Bias tape - We are starting to be friends

Bias tape. Love it and hate it. Love the clean finish and look, and it's many uses. What I don't like is that when I am trying to do a quick simple project (which bias tape is good for), I end up standing at the ironing board FOREVER making this stuff.

I think every day I come across another giveaway for the Simplicity bias tape maker, entering each one, secretly wishing I will win, because I don't want to spend $70 for another piece of equipment in my (walls are closing in on me) sewing room.

So I finally went out and picked up a couple of these Clover bias tape makers

Let me preface this by saying this is not a tutorial. That would be lame, since the directions are on on the packaging! Just wanted to give you my 2 cents on what I thought!

You have to snip the end of your fabric strip at an angle and use a seam ripper to pull it through. Very easy. Then you just pull the bias tape maker back with the iron following closely.

Yes it was easy. Yes I will use these for now on. And no I do not have one of those pretty ironing board covers made out of designer fabrics. I wish. My board is so beat up, I just draped a piece of fabric over it, to hide the embarrassing site. Thinking about making a cover soon though.

This was fairly quick. I used an old brown t-shirt, and leftover Jessica Levitt fabric I had from Melody's 1st b-day dress.

Anyone one else making friends with bias tape?

A little collection

Love sewing books. Love the pictures. Love the detail and thought put into creating a book. And love that I can read a book written by someone, who one day turned their hobby into something to share with others. Also - the same reason I love reading blogs.

What I do have time for this week though, is to read up on some of my books! I got many of these for Christmas, but what I also got for Christmas is an Ipad (which I love), but is a huge distraction :-)

So while I do love the internet for trusty tutorials and inspiration, i'm going to spend some time with my books. I'm out of work for a week recovering from an appendectomy (ouch!), so I have the down time. It is already Thursday, so I better hop to it!

Melody's Spring Wardrobe

Melody's closet is getting jam packed with handmade goodies for the spring/summer, though I'm pretty sure the spring is gone already, since it's pretty short lived in the Carolina's! There are still many more items in my 'queue' to add, but look who else has been contributing.....

My Mom! She is a sewing fool right now, and is making the cutest little things! Melody sure is lucky! She's already made a handful of dresses, and as I'm typing this, I'm staring at a package that came yesterday with a couple tanks and an adorable romper! Thanks Nana!

I may consider outsourcing my designs, and send fabric straight to to my my mom :-)

I Learned It From My Mama!

Everytime I make a cut, or run anything through my sewing machine, I'm learning something new. My mom and friend En both taught me the basics in college, and from then on I've been pretty much self taught. Still trying to get through this stack of books however!

Remember this Dress?

More pics Here

Well, I used a new gathering technique that worked wonders with all the layers of lining and Tulle I used.

There are many techniques for gathering for a ruffle. You can use your machine if it's set right, there is a 'gathering foot', you can do a long stitch, and pray it doesn't break when you pull the thread, which it usually does, yet this is the technique I normally use.

Not Anymore! All you need is a little DENTAL FLOSS!


Yep, just do a zig zag stitch over the thread, set at the longest setting.

Worked like a charm. Need to invest in some unscented floss though. Melody smelled a bit minty when she wore her dress the first time!

Thanks MOM for this tip!

Weekend Treasury Lovelies

So this weekend I got hooked on Etsy Treasuries. All the sorting, searching, color coordinating, and prettiness, is enough to get anyone hooked!

I just wanted to display a few of my favorite lovely things I discovered, during my crazed Treasury fun!

These purses, and basically everything her shops page, I love!

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I love this picture of this ferris wheel so much. I'm loving the turquoise and yellow combo almost as much as grey and yellow!

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And these!.....

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I love this taupe and blush pink broach. Amy fyi, I need to order one of these fo sho!
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This cake stand is amazing. I would never do it justice though.

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And this picture just makes me plain happy.

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Might need to seek rehab if this continues...

Treasury Links:
Taupe and pink

Oh the Colors
Sun and Sky Goodness
Toes in the water

Meadow dress pics at the park

A couple weeks ago we took Melody to the park to get some pictures of one of the dresses I'm selling on Etsy. It's a peasant style dress. She did great, and I'm loving that she is at the age that I can get pics of her in the style of handmade dresses that I'm making!

I'm still only half way through the Nikon book for dummies (I read everything like 20 times), but i'm learning a lot and feel like i'm starting to get the hang of my camera!

So...Etsy? Yep! Posted a few 'ready to ship' dresses in this exact style! Check em' out here. This is what us advertising folks refer to as a 'soft launch'!

Wanted to take a quick break to share! Now back to sewing, I'm working to get more items up for Easter!

My New Bestie

It's not like I didn't know what it was good for. And it's not like I didn't know exactly where I had it stashed all these years. But what I didn't know is that is would be by best friend!

Ahhh...The walking foot....

It finally made it out of it's original box from 10 years ago when I got my sewing machine. I made Melody a dress this weekend that was made out of a gauzy knit cotton, and it just kept getting jammed down in my machine. So I thought what the heck, I'd try the walking foot. After all I hear about it all the time for quilting and applique projects.


Oh how i've been missing out! The fear of jamming my machine as I was sewing was suddenly lifted! I want to use it forever and always!

Anybody use their walking foot for their everyday projects?