Lady and the gents

* pattern was given in exchange for review. All thoughts are my own*

I love the fall! The crisp air, the first fire in the fireplace, and warm drinks! Makes me so happy! When Jenny from Seamingly Smitten asked me if I wanted to be part of her fall blog tour I couldn't say no! I love everything about fall, and that includes patterns that are perfect for the fall!

I know I've said this before but I always have these grand ideas of how my blog post is going to look. Beautiful photos, witty writing, an all together amazing post. Well, let's just throw that idea right out of the window and come back to reality. I threw my back out. How you ask? Putting hair product in my son's hair for picture day at school. Can you believe that?!?!?! Those amazing photos are now in my dreamland! haha

Seriously, I am in a ton of pain, so much I could barely move for almost a week. Then the weekend came and I was feeling better, until I decided the basement playroom needed to be purged and cleaned. Now I can hardly move again.

That brings us to present day. My day is consisting of lots of pain, attempts to get some sewing done, wrangling my two littles that are at home, and trying not to overdo it!

Good news?? I have an AMAZING new slouchy bag that I absolutely adore!

Purple suede???? Yes please! This fabric is so soft and luxurious! And this color is spot on for the fall 2014 color trends!

Let's talk pattern specifics for a second. There are only 3 pattern pieces, so the pattern goes together really quick. The hardware you need for this bag are easily found in your local craft store, and you don't need much, just a couple d rings and a magnetic snap if you choose. I decided on no snap for my bag.

Jenny gives you instructions to find the perfect strap length to fit your body, or you can go with a few lengths she includes in the directions. I went with her cross back dimensions and they were perfect for me!

The pocket on this bag is nice and large! You can definitely fit your phone, keys and a lip gloss in it with no problem! There is also an option to put a pocket on the inside. I did this, and then after sewing realized I sewed the lining piece with the pocket the wrong way, so my pocket is sandwiched between the lining and the main fabric :( That made me pretty sad. But it's ok because I will just have to make another!

My slouch bag is lined with a purple silky fabric. Next time I will use a cotton since this was finicky to work with. It does feel nice though :)

I was nervous about making a bag with hardware since I normally don't make this kind of thing, but the d rings were super easy to use! And Jenny's instructions are always wonderful and easy to follow. I had no issues except trying to sew through all the layers after inserting the strap into the ring. This was due to the suede and my machine not wanting to cooperate, and had nothing to do with the pattern/instructions.

I adore how this bag hangs. The cross body measurements allow it to sit perfectly on the hip, which is so comfortable and perfect for my since I'm always on the go. And the interior of the bag is huge! This is the perfect option for everyday use! you even have room for a diaper, wipes, and a change of clothes for you little one, plus all your normal purse stuff!

I thought this pattern was extremely easy to sew, the instructions were great. This is the perfect nap time sew! Put the kiddos to bed, sew this up, and you have a new bag to use in time to pick the older kiddos up from school!

I can't wait to use this today! I will be making another with the optional fringe and tassel in grey suede, because anyone that knows me knows I LOVE grey! And a special thanks to the one and only Jan! The best dress form there is! She's a keeper and she doesn't complain about standing outside in the freezing cold and snow!! hehe

Need this pattern??(You know you want it!!) Use code: PATTERNTOUR50 during the entire month of November to get 50% off your ENTIRE purchase!!!! Isn't Jenny the best?!?!? But wait, there's more!!! Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win one of 3 amazing prizes!! The giveaway ends November 24th, so don't forget to enter!!

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Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to take a look at the other bloggers in the tour! Happy Sewing :)

When Suzanne asked me to be a part of this blog tour, I was so excited!! I LOVE testing for her, and had to unfortunately this one out, so I was really excited to finally be able to sew these up!

Well, I seriously thought I was doomed this week. My entire family sick, kiddos out of school, disaster of a house, and then like anything else bad could happen, my fabric was late. I honestly thought this post wasn't going to happen. I was not happy, to say the least!!! But, thankfully, the Aviator pants are such a fantastic sew, I was able to sew these up in no time at all, once I had my fabric that is. It made up for all that bad stuff!

Who doesn't love a good pair of comy pants?!?!? I am normally a jean kinda girl, but these pants are really awesome!

Ok, here's some details about this great pattern:

sizes xxs-xxxl
no zipper or buttons
yoga style waistband
pants or capri lengths included
size chart and finished measurement charts included
easy to follow instructions
color photos
numerous pocket styles included
cuffed or non cuffed options
triangle accents

It's easy to say these pants could be made tons of ways for a variety of looks! I decided on the cuffed bottom, no pockets, and regular yoga waistband.

The fit on these are great, but if you are in between sizes, or using a super stretchy material and want a more fitted look, size down. I ended up going by the size chart, but after sewing took them in since my material was on the thinner side and very very stretchy!!

While on the subject of fabric, there are many types that can be used for these pants. I choose a cotton lycra for the main fabric, and a leather scuba knit for the triangle accent. Try to pick fabrics of similar weights if you are going to do the triangle accents. I also used the scuba knit for the cuffs and waistband. If you haven't sewn with scuba before, you need to. It's pretty awesome!!!

Worried you can't leave the house in these? Too much like sweatpants? I really think you have nothing to worry about! Take a second and search "women's sweatpants" on Pinterest. You will be amazed at the styling options for comfy pants! This type of pant is not meant to just lounge around in! It's meant to be shown off!

I paired mine with an amazing pair of suede and leather heels and my all time favorite blazer that has leather details! Perfect for my leather aviators!

I really love the triangle accents on the pants. And the cuffs are great too! How cute would these be cropped????

These pants are extremely comfortable and so versatile. Dress up or dress down, they are a definite need in your sewing arsenal! And if you're looking for a quick sew, these have got you covered! The simplest version; no pockets, no cuffs, regular waistband, could easily take under an hour to sew! Even with all the added details, these pants are quick and the instructions are very easy to follow.

Don't forget to pick up your copy of the Women's Aviators today for 15% off, using code AVIATORTOUR. Or grab both the women and children's patterns and get 30%off!

And while you're at it, take a few minutes to check out all the other awesome Aviators on in tour!

It's that time of year. The kids are back to school, the leaves are changing, Halloween is fast approaching. We are frequenting cider mills and pumpkin patches. Fall is my second most favorite season! I love all the colors and the cooler weather. And with that cooler weather comes fall clothes, which may really be the best part! Sweaters, scarves, boots, ruffle pants, tights....I could go on forever!

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a part of the Greenstyle Focus on Fall Blog Tour, being that I LOVE fall and I LOVE Greenstyle Creations just as much. Riley Blake graciously provided all the fabrics for the bloggers in the tour! How awesome is that?!?!?! I will say, I may have done a little happy dance when I found that out ;) And thanks to Whimsical Fabric, there are some terrific prizes at the end of this post!

The hardest part for me was choosing patterns. I really wanted to sew something I had not sewn before! I decided on the bella bubble sleeve tee, willow ruffle pants, and the laurelette dress. Yes yes, I know. That's a lot of patterns. But I knew It would be worth it in the end!

fabrics: navy stripe navy dot

Seriously, how cute is that?!?!? I have had the bella bubble sleeve tee for a while. I actually have had one cut for about a year, but I've never sewn it. I don't know what I was waiting for, because this pattern is great! The instructions are great, it is easy to sew, and it is super quick! The fit is wonderful too!

I did change up the sleeves a little bit since I didn't have any elastic thread on hand. I gathered the outer bubble without using elastic, and it worked out beautifully!

I went with a striped contrast on the inner bubble of the sleeve (take my word for it since I don't have a photo of this) and on the collar, and I love how it turned out.

I love the fit! I made a 12month with a 2 length for my peanut. It is perfect and should last all winter and spring!!

Should we talk about the pants??? I mean, seriously...these are to.die.for! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the triple ruffle. Not a fan of so many ruffles? This would be super easy to alter. To leave off however many you don't want! Or many leave off the small top ruffle and add another long ruffle! Lots of options.

I love the movement these pants have. Every time she walks, jumps, twirls, it is just so fun to watch! These went together really easy! Word to the wise, use the elastic thread for these! I once again didn't ave any so I gathered by hand. It took longer, but the finished product looks great!

I was nervous about these since the website says 2yrs-12yrs, but was pleasantly surprised when I opened the pdf and saw it goes all the way down to 12months! Perfect!!!

I sewed up the 12month width with the 2yr length, and it is a great fit. I love the roominess of the pants. Perfect for my active little lady!

Ready for the last pattern?? I know, you are all waiting on the edges of your seats, aren't you?!?!?

OMG! This is my FAVORITE EVER!!! The laurelette dress is amazing. So easy to sew, so quick, so beautiful! It is one of my favorite dresses ever! And so perfect for fall.

I decided to sew the pleated front, non-pleated back option. I think I will sew my next with a non-pleated front too! How cute would it be with a gathered skirt too????

The cowl neck is just lovely! Not too roomy, but still can keep those little necks warm as the weather gets cooler!

The little lady was able to easily run, jump, hop, and play in her super comfy dress! The fit was wonderful! This is the straight 12months and I love how it turned out! I was worried it may be too short, but it is the perfect length and should last her a long time! There is even a tunic length in the pattern!!!

I think little ladies instinctively know how to pose...lol Little lady models are just the best! This pattern is perfect and I can't wait to make many many more!

The moral of the story is, Greenstyle Creations has amazing patterns! You should definitely go get some...like NOW! And you can use code "25discount" to get 25% off your purchase during the tour!

Don't forget to enter below for some amazing prizes! And please go take a minute and check out all the other amazing bloggers on the tour!

Greenstyle Creations Focus on Fall Blog Tour Schedule

October 13- Kick off Post by Blogs Like A Mother
October 14- Friends Stitched Together
October 15- Handmade Boy
October 16- Becca Duval Photography
October 17- The Lady and The Gents
October 18- Snickerdoodle Stew
October 19- The Sewing Sparrow
October 20- Once Upon A Sewing Machine
October 21- Babyfish Designs
October 22- FABulous Home-Sewn
October 23- Gracious Threads
October 24- Wrap Up Post by Blogs Like A Mother

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I'm baaaack! Ok, so it's been a while. I apologize for my lack of posts the last month, but life got in the way with 2 boys starting school, a wedding, a birthday, and numerous other activities. But I am back and I can't wait to show you what I just finished!

Pattern Parcel #5: Choose your own price and support DonorsChoose. Win/win!

Don't worry. You aren't dreaming. Perfect Pattern Parcel is back and it's for the girls this time, with 5 AMAZING patterns, plus a bonus pattern if you spend $28 or more! And the sizing on these patterns are going to make you flip! Are you ready?!?!?! They've got you covered from toddlers through tweens!! Yes, you heard right! These patterns run the gamut of sizes, for all the little ladies in your life!

Ok, so do you remember how PPP works? If not, here's a quick run down. You get to choose how much you want to pay for the above patterns. There are options from $16-$55, but there is also a custom price option too. Anything $28 and over gets you the bonus pattern, and believe me, you want it! Proceeds go to help support these great indie designers and also to Donors Choose, which is an organization that helps provide funds to teachers and students who are in need or resources, supplies, etc. To date, $11,000 has been raised fro K-12 students! I'm pretty sure I explained it better here, so click the link if you want more info. Or better yet, head on over to Perfect Pattern Parcel.

So, I had my choice of all of these fabulous patterns to sew for the little lady, but as always, I ran into sizing issues. You see, the little lady is tiny. I mean, she's really tiny! Like, "hello, I'm 2 years old but I wear 9 month clothes" tiny. So, I was limited in what I could sew. Let me say this though, I will be sewing every pattern in this!! They are all amazing and I can't wait until she fits into them!

The weather is getting colder and the leaves are starting to fall. So what better to sew than an adorable knit blazer! Please welcome the Lily Knit Blazer by peek-a-boo patternshop.

LOL, that picture cracks me up. Let me give you a little behind the scenes info before I dive into the pattern. This little lady is a sass and a half! And on photo day, she had more sass than ever! The hour and a half before said photos were taken were spent screaming and crying because the oldest gent wasn't home from school yet. She then flipped out because she wanted rain boots and a raincoat. Needless to say it was a fun afternoon.

Ok, enough rambling. I love PAS patterns. I have tested for Amy many many times, and they usually turn out to be my most favorite and most worn items I make! This blazer is no exception. This pattern includes:

sizes 3months-12years
size chart and finished garment measurements
printing chart
piping tips
step by step instructions with color photos
ruffle back
instructions for optional piping, pockets, princess seams, and cuffs

I decided to go with a basic blazer look, no pockets, piping or princess seams. I wanted this blazer to be simple and not so fussy. Mission accomplished! I adore the contrast lapel and the mismatched buttons, but the real show stopper is the back!

Look at that ruffle!!! Such a great design element! If you didn't want the ruffle, I think it would be very easy to leave it off and extend the back pieces. The instructions call for a contrast band in order to attach the main blazer portion to the ruffle. I chose to use the same fabric as the rest of the blazer for a more cohesive look.

The construction of this blazer is really nice. The only exposed seams are on the sleeves, and everything else is hidden between the main and lining fabrics! And I really enjoyed sewing this. It was easy to do and the finished product looks very professional. My husband was very impressed when I told him I made it! And bonus, It only took a few hours to sew, and that includes numerous (like 500) interuptions from the kiddos.

The cuffs are optional, but I knew that length may be an issue for my little lady. I sewed her up the size 12months, even though I knew the body would be big. I added the cuffs because I knew she would need a little extra length in the sleeves, and I think it looks just perfect! Definitely use the size chart that is provided! Amy's sizing is always spot on for me, so if you go by her chart, you should have a great fit!

I really love the collar too. Sometimes collars don't lay right after being sewn, but this one looks wonderful. No weird puckering. It looks clean and professional!

My original fabric was a white and grey dot, but after cutting out the pattern pieces, I realized the dots were just way too big. This stripe turned out to be perfect! And while I despise matching stripes, I've gotta give myself some credit! I did a pretty darn good job!!

This pattern is perfect for the fall and winter weather that is approaching! And I can definitely see my little lady wearing this in the springtime too. It is the perfect lightweight layering piece!

If you'd like more information on this pattern, or any of the other patterns that are included in PPP#5, head on over here. You can check out PPP on facebook too, and even in the new facebook group. I'd like to thank Jill and Danny for letting me be a part of this great blog tour! This is my second one for them and it's always so much fun!!

Please take a moment and check out all the other amazing bloggers who are participating in the PPP#5 blog tour! And thanks for stopping by!!

Parcel #5 Inspiration Tour Schedule:

Friday, September 19 Pienkel || Cookin' and Craftin'

Saturday, September 20 Sew Busy Lizzy || The Life Of A Compulsive Crafter

Sunday, September 21 Keep Calm and Carrion || Felt With Love Designs

Monday, September 22 Radiant Home Studio || Sewing Sober

Tuesday, September 23 Sew Fishsticks || La Pantigana || Amanda Rose

Wednesday,September 24 Shawnta Sews || Sprouting JubeJube || Knot Sew Normal

Thursday, September 25 Make It Perfect || Mimi's Mom || Climbing the Willow

Friday, September 26 Needle and Ted || Our Family Four

Saturday, September 27 Froo & Boo

Sunday, September 28 Stitches by Laura || Vicky Myers creations

Monday, September 29 Cookin' and Craftin' || The Crazy Tailor

Tuesday, September 30 mama says sew || FABulous Home Sewn || The Inspired Wren

Wednesday, October 1 lady and the gents || That's-Sew-Kari || Sewing Sober

Thursday,October 2 Gracious Threads || Blogs Like A Mother || SewsNBows

Friday, October 3 sew chibi || Lulu & Celeste || Made by Sara

*I received free patterns in order to complete review. All views expressed in this post are my own*

School is starting....like tomorrow! I've got mixed emotions over here. My oldest gent is heading off to Kindergarten. He will be gone ALL DAY! And while I am excited for him and for a little break of having to entertain 3 little ones at home, I am a bundle of nerves and anxiety. I mean, come on?!?! Riding the bus??? Eating lunch at school???? Not being with me all day???? Ugghhh. How will I handle all of this?!?!

Good news, my gent is MORE THAN READY! Thanks to Perfect Pattern Parcel, he will be the most stylish kid at school, so at least I can be a little at ease, haha.

Never heard of PPP before? Ok, so here's the deal. You get to pick your price! Yes, you heard me right. Anywhere between $10-$200 gets you 5 amazing patterns. Pay $26 or more and you get a BONUS pattern. And let me tell you, you NEED the bonus pattern! And the best part is the money you spend goes to support the indie designers, is given to charity, and helps to expand the awareness of both the designers and the charities you donate to! I mean, who doesn't want to help out a good cause and get great patterns?!?!

Ok, so when I signed up for the blog tour I had all these grand ideas of awesome photo shoots of my 2 gents in the AMAZING bonus pattern. So, guess what? It didn't happen. Life happened and time got away from me. But guess what?? Sometimes these things happen for a reason.

Let me introduce you to my oldest gent sporting the fantastic Schoolboy Vest by Sew Much Ado.

I am enamoured with this pattern! So let's talk details. The Schoolboy Vest has an amazing size range to cover all your gents, from 6m-12y!! The included measurement chart is extremely helpful. My guys are getting taller, but are string beans! I made the size 4, even though I knew the chest would be a tad big for my guy.

I also love that chart that shows what pages to print based on what size/design elements you are sewing! So awesome!! The instructions are really well written and easy to follow, and even include super helpful color photos. A beginner can definitely tackle this pattern with some time and patience!

If you are returning reader, you probably already know I love pockets, as do my kiddos. So of course I had to make the welt pockets. To scared to try them? There are instructions for faux welts too!

Also included are instructions for a back tie, although I left it out this time, since this vest will ultimately be reversible! Oh, want to do a reversible one like me?? Have no fear, there are instructions for that too! I mean, this pattern really didn't leave anything out!

Let's talk about fit for a second. My boy normally wears a 4/5t, with room to grow. This is the size 4. He is wearing 2 shirts underneath, and he can still move comfortably. Definitely look at the size chart and go by chest size, then adjust the length accordingly! This vest is meant to have a slim modern fit. No baggy 90's vests here ;)

I mean, seriously. I'm gonna miss this kid a ton! I wasn't sure how I would like this vest dressed down, but I almost like it better! Put this with an awesome tee and some jeans and tennies, and you are set for your first day of school!

But maybe you need a slightly dressier option. Not a problem. Throw on a button down, maybe even a bow tie, and you're ready to hit the town!

My gents are slightly obsessed with surprises, so I try to incorporate a little surprise in everything I make them. The mustaches were the perfect whimsy this vest needed! On the outside it is a spectacular bright blue, but only he knows what's on the inside! I will just say this, he more than loves his secret mustaches!

See where you can see the thread from the buttons? Here's where the reversible comes into play.Sew on some buttons over where the thread is. Don't worry, the button on the front will cover the thread of the inside buttons. And now you have a reversible vest. Now everyone can see that awesome secret fabric :)

I may not be ready for him to leave me, but he sure is ready! And thankfully I can send him out feeling confident and looking stylish in a ooak vest!

Vest #2 is already planned and will be sewn for my littlest gent for his first day, and let me tell you, he can't wait to look like his big brother!

I can't say enough good things about this pattern. In less 2 hours, from start to finish, I was able to sew this up. You can't beat that! Especially for such a versatile pattern that can be dressed up or down!

If you want to learn more about this or any of the other great patterns in the Perfect Pattern Parcel #4, head on over here. You have untile September 5th to pick up pattern parcel #4! And give PPP a like on facebook too so you can stay up to date on all the happenings.

Thanks so much to PPP for letting me be a part of this awesome blog tour! And don't forget to check out the other bloggers on this tour! There is some amazing sewing going on here that you will not want to miss!