Spring cleaning

Yard cleaning that is.  Our house has some planter boxes on the side yard that have just been calling out to me... well, the weeds had been.  We removed the weeds that were filling them and were left with some perfect garden space.  It gets a decent amount of sun - a few boxes get full sun and the rest partial.  I decided to try my hand at gardening again.

Before... death valley?

I prefer low maintenance plants, but I've been itching to have my own supply of herbs and maybe even a small amount of veggies.  The only thing that had survived the previous owners' garden were a few little strawberry patches.  That would be the base for one of my vegetable boxes.

One of the strawberry patches

One problem I have with gardening (aside from bugs, worms, snails, etc) is that like painting, it's fun until you really get going, but when it's too late to quit, the fun is long gone.  The light morning sun had suddenly become glaring and hot, and what seemed like a few plants had turned into dozens.  However, it's so satisfying seeing your filled planter boxes with the promise of things to come.

Tomatoes galore! As well as some peppers and squash.

The herb garden. Just your basics: basil, thyme, parsley, etc.

We figured out how to turn on the complex sprinkler system, so hopefully my garden won't be too neglected.  I just need to make sure I get out there to check on it regularly and keep the weeds at bay.  Fingers crossed that the plants thrive and love their new home!

After! The filled planter boxes.

Just some flowers that made their way into the garden.

Spring Palette Challenge: Pendrall Blouse

I've been interested in making this blouse since I pre-ordered the pattern when Sewaholic first released it.  The fit is perfect and so flattering, and I loved the varying sleeve options.  The hardest choice became which variation to do.

Thanks to my fellow blog readers, I decided on the smaller polka dot print and from there I went with Version 2 of the blouse.  The double ruffles were different from anything I had in my closet and seemed fun for Spring.

The only variation I made in the pattern itself was adding a 9" side zipper.  I used a cotton that wasn't very forgiving and couldn't imagine pulling it on over my head without it.  It fits in perfect and with every detail like this (zipper and buttons) that I work with, it gets easier and easier.

I loved this pattern and can't wait to make it again in a lighter, flowier (that's a word, right?) fabric.  Maybe something for a Summer palette challenge? Fingers crossed that Colette hosts another one.

Three items down, two to go!  How's everyone else doing on the Colette challenge?

This post will be participating in the following Linky parties:

Making the World Cuter * Just Something I Whipped Up * Made by You Mondays *Sew Cute Tuesday * Talent Tuesday * I Made This * We Did It Wednesday * Hoo’s Got Talent * The Trendy Treehouse * Tatertots & Jello * Thrilling Thursday * It’s a Hodgepodge Friday

Spring Palette Challenge: Sencha Blouse

Another garment completed for the Spring Palette challenge.  I'm on a roll but I know the couple of dresses that I have left will take me a bit of time. I need some instant satisfaction! 

I whipped this blouse up this weekend after I finished the Ceylon dress.  It only took me a couple of hours as the pattern is essentially just four pieces.  I hand-stitched the sleeves while watching tv in the evening.

The print is busier than I would normally wear, but I think it's perfect for Spring. Oh, and the buttons. I found these vintage buttons at Stitches West this weekend.  I love them!  More about my Stitches finds in a post later this week, but there were definitely some great new vendors that I'll have to follow.

Look at all of the buttons I've been sewing over the last few days! I'm becoming a pro.  I noticed that three of my five outfits for the Spring palette challenge have them.  Apparently my subconscious wanted me to work on my button skills.  It's been paying off.

This post will be participating in the following Linky parties:

Making the World Cuter * Just Something I Whipped Up * Made by You Mondays *Sew Cute Tuesday * Talent Tuesday * I Made This * We Did It Wednesday * Hoo’s Got Talent * The Trendy Treehouse * Tatertots & Jello * Thrilling Thursday * It’s a Hodgepodge Friday

Spring Palette Challenge: Ceylon Dress

The Colette Ceylon dress is complete!  This dress taught me a lot.  Not because it was necessarily hard, but it required some techniques I had never used. In the end, it's the little details that I enjoy the most about this dress.  

I love the gathers on the skirt front and the back of the dress, and it has so many elements that make it such a flattering fit.  It's the perfect dress for a date with the hubby or to wear to work when I want to mix up the business casual requirement.

 

The only aspect that I changed from my original plan were the buttons.  I had originally planned on fabric buttons and had all the materials, but they were seriously going to drive me to drink!  I couldn't deal with fumbling of the fabric into the tiny little button and sealing the snap down.  I eventually (after two buttons) made a run to JoAnn's to pick up another alternative.  I'm happy with the end result and will just have to save those buttons for another project... one where someone with tiny fingers can assemble them for me.

To read more about the journey making this dress, check out the original post here.

This post will be participating in the following Linky parties:

Making the World Cuter * Just Something I Whipped Up * Made by You Mondays *Sew Cute Tuesday * Talent Tuesday * I Made This * We Did It Wednesday * Hoo’s Got Talent * The Trendy Treehouse * Tatertots & Jello * Thrilling Thursday * It’s a Hodgepodge Friday

Progress on my Spring palette project

All week I've been waiting by the mailbox for the rest of my Colette Spring Palette project items to arrive. And they did!  I received the pattern and fabric for my stripe dress, and the fabrics for my Colette blouse and the last dress.  I'm really happy with all of the fabrics, as I've never ordered any fabrics online before.  In the future I will hopefully have more time so I can order swatches first, but luckily, it worked out perfectly.

Now onto the last blouse (Pendrall): I can't decide on the large or small polka dot fabric.  What do you think?  I think I'm leaning towards the smaller dots and saving the large one for a dress or something larger.  

On to actual sewing.  I've been working steadily on the first dress, Ceylon by Colette.  I've had this pattern in my file for a while, but the glaring 'Intermediate' tag was worrying me.  Oh, and the whole line of buttons along the front.

Now that I'm the 'master of buttons,' I wasn't feeling so intimidated.  The buttons should have been the least of my worries.  The dress itself has been coming along nicely, but I hate ruching fabric.  I love the final look, but uuuugggghhh.  It's ok, I only have the sleeves left to gather and then I'll be done!  

I love how it's turning out! I'm actually debating between putting an invisible zipper in the front but I may just go ahead with the buttons.  I think I'll love it either way.  More coming soon.  In the meantime, let me know your thoughts on the polka dots.  And do you have any favorite online fabric websites?

Spring Palette Challenge

Now that I've started sewing again, I decided to set some goals for upcoming projects, starting with the Colette Patterns Spring Palette Challenge.  I thought it would be a good way to focus my sewing energy and upcoming projects by putting together the next round of garments that I want to make, as well as picking out the palette to work with.

Originally I had planned to stay with grey as the main color and then add accents such as green or pink.  Once I started pulling together the patterns that I wanted to make, I found that certain fabrics and patterns seemed to better suit them.  So, below I unveil my Spring challenge!  I am aiming for the 5 items, but depending on the difficulty level and time involved, I want to at least make 4.

I liked the idea of just doing two colors but possibly incorporate the grey through them.  That's where the floral prints come in.  Aside from that, stripes and polka dots are always a favorite and instantly made me think of Spring.

What do you think? What are your Spring craft or sewing plans?