Gwen Neckband option, I like a neckband that lays flatter so I later folded it over and hand stitched it down.

I am a hoarder of really cool knit fabrics. Okay, maybe not quite a hoarder, but a collector and when I can find them for a really good price like maybe $4/yard or less then I get a few yards and save them for an ambitious day. The projects I'm sharing today all come from the hoarded fabric box.

At the beach with the kids in Gwen Dress

Three months ago our little family moved from Utah to southern California. Now I am just a couple of hours away from the LA fashion district! Scary and I have plotted many times over the last couple of years to go there and now I find myself just a hop, skip, and a jump away. The only problem I face now is the fabric stash. How can I convince Samson to let me go on a mini trip exclusively for fabric shopping when I have enough fabric already? The solution is simple, I need to stop daydreaming of using those fabrics and start sewing with them. I haven't been fabric shopping for almost 6 months.

Gwen Skirt option with performance knit

It may not be common knowledge in the blogging world, but I love dresses. 90% of my wardrobe is a spit of either workout clothes or dresses.

Gwen Dress with neckband option using lightweight cotton/jersey knit

Uptown/Downtown Dress with modified neckband, Sally is in her Otium Shirt

In coping with the new adjustments of family far away and trying to adorn the part of homemaker that has it together, I've been doing some self care sewing. It has made getting ready for date nights (that are too few and far between) and church a lot less stressful and emotional. I also recently started homeschooling and I think it's important to approach it professionally. Each day we get dressed up for the day. I find that it helps me get more mentally geared to teach.

Gwen Skirt option is perfect for school

To start off my fall wardrobe I turned to the Gwen; I love this dress! I can honestly say that because I've sewn up every version of this dress out of completely different fabrics, and each time I have loved the outcome. If you are pear shaped (not much on top with plenty of curves on bottom) this dress could be great for you as well. It's a great way to cast aside the workout clothes of the mom world and not lose the comfort.

Gwen Dress with placket option using interlock knit; super comfy!

The length is perfect! As a kid I remember going to a school presentation where a writer came and told us that a well writ story needs to be like a skirt. Long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to make it interesting. I feel like the Gwen fits this description. Each time I sewed it I did the half length sleeve because I won't have much need for long sleeves here and don't love any sleeve shorter than that.

Gwen Dress with placket option and nautical buttons made using puffy paint

In addition to the various Gwen dresses, I have also pulled out the Willow Wrap dress from this last winter. It is still a great dress and the extra flowyness is great on the days where fitted isn't necessarily best.

Willow Wrap Dress has been waiting to be pulled out for fall

To cap off my fall wardrobe I decided I needed one classically romantic style dress. The Uptown/Downtown Maxi Dress was the perfect pattern to turn to.

Uptown/Downtown Dress Maxi option using burnout jersey knit

You may be thinking that this fabric looks a little bit familiar, and you would be right. When we found this fabric almost a year and a half ago we fell in love with it, bought 8 yards, cut it down the middle, and saved it for the perfect project. When the Uptown/Downtown pattern came out I knew I finally had found the perfect pattern for this highly hoarded fabric.

My favorite accessory is my kids. They make me feel full of joy and complete. My smiles are always bigger with them around.

As far a blogging goes, life is no longer going to step aside for the blog. I'm going to sneak in pictures with my kids in the last few minutes of light in the comfort of my backyard; put my full energy of heart into trying to master the crazy hard job of home-school teacher, and focus on my family. When I share, it will be raw feelings, learning experiences, and things that can make others feel empowered instead of inadequate. Because the reality is that life is hard; there need to be more opportunities to be lifted and find joy in the simple things.

Uptown/Downtown Dress with modified neckband and pockets

With love,
Al

Today we are happy to be joining in the fun of Romper Week with Sewing Mama RaeAnna (details of prizes at the end of the post).


Warm summer days bring flashbacks of my childhood mixed with pulling weeds and cream soda. Mom taught us to serve those near us for almost nothing and to be there for family. I was pushed the hardest to be my best when serving my Aunt Orpha. I remember her home was always warm and she had a clock that every hour a different bird would sing. I would sit on her soft white carpet staring at paintings for what seemed like hours as she shared stories from the past.



She was sure she wasn't going to be around for long so she never invested in a hearing aid. It seemed I never talked loud or slow enough for her to hear me clearly, but that never stopped the stories. Quite frequently Mom would drop us off and Aunt Orpha would put us to work on her beautiful flowers outside. When the weeding was done Aunt Orpha always rewarded us with a can of cold Cream Soda straight from the fridge. After the sweat and heat, nothing could have ever tasted better.



There was something beautiful about Aunt Orpha that makes me smile just thinking about her. Although she was sure she wouldn't live to be that old, she was resilient, faithful, creative, opinionated, occasionally ornery, and kind.



Something about making this romper brought back memories of all the elder ladies we served in our town. I'm not sure if it's the color scheme or the feeling of youth and summer that it brings when I see Ty in it, but it makes me look forward to a summer full of cream soda and teaching Ty to serve those around us that are less able.



We've already begun to teach the process of patience a little by trying to grow our own little wild flower garden out in front of our apartment. We don't get much sunlight (maybe a few hours) so all the little baby plants that are popping up feel like a miracle. Each day we water and are amazed by the transformation. By the time Ty's new sibling comes, we are expecting flowers.


Serving those in need is a lot like loving these baby plants and seeds. They need help little by little, and one big effort is not going to cut it. Some people don't actually need work done, just someone to visit with and young children to be around.


Enough with the stories, here's the details about the romper.
Sorry, I got a little caught up in my though process. But if you really just want to know how to duplicate the look, I used Elegance & Elephant's Bubble Pocket Shorts Pattern on bottom and Violet Field Thread's Josephine Blouse Pattern on top. The Bubble Pocket Shorts were such a quick sew and I think I will need to make a pile of them. I love the fit on them as well. The Josephine Blouse has such nice instructions to give a really professional finish. Since it had pin tucking and a ruffle tab, I wouldn't consider it a quick sew, but now that I've done it, I could easily get through it much faster in the future.


The pockets were only cut the width of the 12M size and I used the 12M amount of elastic there as well (for a slimmer fit). The tie at the waist was made from the Josephine pattern and I used scraps to make the belt loops (placing them on the seams of the bubble shorts). I ended up taking in the blouse part of the romper along the side seams for a better fit.


Since my machine always boycotts button holes, I decided to save time and seam ripping multiple times by using KAM snaps. I originally got the KAM snaps for the baby suite tour this week (and to make bodysuits for my baby) and I was amazed at their ease of application and versatility. Just in the last week I have used them for the bodysuit, Ty's romper, and a satin bolero for friend's little girl. I know also from experience that they are really tough to break. I was in a hurry and put one of the snaps on backward on the bolero. It took a good twenty minutes of trying to get it off before I was successful and at that point it was multiple attempts with my teeth eventually breaking the plastic on the front of the snap that allowed me to get it off.

I hope you loved this look as much as I did.



If you haven't entered the drawing or the link-up party yet you should because there are some great prizes.

Rafflecopter code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Link-up code:

So I totally spaced that I was the one supposed to be posting today until yesterday afternoon. It was full of family fun awesomeness so I didn't get my tutorial written. While I am working on finishing that I need your help with this project. This post has been an itch in my head over the last couple weeks and today feels like the right day to put it out. 

Growing up we spent a lot of time at my Grandma Twila's home. She had a laugh that filled the whole house. Her kitchen was always full of delicious country style cooking complete with a small half pint jar full of bacon grease on the stovetop. For most of my life, she was perfectly pleasantly plump; her body absolutely ideal for snuggling her 20+ grandchildren. To fight against her pleasantly plump, she was an intermittent dieter.
She would sign up for Weight Watchers for a few months at a time, with the goal to loose 15 to 20 lbs. She frequently would cheat the point system. Spending all of her points on one delicious Sunday Dinner and then she would eat celery and carrots for the remainder of the week. She would do this for a couple weeks until she was tired of all the healthy eating and then she would go back to her usual routine.
The other day I was talking to Jo about the phrase I hate most and one that I have been internally struggling with for the last couple weeks. When she reminded me that it was a refrigerator magnet at Grandma Twila's. As soon as she reminded me I could instantly see it. I knew the exact colors, the dots around the words and the cute font it was written in.  This may not seem impressive but my Grandma has been gone for 10 years now and this magnet was not more than 1/2" tall and 3" wide.
Today, this quote is everywhere; their are innumerable Pinterest Boards dedicated to this exact phrase. I find it so repulsive, I really don't want to write it (but if we are going to move past it I guess I kinda have to):
"Nothing tastes as good, as skinny feels."
I know you may not agree with me, you don't have to but hear me out before you make your judgement.
1. Skinny isn't a feeling, it is a shape.
2. Emotional eating is one of the contributing factors for being overweight and obese (I can say this because this is how I got where I am). By further perpetuating an emotional connection between the dieter and their food they will not be able to get emotionally well. It might guilt them into a different eating disorder than the one they currently have like bulimia or anorexia.
3. Taste is important to our bodies; a healthy amount of fat can tell our bodies that we are full and satisfied. We can train our bodies to seek after the taste of fresh ingredients and as we do this we can feel the benefits in energy as we seek premium fuel for our bodies, so lets not disregard this important sense.

I was out taking pictures with my mom last week, I realized how much more confident than I was just 6 months ago. My overall wellness has changed and it has nothing to do with my shape but it has everything to do with my confidence. I think I look prettier because I am not afraid to smile. I am pretty sure I am more fashionable because I am okay with not being invisible. My wish is that I could rewrite a phrase that was just as catchy, that would encourage women to take faith in who they are and their value.

Would you help me? I'll make you a deal if we find one or even a couple, I will make a cute little printable. Then we can all make refrigerator magnets and feel fabulous every time we look at it.

Here are a few that I loved that might serve as inspiration:

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

Please I am begging for your help.....

We are so excited to be teaming up with Ajaire from Call Ajaire for this years Sew-a-bration of Womanhood. Check out her site today with more positive motivation for joining in the Sew-a-bration.  
Just one short year ago I came up with the idea of Make Mom (you can find more on the name change to Sew-a-bration of Womanhood here) and with the support of my sisters we moved forward with finding guest contributors. The whole idea was that I would force myself to sew for me and encouraging my friends to do the same. Guess what? I was amazed by the great project my friends sewed but I didn't participate. Honestly, at the time I was not satisfied with who I was and was not ready to parade for the whole world to see.
It all changed for me when I went to HOBY as a senior staffer, I was sure that the 15 & 16 year olds would just see me the way I saw myself. An out of touch, out of shape mother of 2 young kids; I was surprised when they saw my heart.
The whole experience was uplifting in a way I will never have words to describe. I was moved so many times by their strength, courage and kindness. Even though their was a difference of a decade in our ages, I count them as some of my closest friends. I hope to be their biggest cheerleaders as they grow up and I watch them serve others.

At the end of the few days that make HOBY we each pass around a paper where we were given 20 seconds to write several adjectives about each member of our team. After the conference when I got in the car and I started reading through the list, I was overwhelmed by their kind words. I knew that the voice in my head had been too harsh at the lady I was looking at in the mirror. I have kept that paper in my top drawer and when I begin to doubt my worth I reflect on that page & add the words that husband & kiddos would add. This gives me the confidence to stand tall look in the mirror & see a "strong, brave, curvy, easy going mother of two beautiful children". As I have changed the words in my head my problem areas are nothing more than annoyances.
Sewing for myself has become a way that I accept me. Allow me to celebrate my individuality in shape & style. I hope this month you join with us in celebrating yourself or a woman that you love that might need it.


On Monday we will be opening up a giveaway and linkup party for to share your creations from the months of April & May.
Oh, before you go check out the amazing line up we have. I am excited to see all of their creations, I know they will do a great job & that their sewing projects will inspire you!

Today, we (Jo & Scary) are putting on our brave faces; we are sharing our weights and measurements with you. We decided that it is honesty time with our weight, our exercise routines, and our health in general.  We have chosen to no longer live in a health fog.  We also decided that we will not subscribe to any embarrassment about our weight or numbers.  We are beautiful women.  We love ourselves and our husbands love us.  We both weighed more than our husbands before marriage.  Our success, beauty, personality, and happiness are not contingent on numbers and they never have been.

When my husband and I (Jo) were first married, we lived in a spending fog.  We would have a relative idea how much money was in the account, and a relative idea of how much we could spend.  After a few mistakes, we decided to take the bull by the horns and figure out exactly how much money we had and exactly how much we could spend.  Rather than going to the grocery store and worrying about whether or not the card would work, I knew before hand.  It was a financial wake up call.  Living with financial blue skies, rather than a financial fog is a very good thing!  So, today we are going to apply the same principals to weight and weight loss.



We believe our Heavenly Father made us, and we owe all that we have to him.  This weight loss and health improvement journey is to honor him and this amazing creation called life that he has given us stewardship over.

This post contains affiliate links. We only will affiliate with companies & products that we personally believe in and agree with their quality standards.
I'm so excited to share my newest favorite in Ty's wardrobe. Last week I had the opportunity to pattern test the SOLEIL dress (12 months through 12 years with open and closed back options) by Lauren at Selvage Designs and the finished product was a masterpiece.
I had purchased 3 yards of a solid lightweight coral knit a couple months of ago to make a dress for myself. When I saw the pattern I would be testing, I knew this fabric would be perfect for spring and summer. Since Ty's still little, sharing a some fabric with her means there will still be enough for me.
Although the color is great, it seemed like the fabric needed something to take it from a decent solid to a fun print. I know I've referenced Vera Luna's discharge paste projects multiple times but, I probably wont stop any time soon because it's kept me amazed for over a year. She is my FAVORITE about creating cool prints on fabrics using simple and unique techniques. I'm sure if we weren't so geographically separate we would have a lot of fun creating together and be really good friends.
Anyway, discharge paste can be super cool when you find the right fabric to combine with it. Sometimes the effect isn't as cool as you would hope, but this time it turned out amazing (I tested it on a scrap of fabric before moving forward). I decided to do a bit of color blocking with my created print fabric and the original solid fabric to give more dimension.
I used a styrofoam marshmallow from a Joann's as my stamp and dumped some discharge paste on a paper plate. The process was just a matter of somewhat randomly applying the polka-dots to the fabric. It was fast, easy, and a lot of fun. I wanted the fabric to give the distressed, commercial look. After it dried, it was just a matter of steam ironing, washing it again (to get the fishy smell out), and sewing it all together.
I love the final result! Lauren's pattern was fun to work with as well. I was a little nervous about sewing with ribbing because that's something I've never done before, but it made it all come together easily. I think her pattern is exceptionally well written and easy to follow. I also love the simple lines and modest design of the dress (high arm holes, good coverage in the neckline).
I am a major fan of the opening in the back, although Ty's three and a half year old tantrum stage is not a fan of a hole in the back. I keep telling her that it will get hot soon and then she will be happy for the hole, but the cold rainy/snowy spring causes her to doubt my words.
It was very easy to modify this pattern to fit my tall skinny little girl. There was enough information on the sizing chart to get the fit perfect the first time. I made a 4 width with a 5 length. I only cut the 5 length on the skirt because it didn't make a big difference on the bodice to change the length and I didn't want to make the neckline too low. I'm seriously tempted to make a pile of these fun dresses to get us through the hot summer. Plus I won't have to worry about coordinating entire outfits with a new baby. Yep, I'll definitely be making more!

This pattern is the perfect if you are new with knits and are trying to gain confidence, the ribbing makes the neck, arm & cutout fool proof. It is also great if you are experienced in knit and are looking for a unique & playful summer dress. The diagrams and instructions on this pattern are so professional & easy to follow. Her finished garment chart in the tutorial part of the pattern gives you necessary information for adjusting fit. Not only does she have normal width and length measurements but back waist length & arm hole depth. On most patterns this information could only be acquired by measuring yourself & subtracting seam allowances. It is things like this that really show the deep attention to detail that Lauren has shown while creating this pattern.

Another great feature on this pattern is pieces themselves she has the option to select a single size for printing, saving you precious ink. She uses both colors & strokes for each size so if you end up printing them all it will be easy to keep them straight.

We give this pattern 2 thumbs way up and hope you take the opportunity to purchase it & sew it up. We know you won't be disappointed!

Lauren is graciously offering a $2 off coupon code for the Soleil Dress to Shaffer Sister readers. It is good through Sunday, April 13 at 11:59pm MST just type "soleilrelease2" in the checkout.