sew crazy!

This was when we went to a grad celebratory lunch last week. Belle wore this dress that I made for her on her 2nd bday. It still fits....a lil too short now (could even be pulled off as a tunic) but it still fits! And she loves it more than she did then. At home, she'd stand in front of the mirror to twirl...just to see the dress puff up like an umbrella. I had to give her a bath before bed, but to get her out of it , I promised I'd make her more similar dresses. But at the time I honestly didn't mean it. haha. Just said it to get her into her pjs!

Next morning, while staring at piles of extra/leftover fabric taking up precious closet space....light bulb moment. Needed to get rid of those fabrics...& a few summer pieces for Belle would be the great solution.

I used the same pattern as the blue dress. With a few tweaks....like a much longer hem! This may be my favorite dress I sewed....really happy that it turned out the way I pictured it.

And the thing with me....If I have a successful project, I can't stop. I have the itch to do another one!Belle is lacking "home shorts". She needs simple shorts for summer to be worn at home. I saw cute ones at Target but refused to buy them cause I feel they're overpriced. I have 2 different elastic pant patterns from sewing books...so I experimented with them. The black ones came out better than the multi colored. I'm not satisfied with the fit...they're a little bunchy in the front. I gotta experiment more. But the perfectionist inside me doesn't mind cause these shorts were intended to be worn at home. They don't need to be perfect...they just need to function for Belle's busy legs.

"Belle can you stand still for a second so I can take a picture of your shorts?"

"How about I run for your picture?"

"Belle! Just for a second please!!!"

*click* ...and then she runs away again. 

She's not a fan of modeling. She can't stand still!!

I have more fabric, & saw this cute top pattern from a japanese sewing book.

(note: standing still for a picture because of bribery with a lollipop)

Satisfied with it..but I think the sleeves should a tad bit wider. Other than that, I'm happy! Thank goodness those Japanese books have clear pictures for instruction. Cause I obviously can't read Japanese!

A few weeks ago, I saw a tutorial to sew a layered tiered skirt here. (The link is for a great blog with good clear tutorials for lots of children clothes & sewing techniques for anyone new to sewing!) 

When I found this lightweight striped fabric in my stash, it reminded me of that skirt tutorial. I coincidentally have the same one!! AND...I only had enough to make the tiers for the skirt. It was a sign.

Belle loves skirts...Any article of clothing that will make her feel like a ballerina or princess, she loves. Ruffles are easy & all little girls love them. It's an easy way to give something simple the little "umph". So I doubt this ruffle thing won't be the last. 

And I still have more fabric!!! Figuring out what to do next.... I think I'm just shocked at myself that I didn't make any trip to the fabric store during my sewing bonanza. I have more ideas... but with fabrics I don't have. I really need to learn how to use up all my fabrics before I buy more...doing ok so far! But don't know how long that will last. haha.

SuperShark to the rescue!!

I really don't know what I was thinking trying to make a bunch of gifts the week before christmas. including belle's kitchen. & also christmas shopping! it felt like finals week while i was in school or something. i made everything planned, except...binh's gift. (sorry nins!)

so anywhoo...another one of belle's gift was a superhero cape.

i found an easy tutorial here.

it was kinda funny trying to make this without her noticing so i could wrap it & have her open it for christmas.

i laid out this hot pink satin on the floor ready to cut, then she walks in & sees the fabric.

her eyes got so big & she asked, "what are you making???"

me: ummm a tablecloth.

belle: tablecloth? oh.

then she went off played & did her thing.

she never asked about it again.

this is the only shot i can get of her still.

when she wears this, she gets so into character, with all the jumping, whipping the cape around, runs, tries to fly, etc.

the camera really can't keep up with her when she's SuperShark!

i know you're wondering, why a cape? & why a shark?

cause sometimes she pretends to be a superhero (especially when she watches superwhy)...& when she does play, she takes my shirt & asks me to tie it around her. that's her "cape."

so i asked, "do you want me to make you a superhero cape?"

belle: yes!

me: what color?

belle: pink!!

then when i realized she needed a "logo" or letter...i was just gonna put a B. but her first name is Isabella. i couldn't decide. such a dilemma!

me: what do you want? an I or a B?

belle: B

me: Belle or Isabella?

belle: Isabella

me: so I or B??

belle: B

we were stuck!! i put the project off cause i couldn't make up my mind.

then one night, while she was playing, using my shirt as a cape, she screamed, "SUPER SHARK TO THE RESCUE!!!!"

ding ding ding! lightbulb moment.... SuperShark!

thinking spring

after all the snow storm drama...spring is in my mind.

im really looking forward for the warm weather that i even sewed a couple of spring/summer pieces for ME!

i had a few fabrics that were just laying around. & i finally decided to use them.

for the first fabric, i had a BRIGHT floral print. it was white cotton with really bright flowers on them. i bought it on sale & was planning to make belle a top with it.

then i realized....does she really need another top?! she has a lot of clothes!

but i also have been wanting floral shorts.

but waiiiiiit..the super bright flowers was too much for me (should've taken a picture of it).

if it was a bit darker, then it'd be perfect.

then a lightbulb moment......FABRIC DYE!

i got teal liquid dye & got experimenting.

i also dyed a few of my white shirts & one of belle's...didn't want my dye to go to waste!

the outcome for belle's white shirt.

now that color is.....more me!

so after dyeing & washing, i cut a simple shorts pattern with elastic.

sewed it up & i was happy! it's easy..cause there was no pockets or anything.

just elastic on the waist.

looks like boxers, but it's not short when i have it on, so i feel comfortable wearing it out.

for the second,

i've been eyeing bloomer shorts for awhile....

i've seen them on fashion shows & the more i see, the more it grows on me.

i tried searching for them at stores but have no luck.

& the ones online are way too expensive.

i see them for $60 & up. for shorts!? no way.

then i looked up to see if anyone had a bloomer shorts tutorial.

luckily, one of my favorite bloggers, verypurpleperson made a pair & explained how she did them.

she basically used a simple elastic shorts pattern then added elastic shirring on the hem.

wow why didn't i think of that!?

i used the same pattern as the teal floral shorts & added 1.5 inches to the hem.

i used my leftover navy blue cotton fabric that i used for school (right before belle was born!)

there are no pockets so the bloomer shorts project was easy. i like easy!

& for the 3rd piece...

i had so much elastic shirring left from the bloomers.

i wanted to use it & found another fabric i bought awhile ago on sale for $2 a yard!

i had no idea what do with it when i bought it...only got it cause it was $2!!

so i decided to make the easiest dress with elastic thread...

this is easy. if you can sew straight stitches, then you can soooo do this.

i took the fabric, put it around my bust & added more inches for ease. cut it into one long rectangle.

sew the rectangle into a tube, narrow hem the top & bottom.

use the elastic thread on your bobbin then sew straight lines across your bust.

i just sewed & sewed. then i would try it on to see when to stop until i was happy with the fit.

i'm thinking of making another one in another print. as a top. maybe with straps if i'm not lazy.

cause it's so easy (love that word!)

& lastly, for belle....a backpack!

thanks to dora, she's been wanting a backpack for awhile.

when she sees other kids with backpacks, she asks to try them on.

i went searching online...& i saw the purple backpack dora has on amazon.

i was about to get it but then i stumbled across this toddler backpack pattern by made by rae.

and then i saw this fabric.....

it is soooooo belle!! all these cute girly animals dancing & playing instruments.

it screams B E L L E! & guess what? it was on sale. it's meant to be.

got the fabric & pattern.

when she went to bed on saturday, i stayed up late to finish it.

her reaction was so cute.

she immediately wore it & showed it off to everyone at home.

when we were leaving for church...she grabbed the backpack, wore it & nothing was inside.

so i put diapers & wet wipes. haha

only thing is...the fabric is not so stiff. so when i put things in there it doesn't hold its shape like you see. it just sags like all backpacks. but it's still cute!

phewwww. what a long post!

Yehheyy!!

whoooo hooo! to new make up brush rolls!

i noticed the brush rolls never gets old.

thanks :)

if you noticed, i changed it up a bit.

i'm always changing things, experimenting.

trying to figure out which way is better.

this time i don't have that border/bias tape.

& because of that i am able to use a softer; less stiff interfacing.

which makes it easier, smoother to roll.

it's also a little bit bigger.

which means wider slots for those who have fat brushes.

hope you like it. cause i do.

this may be my favorite bunch yet.

& they're uploaded in etsy. whoooo hoooo!

will be added soon

more new things to add to Etsy! Whoooo!

First up...make up brush roll!

Only have one for now.

Cause I was experimenting making my own bias tape with the fabric & using it on the edges of the brush roll.

I think it's nicer, so I'll stick with it.

In the process of making more.

& Sleep masks! something new :)

A friend asked me to make her one.

But I made three...

I made 2 sizes. To see which I like better.

Has nothing to do with head sizes. It's just I prefer sleeping masks that covers the width of my face, instead of just my eyes.

The blue damask & multi dots are longer...which I prefer.

Some like it just covering their eyes.

I think I'll be making both sizes.

And I used the same fabric on the reverse side for all.

Black minkee fabric. My fave!! It's so soft. I love it!

These goods will go on etsy tonight :)

being bold

If you didn't know me, & judged me based on this blog & the stuff I make, I bet you're gonna guess that my wardrobe is so colorful. But that is so wrong. So opposite!

Binh, Stef, & I have been talking about how our wardrobe looks so boring.

Cause it only consists of the colors, gray, white & black. Seriously!

So we're trying to shop for "bold" colorful clothes now.

And I didn't realize how hard it would be till I went shopping.

So when I ordered a japanese pattern book for clothes in my size

(cause I was jealous of Belle's pattern book)

I decided the first thing I sew be "bold"

I bought this pretty indonesian batik fabric.

I stood there at the fabric store contemplating for awhile whether to get it or not.

Cause it's not what I would normally buy for myself.

But that's the point right? Picking out things I normally wouldn't.

I bought it. And after finishing this tunic dress, then I really liiiiiked it!

The pattern was fairly simple.

Especially since the book is all in Japanese. Thank goodness for pictures!

I like simple silhouettes like this A-line tunic dress.

It's loose so I didn't need any buttons & zippers (YES!)

And this is a good silhouette to pair with a crazy print.

The only thing I changed were the sleeves. It's suppose to open up higher & tied with a bow.

But I don't like bows on me.

So i just sewed over that part & left a little opening instead.

While I was trying to take pics...Belle was of course, trying to be a part of it. Here are a few pics with her.

What a goofball. She's wearing Aris' sunglasses there.

Stef & Binh......you should be proud! haha :)

btw, the book is called, "Adult couture stylish dress"