Abby's First Sewing Project

It feels so good to be home!  The boys are at football camp this week, so the girls and I had some fun playing in our pool today.  While Nugget was nappying, Abby & I decided it was a good time to sew!

We decided on a simple drawstring backpack.  She used a Joel Dewberry charm pack to piece together the outer bag and added a pocket to the lining.  She learned how to use a seam ripper to straighten out a few crazy seams :)  She is already planning her next bag and did great!

We made this bag without a pattern but here are a few free tutorials if you or your kids would like to sew one.  Noodlehead's Boy's Drawstring Backpack from Khaki Pants (a lined bag),  Always Expect Moore's Drawstring Backpack (lined), Prudent Baby's Drawstring Backpack (unlined), Chica & Jo's Drawstring Backpack (unlined). 

On Vacation

We are having a great summer vacation camping, fishing, swimming and visiting family.  Mama heads back to work next week, so look for some new posts then.  Hope you are also having a fantastic summer!

We Survived!

Creekside Camp Water Park - Amazing!

View of the dorms from our hike one morning - Middle of nowhere, Oregon

The dining hall - No cooking or dishes for 6 days!!!

Just a quick note to say the family & I survived my week at WyldLife camp!  It was a crazy, busy, fun week of 18 hour days trying to keep up with my middle-school girls.  It was fabulous - thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes :)  After sleeping most of this weekend, I think I'm ready to head back to work tomorrow.  I hope to share some sewing projects before leaving for vacation in July...

Mama & some campers

Grant County Campers & Leaders

Etsy Treasury Again!

One of my 'Barn & Birds' totes made the Etsy treasury today.  Here's the link to some cool barn items.
Probably not the best time to put my shop on vacation, but I'm headed to Wyldlife camp (Young Life for middle-schoolers).  I've never been to a YL camp, but I hear it will be an adventure!

 Hope to start sewing again after camp and will be back in late June.  Happy summer!

Updated Tutorial Pages

See those little linkies below my header?  I've added new pages featuring tutorials for Womens, Kids, Bags/Purses/Aprons and Crochet projects.  Pictures of the projects area also posted!  Check out these pages for some inspiration and grab a Mama Lusco Handmade Button to share the love!

Button code available in the left sidebar.


Week 6 Finale ~ Country Fair

Thanks so much for following along!  I'm happy to be finished with Extreme Makeover: Fabric Edition and earned 2nd place in the end.  It was a  great motivator to get my summer sewing done.
Here was my finale entry....

Our theme, 'Country Fair' screamed 'Americana' to me.  What's more American than red, white & blue and a lazy day at the fair?  I created easy-wearing casual clothes & accessories for the girls and I to wear on our day at the Country Fair.

These are coordinating head scarfs, rolled rosette clippies and a lunch money cuff.  I actually made 3 of these cuffs but the girls won't take theirs off!  Find the lunch money cuff tutorial here at Lemon Squeezy Home.

This my big girl's Country Fair outfit - a fun, comfy peasant top, "Miss Madeline" from The Handmade Dress, and matching ruffled capri pants from Whimsy Couture.  She also has a money cuff and rosette headband. 

My little girl loves her new ruffle-sleeved top with side sash bows made using the Ruffle Sleeve Top & Skirt pattern from Pink Poodle Bows.  Her pants have a royal blue band at the bottom to match the top, the same pattern as above by Whimsy Couture.  A matching head scarf tops off her outfit. 

This is an easy-wearing knit tank with gentle gathers at the bust, square-necked yoke and elastic band at the hip.  Matching knit shorts will keep me comfy all day long.  Rolled knit rosette clippies and Mama's Ruffled Shoulder Bag (tutorial on my blog here) finish off my outfit. 

I'm happy to have sewn through 68+ yards of fabric in the past 6 weeks! I have a HUGE stash of fabric, so it doesn't really look like I've even made a dent. Living 3 1/2 hours from the nearest fabric store has made me stock up when I find a good sale since it's months between my visits to the city. I have tried to tidy-up my sewing room and keep my cupboards organized.  Extreme Makeover: Fabric Edition has motivated me to finish projects that I've been putting off.  Thank you for following along on this adventure!

Messy Sewing Room

Controlled Chaos

Sort-of Organized Fabric Cupboard

After the frenzy of sewing 68+ yards since April and a busy month at work, I'm ready for a break from sewing.  I likely won't be posting very often the next few weeks as I take time to get my garden planted, flower beds prettied up and spend some extra time with my kiddos.  Enjoy the start of summer break!

Finale ~ EMFE ~ Please Vote Now

It's Finale time!  Head over HERE to vote today through Sunday.  Head over HERE to enter to win some great patterns.   The ladies sewed up some amazing Country Fair entries.  I have to honestly say I'm happy it's over.  Work has been busy, life has been hectic and I'm looking forward to avoiding my sewing room for a few days!

Remember to enter my giveaway hosted HERE - open until June 7.

I have new bags in the shop.  10% refund of the item price if you enter "My Frugal Family" in the comments at checkout. 

On a totally non-crafty note,  I'm excited that I just ordered my first notebook PC.  My dear husband has quite a collection of guns, so I justified my new PC as a Mommy Splurge to match his gun purchases.  A totally non-typical move for this frugal mama!  My reward all my long hours on call and at work the past month.  Here is the little notebook I chose.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Giveaway Time! ~ Now OPEN

I had so much fun with the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway that I'm at it again!  Head over to My Frugal Family to enter some Hot Summer Giveaways.  I'll be giving away either 2 pairs of flower earrings and a matching flower ring OR a 'Shorty' Eco-tote from my Etsy shop.  Enter here before June 7th!

Take advantage of a 10% refund by entering "My Frugal Family" in the comments to seller at Etsy checkout.  I'll refund 10% of the items purchase price back to your PayPal account.  Shop Mama Lusco Handmade on Etsy today!

Winners, Winners!

I have been in touch with all 4 of my winners ~ Congratulations, ladies!  I hope you enjoy the patterns.

Thank you to everyone who visited and took time to enter the giveaway.  I only had part of Wednesday to browse the giveaway blogs but hope you had plenty of time to enter some!  Anyone win a SMS giveaway?  I'd love to hear about it!

We're going to brave the floods, rain & snow and go camping this weekend.  I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day holiday!  Next week, I'm participating in the Extreme Makeover: Fabric Edition finale!  Stay tuned for our entries for the finale's theme, Country Fair. 

Giveaway Day~ Four Winners! ~NOW CLOSED

Sew, Mama, Sew blog

Welcome, SMS Giveaway Day visitors!  I'm glad you stopped by!  I love sewing for myself and 3 kiddos and want to share some e-patterns with you.  Some of my favorite e-pattern makers are sharing 4 patterns for 4 different winners!

Caroline Fair Designs offers easy, stylish patterns for both children and women.  Many of Caroline's patterns have only one pattern piece for easy cutting & sewing. I recently tested her brand-spanking-new pattern for PJ Bottoms and Shorts.  This is an essential pattern for kids clothing - use it for PJs, pants, shorts, capris & embellish to your heart's content! 

I also have her Cadie's Wrap Around Dress and Chloe Knit Skirt patterns.  Both patterns have excellent instructions and helpful pictures to guide you through sewing.  I'm looking forward to sewing myself a Chloe skirt this week!  One winner will receive Caroline's new PJ Bottoms & Shorts pattern. Thank you, Caroline!

Also joining in my giveaway is Rachel from Mama Stellato.  Mama Stellato offers sewing patterns for little girls.  Here is her newest Acadia Tee pattern...my Nugget loves hers! 

Acadia reglan t-shirt

I have also sewn Mama Stellato's Somerset Hoodie and Amelia Top patterns. They are great! Rachel is offering one winner one pattern of their choice! Thank you, Rachel :)

Somerset Hoodie

Amelia Top - photo from Mama Stellato

Up next is Dee from Fun 4 Me & Fun 4 Me 2.  I was able to test Dee's Playdate Peasant Dress pattern.  This is another essential pattern for your girl's wardrobe.  Peasant dresses are fun to mix & match, dress up or dress down, simple and quick.  Dee is offering one winner one pattern of her choice from either Fun 4 Me or Fun 4 Me 2. Thank you, Dee!

Playdate Peasant Dress

Lee & Leah Doll pattern

Lastly, the fabulous Karen from Dear My Kids and Dan.a is offering one pattern of choice from her shops.  Karen offers trendy sewing patterns for kids, big kids and women.  She even has a shop for felt toy patterns.  I own most of Karen's DMK and Dan.a patterns - they are fabulous!  Her illustrations and instructions make the process simple and you'll love the results.

DMK Easy Wear shop for kids/juniors

Dan.a Womens Wear shop

DMK Felt Toy pattern shop

Here are a few of the things I've made from DMK/Dan.a patterns...

Little Red Riding Hood Trench Coat

Cowl Neck Vest and Infinity Top

Stylish Kids Coat

For your chance to win 1 of 4 e-patterns from these shops, simply leave a comment.  Please include your email address.  I will choose four winners randomly at 9:00pm PST on May 25.  Followers of Mama Lusco Handmade blog may leave a second comment.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll visit again!

~~~$3.00 Flower Sterling Earrings in Mama's Etsy Shop.~~~

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