Normally for Show & Tell Wednesday I have a theme or a specific project planned, but this week it’s more of a, “What’s been happening in the sewing room” kind of Show & Tell.

I finally got around to making Eliza a little dress.  My sweet friend Beth invited us to her house so we could work on sewing projects.  The kids played together and we got down to business.  I had in mind a nice fall/winter jumper.  I had some ideas and inspirations tucked in the back of my mind and found a pattern that I could tweak to look the way I envisioned it in my head.  Here’s what I came up with~

I have been drooling over a certain line of girl’s clothing called Matilda Jane, and after seeing Rachel’s adorable photo shoot with her daughter wearing a darling “vintage” dress with a pinafore I knew I wanted this jumper to have one as well.

This pattern was such a breeze to make!  I finished it in one morning and only had to get my seam ripper out once (that’s a record for me).

I also gathered some fun accessories to go with the new dress.

(a.) A matching “Sunday-go-to-Meeting” bag, (b.)  jumper pattern- Simplicity 2875, the jumper is made out of a mossy green corduroy, the pinafore and lining is a piece from Denyse Schmidt’s new Joanne’s line, (c.) A vintage millinery flower pinned to the dress, (d.) cream knee socks from Target $4.00, and (e.) impossibly adorable ruffled ankle boots- Target $22.99.

Sorry, I felt compelled to show you the boots again… they’re my new favorite thing.

I finished two more bags and I have the “Sunday-go-to-Meeting” tutorial almost finished!

I also put together some little sets of hair clips. 

And because I don’t have enough unfinished projects {} I decided to add another one to the pile~

A quilt, just for the fun of it.

My mom came over one evening and helped me cut out and assemble 20 blocks so I only need about 20 or 60 more to finish it

And that’s all, unless you count the growing pile of patterns and fabric bundles sitting on the corner of my desk… but that’s not very interesting to look at (or talk about).

Have a great Wednesday!  ~April

Come walk with me in the last of the evening’s light.

Come just as you are

We’ll hold hands and explore

We’ll stop along the way, being sure to notice every little thing.

Finding treasures along the way

And someday when I think of these childhood days I will remember them this way…

Slow and sweet, with dusty feet

Bathed in a golden haze…

Good morning!  I have so many things that I want to tell you about but that can wait.  First things first.

The winner of the “Sunday-go-to-Meetin’ Bag” giveaway is @Richgem.  Congratulations!  If you would please send me a personal message with your mailing information, and let me know which bag you would like, I will send the package off ASAP.  I don’t usually respond to comments left on my giveaway entries because it helps me keep better track of the names that have been entered.  But I want to assure you that I read, and enjoy every comment!  I appreciated all the feedback on the bags and pricing.  You were all so very helpful and kind, thank you!  It is always so difficult to chose just one name out of that bag.  Don’t be discouraged though, there is more to come

I have so many things I want to show you and tell you about, but unfortunately I am unable to.  My computer is down for the count right now (I’m typing this up on Justin’s computer).  My laptop battery has taken one to many hits to the ground and I have used up all the memory space on my computer.  My best tech guy is on the job but it could take awhile. So there won’t be any posts coming from me in the mean time.  Which is such a shame, for I have so much to talk about!  Sewing projects I’ve completed, the Sunday-go-to-meetin’ tote tutorial is all but ready to type up, we have pumpkins growing (lots!), home improvements, and little boys with exciting new toys.  But we will catch up soon, I promise   If you don’t see me around much don’t worry about it, I won’t have much access to a computer until mine is fixed.

Thanks again!  ~April

This giveaway is now closed.  The winner will be announced Wednesday September 21st.  Thank you for participating!

This week Show & Tell is all for little girls, because… it’s so much fun to sew for them   Lately Eliza has really gotten into packing her purse to take to church.  She has a small selection of little bags that she loads with a handful of small toys.  I thought a handmade church bag would be a nice little project.

Naturally I couldn’t just make one.  I made 4.  I’m just built that way.  It actually makes sense on a practical level, it only takes a little more time/effort to make 4 as it does to make 1.  Also making four gives me the chance to perfect the pattern and I get play around with 4 designs instead of just one.  Plus I tend to do things obsessively.  When I find a album I like, I will listen to it non-stop until I know every.single.word.

This little pattern is just a simple lined tote with handles.  I took it up a notch by using braided handles and adding little touches to the outside.

It’s about the size of a sheet of paper.  In fact I used a standard size sheet of paper for the pattern.

I also added pockets to the inside for putting important little girl things like, stickers, lip balm, and crayons.  The green floral bag has a crayon pocket but the rest of them have a single large pocket in the inside.

I made the green bag for Eliza. 

I used a little wonder-under and silk ribbon to personalize her bag.

There’s a small bird with hand stitching around it on the other side of the bag.  So far Eliza likes all of the bags except the one I made especially for her .

The solid colored bags are made from Joanne’s “linen look-alike” fabric.  It feels and looks just like linen but it’s a blend which means it can be washed; which is important when it comes to kiddos.

I really like the look of this sweet bag.  I used the natural colored linen and added a variety of cream and soft pink trims to the outside.

For the floral I wanted to keep the embellishments very simple.  One cotton knit rosette in the bottom corner and…

…  some crisp white trim at the top.

This mustard linen was a favorite too.  Very simple.  I like simple.

Since I made four of these little bags and I have no use for all of them, I thought I would give one away.  Of course a Sunday-go-to-meetin’ Bag wouldn’t be complete without some trinkets to put inside.

If your name is drawn for the giveaway you may choose any of the totes except the solid green bag (that one is Eliza’s, whether she likes it or not).  If you want to be entered into the drawing just leave a friendly comment on this post.  Now here’s were I ask you for a favor.  I was hoping to get some feedback from all my lovely readers about the bags.  I’m thinking about making some more to sell, and I was wondering which design you liked the best?  Are the color combinations working?  What do you think would be a reasonable price to charge for a handmade bag?  Your input would be greatly appreciated!  The giveaway will be closed Monday September 19th.

If you would be interested in step-by-step directions for the Sunday-go-to-meetin’ Bag please let me know.  I would be happy to write up a comprehensive tutorial.  It’s a very basic pattern that can be adapted to  different uses, sizes, and looks.

Thanks for stopping in again!  Take some time this week to enjoy yourself   ~April

My high school teacher, Ed Gish used to say, “You gotta get your jollies in life were you can.”  He got his jollies from a perfectly cleaned black board.  I loved watching him clean the black board during study hour.  He had a system that he never deviated from, and when it was finished he would lean back on his desk and smile.  I loved that man.

Taking pleasure in the small things.

So to end the week, here is a small sampling of things that make my heart happy~

A delicious, comforting egg salad sandwich for lunch.  I love egg salad sandwiches.  Sadly, no one else in my family does.

Spring bulbs and seeds that will be planted this fall, and just when I’ve almost forgotten about them they will push up from dark, cold ground and remind me that spring has come.

I might have gone a little crazy with the sweet peas   I just kept hitting the “add to cart” button over and over.  Too bad there’s not a “plant in the ground” button I can push.

Little boys in mix-matched pajamas, playing on the floor… that makes my heart happy.

The perfect color for the bathroom walls.

And this, that came in the mail today

Here’s something thing that you might not know about me.  I love all things cheesy, corny, and tacky.  I do.  It makes me smile.  I never want to live in a world where everything and everyone is stylish.  I like the giant plastic monarch butterflies hanging on the side of the garage, the plywood painted to look like a fanny sticking up out of the flower bed.  To the woman at the deli counter in the powder pink polyester suit (with matching lipstick) I say, “Thank you.  Thank you for making my day!  Thank you for being your delightfully pink self.  You rock!”.  I hear people say, “If I ever start looking like that; just shoot me.”  But I say, if I look happy just let me be.  Where’s the harm in that?  Embrace the tacky. Love the cheesy.  And for heaven’s sake don’t ever take yourself too seriously!

Have a great weekend…