My Little Dinosaur

After several years of not making costumes, I am back in the costume making business.  A dinosaur for my little guy and I am bias but I think he is the cutest little dinosaur.

I used Simplicity 1767 for the base of the costume, it was in his size.

Simplicity.com

This pattern is just a sleeper with a shorter zipper.  It went together quickly and all I changed was added more elastic to the hood.

These were all cute costumes in this Simplicity 1767 pattern but little guy's mom wanted him to be a dinosaur.  So I used Simplicity 1765, this one was in the larger size range but worked perfectly for the details.

Simplicity.com

I shortened the tail, added spikes to the back of the costume and to the hood and it was really starting to look like a super cute dinosaur.  I just wondered how I was going to attach the tail.  Well, little guy's dad said, you can't attach it, he won't be able to sit in his carseat.  Oh, yes, that is right, so the tail is attached with 3 snaps.

The tail is heavy and does weigh down the bottom of the costume but it still is so cute.

His parents took him to five houses and he performed for everyone.  In fact, he loved crawling in his costume.  Oh, yes, one more addition, I used the breast plate (or whatever you might call it) from the larger pattern for the front.  I am so happy I used this detail, it really adds to the costume.

Now a dinosaur has to be able to walk on the back legs and this little guy can do it ......with some help from his mom

You can see in the above picture, I didn't quite make the tail proportional, it hangs a bit low.  Good thing you only have to be a dinosaur for a couple hours so a low hanging tail isn't too much of a bother!


One thing I know for sure, this cute little face makes this Nana's heart melt.

Hope you had a very Happy Halloween!

Vintage Floral Luxe Sweatshirt

Thanks to Meg's Sew a Luxe Sweatshirt post. I knew this was going to be one of my future projects. I went with the top right fabric, Moods Fabrics' Red and Gray Silk-Cotton fabric
and per Meg's suggestion I went with an ivory ponte

 The pattern was my hardest choice, did I want raglan or did I want drop shoulders? After looking at Meg's post and a magazine page from In-Style magazine, I went with a dropped shoulder, using Burda Style 11/2012 #128 (which can be purchased and downloaded at the Burda Style website).

Luxe Sweatshirt using Burda Style 11/2012 #128

Luxe Sweatshirts seem to be everywhere and they look like a style I would enjoy wearing.  I hunted around for a pattern and went with Burda Style 11/2012 #128, which you can dowload from the Burda Style website.

I wanted to make a muslin for my first try at this, using a small leftover piece from Teal and Black Lacey Brocade shirt back in August.

I only had enough fabric for the front of the luxe sweatshirt and went with black interlock from Joann's for the rest.

Chevron Dolman Sleeve Top

After making myself a dolman top, Meredith spoke right up that she wanted one of these.  She picked this chevron fabric from The Needle Shop, it is such great fabric and I love the big bold chevron.

Now for the tricky part of this photo shoot - Kaitlyn is my model for Meredith's top.  Kaitlyn was home from school and Meredith wasn't.  I really wanted to get pictures taken, so Kaitlyn volunteered.

I made a medium for Meredith and made sure to keep the chevrons level.  I was amazed out nicely the chevrons matched on the side seams.

I love this little freebie top, especially when you use a fabric with lots of punch.  Head to Cation Designs to download this free pattern


Linking this to Tater Tots and Jello's Link Party Palooza

My Weekend and The Chapel Market

It has been a bit since my last post and I thought I would give a bit of a recap on my trip with Paige and The Chapel Market.

We stopped by Clarksville, Tennessee first and bought a couple of things in a cute store called Hodge Podge and it was a great way to start the trip.

I took a picture of these cute swing seats and later saw this same concept in a small table

After a few more shops and a barn sale we called it a night but were up bright and early
First to Nashville to check out Antique Archaeology- Mike from American Pickers,

Paige and I enjoyed checking out all the items in the store but no money was spent there.  We did spend money at The Garage Coffee Company next door.  Amazing coffee house, one table was made from a car lift!


Next stop  Franklin, TN, this is such a beautiful town.  The historic downtown is in pristine condition and was fun to explore the little shops.  I really liked The City Farmhouse and here a sample of some of their displays and goodies.

We were in not a hurry to leave Franklin but still had quite a drive until Montgomery so we hit the road again. One of the best things about traveling with a partner, you don't have to do all the driving!

Saturday, arrived and I made Paige get out of bed bright and early.  I knew the line would be long and they were limiting the number in due to fire codes.  I wanted to be in the group that was toward the front.  We arrived over an hour early for the market

 but it soon proved I was right, the line grew long very quickly.  Paige and I were #10 and #11 in line.
Here I am in an instagram photo

 At about 8:45 some the bloggers and participants in the show would come out and visit.  Many telling us how fabulous all the goodies were inside.  Also, they passed on only 25-50 would be let in at a time, at least to start.  I tell you, this Mom was looking smarter and smarter by the minute.

Right at 9 we went in and headed to Miss Mustard Seed's booth and yes made purchases.  In all we were in there for over an hour with wall-to-wall people.  Several purchases were made and acquaintances made.  I came home with a table from Son of Whale, who is the brother to KariAnne of Thistlewood Farm

Source Son of Whale Etsy shop.

You can read some of the highlights from The Chapel Market at
Thistlewood Farm or The Lettered Cottage or Miss Mustard Seed.  Plus see much better photography from the show.

I just wanted to share with you a bit from my trip and to say it was such fun to bring new treasures home but the best treasure was spending time with my oldest.  We don't get the opportunity to do that very often and I was so blessed to get that chance.


Sewing - yes, I have been doing some of that since coming home.  A new shirt for Meredith and a Luxe Sweatshirt for me.  I took some pictures of the Luxe tonight but it was just too late for good pictures.  I will try again tomorrow.

Halloween with Mod Podge and Stiffy

Halloween is such a fun time for outdoor decorations and I always enjoy making something new for the front porch.  This year I used Mod Podge, a perfect solution for outdoor decoration and I also used Stiffy Fabric Stiffener
You might be asking what is Mod Podge?  Well, Mod Podge is a waterbase sealer, glue and finish that lets you decoupage for the outdoors

It is hard to get a good picture of a window without a reflection so here is a side view:

The two projects I made using Mod Podge were the window and the BAT letters

Let's start with the window:
You will need:

• Mod Podge
• an old window
• black cardstock
• silver paint
• paint brush
• foam bats
• Folk Art Paint - black

Step one - trace out the tree on black cardstock

Step two - Cut out the tree, arrange on window, make adjustments if necessary

Step Three- Add silver paint for definition and interest.  I painted on some lines for the trunk and added a knothole or two.

Here is all the silver paint on the cardstock

Step Four - Apply Mod Podge to the cardstock making sure you go past the edges a bit, you want to seal the cardstock from the elements and Mod Podge will do an excellent job for this.  After it was completely tried, I scraped off any excess from the window, leaving just a bit past the edges.

Step Five - More embellishment, I used these great papers for the grass on the window. I cut out a grass shape and then applied it to the bottom of the window just like I did with the black cardstock.

Step Six - Add foam bats, my bats were not quite as black as the cardstock, so I painted them with a coat of black Folk Art paint.

Next project with the Mod Podge is the BAT letters, you will need

• Mod Podge
• paint brush
• assorted scrapbook paper
• black paint
• wooden letters

Step One - Paint the background of the letters

Step Two -  Apply paper, I creased the edges of the paper so I knew where to cut.  Apply Mod Podge to the back of the paper and put on the wooden letters

Step Three - Completely seal all the papers with a coat of Mod Podge

Step Four -  Sand the edges of the letters, distress with a bit of ink or stain

Step Five - I added a bit of burlap for a bow and a button

My final project for Halloween was the bow and you will need

• Stiffy
• burlap fabric (I bought this on the roll)
• foam bat
• wire
• paint brush

Step One - I painted the Stiffy on the burlap and let dry.

Step Two - Make into a bow, wire, hot glue on a foam bat and attach to window

That is all the elements for my Mod Podge and Stiffy Halloween projects.  To find more ideas head over to Plaid's Facebook page or follow Plaid on Pinterest for inspiration.

This post was sponsored by Mod Podge by Plaid Crafts as part of a Blueprint Social Campaign.


Check out these projects from other bloggers:

Leopard Coat - Vogue 8884

I knew my fall wardrobe needed something big and leopard,  finding just the right fabric was easy  while shopping at Moods Fabrics' Italian Leopard-Print Stretch Cotton Canvas, I just put in leopard into the search box and ta-da up popped this fabulous fabric

 The pattern was an easy on for me to pick,  Vogue 8884, which I had made for a spring coat back on this Mood Sewing Network post.  I used the same construction techniques from the spring coat and knew the fit was good.  That is such a benefit when using a pattern again. I have read on the internet that "leopard is the new neutral"  and I thoroughly agree with this.

Road Trip

On Thursday, Paige and I are heading on a road trip!!  We are going to The Lettered Cottage's The Chapel

Our plans include lots of stops at antique stores, flea markets, vintage shops.

So if you know of any good places between Nashville and Montgomery, let me know.

If you follow me on Instagram, I will be posting pictures along the way.

Also, head over Mood Sewing Network

Weekend Sewing and Plans this Week

I worked on a luxe sweatshirt yesterday, using this Burda Style pattern  with a few changes

I am using a piece of leftover fabric from this top

I only had enough for the front only, here is the neckline.  I used interlock for the rest.

Just a quick picture on my dressform

I did several adjustments, narrowed the sleeve, took it in at the middle,.and took some in on the shoulders.  This was just a test run for some other fabric.   It turned out okay and the next one will be better.  It is a bit tricky with this type of garment and fabric.  Using the non-stretch fabric for the front and back will eliminate it from being too fitted.  I do like the look of this one with the set on sleeves and I also like the look of a raglan sleeve.  Take a look at Lynne's luxe sweatshirt, love it, too.

Next up on the sewing table, a Halloween costume for the little guy

It has been several years since I have made costumes, but it will be fun to make one again.  He is going to be a dinosaur, so I have to combine two patterns - Simplicity 1767 for the costume and Simplicity 1765 for the tail and  spikes.

It will be fun to see how he likes wearing his costume and the dressing up process.  

I have a funny story to share about Meredith, she was probably 2-3/4 years old and had on her costume.  We loaded everyone up into the van and headed to a neighbor's house.  The girls always received a huge bag of treats from this neighbor.  Well, Meredith wasn't really sure what this was all about and didn't want to walk to the door.  After much coaxing from Paige and Erin, she headed up with them.  Kaitlyn was just happy to follow along.  After getting their treats, Meredith was the first one back to the van.  She walked up between the seats, grabbed her daddy's shirt and said, "Drive Daddy, more candy!"  It was the funniest thing.  

Tomorrow at Mood Sewing Network will be my leopard coat.

Leopard Coat in Progress- Vogue 8884

On Sunday, I started my next project, which I mentioned in my Fall sewing plans post - a leopard coat.

The fabric is from Mood Fabrics and it is an Italian stretch canvas

And the pattern is Vogue 8884

I have made this before in a Spring coat

I am using the same construction techniques from the spring coat and it sure goes more quickly when you have this all blogged and I just follow right along!

I am hoping to have this finished before Saturday, which Parent's Day at Meredith's university.  

Take a look at all the leopard coats on Pinterest

Wool Brocade Skirt and Knit Pleated top

My plans for the gorgeous Mood Fabric's Cranberry and Blue Wool Brocade 


 was twofold and not to be worn together, first a skirt and then  jacket to be worn with the floral tie shirt from my last Mood Sewing Network.  If you are saying, what, the floral?  I am saying, yes,it looked really good together, at least draped on my dressform.  Well, that fabric combination isn't going to happen because, my blazer just didn't work out and is going to become a sleeveless blazer (posted yesterday).


 That little speed bump in my sewing room didn't stop me, I went right to work on McCall's 6038, a fitted skirt.    This is my TNT skirt pattern and I really like how it looks and feels on.