Showing posts with label Sewing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sewing. Show all posts

Friday, May 25, 2012

Painting and sewing and rain

It has been raining all week!!!
View of the rain from our front window, as seen from my sewing table.
Which means inside projects. The first half the week John primered the little bedroom and I worked on a little dress project. It has an embroidered bodice featuring a hand sketched version of Sun Bonnet Sue and a colorful little skirt. The bodice work has taken me most of the week to complete.
I have always loved Sun Bonnet Sue and you know about my passion for gardening! This is inspired by a darling quilt my great grandmother made me when I was a wee one. (c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
I decided to go with a thread tone that would compliment the skirt fabric I chose. (c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012   
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
I love adding all the little accent touches, they are what really make a piece special! (c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012   
I decided that it was silly that every little Sue I had ever seen had white skin, so I chose a beautiful, warm, chocolate tone for my bodice. (c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012   
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
One of my favorite things to add, the flowers!
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012

Missy Cat said I had been working hard enough through the nasty rainy weather that I deserved a break. So I put my embroidery aside long enough to make Short Round and the rest the family a healthy treat. I made two batches of power balls, little healthy energy snacks.
Then it was back to work for me!
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
The chickens wondered what had happened to mom, since they hadn't really seen much of me all week.
But Chewy Dog assured them I was working away inside and would be back out as soon as the weather cleared up.
I just love her little braid! it finishes her off so completely. Very happy with how she turned out. 
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
Bear decided she really liked the fabric I picked!
So much that I had to chase her down to get it back! But in the end it worked out, She helped mom pin pleats and sew the skirt to the bodice. One straight pin at a time.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
I am presently finishing off the bodice edge with a  lovely blanket stitch. I will then turn my attention to the hem line and it shall be complete!

But it hasn't been a week of all sewing. I have painted and baked some as well.
Calzone half fail. Still tasty, but not right. 
I made calzone, which didn't turn out so great due to old yeast and I made lemon cookies which turned out fabulous enough to make up for the calzone and then some!
Yesterday I even took a day off, simply called in sick to life with the blahs. Today I was back to work though, I got a first coat of my base colors on the little bedroom walls.
You can see the original brown ceiling paint through my pink texturing. The ceiling and all of the trim was that deep brown originally. And all the walls were the color that the door presently is.

Bear was really excited about getting her own room! This was the girls' room, but Short Round has moved into the big bedroom now that grandpa is gone and Bear has been waiting in anticipation for a room of her own. She was so excited when dad started primering the walls and mom painted the ceiling. However...
When she woke up from her nap to see I had transformed her room to this... I simply do not have words for the look of horror and disgust that contorted her face. Apparently Bear does not approve of pink walls, no matter how many times mom tells her it is a lovely rose color and it will be assuredly beautiful when it is done. In her defense, it is very pink.
Too bad she can not share my country cottage vision. The two wall shades will have a textured over layer to blend them and tone down the colors. The window will be framed in roses and the ceiling and walls will have a border trim of little flowers and vines when it is all completed.
Not sure if you can see the floral pattern on the blue tile flooring in these photos, but I just love this floor!

I think it will be lovely when it is all done. Let's just hope Bear can bear with me. I think I may even have enough paint left to do the big bedroom as well, though I may end up having to buy a bit more. I keep thinking I would love to paint the walls of the big room teal with a painted white picket fence and roses on the fence. Guess we shall see how the mood strikes me and what my inspirations are when I get to it. I originally was going to paint the big room light mint green and a light lilac or lavender purple, but why buy more paint if I have enough of this one left? Hmmmm, sudden thoughts of a light minty green on the walls and lilacs painted into the corners or framing the window with the painted fence and roses. Ohhh!
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
Anyway, that's been my week. The little dress is almost done! And the weather forecast is supposed to warm up, with clearer skies ahead. Which means back outside to button up the coop and clamp down on our gardening.

Which reminds me, I have much blogging to catch up on in regards to both the coop and the garden!

All photos in this blog are the soul property of Full Knitted Jacket. Please contact me for permission before using any images from my blogs. All product designs, descriptions and images copyright Lae Morae / Adina Higdon and Full Knitted Jacket unless other wise specified. All Rights Reserved.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Down time and more sewing

(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
I have been having technical issues over here. In a nut shell my computer is old, I am not a techi, and it needs some love I can't give.

Yesterday I was completely down all day, and it has been pretty hit and miss all week. I am a few blogs behind in fact. I really wanted to do one on food, with a  recipe or two and catch you guys up on the garden! I have some new garden photos to share with updates on how things are growing.

But it is not all bad. In my down time yesterday I was able to finish up a little green sun dress for Bear, which she loves, since green is her current favorite color! And a little sun top in green and blue. Both sport great bold colors and simple Hawaiian prints. I was able to get pictures of the sun dress yesterday, but the day light slipped away from me before I got the top photographed. Plus by then Bear had been out digging in the garden and was less than sparkling clean.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
So here is the sun dress, with sun top photos to follow soon. Along with images of the finally finished little white sun dress.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
And today? I am working on a very special piece. It will have an embroidered and appliqued bodice with a colorful and likely quilted skirt. We will have to see how the fabric speaks to me as I go along. If all goes well with this one I plan to make a few more. All to go into the shop. They will be a bit slower though as much of the work will be hand sewn, no machine! So updates to follow on that.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
All photos in this blog are the soul property of Full Knitted Jacket. Please contact me for permission before using any images from my blogs. All product designs, descriptions and images copyright Lae Morae / Adina Higdon and Full Knitted Jacket unless other wise specified. All Rights Reserved.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Mother's day sewing and little sun dresses

This is the third little dress I made this weekend.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
Little white cottons apron dress with satin ribbon ties, ruffles, and pink bodice accents. The apron front is pink floral with white lace accents.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
This little dress really is straight from a page in a fairy tale wonder land.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
Be looking for all three of these little dresses I made this weekend to be in my store soon. I have decided to list the two little white ones for sure and likely the little pink one as well. All three are "up-cycled" and one of a kind pieces.

All photos in this blog are the soul property of Full Knitted Jacket. Please contact me for permission before using any images from my blogs. All product designs, descriptions and images copyright Lae Morae / Adina Higdon and Full Knitted Jacket unless other wise specified. All Rights Reserved.

Birthday/ Mother's day weekend

This weekend was my birthday and mother's day. We spent most of the weekend working on the chicken coop. But I did manage to take a few breaks to enjoy myself.

I made homemade cheese blintzes for brunch.
And in the afternoons when it was too hot to work outside int he sun, I came in and sewed some little sun dresses for Bear.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
This is the first little dress I worked on. It is a one of a kind, "up-cycled" sun dress, in a pink floral pattern with white lace accents. It has adjustable straps at the shoulders.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
I haven't decided if I am keeping this one for Bear or listing it in my shop. So if you are interested let me know.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
Then I started this one...
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
But when I tried it on her, she was so in love that she wouldn't let me take it back off to finish the straps.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
Little white cotton, "up-cycled" dress with ruffles, white satin straps and pink accents. Pretty darling I think.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, May 2012
It is another one I am debating adding to my shop. After all white and busy Bear do not necessarily mix...

In total I finished 3 little sun dresses for up in between working outside on the coop. More coop updates to come in another blog. Oh and garden updates!

All photos in this blog are the soul property of Full Knitted Jacket. Please contact me for permission before using any images from my blogs. All product designs, descriptions and images copyright Lae Morae / Adina Higdon and Full Knitted Jacket unless other wise specified. All Rights Reserved.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Ruching your Garments

I have been talking a lot about sewing lately, and have recently mentioned my new found impulse to try ruching some shirts to add a more flattering wardrobe collection.

I found some ruching tutorials and really want to share.
Image courtesy of RushBrooke Strand
Here is a very simple one, cut and dry and a great quick reference.
Image courtesy of Katie's Awesome
Here is a good example of how to use ruching on bodice work... or curtains, or skirts, or really anything!
Image courtesy eHow mom
 Here is an explanation of how to use elastic for ruching, this would be great on knit fabric like a t-shirt.

I hope these might help my fellow inspiring seamstresses. And remember to check out my Facebook page and my Pinetrest boards for inspiration and great patterns. I love sharing my finds as I come across them. So like and follow along to make sure you don't miss out.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Adding to your sewing library...

Yes this is essentially a fiber blog, but I am a polyamours crafter, I mean in my bio it does say I am an artisan of many mediums, right? So while I love my knitting and crochet, I also love sewing, and painting, and gardening and anything else that lets me create and find beauty in the world.

In keeping with this creative fluidity, I would like to share a link to one of my favorite blogs (Sew, Mama, Sew). This blog addresses a wonderful designer and her book of patterns. It seems like it would be a great addition to anyone's pattern library. And what library would be complete if it only held one subject matter? Right? So I encourage you to fill yours with everything you love. Cook books, gardening books, knitting, crochet, sewing, everything beautiful you can think of!

Image courtesy of Natalie Chanin

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Spring sewing

So I know I have mentioned it on my Facebook page, but not sure I have mentioned my new commitment to self sufficient clothing. I have gotten fed up with clothes I hate, both for me and Bear, along with hating supporting the industry that makes them.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, April 2012
So this year I have pledged to myself that I will do what I can to make as much of the clothing me and Bear wear as possible. During the winter that's fairly easy with her, she wears lots of sweaters I make, and I finally made myself some socks this year that I love! But as the season warms this means actually sewing!

So baby steps first, I have decided to take my old sloppy over sized t shirts and use the technique from the last blog I posted to make shirts that are flattering. I also think it would be a great idea to add some ruching! As ruching is so dang flattering! I love all my ruched shirts.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, April 2012
This past week I started my adventure in sewing by making a pinafore for Bear. I used to little pinafores that have been around forever, my older daughter having worn them when she was little. I greatly modified the design and came up with something of my own. Sketching and cutting my own patterns out of paper bags.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, April 2012
While the end result is sweet and charming, it isn't exactly what I want yet. So I will be going back to the drawing board and re designing the idea further. I bought some more material to make her a few more up of varying designs. I also really want to make her some little pantaloons and some long dresses or skirts.
(c) Full Knitted Jacket, April 2012
I also want to thank Sparrow for the great links to some amazing sewing ideas for myself. I can't wait to get some material and start making my own clothes!

SO here are some links for you guys to check out. I love sharing the pattern love!

I just love this ruffle top! This pretty blouse has so many design potentials! And I really love this totally flattering shirt dress, and Cute summer top.

So there you have it, some great sewing ideas. Form turning your sloppy t shirts into sexy mamma shirts, to sewing your own flattering summer tops. And don't for get the wee rug bugs.

If you guys are on Pinterest track me down and follow along on my boards for more great sewing inspiration. I have some adorable patterns pinned for little ones that you can click and buy from the artisans, as well as a great sewing board for big girls too.

As for today I am back to knitting though. Still working on these little lace custom gloves. And I have started a little layette set for my adopted daughters blessing way. I promise the latter will be an utterly adorable surprise!

All photos in this blog are the soul property of Full Knitted Jacket. Please contact me for permission before using any images from my blogs. All product designs, descriptions and images copyright Lae Morae / Adina Higdon and Full Knitted Jacket unless other wise specified. All Rights Reserved.