Anyone struggle with Satin Stitch?

I used to be able to do Colonial knots (though we called them French Knots - I'll have to find out the difference sometime) with the best of them as a kid. My mother taught me "Candlewicking" as a child and a few extra embroidery stitches thrown in there for good measure, but one I've never mastered is Satin Stitch. It's a stitch that is technically simple, and yet pretty easy for you to mess up.

When I made my daughter a Bit Of Whimsy Dolls Squid, I simply left off the eyes and mouth. She's an infant and it didn't matter. My son requested eyes and no mouth. I don't know why, lol, but I obliged. And while I gave it my best attempt, "Squidly's" eyes are um...interesting at best!

Fast forward to today. I decided i really need to make a little something for my best friend's little ones for Christmas, and I really wanted to make Bit of Whimsy Dolls....but I was scared of messing up the eyes. I don't like getting something wrong and quite often if I do badly enough at the first attempt, I never attempt it again, or at least not for a few years. Sad, but true. But I need to get over this. Not everything is perfect the first time you do it, and practicing is good.

So I decided it was time to find a tutorial! And I found a beaut! Here we go:

http://www.sublimestitching.com/satinstitch.html

Needless to say, with a few tips from her I feel much happier about attempting some more eyes! Thank you Jenny Hart!

Long time no Blog!

Okay, apologies...

Life got ahead of me and blogging just fitting into the "schedule" as I thought it should be.

But, I've decided nothing is ever perfect and I need to get back to blogging as much as I possibly can and have fun!

More soon!

Squidly has arrived!

Introducing Squidly the ... well ... squid!

This is my 2nd ever Bit of Whimsy Doll. His name was supposed to be Spacey, but after he was done, Jared decided the name was no longer fitting. So i nicknamed him in the meantime and it apparently stuck!

Jared picked out all his fabrics except the lightest fabric with the stars that I added so Squidly would be quite so dark all over. As you can tell he loves to hug Squidly, and he does it so hard you kind of wait for his bamboo fiber inners to pop out! Jared also requested that Squidly have no mouth, two eyes but no mouth! So I moved the eyes up a little to look a little more normal on his face. Poor Squidly...no food for you...

I love how detailed the patterns are . Also I am a pretty impatient person, so pdf downloads are my new favourite thing! No waiting to start something until the mailman comes to my house 3, 4, 5 days later. Just download and get sewing... provided the kids are fed, happy and being occupied by Granny of course! ;)

Want to try a Bit of Whimsy Dolls pattern? I'll let you in on a little secret! Click the link in the top left of my blog that has a picture of the Bit of Whimsy Dolls...it'll take you right to her store. And when yoou checkout using that link use this discount code: bowmagic2
You'll get 10% off! How fantastic is that!?

Not wanting to buy just yet? Use the same link to her store to download and try Eddie Earthworm and Sammy Squid FREE! Yes, that's right, try two patterns FREE! You'll love them! :)

Dyeing Playsilks!

I've been playing around with the few playsilks I bought a little while ago, dyeing them with koolaid. It's been quite fun!

I am no pro at this, but the great thing is I don't have to dedicate a huge chunk of time to it. I can just have one soaking in the vinegar/water solution, take it out, splash on some dye in my good ol' pyrex dish, throw it in the microwave etc. I'm following the directions found on The Artful Parent blog (she does the most amazing crafts with her kids, I'm in awe!) to make some pretty good dye effects for a novice!

I'm going to keep playing for a little bit and then I'll post all the results! My 6.5 year old son is using the pink and purple tie-dye one for a pretend picnic tablecloth and the long reddish-pink one as a ninja turtle head sash as I type. So cute! And now he's requesting felt food like "the 3 year old girl", aka M (my friend's little girl), got for her birthday recently. Mmmmm.... Might have to buy those....I think I'm out of time for new crafts. ;)

Meet Sally Squid - My first Bit of Whimsy Doll

I finished my first Bit of Whimsy doll yesterday! Sally Squid!

Mia (6mths) loves it and I got a request from Jared (6.5yrs) for one made from fabric he saw in my stash with planets on it. :)

I made myself a promise that I would complete at least one project before I took last minute advantage of her pattern sale. Yay! Off to decide on a couple patterns to get!

The Round Neck Dress in Action!

Isn't it just wonderful when you sew something and it works out exactly the way you want it to the very first time?! I love it when that happens as it happens so rarely! I adore this pattern. (click "you can make this" banner to the left)

The dress fits and looks great with plenty of room to grow as she is a teeny tiny little girl. Not to mention M loves it! Yay!

Isn't she the cutest little thing?! She is such a dainty girl :) My great friend, Amanda, has truly been blessed with 3 adorable kids. Little M has a handsome big brother and a teeny baby sister as well.

Round Neck Dress

I made my very first Round Neck dress today! Granny (my mom) very sweetly entertained the kids while I was busy sewing.

I didn't even have to go buy fabric, I actually found these cute fabrics in my ever growing stash. And I used snaps instead of buttons on the shoulders. The dress looks uneven but thankfully it's just the way the photo was taken, the actual dress is symmetrical.

It took me a little longer than most because this is only the second ever dress I've ever sewn and I tend to take forever the first time I do something. It's a very simple pattern with a fantastic end result! I love it and can't wait to make more! And of course now that I know what i'm doing it will be much faster.

This is a size 2 dress made for my friend's little girl. She turns 3 years old this month and this is going to be her birthday present. :)

The design "Round Neck Top Sundress" is by That Darn Kat. I highly recommend you give it a try, you'll love it!

My adventure in blog-land begins!

Well, I'm not sure blogging is for me. But the only way I'll find out is if I actually give it a try, right?!
So far all my blog is doing for me is helping me keep track of the blogs I have recently discovered and like to read, lol!