Back to School...

...with the Schoolhouse Tunic.

I figured I might as well sew this up.  I cut the pieces way back in June, before the boys were out of school.

It sat around and collected dust while I languished the summer away eating bonbons and laying in the sun carting my boys around to their various activities.

 I sewed it out of lightweight cotton and I made the extra small.

The pattern says to sew 5/8 " seams but next time I might go to 1/2" just to have a bit more ease.

 I have to say that I really am proud of this one.  

Of course, there are mistakes because I misread the pattern, but those will be fixed on the next one.

 I'm thinking a soft, lightweight denim or corduroy.

Add some tights, boots and a long scarf! 

Perfect autumn outfit!

 One modification that I made was to place only one pleat in the center of the skirt rather than have a bit more boxy look with two.

I saw this one and knew that it would work better with my body type.

 So now it's your turn!  Go, buy the pattern and get sewing!

If I can do it, you most certainly can!

Simply Still Day 2

Okay, I know my refrigerator is a stretch for Simply Still Week. Not quite a study in still life photography. But, it was awfully still this morning in our house while I was making the boys' lunches so I thought "what the heck!" Please don't fault me for the food choices I make. We try very hard and the boys are good about eating veggies and fruits.

This material has been calling me to sew it up into another skirt. I'm thinking I might shorten it a bit. When I was trying it on I had my athletic socks on and it just wasn't creating the look I was going for! The color combination is one of my favorites at the moment. I love the look of teal and brown together.

Since it is almost noon and I have procrastinated all of the morning away I better get to some household chores. Spring cleaning is calling me!

Not Standing Still

My list of things to do is growing ever longer with each new project I see out in Internet world. It's so exciting to see all the spring colors popping up on every one's blogs.

I bought new fabric this weekend to make a few more totes. I think cutting out the fabric pieces takes longer than the actual sewing.

I continued to work on my Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery. This lace pattern appeals to me. It's just enough so I don't end up in a confused mess! What is even better is that I'm using yarn from my stash (Schaefer Anne) that I bought many, many years ago. I got it when I first started to knit socks. It has subtle shades of blue and really makes the whole scarf.

I decided to participate in the series Still this week. Hopefully, I can keep up with it. Today's entry is my chair. I love to sit on the front porch early in the morning and drink my coffee. I watch the runners and bikers out for their early morning exercise and slowly the neighborhood comes alive without even knowing that I'm watching. Then the boys get up and all hell breaks loose!

Lastly, this little guy was sitting outside my family room window the other day. He looked cold and confused as the wind and snow swirled around him. We all know the feeling Mr. Sparrow!

New Threads

I love skirts in the summer! Nothing beats throwing on a cotton skirt, flip flops and relaxing! Last summer I couldn't find any skirts that I liked. The mini was back and I am way past my prime for a mini! I've been looking at this pattern for a long time and finally decided to make it. I'm so glad I did. It took about an hour from start to finish and is so easy and comfortable. Many more will be made in the coming weeks!

Last week was a girlfriend's birthday. I whipped up this springy bag as a gift. It didn't come out as planned but still worked well as a gift bag for the daffodils. Again, this bag should be quick to make, but my brain wasn't on correctly that day. I have a few more of these to create. Hopefully, they will go quicker this time!

Yesterday our school district had its second bomb threat of the spring season. The high school and middle school went into lockdown. It's a sad commentary of our times when our school children have to sit in a corner of their classroom, doors and windows locked, anticipating what might come next. I asked my son if he was scared (as he should be). He told me that his legs felt like rubber until his teacher told them that it was another threat. I asked him why that changed things for him and he responded that he was glad that it wasn't a man with a gun. Homeschooling is looking better and better everyday.

He went off to school today grumbling that it better not happen again. He had a project that he wanted to present and the new ocean unit was starting in science.

My lilac is showing signs of life. Spring may just come when we're not looking!

Snow Day #1

Today was the first snow day of the year. We usually have about five so there will be more of these posts. The boys were wicked excited to know they didn't have to go to school...but of course they were up at the normal time and outside playing in the snow at 7:30 AM!!

We were busy most of the day. The boys are creating special presents for all of their relatives so they put some effort towards their projects today. I seemed to be multi-tasking all day.

Early in the morning I made these. The tutorial can be found here. They are super easy to make. I would have made more but I ran out of D-rings. These are going to be gifted to my friends along with something else. Since we all spend our time in the car I thought it would be a good gift.

Next we made peanut butter cookies. These aren't the boys' favorites, but I had a taste for them.

Finally, amidst all the shoveling, I sat down and worked on the alpaca scarf I am making for a gift. It is so soft to knit. Hopefully, the recipient will enjoy it, as she can be a bit picky.

If only my shopping was going as well as the other areas of the holiday season. Just can't seem to get up the energy to finish it.

This and That

I finally finished sewing this vintage apron today. I haven't been sewing in a long while and had the itch. I found a book of vintage apron patterns while perusing a quilt shop not long ago. Not sure if I will wear it but I enjoyed making it.

On a different topic: I went to B/N last Friday night to enjoy the Potter festivities with the boys and stopped again today to finally pick-up the 7th book. I couldn't help but notice ,both times that I was there, the middle school/high school kids that were excited about this book. Granted it is a social phenomena, but these kids are buying the book and hopefully reading it. What gave me bigger pause today were the two young gentleman that were ahead of me in line. They were not together, yet both were buying the Harry book.

I guess as a former teacher and now parent it made me thankful that somewhere, someone instilled a love of reading in these young adults. Be it JK Rowling, parents or teachers is not important. What's important is two young men reading...and not playing sports at the moment.

Twirly Skirt

I first saw this skirt here and then found the tutorial here. This was my first sewing adventure in a long while. Because of that I got some super inexpensive fabric (total cost to make; five bucks including thread) in case I made huge mistakes. I did make a pretty major mistake, but no one can see it but me.

I got tired of just finding slinky sundresses in all the stores. I like to wear cotton skirts in the summer, especially when it gets really warm. I plan on making this skirt again and again. I wore this up to the snobby country club that we belong to(husband is expected to join for work, but is so overworked he has no time to enjoy the place, plus I dislike the whole atmosphere immensely) and got tons of compliments. I just had to laugh at all of them thinking it was some hot, new designer! Joke's on them!

I am in a knitting slump, trying to find something that will interest me. I have been busy reading The Other Boleyn Girl. I am sure that once I finish it up I will be more creative in the knitting department. I am knitting a pair of Jaywalkers and am enjoying the process greatly. Until next time...have a wonderful Sunday evening!