Butterick winter faves

Hey everyone!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving?

I can honestly say that I am!  Every year I like to take the day before Thanksgiving to do some cooking prep work, such as baking the cornbread for the dressing, and assembling what I need for my various desserts.  Of course this is all usually a big undertaking that takes all of Wednesday, and early rising on Thursday, until Thanksgiving dinner around 3:30 or 4:00.  Well this year I decided that simple is best.  I am still making a wonderful meal, but I won't be investing all of the time into preparation and cooking.  Instead, the hubby and I decided to get a pre-cooked turkey (from Popeye's chicken), frozen desserts that only required either thawing them out or placing them into an oven, and simple sides.

So I am spending today with a smile on my face!  Partly because of the ease of the day, and partly because I know tomorrow will not be hurried and crazy, either.  The only way this year could be better is if I didn't cook at all, and got invited to dinner, but alas, I do love to cook!

Okay, okay, so I didn't post today to talk about Thanksgiving, but I just had to.  If you want to share what you are doing for the holiday, I would LOVE to know!

As many of you may or may not know, Butterick released their winter patterns a week or so ago.  I got around to looking at them today, and there are a few really good ones.

Butterick 5700

This first one is Butterick 5700.  It is a See & Sew, or a easier to sew pattern for a top and dress.  I like the loose fit of the top with the neck gathering (though I hate gathering) and drawstring casing around the waist.

Butterick 5700

Butterick 5711 is also another fave of mine!  It is a petite sized blouse with four different variations.  I think all of the blouses are quite flattering, especially since I do not own many blouses.  I really like the one to the lower right (below) with the tie in front.

Butterick 5711

This next one is a cute top with belt.  It is from the Butterick Fast & Easy series, and my favorite is the orange top.

Butterick 5709

Simply lovely

The last one I noticed is another See & Sew, though it looks a little more complicated upon first glance.  What caught my eye first was the beautiful seafoam color of the outfit, and then the beautiful details:

Butterick 5699

Butterick 5699

I like the appropriately placed darts, and the bias yoke at the waist!

That does it for the Butterick winter collection.  If you want to check out the rest of the collection, you can see it here.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and you find many things in your life to be thankful for!  As for me, I am thankful for each and every one of you, my readers.  I am also thankful for my family, and each day I wake up with breath in my body.  And whether I sew tomorrow, or next year, I am thankful for the ability to creatively express myself!

Stay sew-filled!

Checking back in

Hello everyone!

I know I "disappeared" for about a month, and I am sorry.  My daughter is almost 2 1/2 years old now, and has been having difficulty sleeping at night, after sleeping wonderfully for over a year.  Needless to say, I have been the one suffering.  I was so excited to have three mornings a week of free-time to sew, I didn't account for little things like this that would throw off the whole dynamic.  Now I find myself sleeping on my free-time just so I can function when I pick the kids up!

So things have not been as ideal as I hoped, but I am working on it.  The last place I left off, I had been working on boys' trouser pants for my son.  They are still a UFO, but I am determined to finish them so that I can break this bad habit I started of abandoning sewing projects.

Overall, everything else has been going well.  My son will be turning 5 next month, and he is learning so much at preschool!  He is starting to spell simple words, write his name, and develop his fine motor skills by cutting paper.  My daughter is a bubbly, joyous, fun-loving 2 1/2 year old who is potty-training, and learning to make friends.  She loves to give hugs and kisses, but she also loves to assert her independence!

Here is a picture of them with some homemade Playdough we made recently:

I never knew making playdough could be so much fun, and the kids played with it for an hour!

In other news, do you remember this outfit I made for my friend's first baby boy?

Well, I finally got to see her son in the outfit!!!!  Besides my own children, I have never seen something I have sewn on another person before (let alone a little person).  I was moved to tears!  He just looked so precious!  The colors fit him perfectly, and everyone in our bible study group kept commenting that they thought he was wearing "Carters."  Now that has to be one of the best compliments I've ever received!

I wish I could show you all a picture, but you'll have to trust me that he looked as wonderful as I described.

Lastly, I must say that God is so good!  The reason I say this is because sleep deprivation has a way of making you crazy.  I was going crazy too, because I didn't know when I would ever blog, only because I didn't know when I would get back to sewing.  Well, while away, I continued to receive a few comments from all of you, and even some more followers!!!  So, through you, I was reminded why I love to blog, love to sew, and will continue to hang in there through this transitional time, knowing that you are all hanging in there with me!  Thanks!

Stay sew-filled!

Entrenched in Burda

Good afternoon all!

I hope you are doing better than I am!

Now why did I think I could "whip up" a pair of pants just as quickly as I thought up the idea to sew them?  And why did I think I could tackle a new sewing magazine and there would be smooth sailing?  Sometimes I am an optimist!  Or an idealist?

So you can tell that I am still entrenched in Burda over here.  There are a lot of details to sewing these pants, so I decided to add a trusty resource to my sewing to room to help me when I ran into a snag:

It's a very thorough resource, and I like that it seems like they thought of most everything sewing related and threw it all in here.  This new edition features Simplicity sewing patterns as well.  So, for example, if you are reading the instructions for a fitted blouse, you can use a specific Simplicity pattern, and almost have your own one-on-one lesson.

Alas, there are no Burda patterns included in this book, but I am slowly but surely finding my way with my son's trousers.

That's all for now!  I hope you are having sewing success!

Stay sew-filled!

Hideaway in my sewing room

It's another great week in September!  I finished off some shopping at Joann's on Friday, just as I said in my last post, and I was pleased to get the Burda pattern I mentioned, plus this additional one:

Now all I need to do is find some nice fabrics for my new finds.  I admit that fabric is one thing I don't purchase a lot because I am so darn picky!  I want that perfect find for my pattern, and if I am not convinced that the outcome will be beautiful, I wait until I see something else.  Similarly, I am the same way with clothes shopping.  I can see a lot of nice things, but I will wait until I have the perfect thing for me.  The downside is I do a lot of waiting when I can be more creative with nice pieces I see.  You know, like those bloggers that turn ordinary garments into something extraordinary by the accessories they add or the way in which they wear them.  I need a little more of that talent. = )

Anyhow, I didn't get to trace out the Burda trouser pattern as I hoped on Friday.  I was so excited about being out at Joann's without any little ones that I spent most of my time there, and had to remind myself to go and pick up my kids!  

Nevertheless, today I am dedicating my time to being in my sewing room.  I'm going to relax, bring some munchies, and enjoy the process!

Stay sew-filled!