The Summer Soirée dress

I should have understitched that lining... ;)

So Summer is definitely (and finally) over around here. (I don't hide that I am a Fall lover. Maybe because I was born in October. :) ) The weather is still nice for short sleeves during the day - if it is  not raining that is - but the early mornings and after dusks are already a bit chilly. 
Shamely I have still a few outfits I made for summer that haven't been blogged yet, so I thought that maybe this was a good time to do it since in no time it won't make much sense... at least for all my upper hemisphere readers. ;)

I have tested this pattern a few months ago but unfortunately at the time I couldn't take proper outside photos... I was finally able to have this photoshoot a month ago, but life just got in the way and for one reason or another I didn't shared this project until now. Before I started to blog more often (earlier this year, after 7 years of blogging just for myself :) ) I didn't realized all that it takes to make a sewing blog post or a DIY post... Well, it takes a lot! :) And sometimes we just don't have the time to go to a certain place to have *the* phoshoot, or we don't have the time to edit the photos and write about it... Oh well, I have a couple of other summer projects to blog and (doing a happy dance) I have all the photos taken, so I will be blogging about them in the next 2 weeks.

Pattern: the Summer Soirée dress by Lil Luxe Collection
Fabric: I have used a medium-weight satin brocade fabric (the kind of that is used for kimonos). Both bodice and skirt are from the same fabric yard. It was a chinese print border fabric with three layers - one green band with chinese dragons, one pink with small red flowers and one red and small pink flowers. It had this colored stitching lines between layers that I carefully cut to match at the bottom of the bodice pieces.
Details: This dress features a beautifuly designed bodice, a bubble skirt, a V back, and in-seam pockets. It was recentely revamped into a new pattern - the Socialite Peplum Bubble dress - which I love even more! It can now be made either as a peplum top or a bubble dress, sleeveless or with short/long sleeves. Perfect for Fall weather.

You can see by her face that he was having all the fun... :)

We took this photos at the same time I was also photoshooting the Knight Hoodie (for Pattern Parcel #4). If you missed it - and want the to get the story behind this - go check it here. 

A wallet for the little Mr.

My son is turning 7 in a few days... Where did time go? He was the sweetest baby! For the first 6 months of his life all he did was eating and sleeping... He would be awake for a few periods of half an hour everyday and almost didn't cry, except for one hour between 6 and 7pm. :) 
He grew up with a good heart. Well, until he got to primary school last year... I mean, he still has a good heart, but he is now a typical primary school boy and he is actually having some trouble being quiet in the classroom... I don't think he qualifies for having ADHD though. He is just too smart... :) He does all the assignments too quick and then he gets to distract his classmates who are still working on theirs... We need to find strategies to keep him still and occupied and focus on something else... Any suggestions? Maybe getting him a few drawing books? Any you would recommend? I found these ones from Usborne that I love. {No affiliation here, just sharing something I like.}

Found on Amazon

I got side tracked here, sorry... :) Actually this post is about the Pirate's Treasure Wallet I made for him. :) 
Since October is his birthday's month I thought I should devote sometime this month to make somethings for him. He still gets less sewing time than his sisters... 

He has been asking for a wallet since our Summer vacations this year. He wanted to have his own pocket money to buy ice creams and candy, and some comic books. But since he didn't had a wallet we had to keep his money for him. so I knew I had to make him a wallet once we got home, now to find a pattern... 
I couldn't believe when Fenna asked for people to join this tour! I would finally have the chance to make a boy's wallet!
Can you imagine how happy he was when I surprised him this week with this wallet? He was thrilled!

Pattern: the Pirate's Wallet patttern, by Fabulous Home Sewn.
Fabric: black and rusty orange baby wale corduroy and Phineas & Ferb comic print (it is the Springs Creative Disney Phineas and Ferb Agent P Comic patch fabric)
Details: This pattern features a bill pocket, three card pockets, a vinyl pocket for an ID card and a pleated pocket for change. This pattern is not difficult but I would rate it as "adventurous" beginner because of the zipper and all the pocket construction - which is easier then it looks! I have made something different - when closing and turning (the final step) I left the opening for turning on the zipper pocket side and not on the upper side. This way I had to top stitch (to close the opening) on the side - which is barely noticeable and in fact invisible when the wallet is closed - instead of top stitching all the upper end. I wouldn't mind that if I could just top stitch all around the wallet but that is almost impossible due to all the necessary bulkiness at the bottom edge. My son really enjoyed his new wallet! And my dear husband already let me know he wants one too - comic print and all. :)

There is a giveaway running if you want to try your chance to win a patern of your choice fro FABulous Home Sewn! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There is a blog tour showcasing the Pirate's Treasure Wallet pattern and the Perfect Petal Purse - both patterns from Fabulous Home Sewn. If you need more inspiration go take a look at all the other wallets and purses made for this tour!

September 28 | Nosy Pepper

September 29 | From a Box | Gracious Threads

September 30 | Project Destash

October 1 | Filles a Maman

October 2 | Sew Very

October 3 | Friends Stitched Together | Secretly Stitching

October 4 | Lulu and Celeste | Made By Sara

The Playhouse dress - It's Perfect Pattern Parcel #5!

Perfect Pattern Parcel #5 is here!! And is all about girls of all ages - from toddlers to tweens!

Pattern: Playhouse dress, pattern by Fishsticks Design
Fabric: flamingo striped piqué cotton knit (I love this knit! I have used it before here and here.)
Details:
This pattern is an easy sew and such a quick sewing project!
It comes with the option for puff short sleeves or long sleeves and it features a circular skirt. I had to make it in short sleeves since it is still very hot these days...
This dress can be made in knit or in a knit-woven mix!

About PPP#5!
It includes 6 patterns and it's a "name your price" deal! Isn't it amazing? And the best part is that it is all for a good cause! And wait, there is more! If you choose a price of $28 or greater you get a bonus pattern! You can read more and get it here.

Perfect Pattern Parcel believes in supporting independent pattern designers. It allows customers to show their support in naming their own price for each Parcel and it also encourages customers to allocate part of their Parcel price to the charity Donorschoose.org in order to help classrooms in need. Pattern Parcel donates all profits after expenses from Parcel sales to the charity as well. They have raised over $11,000 for classrooms in need!

So, Parcel #5 -  Girls and Tweens includes: 

• Lily Knit Blazer by Peek-a-Boo Patterns
• Everyday Yoga Pant for Girls by Greenstyle
• Asymmetrical Drape Top by EYMM
• Playhouse Dress by Fishstick Designs
• Mimi Dress and Shirt by Filles a Maman
• Bonus pattern: Sunki Dress by Figgy’s (it includes 18 months through a 16 tween sizing)

The story behind this post and my pattern choice:

It was very hard to choose what to make... I just wanted to make them all! If only I had the time... :)

First I was going to make a Sunki dress. I missed all the fun last year when it was released, and then again when it was the pattern to flip over Flip This Pattern. There were Sunkis everywhere around the sewing blogging community and I loved them all!! This was finally my opportunity to make one. But then I realized that this was the bonus pattern and that for the PPP#4 - boys edition - I had also chosen the bonus pattern. It was the Knight Hoodie and you can see it here. So I decided to give it a go on another pattern. And it had to be a dress. And it had to be in knit. :) 

My 3 year-old started pre-school this week. (she used to be at home with me)
We were told in July (when we applied) that the school didn't have a vacancy for her. This week, all of a sudden they gave us a phone call to let us know that a few kids had been transferred to other schools and thus she could finally go! My heart fainted... but she was thrilled!
So now I feel that I need to sew her up an entire school-proof, pratical and suitable for all the running and playing with other kids, wardrobe. Well, I can never have too many excuses to sew for my kids... 
I immediately thought... knits! Well, lucky me! PPP#5 is all about knits! It offers a pants patttern, several tops and dresses, and even a blazer. I won't need to look for anything more. :)

I have sewn this up for her first day at pre-school. Ans she loved it! In fact, she loved both the dress and going to school... She was so proud and happy for leaving home in the morning along with her brother and sister and her cute little backpack (with changing clothes because sometimes she still gets distracted... :) ) to go to school... And I was... well... feeling sad and lost. Last (school) year I was at home with my two girls, and now I am left alone every week day from 9am to 3.30pm. Well, almost. They all come home for lunch! :)

We went to the playground in the afternoon after school was over and she was oh-so-happy in her new knit dress. It is indeed very pratical!

I have already cut some knit for a Mimi shirt (I have made before a Marc shirt also from Filles à Maman and I loved it!) and a Lily blazer. Oh, and I will definitely make a couple of Sunkis for my girls. :)

Make sure to take a look at the inspiration tour!

Friday, September 19 Pienkel || Cookin' and Craftin'

Saturday, September 20 Sew Busy Lizzy || The Life Of A Compulsive Crafter

Sunday, September 21 Keep Calm and Carrion || Felt With Love Designs

Monday, September 22 Radiant Home Studio || Sewing Sober

Tuesday, September 23 Sew Fishsticks || La Pantigana || Amanda Rose

Wednesday,September 24 Shawnta Sews || Sprouting JubeJube || Knot Sew Normal

Thursday, September 25 Make It Perfect || Mimi's Mom || Climbing the Willow

Friday, September 26 Needle and Ted || Our Family Four

Saturday, September 27 Froo & Boo

Sunday, September 28 Stitches by Laura || Vicky Myers creations

Monday, September 29 Cookin' and Craftin' || The Crazy Tailor

Tuesday, September 30 mama says sew || FABulous Home Sewn || The Inspired Wren

Wednesday, October 1 lady and the gents || That's-Sew-Kari || Sewing Sober

Thursday,October 2 Gracious Threads || Blogs Like A Mother || SewsNBows

Friday, October 3 sew chibi || Lulu & Celeste || Made by Sara

What will you be making with these awesome patterns?

If you haven't got them yet go get them! You have less then 24 hours! (tic-tac-tic-tac :) )

October's Sew-cial Calendar! (sewing series, sew-alongs, challenges)

September was the month that went waaaay too fast... I can't honestly believe that 30 days have already gone through since we came back from holidays... What a super busy, super chaotic month... Sewing wise and family wise...
I have got a few great offers as a sewing/crafter freelancer. That makes me very happy and humble at the same time... I will be talking about them soon.
Family wise, it was back-to-school time for our 2nd grader and we had a new Kindergarten girl! (you can read about it here) So between two different schools and schedules, plus their activities after school, sewing time became a luxury! I have struggled to achieve everything I had commited to but I have made it... and actually I survived this crazy month! (Yay!)

Here is the sewing calendar for October! 


Project Run & Play
week #3 Denim - Sep 29 - Oct 2
week #4 Signature style - Oct 6 - 9


Kids Clothes Week (Yay!!)
Theme: Storybook
Oct 20 - 26

Once Upon A Thread
"Anything to do with a needle and thread that is inspired by books. "


Flip This Pattern
Pattern: the Hattie dress and tunic, pattern by Brownie-Goose
Link up until Oct 23rd.

CraftingCon
Theme: Villains


The Monthly Stitch
All month
Theme: Frocktober - make yourself a dress!


Monthly MashUp and Mash-a-long
Oct 16- 24


Purse Palooza 2014
Oct 2 - Nov14
It is all about purses! Join the link-up - there will be prizes!


All The Skirts
All month
Join the link-up with anything you made out of a Sis Boom pattern and/or fabric from Imagine Gnats!

And besides all of these I guess everyone will be very busy this month sewing for Halloween and maybe for Christmas already, right? 

Am I missing something? Please let me know!

Let's get sew-cial!