another tote and this is how it came out:

I love everything about this tote ... the blue plaid, the bias pocket, the cream lace, the odd shape ...

And it's already up in the shop if any of you are smitten with it! =)

To quote from Jane Austen's novel...

"My head is very ill tonight..." Mrs. Bennet bemoaned in Pride and Prejudice

And that would describe me in the last few days! =) I have a strange bug of a cold, headache, slight fever, and chills. I've been taking my herbs, vitamin C, and today my chiropractor did some sort of an adjustment that he said would help my immunity, so with lots of rest, I hope to be on the mend in a few days.

So as some of you may have guessed, I haven't been in the sewing room at all this week and so you all will just have to wait a little longer for those tote bags. ::wink::

Vintage McCalls 4575 - Seventies Gauze Shirt

I have this thing about collecting 70's patterns, and after this one came in the mail several weeks ago, I was dissapointed to realize that it's for knits only. Thankfully some teal gauze fabric (and it's not to sheer, April!) works perfect for it! I can hardly wait to make another shirt out of this pattern. But now, for a few pictures:

I added some crocheted lace around the sleeves

I ran out of the lace to go around the collar, so I added an extra straight stitch to define it a little more. I do hope that JoAnn's will carry the lace again though, as I think it would finish it off. I might try adding gathers to the front bodice sometime too, or would that look funny?

and so despite a serious look...

...I really do like it! =)

We'll finish our series of totes next week. I was getting tired of sewing them and therefore did a shirt this afternoon. =)

No. 2 - A Tote for Summer

I love the fabric lining in this one. I could have put the green stripe in as the lining, but I like how it looks with the vintage buttons on the front.

What do you think?

No. 1 in the series of Totes

My aunt gave me some very nice quality toile fabric. She knows how much I love toile, and this fabric just begged me to make it into a tote with a little black lace trim...

and two vintage buttons that keep the inside pocket closed...

I sure wish I could keep it, but it's already up in the shop this afternoon.

Aqua's in the Shop

You'd think that chocolate browns and bright aqua's are my favorite colors since everything that I have sewn upon returning home, have been in those colors. (But if you went shopping with me yesterday, you'd know that my favorite color is blue!)

Yesterday I finished this "Old-Granny" apron

Today I finished a hobo sack made into the same fabrics as this tote that I made awhile ago ... complete with the vintage fabric, yoyo's, and vintage buttons.

S&S ladies meet!

Laura, April, Annette, and I

Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of meeting some ladies from the Sense and Sensibility sewing board! We all met at Starbucks (after my tardy appearance due to being a little confused and lost in the "Big City") and chatted awhile, and then we girls headed over to Denver Fabrics while Laura's fiancé did some other shopping in the area.

What a fun store and everybody got something. =) I picked up some plaid wool for a skirt later this fall, and some cotton shirtings to make up into tote bags for the shop. It was fun to get good quality fabrics on sale and just about as cheap as Walmart prices.

Meeting Laura and April (and her sister too!) was like being reacquainted with dear old friends and I hope that Lord willing, we'll be able to see each other again!

Highlights of the Midwest

Having LOTS of fun at the Strings Workshop for two weeks!

Camping on the beaches of a couple of Michigan's lakes

Taking a ferry to Mackinac Island, shopping, buying fudge, seeing the Grand Hotel, going for a carriage tour, and so many other delights.


Enjoying the historical buildings and fragrant lilacs on the island. =)

Pictures take quite a awhile to load, so you all just get to see the above. =) But for those of you who are curious about my statement in the previous post...

I will be heading back to MI again in a few weeks to stay with my Grandma for a few months! The door has clearly been opened, and so I am excited for this new opportunity. Since I can't possibly take my sewing machine with me, this blog will go on a sabbatical for awhile unless you'd like random posts while I'm there. =)

In the mean time, I am going to attempt to sew as much as I can find the time after violin, while I am here at home. In fact, some of you may have already noticed that I added an apron to my etsy shop. =)

Home!

Yes! I am home! =) After being gone for 3 1/2 weeks, it was a delight to step onto "home soil" this afternoon! Stay tuned for perhaps a few pictures (if anyone is interested) and some news that will definately change my life for awhile, as an avid seamstress.

In the meantime, LAF recently published an article I submitted quite awhile ago, and while I don't have the gift of writing, every now and then I get inspiration to write something. =) So if you have time, feel free to take a look at some scribbled notes to fellow single young women that I probably wrote close to 2 years ago.

An outfit for Strings

Last week I was able to sew up a white collared shirt for my summer travels. I used some white poly/cotton fabric and thrifted buttons:

My favorite part about this blouse are the pintucks down the front. They add such a nice feminine, but classic touch. Thanks Shannon for your help with this! =)

I wanted a no-iron jumper for my month-long journey away from home, and I was glad to find some stashed tropical breeze to make up into a favorite princess-style jumper.

Ties are sewn into the back princess seams and tied in a knot

These will make a good pair awhile at the Strings Workshop. Until I return, cheerio!