Thursday, May 29, 2014

Upcoming Anniversary Giveaway #4

It is time for another giveaway which is the fourth giveaway.  There will be two more after this.

This time it is for a lap quilt made from Flea Market Fancy fabric


here is another view


I made this quilt a year ago, and made two of them from this fabric.  I am going to keep one and share the other one.

AND that is not all, included will be this pattern, Fashion in Harmony Wrap Blouse


Now the details, just leave a comment, maybe what your summer sewing plans are.  Or how you manage your sewing time in the summer with so many outdoor activities.  Last day to comment and be eligible for the drawing is June 9th and I will draw on June 10th.


Happy Summer Sewing.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Tribal Maxi Skirt

As I have stated before, Meredith and Kaitlyn are 5'9" and 5'8" respectively.  This makes Meredith taller than me, Kaitlyn the same height (until I start shrinking- ha ha).  A difficulty with being tall, is finding  RTW maxi skirt which is not a midi skirt!

I had planned on using the new McCall's maxi skirt, 6966 but I did not order enough fabric.  I will use that pattern later but for the immediate need for a maxi skirt, I used this tutorial.
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Friday, May 23, 2014

Butterick 5497 In Silk Jersey



I have made this twice before each for Erin - here in navy and in a print here.

Well, it is my turn, right?

I went with this Mood Fabircs' Silk Jersey,which was on special recently.  Love those sales!

I made a couple of changes, I cut the lower section a bit bigger, the silk jersey is thin and I did not want the jersey clinging to my mid-section!

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Paper Cut Patterns Bellatrix Blazer


A few months ago, I ordered

  Paper Cut Patterns' Bellatrix Blazer




and it sat for a bit until I found some fabric.   The fabric found me, a sale email from Mood Fabrics  A lipstick red cotton sateen

Monday, May 19, 2014

Burda 7447 and 6981 using Black and White Italian Cotton Woven

Yes, it is another pair of pants, I just can't help myself. I love this Burda pattern, well this time is is a combination of Burda 7447 and Burda 6981 (using the cut of the legs only).  Truthfully it isn't really the pattern, it is the great fabric at Mood Fabrics, I can find something wonderful all the time.  Take this Italian Cotton Woven

  
 Something about black and white, just draws me in, so classic in nature.
 
 

Friday, May 16, 2014

New Built-in Shelves

Introducing new  upper shelves and a fresh coat of paint on the old golden oak bottom cabinets, once again proving the power of paint.  This project has been going on since February but well worth the wait!





Here is the built-ins before, hubby made the bookshelves and the bottom cabinets are stock cabinets.  You can see how the TV sat in the shelves on the right.  Yes, old style huge TV.
This picture is old, there has been a new wall color, new couches, new chairs and new drapes but this is the only picture I could find of the entire wall.

a close-up of the oak shelving


We took down the corner cabinets and had a cabinet maker build symmetrical shelves and some molding to make the flat screen TV appear built in.


I knew I wanted a white color to paint all cabinets and Paige (my oldest) has had really good luck with Sherwin Williams Pro Alkyd Interior paint on all her woodwork.  Next up was the color, I just did a search for Sherwin William white and came up with Thistlewood Farms' Six of the Best White Paint Colors and went with her choice, Alabaster.

It is mostly white with just a hint of cream.

I cannot express how much I love this whole look.  Eliminating the corner cabinets from our wall of built-ins, just opened up the wall so much.  Then the TV on the wall, gives me back the mantle and I can  decorate that area again - hurray!!

But above all the white color, just adds so much to the room.  My cabinets are now modern and not the dated golden oak.  The amount of brightness in the room is remarkable.

I had the electrician put the plug in for the television a bit high.  This results in the TV up a bit and the wire showing (HDMI cables for dish box, DVD player and wire for the surround sound) , I put some paint on the wires and that helps disguise it.  (oversized this last picture - click on it to see in full view)


Behind the TV is just the wall, but the cabinet maker suggested to paint that area with the Alabaster. It gives the appearance that the back wall is part of the built-ins and custom made.

My cabinet maker friend did a fabulous job and something my husband could not do and partly didn't have any desire to do.  It did take a couple of weeks for me to paint all the cabinets but worth every minute.  I love, love the new look.

In fact, several people at Mother's Day said they never knew the family room was a  light blue, with the white cabinets the blue color really pops.


linking to

Link Party Palooza

and

ign="ce

Say G'Day Saturday




Thursday, May 15, 2014

Me-Made-May - first recap



This is the first year I am participating in
Me-Made-May 2014
and putting my daily outfit on Instagram.  It is just too hard to daily blog about my outfits plus a picture in front of a mirror isn't too exciting

Here is a recap with links to the original blog post
left to right

left to right again

Row 1 - Simplicity 2892  and McCall's 6752
Row 2 - Datura blouse and Renfrew
Lastly - Burda Jacket and renfrew stripe tee from top collage (first repeat)

This is all going pretty good, I do wear jeans quite a bit so more tops would be good in my wardrobe.  I did change it up and wore a skirt to work last Thursday, which was nice and I need to do more often.

Let's see how the next 17 days go and you will see another collage repost at the end of May.

Check over at Mood Sewing Network for a pair of pants I just finished and I LOVE them!




Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Meredith's Bedroom - New Paint


Meredith loves color and girly girl colors.  So I was not surprised when she picked a coral with a hint a pink for her new room color.

The last new paint on her walls was October 2010 and she went with a brown, thought it went with her newly painted furniture.

Kaitlyn helped her with the first coat and I helped with the second coat.



 

It makes a world of difference for her room and it looks so much like her.

The quilt on the bed and the two on the foot of the bed were made by Meredith.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Sewing Room - New Paint

You might think this will be a decorating blog this week, but I spent most of the weekend painting rooms and things at my house.  Which means, I am sharing it with you.

I am starting with the last thing I painted (with the help of Meredith).....my sewing room.

It is a bright green but such a refreshing color

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Winner of Giveaway #3

Here is the winner of the giveaway #3 - the Colette Books

45 entries and here is the random.org results



And number 10 is

Congratulations Shawn - email me with your mailing address and I will get two books on the way to you.


Thank you all for the wonderful comments, I really appreciate your kind words.  Many of you mentioned missing the podcast, I will think about starting again but it will be the fall.  I just love summer too much and can't commit to something for summer.

If you did not win this time, there will be another giveaway next month!




Friday, May 09, 2014

Lynne Inspired Top - Simplicity 1886


As most of you know, I visited Lynne of Wonderfully Made and Ellen J Goods and while I was there Lynne wore a black and white stripe top.  It had this 2" band down the center front with the stripes running the opposite way.



I had a bit of leftover black and white fabric from the sleeves on this top.  The pattern I used was Simplicity 1886 with changes

I folded out the dart, since I was using a knit and I really don't like darts in knits.  Also, added some length.

I pieced the fabric with the band down the front and then cut out the front piece.  I would of liked to run the stripes on my top the opposite way but I had limited fabric.  Speaking of the fabric, it is a 4-way stretch, which helped with this project tremendously.  I had to piece the back to squeak out enough fabric to even cut out the back.




I left this top a bit looser, since the fabric is rayon knit and it seems to cling a bit more.

I will just kick back and enjoy the beautiful day in my new Lynne-inspired top.


************************************

TODAY  is the last day to enter the anniversary #3 giveaway 

Tuesday, May 06, 2014

Day Tripper - Just Add Jeans

I saw these patterns on Instagram, my favorite social media, by the way.  It was the name of pattern group which got me right away, Just Add Jeans from Pattern Anthology.  With my job, jeans are almost a daily part of my wardrobe.



Monday, May 05, 2014

Gingham Archer Shirt

Yes, I am hooked on this pattern but the way I see it..... if it is a good thing don't mess with it.

Heading out with hubby, a trip to Lowe's and a movie (The Other Woman).  Pretty funny, I might add.



Thursday, May 01, 2014

Me Made May 2014 - Is a Go

for me.  I participated last year, a bit unofficially with 3 days a week.  This year I am going for one Me Made item a day

‘I, Lori (girlsinthegarden.blogspot.com), sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May ’14. I endeavour to wear one me-made clothing  each day for the duration of May 2014′


I decided on this when picking out my outfit for the day.  It will be a great way in deciding what I need for garments plus find out what I really wear from my Me-Made items.  I am going to document all of this on Instagram, an easier format, so click the button below to follow me if you want.