Garden Stuff

It has been so nice here lately that all the plants have gone wild.  Here's the herb garden and a small raised bed:

And here is one of my current favorite things; it's a lupine!  After three years of no blooms, they're finally starting.  I was getting ready to move them, because I was advised they need full sun "like, prairie sun.  NO shade," was the exact advice...and suddenly, I see this:

There are lots of other blooms, too.  I'm very happy.  I may still move some, though, as they are all right next to the new blueberry bushes I've planted.

And here's something that spreads like a virus; I believe it is Motherwort (next to the lupine):

Don't plant it unless you really want it.  and want lots of it.

Well, that's it for now.  I'm very tired from all this green activity.

Because I've not been sewing much

and because everyone needs to see random things from me...Here's a picture of what children do when they find stuff in the closet:

Does anyone want to give me some decorating advice?  My bathroom is: ugly.  It has the most extensive collection of non-matching flesh-toned ceramic products I have ever seen.

And here's a picture of my favorite comfort food.  Don't you just love the buttery sheen?

This was something my Nonnie used to make and I always loved it.  It's macaroni, bacon, onions, and cabbage.  mmmmm....

And I did sew some last night:

It's a dress for a butterfly-themed birthday party.  It's an Indygo Junction pattern and goes together quick and easy.  I don't have the intended shoulder closures, so I'll have to use snaps.  I'm just *not* into buttonholes today, although covered buttons would look super cute...oh no.  Now I've gone and put doubt into it - I'm going to have to look at my buttons.

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

Hot chocolate under a layer of marshmallows.

Sewing Dolls!

I love dolls.  I'm totally afraid to make them, though.  Then why, you ask, have I spent probably over a hundred bucks in doll supplies?  Because I have issues, that's why.
But!  I am currently in the throes of making two Owie dolls for the girls.  They are this super cute doll from Lier over at Ikat Bag.  She has made some amazing stuff, and she just put the Owie doll pattern up for sale, so I had to have it.  It didn't help that I had a little elf peeping over my shoulder squealing "Ooooo!!  Look at those dollies!  I want one!  And I want one with lots of owies, too."
Of course, from the other room I hear feet come-a-running and, "Metoo! Metoo! Metoo!"  Because now I have to make two of everything.
Back to embroidering faces...
***
Update!  Here they are:

Aaaaw!  Aren't they just the cutest little buttons?  Obviously, they are in need of clothes and *lots* more medical accessories, but this was all I could manage last night.  They went together quite smoothly and without incident, which gives the pattern a 5 star rating from me!

New Ottobre Women!!

The new Ottobre Women's issue is up on their website!  I LOVE IT!  I wish I could figure out how to post links, add buttons, and do all that other blog stuff, but I'm just too challenged, so you'll have to google it for yourself.  It's worth the effort :-)
The new issue is FULL of stuff I want to wear.  Let's see, let me make some notes so I don't forget:
The dress with the sweetheart neck. Making it as soon as I can.
Maxi dress: Not flattering for me, but I can totally see it as something to wear in the backyard over the swimsuit...
Hollywood pants: Love them!
Coat dress and shell with lovely back neckline:  I could actually wear that.  Looks like it will take me some time to make, though.
Wrap front tunic:  Love it.  and the skirt, too.  And, I especially like that she's wearing leggings under that skirt.  I can do that.
Capris and Shorts: What's not to love?
Floofy tunic:  Well, it's floofy, but I do like it!  Maybe in some wonderful linen for those hot days...
Sleeveless checked blouse:  I just love that.  I would even wear it though it's sleeveless.  OMG, where's my razor??

Doggie Coat

Why do I think I can make clothes that fit me if I can't even make a coat to fit a dog?  Granted, they're dachshunds, but still.

I started out making this coat for Oscar, the larger wiener.  It is from the book One Yard Wonders, which is a really neat book, and I recommend it (just make sure it has the envelope of patterns glued into the front if you get it from the store - the copies at my local store were missing some).  It's a nice, simple design, really cute, and I tried to redraft it to fit O.  Well, the neck was perfect, the chest was about 3 inches too short (WTF??) and the length was also about 3 inches short.  So, I gave it to my smaller not-so-hot dog to wear.  On her, the neck is way too big, but the chest is OK and the length is acceptable.  And, looking at these pix, I think I really need to tighten up that neck more.  sigh.
I feel pretty bad about it, though, because I had promised Oscar the coat.  And I made it in such manly dog colors.  And I toughed it up by trimming it with some uber studly Alexander Henry "Tattoo" fabric.  Oh well, Rosie will be most menacing dachsie on the block.
Here is the coat in action:

Do I really want to escape?

That snow looks pretty deep.

Notice my defiant sneer, human.

Maybe I'll just go back inside and cuddle with my chewie.

But I'll pee here, so everyone knows who's boss.

I'm going to have to add a snap to keep the collar down, I think.  And maybe a strap to keep it snug when it's flipped up...or maybe I'll just let sleeping dogs lie.

New Suklaatwist

I have finished another tunic.  I like this one even better than the first.  I hope it survives the laundry, as I forgot to prewash the fabric.  This is how the pieces look.  The tunic is blue, the sleeve facing is magenta with polka dots.

  My helpers were not really sure about my choice of fabric.

When sewing the elastic to the skirt panels to gather, I found it easier to measure the length of the panel, divide by 4, then sew the panels one after the other marking the measurements when I started a new panel. I wish I had the forethought to cut a few more, because it was nice to have something to anchor the elastic. It's really slippery.

Rudolph went for a romp in the button bowl.  Santa played lifeguard.

This is the tunic ready to have a skirt panel sewn on.  Santa got tangled in the elastic.  Rudolph was no help at all.

This is a sleeve puff with the lining pinned inside.  Rudy is digging the whole cozy thing.

These are the sleeve puffs with the facing attached to the bottom end.

This is a closeup of the puff folded up, getting ready to be basted in preparation for being attached to the sleeve.  I put a daisy pin at each seam so you can see what is meant by "bringing underarm seam of sleeve facing toward the front of sleeve and placing it 4cm away from underarm seam of sleeve."

This is both puffs.  There are pins at each seam here also; I actually used a 5cm measurement.  Note that one seam is rotated right, the other is rotated left.  That's because they go on opposite arms.  If you have both arms coming out of one side of your body, you don't need to worry about this.

This is an aerial view of the puffs.  I think they look awesome from this angle.  Too bad it's not an available view when the tunic is being worn.

Finished shirt.  Love it.  Gets easier the second time around.