Roman Mosaic Placemat

We are currently attempting to survive the last few days of school, and Emmie has the last of her social studies projects coming up on Rome. 50% of her grade is taking treats to, and participating in the end of year party (Caesar Salad and Olives) 35% is her toga for that party, and 15% is a placemat for the party. She was going to draw a picture, until I had the idea that we could make it a mosaic! 

Here's the real Roman mosaic she used as an inspiration photo,

We used white watercolor paper, and brushed watered down acrylics in patches of color on the paper, and then let it dry. Next we used a rotary cutter and ruler, to cut narrow strips, that we then cut into little squares with scissors. Emmie then used a glue stick to glue the paper squares onto brown paper, and I think it turned out sooooo cutely! 

 (Have I forgotten to mention that Emmie got glasses recently? I cannot remember if I said something or not.)

Not too shabby right? So fun, and (I think) she did such a good job! Anyway, we "laminated" the placemat in clear contact paper, and Emmie is so excited to take it to school for the party and show it off!

I am so excited for school to be out next Thursday, then SUMMER can begin!

Roller Skate Dress

Because I am participating in the Flip this pattern series (in July) I was given a copy of Oliver + s Roller Skate Dress pattern (since that is the pattern of the month in July.) I decided to make a version of the dress that was pretty straight out of the box, so that I could test the fit etc. on Emmie before I started fiddling around with changing the pattern for my July pattern flip.

I used 2 yards of a quilter's cotton I got from fabric.com for this dress, I didn't have any plans for the fabric when I bought it, (I was just rounding out my order to $35 so I could get the free shipping) but I think this worked out perfectly (since I barely had any left over!) I made the pattern in a size 12, which worked out to be the perfect size (even though Emmie is 10, she generally wears a 12.)

 I didn't line my dress like the pattern calls for, instead I just used self fabric bias strips to make facing to turn under for all my edges. The neck has a strip of trim that goes all the way around it, it's just a purchased, pleated, synthetic, chiffon, strip, (say that 5 times fast) that I thought would dress things up a bit.

 I added some decorative metal pieces to the front only, just to dress it up a bit more, there are seed beads on the smaller metal pieces too (I may change this up later, I am not sure it is as full as I would like, but I was finishing this last night at midnight, so I left it at this.)

 On the back I didn't do any of the decoration, because Emmie doesn't like it when there are things to catch in her hair. There is a single button with a bias loop closure at the back of her neck.

As far as pattern alterations are concerned, I added 4" of length to the dress (I felt that the pattern was too short for a 12 year-old; little chubby legs are cute, but big girls look like they are in a miniskirt.) I put in pockets (Emmie doesn't like it if a dress doesn't have any pockets,) and as I said before, I didn't line the dress, I used self fabric, bias tape to finish all the edges (except the hem which I just rolled.)

I really liked this pattern; it was easy to sew up, has a nice shape, and I could see it made 100 different ways (well I hope so, since I will be making it again in July!!!) I think that the only criticism I would make would be that although the body width is scaled to fit just fine, the scaling is perfectly even for the length changes from size to size, which you can't do in older children. The scaling for length changes as children get to certain ages, (they tend to shoot up more at those ages,) but it is easy to fix on the pattern by adding length. Because of the length scaling issue, I feel that the chest elastic is too high on Emmie as well, and when I make it again, I will be dropping the elastic at least an inch lower than the pattern says to put it.

Anyway, I would totally suggest this as a fun quick pattern; the cost is quite high (I don't think I would have bought it if I hadn't been given it, but that is because I can make my own patterns.) but if you are thinking you would make it over and over again, it is a great time saver. NOW I just have to decided what my flipped pattern will look like (can I turn in 5-6 pretty please?)

OH! and thanks to Paul, who took all these pictures for me this morning! I slept in later than usual because Paul has a class on Tuesday mornings he does from home, (so he gets the kids out the door for school on Tuesdays) and he was thoughtful enough to take pictures for me without me even asking, when Emmie decided to wear her new dress!

Sarah's Quilt

So I haven't even started working on Emmie's maxi-dress because I recently had some plans change around here, instead of going to the US for July with my whole family, now only I am going for a week, to see my Gramma (who will be visiting from South Africa,) and be part of Sarah's baby shower (oh by the by, I can't remember if I said it or not, but her lil punkin is a baby boy, due the last few days in September!) I mean I am going to see my family, and not JUST my Gramma, and Sarah's baby shower, but those things are driving the timeline! We will all be heading back to the US for a visit in September/October (to meet the lil punkin) but this end of June visit is not that visit.

ANYWAY to make a long story longer, I have a lot I need to do, and not a lot of time to do it in now. I am making the bedding set for Sarah's nursery, so I have spent the last week making the top of her quilt, so that I can take it up to Seoul to be quilted (I usually do my own machine quilting, but there is a quilting machine at the army base, and I want to try it out, it's computerized, so it makes pretty pictures, and I want to see if I like it for Isaac's viking quilt too, since one of the sets of pictures they have to quilt into things is viking based with horned helmets and everything.... I know right? who knew.) I still have to make the bed skirt and bumpers, but here is the quilt top.

   I seriously don't know why this looks blurry, it wasn't in my phone. I'll be sure to take non blurry pictures of the finished product! This was made with a Moda Hideaway charm pack and the border used parts from a jelly roll from the same line. The white was just 5" squares I cut out from white cotton. Sarah Picked out the pattern (she's going with a coo coo clock/Dutch/garden gnome thing in the nursery that I thing is going to be beyond adorable.) 

Anyway, I am trying to get a lot of stuff done, in addition to getting the kid's last few weeks of school out of the way. Summer is hard here on base because there are a lot of nice people moving, but I guess there are a lot of nice people moving in too, so that is good!!! The weather has finally warmed up, so we are getting outside a lot more (Paul and I walk 3 miles almost every night) and I need to do a lot more sewing for the kids to have their summer wardrobe. (although I am tempted to buy a bunch of that in the states during my visit, that is in-between double-fisting American food and smooching on family! Oh, AND standing in Target, man could I be happy just standing in a Target right about now.)

I have been making over a shelf/cupboard thingy too (if you follow my instagram you have seen the before) so I just have finishing touches on that before it's ready to hang in the kid's bathroom, and my burlap wreath, and my front door makeover, etc. anyway I have lots to share as always, but instead of sharing, I just move on to the next thing!!!

Flip This Pattern

Have you heard about Flip This Pattern? It's a really amazing year long series that the girls over at francessuzanne are putting together!  

The way it's going to work is that every month for a year, there will be a different pattern that 3-4 different bloggers are going to sew up into their very own snazzed up version, and then by the end of the month the viewers at home with get the chance to vote for their favorite take on the pattern! (not to mention the great sew along competition that everyone can participate in!) 

The very awesome part is, Ashley and Emily have asked me to participate as one of the guest pattern flippers! 

Mommy's Apron Strings | Winter Wonderings | doguincho | SoCalSewingMom |  nest full of eggs

cathgrace | Welcome to the Mouse House | S is for Sewing | Sewing Like Mad | Elegance & Elephants | Call ajaire Little Kids Grow | Daisy Chain Creations | Once Upon a Notion | Handmade Martini | iCandy handmade | you & mie If only they would Nap |  Foster Ramblings | Designs by Sessa | Shaffer Sisters {Jo} | greendoodle | Shaffer Sisters {Al} Siestas & Sewing | mama says sew | Sewing Mama RaeAnna | sewVery | Nap Time Crafters | {lbg studio} Shaffer Sisters {Scary} | Sweeter Than Cupcakes | Once Upon a Sewing Machine | Crafty Cupboard | The Powell Family

Aren't there some killer fun names in this bunch? I am excited and intimidated for my month!
(I'm up in July in case you were wondering) 

 | Pattern Anthology  Figgy's | Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop | Shwin Designs | Clever Charlotte  Violette Field Threads | Blank Slate Patterns | Heidi & Finn | The Cottage Mama

Anyway, I am so excited for this series, how fun is it to be able to watch something progress for a whole year, and to get to see some really fun takes on the same pattern! (Thinking caps and outside of the box thinking is a must for this series!!!) 

What do you think? are you going to sew along this year with Flip This Pattern?

A Knock Off Dress in the Making........

I have just received some fabric in the mail to make a dress that I have been thinking about for ages, The Truly Me Chevron Maxi Dress by Bunnies Picnic. 

(the picture can be clicked on and is a link to the pinterest pin, but the dress can be found at it's source here.) Other than the fact that the original dress is sold out which means I cannot get my hands on it anyway, the main reason I wanted to make this dress rather than buy it, was because I didn't feel like there was quite enough coverage in the top (mostly the back of the dress, but the front scoop neck is a little low for my taste too.) The original dress is made out of jersey, but I couldn't find any knit fabric in the right sort of stripe, so I am using quilter's cotton instead. 

I got the blue and cream faux shibori from Joann's ages ago before we moved to Korea, but the stripe just arrived today from fabric.com. I know the faux shibori isn't quite the same as the original dress, but I like it anyway, and this way I don't have to dye anything :) 

Anyway, I am going to try to come up with a pattern for a top I like, and then will try to do a tutorial on my version of the dress. Any suggestions for keeping the spirit of the dress, while adding a little more coverage for a little girl to be able to play comfortably in??? 

Finished "Home is Where" Sign

I was able to finish my sign this weekend, it took a lot of lettering - so we can never move again because I am OVER the hand painting :)  Actually it shouldn't be that big a deal from here on, because I will only have one at a time now that I am caught up. 

It's sort of funny to see the last 13 years summed up; Isaac was at all of these bases with us, but Emmie was only from Hill AFB forward, lots and lots of packing/unpacking went into this list, and we have been enjoying the adventure!

Home is Where.....

I've been working on a new project today......

The plaque is from Hobby Lobby (Yay! for them shipping APO) and I first painted it black, and then hand painted the white lettering. Next I sanded it back a little, and then sealed the whole thing with a clear poly. This is only part 1 of the project, as I am now hand lettering 7 more smaller pieces of wood with all the places we have lived with the Air Force. (I am hanging this outside my door, opposite a wreath that I just made, and will have a tutorial for.)

I certainly didn't invent this type of sign, but I really like how this one is turning out, usually these are red white and blue, or military service colors, but I like the black and white, and the more simple feel.