Back to school outfit #1

Today was the first day of school for my two oldest children. Sigh. Summer is over. We went to the community pool 5 times, to the zoo 4 times, to the free morning movie 5 times, to grandma's a bunch, and to the emergency room only once {thank goodness!}. That doesn't sound like a lot now. It sure seems like we were busier than that... probably more things will come to me later.

This is a silly picture that they took as we were going into the zoo one morning. A girl with a big camera tried to make us all stand in front of a green screen but I smiled and stepped aside. As you can see we are all perfectly coordinated in a combination of stripes, florals, polka-dots, and one adorable humpty-dumpty print on Connor. That coordination makes it easier for me to pick my kids out in a crowd. Side note: this picture now stands in a cardboard frame (that it came in) on our piano. Cadie (the youngest) loves to take it down and tell the story of how she sneaked into the giraffe pen when I wasn't looking. Never mind that her siblings are all present or that there is a cheetah there too, the story is always about her sneaking into the giraffe pen and about how easy it is to get away from mom.



You are probably expecting something about sewing here so I will tell you that I stayed up late last night sewing this little number for Chloe's first day. It's a totally new free pattern that Anna Maria Horner designed for Janome and I love it. I started it because it looked really fast and easy, and then I was delighted to see that the pleating detail is more complicated than I first noticed. I absolutely adore the little part that sticks up below the bodice and I'm tempted to try another one and make it stick up a lot more, kind of like a paper-bag effect. Here's a link to the free tutorial.

Last night I took this awful phone pic of the dress on my kitchen floor so I could show off to my invisible fb friends.

Soon after that Chloe stumbled out of her room to get a drink of water (this was at about midnight - yes I am crazy like that) and she was allowed to oooh and aahh just a bit over her new dress before we sent her back to her bed. She feels very lucky that there were no openings for her at the school her brothers now go to. They have to wear uniforms.

Anyway, a few more pictures of our morning madness and then I'm off to try out my new rotary blade...

Happy Back-To-School everyone!

Sewing Tutorial with Pattern: The Classic Romper

We have a new free pattern for you and this one is so darling it's to die for! Do you remember wearing these little rompers back in the 1980's? I do.

The other day Cadie was wearing one and when she put on her jelly shoes and carried around a 'My Little Pony,' I swear she could have been me some 30 years ago.

This particular romper is made with soft and smooth organic cotton from Fabricworm. I love how well this fabric holds up in the wash. When you iron it, it's like new again.

If you've never used a pattern from carolina fair designs before, here's your chance to peek inside and see how easy the pattern piece parts are to print up and put together. Most pdf patterns from carolina fair have only one pattern piece and this one is a perfect example. You won't believe how fast and easy it is to sew something when there's only one pattern piece.

The pattern comes in sizes 12mo. through 6. It works great with wovens and knits.

Click here to open and save The Classic Romper pdf pattern by carolina fair designs.

Announcing Purse Palooza 2012

Hello girls! I am so excited to tell you that I was asked to guest post in the new Purse Palooza. {click here for my guest post and review} This is a fun event taking place in June over at Sew Sweetness to get you sewing a purse for the summer! Not only will we review all of the best purse patterns for you, but the purse you sew might win you a fabulous prize pack!

Here's how it works: 

 1. Every weekday in June, there will be 2 amazing guest bloggers scheduled to share with you a purse sewing pattern review. The review will contain detailed information about what they thought about the sewing pattern, modifications they made, what kind of interfacing they used, and more! Get inspired! 

2. Even more exciting...THERE WILL BE A GIVEAWAY EVERY WEEKDAY IN JUNE! That's right, 20 GIVEAWAYS! Your Giveaway Fairy Godmother is Kim from My Go-Go Life - she has some unbelievable giveaways planned! 3. At the end of the event, you will get a chance to show off your purse in order to win some amazing prizes!

Sara's free tutorial: Caliti Convertible Clutch

Cadie has another swimsuit from me, and the Fabric Fairy is giving away $30 in fabric!

Last month I got this beautiful swimsuit fabric from the Fabric Fairy, and as much as I wanted to make myself a suit with it, I knew I had to test out a free little tutorial that was destined to be featured on SewCanShe.com.

So here it is... I am just thrilled that someone came up with a tutorial for such a darling little suit and posted it for free.

I'm in the Forty Toes Spring Market Giveaway!

Okay everyone... big news!!! Jennifer from Forty Toes Photography (who did those gorgeous pics of my Ruffle Romper) is hosting a humungous giveaway with 84 very talented designers giving away prizes. Yes, even me!!!

Someone is going to walk away with either a darling Ruffle Romper made by me, or a pattern pack with 5 carolina fair designs pdf patterns (winner's choice).

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There's little dresses, leggings, pattern packs, headbands, fabric, rompers, even a fairy door. Eight lucky winners will get a package worth over $475!!!

And if that doesn't excite you, almost all of the designers have provided coupon codes for their shops in case you feel like shopping right now {I provided a 20% off coupon code for carolina fair designs on etsy}.