Featured!

Featured once again!

I can't express in words how happy I get when I see that any of my creations has been featured in other people's blogs!!!

Small Fry skinny jeans Sewalong: I want in!

Visiting Max California blog, I got to know that Laura of Craftstorming is currently doing a sew-a-long for the Small Fry skinny jeans. I am a bit behind to join, but I want to, so I have downlouded the pattern already, must print it yet and then get started (tomorrow, of course!)

Lovely Surprise (featured!)

Pam from Threading my Way left me a comment telling me she was featuring my onesie refashions in her blog, what she didn't tell me was that House of Estrela, was her week featured blog! Such an honour!!! Thanks again Pam! You made my day!

Feather's Flights Pattern Tour Harem and Play Pants (and a giveaway)

When I read Heather's e-mail asking me to be part of her pattern tour, I couldn't feel happier and more honoured than I did. It is my first time taking part of something like this and I am a Heather's fan. And let me tell you I was ambicious. Heather has recently release her first patterns, and I could review just one - the Harem pants pattern, or both - the Play pants pattern too. 

Those have been seen as a boy patterns by some, but let me tell you, they are perfect for little girls too. Especially if those girls are like mine. Though she just turned two a week ago, she knows exactly what she likes, and we've been having trouble trying to put her into skirts, so pants and shorts are never enough around the house. 

Let's talk about Heather's patterns though. I went for the harem pants first, and chose the shorts version since it's pretty hot here, right now. This pattern came in so handy after my master fail on doing my daughter a pair of harem pants! But that's something for another post one of these days. 

I chose size 2T, though I know baby G. wears a little smaller. But kids grow fast and I wanted to make sure it would last the entire summer. I used a mustard, very light woven fabric from my stash. As for changes in the pattern I made one: the pockets. The original pattern has optional front pockets, but I decided to make my own side pockets. And I even put up a little tutorial for you, if you want to try it. 

To make a pair of harem shorts/pants, like mine, with the side pockets, you should follow the next steps:

After copying the original pattern, I drafted a side pocket. Make a bigger and a smaller one, remember the smallest will be the size that will be showing on the final piece. 

* I meant mustard and lining! oppssss better stop editing late at night. 

From here you just have to keep following Heather's instructions. Her patterns are very well documented with pictures and even tips on the fabric you use (for better fitting, etc). 

Then have your child wearing and enjoying the freedom the harem pants/shorts give them to play! I paired my harem shorts with a refashioned onesie matching. I will blog about it in a few days ! Come back to check it out!

My second choice were the Perfect Play Pants pattern. As I've said before, pants are never enough around this house, but this particularly pair (and rest of outfit) was made for my little niece M. I will surely be making a few more out of this pattern for my own daughter because, besides being wonderful for active playing kids, it's also great that it is an easy pull and take piece, for my potty training toddler. 

My idea for the shoots was to have her playing in her room, but she didn't cooperate much... she was either sitting with her computer, or reading a book. Or she would just lay down on the floor. 

I didn't make great changes to the pattern. I used again a 2T but mine is a bit shorter because I skipped the cuffs (and pockets too if you didn't guess!), and used a wide seams. At each side I sewed button holes, through which I've put two ribbons, so we can tight it. I kept all the rest as it was. Let me tell you, I just love how it turned out, again with a light woven fabric. A polka dotted piece my mother-in-law had given me like 1/2 years ago and I loved so much I was always afraid to use it. 

As I said, I made this for my little niece, so when thinking about how to complete my outfit, I upcycled another onesie (just added the "M" to it, with the reverse applique) and even made a hairclip, because those pants are so quick and easy to make, I got enough time for all that!

Now, if you haven't checked all the previous posts from the rest of the ladies that make part of the tour, I suggest you to. And don't forget to check the next ones too, there's three more to go. Here's a link to all their blogs. 

July 1: Suzanne from Winter Wonderings, Wanderings, & Whatnot July 2: Rachel from Once Upon a Sewing Machine July 3: RaeAnna from Sewing Mama RaeAnna July 4: Heather from Feathers Flights July 5: Stacey from Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy Crafts July 8: Ari from Max California July 9: Magda from House of Estrela July 10: Sophie from The Sisters 4 July 11: Toni from Sugar Tart Crafts July 12: Celina from Petit a Petit

Now that it is all said, would you like to win one of these patterns? Heather has been so kind to give one away for a lucky reader. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

|day 2| Refashion Month Guest: Ari from Max California

I'm not really sure when exactly I found my first guest blog, all I know is I became a fan right away! Today I am introducing you the creative lady behind Max California. Ari was the winner of Season 6 of Project Run & Play and we have competed together for the Sew Off too, her boy designs are the best always, so check out her blog if you don't know it yet!!! 

Hello! I'm Ari from Max California! I was super stoked when Magda asked me to be a part of Refashion July, as recycling and refashioning clothes is a MASSIVE part of my DIY aesthetic. I was cutting up band t-shirts and re-constructing them into  new shirts or skirts for myself and my friends when we would go to gigs (pre-motherhood!). Most weekends I would be found on the floor of my sewing space hacking up a t-shirt last minute literally as everyone was walking out the door to jump in the taxi to take us out! These days, I sew less for me and more for my kids, but I still have a huge pile of clothes that I use more than fabric meterage! During Project Run & Play I made friends with an awesome little lady who will be showing her stuff off here later this month, Suzanne from Winter Wonderings. She wrote an amazing summary post about the cost of competing that really struck a chord with me, and made me more determined to refashion old clothes instead of buying new clothes or new fabric. Since the competition I have bought only a few metres of lycra for a costume commission and some fleece for Vince's Sonic Hoodie, All my sewing since February has been out of my stash of fabric and clothes! Today I'm going to talk about the two ways I go about refashioning! The first way is to see a shirt, or a pair of pants, and cut them down to size. Resizing them to fit you or your small ones. Finding a dress that is a few sizes too big and cutting it down to a dress that will fit you. Or doing the reverse! I have found kids tees I loved, then adding fabric to make them larger and fit me! Of course it's not all just complete resizing. You may see a skirt that you like the buttons and features on it, and re-use those features into something completely different. The second way is to view the clothing you are going to refashion as fabric. This is the way I use mostly and the way that I am going to demonstrate to you today! When I got to the op-shops things that catch my eye mostly are the patterns on fabrics. Or even just plain fabrics, it's easier to find a colour I want in a second-hand shirt than new off the bolt at the fabric store. In my stash of 'clothes to cut up' I had this old singlet from my sister with roses on the front, and this nightie I bought from the op-shop when I was pregnant (It was super comfy but it needs new life!)

I decided to make Edison a few Bimaa Sweaters, since I love the cowl-neck on her and we are heading to New Zealand in a month for a family vacation! It is going to be FREEZING and the Bimaa Sweater is my go-to layering piece for her wardrobe. (PS. I'm not affiliated with Lou Bee Clothing at all, I just really dig Sarah's patterns! I was not paid/bribed to pimp her stuff, it's just seriously that awesome.) I decided that the singlet would be the main body of the shirt, and the pattern on the nightie would be for the cowl and cuffs. I wasn't sure if I was going to manage to squeeze out the sleeves from the singlet as well, but the side-seams were very flat and on the *outside* of the shirt rather than the bulk being on the inside. So I cut the sleeves out of the side-seam sections that I normally would discard.

Check out my scraps! The white singlet is on top, and as you can see there is HEAPS of the maternity nightie left! The finished result? Well, see for yourself!

 You can see in the sleeve up there the side seam of the original shirt!

Now I have heaps of leftovers for maybe some little matching leggings?

You can check out other things I have recycled and refashioned by checking out my Recycling Clothes tag on my blog! Thank you so much for having me Magda!

There are so many ways to help...

When I reached my e-mail box this morning, I had an appeal from Suzanne Winter  to help the victims in Oklahoma by sending them our sewed items. You can read more about it in her blog.

As always, my heart is with those suffering, seeing their lives devasted by something they can't control. 

And of course I want to help too... I don't know about sewing something to send, because the post offices tend to take weeks to deliver something from here to the USA, but I am surely sharing this here, hoping to reach others that will able to help. 

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Main Page Grab Button:

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This is the address where items can be sent:

Green Style Creations

508 Conquistador Ct 

Edmond OK 73025.

There are so many ways to help... if you can't sew, try to spread the word, the more people we reach, the more people will help!

The Black & White Striped Dress

As you might know by now, the lovely ladies from Project Run and Play, have recently launched a sister site that goes by Project Sewn. It's sort of a similar thing, but instead of kids sewing, this one is about selfish sewing, it is: sewing for ourselves. 

The first season/competition has started just a few days ago, and the rules are a little different from the ones over Project Run & Play. The first theme is Black and White, and here's my contribution... 

I really enjoyed all their weekly themes when I first read them last month, but I didn't mention anything about it here, because I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to sew along this time. I hoped so, and hoping was all I could do. You see, Spring is supoused to be a wonderful thing, right? But not in our home. Daddy suffers a lot with allergies, and he gets moody and stressed and it infects me too and I lose all my sewing disposal. 

So, I am really, really happy that I have finally done something I was planning for far too long. If I had made it to the 3rd week of The Sew Off competition, this is what I would have created. But I didn't and if it wasn't because of Project Sewn, I believe I wouldn't have finished (or even start it) yet. 

please just look at the dress and never mind my face... it was so windy, that all the front pictures of the dress looks awful... if not for my face, for the weird shapes the dress would get from the wind. Believe me, this was one of the best ones. 

Remember what dress was the very first I made when sewing along with Project Run & Play for the very first time? Exactly, the black and white striped dress for my daughter. Mine is a matching one. I had a lot of this fabric that I had bought like 4 years ago to make my nephew's Carnival costume (a prisioner), THIS one here. Back then I bought a large amont because I've always wanted a striped (B&W) dress. 

I used a pattern from a spanish magazine Patrones for the bodice and black band, the skirt was just gathered together and sewn to the top. It closes on the left side with an invisible ziper. The only thing I didn't like about this dress, is that the arm holes turned out too tight. They do fit me, but it gets a little uncomfortable. The problem was that I had to resize my pattern and I am almost sure I did it a size smaller. =( 

My sister saw the dress when it still was in construction the other day, and she was like "Who's pregnant?". lol She thinks it looks like a maternity dress, and honestly I do too, but I don't care. Having a second child is on my plans so I will feel pretty happy to wear it on a second pregnancy. 

Here's how it looks on the back. I just love the red of the shoes with black and white clothes. It's such a wonderful contrast. Don't you agree?!

And just because my little pie was playing around us and wanted to be part of my photoshoot, here's one of my favourite photos from today... Can you guess what's she's wearing? I'll give you a hint... soon there will be more about it. Oh, and yes... I did get my dress all wet!!!

So, now is time to go HERE to see what all the rest of the ladies are doing. 

In Project sewn you can vote for the designers but you can also vote for sew alongers. Great isn't it?

I think this is a wonderful incentive for sewing mammas that spend all their time on the little ones and forget about theirselves most of the time. 

Self Challenge for May

You know how I love a good challenge, don't you? So, when I looked to the pile of clothes I've been acumulating because they just need a little fixing I made my mind: I had to dedicate a whole month to mending those pieces. and I've started already. I will try to share as much as possible of those little fixing into my clothes... Did I mention I just  h a t e  mending?

It's going to be a good challenge for me!

Oh, and by the way... my Flower Fairy Dress was featured at Pam's Threading My Way! Thanks again, Pam!

KCW: The Flower Fairy Dress

It's the third day of the Kid's Clothes Week challenge, and everywhere on the blogland I see people sharing their wonderful creations. I told you I wasn't quite sure if I would join in the fun or not. But with so many great things coming up from basicly everywhere, I couldn't help but to enter my own little thingy too. 

I guess this week's the perfect oportunity to finally finish my niece's dress. It was promised her since the time I made her brother an outfit for the boy's themed week on PR&P season 6. 

If you followed me, you know I had planned to make her something for the details week challenge on PR&P all stars season. Well, I didn't! =( And since I didn't get anything done, I thought it'd would fit pretty well the Spring formal themed week, on the same season of PR&P. Well, again, and just by a couple of days I didn't again. 

As I said above, KCW was just my excuse to get it done. 

I actually worked on it last week, I cut the pattern and all the pieces into the fabric. I used the same french burda magazine pattern I used for my daughter's knock-off challenge, using a bigger size of course, and not doing any changes to the original pattern.

The dress is pretty simple (pattern), but the fabric is so light, and fresh and beautiful in colour and details. And the cherry on top is the detailed flowers belt. I added pink bias on the collar and arm holes for contrast since I used pink ribbon on the belt too. 

Actually my mother sewed the pearls to the flowers while I was busy sewing somthing else. She was visiting and feeling bored, so I gave it to her to help me, since the detail from the belt was done long ago, and left waiting. My first idea was to have it making part of the front bodice piece, but then I visioned it as a belt, and as a belt it was made. It tights on the back, and niece L. can wear it with or without the belt according to where or when she's wearing it. 

Here's how to do the flowers!!!

This is probably my one and only entry for the KCW. It's the first time I sewalong this challenge, and I am loving it, but this is going to be all for this time. I have important things to get done this week. Have fun!!!

Peques de Cine II

more about it HERE 

This challenge, consisted in creating a knock-off from a movie or series that we like. And then, after recreating the look, we should try to recreate a scene from the movie/series. So, as you can guess, I couldn't do that with a sick kid. I mean, she doesn't always collaborate when she's ok, wonder how it'd be with her sick?! Besides, I would never bother her with my sewing obsessions when she's not feeling well, 'cuz no matter how much I love those internet "things", I'm a mom first and have to care for her.

I chose the movie Pan's Labyrinth, which I love to death! I remember watching it on the cinema with V. back in 2006, and we were the only ones in the room. People thought it was a kid's movie... can you believe it? It's a brutal movie that mixes up a world of fairies and the Spanish Civil War. It's not a movie for kids, for sure. 

source

I knew I wanted to choose a child character for my project after I did a few researches through Tim Burton's movies (he's the man, what can I say?!), and was madly in love with Christina Ricci's character clothing, specially the black and white dress from Sleepy Hallow.

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I mean, I'd love one of those for myself. I also adored, Sweeny Todd's wardrobe, but they weren't kid appropriated and I didn't have a light on how to make them look like so.

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I then thought of some movies I enjoyed that had kids on it, and of course, Pan's Labyrinth was my final destination. Ophelia (the character I chose), is a girl that dresses simple vintage dresses, with enchanting details... pleats, slight ruffles on the cuffs and necks. I had three picks, and I went for the nightgown she wears most of the time on the screen. Only because it was the one I could get clear (or clearer) pictures from.

That was also my choice, because the nights are getting warmer and I thought that a nightgown would be something she would wear. I mean, I am sewing to save, right? So, there's no point to sew something that wouldn't be wearable on a daily basis.

I made it a size 3, when she's not yet a 2, but I wanted to make sure it'd last for a while.
I addapted a pattern from an old french Burda magazine, it was from a plain dress, and it had a zipper on the back, so I had to adapt it to have a button placket on the front of the bodice and shape the collar into a peter pan collar too. I had a little trouble with it, and had to do and undo the collar a few times until it got just perfect.

I used a small white lace to embellish my collar. Other details I added was the piping on the cuffs, and the waistband. The sleeves are puffier than the original, because I didn't make any changes to the original pattern on that matter, and I like it better this way. It even looks more puffier on her, because it's still a bit too big for her. The skirt has some pleats but it was kept simple, since I couldn't really tell how the original was made. And I even watched the movie again, especially for this challenge. 

And to finish, here's an overall look G.'s new nightgawn. 

I didn't want to push her too much, she's still not feeling 100%. And besides that, she's still too young to understand why she should pose this way or that way. It was just fun to see her walking around with it, and realise she enjoyed it. 

While I was sewing it, she was asked What's mommy doing? - Pants! She answered. lol

If you liked this, check out the flickr group too.

Peques de Cine I

Have you noticed this button on my side bar?

Well, it is another fun sewalong from Maria's Loca por la Costura blog. I commited to sewalong too, but after all, I missed the deadline. It was two days ago, and I actually finished mine yesterday, but couldn't take any pictures, or pretty much do anything else.

My little girl got worst last monday...I think she's finally getting better, but still not quite fine. At least she ate something that didn't get thrown away... finally!

I'm planning to share my project though, as soon as she's recovered, so stay tunned!

Here's a peek...

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The Sew OFF

So, the results for week 2 of The Sew Off are here. I didn't make it to the 3rd week if you're wondering. It was no surprise at all, I can tell you. If only the votes of the judges counted, I would be in the 6 contestants left, but those were not the rules of this contest and I'm off now.

That's quite a relief though. My kid is getting sick and I'm feeling just too tired this week to come up with something worth the competition... those ladies are really good!!!

So, it's going to be just nice to follow the competition... I've taken it very sprotly since the start. I'm not too extra competitive so, losing doesn't hurt... It's a case of, it was fun while it lasted! And I do feel like a winner, anyway!

You don't believe me?! Well, let me tell you. First of all, did you see The Sew off prizes? Pretty much fabric and patterns... Ok, I feel a little sad about the patterns, but really?! Fabric? I've been trying to use what I already have because I feel like there's just too much hanging around here. YES, it'd feel good to win it, I won't lie, but it's not the end of the world.

I feel like a winner, because out of all the people that auditioned, I made it to the top 12. And after that I made it to the top 9... so, I didn't make it to the top 6... but, did you realise just how many SO-TALENTED! people I left behind?! There's no way for me NOT to feel like a winner.

I feel like a winner, because I followed my goal of not buying any fabrics, I used my already existing supplies, I pushed my criativity, I renewed a corner from my house that was long waiting for me to. And I had fun creating... doing what I love most, which is sewing. Now, was I clear, enough?

If there's only one thing I feel bad about, is that it got me so tired that I did not stand up for all the sew-alongs I was planning too, and some of my ideas to be done this month were put aside... I am still trying to catch up with a couple of them.

Now, stay around and soon there'll be more to see.

<3

Featured on Sew-vivor =D

What a nice surprise it was, when I was checking out Button's week results from the Sew-vivor competition, and realised my Dreaming of Spring was featured from the sewalong =) Thanks so much! It feels so great, because it really was the button's theme that started this whole outfit! =D

Featured!

My baby shoes were featured!!!

It's the 4th feature of the month here!!!! =)

Sweet Pam over Threading My Way just featured my Party Dress Remix version! Go there and check it out! Also, check Pam's creations and her on going link parties. =) You'll have fun there for sure!

New Challenges for me

I'm up for all the challenges I see lately. I don't care if I'm not competing for anything, I'm just enjoying sewing along every challenge I come across lately. 

I have finished the Sew in Tune outfit last night, I still have to get some nice shoots of it before I can share. I am considering auditioning for SewVivor and just a few minutes ago I came across this Pinterest Challenge over at Merrick's Art. 

What is it about? Taking 6 of your pins on Pinterest and make them through the next 6 weeks. Let's stop pinning and just stare at the inspiring images; let's actually make them! I take the challenge, but I admit it was a little hard for me to choose the 6 projects I would accomplish (or try to, at least!). Eventually I made my choice, here they are:

1 - A Father's day activity to make with baby G. 

2 - A new cell phone cover for V. - he's been asking for ages!

3 - Chocolate cookies

4 - Cell phone holder

5 - A placket!I've been wanting to add one to my sewing project for a while now. 

and 6. Copy this Robin Scherbatsky (How I met Your Mother, right?!) look... I only need to get the dress. 

Will I make it? Will I not? Stay around to find out!

Happy Birthday

My blog celebrated it first birthday on the 4th!!! How could I forgot to mention this?! 

image from here

Project Run and Play Season 6

Project Run and Play Season 6 has started. I'm not quite sure when was it that I started following the previous seasons, but the truth is that I always felt the urge to take part of the sew along but never did it before. 

For this season, I won't miss it though. And I am making the first dress already. I hope I get it done by tomorrow, so I can take a few pictures and post them. The other dress I said I was making is still unfisnished, but I don't need to hurry anyway. 

So, here's some things you should know about this season:

Week One: The Pattern Remix Challenge: This season we will be remixing The Cottage Home Mama's fantastic Party Dress. (You can find the tutorial for the dress HERE so pop on over, check it out and remix away!!!)

Week Two: Stripes and Polka Dots: This week is all about the stripes and polka dots so base your designs around those fun prints...we are so excited to see what everyone comes up with!

Week Three: Boys Week: Create a design of your choice for a boy.

Week Four: Love is in the Air: This week will be a Valentine's Inspired challenge. So design a look for your little one inspired by Valentine's Day.

Week Five: The Men's Dress Shirt Challenge: Take a men's button up shirt (doesn't necessarily need to be a dress shirt---like it can be a flannel shirt---just as long as it's a men's shirt and buttons all the way up) and make something wonderful out of it for a child.

Week Six: Your Signature Look: Share with us a design created by you, that is all your style.