Spring Showers Jacket |Tested and Approved|

Today I get to share one of the items I enjoyed sewing the most in the last weeks passed. And I have been sewing a lot of things I liked, so you can have an idea. The talented Heidi from Elegance and Elephants has just released her latest pattern.

click picture above for further info

And I was a pretty lucky tester. This kind of garment's pattern was missing in my collection, and I've been eyeing her patterns for long. I still can't believe I didn't miss the testers call (I often do) and that I was picked to test it. I couldn't be happier, and let me just say, when it comes to pattern piecing, Heidi has just become my hero! It was so easy and quick that I was sure I was messing up somehow. Well,I wasn't! 

The pattern calls for a waterproof fabric, which I didn't have in my stash, and as you all know by now, if I don't have it, I will probably not go and buy it before I hardly search what else can I use from my stash (destashing at all cost!). I found this black one. It's not heavy, waterproof or that resistent. It was an elegant table cloth I bought in a sales from a decoration shop, because it would be perfect for a corset. 

So, why did I use it? Because the corset was never made, and many years have passed, and then, because it looks waterproof at first sight. Nailed it then! For the lining I used another very light woven fabric that was donated to me, many years ago too. It's a lot of it, and so far I have only used it for the linning of this dress:

click photo above to take you to original post

I made the 2/3 size for my daughter, it is the smallest in the pattern and I thought it'd be too big on her, but actually nope, it wasn't. The sleeves are too long but I love how we can just rolled them and let the linning showing. Also, I think the hood is a bit too big for her, but apparently it was for most testers and Heidi has changed it for the final pattern (remember mine is a test piece and little details were improved). 

I love how professional it looks and I'm sure I'll be making her another one when she grows out of this one, and maybe more - hubby says he still has to get used to the new level of my final pieces - I blush and feel proud, and I know I have to thank all the designers that make this wonderful patterns and tutorials. I have been using pattern magazines for years, but some things are just too hard to get from them, and the independent designers make it so clear, with all the detailed information and pictures. So, to all of you that design and are reading this: A BIG THANK YOU!

PS - yes... G. is also wearing the Parisian look from my latest blog post. 

Oh Paris! |PR&P9#2|

PR&P's week two theme is "Spring Break"... We're suppoused to choose our dream vacation place and make an outfit inspired by that. Well, with all the rain from the latest days - after some wonderful sunny and warm ones - it doesn't feel like Spring at all. We're not going anywhere so soon though so any vacations, are just a way to dream for me for now. We are lucky to live by the sea. I actually can see it everyday through the window. Just a little bit of it, it's true, there are lots of building between our window and the sea, but I still can see it. So, no wonder, I dream about other kind of vacation, other than beach and paradise views. 

After thinking for a while, I chose Paris as my inspiration point. I would love to take my daughter there, visit the Euro Disney with her (I've never been to it either), but as much as we love Minnie Mouse and all the Disney princesses I'd love to go on a sight seeing tour through Paris... visit all those huge, imponent buildings... climb the top of the Eiffell tour again, visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs Elysees... just get lost in the magic, l'amour... all that makes Paris... well, PARIS! I was about 8 when I visited it for the first time. I still remember how amazed I was with all of this.

And what is it that comes to my mind when I think of a Parisian look? Always the same things: black and white stripes, a black barret, and a pop of red. Really, I always imagine the famous "french paintor look" when I try to come with an imagine of Paris as an outfit. And that's exactly what I tried to include in the look I created this week.

Images Original Fonts : 1 - 2 - 3- 4 - 5 

I picked two pieces to refashion again. A pair of black pants I didn't want anymore (I have a lot of them actually and it was just another one occupying precious space in my wardrobe). And I thrifted a 1€ button shirt a couple of days ago, I bought it in the usual charity shop for this project. Here they are:

I started with the skinny jeans. I've been wanting to make a new pair for G. for quite a long time. I first did the free 2T Small Fry Skinny jeans for a friend's kid, then I got to test the same pattern in other sizes, I did two shorts versions, one for my niece and one for my nephew, but I never got around to sew a pair for my daughter. I did a 2T size for her, And really liked the changes Laura made to the pattern (from the free one to the final). I really believe that this is my favourite pair so far and let me tell you there will be more in the future for sure.

Although, the pattern comes with great instruction to sew a girl's fly on the jeans, I just went and did the boy's one, most strore bought pants don't make them different anyway, and this way, it can be passed on to her little brother once she grows out of it. I used the shirt's striped fabric for the coin pocket, waistband lining and front pocket bags. This is the same fabric I used on the top. By using red thread, I was able to feature the pop of red I wanted. But that wasn't all, I also hadnstitched an Eiffeel Tour in one of the back pockets.

Then I did the top. I picked the Izzy top pattern to make it just like I did last week for the Panda's inspired look. I tried to follow the pattern and instructions as they are (find them HERE), but of course I had to do something differently - as always. I was half way through it when I thought about adding a black peter pan collar. Then I thought about making it with leftovers of the faux leather from my own corset. And then I thought I could add some beaded pins... just to try it, it was something I haven't done before, so why not?! And I did it! And I loved it! It's not perfect, I know, but I love it still.

I used a very very light fabric for the lining and it didn't go so well for me. But, it looks ok. As for the button tab. I was careful this time, but instead of having it closing on the inside, it goes in the inside of the top, so it won't mess with the collar. It's functional, and invisible at the same time.

Now, in my first photo of this look I am sharing just three options on how to wear it.
First one: with the red jacket I refashion for the Winter Wonderland theme from last season, and the cutest little girl shoes we own. In red of course!
Second: With a red beanie I had made from an old sweater. It was never blogged about, and same shoes.
Third: same as first, just changed the shoes. This ones are leopard printed with a pink bow and binding. 

Challenge Create: Adult Edition |week 1|

So, this is the first week of Challenge Create, and if you missed it before, I am one of the 4 (5) contestants participating. I feel happy to get the chance to dedicate some time to sewing to myself, especially now, in this wonderful moment of my life, with a new baby on the way. 

The first theme is Inspired by Nature, and I assumed this challenge in two ways, and they are divided into the two pieces I created. When I first thought about Nature... Spring... I thought about poppies. They really take me back to my childhood and I remember I loved seeing them popping in when Spring arrived. Unfortunately, I almost can't find them anymore. I searched for various fields and I only found a few on some road sides. Sad! But I still used it as my inspiration and chose my fabric for the shirt/tunic with them in mind. It is a dark blue chiffon, with some sort of polka dots that are not red nor orange. 

Of course, I am sewing maternity clothes during this challenge. And I started with a tunic that I can use now, and after I give birth. It will also be okay, when the time comes, to nursing. It's long and wide enough to grow a bit more with the belly, and to give it a better shape there's some hand sewn puckering on the front top, and across the back. To finish it off and fit it to my figure, I've sewn a belt. It keeps the front close enough for decency and if I take it out it will open just enough for nursing. 

My photographer (aka husband), forgot to take close ups with the macro when we did the photoshoot, I guess the cold weather took the best of both of us. So, I had to photograph these details after I got home. 

And now that I have told you about the tunic and first inspiration road, let me tell you about the second way I looked at "nature inspired" and the shorts. 

Nature = Mother Nature = Maternity... of course! Nature is right now working its way on me and I couldn't let it pass on unmentioned. And I used this inspiration in my shorts. I first thought about making maternity pants, but I already had a pair and what I really missed in my wardrobe, now that warmer days are around the corner, are shorts. I drafted the pattern out of my existing maternity jeans, but instead of using a large belly band, I switched it in my piece for a smaller band with a wide elastic. The construction of the shorts was pretty much the same as you sew jeans,I can't precise what fabric is this that I used because it was donated to me and it's been in my stash for a while. It's not denim or chambray, but feels quite similar to it. 

To personalize my shorts, I wanted to somehow add a maternity symbol so I searched google for one. I came across an image that I absolutely adored and tried to recreate to one of my pockets, with a free hand drawing using red and black fabric markers. It's a mother, holding her baby. In the other pocket, I have stitched _ _ _ MATERNITY=love _ You can barely see it, but I know it's there and love the details. The shorts are fully topstitched, and have front pockets that we failed to detail photograph too. And since I still have a bit over 3 months to get fat, I made them a little roomy for now. 

I just love how the belt looks and how it shapes the belly. It is very comfortable and (because I have tried it right after this session) it looks great under a cardigan or a sweater. I love that I can use the pieces separatedly if I wish to, and that both pieces are still wearable after pregnancy. That is absolutely a bonus. 

The weather got so cold right when we had some time for the photos. I was freezing as we took them, so as soon as I thought we had enough, I would go running to my cardigan and getting myself into the car... And he was still photographing... ahahaha... Hence the boots (I had planned using this lovely slightly high heels in dark blue), tights and t-shirt underneath the tunic.  I couldn't risk to get a cold or something. 

I hope you like my look. And if you haven't yet, go check my fellow contestants and don't forget to vote for your favourite, if it happens to be me, I'll be happy but if I am not, don't worry, it's fine! =D Check out the works from the sew along ladies and vote too. 

Challenge Create Week One Kicking Off Today!

The competition I am taking part in as one of the contestants has officially started today. The Sew Along link party is now open and I can't wait to see what my fellow contestants (and sew alongers) have to show for all the themes. Each of us will be featured in a different day of the week from Tuesday to Friday. If you want to see what I did, my post will be up on wednesday. Tomorrow you get to see the first creation... exciting, right? 

On friday, you get to vote for your favourite contestant/look and also for your favourite entry in the sew along group. I'm sure there will be a lot of talent and hard decisions to make. Enjoy!!!

The Liebster Award

A few days ago, nearly two weeks ago already (oh dear, I'm sorry!), Teri Olson (Climbing the Window author) surprised me with the Liebster Award, which is a blogger-to-blogger award meant to recognize blogs with small readership and to help widen their audience. 

So, when nominated for a Liebster award, the nominee must answer the questions from the nominator and provide 5 random facts about her or himself.  Then the nominee pays it forward by nominating more small blogs for the award and sending them more fun questions, normally by leaving a comment on the blog with a link to the nominating post.

I will play by the rules this time... so I'll start with...

My blog nominations go to (randomly):

Gladness of Heart

Falafel & the Bee 
S is for Sewing
Made by Sara
The Land of K.A.

And Questions for the nominated bloggers (if they choose to participate):

1. What's your main inspiration when it comes to sewing?

2. What do you like to sew the most? 

3. How did you learn to sew?

4. Have you teach anyone to sew in your life?

5. What are you working on at the moment?

Then answer the questions from Teri:

1. What is your favorite part of blogging?

The sharing. I love to read the comments people leave about the things I make. Also, I love that it has allowed me to learn so much through other's tips, tutorials, etc. 

2. When you were younger, would you ever have imagined that you would be sewing as an adult? Why or why not?

Well, I was already sewing for my dolls back then. and I started sewing for myself as a teenager, so I guess it has always been part of me. 

3. How many unfinished projects do you have laying around?  And if you don't have any, what's your secret?

Not many right now. I used to have dozens of projects started. But one day I decided "no more" and when a project gets "stuck" I simple ignore it, throw it away, undo it and start a freash new one. I am more disciplined now and always try to finish one thing before I start another one. 

4. What's your favorite movie?

Mmmm... there are a few... most of them by Tim Burton. 

5. Do you still see yourself doing some form of blogging/sewing in one year? In five years?

Yes, one or 5 years... I love it, but... you never know!

TERI thank you for thinking of me for the award and sorry it took me so long to play along. Did you see my take on your Izzy pattern? Everybody, if you haven't seen it or tried it yet, I totally advice you to. I will surely use it again, and again. 

Who made you clothes?

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Laura - Behind the Hedgerow inviting me to join other fellow bloggers in a Fashion Revolution. We're all asked to wear and post a handmade item inside out on the 24th of April and ask brands/retailers, ‘Who Made Your Clothes?’

Abby from All Things Boys, Celina from Petit a petit and family, and Laura from Beyond the Hedgerow have joined forces with Fashion Revolution to get out the word of their movement. Visit their blogs to read more about this event. 

Last year a factory in Bangladesh collapsed, killing 1133 people. Next month will be the first anniversary since it happened. So in honour of these people that lost their lives, because of the precary condicions they were forced to work under, let's all take the pledge and have a revolution. 

House full of Pandas |PR&P9#1|

Season 9 of Project Run & Play has kicked yesterday with the first theme being Take me to the Zoo. Goal: create an outfit inspired on our/our kid's favourite animal, trying to stay away from costumes though. 

Ever since I saw the themes, I've spent a while thinking about it. I wanted to make something for the baby, then something for G. and just couldn't decide. I thought about the elephant shirt idea (maybe later, because it's really cute), then cats because we've got two, the shark hoddies and then I kept seeing teenagers wearing cute Panda hoodies... 

And it hit me! I want to make Panda inspired clothes for my kids too. They are just too cute and sweet, and they are black and white and G. loves Pandas because of Canal Panda. I only had to decide what to do. I wanted to do something quick and easy because, you know, I've been having lots to sew (with a couple pattern testing in the middle too). So, I didn't get to be that creative. I used other's creativity and just made my takes on some things I had seen online.

First thing on the list. I had to get that Panda hoodie done for one of my kids. Which one? Well, let's start with the baby, shall we?! Now, if you still don't know it... because I have mentioned it to some friends but haven't said it clear out here, the baby that's on the way is a... roll drum... baby BOY! And my first sewing project for him and him only was this hoodie. You can imagine how much I love it, right?!

Especially because I have used one of his sister's shirt that doesn't fit anymore and I wasn't going to put him on. It was all fury, with finishing details in pink, such as the ruffles in the sleeves and hem, the pink bias in the collar and the flower embroidery in the front. 

So, the first thing I did was to deconstruct everything. I used the back of the original one to make my hoodie's front. Lucky for me, instead of pink too, the snaps on it were white. I then used the sleeves to draft new, without the puffiness of the original ones (another girly feature I wanted to get rid of). Those original white sleeves were transformed into the Panda's head. For the black parts I used some velvet I had in my stash for years. And I used rib knit for the cuffs that I had saved from previously refashioned (men) hoodies. 

When I was done with it, I just knew I had to make something for my big girl. I had seen an online Panda look that I loved and wanted to re-create that too. I was running out of any refashionable item to make the mismatched striped leggings, but I had this t-shirt from dad in my pile, and the word fashion standing out caugh my attention. I still could make a mismatched pair of leggings for her. 

But before I made the leggings, I finally made an Izzy top (free PDF pattern). I've been wanting to try this pattern since the day I first saw it over Climbing the Willow. I've seen wonderful pieces created with it, but was always postponing it. No more. I finally tried it myself and am a fan. I didn't line mine though, I used a white t-shirt from my stash to refashion, and the black ribbon knit for the bias again. I also made mine about 2-3 inches longer than the pattern. So it looks more like a dress than a top. I still haven't tried it on my girl.

I followed instructions and used the button tab and everything. But I forgot I wasn't lining, I was using bias instead and the tab had to go over it. I don't dislike it though, looks different but in a good way. I should have made the button tab just a bit longer for it to look better. It almost didn't have enough lengh to actually close. I've used a metallic snap.

For the eyes and ears of the Panda, I used sequined fabric I had in my stash, I added interface to make it stiffer. I embroidered the muzzle in a light pink. Half way through it I thought I could use a slightly darker thread but was too lazy to undo and redo it all over.

And that's it from me. There's a lot more inspiration for kids animal inspired clothes at the link party over PR&P.