I Have Been a Busy Bee (Butterick B5603, Butterick B5557, and McCall's M5094)

Why hello there!

I have been glued to my sewing chair for this last week! Well, not only stuck to my sewing chair haha. When I wasn't sewing I was hanging on the couch watching Season 1 and 2 of Lost Girl, playing catch up before Season 3 premiered last night. I don't know how I missed the first 2 seasons! I am so addicted to the show now! But at least I am caught up and can get back to regular life activities.

School starts next Tuesday and I am not sure how many weeks in before I know my clinicals schedule. It is driving me crazy and I have gone through every possible scenario in my head. But I have no control until I figure out which hospital I will be assigned to and discuss it with the boss. I can't stand not having control  to plan my semester proper. This will be my first semester that clinicals are a part of so we shall wait and see how it all works itself out. I will be an absolute nutcase until I have my schedule settled on my spreadsheet like it should be hahahah.

So I have 3 outfits sewn up since my last post to show you all.

I will start with the FUSCHIA FOXY FLANNEL dress I made in Butterick B5603 view B (same as my Christmas dress) minus the 2 bows.

 

(I love how there is ALWAYS a pup running or jumping around me in my pictures lol)

I love the way this dress came out and since it's flannel it is great for winter

 

 

I wanted to show you the inside seams of my Christmas dress versus my foxy dress.

I hate slipstitching... loathe it! despise it!

But finally followed the rules and slipstitched the seam here where the bodice meets the skirt and wow!

I mean

WOWWIE!!

Sure, I totally see the difference now.

And as much as my fingers hated, loathed, and despised me for it I love how much cleaner it looks and figure a callus will be in order soon and I will be over the pain.

I know nobody really sees the inside but I can be much more proud if it looks closer to professional than beginner.

 

 

Next in line is my blue cheetah outfit in Butterick B5557 View A
It is made to be worn as an outfit but I kind of like it as separates. In this cheetah print at least. I have put it on as an outfit but it would have to be the right occasion for me to bust out in full cheetah mode hahaha.
So here is the skirt which is worn at the true waist (again... takes some getting used to for little-miss-hiphugger). It zips on the side and is fully lined.

  And here I am in the skirt dressed down with a black tshirt and can be worn this way with some chucks (or in my cheap case, airwalk kicks from payless haha)

I am holding the side because I still need to sew on the hook and eye for the waistband to sit right. 

 

 

Here I am in the blouse, dressed down with some clam digging jeans.

I adore the look of it but have to admit, the kimono sleeves will take some getting used to... I am  not accustomed to "webbed" armpits hahaha.

It is fully lined and zips in the lower back.

 

 

 I loved the way it hugs my waistline and think the square neckline is pretty cool.

About the square neckline... the instructions confused me so i put it on in my own way. Looks good though, right? Remind me to take a picture of how it looks inside hahaha

I will have to put the outfit on skirt and shirt together and take a pic of that for you as well.

I wish I had a hat that matched in color and style!

 

 

And last, but not least, I made this adorable watermelon dress in McCall's M5094 view F

  

I can almost taste summer when I wear it! I did not need to sew on the bottom band of contrast fabric because I am too short and was fine without it.

In fact, I think it would have been too much with it and I am more than happy with how it turned out.

 

 

The bodice and midriff are lined and it zips in the back.

 

 

When I made the watermelon dress I was planning on using i to test the pattern so I can make a flannel dress out of  my hot rod fabric. Seemed like a great idea until i realized my hot rods only run in one direction and I only have 2 yards... I guess it will have to be used for a skirt or top alone.

So I decided to try out Simplicity 2343 view C to see the fit with this spiderweb material. 

 

 

If I like the fit I will more than likely make a hot rod skirt from the same pattern but view F.

 

I finally sent out one of my Christmas gifts to a friend. I knit her this round scarf with my small circle loom. She received it today and now I can share it here...

Hey! It's is still winter and plenty cold so I'm not too late

 

 

That about wraps up my recent craftings. I missed blogging but could not tear myself from sewing and Lost Girl. I should be winding down now that school is around the corner. We will see what I can accomplish in these next 6 days until my first class next Tuesday.

Hopefully my 57 Chevy tattoo will be worked into one of those days.

 

XOXOXO!

Lily Bean

Domino Clock

Howdy!

My dear friend and neighbor had her 91st birthday on Wednesday this week

She was born November 21, 1921 and has really lived! I can sit and listen to her stories all day and never get bored.

She loves to play dominos so when I saw a domino clock on Pinterest I knew exactly what I was making for her birthday gift.

I bought this wooden plate and marked the center to get a hole drilled.

 

 

I had to enlist help from the men folk in my house because I had never used power tools before and found myself quite intimidated by the drill. I was sure I was going to put a hole in everything in front of me lol. I have no idea what drill bit was used to make the hole look like this, but I am very greatful that my uncle made my clock piece fit in the plate.

 

 

I painted the plate brown, to match her kitchen.

 

 

I then glued on the dominos I had chosen to mark the hours.

 

 

I puffy painted "DOMINO TIME".

 

 

 Then I inserted the clock works , a battery, and set the time.

 

Here is my sweet friend opening her gift. 

 

 

 

I had so much fun making this and totally want to make a pizza clock next. My neighbor loved the clock and said her birthday was one of the best days since I came over to celebrate with her. She made a wonderful lunch and we ate with teh fine silverware. It was fun!

I adore ths woman!

 

xoxoxo!

Lily Bean

 

Shopping finds brings inspiration to craft

hey! i scored some good deals and fun items while shopping around.

dont you hate when you are "just going to the store for 2 things... ONLY 2 THINGS!" and come back with bags of other stuff... i hate it too. but i can never pass up a great deal. and i happened to run into a few this week. for the first time ever (that i have seen at least) walmart had all red tag clearance items store wide for an additional 50% off!

so here i share with you my bounty:

I have been wanting to make the perfect doggie treat jar for some time now but have never found a jar that "feels right" for the job. all the ones i have seen were too small, too expensive, or didnt seal well. and whats the point of getting a food storage jar if it doesnt seal well. especially since the texan summer brings out buggies in full force!

Well as i was just killing some time browsing around big lots i found this jar which just SCREAMED doggie jar to me. it seals so good it is actually a bit hard to open. it is (as you can see) a good size. it is thick glass (anchor brand). and best of all:

it only cost $5

i grabbed it up real quick! im even debating of checking back for some more because i like it so much.

as soon as i took it out of the bag the pups inspected it... i sure they knew it was meant for their goodies

walmart had a bunch of ribbons and trims on clearance for $1. i filled my arms with cute ribbons and then realized i still have a TON of ribbon that i haven't used. so i only grabbed these trim and thin black rick rack.

at big lots i found 3 bottles of green and 1 bottle of pink fabric paint as well as 1 green puffy paint all 4oz and all for $1 each. i cant wait to start playing with fabric paint!

 i have been wanting to make a dry erase board from picture frames since i have seen it all over pinterest... but i dont have any good unused picture frames at home and all the ones for sale were too expensive for this project. i came by this one at walmart for $3 and thought id give it a go. i will be going back for 1 more now that i know i love it!

(i want to make one for the kitchen with: "wants, needs, and on sale" to help keep my grocery list updated and organized for my monetary availability.

i saw this courduroy print in colorful elephants and light paisley pattern for $2 a yard at walmart. i could already picture a cute vest! so i grabbed 1.5 yards because i just know i will want to make something else with it

as you may already know, i am a bit button obsessed. walmart had these bags on clearance for $1 each. i snagged up 2 princess themed, some minis, and some pretty colors

and i got these little individual buttons for dirt cheap! they will make adorable rings!

here is my super cute upcycled picture frame dry erase board. it is hanging conveniently over my desk. i hope it helps me keep organized because my work and school life is about to kick into super high gear!

and here are some pics of the 4 individual sides of my doggie treat jar:

front: WHO WANTS A SNACK?

my pups react to the word "snack". i have always used that instead of treat. you should hear them come running from all ends of the house when i say the "S" word

the left side belongs to thea. it has a sun because she has always been my sunshine (i do sing "you are my sunshine" to her often).

the back side says PAWS OFF... im sure i do not need to explain lol

and the right side belongs to penny. she has a bat because she has always been my "fatty batty". when i had barely brought her home she was a roly poly! (just like roly form 101 dalmations) and when her ears go up and fangs come out she looks like a bat lol...

still trying to picture penelope the bat??

here you go

my fatty batty



now to get ready for a new fleamarket adventure tomorrow...

xoxoxoxox

sunkissed lily bean

<3

Pregnancy Package for a dear friend

Hey! I had been working on a care package for my friend who is expecting her second baby, 1st son. She is now 35 weeks and received her package today. I am so excited to hear what she thinks of everything.

While shopping for her baby boy, her little girl became obsessed with dinosaurs and trains and wanted to have clothes with these things as well. She was having to buy boy's shirts for her. So I got to work and painted up a girly dino shirt.

 when my uncle saw what i was doing, he jumped on board and made a girly dino pendant. i love the goofy teeth!

 i made this button plaque for the baby to be. i really like how it came out!

 and i made my friend this awesome reversible Elvis tote.

I am more than happy with how this came out and a bit jealous that i only got enough fabric to make one.

 i put heart shaped pockets on each side

 she had also ordered a diaper bag from me. she left it all in my hands and let me run with any idea. i decided the dino theme would be perfect for both kids. i added a huge pocket with a flap to the front

 inside i put 2 elastic bands to hold bottles or sippy cups.

as you can see the inside is quite roomy. great for toting around the needs of 2 munchkins

 here is a close-up of the super cool fabric

in other news, i got to hang out with my twin the other night.

she had gone with me to get my candle tattoo and then we ran around town a bit.

we ended up hanging out back at my house.

we baked some super yummy cupcakes

 and we played arts and crafts and made sister turtle bracelets

aren't they super cute

i love being off school!

xoxox

Lily Bean