The Socialite Peplum

Hey! Today I am part of the Lil Luxe Collection pattern tour. 
The designer behind Lil Luxe patterns is Jessica Bustos. She started her pattern company this year and had already released several patterns. All of them have a distinct and glamorous design. They are all being showcased on a pattern tour and I got to make the Socialite Peplum top. 

Pattern: 
The Socialite Peplum Bubble Dress, pattern by Lil Luxe Collection. You can get it (or any other Lil Luxe Collection pattern) here with 30% off from Dec. 2nd to Dec. 11th with coupon code “blogtour"!

Fabric:
Medium weight woven, checkered pale pink background.

Details:
This pattern is a new version of Jessica's first pattern (which I got to test) that kept the main features - princess seams, scoop back neck and a bubble skirt. It offers options for sleeveless, short and long sleeves, with or without a little shoulder cap. And you can make it as a Peplum flounce top or a Bubble skirt dress with pockets.
For this tour I have opted for the peplum top version but you can see my super dress-up bubble dress version here.

This week's theme was " A dressy affair to remember - style your fashionista". When I was choosing fabric for this pattern - and I was thinking about making another dress - my dear daughter came to me and after realizing I was going to make her a dress she said "Another dress?! But I don't want another dress!... I have too many!" I have to say she is right... So I had to come up with a fancy no-dress version for this "dressy affair" tour... Well, I think a little girl can be all dressed up in... pants! Specially if they are fancy pants! So I grabed this black twill pants with velveteen hearts from her wardrobe, her shinny black mary jane shoes with the most cute bow, and that had to do it. And then it just happened again... I had this fabric on my hands - a red one with polka dots (that I used here), beacuse after all red is the Holidays season color - when she promptly said "But it has to be pink..." Well, pink it was... 
So, here is my no-dress fancy version of the Socialite Peplum Bubble dress and top. Sometimes a mom's gotta to do what a mom's gotta to do, right? :)

Giveaway!

Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win fabric!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jessica just announced the Monthly pattern of choice giveaway!  Every month she will choose one winner from Lil Luxe Collection Instagram followers. Followers must tag @jessbluxe with their Lil Luxe Collection pattern creation.  A winner will be chosen every first of the month Starting with January 1, 2015. Isn't this great?



Here is the Blog Tour schedule - go have a look at all these fabulous versions of Lil Luxe patterns!

Monday, Dec. 1 - Rouche & Division Top

Rebekah Sews

Wednesday, Dec. 3 - Peek A Boo Hoodie

How I Make Stuff  |  Needle And Ted  |  The Crazy Tailor

Thursday, Dec. 4 - Alley Cat Romper

Max California  |  Creative Needles and Threads

Friday, Dec. 5 - Reversible Crop Top & Dress

Kimmie Sew Crazy

Monday, Dec. 8 - Modern Belle Dress

Kiwi Crafty Chemist | Lisa Lisa Designs

Tuesday, Dec. 9 - Socialite Peplum and Dress

Sewing Sober  |  Made By Sara

Wednesday, Dec. 10 - Two Haute Shorts

Call Ajaire  |  Ginger House Designs

Thursday, Dec. 11 - Starlight City Dress

Rebel And Malice  |  Bonnie and Lottie

Happy Sewing!

The Blake dress

Hi! Last week I was lucky to be picked as a pattern tester for the new dress pattern by Farrah of Mingo & Grace patterns. You know how much I love pattern testing but the truth is I haven't been applying for so many tester calls lately because I have a few (rather important) new projects coming up and I need to focus on them. Well, I just had to make an exception to this one... I had already tested her first pattern - the Charlie dress, which you can see here - so I just had to test this one too. :)

Pattern: 
The Blake dress, pattern by Mingo & Grace.

Fabric:
A light-weight scuba/neoprene knit in fuschia. This is an amazing fabric to work with! I had already used a striped scuba knit here. I love it!

Details:
This dress features a beautiful pleated skirt with hidden pockets on the side seams and closes at the back with an invisible zipper. It is available in sizes 18m to 6 years. 

You can make it fully lined or use bias facings on the neckline and armholes. I have opted to leave mine showing (instead of turning it all over the inside) to had some contrast to the solid color knit. I have also add a cute bow - how do you like it best? At the neckline or at the waistline?

This dress is best made in a medium to heavy weight fabric (woven or knit) because of its structured design but you can make it in any fabric. You can dress it up or down, depending on which fabric you choose - broadcloth, cottons, corduroy, denim, jacquards, linen, poplin, sateen, satin, taffeta, twill, velvet, wools... lots of options!

I have a good news for you - this pattern only has 15 pages to print! And it comes with the layer option so you can print only the size you need!

This pattern is under a 20% discount right now so go and get it here or on Etsy! Make sure to join the Mingo & Grace Patterns group at Facebook for a chance to get a even greater discount. (Just sayin'... :) )

Happy sewing!




This project was linked to:

The All Spice Dress

Hi! Today I am part of the All Spice Blog Tour. I had the chance to test the All Spice dress sometime ago and when Karly invited me for the tour I immediately said yes! On one hand because I admire Karly - she is an amazing stay-at-home mom of five kids! -, and on the other hand because I looove this dress. I have a crush for pintucks... 

Pattern
The All Spice dress, pattern by Paisley Roots. (You can get it here!)

Fabric
Cotton solid in black and emerald green (although it doesn't look like in the photos...).

Details
This pattern is available in sizes 6-12 months to 12 years. It features an adorable square-neck design with (optional) pintucks at the front. The bodice is lined and the seams are enclosed.
It comes with two different closures at the front - zipper or buttons - and it has four different sleeve options - sleeveless, flutter, cap and longsleeve - which makes it suitable for all seasons! 
There is a printing guide so you can choose to print only the pieces you need, and the instructions are very detailled! Karly does a grear job taking you through each step.

I have opted for a sleeveless dress and the button closure for which I have used these vintage glass buttons from my belated granny's stash. 
As always I had a hard time choosing which fabrics to use (from my stash, or my tiny fabric store as I call it... :) )... The version I made while testing this pattern was a floral birds-eye cotton piqué, so this time I decided to make a it... a color blocking dress! Coming from me that is a bit shocking right? :)

I have hand sewn the bodice to the skirt (on the inside) because personally I prefer less top stitching. For the hem I decided to go for a band hem to had some contrast to the black skirt. I really like how it turned out.

This dress is amazing! I really love the details... I mean, how lovely are those pintucks? 
Have a look at all the different versions made for the tour! 

Nov. 24 Sweeter Than Cupcakes | Call Ajaire

Nov 25 Irons In The Fire | Powell Family

Nov. 26 The Life of a Compulsive Crafter | Made by Sara

NOv. 27 Cottington's so Crafty | Sew a Straight Line

Nov. 28 Becca Duval | Froo & Boo

Black Friday sale code and a Giveaway!

Karly is offering a Black Friday sale of 25% off with the code BLACKFRIDAY2014 (valid until Sunday)!

There is also a giveaway for fabric and notions! Enter the Rafllecopter below for a chance to win. 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy sewing!

Christmas Braided Wreath - a Tutorial

Hi! Today I am over Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop's blog with my monthly tutorial! I am sharing how to make this lovely Christmas wreath. It is a great sewing project for Christmas decorating or for some Christmas gifts! Thanksgiving is just a few days ahead and you still have to time to make a couple of these to give to someone you love. I think I love Christmas wreaths even more than Christmas trees. :) Head over there and if you make one yourself please share it with me! I would love to see it. 

Happy sewing and Happy Thanksgiving!

The Florence Blouse

Today I am part of the Florence Blouse Christmas Blog Tour & Competition! (I can't believe I am on a competition... I run away from them! I can't handle all the pressure of being the best of all, because I know I won't get there... :) I can't even remember what the prize is, so you can see I am not running for the podium. :) ). 

When Olu from Needle and Ted emailed me with an invitation to join this tour by using a great pattern from a new (to me) pattern designer I couldn't say no. First of all, I am a Olu's fan - I love all that she does, her unique style and voice (I love her sense of humour!) so when she says she has found a new pattern designer and that she was blown away by her patterns I trust her judgement. Second, (I keep saying this I know) I love to find new pattern designers so I jumped to the opportunity of trying a new pattern. And all I can say is that... I am amazed!... I really can't say enough good things about this pattern.

Made it Patterns is a pattern company based in the United Kingdom, owned by Anna Bruce. She has an unique fashion forward style that I love. Just have a look at the shop and you will see what I am talking about... (Anna doesn't have a blog so Olu is hosting this pattern tour for her.)

Pattern

The Florence blouse, pattern by Madeit Patterns.

Fabric

Cotton shirting, silver starry print on a mustard background (although it looks a bit on the greenish side on some of the phtotos...). I think is has a subtle Christmas-y feel to it, doesn't it?

Details

This pattern is a.m.a.z.i.n.g!... The pattern pieces are very good, with notches and snip marks all over so you can easily put everything together. The instructions are very very good, thorough and easy to follow. And the construction method?... Well it is some of the best I have seen in the PDF world... It also has a few amazing design details. Everything all together makes the difference between a good pattern and the perfect pattern.

This pattern is available on sizes 2Y to 10Y. It has two lovely & trendy options: the waterfall frill (which I was *this* close of making because in all honesty - coming from a person that is not very fond of lots of ruffles - I love it. (There, I said it. :) )), and the bow neck. It also features gathered sleeves, a "V" shaped back yoke and front body seams for a tailored fit. It is perfect.

Modifications 

The competitors were given the liberty to change the pattern to suit their vision, so I have made a few modifications as follow: 

• I decided to play with the design of the collar, the optional bow and the front optional frill and created this all-in-one ruffled collar with a strap closure. I have mixed feelings about the collar... I think it ended up being a bit too wide but I kind of like how it looks... 
• Instead of using buttons I have opted for inner snaps, to keep the front less busy with all the ruffles and straps, but I am actually thinking about end up adding buttons on the outside merely for a decorative purpose.
• I increased the length of the sleeves and made an elastic hem instead of the cuffs, just to make it different. My initial idea was to insert straps through the case (instead of the elastic) but then I thought maybe it would be a little too much of bows and ruffles... And I like to keep it simple. :)

Coupon code and a Giveaway!

Anna is giving 20% off all her patterns until Sunday 23rd 7pm EST, with the coupon code "Tour20". And if you want to join all this Holiday fun and decide to sew up a Florence in time for Christmas, make sure to post it on Madeit Patterns Facebook page by the end of January 2015 for a chance of winning another Madeit pattern of your choice!

Blog Tour & Competition

You can see all the other versions of the Florence pattern - there are blouses, dresses and even a coat! - and vote on your favorite (I have a couple favorites! But I can't tell...) on the competition page, by leaving a comment there with your favorite Florence! 

Just a regular photoshoot with a toddler... :)

"Look mommy, it's waining!" It was starting to rain and that was the end of this photoshoot. :)

A Happy Toddler

I have made this blouse to go with those culottes - which were blogged here - for my older daugther. If you have seen the culottes post you may be asking yourself where is she then... Well, she is with a nasty cold so I had to use this kid instead. :) Needless to say she was thrilled with her new starry blouse! I couldn't really let her know that the blouse is her sister's though, otherwise I would have a crying toddler on these photos. :) I don't have enough fabric left to make her another one so I don't know how am I going to solve this... :) All I have is 16'' (40cm) x WOF (about 57''/ 145cm). Any ideas? 

Oh, and I bet you are wondering about their sizes and how could I fit this outfit on this little girl... Well, my 3 year-old chubby toddler and my almost 6 year-old super slim girl have just about the same measurements (chest, waist, hip)... Yes, don't tell me about it... :)