Victory!!!

I did it, I really did! Sewing with the laminated cotton wasn't exactly a walk in the park but was much easier than I anticipated. I was able to use the regular needle on my machine and really didn't make any adjustments at all. My dear Bernina handled it quite well. The only advice I would give is that you have to pin, pin, pin because it doesn't "ease" well. And obviously it can't be ironed so that took some getting used to since I like to press like crazy!

It was fun to choose fabrics, I was inspired by the book and the author's saying "Fabrics that do not "match" match when they are sewn together." I pulled a little Amy and then added some Anna and threw in some fun trims.

The jacket is lined with flannel which worked out well because I felt like I could try the pattern on the lining and then repeat it on the laminate. Basically it was like making two jackets. Lots and lots of topstitching for sure!

I'll leave you with a ton of photos cause I'm just a little bit..... who am I kidding, flipping happy about the way it turned out! And so is the middle daughter :)

Thanks Emma, I would have never attempted it without your faith in me!

Stretching my sewing skills!!

Happy Mother's Day!! I hope you got as smothered as I did with love and handmade goodies! Not sure what is better, the handmade gifts made at school or the excitement of the child giving it. Our first grader came home Friday barely containing her excitement and had to hurry and hide her gift for me until Sunday.
So, so cute!!

Next up, it's already day 2 of the Kids Clothes Week Challenge! I stumbled upon this website last week just in time to sign up. No big rules, just sew for an hour every day this week. I can do that :) She has a ton of great tutorials too so be sure to check it out. My only fear is the project that I'm working on might take the whole week! It all started with this book~

It arrived in the mail and we gushed over all the pretty clothes and I put it on the stack with all my other books.
It didn't stay there long.
The following conversation took place next

middle daughter ~ Mom
me ~ yes dear
middle daughter ~ what are you going to do with all those rolls of fabric, you know the ones with that coating on them?
me ~ you mean the laminated cottons?
middle daughter ~ yes, that's it...are you just going to sell it all and not make anything with it??
me ~ (uh oh, she actually wants me to sew with that stuff??)  um, well maybe I'll make some placemats.
( Yes, nice rectangular placemats)
middle daughter~ you know I need a new rain coat? and that new book you got has a perfect patten in it.
me ~ ***gulp***

First she wants me to sew with fabric that is coated with plastic. Yikes.
Then she wants me to use a European pattern that I have to add on the seam allowances to all the pattern pieces. And the directions are, well let's just say they don't walk you through every step like Patty does. Wow.
And did I mention that the pattern has a collar not a hood and that just won't do.
Just put a hood on it she tells me.
I'm in trouble.
This
will be a challenge.

Winner Winner What's for Dinner?

Hi everyone,
Sorry for keeping you on the edge of your seats there waiting to hear who won!! You guys totally rocked my sale, thank you, thank you! I have a whole wall of empty shelves just waiting for new stuff :)

I checked in with the random number generator and the number picked was #100. So Laura, you are our winner and I'll be contacting you shortly.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to leave a comment and for all the kind words and yummy dinner ideas! You're the best!!

xoxo
Ruth

Spring Cleaning SALE and a GIVEAWAY

April 14 update~ Sale has ended, you can still enter a comment though for the giveaway. I'll be choosing a winner later today or tomorrow. Thanks everyone!
xo
Ruth

Time for a sale, time to clean off the shelves and make room for the great new collections due to come out at Spring Quilt Market! Time to stock up for your Mothers Day and summer sewing projects!

Everything in my shop is 20% off.
E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.
Fabric, patterns, kits, even sale and clearance items!
Since it would take me a gazillion years to go in and mark down every item, this can work 2 ways:

1. Go ahead and check out and you will be refunded for your discount and any shipping overages when I print out your shipping label.

2. Send me a convo (Etsy email) at my shop with what you would like to purchase and I will set up a listing for you with the correct prices.

Sale ends on April 13th at midnight.

Now for the GIVEAWAY part of this post :)

~ You have one chance to win just by leaving a comment on this post. It could be anything... what you like in my shop.... what you're having for dinner (always looking for new ideas :).... how cute my kids are ;).... whatever you feel like telling me....
~ You can enter another comment for another chance to win by mentioning my sale on your blog or Twitter or Facebook. Whatever, just help spread the word!
~ You can enter another comment for yet another chance to win by making a purchase during my sale, just come back and leave a comment that you did.

And now for the prize! The winner will be chosen shortly after the sale ends and will receive:

~ The Smarty Girl Bag sewing pattern by Heather Bailey
~ All of the Nicey Jane fabric needed to make the purse on the front cover and
~ A $25.00 gift card for my shop to use on anything you would like :)

Good luck everyone and Happy Shopping/Sewing!!
xo
Ruth

yesterday and Today

yesterday ~ I thought about how I should start exercising and knock off eating all the Easter left overs...
Today ~ I walked two miles, did arm exercises, and 42 jumping jacks.

yesterday ~ I ate three servings of Special K for breakfast and two sugar cookies for lunch...
Today ~ I had one serving, yes even measured it to see what the heck one serving looked like and took the time to slice some fresh strawberries on top.


yesterday ~ I felt sluggish and tired and was in the "less I do the more tired I am" rut...
Today ~ I am filled with energy.

yesterday ~ I was too busy feeling tired to pray.
Today ~ I prayed the Rosary as I walked and am filled with hope.

yesterday ~ I got out my shorts and my favorite pair doesn't. quite. fit.
Today ~ I'm telling you that they will fit by Memorial Day. So that you can remind me. And demand a photo of me in. those. shorts. on Memorial Day. Demand it I tell you!

Are you in a rut? Get up, get out, get moving with me!! It feels great!

Happy Easter!!

Hi all!
Absence makes the heart grow fonder right?? It's been a while, I know...
I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Blessed Easter! Ours was beautiful the whole way around, from the Vigil Mass, to the egg and basket hunt, to the weather, warm and sunny. Hope yours was too!

I promise... no more pictures of snow from me... at least not any time soon ;) It's all gone, the flowers are blooming, birds are singing, and the flip flops are back on! I've been busy spring cleaning and will be announcing a sale in my shop soon... give me a day or so. I owe you patient friends a giveaway too and have it all ready, just need to snap a photo. It's a good one, perfect for spring :)
Be back soon. Promise.
xo
Ruth

Has anyone seen January?

I mean I lost it, really could this be well into February already?? Crazy, just crazy.  January is a big blur of birthdays x3  :)   and pneumonia x4 :(

And the weather, well this picture is before the 12 more inches that are piling up right now! That my friends was the mere 24 inches we had the other day.

No school.... three days now.

It kind of goes like this

play in snow, hot cocoa, bake something, sew a little, cook, eat, repeat :)

I had big plans on a New Years post with a picture a month....more for me to look back on than anything else but seems kind of silly...now that it's February!!! So I made a New Years collage, good enough.

Check in with me on Valentines Day. Plan to give something away....hopefully something I've made but if not then some fabric even though I know you're tired of me giving away fabric ;)

There's some great new stuff coming in...just listed Sugar in my shop. It's a pretty colorful line for spring/summer. Has me thinking of windows open, fresh air, and trips to the ice cream shop....in my flip flops! There's some new 2D Zoo colors and a great line, Wheels, that is fun for the little guys. My little guy, the one up there in the picture with no coat out in the snow (bad mommy), is getting a shirt made out of the 2D Zoo, he's crazy for elephants :)

That's about it for now, I'll leave you with a picture of something I've been sewing, a skirt for my niece, pretty and girly, just like her...

Yum!