We Did It! Wednesday

Welcome to We Did It! Wednesday! I've been busy working on a new pattern this week, and am excited to show you a sneak peek soon! What have you been up to?

Here's how We Did It! Wednesday works:

1. Enter a link (specific blog post, not your homepage) using the Linky Tools below to something you made that you want to share. It can be something you sewed, crafted, painted, baked, or anything else 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. 

<center> <a href="http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy351/jdsmit21/SMAbuttonWDIWscissorsbordercopy.jpg" /></a></center>

One More Blouse

I had been eyeing this zig zag knit at JoAnn every time I made a trip there for months, and finally came home with some one day.

I decided to make Lola another Polly Peasant Blouse with it, and still have enough leftover for another project... any suggestions? Maybe a summer skirt for Lola? Or leggings? I can't decide.

I still haven't managed to get sick of making these blouses. They're so fast and easy to sew, and I love how easy they are to get on and off a constantly moving baby.

Did I mention that this girl does not stop moving?? It's pretty fun (and cute), although a little tricky with two older brothers who like to leave tiny toys on the ground for her to find and of course try to eat.

 She army crawls like a boss where ever she pleases.

 And despite working on a second top tooth coming in (ahem, the dental hygienist in me has a hard time not saying central incisor), she's still pretty sweet and easy going.

It's hard to believe she's 9 1/2 months already, and that I'll have a one year old before too long. It makes me so sad to see her growing up, but also so excited at the same time for what's ahead!

Flashback Friday: Delia from Delia Creates

Welcome to Flashback Friday! Today we are in for a special treat, with my friend Delia from Delia Creates joining us! Delia is a sweet, genuine blogger, and also a mom to two boys and an adorable little girl, and is someone I admire in many ways.

 

I'm sure you're familiar with her incredible Project Run & Play creations. She also is a co-host of the Color Your Summer series, and just finished up a series of Winter Whites that made this winter seem not quite so bad :). The series included a Gray Day Tulle skirt, combining my tulle skirt tutorial with Cotton & Curls', and the result is fantastic! Delia's flashback is one that I think many of us can relate to, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as me!

This Flashback Friday has come at the perfect time. Instead of just a sewing flashback, I'm going to take you on a little introspective journey of my crafty/sewing blogging history.

You see, in just a couple of weeks I get to celebrate my third blog anniversary. And what an awesome three years it's been. 

This was my very first header :)

But, I have a little secret...

Delia Creates is not my first craft/sewing blog. :)

I'll get to that in a minute though. 

First profile picture

I've always been a creative person. I grew up surrounded by rooms full craft supplies because my mom is a sewist and crafter as well. After getting married, and becoming a stay at home mom, I discovered the craft/sewing blog world and I felt right at home. It wasn't long before I felt like I wanted to start up a blog too. The only thing that was holding me back was my own self doubt. I could hardly stand watching someone open a handmade gift from me. Putting my creativity online for more scrutiny terrified me.

 I switched my header often for a while.

Even though I had a lack of confidence, I have not often lacked in the motivation to try hard things. I bit the bullet and started a blog anyway. I launched it and started posting randomly, getting almost no page views or comments. It would seem like I would feel deflated by this, but at first it was encouraging. I could experiment and share without risking exposing myself to too much criticism. I changed my blog name and address, I think three times? I sort of wished I hung on to "Craft Geek." That was a good one. :) Self doubt finally won me over and after a few months I shut it all down. I convinced myself that I was just being silly thinking that I had anything unique to say or share.

this one is interesting... :)

Then I stuck with this one for maybe a year?

Well, we know how this ends right? I finally silenced that overly critical voice in my head telling me that I was not good enough, and I started fresh with Delia Creates in March 2010. Even then, I had no idea that craft blogging would become a passion, an indispensable part of who I am, a job to help support my family, and a way to connect with the world that pushes me to be my best self.

My very first post.

Blogging has allowed me to connect with other people who have enriched my life and who I hope I have enriched as well. 

It has given me opportunities to grow and stretch myself in ways I never imagined possible. Project Run & Play, for example, pushed me to finally buckle down and really learn to sew more complicated garments; which I now enjoy doing immensely.

I think blogging about our sewing or other creative pursuits can be a very vulnerable process. But in making myself vulnerable, I have learned that more is possible once we let go of doubt or at least not let it govern us.

When I hear that I've inspired someone else to try new things and discover their own excitement and passion for creating a handmade life, it comes full circle. 

My last header before my newest blog redesign.

It's one of the reasons why I do what I do. Life is too short to doubt yourself. It's advice I have to retell myself all the time. When I think about all I would have missed out on if I had given into my own fear, all the successes and disappointments, it helps me shut out that fear even more and get excited for what the next three years have in store. 

Life is good, so live it. And if you sew, sew more. :)

Thanks for having me over Abby!

Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful post with us, Delia! I am in awe that her very first header was so pretty! Nothing that warrants any self doubt, that's for sure :). I hope you all have a fantastic weekend, see you on Monday!

We Did It! Wednesday

Welcome to We Did It! Wednesday!

Here's how We Did It! Wednesday works:

1. Enter a link (specific blog post, not your homepage) using the Linky Tools below to something you made that you want to share. It can be something you sewed, crafted, painted, baked, or anything else 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. 

<center> <a href="http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy351/jdsmit21/SMAbuttonWDIWscissorsbordercopy.jpg" /></a></center>

Flashback Friday: Jess from Craftiness is not Optional

Welcome to Flashback Friday! I can't believe we're already down to the last few flashbacks of this season. I'm not quite sure I'm ready for it to end, I've enjoyed it so much! Today's guest is Jess from Craftiness is not Optional. As the mother of three ADORABLE little girls, Jess amazes me with all that she does, and how she does it all so well!

 

I love that I can often pick Jess' projects out from just a glance on Instagram or Pinterest. I'm not sure what it is, but she has such a great style and always pairs her projects with perfect fabrics. She has a plethera of tutorials, from home decor to children's clothing, to toys. The dresses she makes for her daugthers are always impecible with just the right amount of details added. The Madison Dress and the Penny Dress are two of my favorites. Today she's sharing a fun flashback with us that I know you'll enjoy. Take it away, Jess!

Hi! I'm Jess, from Craftiness is not Optional, and I'm so excited to be here for Flashback Friday.

So...I have been sewing all my life. Now, by all my life, I mean mostly, the last 5 years....stick with me though. My mom did try to teach me off and on throughout my younger years. I'd randomly come home from school/church/Taco Bell in a whirl of energy, determined to make a skirt because...well who knows why teenagers do the things they do? Anyways, I didn't have a lot of patience for it back then but I really wanted to know how. Basically I would watch my mom make it for me, sewing the parts she insisted I sew...and then beg and plead with her to get out of doing the hem. (the worst part in my opinion) I really loved wearing things I "made myself". ha, ha....thanks Mom for all the handmade clothes growing up...I know I did hardly any of the real sewing. Still, it interested me enough to keep sewing like that every so often.

Fast forward a few years....I am now married, and we are finally expecting our first baby, a girl. Nesting had me fully in it's grasp, so I decided to make a blanket for the baby. My sister and I painstakingly shopped for fabric, cut it out, and then made a blanket in the. hardest. way. possible.  I won't even try to explain how we made it. We had no idea what we were doing.

 I even quilted it with tiny stars. I was insane, I'm telling you. (well, and pregnant, but that excuse can get you out of practically anything, right?)

I had been bitten by the sewing bug, and this time, it stuck.



Immersed in sewing baby items for my new baby girl, I became obsessed with making things with my own two hands. Oh, and a sewing machine, of course. This little spot shown above became my haven, my escape, my sanity. (yes all the fabric you see was all the fabric I had...oh my how that has changed...) I have such good memories of this time in my life. It's like I finally found a part of myself that had been missing.

I learned all I could about sewing, soaking up knowledge, trying out tutorial after tutorial online, making my own (kinda pathetic) patterns for softies (that cat had no tail!)...bibs, blankets, baby blocks, quilts, burp cloths. Discovering the world of sewing and craft blogs was the best day of my life. (Aside from getting married, giving birth, yada yada.)

Yet, I kept insisting that sewing clothing was "too hard". (Yeah I know, I'm laughing now too) For some reason I resisted sewing clothes for quite awhile. I'm just a wee bit stubborn. Especially when it comes to fighting with myself. I couldn't win! Oh, but I tried.

 

Eventually one day I said to myself, "Self. You should really try sewing clothing. It can't be as hard as you think it is." Guess what? It was at first. But it was fun, too. So I started sewing clothes for Sadie...little tops and dresses, skirts with raw edges left flapping in the breeze....shorts with absolutely no room in the bum for her diaper. I had huge failures, huge successes. Lots of projects thrown in the trash, and some put on baby to model before she had fully awakened from her nap. Zippers ruined and buttonholes botched.

 But I loved it. Every single second. I couldn't get enough. Still can't.

Thanks again, Jess! We can't get enough of your sewing either :). Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine Wreath Tutorial found HERE

Just wanted to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day! We're keeping it low key around here and not doing anything too exciting. I also may have eaten Joel's Valentine's gift last night, so a trip to the store to replace it is in order :). Hope you all have a great day!

We Did It! Wednesday

Welcome to We Did It! Wednesday! I'm in the middle of two big DIY projects that I'm hoping to have finished this week. The last of the supplies I've been waiting for were delivered yesterday and I'm excited to check a couple things off my list (and maybe be able to park in the garage again :))!

Here's how We Did It! Wednesday works:

1. Enter a link (specific blog post, not your homepage) using the Linky Tools below to something you made that you want to share. It can be something you sewed, crafted, painted, baked, or anything else 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. 

<center> <a href="http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy351/jdsmit21/SMAbuttonWDIWscissorsbordercopy.jpg" /></a></center>

A Few Favorites

Since the Sew Fab ePattern Sale ends tonight, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite projects from around the blogisphere that have been made using patterns included in the pattern bundle, so today that's just what we're doing!

Click on the links to see more pics of each one!

1. Goodship Dress made by Jess from Me Sew Crazy (who also has two of her own patterns in the bundle!)

2. Scirocco Dress made by Liezewiezewoes

3. Banyan shorts made by Girl Like The Sea 

4. Forget Me Knot Dress made by 2 Little Hooligans 

5. Love Your Lunch Box made by Probably Actually 

6. Alex & Anna Winter PJs made by LBG Studio 

7. Ruby Lou Doll made by Everyday Celebrate 

8. Commuter Cowl made by Imagine Gnats

I love that this bundle has such a great variety of patterns. Make sure to get your's before it's too late!

Flashback Friday: Kristin from Skirt As Top

 

Welcome to Flashback Friday! We are in for a serious treat today, with Kristin from skirt as top as our guest. There's so much I could say (all good) about Kristin. She has such a creative mind, and I love seeing the way her projects come to life.

 

Jessica recently shared her flashback with us, and Kristin is the other half behind the Film Petit series. They recently channelled Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and it was so so so great! You must check it out. Okay, and Moonrise Kingdom... And don't forget about Fantastic Mr. Fox. I think that Kristin's flashback is especially special, and am sure you're going to love it! Just don't be a baby like me and cry :).

Late one night, a few months ago, I was sewing, as I often do. Suddenly, I needed a zipper and didn't have the right size in my stash. As a last ditch effort, I decided to look in the saran-wrapped box of notions that my grandma had left me when she died, but I had never opened. It was then that my sewing stopped for the evening, because what I found wasn't a zipper, but a time capsule.
 
My grandma had died in 2010 after living a long and full life. She lost her first husband in WWII and married my grandfather, also a vet, a few years after the War ended. She had five children of her own (including my dad), then decided she wasn't quite done raising kids, so she adopted one more baby. She was always proud to tell everyone how many grandchildren she had (I lost track around 30). A year or so before her death, she told me the birth story of one of my uncles, where she walked to the grocery store and back in full labor. She was a tough lady, a strong woman. She wasn't the most cuddly, sweet, always-have-candy type grandma - she was the grandma you learned botanical plant names from, you had memories of feeding the geese with, who told you stories of world travel.
 
I think women of her era were more self-sufficient. They came of age during the Great Depression, they raised kids while so many of their husbands were at war. They had to know how to cook, sew, knit, crochet, mend, needlepoint, embroider, can and preserve, garden, make more out of less. Skills that a few of us possess today and that many of us are trying to reclaim, they all knew.
 
My grandma could do it all. In her younger days, I'm told she was a prolific seamstress. In her 70s she took oil painting classes, and in her 80s she passed the time by knitting. She knitted a blanket for every great-grandchild at birth, and Em was one of the last to receive one. It's a treasure and Em knows how special it is - she now refers to it as "great grandma's blanket."
  I had to sneak this photo in - she happened to be in the hospital with heart trouble the day Em was born. I never met my great grandparents, so I thought it was so cool that Em got to meet hers.


So anyway, when I was looking for that zipper, I opened the three boxes she had left me - her one grandchild who sews - and was stopped in my tracks. I found her coursework from when she took sewing as a teenager. Tucked inside her "Dressmaking Made Easy" book were graded work samples, smocking, buttonholes, stitch finishes…all sewn by hand. I try to sew in a way that's technically correct, but I'm self-taught. My sewing now is nowhere near the skill level of my grandma at ages 16 and 17.

As I think about it now, I'm guessing she'd likely been sewing since she was a child. Those classes took her to the next level and earned her a degree.  
Tucked in with her coursework, there was a photo of her mother, religious cards, and photos of her, as well as the (handmade) pincushions she used, with pins still in them. Her graduation announcement and certificate were there too.
I'm not sure what lesson I learned that night. I mostly felt in awe of her skill and beauty as a 17-year-old. It made me more sure that sewing is in my blood on both sides of the family, as my mom is also a technically skilled and talented sewist. It made me want to learn more, to build my skills and pass them on to my kids, to continue the legacy of sewing in my family. It made me feel proud that my grandma thought I was deserving of her sewing supplies enough to will them to me. I feel a real responsibility to carry on the tradition. Won't you come visit me over at skirt as top sometime to see what I'm up to? Thanks so much for having me, Abby! This was such a joy.

Thanks again, Kristin! I love the photos of her meticulous work and the other goodies nestled in with her coursework. What a great lady she sounds like!

Go To Shift Dress Pattern Review

 

This was the second pattern I sewed with out of the 18 patterns included in the Sew Fab ePattern Sale (which is now over!), and I'm excited to share it with you today!

 

I had my first glimpse of the Go To Shift Dress when Andrea posted a pic on Instagram of the photo shoot below, and it was instantly on my list to make. The pattern has an amazing size range of 12 months to 12 years, but Lola is still wearing 6-12m dresses, so I'm happy I finally had excuse to make one!

I love that this pattern is a really simple design, but still has some adorable details that make it special. I bought 5 yards of this fabric in the $1 aisle at Walmart about 7 years ago, and somehow I just like it more and more each time I sew with it! Also, somehow I never seem to run out of it ;).

The gathers at the neckline add such a sweet and perfect touch, don't they?

I think my favorite part of the dress has to be the back keyhole and button closure, though. I love when the back of a dress is just as cute as the front!

The shift dress is such a versatile style, too. It can be worn alone, with leggings, or even with a cute ribbon or tie at the waist.

The pattern itself was lovely. The directions were clear and concise, and I was surprised at how quickly the dress came together. I had it done from start to finish in less than a couple of hours, including more than a few interruptions from the three littles.

Andrea is great to include lots of photos to guide you through each step, and breaks things down in a way that makes it really easy to follow. It's a great pattern for even a beginner, and if you've never sewn with bias tape before, this is a great project to teach you a new skill! Bias tape is one of my favorite things to sew with.

Lola has a few more months to grow into this 12 month size, but I still couldn't resist making her try it on and taking some pics.

 

Her brothers were of course more than happy to help out.

 

Lola, on the other hand, may not have been too sure about the whole thing... Probably for good reason, hehe :).

If you have any little girls to sew for, the Go To Shift Dress pattern is a must! You could use the pattern in so many different ways (I'm thinking I need to make a tunic for summer), and I know I'll use this pattern over and over again as Lola grows.

 

You can go HERE to find the Sew Fab ePattern Sale where you'll get 18 fabulous patterns, including this Go To Shift Dress Pattern, for only $24.95! Oh, and make sure you enter the giveaway while you're there - if you win you'll receive $390 worth of prizes! The sale is over! See you tomorrow!