Category Archives: Being Creative

Fostering creativity through sewing and other hobbies

Being Creative, Everything Else

Seersucker for Easter

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I tried 2 new patterns this Easter  Both the tie pattern and the dress pattern were very well written and had step-by-step pictures that would make it simple for even a beginner sewing enthusiast to follow along.

 

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The tie pattern from Butterfly Tree was very simple, however, I thought their pattern instructions were not the most efficient.  I made a second one just with common sense and found it much quicker.  The only change I made to this pattern was to monogram it before stitching together.  Christopher got so many compliments on it.  I’ve been asked if I’ll carry ties in my shop.  I probably will, but not this pattern.  I personally found the tie slightly too narrow for my taste and I didn’t care for the construction instructions.

 

IMG_5744The dress is Emmaline from Violette Threads.  This is a maxi dress with a ruffled, v-neck and ruffle variations along the bottom of the dress.  My big girl choose the red stripe seersucker from the shop stash.  This pattern only runs up to a 10, but it was very simple to grade it up one more size.  Addie chose the single ruffle design, thought the triple ruffle along the bottom would be really cute too!  This dress was surprisingly quick to stitch up.  The dress only took me about 2 hours!  I can’t wait to try more patterns from Violette Threads.  Addie already has her next dress picked out!

 

Being Creative, Everything Else

A denim skirt refashion

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The facts:

  1. I needed wanted a new denim skirt.
  2. I have a straight one that I’m constantly tugging on.
  3. I’m trying not to spend any much money on my closet right now.

The solution: 

    A trip to Goodwill, my scissors, and my sewing machine!

Now, I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t enjoy thrift shopping.  Sure, the prices are great, but I just find it kinda icky to go through someone else’s clothes.  However, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to look.

On first glance through the racks, I found 3 denim skirts that held potential.  One was a straight skirt, in my size, $4.  The second was a mid-calf length straight skirt, in my size, $4. The third was a mid-calf length fuller skirt, in my size, $2. 

Score!  The third skirt fit the bill—cheap enough I could mess it up, not straight so I wouldn’t be tugging on it, and my size.  Here it is:

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Not cute, is it?  Yep, that is an elastic waist band you see.  But, look at those pockets.  This thing had potential!

So, how’d I do it?

1.  Wash the skirt.  Twice.  Told you I have a thing about other people’s clothes.IMG_5290

2.  After pinning up a few lengths and checking it out with a mirror, I decided I needed the skirt to be about 9 inches shorter.  Figuring a 1/2 inch hem, I chopped off about 8 1/2 inches.  Since my skirt had a little curve to the hem, I was careful to measure up 8 1/2 inches from the hem and draw my cutting line.  Just cutting straight across would have cause the skirt to hike up in various places along the hem.IMG_5291

3.  I decided to serge the bottom edge of my skirt.  Just ‘cause I don’t like ravels and such.  If you don’t have a serger and you wanted to finish that raw edge, you could use an overcast stitch along the edge, zig zag along the edge, or just cut it with pinking shears.IMG_5293

4.  I pressed up my hem.  Basically, I folded up 1/4 inch (the width of my serged edge) and then folded it again another 1/4 inch.  I made a narrow hem because the skirt is so full.  Had this been a straight skirt, I probably would have used a deeper (1 to 1 1/2 inch) hem.IMG_5296

5.  I stitched my hem in place with a straight stitch.  I chose to use a yellow thread that matched the top stitching on the rest of the skirt.IMG_5297

6.  All done!  I paired it with some cute flats and a wide belt to hide the elastic waistband. 

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Having now worn it for a day, I can assure you, it was wonderful to not have tug on my skirt all day.  And those pockets—worth every penny of my $2!

 

Being Creative, Everything Else

March in Pictures

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I had planned on entitling this post: My Week in Instagram, but if we’re being honest, it’s really just been my month.  Easter is a very busy time at PersonaliTy Children’s Clothes.

God has blessed my little business and I’m so grateful.  I spend my days sewing (which I love!) and still have a flexible schedule to be where my kids need me to be. 

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Being Creative, Everything Else

My List

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Somedays we need to be deliberate about counting our blessings.  So here goes:

  1. my faith
  2. my Adam
  3. my Addie
  4. my Christopher
  5. my Thomas (and his Mommy and Daddy)
  6. an extra hour of daylight
  7. a garden with growing with peas and broccoli and lettuce and cabbage
  8. cozy quilts
  9. good health
  10. Momma, Daddy, Susan, Sarah, Shawn, Mrs. Anne, Mr. Marvin, Sean, Anne, the boys
  11. my Kureig
  12. dependable vehicles
  13. a dishwasher
  14. an 11-year-old who can make cookies all by herself
  15. those 6 silly stray cats in my backyard that make me giggle
  16. my Bible
  17. nerf guns and legos
  18. Jack, Kate, Lilly, Maycee, and Mrs. Suzy
  19. FB
  20. a freezer full of healthy food
  21. Netflix instant video
  22. my customers
  23. 10 days until Spring Break
  24. flowering fruit trees
  25. wifi at swimming pools
  26. the piano
  27. beautiful fabrics
  28. praise music
  29. bicycles
  30. the chance to work from home and be available for my kids
  31. friends that jump in to help when I need help wrangling the kids
  32. the chance to teach sewing
  33. books.  lots and lots of books.
  34. the History Channel
  35. pearls
  36. rainboots
  37. clean laundry
  38. kids with markers, crayons, and fresh paper
  39. friends who listen
Being Creative, Everything Else

You’re Invited…

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I’ve been blogging for 5 1/2 years.  I started off sharing photos of the kids and sewing projects.  More often than not, it’s just been milestones and day-to-day snippets.  Sometimes, I share what God is doing in my life.  Sometimes, it’s sewing reviews, tidbits, and tips.  Sometimes, it’s cheesy pictures of my garden.  Sometimes, it’s updates about my shop.  Through it all, I’ve just kinda been me.  Yes, I did try to impress on occasion.  Yes, I did mostly share the good stuff over the bad.  But still, I’ve been real—most of the time.

Blogging has changed.  I haven’t.  Much.  And this boggles my mind.  I’ve developed a bout of writer’s block and my mind is full of questions.  What to say?  Who really cares?  (Hi Aunt Jo!  I know you’re watching and enjoying the pictures of the kids!)  Why would I post this cheesy project when there are 780,453 more awesome projects on Pinterest?  What do I want (need) to share?  Why am I blogging?  I’ve wrestled with these questions for a while now.

Enter my word for the year:

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I feel convicted to open my home to others, to be a friend, to cultivate relationships, and to be open, welcoming, and real.  This blog is an extension of me, my home, my life.  It should reflect my personality, my hopes, my beliefs.  So, starting today, that’s what I’m giving you.  The open, welcoming, real me.

You are invited…

to be real with me.

See the ins and outs of our family,

the way we spend our time,

the things that bring us joy.

 Get to know me.

What:  Real Life

When:  Several times a week.

Where:  Here on the blog, on FB, on Twitter, or on Instagram.

No RSVP necessary.  Just stick around!

Being Creative, Everything Else, Gardens

Day 4 of Being Deliberate: Working Outside

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Things you should know:

1.  I don’t like to sweat.

2.  I love fresh vegetables.

3.  Working outside = working in the garden.  (Not mowing or picking up pinecones or…)

 

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I love our little garden.  Sadly, I haven’t done much with it since July.  Something about those 100 degree days just kills my gardening mojo.  We enjoyed our fresh veggies as long as they lasted and then left it neglected.  All of September, I would say I was going to work in the garden, but I just never made it…

 

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So, for today, this 4th day of October, I made the deliberate decision to work outside-no matter the weather, no matter the other things I had to do.   Part 1 of our fall garden has been planted!  Woo hoo!  (Yes, the grass needs mowing, but we’ll leave that to Adam!)  I set out transplants of swiss chard, cabbage, kale, lettuces, and broccolli.

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4 days into this ‘deliberate’ journey, I’ve already learned been reminded of one lesson:  I must prioritize my time.  If I want to work in the yard, then I have to dedicate an hour to do so.  Plus, an hour in the yard means an hour of sewing after the kids are in bed (or 40 minutes if I focus really hard!)  Being deliberate in my decisions means that I must be deliberate with my time!