The Mini Hudson Pant
January 7, 2015
Hey! How's 2015 so far? We are still on the Holiday-party mood since we have a birthday today! This little girl is turning 6 years-old. Does anyone know how to stop her from growing up? :)
A few months ago I kept seeing all these women Hudson pants all over and I kept thinking how cool they would look in a kids size. Well, apparently Kelli has some super powers because she read my mind and just released last month the mini version of the Hudson pants. :)
Once I was lucky to get on the Mini Hudson blog tour (Thank you Kelli!) I started to picture a dozen of cool versions of these... It was hard to decide which one(s) to make and I ended up making these two versions: one sporty-hipster boy's version and a girly girl version. :)
Marble Maze and "I spy" Fabric Games - a tutorial
December 17, 2014
Today I am over Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop blog with my monthly tutorial!
I am sharing two ideas for last minute gifts for toddlers (well, truth be said my two oldest kids loved them too!) - the marble maze and "I spy" fabric games! They are super quick to sew!
And now I'll have to go back to my sewing... I am finally starting to make all the Christmas presents... (Yes, I only have one week, I know... :) )
Happy sewing!
Hoje estou no blog Peek-a-Boo com o meu tutorial mensal. Este mês tenho dois pequenos tutoriais para jogos de tecido adequados a crianças mais pequenas (se bem que os meus dois mais velhos também adoraram!) - um labirinto de berlinde e um jogo "onde está?". Ambos são super rápidos de fazer!
E agora tenho de voltar para as minhas costuras... Vou finalmente começar a fazer as prendas handmade de Natal que tenho para oferecer... (Sim, eu sei que já só tenho uma semana... Não vamos falar nisso, sim? :) )
Boas costuras!
Sewing to Sell - a review of an amazing book
December 15, 2014
A book review and a giveaway!
Hi! As we are coming closer to Christmas I am finally finding the time to sew some Christmas gifts. I have started to make a list of a few projects (new and good old) that I want to make and this organizer was on top of the list.
As soon as I finished sewing this handy organizer I knew it had to be mine... So I am giving myself a Christmas present. :)
I have been telling you later that I have a couple of new big projects coming up soon so organization and focus are the keywords here. I do need them now as much as I need oxygen. And I have always been a list and schedule kind of person. So I am using this organizer to keep together all my monthly and weekly schedules, a calendar, a few business cards, and lots of lists - to-do, to-sew, to-buy...
It has the perfect size to keep my beautiful new notebook, so I can jot down all my ideas and thoughts for the upcoming projects. And just in case you are wondering where I got it, it was offered by my blogging friend Constança from Saidos da Concha. (If you don't know her blog I can tell you that you are missing one of the most amazing blogs on homemaking and crafts.)
This organizer was made using one of the 16 patterns from the book Sewing to Sell - How to Sell Locally and Online, The Beginners Guide to Starting an online Business, by Virginia Lindsay.
Virginia is the creator of Gingercake Patterns and Gingercake blog. I immediately felt connected with Virginia once I read her about page. Her story is the same as mine and (I bet) the same as so many of you. She started sewing again when her kids were really small and she was spending more time at home. And then she goes on " I loved all the bright and beautiful fabrics available and I became addicted to searching for new projects all the time!" and I was all hands in the air "That's me! That's me!"
Virginia has some great patterns on her pattern shop and some handmade items on her Etsy shop, so make sure you visit both and get yourself and your loved ones some Christmas presents! :)
Sewing to sell is a book that focus on several aspects that you need to have in mind when creating a home-based sewing business. Virginia talks about how to find your sewing style, how to identify your customers, how to choose which items to sew and sell and what materials you need for that. She also talks about the whole process of setting up a business and starting to sell, attending craft shows, photography, marketing, pricing and packaging. There are lots of great interviews with business owners and useful tips!
If you are planning on starting a handmade/sewing business this is a must read! I know it is helping me a lot! Having all the things that I need to set my business in one place and so clearly explained is truly helpful.
Another great thing about this book is that it comes with sixteen projects (patterns and instructions!) for you to make and sell freely! The projects are organized in categories (projects that are useful items, projects that make the best use of materials and projects that are great sellers) and include items for kids and babies, fashion accessories, for the home, to gift someone, and for the sewist and business women. They include, among others, a cute pincushion, a insulated lunch bag, a oven mitt, a baby set, a quilt, and a few bags and pouches. (see images below, courtesy of C&T Publishing)
And the Handy Organizer that I chose to make (image also courtesy of C&T Publishing).
I have used three different Japanese fabrics that I had sitting on my stash for years!... They are all cutesy and made of cotton and linen. I have a crush on Japanese fabrics. I love their quality and prints.
These Japanese zakka fabrics were the first I bought when I first started to buy fabrics a few years ago when I started to blog (back in 2007) and started to think about going back to sewing again.
This is my do-not-cut stash. I bet you have your own, right? :)
This is actually the second time in so many years that I had found the courage to use these amazing fabrics. First time was to make my kids a fabric game, blogged here.
Actually, there is a whole chapter on Sewing to Sell about buying and using fabric!
Virginia's advice is to have a plan - build a stash wisely, making smart fabric-buying choices. I needed to read that!
I have a huge fabric stash. I call it my "private fabric store" since I can just go there and get almost any kind of fabric type and print I want... Although that seems to be a good thing, on one hand, on the other hand sometimes it isn't that great...
I buy a lot from my local fabric store. They have a dozen of huge bins full of good remnants and bolt ends. They should be called the treasure bins. :) So, I am the kind of person who usually buys fabric without having a specific project in mind... I just hoard whichever I like and see potential in. But I have to make myself some justice and let you know that I make choices - first I grab every single remnant I like but before I go pay it I stop for a few minutes and go through all that (sometimes 10, sometimes 20) fabric and I often end up leaving some behind. (And I almost always regret that I did... but that's another story! :) )
From time to time I buy yardage when I have a specific project in mind and I have never bought bolts.
So, I really feel like I need to change my approach when it comes to buying fabric... I need to be more pragmatic and project oriented. Now that I am going to start a small sewing business I feel like I have to make smart buys. And that also goes by buying coordinated fabrics... Sometimes I need to make an outfit - top and bottom - and I have a hard time finding perfect coordinates on my stash...
Another problem I have sometimes is that since I mostly buy remnants, I often end up not having enough yardage to make what I want... I have lots of single yards... Not a long time ago I could easily use just 1 yard on a dress for my girls, but not anymore... So now I can only use them to make tops and blouses for them.
How about you? What's your fabric buying method? Do you hoard or do you buy when you need it?
Sometime ago I decided to organize my stash - a tough task I can tell you... By the way, how do you organize yours? By type of fabric, by color, by print?...
I came to the conclusion that I did not have many solids... Solids are basics that everyone must have! They can be coordinated with any print and between themselves to make gorgeous color blocked outfits.
These are from my stash. It is about 1/10 of what I have from each category... Cottons and rayons (top left), corduroy, twill, denim and flannel (top right), tweed and wool (bottom left) and knits (bottom right)...
These are my precious... :)
Sewing to Sell is an amazing new book from C&T Publishing (which means great standards and quality) and it was released about one month ago. This blog post is part of a book tour so make sure to have a look on these blogs if you want to know more from Sewing to Sell and see a few more handmade items from the patterns that come with the book.
As soon as I finished sewing this handy organizer I knew it had to be mine... So I am giving myself a Christmas present. :)
I have been telling you later that I have a couple of new big projects coming up soon so organization and focus are the keywords here. I do need them now as much as I need oxygen. And I have always been a list and schedule kind of person. So I am using this organizer to keep together all my monthly and weekly schedules, a calendar, a few business cards, and lots of lists - to-do, to-sew, to-buy...
It has the perfect size to keep my beautiful new notebook, so I can jot down all my ideas and thoughts for the upcoming projects. And just in case you are wondering where I got it, it was offered by my blogging friend Constança from Saidos da Concha. (If you don't know her blog I can tell you that you are missing one of the most amazing blogs on homemaking and crafts.)
This organizer was made using one of the 16 patterns from the book Sewing to Sell - How to Sell Locally and Online, The Beginners Guide to Starting an online Business, by Virginia Lindsay.
Virginia is the creator of Gingercake Patterns and Gingercake blog. I immediately felt connected with Virginia once I read her about page. Her story is the same as mine and (I bet) the same as so many of you. She started sewing again when her kids were really small and she was spending more time at home. And then she goes on " I loved all the bright and beautiful fabrics available and I became addicted to searching for new projects all the time!" and I was all hands in the air "That's me! That's me!"
Virginia has some great patterns on her pattern shop and some handmade items on her Etsy shop, so make sure you visit both and get yourself and your loved ones some Christmas presents! :)
Sewing to sell is a book that focus on several aspects that you need to have in mind when creating a home-based sewing business. Virginia talks about how to find your sewing style, how to identify your customers, how to choose which items to sew and sell and what materials you need for that. She also talks about the whole process of setting up a business and starting to sell, attending craft shows, photography, marketing, pricing and packaging. There are lots of great interviews with business owners and useful tips!
If you are planning on starting a handmade/sewing business this is a must read! I know it is helping me a lot! Having all the things that I need to set my business in one place and so clearly explained is truly helpful.
Another great thing about this book is that it comes with sixteen projects (patterns and instructions!) for you to make and sell freely! The projects are organized in categories (projects that are useful items, projects that make the best use of materials and projects that are great sellers) and include items for kids and babies, fashion accessories, for the home, to gift someone, and for the sewist and business women. They include, among others, a cute pincushion, a insulated lunch bag, a oven mitt, a baby set, a quilt, and a few bags and pouches. (see images below, courtesy of C&T Publishing)
And the Handy Organizer that I chose to make (image also courtesy of C&T Publishing).
I have used three different Japanese fabrics that I had sitting on my stash for years!... They are all cutesy and made of cotton and linen. I have a crush on Japanese fabrics. I love their quality and prints.
![]() |
Here is a photo of my cotton+linen Japanese fabric stash. |
This is my do-not-cut stash. I bet you have your own, right? :)
This is actually the second time in so many years that I had found the courage to use these amazing fabrics. First time was to make my kids a fabric game, blogged here.
Actually, there is a whole chapter on Sewing to Sell about buying and using fabric!
Virginia's advice is to have a plan - build a stash wisely, making smart fabric-buying choices. I needed to read that!
I have a huge fabric stash. I call it my "private fabric store" since I can just go there and get almost any kind of fabric type and print I want... Although that seems to be a good thing, on one hand, on the other hand sometimes it isn't that great...
I buy a lot from my local fabric store. They have a dozen of huge bins full of good remnants and bolt ends. They should be called the treasure bins. :) So, I am the kind of person who usually buys fabric without having a specific project in mind... I just hoard whichever I like and see potential in. But I have to make myself some justice and let you know that I make choices - first I grab every single remnant I like but before I go pay it I stop for a few minutes and go through all that (sometimes 10, sometimes 20) fabric and I often end up leaving some behind. (And I almost always regret that I did... but that's another story! :) )
From time to time I buy yardage when I have a specific project in mind and I have never bought bolts.
So, I really feel like I need to change my approach when it comes to buying fabric... I need to be more pragmatic and project oriented. Now that I am going to start a small sewing business I feel like I have to make smart buys. And that also goes by buying coordinated fabrics... Sometimes I need to make an outfit - top and bottom - and I have a hard time finding perfect coordinates on my stash...
Another problem I have sometimes is that since I mostly buy remnants, I often end up not having enough yardage to make what I want... I have lots of single yards... Not a long time ago I could easily use just 1 yard on a dress for my girls, but not anymore... So now I can only use them to make tops and blouses for them.
How about you? What's your fabric buying method? Do you hoard or do you buy when you need it?
Sometime ago I decided to organize my stash - a tough task I can tell you... By the way, how do you organize yours? By type of fabric, by color, by print?...
I came to the conclusion that I did not have many solids... Solids are basics that everyone must have! They can be coordinated with any print and between themselves to make gorgeous color blocked outfits.
These are from my stash. It is about 1/10 of what I have from each category... Cottons and rayons (top left), corduroy, twill, denim and flannel (top right), tweed and wool (bottom left) and knits (bottom right)...
Giveaway!
And guess what? You can win a copy of Sewing to Sell! C&T Publishing will be sending a copy to one of you - USA only! Winners will be picked randomly by Random.org, by Dec. 22nd.
Just leave a comment below - I would love to know more about how you buy and use your fabric!
Just leave a comment below - I would love to know more about how you buy and use your fabric!
Happy sewing!
Mãos à Obra!
December 12, 2014
(Scroll down for english.)
Assim que saiu o Mãos à Obra fui comprá-lo. A emoção contida ao encontrá-lo na Bertrand, ao pegar nele, ao folheá-lo. Por pouco que me perdi no tempo e no espaço. A minha vontade era sentar-me ali, no chão, pôr-me à vontade e abstrair-me de tudo. Sigo o Saídos da Concha praticamente desde que começou. Foi em Novembro de 2007 que o descobri, depois de ter sido mãe pela primeira vez. Foi quando comecei a descobrir todo este mundo de blogs de costura e crafts. Culpo a Constança por ter reacendido a minha paixão de infância e adolescência pela costura. E por isso estou-lhe para sempre grata. Desde logo identifiquei-me com o seu sentido estético e com o seu gosto pelo vintage e pela tradição, pelas coisas "do antigamente", aplicado a esta vida moderna um pouco louca e tantas vezes mais pobre naquilo que realmente tem valor.
Para quem, como eu, segue a Constança há anos, o Mãos à Obra é sentido como ter o melhor do Saídos da Concha concentrado num formato portátil, que pode ir mesmo para qualquer lado e sem depender de redes WiFi... Isto dos livros em papel quase já começa a ser uma coisa "do antigamente", nesta era do digital que retira os cinco sentidos do sentir e o resume a muito pouco... Gosto de livros. Do toque e do cheiro do papel. E isso é insubstituível.
Para quem não segue o Saídos da Concha... Bem, shame on you! :)
O Mãos à Obra é um livro lindíssimo! Com a qualidade de imagem, fotografia e stylling do blog. Está recheado de projectos para todos os gostos - de costura, culinária, jardinagem, crafts. A organização por estações do ano é brilhante e tem tudo a ver com o Saídos da Concha!
Ao ler este livro sinto-me como se estivesse na casa da Constança, a tomar um chá com ela. Talvez acompanhado dos queques feitos a preceito segundo a receita da sua bisavó ou de uma fatia de bolo de natas, servidos num tabuleiro com um bonito pano de linho bordado. Na mesa está uma jarra de flores bonitas, colhidas do seu jardim umas horas antes. Há luz por todo o lado. E essa luz, esse conforto, essa coziness sente-se ao ler as palavras da Constança.
A minha vontade ao chegar a casa era fazer os projectos todos, um atrás do outro, como se não houvesse amanhã... :) Mas há que começar por algum lado, e a escolha recaiu na receita dos queques que pertenceu à bisavó da Constança.
Usei a receita base, dividi em quatro partes e a uma juntei nozes, a outra frutos vermelhos e a outra pepitas de chocolate. A quarta parte ficou simples. Os queques são óptimos! Foram aprovados por todos nesta casa de cinco, e por alguns amigos que tiveram a sorte de estar no sítio certo no dia certo. :)
Todas as variantes ficaram muito boas, por isso experimentem e inventem outras! A ideia do livro é mesmo essa - experimentar, puxar pela criatividade, pôr um pouco (ou tudo) de nós naquilo que as nossas mãos fazem.
O sabor preferido das minhas ajudantes foi... pepitas de chocolate. Que mais seria de esperar? :)
Da próxima vez vou tentar fazer um mix com uma receita de bolo de limão e sementes de papoila que fiz aqui. Devem ficar óptimos!
Também recomendo o bolo de natas! Já o tinha feito com a mesma receita, publicada no blog, e é delicioso!
E porque esta publicação não ficaria completa sem um projecto de costura - afinal é a minha paixão e foi por isso que comecei este blog em 2007 -, decidi escolher este, do saco para a roupa suja (incluído nos projectos de Primavera) transformado nesta minha versão em saco/embrulho ecológico para as prendas de Natal!
Escolhi um tecido com cavalos Dala - um motivo nórdico tradicional e do qual gosto bastante -, em vermelho e roxo (comprado aqui). Recortei alguns cavalos aos quais apliquei beitão termocolante. Estes foram depois aplicados nas fitas de cetim vermelhas, e um serviu como etiqueta onde escrevi o nome de quem vai receber este presente. Gostei imenso de ver o saco debaixo da árvore de Natal! Vou fazer mais uns quantos e usar pano em vez de papel neste Natal. O que dizem?
Estes são os próximos projectos que vou fazer!
Uma clutch prática, simples e super gira - para mim e para oferecer neste Natal. E uns cestos de tecido para guardar tudo aquilo que anda sempre em sítio incerto ou espalhado por todo o lado...
No Mãos à Obra podem encontrar muitos outros projectos como: almofadas, flores cristalizadas, arranjos de flores, uma receita de pão, compotas e geleias, como forrar um banco ou uma cabeceira de cama, como fazer uma manta de piquenique (também está na lista!), almofadas de praia, ou uma manta de retalhos para brincadeiras, e muito, muito mais! Tem óptimas ideias para prendas de Natal feitas à mão e receitas para adoçar esta época de Festas!
Se quiserem ver mais alguns destes projectos visitem os blogs abaixo! Hoje, várias bloggers estão a publicar sobre o Mãos à Obra, mostrando um projecto do livro! Resolvermos fazer uma surpresa à Constança, como forma de agradecimento e retribuição pela sua inspiração e amizade. Tive a oportunidade de ver alguns antes da sua publicação nos blogs e só vos digo que vale mesmo a pena ir lá vê-los!
S is for Sewing
House of Estrela
Pequeno Mundo a 3
Conversas de Hermanas
Fairies, Bubbles & Co.
Rita Pirolita
Boas festas! E, mãos à obra!! :)
And now for our international readers! :)
This post is about a book review. This book is in Portuguese only. It is from Constança, the blogger and homemaker behind the blog Saidos da Concha. Make sure to go visit her blog - it is one of my favorite blogs ever and one of the most beautiful blogs on homemaking, sewing, crafts and DIY...
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