Clothespin Bag Tutorial and Pattern

In the vein of my post last week about line-dried laundry, I thought I would share with you a pattern/tutorial for an easy, quick clothespin bag. This bag can be whipped up in about 30 minutes and is a great project for a beginning seamstress, whether she be 8 or 48 ;)
Enjoy and let me know what you think of it. If you have any questions feel free to ask me.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

And here we are in 2013!

      The holidays are over and we are getting back into a more normal routine. My husband went back to work yesterday and after having him all to myself for two 4-day weekends in a row, I’m feeling a little lost and not sure what to do with myself.

   I’ve been busy decorating and put up curtains last week with Jacob’s help. We’ve been married almost two years and I finally hung our first set of curtains. When we lived in the apartment I never found anything I liked (pre-made curtains or fabric) so I just didn’t do curtains. In our new house however, that would not be acceptable. I finally found some that I liked at Hobby Lobby for the living room and I’m working on one room at a time.

I still need to get some sheer panels to go behind the curtains and you can see the Christmas tree, bare and waiting to be taken down, on the left side ;)

While I’ve been getting “my spaces” how I want them, Jacob has been doing the same with his domain—the garage. He took advantage of the four day weekends he had during the holidays to work in his garage and build a work bench. I took a few photos, but didn’t get one of the end result.

The first thing he did was build a work bench. He enjoyed himself so much that he didn’t come to bed until the wee hours of the morning.

He finally has a place to do all of the carpentry projects he’s been missing the last two years. I’m hoping for some bookshelves now ;)

In baby news: Morning sickness hasn’t reared its ugly head in almost a month. Thank the Lord for helping me to survive until the second trimester! I was able to enjoy the holidays to the fullest. I am enjoying getting things done again, though I do tire easily and have to take breaks often.

Three weeks ago I felt the first little kick and everyday since then, Little Bit has been letting me know that it’s really in there! It is a very active little person with it’s favorite playtime hours being right when I’m trying to go to sleep. Jacob still hasn’t felt the baby kick yet but hopefully he will soon.

In a few weeks we’ll find out if our firstborn is a boy or girl. I can’t wait to find out so we can stop calling the baby “It” and start calling it by its name. Despite the many predictions that I would have twins, there is only one baby in there ;) I’ve seen for myself.

The 14 1/2 week bump photo. Jacob caught me off guard and talking. We were on yet another trip to Lowe’s for stuff for the garage.

This year is going to be our biggest yet and full of changes. I can’t wait to see what all the Lord has in store for 2013!

Busy busy busy

I’ve busy making and putting new things in my shop lately. Here’s a peak into what I’ve been up to. Stop by shop to see what else is there ;)

Crazy colored scarf ;)

Very ruffly, frilly jacket.

Houndstooth jacket with huge flower ;)

Bridesmaid dress project—final photos ;)

Here they are!!!!!

Busy little bee..

Sometime soon my life is going to slow back down enough for me to here more.
I have missed writing as much as I normally do and regretted not being able to host the Sewing Bee the last two weeks. I'm coming down to the last few days of the dress project--hurray!
In other news, my Etsy shop had its first international order last week. I'll be shipping a dress to Edinburgh today. It maybe my one and only international shipment though. It is a lot of trouble with the customs forms, etc., and trying to figure up shipping costs.
Anyway, I'll be back as soon as I can--with lots of new posts. While I'm sitting at the sewing machine all day I've been coming up with lots of new ideas for posts. Stay tuned!

Til later,
Rebecca

Ruffles, ruffles, ruffles everywhere!

Here’s a quick update on my latest sewing project:

Five of these froufy things are what have been keeping me busy and unable to blog much. I am pleased with how they are turning and thankfully, so is the bride! There will be one more ruffle added at the bottom, and 3/4 length sleeves and sashes are still to come.

Sewing Bee #4: Busy Busy Busy

Well, what happened yesterday? There was no Sewing Bee post! The truth is that I have been too busy actually sewing to write a post about sewing. (Imagine that!)

I am working on a five bridesmaids’ dress order for a wedding in one month, so I’ve been very busy and haven’t really had slow or quiet moment since we moved home. I’m having to combine/create a pattern for the look the bride wants, and it has been challenging, but very fun and I’m excited about the results.

Here is the dress the bride loved, but wanted to make it modest without having to buy jackets or shrug. I knew that making the bodice and adding sleeves would be very simple, but the skirt would be another story. I have done flounces/ruffles like that before, but never that large or to that scale. On the right is the sketch I made based on what she told me she wanted.

The dresses are made from black satin, with pink sashes for four of the girls, and an ivory sash for the Matron of Honor.

I ended up combining and modifying two patterns: Simplicity 2648 and Burda 7370.

I used the bodice from the Simplicity pattern—making the neck square instead of round or sweetheart—and I’m using the skirt from the Burda pattern, view A. I’m having to lengthen the skirt and increase the number of flounces to seven instead of three. I’ll also be adding a 3/4 length sleeve from a pattern I already have.

Here are some photos of the practice skirt :

And here is one of the dress linings, all ready for the first fitting. I couldn’t wait to see how the ruffles would look so I pinned one on for a sneak peak. I can’t wait til they are finished!

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Here are a few ideas for posts for our sewing bee:

• Tutorials: these can be for anything from how to put in a zipper to how to make your own pattern. These can be for clothing and accessories, for things for your home (curtains, tablecloths, bedspreads, throw pillows) or how to fix and repair things.
• Resources: websites and companies where you have purchased patterns, supplies and materials. Give us a review of different ones.
• Book Reviews: There are scores of sewing books out there and it is always nice to read a review about one from a lady who has used it.
• Favorite Patterns
• Also, if you know of a great tutorial online, share the link here
• In short, anything you’d like to share!

Guidelines for sharing in the Sewing Bee:

• Join by using the link widget below. Submit your link and it will show up in the list at the bottom.
• Grab a button from the sidebar to the right and place it in your Sewing Bee post. (If for some reason you are unable to get the button, please place a link back to this) This is so others can join in the fun too!
• If you do not have a blog but would like to share something for the Sewing Bee, write it, email it to me (withallofthyheart@gmail.com) and I’ll post it as a guest post. (Be sure and send a photo of yourself too!)
• As a courtesy to others, please make sure all of the posts submitted here are God-honoring. Keep it classy ladies ;)

Submit your Link Below:

I have something to add…

to my last post. I failed to post a picture of the headbands I made! Here is a picture of the blue one—I made a brown one as well, but didn’t take a photo of it.

  Tutorial coming soon!

My current projects

I’ve been working on a few things for myself lately. My favorite so far is this grey, vintage inspired dress I made using Simplicity pattern #2053.

I’ve also been on a flower-making craze.

I ended up making two headbands and the flower pin below, and my little sister has already asked for a headband to match one of her outfits. I’m considering making them available from my Etsy store, and possibly a tutorial, if there’s an interest for one ;)

Busy, busy, busy--that's me!

So, what do you think of the new look? :) Comment and let me know! Thanks to ShabbyBlogs for the new look.
I've been so busy lately--life seems like it's been crazy the last few weeks. So other than laundry and giving the blog a facelift, what have I been up to?
 Our church choir has been busy practicing for a conference this week--that has taken up several evenings.
Jacob's cousin had her baby girl---she is sooo precious! I'm so excited because we get to be Aunt Bec and Uncle Jacob to her.
  My crafting side has really been showing the last few weeks, probably caused by my steady diet of DIY and crafting blogs.
They say pictures are worth a thousand words so here are a few of my life (in projects ;) ) lately.

This is one of the headbands we made at our Keepers of the Faith meeting. The girls did really well, and I think I am the only one that came away with any serious hot glue burns.

My most recent craze: fabric flowers. I love them! I like to put a pin on the back and wear them on my shirts. One of the ladies at church saw one I'd made and wanted one. They are so much fun to make. Maybe a tutorial in the future....

And I've almost finished another pineapple doily. I think they are beginning to become an addiction for me. My mom once remarked that they had the same effect on her, so maybe I'm not too badly off ;)

Last week I started a wedding project. I'll be making the bridesmaids' dresses from this pattern, using view B. The fabric they chose is lovely! Three of them will be latte' colored crepe back satin with chocolate brown belts and flowers, and the other (the matron of honor's dress) will be solid chocolate brown.
 I made a practice dress in my size out of some black and cream checkered suiting and it is adorable! I love the way it fits. I can't wait to see how the bridesmaids' dresses turn out :) Here are some pictures of what I've been doing:

Luscious, creamy, dreamy folds of crepe back satin....ahhhhhh

A bodice ready for the first fitting

Now I have to get back to the real world  and sew--not just talk about sewing. I need to make plans for supper and start another (!) load of laundry.  I think I hear a cup of coffee calling my name :) It must be the latte' colored fabric making me want some.

Doilies Day 3: My Current Favorite Pattern

This is currently my  favorite doily pattern. It is beautiful and works up fast and easy. Click on the picture to download the PDF file.

Heirloom Crochet Patterns

 I love crochet doilies. For as long as I can remember we have always had beautiful doilies, made by my mother, decorating our home. Now that I have a home of my own, I still love using doilies. They add a bit of old-fashioned, winsome charm to a room.
My mother found an old crochet patterns book at a Goodwill store for me when I was in my teens and I loved (and still do!) to look through it at all the old, beautiful patterns for doilies. I recently discovered that someone had taken the time to type many of them up and made them available online--for FREE. The website is Free Vintage Crochet. The ones from the book I have are listed by number ( for example: Number 7318).
Up until this year, I've never really tried my hand at doilies. I've crocheted since I was very young, but could never get the hang of small thread. Worsted and baby weight yarn were more my cup of tea. Now that I have more time on my hands I've gotten brave and decided to conquer my timidity towards small thread. I practiced with some small tablecloth motifs for a little bit, then summoned up my courage and attempted a pineapple doily. Now I'm in love!

 This is the doily pattern I used. I didn't make it an oval--I just made the six pineapples and didn't make the last two. It was much easier than I thought and so rewarding when I finished it.

  This is another really neat website with lots of free crochet patterns--many available in a free PDF format.

Heirloom Crochet  

 Have fun and enjoy browsing through the patterns!

Adventures in Smocking 2

My path towards better smocking became much, much easier this week. A lady from my church loaned me her pleating machine. Up until now I've been pleating everything by hand. That would take me hours, literally, to do one dress front to get it ready to embroider. My hands felt like they were about to fall off. :) Some of the pleats would be uneven and imperfect and it was difficult to make the embroidery look neat.
   All that is past me now.  With the pleater it only takes me about 10 minutes to do what normally take several hours. Below are some photos of projects I have going and some pictures of the amazing pleating machine.

 Newborn dress. Pleated by hand.

 Size 6 dress pleated by hand. Still in progress.

 The amazing, wonderful pleating machine, all threaded up and ready to go.

 Perfect pleats.

 All ready to smock.

 Finished :)

Close up detail of smocking.

Adventures in Smocking

Recently I decided I would teach myself to smock. Having embroidered for many years I thought it would be easy. I wasn't disappointed :)
Below are two photos of a little girl's dress I am working on. Enjoy!

Close up of smocking on the front bodice.