Nice day for a white wedding...

A friend of mine from high school is getting married on June 4th. She has asked me to be one of the personal attendants. Well, what a great excuse to bust out a sewing machine. I do love a deadline. Since I was taking this weekend to not go anywhere of note (and loved every minute of just sticking around the Minne) I thought I better get myself together and get this dress done. It is a Butterick Pattern (B5319). Below are some of my pictures from the progress!

First part of the bodice done. This was how far I made it on Friday night before I got totally (and willingly) side tracked by a trip to Green Mill for Happy Hour.

Saturday night...after horseback riding and making several fabric store trips with Natalia to find home decor fabric...finally bodice done! Although because the top didn't fit that great ( more like didn't cover that great...the pattern isn't made for someone with my..ummm... natural endowment) so I had to add in some add'l panels which I think turned out great. The picture above doesn't have those panels in.

Sunday night...after more shopping and before I headed to the Schmitz house for an awesome little BBQ...skirt on! The lining isn't in on in this picture and the zipper isn't in, but you get the idea of the shape.

And I found shoes! They look almost more tan in this picture, but trust me, they are orange. They match the dress really well. Not what I was even looking for for the shoes, but I love them.

And finally on Monday after an awesome nap, more fabric shopping and some general relazation...done! I know...I know...crappy picture, but I did what I could. The extra panels are in in the picture and everything is done!!! I'm so excited by how it turned out. I won't be embarrassed to wear it on Saturday...in fact, I think I'll be proud to sport my pumpkin colored party dress. Congrats to Bailey and Randy in advance and good luck on your big day!

looking forward to the long weekend

I am looking forward to the long weekend ahead! I have quite a list of projects I want to get through and I'm praying I can get most of them done!

Here is what's on deck (ordered in number of importance)
1. Dress for Bailey's wedding.
2. Facinator for Bailey's wedding (I've got the royal wedding bug, what can I say)
3. Clean bedroom
4. Plaid work skirt
5. Other work skirt
6. Clean apt

Help me please by crossing your fingers and toes that I make some progress. On top of these projects, I'm also going to go shopping with a friend to get fabric for her projects. Eeeek. The dress has to be done by Thursday pm of next week since the Wedding is on Saturday. If it turns out, it's going to be awesome. If it doesn't, I have to rush to find something else to wear. Time to make my list of what I need to finish my projects so tomorrow after work I can get my supplies!!! Need some lining and a zipper for sure, plus my facinator supplies. I don't love weddings as much as I love trying to make something fabulous for them. What can I say, it's my nature!

Nice 'Stache

A friend of mine wanted to buy some mustache glasses for a friend. My response was, of course, just make them! So that's what we didn. last night...six glasses, six unique 'staches. The picture below shows a lot of clutter (we were still in the thick of finishing up) but you get the idea. Staches all around!

Update Update Update

It's been a bit, but I finally have an update! First things first...I finally found a map for my wall! I've been looking for two years and I'm finally confident that I've found what I want! Now I just have to hang it up and thanks to my dad, I have all the supplies. It's my to do by the weekend project.

Lexi sewed a skirt with my assistance. She was pretty proud of it. Don't mind the mis-matched clothing...this was right after it was done.

I also made a skirt for Peyton and Brin. Here is Brin modeling hers! She has to work on her modeling skills a tad, but she is still so darn cute!

Laptop Sleeve

So I got a new laptop on Friday (very much needed). I was pretty stoked to get it since it wasn't supposed to ship until 3/28! It's an HP dm1z and I love the fact that it's very compact (11.1 inches) and light! I can fit it in my purse...although anyone who has ever met me knows that I heart a big purse! I searched out the Internet for a week to find a sleeve that I could put my new purchase in to take it with me and I just didn't find anything that I was liking that wasn't $50. I decided to just make my own. I did some more Internet scouring to find a pattern and found a few things that I borrowed from to come up with what you see below. I used fat quarters to make a lined case with open sides and a button closure. It wasn't exactly what I had originally envisioned, but I like the result. I might make another one that has actual sides, but for now, we're good. I also used two layers of cotton batting to give it some cushion. Pictures are below!

After I've cut my pieces and folded them over. New sewing yet.

Done and closed up!!!

A view from the top.

Side view. Each side has two sewn in tabs so nothing slides out the side.

My new laptop peeking out.

I do kind of wish I would have purchased an extra few fat quarters to make a little accessories bag, but no big. I have lots of random fabric that I can make something out of.

Yay for accomplishing a project over the weekend! I just found the most adorable pattern ever to make a little bubble dress using a tshirt/onesie and some fabric and I'm thinking that since I have some onesies and extra fabric I might attempt it for a certain friend expecting a little girl at the end of June. Seems like a great shower gift!

Update!

Finally an update! I've been so busy lately that I haven't had much of a chance to post, so here is a picture heavy (yay!) update on the projects I've done lately.

I made matching scarves for Lexi and me and Jocelyn and Peyton. J and P's are the pink ones, L and me went yellow. The idea came from another blog and they're made out of jersey. Super simple and very cute!

I made bachelorette invites for my sister's friend's wedding...
and shower invites.

I made Benson and Andy some pot holders to thank them for putting up with me for a long weekend in Chicago.

I made fresh spring rolls for the first time. Yummo!

I made brownie covered oreos. Google the recipe. It will change your life.

I made walnut baklava. Not as difficult as I would have thought and much more delicious than I could have hoped for. I will be making it again for an upcoming brunch.

I made a color book for little miss Brin to celebrate her 2nd birthday. It's kind of hard to see everything on here, but I'm posting regardless!

And Last but not least, some talent from the rest of the fam. My sister made Brin's birthday cake. It was as yummy as it looks.

And my dad made me this box with my initial on the top. The lock even works! So cool! What a talented family I have. My mom also made Brin a blanket for her birthday. Lucky little girl!

Busy busy busy

I have been so busy lately. I have actually finished quite a few projects, but I've just been to busy to tell anyone on here!

I've made a grand total of 18 pot holders!! 15, 16, 17 and 18 are headed with me to Chicago this weekend as a "thanks-for-letting-me-invade-your-life-for-96-hours" gift for Benson and Andy who I'm going to visit. Can not wait to see them!!!!

I've also made some birthday scarves for my girlies (picture to follow on an upcoming post).

And even though I know there is more...I can't think of it! I'll post pictures soon!