February Wrap Up

My monthly wrap up is back after a two month break. You might have noticed that I also skipped the weekly glimpses... I forgot to share it the first week, and then I just went on with it. I made a monthly collage for you guys though, with bits and parts of our month. 

February was a busy month. There were Carnival parades, the first one was the one from G.'s school, where the kids helped making their own owl costume. Then we visited two more parades that week, as I already told you here. I've cooked some of G.'s favourites, and did a few fun experiences too. We had those pancakes for lunch, on a lazy day, the two of us, with chocolate topping. I got to sew a few pieces and we had fun in our photo sessions. We visited parks, and the beach as usual. G. had a playdate with her bestfriend. S. jumps like crazy in his jumper. We had plummers fixing something, finally. A friend sent my daughter some pink tulle and I made her a tutu, she wore it over her pajamas and felt so happy about it. S. is growing and he is able to do a bunch of things on his own, such as holding his own water bottle and drink from it. He already has two theeth too, so cute. 

As for the blog, I changed the banner (again) and made a few changes, such as adding a back to top button, centered the pages and the titles of the posts. Did you notice that? Looking back at what I made and blogged about, I am happy to see all these posts. 

  

I started the month as part of the girls bundle up tour, with three pattern reviews, the Phresh blazer, the Freestyle pants and the Adelaine cardigan. Click photos to get you to full post. Then I sewed along with Kids Clothes Week and I was able to sew and blog for 6 days in a row, then I just felt exausted and missed the last day. Apart from the pieces in the photos (an outfit for S. self drafted pants and Rowan tee, and the Phresh blazer for G.'s friend), I've also started two dresses, and a Mara blouse. I haven't blogged about them yet but one dress is done and the other is only missing some buttons, and the Mara will be blogged about tomorrow.

   

  

I was also able to blog about pieces I made in the past year or even way back in the past, as the vampire costume/medieval dress my niece wore for Carnival. From last year, I shared a Bumblebee dress, little girl's briefs and I brought back a guest post inspired in Victora Plum's books (last photo). 

   

The other new pieces I shared were the upcycle of the costume S. wore, the Cinderella costume for G. and the mom & daughter matching shirts for the Extraordinary Girl pattern tour. 

 

 Busy, busy, busy... as I told you! 

Sew Many Books: Victoria Plum Goes Fishing

Bringing home a guest post today, in case you didn't see it back then.

I am so happy for the chance to be part of the Sew Many Books series hosted by Emily over Nap Time Creations. I remember following it last season, and enjoying it a lot. It was such a surprised to be invited to be a part of these this time too. =) 

So, as soon as I knew I was going to be in the series I started thinking of a book. It was wasy. I picked one from my childhood. It lays in my daughter's shelf of books nowadays, it's almost 30 years old, some pages were ripped apart, and I wrote all over it when I was younger. The book is from Victoria Plum's collection by Angela Rippon. Does anyone know this little fairy? I remember I loved this book just so much, and I believe it was one of my very first ones if not the first. I only have one from the entire collection, a random book my mom bought me. The title of this one is Victoria Goes Fishing. 

Then I had to actually think of an outfit inspired by this book. At first I thought it'd be fun to make a more fairy like outfit for G. but then I came back into reality. She would never wear it after the photoshoot, I know my little girl. So, as always I tried to come up with something more urban and practical that could get a lot of use. And I ended up with this.

How I came to this? Well, I used the main colours in the character, white and red purple (yes, I googled it to be sure of the colour name). Also, I realised there is a crown of flowers in the cover of the book. There. Colour and flowers. Those were the choices and started point to make my outfit. And here's a closer look for you. 

I refashioned. Of course. Unfortunately, I lost the photos I took to the original pieces, but I can tell you I used left overs from a white t-shirt I had previously cut for a different project and a red purple top of mine that was stained for the shirt. For the pants, I used the sleeves from a jacket I had in the refashioned pile for a few months. It happens that the floral pattern on it matched the colours for the shirt perfectly. 

I used the Tinley Tee pattern for the shirt. It's the second I make (after this one which was part of GYCT's tour). This is such a perfect pattern to go to, and I love the fit. And I didn't use a pattern at all for the pants. I just cut the sleeves from the original jacket and placed already existing pants on top of them to cut. I used a band for the waist, with the red purple fabric from the top to match the shirt. the sleeves were just enough for these and I am afraid this is a sign for me: your child is growing and pants from sleeves will be a mirage pretty soon. 

Since the title of the book was Victoria Goes Fishing, and since I live in a fishermen's town (becoming a little more touristic lately) we went for a fishing themed photoshoot. We tried to take photos with some men fishing on the background but G. wasn't playing along and nothing worked as we planned. Luckily for us, there is a great graffitti artist in town, his name is Sen and we found some themed pieces from him, that would work wonderfully with what I had in mind. 

Refashioned Girl Briefs |take 2|

Do you remember these? Well, back in November was my cousin's daughter 4th birthday and she told me the little miss needed some new underwear. This happened right after I made my daughter's briefs, so I thought, why not? Let's make some for Didi too. And I did, 3 pairs for her. 

I finished these last minute before I left the house so I took the photos before ironing. That's why all the wrinkles here. 

I used 2 shirts that my mom had given me just a few weeks before. The purple and the pink. For the third one, I used left overs from this refashion and the bands were made from scraps from what was one of my first refashions many many years ago, it once was a t-shirt of mine. 

Didi is 8 months older than G., so she's a little bigger is size too, not much but a little. And she doesn't like her underwear to be too tight, so I risezed the self pattern I told you about before to fit her, so the shape from hers and my daughter's is the same. I haven't done any others ever since, but I have been saving some more girly onesies that long time don't fit G. and sooner or later I will give it another go.

Now, would anyone be interested in having these briefs pattern?! 

If there are a few, I will scan them and share (for free, of course). 

Carnival 2015

Last year I did a little series on my Carnival costumes. I even shared tutorials for two of them, and linked to another one. When I did the round up of my past costumes, the last day, I forgot to mention two more that weren't on the photos. They were a medieval girl's dress and an angel dress. I still don't have photos of the last one I mentioned, but my niece was big enough this year for it to fit her and that's what she wore. Here's a little photo from our first day from this year's Carnival. Apart from my nephew, I made all the other 3 costumes. 

The Medieval dress was made many years ago, for my third fashion show, and it was used by a friend's daughter. This was the dress that closed the show. That little girl, has also opened the show, she wore the angel dress for that and all eyes were on her, she was so brave, and I was so proud of her. Back to this dress, the features I love the most are both in the sleeves. Apart from the gathering, I love that they are so long. L. was always hiding her hands but the sleeves are lined in red, and they make a raindrop shape. I guess you can only have a little glimpse of that in the last photo below. I also made her a last minute cape, but I didn't take a single photo of that. She dressed as a vampire. 

For S. I upcycled his sister's ant costume. She asked me to make him a cat costume, but after sewing her own costume (in a minute!), I was feeling way too lazy to sew up another one from zero. Since he is the exact same age she was Carnival 2012, and since her costume was all black, I took the chance to adapt hers into his. It was the quickiest and easiest thing to do. Here's the before:

I took the extra arms out, sewed them together and attached them back as the cat's tail. Then I took the antennaes out of the headband (which was covered in fabric too after these photos) and sewed two felt cat ears. Easy as that. I only regreat that I didn't take any better photos of this.

For G.'s I made the pink Cinderella dress. I tried to make her change her mind about the dress, "wouldn't you like the blue instead dear? you love blue so much!". And she really does, but apparently, it's a pink fase and I have to deal with it. But I'll admit it though, when it comes to our own princess it doesn't really matter what colour she wears, it comes down to how happy we can make her and I have succeded here. She was just super excited about it.

To make this, I used an original bride's maid dress from the early 80's (I believe!). It was from my sister's MIL just as many clothes I have refashioned before. I even have original photos from her wearing it. The fabric looked like a thin table cloth, it was not pretty at all. But I saved this dress because I thought of it as Carnival costumes material and I was so right. It was perfect for that pink Cinderella G. was begging for. To finish the look I also used scraps from a light satin pink fabric I used over 10 years ago to make a dress for a friend and white tulle that was saved from my sister's wedding, also over 10 years ago...

I made hers with a long sleeve though because it was so windy and cold these days. This way she was able to wear a white shirt underneath without a weird look like last year's when she used a red shirt under her Snow White costume. This dress has all sort of things I don't like, such as soooo many pink and big bows, oh gosh, those big bows, and yet, I couldn't have been more happy about it. My daughter felt like the most special princess in the party, so how couldn't I love it?! I saved the V shaped on the back, in order to be able to save the original ziper and save myself from the work of installing a new one.

I wasn't able to take that seam mark off though. Do I really care about it?!

To finish the costumes parade, I should have the Minnie mouse costume I made for my niece two years ago. I didn't get photos back then, and I didn't get photos this year either, when she wore it the second day. That was simple though. we used one of the minnie mouse headbands I made for g.'s first birthday and I made her a simple skirt, with a wide elastic on the seam. It fits me too because of it, and I have actually wore it at a carnival night's out last year. It was a success. lol I do have photos of that, but would have to search for them, and I am feeling lazy. 

Extraordinary Girl Tour

Today I get to be in the Extraordinary Girl Tour. This is a pattern by Filles à Maman. It was my first time working with a pattern from this designer and I couldn't be happier about it. I had all sorts of problems in the way when I started it. It seemed to be cursed and when it wasn't for the missing ink in my printer, it was my sewing machine chewing all the thread. But I made it, just in time for today. And although I was literaly swearing as I was trying to get the stitches right on my machine, I was so happy about my two shirts when I finished them. 

This pattern comes in girls (12M-14Y) and women sizes (XS-XXL), but you know right? I fit into the girl's size so I only had to print from one pattern. I did girl's size 14 for myself and size 3 for my daughter. The pattern comes with print by layers option, which for someone who cares a lot with waste like I do, it is just great. We get to save a lot of ink. So, I printed both sizes together, cut my pieces first, and then cut hers. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and it's a good pattern to sew for yourself if you're just starting. 

I love to make us matching clothes, and this might be one of my favourites so far. From the two sleeves options, long or 3/4, I went with the second option for both. The fabric might have influenced me into it. It's a light cotton knit that imitates lace. I bought it in my last trip to Spain late last year. I bought it hoping to make myself a summer dress, but I just might have to go back and buy some more in a different colour. I had this men's striped shirt that matched beautifully this colour, so I had to refashion it and incorporate in these pieces. 

Contrary to the last time I made us matching shirts, I didn't want them to be exactly the same. I kept mine simplier, I used the one colour fabric for all the shirt apart from the front yoke in my version. For hers, I used the striped fabric for the collar and the sleeves too. I also added the cutest tiny pocket in hers and skipped that in my own. She calls it the coins pocket, after daddy saying so, because, coins are all that fit in there. I love the different neckline too. It is quite practical if you're dressing a younger child, but it looks great on us too, it is easy to put on and perfect for warmer days. There's one more feature that makes this a special shirt pattern, and it is the high low design. I would like it better if the bigger sizes would have been a little more accentuated, but that's fine too. 

This is perfect for Spring. The days have been a little warmer and less windy these last couple of days, and I keep dreaming of a few of these shirts. They really are so comfortable I swear I could live in one of these through Spring. The best thing about this though, was our 5 minute-lots-of-fun photoshot. How I loved it!!! My daughter has been in a no photos mood for a while now, so I really feel lucky to get these great photos of her holding me, looking at the camera, smiling and enjoying the moment. That's how I want out photos to be, always. 

If you want to get this pattern, do it before the end of the tour because it's on sale. Quite worth it to buy the bundle of both girl's and women's sizes. Just picture you and your little girl wearing these beauties and I am sure you won't resist. You can also try your luck, entering the giveaway below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to visit all the other ladies in this tour for more ideas on how to sew your Extraordinary Girl shirt for the extraordinary girl in your life!!!

Monday Feb. 16th

   Call Ajaire -  The Crazy Tailor - From a Box - Sew Out of Control

Tuesday Feb. 17th

Lulu & Celeste - Keep Calm and Carrion - Sprouting JubeJube - Sofilantjes

Wednesday Feb. 18th

Sew Starly - Rebekah Sews - Rebel & Malice - Isn't That Sew

Thursday Feb. 19th

Thread Riding Hood - House of Estrela - Project Destash

Friday Feb, 20th

Sew Cool for the Tween Scene - Phat Quarters - Pienkel 

 Shaffer Sisters - La Casa Cactus - Mabey She Made It

Disclaimer: I was given a Free copy of the pattern for this tour, but all opinions are sincere of my own. 

A baby Bumblebee Dress

There were a few things made in 2014 that never got to the blog. I will try to post most of them, because I love to document every little thing I make good or not so good (even though some just don't make it for one reason or another). 

This is a dress I made for another blogger. She was the sweetest when my daughter was born and offereced us a pair of booties she made. Last year, just a little before I had S., she had her first child too, a girl. Of course, I wanted to make something for her little one. So, I turned to what is my go to dress pattern, and made her a tiny Bumblebee Dress. If I am not wrong I did the 6M size. 

Unfortunately those photos are still from my older camera and they aren't so good. I used fabric and lace from my stash. For someone who doesn't like pink that much, I happen to have a few different ones for years, and since last year was my great destash year, it was normal for me to use all the pinks. I really like the pattern, it's no news for you, and yes, I am tempted to sew a new one pretty sure, I haven't decided yet if I will use this pattern but I just might. This is my 8th, I believe. 

Kids Clothes Week |day 6|

excuse the wrinkles, please!  

I am so excited today!!! It's day 6 and I have been following the challenge just like I should. The only thing different I've been doing is that I have been sewing for more than one hour most of the days, but that's okay, I guess. One more day to go, but before that, I am also excited because I have finished my third Phresh Blazer and I keep falling further in love with it everytime I make a new one. I am not someone who sews the same pattern over and over, and if I do, it means I really love that pattern. It has happened a few times in the past*, other than that I guess I haven't done more than 2 of others I own. It doesn't mean I don't like the others, it just means those are my top choices. Anyway, I guess you got it, right?! I see a future full of these sweet little blazers since I believe I need to sew one of these for every little girl around me. And there are a few, that's for sure! 

This latest one was made for my daughter's best friend, as I told you yesterday. Mariana is turning 4 tomorrow and she's such a beautiful and sweet little girl. Not to mention how smart she is too, so I am pretty happy that these two are friends. Mariana (this is actually the name we had picked in case S. was a girl), reminds me of the 1900's ladies, she's got a pale skin and very dark (black) hair. She looks sweet, delicate and fragile and that's just beautiful. I wanted to make her a blazer that would match that image and the Phresh Blazer couldn't be more perfect for that. 

I cut the pieces for the blazer, out of a women's suit jacket. For the facings I used left overs from the skirt I cut to make my daughter a Mara Blouse (last project in this KCW edition, I hope), and I used self made bias tape to finish seams. For the back ruffles I used a vintage lace I was offered a long time ago. I love it, it's one of those things you don't want to use because it's so beautiful, but since I decided to destash the trims too, I have to use whatever I think will look better in every project and this was just the right decision. 

This time I did the 3/4 gathered sleeves option, just like I did in that first one I haven't blogged about yet. I skipped the pockets this time but sure included the ruffles. Since I used lace for the ruffles and I had enough left, I thought it'd be a good idea to add it to the sleeves too. I just turned 1/4", and then the same again and pinned the lace on the wrong side, sewed them together and voilá, it was just what I had pictured in my mind. The button is one of my personal favourites too, I took it out of some old clothes before I sent them to the garbage bin. When I finished, I tried it on my daughter just to have an idea of how it'd look like, but of course it was too big for her, although she's only nearly 5 months younger than Mariana, her friend is much taller than her and I made it a size 5, I rather make it too big than too small. Now, I just hope she'll love it as much as I did. G. is really happy that I made it for her friend, my daughter's always so proud of her mommy, and she actually tells me that often. How cute?!

* patterns I use the most (and nope! nobody is paying me to mention them): the Bumblebee Dress and Top; Small Fry Skinny Jeans; The Rowan Tee; Billy Bright Eyes Snappy Tee Shirt and the (free) Izzy Top. 

Kids Clothes Week |day 5|

After posting yesterday (late, very late at night) I decided it was a good thing to take clothes out of the closet where I keep my to be refashioned clothes to search for the perfect thing to use as a new Phresh Blazer. It took me a while and I have made a huge mess out of my sewing space, but at least I found it. It was a suit so I had plenty of fabric for the whole thing, it had sleeves, it was just slightly stretch and a very good quality fabric. I worked more than one hour on this today, but I can't precise how long exactly because I did it in parts. I know I cut the pattern pieces from one single part of the suit so I spent a little trying to figure out how to best cut it, then after lunch I had the back of the blazer ready and by noon, all that there's left to do is attaching second sleeve and add bias to the hems. Tomorrow, my daughter's friend will have a brand new blazer done. *big smile on my face* I didn't even touch the Mara blouse today, I was too excited about the blazer to be honest. 

Kids Clothes Week |day 4|

There's just one thought in my mind right now. It is exausting trying to sew along with KCW, plus all the rest going on in one's life. I didn't get to sew anything today. I did use my one hour for the matter, but it wasn't actually sewing. I changed my sewing plans for the week. My daugher's best friend (first one!) is having her 4th birthday these days, and that's an awesome excuse to sew another Phresh Blazer. I spent a long, long time trying to figure out how to display the pattern pieces in the fabric just to find out that I am not one to make miracles and no matter how many turns I'd give it, that blazer just wouldn't fit in the piece of fabric that I wanted to use. I then searched through my refashion piles and I got frustrated because the way I last organized them isn't that good after all, it is hard to reach a lot of the pieces and they are not all easy to see either. That's important when you are looking for something very specific. I don't want to use a light fabric, I want something that's rather stiff, with a little amount of stretch, with sleeves... and on it goes... it's not being easy so far. 

Before that, I was able to cut a Mara Blouse. Unfortunately the skirt wasn't enough for the sleeves and I will have to sew them in a different colour. I am crossing my fingers that I will like it after all.