Sew Serendipity Book Review

Sew Serendipity by Kay Whitt of Serendipity Studio is a fun, useful book that I'm glad to have in my sewing library.  Unlike my other library titles, this one is just for women.  From the publisher:

Lay it out, cut it out, sew it up, put it on! Sew Serendipity features:

• Hard-back concealed spiral binding: 160 pages

• Full-size tissue pattern inserts included for the skirt, tunic/dress, and jacket-each with 6 variations detailed in the book. 3 basic patterns x 6 variations = 18 ways to show off your skills and style!

• Master instructions are provided for each basic garment, and individual instruction for each unique look. Once you master the basics, changing it up is a snap!

• Each clothing pattern is graded in seven sizes (bust: 32-44; waist: 24-36; hips: 34-46) from XXS-XXL. Use the “Custom Fitting” section of the book to learn how to measure yourself and adjust the patterns to get the best possible fit!

• “Tools of the Trade” and “Sewing Techniques” sections give you an overview of the tools and skills you’ll need to make the clothes in this book.

• Embellish your designs to match your style, whether you’re feeling the need for classic, tailored elegance or you’re in the mood for a little ruffled whimsy. The simple techniques included will make it a breeze to adapt your design to any look you want.

With Sew Serendipity, you’ll find out how to lay out the pattern pieces, cut them out, and sew them up. All you have to do is put them on and strut your stuff! 

The first project in the book is this 6-panel A-line skirt. Simple and flattering, I'll be making one of these soon!

Second comes the peasant-style tunic/dress.  Kay includes instructions how to alter the pattern to fit your shape and offers a cute belt option.

Last but not least is the jacket.  I love the many looks she provides from this pattern.  I haven't sewn a jacket for myself yet, but see one in my future.  The Parisian style on the left below is my favorite.

Kay provides helpful tips & tools of the trade in the introduction as well as instructions for making muslins to perfect the fit.  I found a smoking deal on Ebay and wanted to share it with you...Buy Sew Serendipity for only $14 shipped here.  This is the seller I bought mine from and it arrived quickly in perfect condition!

Village Frock Look-Alike Tutorial

Do you love the Sugar City Village Frock as much as I but can't get your hands on a pattern?

Patterns have been sold out for a year now but once in awhile you can find a copy for sale or trade.  I think I found a size 6 tracing today over at the Flickr pool.

Check out this tutorial from Simply Together for the Simply Sweet Frock.  So darling!  It has a gathered neckline like the SC Village Frock and would be easy to add a button placket and gathered arms like the original.  Sizes 2,4,5 provided in this tutorial.

Photo from Simply Together

The Sewing Dork just reviewed this pattern and is offering a size 3T frock in a giveaway, so head here to read her review and chance for your own little frock.

Photo from The Sewing Dork

Kaitlyn's Dress

Thanks for the well-wishes as I head back to work.  I survived the first week and am looking forward to the work & people I'll meet.

I wanted to share a dress I made from my t-shirt stash, Kaitlyn's Dress.  This was a birthday gift for a special little friend.  Her family shares their old t-shirts with me, so I used a few of them in this outfit.

I started upcycling with t-shirts by using Lil Blue Boo's Hoodie and Sienna dress patterns.  My girls are now bigger than the patterns, so I've started drafting my own.  I really like the circle skirt on this one!  I also made matching shorts to wear underneath so she can play on the monkey-bars :)

Have you caught the upcycling bug yet?  My t-shirt stash is about as big as my woven fabrics!

Entering in the following contests:

Guest Blogging at The Sewing Dork

Head on over to The Sewing Dork to read my review of Sis Boom's 'Patricia' Tunic for women.  I loved this pattern and hope you'll follow me over to check it out!

Slowing Down

Mama's life is going through a transition again...After enjoying the last 1 1/2 years as a SAHM with my youngest daughter, I'm heading back to work.  Circumstances have changed here and it's necessary that I start working again.  I'm having mixed feelings about this.  I love being at home with my big baby girl and love working as a registered nurse.  I just don't like that it feels forced upon me.  Long story short, our renters aren't paying their rent and we just can't keep paying 2 mortgages on 1 teacher's salary.  It's a risk we took - building a 2nd home before the 1st one sold - and unfortunately the stakes have turned against us. 

As I transition back to a working mom, my sewing and blogging will suffer for awhile.  After a month or so, I'll only be working part-time and hope to be back to my usual hobbies again.  Please stick with me through this transition.  If you're a believer, I'd appreciate your prayers for our family to adjust quickly. 

Also stay tuned for a fantastic pattern review coming soon.  I hope you are following The Sewing Dork and Brown Paper Packages Pattern Review Month.  I will be contributing a reveiw of SisBoom's Patricia Tunic.  This was a great, versatile pattern that I can't wait to share with you! 

In addition to heading back to work, my computer was infected with the Antivirus Virus again.  This is the 2nd time with this virus and we cannot get it completely removed.  It redirects to a fake Antivirus.NET page and takes over the computer processes. It came from an infected PDF pattern download, so I'm going to be very leery of downloads in the future.  I have a new computer coming this week, but until it comes later this week you probably won't hear from me. 

Thanks for reading through this personal post.  I usually save this stuff for our family blog, Lusco Land, but am glad you're here with me :) Angie

We All Sew

I am so grateful to be recognized on We All Sew , Bernina's sewing blog. Every Friday, they feature different blogs from the sewing world and today I'm one of the featured blogs! Check We All Sew often for new inspiration and blogs that inspire!

"WeAllSew, sponsored by BERNINA, is updated weekly with the best online stuff for sewers and quilters. Want to use your craft to help others in need? Check out Sew to Serve and be one click away from more than 100 ways to get involved. Looking for new ideas and downloads? Our Free Stuff section is updated weekly with pocketbook-friendly links!"

New Earring Colors in the Shop

I just added new colors of dahlia flower earrings to my Artfire and Etsy shops.  They are now available in light pink, mauve, hot pink, purple, white, red, royal blue and black.  These little pretties are mounted on sterling silver plated studs and safe for sensitive ears. They are the perfect way to dress up your pony tail & t-shirts but also can be worn with dressy dresses. 

I have new, low prices and buy my supplies from US businesses.  To keep my prices low, please request a special listing if you would like to order multiple pairs.  Support handmade and US suppliers! 

Oops! I Did It Again

Yes, I did it again, only this time with my husband's blessing! He found this amazing vintage White Rotary sewing machine in a red cabinet with a matching stool on Craigslist in a nearby (1 1/2 hours away) town. Yep, that's a near-by town out here in the mountains of Eastern Oregon :)

The cabinet is so beautiful. The pictures don't do it justice. It's hardwood, painted black with a red wash. It opens up on both sides of the machine and the little stool is darling with rounded corners. The drawers open smoothly and it was filled with treats - 3 boxes of original attachements, two owners manuals & extra bobbins. The only attachment missing is the zipper foot!

The machine works beautifully! This White Rotary Series 77 was manufactured in 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio for White. One owners manual says 'Domestic Series 153' and is an identical machine. This machine was made to rival the Singer Featherweight and resembles the Featherweight in styling. No fancy decals here; this baby has a textured metal body that doesn't chip or scratch. I think I may abandon my modern sewing machine in favor of these oldies :) They are so powerful and sew through anything without lugging down. My dear cheap Janome may soon only be used for button holes :)

If you're a regular reader, you may remember my previous vintage sewing machine find, the Ward's Signature. I found a set of cams & attachments on Ebay that originally came with this machine. Now I have 23 decorative stitches for that machine!

The hubby's catching my vintage sewing machine bug...he found this one and told me to call and want to put all my beauties on display...Pretty cool to have a hubby support my habit!