Etsy Shop and some pictures

I've been making some changes to my Etsy things and wanted to pass it along.

Over the weekend I closed my quilt shop and plan to keep it closed and just use LadyFaceMakes in the future.  There will definitely be a quilt section that you should check out. 

I have put LadyFaceMakes on vacation mode for a while to update some things I thought needed work, add new products, and get a little time to catch my breath. 

I will reopen on MARCH 18th and will show a few peaks of what I will be adding on my instagram shop account @shopladyface, and a coupon code you can use on anything the day of the reopening. 

I'm excited about new things coming and hope you'll come check them out! 

p.s. that adorable cross stitch I'm working on in the above photo is from Satsuma Street on Etsy.  She just released a San Fransisco pattern that I've got my eyes on. 

Books I

I love to read.  Last year I didn't read much AT ALL.  So far this year I'm doing much better.  Still not as much as usual.

I will always prefer real books over reading on a screen, but it's so darn easy that I'm all for it.  Read more.  That's good whatever the form. Anyway, here's what I've read so far this year.

First! Divergent by Veronica Ross.  I'm sure you've heard of this one.  It was fast, and the story was intriguing.  I started it and read for 5 1/2 hours straight.  I know it's being made into a movie so I don't want to give away too much.  I thought the romantic relationship could have used some work and wasn't super believable for me, but I still rooted for them to be together.  I have had to refrain from buying the next one (until the price lowers on the digital version) because the book ends in such an abrupt spot! I kept trying to go to the next page convinced it was just a chapter break!!!! Argh!!!!! Not prepared for that!! I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to hold out...

Second: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.  I saw this one all over Instagram last year, and enjoyed it immensely.  I was reluctant to start it because emotions make me uncomfortable. But it's worth it.  I loved the point of view.  It was unexpectedly personal too, for me, in a good way. This is one you'll be glad you took time to read.  I'm looking forward to the other books Green has written.

Third: The Elegance of The Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.  I loved this one so much.  I underlined on the first night of reading it.  It's written in such a beautiful way and is originally a french novel.  The story is from two different perspectives and each is so different.  An older woman who is pretending to be something she isn't, and a teenage girl who keeps note about the magnificent things in life.  If she finds something good enough, she will refrain from committing suicide. Both are so interesting and really beautiful.  Maybe it's because Muriel Barbery is French, but I felt she was exceptionally good at capturing feelings and turning them into words.  Not necessarily a fast read, but I think I extended it because I didn't want it to end!  I'll definitely be reading anything else she's written.

Fourth: The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson.  This was a recommendation from my Step-Father who is nuts for sci-fi and everything about it.  I enjoy science-fiction but it's not my main scene.  This is more of a novella and tells an interesting story about a forger who must recreate an emperor's soul.  The idea was really great but I felt the writing was a bit repetitive, like the author needed more space to establish backstory.  If you like science fiction a lot, you'd definitely enjoy this one.

Fifth: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? By Mindy Kaling. This one was super fun, like a vacation with a good friend.  She's funny and honest and I really enjoy hearing how things happen to people.  I'm a bit embarrassed to say I assumed she was going to be more superficial, and was really pleasantly surprised with how real and awesome she is.  Plus she's seriously hilarious.  I enjoy watching her on TV more after reading this.  It's like I know her now, you know? Ha.

Sixth: The Rosie Project by Graeme Smith. I LOVED this story!! It's a boy meets girl story but so much better.  The main character is almost robotic in personality but so endearing and it is hilarious to watch him go through certain things he has never dealt with before.  I really enjoy romantic stories that aren't filled with sex and ridiculousness, that have interesting and complex characters with a well done plot, and this one was so good.  

That's what I've been reading lately, have you found anything to read?

Pattern Testing the Tuileries Dress

I have drooled over every post Kelly from Sewing in No Man's Land has ever written and jumped at the chance to pattern test her first graded pattern for the Tuileries Dress (you can read about the pattern release and see the other dresses made here).

I tested the 4T size.  My daughter is technically still 3, but will be 4 in April and so whenever I make a pattern I do a size up to be sure it can be worn more than once.

I ended up getting a cough the weekend after receiving the pattern which put me a little behind, and while I didn't have that many improvements, all the ones I thought of kept coming through in revision pdf's that Kelly sent us!  She's good. 

The dress turned out wonderfully and Abby wouldn't take it off after we took some pictures on Sunday!  Pardon the garage door, when it's barely 30 degrees and your model is not quite 4 years old, your photo shoot locations dwindle significantly. 

This pattern stands really well on it's own (you can get it here on Craftsy for a great price), I think I styled little girly face pretty well (pats self on back!) though the deadness of our yard kindof detracts...  I don't really consider myself "stylish" whatsoever, but I feel like she looks pretty excellently put together!!

The dark fabric I used for this hides the adorable pleats at the neck and skirt, but they're there!

There's also an exposed zipper which I managed to pull off, though I've got lots of room for improvement with zippers.  Heh.  They scare me...

 Isn't she adorable?!

Anyway, it was so fun, and my last addition for Kids Clothes Week Winter 2014 edition!  

Kids Clothes Week: the rest

I got a bit logged down with keeping up the blogging side of sewing for Kids Clothes Week so this is a sum up of the entire week. 

You already saw the leggings.  I ended up adding 1/4" to each side of the 9-12 month size leggings pattern and it was perfect for Sam.  Long, but that's good.

I was most proud of these Bimaa Sweaters I made for Abby.  I made one hooded version (that I apparently never took a picture of...oops...) and this one (above) with the cowl neck option.  She calls it an attached scarf and loves it too.

This pattern is awesome.  I LOVE it and knew I did because it turns out so professionally and I immediately cut out another after the first one was finished.  

I have fabric to make a hooded version or two for Matthew, since he kindof missed out on this sewing.  Boys seem harder to sew for.  It takes a bit more brain power for me to sew for him than for either of the girls.  But hopefully he'll have some good pieces in a few weeks.

Samantha got a new Geranium Dress (pattern here) and it definitely won't be her last.  You've heard it before, excellent pattern.  Go buy it. 

And finally, I made a Lucille Top for Abby that she is nuts for!  Hello strawberry knit!!  Love that print.  This was fun to put together (the combinations of fabrics you could use!!!), but shows me I do need to keep practicing.  There is some waviness to the hems.  Actually, the pattern calls for cuffs on the sleeves, but I put mine on and they wouldn't fit over her hands!!  Ha.  So I cut them off.  I plan to put something there, but haven't done it yet. 

I have one more to show you but that will turn up in the next post!

And, as usual I cut more than I got to sew up, so you're very definitely in for more kids clothes sewing for all of the foreseeable future! Yay!

kids clothes week day 1: baby leggings

Technically today is the end of day 2 of Kids Clothes Week, but I'm showing what I made yesterday so I'm pretty sure all these posts will be a day behind or so.

I made leggings last night (and this afternoon).  I have so many leggings patterns, this is the first I've tried.  Such a quick and satisfying project...unless you forget to buy enough elastic like I did...oops...

Anyway, I made this striped pair from the sleeves of a shirt I had that got into some unfriendly accident in the washer and ended up all bizarrely stained, but the sleeve pants (slants?) turned out great.  They are quite long on Sam but that's fine since they'll probably be pajamas for the most part anyway.

Then I made this pair of 6-9 month leggings from this pattern from Brindille and Twig.  Pretty much revolutionized the way I put in elastic.  No joke.

I made two pairs that I didn't have elastic for until we went to buy some more this morning.  They are size 9-12 months, because that's primarily what Sam is wearing these days, she's growing so fast! Besides this strawberry patterned pair, there is a purple polka dotted pair I'll show you tomorrow (She's sleeping in those right now).

I found that these, even sized at 9-12 months, were super tight around the calves.  The 6-9 month pair wouldn't even fit over her knees... Maybe Sam just has super muscles, or chunky legs, but next time I make these (which will probably be soon), I'll use the 9-12 size, and cut at least another 1/4 inch around the pattern piece to make sure there's a tad more room in there.  The good news is they fit perfectly over her bum, and with the cloth diapers she has a big one.  It's so cute.  Anyway, other than that tiny fit issue, I loved these.  Definitely worth the adjustment.

a swap

Recently (close to a month ago now...?) I did a trade with Marika through Instagram for a pair of these adorable baby booties she makes and sells here for a grey polka dot flannel scarf that I made.

Sam has worn these almost nonstop since they arrived, and I LOVE that they stay on.  Seriously.  They are pretty darn good.  Our kids always seem to have extra long or extra slippery feet and usually can't keep socks or any kind of footwear on until they're walking so these are a welcome relief for that problem.

I'm going to try making my own soon but doubt they'll be as cute as these!

Felt Bows

I caught this through Pinterest, but you can find the tutorial here from Oliver and S so you know it'll be good. 

I had some leftover wool felt from making the stuffed lambs (almost done with those) and decided this would be the perfect way to use it.

Aren't they sweet? 

Luckily I have two little ladies with luscious heads of hair but even they don't need this many bows. 

I put the rest into my Etsy shop so you can go take a look.  I'll definitely be making more of these in more colors very soon!

I also wanted to mention, the pattern template printed regularly gets you the large bows. My husband figured out how to get it to print on half a page and that's how I got the smaller size. Either way they turn out amazing!