Lady and the gents

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to test for an amazing group of bloggers who make up Willow & Co, a pattern collective. I have been splitting at the seams(see what I did there?!?!? hehe) to share with you all the amazing patterns they have designed. I was fortunate enough to get to test 3, yes that's right, I tested 3 patterns for this glamping collection, the first of hopefully many from this wonderful group of women!

Without further ado, let me introduce the Fawn Lily Top/Tunic/Dress.

This pattern boasts adorable character and features:

3 lengths: top, tunic, and dress
2 yoke options: button yoke and crossover yoke
3 skirt options: gathered, pleated, and flat
2 sleeve options: cap sleeve and pleated sleeve
2 pocket options: inseam pockets and patch pockets
a HUGE size range: 3months-12years!!!!
wonderfully written instructions with step by step photos
line drawings

Rebecca from Rock the Stitch really outdid herself on this pattern, and testing for her was an awesome experience!

I adore all the options with this pattern, the fact that I can make countless tops/dresses/tunics, and with all the options she has included, each one can look so different from one another that you'd never know it was the same pattern! We saw through out testing this pattern that every rendition of the garment allowed each individual to put her own spin on it and make it unique!

I chose to test the tunic version, with cap sleeves, a pleated skirt, and button yoke bodice. The bodice is my favorite part. I love how such a simple addition of buttons to a bodice can create such a wonderful look. In my head, this was the perfect pattern to show off multiple fabrics, and I'm so glad it worked out how I imagined! I fell in love with this bicycle/scooter fabric and knew it would be perfect!! And polka dots are among my fabric ever, so I knew I couldn't go wrong there!!

The construction of this garment is beautiful, inside and out! You are left with something that not only looks good on the outside, but is just as pretty on the inside, and all you seamstresses out there know how important that is!

I really think everyone should pick up a copy of this come April 22nd! I enjoyed sewing this and can't wait to make more! What a perfect spring/summer garment for all those little ladies out there!

The second and third patterns I tested were for Hayley from Mouse House Creations. I have had the honor of testing for this amazing lady a few times now, and I swear, she is something fierce! I don't have enough words to even begin to tell you my admiration for this lady! She's nothing short of amazing! Ok, girl crushing over, back to the pattern.

Let me present The Clover Shorts and The Persimmon Top & Dress.

Ladies, I see a lot of these in your futures. The Clover shorts will become your go to pattern for summer shorts, and the Persimmon top & dress is the epitome of a classic girly sundress.

The options on these patterns are amazing! Let's start with the shorts!

The Clover Shorts boast:

classic pleated front
flat front waistband
elasticized back
cuffs
belt loops
sash
pockets
optional waistband ruffle
higher rise in back(it was able to cover her cloth diaper!!!!)
HUGE size range: 6months-12years!!!
line drawings
Step by step easy to follow instructions featuring color photos

I really adore everything Hayley creates, but these shorts are special. They are classic but with a modern twist, and can even be made extra girly with adding the optional ruffle at the waist! And the fabric options for these are endless! I decided to make 2 pairs to showcase 2 different looks!

My first pair was made from flannel. It screams fall to me, although here in Michigan, you are never certain of the weather, so my little lady wore these to the zoo a few days ago with cable knit tights(yes, she wore thick winter tights in April) and boots! Such a cute look! She turned more than a few heads in this little ensemble!

These cuffed shorts as just darling! She doesn't really care about pockets yet, but I know she will love them as much as I do in a year or so, when she realizes she can store all her tiny treasures in them!

I chose to leave the ruffle off of both pairs I made, but will definitely be adding it to future pairs! These shorts sew up pretty quick, and the instructions are beautifully written. As always. Hayley really outdid herself with this tutorial.

Want to see pair number 2????? I think you're going to like it! ;)

Pair #2 just scream summer to me! The bright colors, the gingham and polka dot combination....it brings a smile to my face! Doesn't it make you yearn for a Popsicle and to run through the sprinkler???

I'm pretty sure this little lady feels the same way I do about these shorts. She was able to run and chase her brothers, and I love the higher rise in the back on these! We use cloth diapers, and many times shorts and pants do not have a high enough rise to cover her diapers. But have no fear, this pattern takes that into account so you will not be showing anything off!!

Ok, I want to show you more, but to do so I need to move on to the next pattern. Are you ready??? I think you are!

The Persimmon Dress & Top features:

options for partial or full lining
center panel
pleated side panels
optional ruffles along side panels
pockets
dress and tunic lengths
HUGE size range: 6months-12years
links on how to make your own bias tape
easy to follow step by step instructions with color photos
line drawings

I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to make both the dress and top options for this pattern. I instantly thought this as a top would pair perfectly with the Clover shorts, and boy was I right!!!

Every time I see this photo I die!!! Cuteness overload right there!! Ok, remember when I asked you before about the Popsicle and sprinkler??? Well, if you answered no, I'm sure you've changed your mind! This reminds me of something I would have worn as a little girl, but with a modern twist! I love that it can be made with the center panel as an accent!

And let's talk about the pleats!! Do not be afraid, these are so easy to do and Hayley explains it beautifully! The construction on this pattern is wonderful, just like all of her patterns. She explains everything down to the very last detail!

Sorry for the photo overload, but I already warned you I LOVE this pattern!! The combination of the top and shorts are fantastic, and I'm pretty sure we will be seeing lot's of this combination over the coming months!!

Last but not least, I'd love to share my favorite. I always think little girls in sundresses are just darling, so I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a dress too. And this pattern really spoke to me! I had the PERFECT fabric in my stash that was a perfect match for this dress!

It doesn't get better than white clip dot fabric, ruffles, and lace!!! This to me is the perfect girly sundress! Want to see the whole dress??? You sure???? Ok, you've twisted my arm ;)

Gorgeous, right?!?!?! I fell in love with this pattern even more after this dress! I LOVE how simple and classic the look is! This is the perfect dress to showcase a single fabric, or do what I did with the top and pair a few of your favorites together!

Normally I steer away from white altogether, but this pattern was calling for some flowy white fabric!! Warning, TONS of photos coming up! I just have to share these! Just keep scrolling if you don't care about a beautiful little girl in an adorable white dress!!! haha

I am just beyond pleased to have been able to be a part of testing these patterns! All 3 were remarkable and you would be crazy if you didn't make them part of your pattern arsenal! So, don't forget the date. April 22nd. Chant it, write little notes at your desk, put an alert on your phone, write in on your calendar, do whatever you need to do to remember that date!!! You won't regret it!

Thanks again to Hayley and Rebecca for giving me the chance to test these amazing patterns!!! You ROCK!!!!

Today I am putting my sewing and crafting on the back table to help bring awareness to a disease that hits very close to home. April is Sarcoidosis awareness month. You're probably asking what the heck Sarcoidosis is, and why you should even care. Well, I can answer both those questions, so bare with me.

Sarcoidosis: the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells in different parts of your body — most commonly the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes and skin. Normally, your immune system defends your body against foreign or harmful substances. In people who have sarcoidosis, the inflammation doesn't go away. Instead, some of the immune system cells cluster to form lumps called granulomas in various organs in your body.

People who suffer from Sarcoidosis have to deal with a range of symptoms:

shortness of breath
cough that won't go away
bumps or patches on/under skin
enlarged lymph glands
fever
weight loss
fatigue
red teary eyes
blurred vision
swollen painful joints
nasal stuffiness
pains in hands, feet, and other boney areas
kidney stones
development of missed or abnormal heart beats
hearing loss
seizures
depression
psychosis

Would you like me to go on??? Crazy right?!?! Could you imagine having to deal with a few, or possibly all of those symptoms everyday of your life?? I can't, but I know someone who does. Those symptoms are a reality and a constant reminder for them.

My sister was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis last year, after almost a year and a half of testing, hospital visits, surgeries, medications, blood tests, injections, and so much more. So much is unknown about this disease, and the worst part is there is no cure and hardly any research and funding support for this debilitating disease. My sister has had to silently suffer for far too long with a disease that 99% of people have no clue exists.

Many sufferers have a mild case, that can often go away without treatment, but this is not true in my sister's case. She has a fairly extreme case, along with a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, her symptoms can hit her hard and unexpected. She can have a great day, feel good and be active, and then the next day she pays for it, having to stay in bed and rest, barely able to move because of the pain.

I'm sharing all of this with you because the more people who know about this disease, the more awareness there is, the more the word gets out there that people are suffering.....maybe we can find a cure, so my sister doesn't have to suffer anymore, so she can live her life not in constant pain, so she can play with her nieces and nephews without paying for it the next day.

I hold this cause near and dear to me. Not only because my sister suffers from this, but because a little over 2 years ago she was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism, and if we would have known she had this disease then, she possibly could have not had to endure 2 years of ineffective treatments, numerous hospitalizations, and tons of medications.

Spread the word and become educated, so you can help educate others. The more we learn about this disease, the more people we can potentially help!

So, in April, I'm asking you to wear purple. Support those who suffer, and their loved ones, who must deal with Sarcoidosis everyday. It's the least we can do, right??

Sarcoidosis resources:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/sarcoidosis/hic_overview_of_sarcoidosis.aspx

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sarc/

http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/sarcoidosis/

http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/

It's one of my most FAVORITE days ever!! Opening Day at Comerica Park! I never get to go(3 kids doesn't really work well in a crowded sea of drunk unruly Tigers fans) but we always celebrate and watch the game at home as a family!

This year I am super duper excited because my little lady has the cutest Tigers inspired jersey EVER, made by yours truly! Introducing the Old Tyme Baseball Shirt by Dandelions n' Dungarees. This jersey inspired shirt can be adorned with the most awesome embellishments to represent your favorite MLB team, show your school spirit, or even just as a cute little spring top!

I obviously chose to showoff what a ginormous Detroit Tigers fan I am and did my own take on a girly jersey. I'm not into all the girly pink Tiger's stuff out there, so I chose to use the traditional Tigers colors in polka dots to make it a little girly, without being pink. I am being thrilled with how it turned out. The only thing it's missing is the iconic old English "D", but don't worry your pretty little head, that will be here soon!

I really love this pattern. It is very easy to understand, the directions are wonderful, and the pattern went together beautifully! I think I whipped this shirt out in less than 3 hours, and that is even with all the extra details! I love the options to have snaps or buttons, and the piped placket and cuffs are adorable!

The size range on this pattern is AMAZING! NB-16yrs!! Seriously, I'm not pulling your leg! Take a look for yourself! Want to see some more takes on this shirt? Come take a look at the blog and see what the other testers of this shirt came up with! There are some great ideas in there!

I was so lucky I was able to test this shirt(along with a few other pattern by Dandelions n' Dungarees!) I like to think I've been with them from the start, and can't wait to see what else they have up their sleeves!! I can't wait to make one for each of the boys too! I will sew those up ASAP, because they are definitely begging to have one of their own!

And guess what?!?! Dandelions n' Dungarees is giving away a FREE copy of the doll pattern today on their blog! And you can enter their amazing giveaway to win some awesome prizes including an American Girl Doll!!! So head on over and enter!! You don't want to miss out on this!!

Here's hoping if you're a baseball fan your opening day goes wonderfully, unless you're a KC Royals fan, and then I'll apologize now for us ~~beating~~ sweeping the series! Eat em up Tigers!! Can't start them too young, right?!?!?

And as always, come take a look at my business page on facebook! This shirt, along with anything else you see on my page, are available for custom order, so send me a message if you see anything you can't live without!

I have been have some major stress over not having an Easter dress for my little lady yet. I'm sure all you other Moms(and some Dads too!!) can relate! We get so busy busy busy that 3 days before we all make a mad dash to the mall to try to find something appropriate left on the empty racks. Darn all those parents who've actually planned ahead!

Well, have no fear! This year I am READY! Or, at least 1/3 ready! Introducing the Lorelei Dress by E-Beth Designs! This dress may possibly my favorite EVER!(and that's saying a lot because I have sewn LOTS of dresses!)

She is loving her new dress!

The Lorelei features:

My favorite part is the petticoat lining! It gives this dress just just the right oomph it needs to really stand out and keep it's shape! And the instructions are extremely easy to follow!

We love the fullness the petticoat adds!

Happy Girl in her Easter Dress!

I really liked the construction for this dress. The under stitching and hand stitching techniques used really make this garment look professionally made! I also thought the zipper installation was easy to follow for those who have never sewn a zipper before. There is even an option for a blind hem! This pattern has it all when it comes to being well made!

The tutorial is full of wonderful step by step photos and easy to understand instructions. This pattern is probably best for an intermediate seamstress due to the more advanced techniques used.

I will definitely be making my next dress(oh yes, there will be lots more of these dresses to come!) with the optional sash! I ran out of time and opted for a super cute belt instead.

Zipper closure in back

There's a little secret I have about this dress though. It is made with Target sheets! Yes, you read that right. I found these on sale at my local Target, and couldn't pass them up! I wasn't sure what I was going to use them for, but when I found out I was testing this dress, I knew they would be perfect! I love the look of this dress, and the vintage but modern feel it has. Such a classic style, but not old-fashioned at all! I also can't wait to play around with mix and matching fabrics! Maybe the yoke and sash in a coordinating fabric! My brain is reeling with ideas!

Gorgeous scoop front yoke

For all my fellow seamstresses out there, come follow E-Beth Designs on facebook, etsy, and her website where you can enter to win a copy of the pattern! I know she has lots more in store and I expect they will be just as fabulous as this pattern!!

Taking a reading break

If you don't sew and are interested in ordering a dress, head on over to Lady and the gents and send me a message!

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I sweat glitter. Well, not really, but that would be kind of cool, wouldn't it???

If you are here, you are in one of three groups:

You are either family or a friend and came over here to show your support!!
You are a fellow sewing enthusiest and wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
You acidentally found this blog and are wondering what the heck you are doing here.

Regardless of your reason for stumbling across my blog, I'm glad you're here! This blog will follow all of my crazy sewing and crafting adventures, and hopefully keep you entertained and coming back to see more!

So, how about a little background on me. I am a SAHM to one little lady and 2 handsome gents. I started sewing almost 1 year ago. Ok, let's back up a bit. 5 years ago my husband bought me a sewing machine and I was determined to teach myself how to use it. How hard could it be, right?? Well, let's just say after hours of trying to sew a bib I was in tears and made a phone call to my seamstress mother. I asked her, "Mom, how do I sew a straight line?????" She answered, (insert laughing here....) "What do you mean how do you sew a straight line?" I'm pretty sure the waterworks started and I quickly hung up the phone, packed up the machine, and vowed to never look at it again.

Fast forward to last April. My daughter's first birthday was fast approaching and an epic birthday dress was mandatory. My Mom had this crazy idea that me, the one who cried because I couldn't figure out how to sew a straight line, should make her dress. Are you kidding me?!?! ME?!?!? I decided to give it a go since she said she would help guide me. The machine sat out staring at me for a while. I'm pretty sure it was laughing and taunting me. I threw caution to the wind and decided I would just dive in head first. That first night I sewed a paper bag skirt. It was HUGE! I mean, super long, but once I hemmed it a tad more it was actually pretty cute!!

Cute, Right?!?!?

The next night I got pretty cocky and thought, well, I made that skirt, I'm going to make this dress. I chose the Nelle dress by brownie-goose. It seemed easy enough and Amy's instructions made me feel like I was chatting with my best gal pal! Best decision I EVER made!! I whipped that dress up in 3 hours and successfully finished my 2nd article of clothing! Yes, you heard that right! The woman who couldn't sew a straight line just made not one, but TWO pieces of clothing that I wasn't embarassed to put my child in!

She STILL wears this dress weekly!!!

I didn't look back after those first two pieces, and kept on sewing every night, gaining courage, learning so much about sewing, and having tons of fun meeting new friends in the online sewing community!

The time was coming that the much anticipated birthday dress needed to be conquered. I found the PERFECT dress pattern and went to work. The big bow dress was exactly what I had been looking for! My mom and I went fabric shopping and she chose a darling yellow and white polka dot. After some lunch, and getting Cora to sleep, we attempted to sew up that perfect dress. There were a few bumps along the way, a few trips into the sleeping princess's room to retreive a forgotten iron, but the end result was more than I could have asked for!

Cutest dress EVER!

I like big bows and I can not lie....

I continued to sew after the party was over and friends and family kept asking when I was opening a shop. I was a little caught off guard, especially since sewing for a few months does not make you a seamstress, along with the fact that I had no idea what opening up a shop really entailed! After some thought and soul searching, I decided to slowly start doing some custom orders here and there. Enter, lady and the gents!

I never looked back after that first night of sewing, and I am so glad I took the leap to start sewing for friends and family! I am really blessed to now get to test patterns for some of, what I consider to be, the best designers out there! It is awesome to get to be part of the pattern process, helping work out kinks, pattern issues, and help make these patterns the best they can be! I'm grateful for the designers who have taken a chance on me, even though I don't have a quarter of the talent and the experience some of these other ladies have. I will be forever in their debt!

So, now you know a little bit about me. I'm just a wife and mother, doing the best I can, making stuff that makes me happy! I hope you keep coming back to see what else I have up my sleeves. So pull up a chair, grap a big mug of coffee and maybe a snack(or 2), and relax. I'm glad to have you along for the ride!