May's Completed Projects and Goals

May was such a productive month for me! I've been working very hard on getting my life (and mind) organized and in order. I will tell you about the book I'm finishing up that has extremely helped me later. Today, I want to wrap up May.

I've been posting throughout the month with completed projects. In review, you can see them here:
My 1st Knit Project
My 2nd Knit Project
The Perfect Shirt
The Jamie Dress
BBQ Apron
Provence Smock Apron
Baby Blanket

I also participated in my sister's May Mystery Stitch and Quilt Along. I've got the top all pieced but I haven't quilted it yet.

I also changed how many custom orders I take per month to just 2. That doesn't sound like very much but with my super busy schedule I think it's just enough. Those spots fill up quickly and I keep the info updated under my 'Shop Here' tab. One custom order, that I'm still working on, is another jean diaper cover wholesale order. I'm making 17… that's a lot! I have no photos of them as they aren't technically completed yet.

My other order was custom changing pad covers. The customer sent me this cute fabric and I love how they turned out. I made 2 of the same fabric.

But before I created those, I made some for our changing table… just to be sure I had my measurements correct. Jameson got one made out of race cars and monster trucks! I also made a portable crib sheet from the same monster truck fabric. I have no photos of it as it's been used and in the laundry. :)

I had a really long goal list for May. I knew I wouldn't get it all done but I got close. One thing that is still in progress are 2 shirts (McCall's pattern). I have them cut out and hanging in my 'ready to sew' sewing room closet. They are on hold while I wait for interfacing to arrive. But before I could cut out those 2 shirts I had to resize the pattern. I taught myself pattern grading and used it in the 'real' world. I took step by step photos so I could add it to my Pattern Drafting Series (someday). I love learning new things!

The only thing I didn't get to and that I'm not too worried about is another knit dishcloth. I have a lot of cotton yarn that I bought on sale that is perfect for those dishcloths. I'll probably add it to my June's goals… which I guess is time to start thinking about!

Thanks for tuning in! I hope June is just as productive for me and for you!

Sewing Saturday: The Jamie Dress

May for me has really been awesome! I've been able to take the time to make myself some things and even squeezed in a few orders.

I have a few more projects to show you but today I want to show off the "Jamie" Dress. I made myself 2 and have already worn them both. I love them so much and I think they were the easiest dresses I've ever made!

girl, disconnected

Awhile ago a good friend of mine, Amy, announced she was going to disconnect (mostly) in the month of June. I love the idea! In fact, I love it so much that I've decided to join her!

I actually sort of see this is an extension of my Unplugged Challenge, only it's now a little more challenging!

The internet and computers have a lot of value in our daily lives and culture. I've found many online friends, even found my sister! I'm able to research our school curriculum and shop around for the best prices. This is especially a plus since we live a good hour from the best school supply store. I am also able to run a home-based business and sell my products online. So, as you can see, I too love the internet.

The problem comes when that is ALL I'm doing. I'm glued to the computer for whatever reason and there are more important things to take care of. I know I'm not as bad as some people but there is always room for improvement.

Amy has set down some specific do's and don'ts and I've been trying to come up with mine too! I think I might borrow a few of hers and add a few of mine.

Do's:

1. I will get online ONLY at nap time. At that time I will check my email (to clean it out & reply to important emails), check in on my businesses (for customer questions and to list or relist items), and write or do research for whatever upcoming blog post I have planned and to schedule said posts.
2. I will use the computer for non-internet related items but try to keep my time limited to the evenings, right before bedtime. I keep our school schedule in an Excel spreadsheet and my daily schedule in Microsoft Outlook and I especially need to review my Outlook daily and print the next days' plan.
3. I will use the internet for shipping but will only do that on Monday's and Friday's (like I already have set up).

Don't:

1. No social networking. I will NOT be on facebook. I don't twitter or whatever so I don't have to worry about that. But not being of facebook will be soooo hard! I do have a blog feed that will automatically post my current blog post to my facebook fanpage but I will not be there.
2. I will not look up patterns, tutorials, recipes, etc. I have a wealth of information ALREADY, it's time I use some of it. (borrowed from Amy)
3. I will not shop online. I probably shop for fabric way too much anyways… it's about time I use some of it.

I am committed, or maybe I need to be committed. Either way this will be a much needed challenge. One which I have been talking about wanting to do forever. I really think Amy sums it up best for me when she writes… "There is so much I want to create, complete, finish. I tend to take on WAY too many tasks, because, well, I don't know. But I do miss the early years after my son was born, before I took up the handmade life, when I just sat, reading a magazine, while he played on the floor....what happened to that? Where did it go?"

So there you have it. We start June 1st.

WISH US LUCK!!!

Wordless Wednesday: My 2nd Knit Project- Ridged Dishcloth

Simple Things in Life: My Iris's

We live in a home that my husband's great grandmother lived it. When she was still alive she planted a ton of iris's. I love them just as much as she did. They are simply pretty and easy to take care of!

Sewing Saturday: Provence Smock Apron

I am really loving May for Me! I've been hard at work again in my sewing room creating another apron for myself.

For this project I'm using another fabric by Anthology fabric line. I also created my own biased binding in teal. I have never seen binding in this color in a store and it went perfectly with my fabric!

Preparing my fabric and pattern and reading the instructions.

Creating the biased binding

Cutting the biased binding

Using my biased binding machine- this thing is so cool!

Sewing on the biased binding

Searching for the perfect buttons

Narrowing down my button choices

Front

Side

Pocket Detail

Back

Back Detail- the straps criss cross and button in placed

Front Detail

Tutorial: Book Binding: Jean Journal Cover

This is another installment of my book binding series. You can learn how to create the pages HERE, create a fabric cover HERE, and learn how to put it all together HERE.


This tutorial is an extension of the fabric cover post and will be short and sweet. Follow the basic instructions laid out in that post to create the chip board pieces and how to apply the cover.

When you Mod Podge the chip board and the jean cover leave a larger gap (about 1/4 inch) between the spine and the book front and back. The jean is thicker and needs more room to close.

I have also added ribbon ties to the inside chip board to hold it closed. Mod Podge a square of scrap fabric on top to hold it in place. You can also add a book mark to the top edge using the same concept.

I wanted my jean journal cover to have a nice hard cover so I applied 6-8 coats of Gloss Mod Podge, letting it dry between coats.

To achieve the high gloss and to also keep the Mod Podge from having a tacky feeling I sprayed the whole cover with a clear acrylic gloss spray. I might have done a couple coats, I can’t remember.

Once my cover was dry (let dry at least 24 hours) I assembled it according to the directions you can find HERE.

Enjoy!