I've moved!

So after a long hiatus from blogging, I've started a new blog over here at www.presentmama.com. I've actually moved most of my old posts from here to there as well so it doesn't feel like I'm starting from scratch again!

Feel free to check it out.
namaste, sony

an aqua top

So here is my first completed item for the Spring Palette Challenge. (Yes, I'm a bit slow....but that's okay....I've been spending a lot of time organizing!).
This is my third version of Simplicity 3835. Even though this is such a simple pattern, I've learned a lot from making it. For the previous versions, I did a swayback alteration by just taking out a horizontal wedge "dart" shape out of the back pattern piece where I was having pooling. But this did leave the hem a bit short at centre back for both versions.
For this version, I used this instruction instead which I think worked out better since it didn't shorten the hem at centre back. The cotton voile fabric I bought for this was a bit sheer so I underlined the bodice with self fabric.  I had originally wanted to do longer sleeves like my previous red linen top but I ran out of fabric since I had used the extra for underlining. As with the second version, I put darts in the back to give it a bit more shape. Oh, and I decided to hem this one by hand just to get the experience. It looks nice, too! I enjoyed hemming by hand more than I expected to, although it did take quite a bit longer, of course. (I think it's ironic that one of the reasons I first learned to machine sew was because I often required hemming of my clothing...and now I've discovered that hemming by hand is considered more couture!)
Well, our spring weather here has only just begun, so I look forward to more spring sewing. Happy creating, everyone!

namaste,
sony

a cupboard for my thread and an apron for my notions

Well, I seem to be on quite the organizing kick lately.  And, for some reason, I have this very persistent idea in the back of my mind that once I get most of the house organized, it'll run on autopilot (sort of) and I will have more sewing time.  I don't know if this will turn out to be true, but I'm certainly very motivated to test it out!

I'm now focusing on organizing my sewing room. I'm very blessed to have a room of my own for my sewing. I actually organized it a few months ago but I've realized that some things are not working out and so I'm doing an overhaul (again). First of all, I realized it needed to be a bit more toddler-friendly. I had put all of my thread and filled bobbins and needles in a small set of drawers beside my sewing table, but of course, it was the first place that my 2 year old son loved to explore. Many bobbins and spools of thread became unravelled...many tangled thread nests were created under his hands.  So, a little while ago, I happened upon this little cupboard in a local furniture consignment store; I'm sure it was an old bathroom cupboard. Anyway, it has now been hung up (high away from little fingers) and filled with my thread. It even has a cute little drawer for my needles & pins. And, when I want to be inspired by a particular fabric, I could just display the fabric on the little towel rod at the bottom.

Next, I was inspired by this caddy to organize my notions. I had found this silverware basket in a thrift store but smaller notions kept getting lost inside of it. So, I whipped up a pocket organizer (or "apron," if you will) for the outside of my basket to store my smaller notions (seam guide, chalk, etc.). I'm happy with the way it turned out and I used the same fabric that I used to recently make a new cover for my ironing board. This fabric is some type of canvas or home dec weight fabric from IKEA.

Now, I'm slowly working on organizing my fabric stash. Pictures to come soon, hopefully! (Oh yeah, I'm going to try to fit some sewing in there somewhere as well).