Bookworm Button Up (Make Believe Collection)

In less than two weeks, my baby girl will be headed off to kindergarten!  I can't believe it!  I'm happy and sad all at the same time.  My goal was to make most of her school clothing for the year, and I started with the Bookworm Button Up!

I was provided all four top patterns in the new Pattern Anthology Make (Believe) Collection in exchange for my honest review of any of the patterns.  Here's what I truly think about Bookworm Button Up pattern! This post contains affiliate links.

Kangaroo Pouch Pocket Tutorial for Skirting the Issue

I'm excited to be participating in this year's Skirting the Issue Series hosted by my friends at Simple Simon & Co. Today, I'll show you how to add a Kangaroo Pouch Pocket to the Tilly Skirt Pattern by Sewing Mama RaeAnna.  This tutorial would work on any basic skirt pattern that has two individual front hip pockets.

Skirting the Issue is all about making skirts to donate to girls in foster care.  All July long, Simple Simon & Co. will introduce you to a blogger who will either share a skirt tutorial or skirt round-up with you in hopes that you will feel the need to sew up a skirt or two for a girl in need in foster care.

sewVery Sunny Tops Preview

A huge weight has been lifted, and I feel I can relax for a couple of days.  My sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern has been sent to testers! I'm so nervous even though I had the three sizes in the free version tested last month without many issues. So much work goes into creating and preparing a clothing pattern, and even if you have sewn and tested for years, you just don't know how time consuming it is until you try it!

So, while I twiddle my thumbs and anxiously wait to see some finished test versions and receive their feedback on the pattern, I thought I'd share with you some more photos of the sewVery Sunny Tops in Option A (with the neck ruffle) and Option B (without the neck ruffle) of the full pattern.

The Retro RuckSack Pattern

I really enjoy sewing purses and bags. They are typically projects that are more involved and challenging than sewing a typical child's garment. When I sewed my first purse more than two years ago, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed making it, and to this day, I continue to love the challenge of a purse or bag pattern!

Recently, I had the privilege of meeting Sara from Radiant Home Studio. She contributed her Water Bottle Tote pattern to the Perfect Pattern Parcel #3 bundle, and I chose to sew one up for the pattern tour.  As you can read in my post about my Water Bottle Tote, I was very impressed with Sara's pattern and design skills, so when she asked me to be a part of her Retro Rucksack Pattern tour, I did not hesitate to say yes!

sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern Call for Testers

First of all, thank you to everyone who has downloaded my FREE sewVery Sunny Dress Pattern! To me, it's been a huge success, and I sincerely hope that everyone who has downloaded it has enjoyed creating a fun, playful dress or two!

I've been working on expanding the sizes offered and including a couple of options for the design, but since it's summer, and I am a mom of two, my time to make these additions has been limited. Also, since this is my very first pattern-for-sale, I'm having to learn quite a few new business related things along the way.  I appreciate your patience!

Before we get to the pattern tester application, I want to share with you a few more pictures of what you will be able to make with the sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern that I hope to have ready for sale later this month.

The Totes Ma Tote Bag

My favorite bag designer, Janelle from Emmaline Bags, has just released her newest pattern:  The Totes Ma Tote Bag!  I was thrilled when Janelle asked me to test out the pattern for her.  I already had the perfect Echino fabrics on hand to make up this bee lovers version for my husband's aunt, Jeannie, who is an apiarist (aka beekeeper).  

That's right folks!  I'm giving away this beautiful bag as a gift! I hope Jeannie will love it as much as I do, but don't worry, I already have plans to make myself my own Totes Ma Tote bag as soon as I can make time!  Now I just need to come up with something just as good to make her husband, Terry!  They are both so good to us and our children and give us all the free honey we can eat!  They sell their honey here, at Queen Bee Gifts.

Now, back to the Totes Ma Tote bag.

The Bohemian Babydoll Nautical Dress

Elegance & Elephants latest pattern, The Bohemian Babydoll Dress and Top Pattern, is a summer favorite here in our house. My daughter and I love the style of the dress for its simplicity, plus it's fuss free to sew and wear thanks to the no closure design. Ella has been wearing this nautical version of the Bohemian Babydoll dress for almost two months now (in rotation with other clothes, of course)!