What happened to October?

I'm still stalled in October and it's already the middle of November??? Accck! The dreaded swine flu hit our house about a week before Halloween and I'm still playing catch-up. So before December hits, here's a look at our Halloween costumes from this year - I was really much to sick to pay much attention - thankfully the kids were able to get themselves ready and dear hubby was there to chauffeur them around. Luckily the costumes were done well before the pig and his friends showed up - or else they would've been trick-or-treating in their PJs or something.



Pippi's dress is in fact a Farbenmix VIDA done in a solid corduroy and embellished with patches and fake 'darned' holes. I have to say this is the easiest hemline I've ever done - just shredded the thing. The pocket was added later because, apparently, Pippi has to carry a monkey along with her everywhere. Umm okaaaay Pippi. Said monkey also needed a hat, shirt and tie - sigh - so the shirt was cobbled together using this handy doll shirt tute from thingsofcloth, and enlarged just a bit until I thought it would fit the monkey. I think at this point I was already a bit feverish because it took a couple tries to get the shirt the right size.

Dear Daughter and Hubby pitched in and finished up the hat with felt applied over a straw hat - I think - must've already checked-out at this point.


The nearly-headless reaper dude (err whatever that was supposed to be) was achieved using this handy dandy cape tute. Thank-you Vegbee! Enlarged just a bit because my son wanted it full-length and I didn't curve the hood piece because I knew he wanted it pointy - you know like a nearly-headless reaper dude should be - err yeah.

And there you have it - Halloween 2009. Phew. Ok now I'm a little behind, because I really wanted to have a few more things done before Christmas sewing set in. Oh well, it'll get done one way or the other. Or not ~ I refuse to stress over it because sewing is supposed to be fun.

'til next time, happy sewing!

The season for giving thanks

Yup, it's that time of year. Thanksgiving approaches, the holidays fall swiftly thereafter. The thing I love most about this time of year is the assembly of family and the sharing of fun things, like baking cookies together with the kids, enjoying the fall colors, doing family activities and other celebratory events with friends. More often than not the last few years, it seems that life gets busier and busier and I'm always caught breathless with the sheer number of things that dot my to-do to list. So this year I have resolved to enjoy more, take on less and especially to be thankful for what I've got. So it's pretty timely that Mary (Flourishes) posted the thankful for 30 pledge. Apparently I'm not the only one who feels this way. Feel free to join if you like.

I'm certainly thankful for the sewing knowledge passed on to me from my Mother. She has enabled me to make all these fine things and to have fun doing it at the same time.

Some newer finished projects:

Olivia pattern from Farbenmix - comfy and warm for fall.
The cute little birdies are Luiza Pimpinella's designs from Huups - I swear if it was made in Europe I will probably love it! Must be my Austrian genes kicking in or something. These ethnic-inspired little birds just appeal to me and my daughter loved them. Ribbon is from Farbenmix - nice quality stuff to if I do say so myself. Can be had from lots of US-based online vendors if you want to hunt some down. Some more examples of this fun ribbon can be found here and here in Sarah's photos.

Back of the dress - I modified the hoody pattern - it calls for a fun spiral, but I knew my little sophisticate wouldn't go for that plus I could see every kid in her classroom pulling on that thing all day-long. Kids will be kids afterall.


Next up is the Roxy dress which was supposed to be finished in time for school, but hey better late than never, right? I had been itching to do something with Sandi Henderson's Farmer's market fabric for quite some time. This little dress was just the thing that it was whispering in my ear.


The sleeves call for elastic so i used a ruffle edged elastic sewn in so that the ruffle shows and added on the velvet ribbons for trim.
Applique design is from the Helen's friends set at Huups. - yeah there's that Euro thing again. I still need to make some matching leggings to finish up the set.