Sewing Laurel (aka Project Laurel)

My sewing themed Laurel!

I made my barrette a few years ago with some pretty aqua lace and tiny black beads.

April 30^th, at about a quarter to midnight I was on my labtop frantically trying to learn the nouonces of flickr. I was one of the procrastinators, uploading photos for the Colette Laurel Challenge on the night they were due. It was a wild night. After so many years as a fan, I finally know what it must feel like to be a contestant on Project Runway. The night was rife with last minute photoshoots, quickly sewn hems, and tears… many tears.

This is the expression procrastinators make...

To make matters worse, our internet connection decided to come in and out that night, so I had to re-upload all the images to flickr after I had already named, tagged, and described them. I think I hit my lowest moment around 11:45 at night, when the internet quit again and none of my photos of this "Sewing Laurel" were on flickr. I had a little cry, and then bucked-up and got the job done.

It was all sooo worth it in the end because the challenge was really fun and I love my dress. It is just awesome to see everyone's different interpretations of the pattern. Who knew there were so many ways to do one dress? I was truly inspired.

I found a cool old bottle on the forest floor, I am going to use it in our wedding next spring.

My Laurel has self-designed cotton voile fabric for the bottom section, a beautiful sheer swiss dot fabric on the bodice, black lace sleeves, a dark navy underlining, and light aqua bias tape trim around the neckline. The fabric I designed is sewing themed - it has little pins and needles stuck in a latticey-lacy geometric type pattern.

It's hard to see in this photo, but the pins are a light blue color.

This was my first time printing fabric from Spoonflower. I think it printed pretty nicely, I had intended the skirt to be more of a dark-rich black but I think it printed grey because it was on voile - not quite sure. I would definitely print fabric from them again - I love having that amount of freedom/control.

Dang allergies

We took pictures again at Maquoketa Caves State Park. The flowers were just starting to bloom and everything was starting to turn green - it was magical. I saw some of my favorite wild Iowa plants.

These are Jack in the Pulpits - one of my favorite wild plants to find.

I found a little snail

I love the tiny scallops on the edge of the lace sleeves.

I'm not really sure what my next sewing project will be. I have been dreaming about polka-dotted shorts and Hepburn-inspired cigarette pants. Definitely something that takes advantage of this nice warm weather!

Miette for Mom

My beautiful mom in her new Miette skirt!

It has been a busy few days, but I finally have time to post the skirt I made for Mother's Day. I used Tilly's Miette pattern and jazzed it up with a panel of geometric floral fabric on the bottom. The Miette was really simple to put together and I love how Tilly has the wastband put together - it looks so tidy on the inside. In fact, this skirt has the cleanest and best looking seam finishes I have ever put together.

Cute fabric from Home Ec. in Iowa City - Love that store!

I took a gazillion photos of the inside of this skirt - I felt like a proud mother :)  I bound most of the seams to finish them, and I used a french seam to connect the jean material with the floral material.

Beautifully bound seams!

These seams are bound to last  ;)

I had to show her how it works

Mother's Day card / tag

I designed this tag, with washing instructions, and attached it with a lace ribbon. It looked super cute and doubled as a Mother's Day card. Next I need to make a Miette for myself. This one was hard to give away - I totally fell in love with it. She's lucky she's my mom  ;)

Mom, Miette, and me  :D

Happy Mother's Day!!

This is the Happy Mother's Day tag I designed and attached to my Mom's gift.

Happy Mother's Day! I had a lovely weekend with my family. Both of my sisters were home, with their significant others, and we had a lot of fun. I made my mom Tilly's Miette wrap skirt for her Mother's Day Gift. Miraculously it was a perfect fit!

Mom and me! Look at that stunning Miette!

Stay tuned for more photos of Mom in her Miette. I think this Miette is the most well made piece of clothing I have ever created - the construction is seamless (not literally)  ;)

Yummy Rose Buttermints

Yummy buttermints!

A few weekends ago, my Grandma and I made these pretty buttermints. We are practicing for my wedding next spring. They were so easy to make and you can make them in any color - yay! I found the recipe on The Splendid Table's website. If you haven't listened to Lynne Rossetto Kasper's radio show, I really recommend it. She interviews interesting guests and shares delicious recipes.

The Splendid Table's Buttermint Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick/115 g) unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 4 cups (520 g) confectioners' sugar, sifted, plus extra for rolling
• 1/4 teaspoon (1 g) pure peppermint oil
• 2 tablespoons (30 g) whole milk
• Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine the butter and the 4 cups confectioners' sugar in the mixer bowl. 

2. Add the peppermint oil and milk, and beat on medium speed until combined.

3. Lightly dust some confectioners' sugar onto a cutting board, and turn the dough out onto the board. If you're using food coloring, add 1 to 2 drops (or more for deeper color) and knead it into the dough with your hands until incorporated. If you're making multiple colors, divide the dough into several pieces first (one for each color) and add the food coloring to each piece, starting with 1 drop and kneading, adding 1 drop at a time, until the desired colors are reached. Gather each piece of dough into a ball.

4. Sift more confectioners' sugar over the cutting board. Divide the dough into 4 pieces (if you haven't divided it already), and set 3 of the pieces aside, loosely covered in plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out. Using your hands, and dusting them with confectioners' sugar as needed to reduce any stickiness, gently roll one piece of dough into a log about 1/2-inch in diameter.

5. Use a sharp chef's knife to cut the log into 1/2-inch pieces. Lay the pieces in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet to dry. Repeat with the remaining 3 pieces of dough, and allow the candies to dry at room temperature, uncovered, overnight.

Store the buttermints, layered between parchment or wax paper, in an airtight container at room temperature, away from light, for up to 2 weeks.

We rolled the buttermint dough into balls, dipped them in sugar, and pressed them into a rose shaped candy mould. I love the effect of the sugar, they look so sweet and whimsical. Give them a try! Lynne suggests a coffee flavored variation that I have to try - what could be better?

A Very Wearable Muslin

On Sunday I finished my muslin for the new Colette Laurel pattern, and a very wearable muslin it is. At first I was skeptical about making a shift dress because it is a silhouette I rarely wear. I'm so glad I tried it out. The pattern was a joy to sew and I actually love how the shift looks on me!

In the first fitting I looked like a bowling pin.

When I traced the pattern I choose a smaller size for the top, than for the bottom. The result was me looking like a blue bowling pin - it was funny but not cute. Luckily it was easy to take in the sides, and I ended up with a nearly perfect fit. One thing I love about this pattern is all the bias tape bindings. They are easy to do, with the instruction manual, and I can see myself using them on many projects to come.

Bowling pin shape resolved!

I found this beautiful collar at an antique store in Green Bay.

Some of Spring's first blooms!

This awesome plant was one of the only things growing - it looks like some kind of succulent.

This dress has room for movement - so I did a little dance!

I really love this dress, and I can't wait to make more! I bought some fabric from Spoonflower for my next version. 

Yummy buttermints!

This past weekend, Josh and I made buttermints with my Grandma. We are practicing for our wedding, we want to make them in several colors and flavors. I will post a recipe for these yummy candies soon!

Yellow Violet Top

My new Violet blouse!

Last weekend I finished my first Violet blouse from Colette Patterns. I love this pattern! The peter pan collar and the back yoke are both so sweet. The yellow fabric I used is a quilting cotton and the pink floral fabric of the back yoke is from a vintage pillow case.  

We went to the Riverfront in Dubuque and the Mines of Spain to enjoy the first nice weather of spring and to show off my new top.

The muddy Mississip'

I found a handsome pile of driftwood.

This is a vintage brooch from Mexico. I like the contrast of the dark silver next to the pale yellow fabric.

Surveying the riverfront.

I found a nice resting place.

Earlier that day we went antiquing and I found this darling cake-stand. Josh and I have been gathering miscellaneous vintage items for our wedding next spring. We are going for a vintagy, eclectic feel with lots of spring flowers!

I love the delicately painted purple roses and the dainty gold accents.

Today I started my muslin for the new Colette Laurel pattern - so far it looks like it is going to fit (fingers crossed). Have a great week!

Jasmine Beckoning Spring

Awhile back I finished this Colette Jasmine and never did a post on it. So here it is in all its glory, at Maquoketa Caves State Park. Caving has a magical quality to me and I have always loved this park.

The onset of spring always makes me want to tear my winter coat off and hide it in a closet. Weather in Iowa is still quite cold, today it was in the thirties. Spring is in the air though, I could see it all around me - in the icy pools of water spilling from the caves and in the first glimpses of green under the snow.

Water bubbles up and travels through the cave, as icicles cling to the slowly warming rocks.

I rested my coat and purse on a small obliging tree. 

Goofing around  :)

I had fun mixing patterns on this shirt.

The blouse is made out of quilting cotton. They tell you to avoid quilting cotton because it produces "crafty" looking clothes - but who with a heart and eyes could resist all the fun prints?? I could not resist - true this blouse isn't ready for a fancy event, but it is perfect for an exploratory hike through the woods.

The caves make really interesting ice formations!

Happy first day of Spring one and all! Hopefully it is warmer where you are!