Check, check.

I came across this quote today that goes along well with Memorial Day:

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

Arthur Ashe

Aren't we so lucky to have men and women serve our countries so bravely? 

We had a great weekend and got SO much accomplished!  Two big projects that I thought would never get done because they'd never be a priority are now off my mental list (novel) of things to do.  One was painting Wyatt's bed that Joel built a couple of months ago.  The other was painting a dresser and mirror for Wyatt's room that Joel's parents gave us last time we were up in Canada.  Since Joel's mom had found it in a barn years ago, we're not sure how old it is, but the back of the mirror says 10-8-18, so we're guessing it was made in 1918. 

Wow, that's a lot of blue.  I had all the brown paint swatches picked out at Home Depot this morning, and then last minute we decided to be fun parents for once and paint the bed and dresser blue.  Wyatt's been requesting a blue bed (until today at the store when he randomly requested pink... I'm not that fun) so I thought, why not?

We worked on everything ALL day, and finished just as it was getting dark tonight.  As usual Joel did the fun painting part and I did the un-fun sanding part.  Actually Joel did most of the work while I played with the kids, so I think I got the better end of the deal this time.  Luckily our kids are pretty much always happy if they're outside.  Not that it meant that I could get a picture of Wyatt holding still.

Oh, and please don't judge me on Wyatt's sweat pants/jacket combo.  It's a long story.  Anyway, we moved everything to our basement to finish drying, so I'll show you pics of it all when we get it set up. 

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Flashback Friday.

Here's today's Flashback Friday...

Today's Flashback Friday comes from Alissa from 33 Shades of Green.  I got to know Alissa's blog when she joined one of the very first We Did It! Wednesday linky parties with her quilted potholders.  See?  Sometimes my memory works like it should.  Alissa's photography is amazing, and she is an interior designer (hello jealous -- I was just talking to my sister last night about how the women in my family are NOT blessed to have the talent of decorating -- sorry to the other sisters who couldn't defend themselves).

Okay, back to Alissa.  Here's what she said:

These pictures were taken in the Fall 1982 and the Summer 1983 (I was 5 and 6 years old). I was a flower girl in my Aunt’s wedding and my Uncle’s wedding. At the time, it was the thrill of a lifetime. I was so excited that I was going to be a flower girl - in not one, but two weddings! My Mom had a friend who made my flower girl dress. It’s the first (and only?) time I can remember having an outfit sewn just for me. I can remember being at the fabric store and picking out the pattern and fabric. I loved the white fabric with little pink & blue flowers. I remember my Mom buying the pink ribbon to wear as a sash around my waist. And the biggest thrill? I got to wear pink ballet slippers as my shoes. I remember feeling like a princess when I wore my dress.

Thanks Alissa!  Who wouldn't love wearing ballet slippers?  I would have loved that.  Now you can go check out 33 Shades of Green and get to know Alissa in the 21st century :).

We Did It! Wednesday.

I'm really thinking that summer will eventually come.  I'm going to forget that we had snow this week in Utah.  My family in Canada didn't even have to deal with snow, so I'm not quite sure what the deal is.  Anyway, I'm starting to feel summery (or maybe "non-wintery" is a better term), even if I have to pretend.  Most of you actually get to enjoy nice weather this time of year, ya lucky ducks!  Check out a few of the projects you shared for last week's We Did It! Wednesday linky party.

Refashion from I Am Momma Hear Me Roar:

T-shirt dress from Sumo's Sweet Stuff:

Pillow cover to messenger bag from Living with Punks:

Zippered pouch from Make It Perfect:

Fabric wall decal from Brittney's Budget Crafts:

Here's a button for those of you who were featured:


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Here's how We Did It! Wednesday works:

1. Enter a link (specific blog post, not your homepage) using the MckLinky below to something you made that you want to share.
2. Try to check out at least one other link on the list (and I'm sure they'd love it if you left a comment too).
3. Post the We Did It! Wednesday button below to your post or sidebar to let others know your participating.



Copy and paste the HTML text below to your own blog or website.
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Creative Guest at U-Create!

Want to make this hat?

How about this one?

Well, the good news is that you only have to make one hat to get both!  Today I'm the creative guest at U-Create and am sharing my tutorial and pattern for a 4-In-1 Bucket Hat.  I had so much fun making the tutorial and pattern and can't wait to make more!  Wyatt, on the other hand, would seriously run the opposite direction as fast as he could when he saw me coming with the newest prototype to try on.  I can't blame him.  Let's just say my plans changed a few times throughout the process and I made about 20 hats before making up my mind and getting it perfect :).  Luckily Wyatt got over it and even wore the hat in public today by his own choice.

Another thing that's been keeping me busy is the printed Ruby Lou Doll Pattern.  I am so excited to announce that I sent it off to the printer this week!  Whew.  I can't believe I'll actually have it in my hands soon.  It should be available within the next week or two.  If you are interested in a wholesale order, email me.

I had the best pattern testers I could have asked for.  Really, they were all wonderful.  I have to show off some of their dolls:

Marie's adorable daughter with her Ruby Lou:

Andi's Ruby Lou:

Katie's Ruby Lou (love the green hair!):

Marty's Ruby Lou:

And last but certainly not least, Alli's little lady and her Ruby Lou:

Be sure to check out today's Flashback Friday!

Flashback Friday.

Here's today's Flashback Friday...

Sara Jane Godfrey Evans Holmes

Wow, I didn't know what I was getting into the other night.  My sister Angie (the one that made the capes) told me about a website that has a bunch of histories from my ancestors.  I thought I'd take a quick peek the other night just for fun, and it turned into hours of reading.

I've only scratched the surface of all the stories and am almost starting to make sense of who was who's mother, etc.  I've mostly read so far about my Grandma Leah's aunt, Sara Jane Godfrey Evans Holmes.  She was born in 1862.  She was a seamstress and even quilted until she was 88 years old!  Almost every person that wrote about Sara Jane commented that she always had her hands busy sewing or knitting.

From the history I've read, I think it's safe to say she probably sewed the dress she's wearing in the photo above.  She accomplished amazing things through the trials in her life, including being widowed with two young children.  I can't even begin to include everything I want to "flashback" about her in one post (and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't last that long), so today I'm going to start at the beginning.

Here's an exerpt from her history:

"I was about 12 years old when Father brought home our first sewing machine from the city. I can remember yet how we all crowded around to see it. Oh, it would be nice to use, because all our spare time had been spent in sewing by hand the many things that were needed for the family. I guess you could say we lived between two periods of home production. We didn’t spin or weave our own cloth, nor yet did we buy our clothes readymade.

We were able to buy from the stores the fabrics and some of the yarns we needed so that we could knit and sew.  We would knit our own stockings—long ones, too—wool for winter and cotton for summer, not the barelegged ones worn today.

The cotton yarn was quite a little like store cord, but we liked to use colored thread if and when it could be obtained. If we had time, we would knit sox for our brothers, because ours was a large family and Mother was hard put to keep the boys and men in sox.

Sara Jane as a teenager

The use of the new sewing machine was delegated to me. I suppose it was because I seemed more interested in it than others, and probably because I was the oldest girl. Mother cut out the cloth and directed me how to sew it together. From this time on I became a seamstress, and as long as I lived at home or even nearby, I sewed for all the family, even when it branched out into many families.

Not long after the machine was bought Father brought home a whole bolt of striped ticking. “Just the thing,” he said, “for the boys some overalls.” I laugh yet when I picture in my mind those striped pants on all four of my brothers—from the oldest, John, to little Jerry, just a creeper. And they wore those pants I made from that bolt of striped denim for a long, long time."

I love how she called her little brother a "creeper".  That cracked me up.  There are so many more neat (and even sad) stories I've read about her that are about sewing that I'll share later on. 

We Did It! Wednesday.

I've been so busy this past week... but I can't tell you why for a few more days.  I hope you've been busy too, and have more to show for it than I do :).  Here are some of your projects from last week's We Did It! Wednesday linky party.

Stamped birdie onesies from Aly & Ash:

Settee re-do from La Maison Lafortune:

Dresser from Black Kat's Design:

Martha's boston cream pie cupcakes from Made By Stephie:

Reversible dress from Brown Paper Packages:

Here's a button for those of you who were featured:


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Okay, now it's your turn to show off!  Here's how We Did It! Wednesday works:

1. Enter a link (specific blog post, not your homepage) using the MckLinky below to something you made that you want to share.
2. Try to check out at least one other link on the list (and I'm sure they'd love it if you left a comment too).
3. Post the We Did It! Wednesday button below to your post or sidebar to let others know your participating.



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Flashback Friday - Dana's Granner.

Here's today's Flashback Friday:

When I read Dana's Mother's Day post, I knew it would be perfect for Flashback Friday!  I have to say that Dana is pretty much probably one of the nicest bloggers out there (which you already know), and I am so happy that she is allowing me to bring her AND Granner to Sew Much Ado for today's Flashback Friday.  Here's what Dana wrote on her original post:

Granner was a lady who engaged the whole room. People noticed her cheerful smile and wanted to be around her. At 5'11", she was someone you noticed. And when I look at my love for sewing, I know that much of it came from her. She loved to sew and she loved fashion. She sewed almost all of her clothing as a young lady and as a married mom. It wasn't until she passed away a few years ago that my mom brought out her dresses for us to look at. They were amazing! (and so was her waist-size). Such detail, such skill. I'm sure these ensembles looked even cooler in color but here are a few Patricia Rogerson originals (from the 40s and 50s):

I'm sure one day Dana's own grandchildren will be in awe, sifting through the things she MADE (wow, that pun was actually not planned).  I hope you all have a great weekend!

We Did It! Wednesday.

Wow, I sure forgot that today would be Wednesday until I woke up this morning...  Here are a few of my favorites from last week's party:

Edible playdough from My Frugal Lifestyle:

The Alli Skirt from All About Mommies:

Lace cardigan from Welcome to the Good Life:

Here's a button for those of you who were featured:


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Okay, let's get to today's business!  Here's how We Did It! Wednesday works:

1. Enter a link (specific blog post, not your homepage) using the MckLinky below to something you made that you want to share.
2. Try to check out at least one other link on the list (and I'm sure they'd love it if you left a comment too).
3. Post the We Did It! Wednesday button below to your post or sidebar to let others know your participating.

I will make sure to check out all your links too so I can highlight some of your projects next week.

Copy and paste the HTML text below to your own blog or website.
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Sew Much Ado Flickr Group.

Okay, this is terrible, but forever ago I started a Flickr group for projects that you all have made from Sew Much Ado tutorials.  I even got some of my own photos uploaded, but never got around to letting anyone else know about it!  After seeing Anna's fun roundup and all the cute gathered clutches that people have made, I decided it was time to get my act together.  I love it when you email me pics and links of your completed projects, so feel free to keep doing it, but the Flickr group will be a great way for everyone else to also see what you've made.

So now you know :).  You can click on the button on the right sidebar or go here to add your photos!

And along with the new header, I have a new button for you too.  I guess I've been in the spring cleaning mode.  Here you go:



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My Super Why.

You know how kids shows can be either super annoying or super cute?  Well I think that "Super Why" is super cute (and educational, which is also super).  It could have something to do with the fact that Super Why's real name is Wyatt when he's not finding the "super story answers" in books.  I think I'd like it even if it were annoying (which it's totally not).

My lovely sister Angie (not to be confused with my SIL Angie) made all the little boy cousins in my family super hero capes.  We got it in the mail the other day and it's so cute!  Way cuter than what I would have made him myself, that's for sure.




She ended up using a ton of blue fabric that my Grandma Doreen had in her stash (which her daughters have been trying to make her get rid of - she'll really want to keep all her fabric now that some of it had a use!).  It was the perfect fabric for capes.

My favorite part is the appliqued felt "W".  She put each boy's initial on his cape.

Wyatt has been having fun playing with it.  He's catching on to all the great things that super heros can do, like running really fast...

Jumping off of tall objects (usually he likes to ride his bike down the slide so I guess jumping off it is one step up on the safety scale)...

Swinging really high...

And looking extra cute when he's pretending to pout (okay, so maybe I didn't have to teach him that one)...

Flashback Friday.

I know I've really been slacking with the Flashback Fridays lately.  I've been a busy little bee getting things finished up for the printed Ruby Lou Doll Pattern and some other things have had to slide.  My pattern testers all did a fabulous job and (fingers crossed) I'm hoping to get it to the printer's next week.  But you'll hear more about that later!

Today's Flashback-er would like to remain anonymous.  I'll admit that the facial expression was enough to warrant anonymity.  10 points if you can guess who it is (Heather, I know you know).

Here's some more about the photo to give you a clue to who the mysterious person is:

• She made this "outfit" about 10 years ago while working at Fabricland during high school.  They wanted to "showcase" their new tie-dye fabrics and for some unknown reason she chose to make a full set of scrubs out of it.  I'm guessing it didn't help sell a lot of yards (or meters, since she's Canadian).
• She decided to subdue the brightness of the outfit by pair it with some long black socks, and clearly has a great eye for fashion.

Well since this is getting pretty awkward I'll just tell you it's me.  Yikes!  And for the record, I only wore these as pajamas.  People already like to ignore their dental hygienists, and I'm sure these wouldn't help establish credibility!  I know that I'll be outed in the comments anyway, so I might as well fess up.  And I don't want you to think I'm being rude about someone else's facial expression.  Sometimes in photos if I'm laughing I look like Mr. Burns (I hate the Simpson's, by the way), and this was one of those times.  Usually I don't mind laughing at myself, but today I'd like to preserve just a little bit of dignity.  So there you go.  Have a great weekend!

Your We Did It! Wednesday Linky Party.

Hey everyone!  I hope you are all having a good week.  You all posted some super projects for last week's We Did It! Wednesday Party.  The picture links make it so easy to check them all out and make sure I didn't miss any!  Here are some highlights:

Play ribs and corn from Bug Bites Play Food:

Ottoman slipcover from Every Little Thing:

Sewing machine cover from Shelley Inspired:

Superhero invitation from 733:

Mother's Day tattoo card from Lovely Bud:

Here's a button for those of you who were featured:




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Okay, let's get to today's business!  Here's how We Did It! Wednesday works:

1. Enter a link (specific blog post, not your homepage) using the MckLinky below to something you made that you want to share.
2. Try to check out at least one other link on the list (and I'm sure they'd love it if you left a comment too).
3. Post the We Did It! Wednesday button below to your post or sidebar to let others know your participating.

I will make sure to check out all your links too so I can highlight some of your projects next week.

Copy and paste the HTML text below to your own blog or website.
<center><a href="http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy351/jdsmit21/smawediditwednesdaycopy-2.jpg" /></a></center>