Stella

Stella is the name of the Patty Young, Modkid Boutique pattern, available here.  I just finished making a sample for my friend's quilt shop.
I like the fact it has a zipper on the top of the bag, a cell phone pocket on the outside, a cute purse strap, purse feet and peltex to make the bag stiff.

Meredith (my friend) picked out the fabric, cute stuff.
I took several pictures, so you can check it all out

McCall's 5525

Description: From pattern: Semi-fitted, lined, double-breasted jacket and coat have collar, lengths and sleeve variations, shoulder pads, princess seams and side front pockets; coats B, D and E have back vent; jackets A, C, coats B, D, E have belt carriers; jacket C, coat E have epaulets with button closure; coat E has pocket flaps with button trim; jacket C, coat E have collar tab; jacket C has front yoke; jacket C, coat E have back buttoned yoke; coats B, E, jacket C have sleeves with button bands; jackets A, C, coats B, D, E have topstitch trim, button closure; jackets A, C and coats D, E have self-tie belt.

Sizing:  8 to 24

Instructions: The instructions were good. You just have to be careful with each step, so many different views and pattern pieces possibilities, easy to miss a step in the instructions

Likes and dislikes: The style of the trench, classic and stylish. Also, there are so many possibilities to really make this coat your own.  I like the topstitching but next time will do 1/4" instead of the 3/8" as per the instructions.  I find it easier to follow the edge of my presser foot.  Plus the 3/8" topstitching seems to be pretty wide, especially when adding buttonholes.

Fabric:  A cotton twill from Joann's, part of the Lisette collection. Here is the collection and here you can see the colors a bit better

Changes: I just made the changes mentioned above. This trench is for my daughter, Erin,  and initially I had cut out the front yoke and back yoke flaps. After working on the coat and thinking about her style, the yoke flaps were just a bit too much for what she likes. I did make the sleeve bands, felt the trench needed the bit of extra design factor. 

Erin picked white buttons, I was thinking black because of the lining.  So happy I went with the white, really makes the trench pop.




lining

Sew it again:  I might sew it again, really enjoyed the process and the end results is wonderful. There is a reason this pattern is a Best Pattern of 2009, great results. Also, it as 36 reviews, so many people are liking it.


Conclusion: A winner, my daughter is thrilled with her coat, I am thrilled with her coat and in my daughter's words "the coat is awesome" Makes it even better for me.

Here is the back but I don't like the picture, the dressform doesn't fill out the shoulders resulting in many wrinkles.

then I added one of my labels

Another Wedding

Dauther #2, Erin, is engaged, very exciting and happy news.

I might be making the flower girl dresses in the early talk of wedding ideas.  The planning has begun and it is so fun.

Silhouette Artwork

My second oldest daughter purchased a house and closed last month.  She has been busy decorating and fixing up.  We used my Silhouette machine to transform some canvases.

The first one uses three canvases and we used this site as inspiration.
Here is our version:

Here is another view:

Then the second one we transformed a plain canvas into this

We used a silhouette design for the middle and then painters tape for the outside. 

Here it is in the office:

On both canvases we did a dry brushing technique for the cream paint, allowing some of the base coat to show through.

Sharing this on Tatertots and Jello

Abby Bag

A new bag for Meredith, made from an e-pattern, available at V and Co.  It is an unstructured  large  tote and is reversible (great feature).  I think I made it in 2 hours, including time to cut out the pieces.  Now Kailtyn wants one, too!

Graduation Bags

High School graduation time here.  In all we were invited to 6 parties (1 guy and 5 girls). For the girls, I made bags.  Here is a couple of pictures:

I made 3 like this bag

College Graduate

Erin graduated from college yesterday with a Bachelors of Science in Education.  Secondary Math Education  We are so proud of her, she finished college in 3 years with a 3.89 GPA.  She has a job in the fall and is very excited for her future.  Congratulations!

McCall's 6282

Pattern Description:  Straight, above mid-knee length lined dresses front high or low cowl, side and back gathers optional back invisible zipper; dress D has unlined, above elbow length sleeves.

Sizing:  8 to 22

Instructions:  Very thorough and informative, this pattern is a Palmer and Pletsch pattern.  They are great teachers and have shared much information in this pattern.

Likes/Dislikes:  I seem to be drawn to draped cowl neck patterns lately.  I thought I would give this one a try.  Plus, thanks to Lynne, I have been using Cabi for inspiration.  The striped top in the middle was my inspiration

picture from Cabi Canary

and here

picture from Cabi Canary

Fabric:  A jersey knit from Gorgeous Fabrics

Changes: well, lots.  I omitted the gathers at the waistline.  I did not line it or use a zipper.

Conclusion:  After completing this garment, I decided this pattern wasn't for me.  There were several other drape patterns I like better.  Then I looked at the pictures and decided maybe this wasn't as bad as I thought.  I like an ITY or rayon knit would be better for the pattern, it drapes nicer

with my Simplicity Cynthia Rowley jacket I made last summer

Meredith in Butterick 5327

Full review here.

Meredith wore this to school last Friday, so of course I had to snap a picture

Chair before and after

My oldest daughter found this chair on Craig's List:

After some spray paint and new fabric and piping it looks like this:

I used this blog post at Censational girl to do the double welt piping.

This chair is going to my flea market booth as soon as there is some room.  Right now it is looking pretty good in my family room.