A stitch is worth a thousand reviews! (And my absence is worth a lot of pictures...)

It has been far too long since I updated this blogger...when last I posted, it was almost time for the craziness that is the end of the school year and my family was about to embark on an ambitious road trip. Beginning at the end of June 2016, we traveled from our home in central North Carolina across the United States and back. In total, we drove just shy of 7,600 miles including stops at...

We visited many rest stops and state welcome centers such as this one in southern Virginia:

We toured the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

 
We stood 103 floors above Chicago at the Skydeck of the Willis Tower (aka the Sears Tower).

We drove across the midwest and saw how the pioneers lived at a stop near the Oregon Trail in Nebraska. We even got to see some old fashioned sewing machines!

We had silly moments, such as playing on a dinosaur while dad pumped gas.

We experienced several National Parks - including the Mount Rushmore National monument and Yellowstone National Park (where we camped overnight and saw amazing geologic phenomenon).

We continued on through the West and came down through Salt Lake City and across Nevada into California near Donner Pass. We spent the July 4th holiday in San Francisco. (And I missed out on Britex fabrics because they were closed for the holiday - wah!)

From San Francisco, we headed down the coast to Los Angeles. Our stops included the beautiful town of Santa Barbara and Venture Beach. We spent time in Hollywood before my husband had to fly back to NC for work and the kids and I continued on to Disneyland.

Gracie completed a challenge from on of her cheer coaches to do a back handspring in every state she visited. Here she is on the beach in Cali getting it done!

We love Disneyland and I did get some sewing projects for the Disney portion of our adventure.

From there, we began our journey eastward and camped at another National Park- Grand Canyon.

We also went to the Four Corners Monument - the only place in the United States where you can be in four states at once!

We continued through New Mexico and on to Texas where, in Dallas, I made my one and only fabric shopping visit of the trip, but scored a fantastic rainbow lightning print which I used for cheer practicewear for Gracie. Her team this year is Lady Lightning so I made her this set as well as mini cheer bows for the whole team to put on their backpacks.

 At the Cadillac ranch where you can spray paint on a henge of old cars!

 With family friends in Houston at the Johnson Space Center

After our visit with family friends in Houston, we headed up to Arkansas and checked out Hot Springs National Park and bathhouse row. Finally, we made it back to North Carolina where, after unpacking, I got back into sewing as the I wanted a wardrobe update before the new school year began. As I got back into sewing and reviewing, I realized I was getting close to the 1,000 review mark at Pattern Review. Right before I reached my 10 year anniversary mark on the site (which also marks ten years as an avid sewist), I reached my goal. Here are a few of my favorite projects since I last blogged - you can also click on my review links to the left side bar to see more.

La Mia Boutique tunic/mini dress

 Another cheer outfit - these are so fun to make and since she is at the gym at least 3 times a week, she needs them!

 Vogue, Anne Klein dress, made in Nicole Miller fabric (I have become obsessed with her fabulous prints.)

Benjamin's Halloween costume - Alexander Hamilton - made from adapted Burda and Kwik Sew patterns plus an improvised ruffle added to a white dress shirt. He (and I, too) love the musical soundtrack that inspired this choice.

 Another couple of wonderful Nicole Miller prints!

Sassy clothes for a sassy tween! 

Introducing two new family members - Cookie the calico and Honey the orange and white kitty. These sweet girls joined us after Winston and Skippy both crossed the Rainbow Bridge within a couple of months of each other.

...and a princess dress for the winter holiday season!

 I brought a sewing machine to school and made ornaments with my DIY club students - so much fun to share the joy of creating and inspire them to maybe take an interest in learning to sew.

I also made a suit with a skirt, jacket, and pants - very pleased with these pieces!

 I have now made 4 pairs of these Simplicity leggings - I really love this print pair!

Sewing things to use for organization is always a good motivator at the start of a new year, as well as trying a little quilt piecing and adding a few casual wardrobe pieces.

Until the next blog entry (which will be soon), happy sewing, and welcome back to my little corner of the sewing world!