Butterick 6582

I finished the Butterick 6582 wiggle dress, made from the thrifted bed sheet.....

It's way too cute.
Gossamer thin.
It will need a slip.
I liked the bow details at the shoulders.

There is a slit in the back to make it easier to walk. I put two little crystal buttons at the top to close the zipper.

It turned out very pretty and girly and fresh.... just what I wanted.
Unfortunately..... I did cut it too small. I need to drop a dress size to wear it.
I will totally wear this when I can get into it. I think it's a pretty good use of 2.99 and a day off.

The Beginnings of Butterick 6582

This is what I decided to do with the blue rose print sheets.

I had the thread and the zipper in the studio just waiting for me and the pattern was there too. I made this for the first time four years ago. So far this project has cost me 2.99 for the sheet.
I think I may have cut it too small though.

Thrifted Sheets for Dressmaking.

We went to London yesterday to shop and ended up at the Sally Anne.
Here's what I came out with....

Fabulous like new, pink and blue floral sheets. I think they need to be house dresses or aprons.

Smurf sheets in really good condition. Maybe these will be jammies.

and SUPER HERO sheets!
These are going to be a play suit... I think. I'll have to hunt for a good pattern.

Do you thrift sheets into clothes? I think it's a terrific way to get really great patterns on the cheap. Plus it's super good for the environment to reuse instead of buy new. Good for my pocket book, and good for the environment.......

Towel Day!!!!

In honor of TOWEL DAY!!!!
My cousin Tyson sent me this Fabulous (He made it himself! I'm so proud!) towel a couple years ago.
We are both Fans of Hitch hiker's guide to the Galaxy.
(I think that's one word...... it's totally one word! but spell check says it's two, so two it stays......)

The towel is never very far from me. You should always know where your towel is!
Seriously, don't panic.... it's only birdy poo...
Time to clean the car huh?

Random gratuitous flower shot......
They smell extra lovely today.
:D

New Retro Pattern, Simplicity 6546.

I've been working like a fiend this week!

Deadline looms on the 25th
I haven't had much time for sewing or playing but I can't believe how much fun this current commission is! I can't wait to show you guys!!!
But I'll just have to be patient......

In the mean time, this came in the mail on Friday........

It's to be made up for summer vacation.

It's lined and takes almost no fabric. I hope I have time to make this up. It'll be adorable with a huge sun hat and some big sunglasses.

Mr. Jimmy had some dental work done this week and is doing very well. He's such a trooper. Auntie J and The A Man have sent these to cheer him.

They always manage to send the prettiest most interesting roses. We are all enjoying these flowers. Mr. Jimmy is sharing them with us.

Sometimes You Just Have to Hug a Dirty Bunny.

We got Maggs a special treat. We fell deeply in love with these

Dirty Bunnies
created by artist

Amanda Louise Spayd
I can't say enough about how imaginative this lady is. Her work is so beautiful and playful I simply couldn't resist this little nubbin of adorableness.
I also have great respect for her as a business woman, her artful limited pre-order sales are genius. Enough gushing.... you judge how amazing she is for yourselves.

Seriously....... how cute is this little guy?
He came with two scatter pins that are molar teeth all tucked inside this little hand made bag.

My only fear is that while wearing it we'll walk into things because we're too busy looking at him. I think he has become the face of that little voice that tells us to do naughty things.

Maggs is making noises about putting him on a hair bow to wear in her hair.
Can't thank you enough Amanda.
We all smile in your general direction.
:D

Short Sparklers for Work.

I'm doing some detailed sculpting over the next few weeks so I shortened my nails to make things easier. I couldn't resist adding some glitter and Mylar to them while I was at it.

Martha Stewart blue sparkles and Mylar flakes in UV gel.

It's hard to get a good shot of sparkle.

It always fuzzes out.

Grape hyacinths and tulips from the garden.

Well...... back to work!

I have some things to do.

I'm going to be pretty busy for the next couple weeks. If I go missing, send someone to my studio to remind me to stretch my legs and eat once and a while.
Thanks!

Shorts from Simplicity 5436

I decided I needed some shorts. The weather is getting warmer and I do need a vacation wardrobe. I used Simplicity 5436 to make a pair. I gave them a back zipper and some pockets but used the rest of the pattern as is..... just shortened it.

The fabric was a thrifted housecoat. I think it was a dollar. I still have heaps left. I'm a sucker for a good floral.

Here they are on me. I like the really high waist. It means I can make more retro crop tops for summer to go with them. I added pockets to make them more functional and to hide the tummy blub. It seems to have worked..... as long as I keep my hands in my pockets that is.

Here are the shorts front view. I think I'll need some more like these in different patterns. They only took two hours to make from start to finish. Pretty speedy!

Maggs picked these yesterday from our yard. Makes things so much more cheery!
Yeay Spring!!!!

My Mommy!

This is my Mom........

She's always been pretty awesome. This is her engagement photo. Not only is she gorgeous... who else has an engagement photo of their Mom drawing old timey pistols on the camera? Pretty awesome!

This is how Mom had us spend our summers. Pretty much every summer was spent at Grandma and Grandpa's cottage. The best place in the whole world. When I was giving birth and they asked me to go to my happy place, this was it! Mom made sure we got there every year. Here you can see my Bro and I getting a severe case of waffle butt while Mom watches us. There are various Uncles and cousins in the water and on the pontoon in the background.

Here is my Mom's passport photo. Pretty cool!

This is how my Mom looks every day!
I love you Mommy!

:D

A Surprisingly Good Day!

It was a great day today. I voted on my lunch break and everything went smoothly. While at work I was surprised by fellow craft fanatic Deb

(She has surprised me before).
After work I went to the post and Mr. Jimmy's surprise was there. I also received my copy of the current Polymer Cafe with my nest and eggs on the cover!


This really is a great issue. It has some really beautiful and technically complex projects in it. I can't wait till tea time to cuddle up with it.



Here is the surprise Deb showed up with. How cute is this little guy? He makes me smile every time I look at him. It was designed and hand hooked by Ruth Emerson of Grimsby, Ontario. Thanks again Deb! This little guy is totally cheering me even in this rainy glum weather.

Here is Mr. Jimmy's surprise! I love it!
I got the plate and bowl from
ChilDish
It didn't take very long at all to get here especially when you consider the pieces were custom made.

Simplicity 5441 View Four.

I found some time today and some perfect fabric to make the retro simplicity 5441 blouse.

I got the fabric at Fabricland in a remnant bin for two dollars. I still have just enough fabric left to line a handbag or hem a pair of capris.

I decided to duplicate the original pattern pieces and use the duplicates instead of damaging the original pattern. This way I don't need to feel bad about cutting up a pattern that has made it whole through several decades. The original pattern pieces remain uncut and without pin marks in their original factory folds.

I marked my pattern pieces by sewing through them very loosely with contrasting embroidery floss right through the pattern and all the fabric pieces at the same time.

Then I cut the top loops of the floss.

Then separated the fabric pieces by snipping the threads in between the layers.

The pattern instructions are very easy to follow and I didn't have any problems with construction. Everything went as planned.

I really do love this fabric. It has just the right amount of glitter and it's light enough to wear on the most sweltering of summer days.

The finished shirt front. I didn't know if I was going to add the collar or not until the very end. I'm glad I did. The collar is my favorite part. The shirt is a little tight around my hips but I'm ok with that because I'm slowly shedding the extra plumpness. It should be long gone before vacation time. Mom suggested maybe making side slits on the next shirt.

The back buttons turned out much better than I expected. I did make them closer together than the pattern called for. I added two extra buttons. What do you guys think? Should I wear it with a skirt or capris?