Biela's second Robe

Did you enjoy all the fun happening over Suzanne's blog with her Operation Project 0$ series? Too bad it's over, so many great ideas were shared, and the greatest thing is that we all saved so much, because we were supposed to spent as close to 0$ as we could. Here's my entire post for you, just in case you missed it.

Hello Winter Wonderings Wanderings and Whatnot readers. My name is Magda E. from House of Estrela, where I blog about my sewing adventures, from Portugal. As I mentioned in my inspiration boards post, Suzanne's series might be just my favourite, because it has me, me, me written all over it. So, I loved the challenge, and am excited to be a guest today. 

I've been doing Operation Project 0$ basicaly since September 2012, when I made a commitment with myself of not buying anymore clothes for my daughter (or myself). I succeeded and in January I made the commitment of buying the least I could for my sewing too. For that, I decided I would only sew from my already (never ending) existing stash, or refashioning clothes that we already had or that have been given to us.

The idea of taking this line of thought and create a Fall/Winter wardrobe for my daughter was already dancing in my mind when I was invited by Suzanne to be part of this, so it was just the kick I needed to follow my idea. But, when I started to go through what she already had and what she could probably need, I realised this girl already had everything she could possible wear in one season.

One of my points of spending 0$ (or as close to it as possible) is not wasting time... who hasn't heard the saying Time is money!? Well I know I have and believe to be true. So, in order of putting all of it together, I chose to sew the one garment she really needed in her wardrobe, and that was, a robe.

All the way back to February 2012 I had a brilliant idea. I made her first robe out of a small (travelling) fleece blanket. It turned out so cute and warmth and it lasted! But, kids grow, and althought she looked adorable in the pink and purple one, it was time to get a new one. I went with red this time. Her first robe matches the decorations from her nursery, but I plan to re-decorate it one of these days and use reds, and that's the reason why I used a red blanked this time. 

I didn't have it in my stash. I bought it for 3,5€, but since I have behaved so well (only bought about 3 pieces of fabric this entire year and have used them right away) and refashioning as much as possible, I could go with the 3,5€ for a robe. 

I honestly like the first one better. For this one I used a pattern I recently won: The Little Lady Jacket by Seamingly Smitten.  - FREE pattern, see?! - Yes, it is a jacket pattern, but it was really close to what I had in mine. I didn't make the linning though, so I finished my seams with bias tape, and used 5 small front buttons instead of 3. The buttons and the polka dot fabric in the bias were already in my stash. 

I had tried to use the B buttons several times, but never got around to it. I thought this was the time though. My daughter's name is Gabriela, but I often call her just Biela... see?! Starts with a B. Perfect. But I only had 4 of this and needed at least one more. What to do? Well, use another button that was in my stash forever, a bear's head. I think it's a nice detail snapping in the middle of the B's.

I didn't like the collar though, it's slightly ruffled but I think it looks weird. I start to think I am picky with collars. really. I think I liked the first robe self drafted pattern better when it comes to collar and details, but I really wanted to do this sleeves this time. I only added polka dotted band in the left side of the robe's front piece, and simple finished the right one with a zigzag stitch.

I tried to get pictures taken to my little miss wearing her robe. It's been quite hot to wear anything fleece these days, but that wasn't really a problem for her. She wore it happily, actually she was so happy that these were the best photos I got from her:

Then I got silly and tried my 6 year old niece to try it on... ahahah... it was too small and tight for her, but at least she was a more cooperative model, so you can have an idea of how the collar looks on.

And that's it, I hope you all liked it. If you'd like to see some more of my refashions click here.

|Refashion Runway| Week One: Plaid

It is here. The second season of Refashion Runway is on going, I am a contestant and today I am sharing my first entry (let's hope it's not the one and only... hehehe).

This week's theme is Plaid, when I knew about it I was pretty happy, that meant I could sew one outfit only and enter two of the challenges in line, since it also fits perfectly the 3rd week theme of Project Run and Play. 

Let's talk about what I did though... Obviously, it is a refashioned outfit. I started with this:

I had these pants saved for a while, they were mine and I had bought them when I was still studying. We had to use a grey uniform and they suited the task perfectly. They were comfy and warm, since it's made of a soft wool. I had this saved with a note attached to it (turn it into pants for the little miss - it said). Mmmm... turns out I didn't want to make just another pair of pants for her. I saw potencial for more, and I came up with the shorts suit idea:

I started by cutting the shorts pieces. I used a self drafted pattern. I've been using this a lot, it is officially my most used pattern ever, it is the fifth time I use it and all those shorts look quite different.

For this I only used the bottom of the pants, I still had quite enough left to make the vest. Let's focus on the shorts first though.

Contrary to the 4 others I made before, this one has a waist band with a fly at the front. It closes up with a (showing) big black button (which matches the big buttons from the vest, though it is a bit smaller than the other 3), and two little snaps that are hidden when it's closed. 

I also added an adjustable waist elastic because my daughter is getting tall but skinny, so most of the other shorts she got for her birthday would not stay in her waist. This solves that issue. I used the pants original waistband for the shorts. I only had to cut a bit of this out, and adjust the side loops. 

For the side pockets and decoratice cuffs, I used a small scrap from a fabric I had for years. I actually would have loved to use it to line the vest too, but it wasn't nearly enough. 

So, I was happy adding a little detail to it using a tiny bit of that fabric that I still had left, and using leftovers from a white sheet for the linning instead. 

I traced the vest from an exisiting one and I really thought this would be too big for my G. and I was happy making something that would fit next year. After trying it on her, I wasn't so sure. It fits perfectly already. I believe she'll be able to wear the shorts next year, because of the adjustable waist, but I can't be sure about the vest. 

On with the vest... I added a front pocketwith the scraps. I was going to make it plain but it was a bit yeloow(ish) and as to cover it, I chose to add a bow to the pocket. I used 3 big black buttons on the front, that match the shorts button as mention above, and at the back I used a buckle that I had saved from an old bag I dismissed long ago. It allows me to adjust the vest fit too. 

Here's a few more shoots of the whole thing put together. G. was picking grapes at her grandparents and having a lot of fun. For the photoshoot she's also wearing a refashion shirt I made her for the Candy theme week over Project Run & Play. HERE

And that's it! Don't forget to check out my fellow competitors over Refashion Runway and vote for your favorite. 

Sewing Challenges (& Sort of Wrap up)

New exciting things are on the way...

Operation Project $0 is on. Check it out HERE. I guest posted for the series too... YEY! Missed it? Go here!

Season 8 of Project Run & Play kicks off tomorrow! So excited to see what everyone come up with. The themes for the 4 weeks of challenge are: Pattern Remix - Candy - Plaid - and - Signature look. I have already done my Pattern Remix outfit, and will be blogging about it in just a few days. I'm still not sure about the second week, but I will join the other two for sure. 

Maratón Telaria - this is sort of a spanish version of PR&P, and I am in to sew along with. There are also 4 weeks, and the themes for this are: Retro - Knits - Bed Time- and - our choice. Starts next month, so I'm excited for this too. 

I might or might not join this one if I can get to sew it mixed up with another of the challenges. This is a challenge hosted by the Spanish blog La Pantigana. And we're supposed to use a really horrible fabric that we might have in our stash, and make something good out of it. Sounds fun and it's a great insentive to use that fabric that we always put back because it isn't just good enough. 

Click on picture!

Another fun series to follow - did you realise I'll be guest posting for this series too?!

Besides, I have a lot to do. My list is big, but I love it! I love to feel challenged, I love that I feel like I belong somewhere... In a near future I am: 

- Testing a pattern

- Reviewing another pattern

- Being part of a Pattern tour

- Doing a guest post for a bloggy friend

- Realising my first FREE pattern

And guess what? I am even considering a winter edition for a Refashion Month series. Is anyone in for this? 

Mmmm... It's been a while since I last blogged about my challenges. I am excited about the next couple of months. It's going to be pretty crazy around here, well, it has actually started already, but it's going to get extra busy since I can't turn down a good challenge. 

It's been a sewing challenging year. It did calm down for Summer though, but I needed to feel motivated and came up with the self Pinterest challenge. AH! I made that post and then never talked about it. The truth is that I didn't keep up with the weekly pin done. Buhhhh!!! But in my defense I have to say that I crossed most of those pins out of my to do list. 

Ever since, I did make the piñata cake, by the end of July for my niece's 6th birthday party. She loved it and everyone thought it was a great birthday cake. I didn't follow any tutorial, I made a cake (two actually) with a recipe I had from a magazine and then decorated as wished. And here's how it turned out.

I did make a pair of Harem shorts for my daughter and most recently I made a pair for my little niece M. Before those two, I made another pair but that was considered a failure and although I've been planning to still blog about it, I haven't done it yet. 

I didn't do the lollipops, I wanted to make them as party favours on my daughter's birthday (late June), but I didn't, so I don't think I will do that anymore. I did print the pattern for the potty training pants, but when I realised my baby was potty trained and those weren't needed anymore. It only took me a month for the whole process. 

And I didn't do the mat exactly, like the one on the pin I showed you, but I did the little pillows and we've used them on tree trunks. It looked so cute. Those were also for my daughter's 2nd birthday. The theme was ladybugs, I have mentioned that when I showed you her outfit for the party. 

That's it for now, but I might be up for something else!!! ;)

Operation Project 0$ 2013 & My Inspiration Boards

Did you know? Suzanne, over Winter Wonderings... Wanderings and Whatnot is hosting what might be one of my favourite series from the sewing blogosphere. And I am so honoured that she thought of me to make part of this, I'm a big fan of hers. It was actually really funny (for me at least), because I had posted something about creating a Fall/Winter collection for me and baby G. like two days before Suzanne contacted me. But that was posted in my portuguese mommy blog, which I don't think she follows. 

Check out this line up!

CathGrace

Feather's Flights

House of Estrela

Sutures and Sandpaper

Shaffer Sisters

Simple Simon &Co

Chasing Mermaids

Hideous Dreadful Stinky

Stitched by Crystal

Sewing Mama Raeanna

Welcome to the Mouse House

Alida Makes

Max California

Frances Suzanne

You can read about the origination of Operation Project $0 HERE or about this year's HERE. 

So, isn't that a great line up? 

Aren't you excited to see what all of us will create for the closest to 0$ we can get?! 

For now, I am sharing my inspiration boards. 

This is the one I made for myself. Going through all I already have I realised there's one item I really need, which is a coat. And I'd like to make myself one similiar to any of the three I've attached to my board, though I admit I have a special thing going on with the brown one. I realised I don't need to get myself anything else, but I must learn how to use what i already have, since I tend to just grab the first thing and go. 

I also went through my daughter's clothes to better see what she needed. Let me tell you, this girl's got the wonder wardrobe many of us would like to have. First of all, I am sharing the inspiration board for her. Yeah, there are mainly robes! A costume and a fur vest. 

I will tell you why! I took all of her Winter clothes, at least the ones she had until a couple of weeks ago (yep, she's got some new ones already that won't be shared in this post!), and try to count everything up. You'll be surprised. As surprised as I was! She's got hell too many clothes already. She gets a lot of hand-me-downs from her cousins (because turns out she's the youngest), and from friends too (everyone around me has a little girl slightly older than mine, so I can consider myself pretty lucky). And then, she's a girl right? Who doen't like to get new girly clothes? Everyone, of course. And she always gets a lot for Christmas and Birthdays. So, for Fall/Winter 2013-2014, here's what she already has:

Skirts, romper dresses, dresses... 

Sportwear and pajamas

sweaters, dresses, hats, etc

Coats, jackets, boleros, etc... 

Pants, leggings, more sportswear, shorts...

So, that's not much I really need to make for her. I am sure I will be sewing pretty clothes for her, for the next couple of months though, because, let's face it: I love sewing for her. There is Project Run & Play coming soon, oh so soon, and I have a few more things going on that request sewing for her... =) 

I just hope you'll stay around to see what I'll make her for Operation Project 0$ and I hope you'll like it and get some inspiration from us all. 

Oh! If you're wondering what's with the fur vests in our inspiration boards, I tell you. I got a huge vintage fur coat that belonged to my mom and I'm dying to turn it into matching vests for us. I didn't in 2011 because she was too little and would easily grow out of it; I didn't do it in 2012 because she got a purple fur vest that year already, and I might or might not do it in 2013 because the damn purple vest still fits her. 

Now, get inspired and link your inspiration and ideas HERE