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 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!
My dress is Cashmerette 1301 - the Washington dress. This is another pattern with lots of fun mixing fabrics. In this case, you can mix woven with knits which opens up lots of possibilities. I also am excited about Cashmerette's options for larger cup sizes. No FBA needed! I need some more of their patterns.
Silly Gracie was trying to photobomb me while her brother took my pattern review picture, but I grabbed her. She's a mess...
Jalie 3247 - sports bras and workout shorts...one of the best patterns to have in your stash if you girl does all-star cheer! These pieces mix and match with the items in my previous post.
She wore this set to her 2017-2018 season tryout. She looked like a pro and she nailed her skills. 
This is version C of the sports bra - love how professionally it came together - especially in the back.
My girl has been working hard to increase her flexibility and upgrade her tumbling. I can't wait to see what's in store for her next season at Cheer Extreme!
She's hoping to be able to compete as a senior since she is finally 10 (the current minimum age to be on a senior team). She's competed two years as Youth 1, one year as Junior 1, and hopefully will be on a level 2...now we wait for practice group announcements.
Gracie and I love bright colors, so this fabric was an easy pick! The shorts are tried & true Jalie 3247 and I made a second pair in a textured black knit (kind of like a denim texture). The top is a pattern hack - leotard 3354. I cropped it at the length-shorten line and added a front lining to make it as a sports bra.
I have one more sports bra in all black (from Jalie 3247) ready to sew. Sometimes she needs all black for a gym event, but since it is the same black fabric as the accent fabric on this outfit, she can also mix up the solid black pieces with other colorful pieces,
I was busy today - cut two tops last night, sewed them this morning. I then cut out this adorable bag and sewed it up as well.
I found this patriotic knit at Joann's and bought enough to do mother-daughter coordinating tops. Mine is Simplicity 1805, while Gracie's is from the Summer 2007 Ottobre magazine - design #33.
I think it will be fun to wear these together - especially for summer holidays.
We stood 103 floors above Chicago at the Skydeck of the Willis Tower (aka the Sears Tower).
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!)
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.
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
La Mia Boutique tunic/mini dress
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.
...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!
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.
