Summer Swimwear Tour 2016

Making our way back to the beach for another swimsuit. This one is from The Wolf and the Tree as part of the Summer Swimwear Tour 2016 along with Call Ajaire and Gracious Threads. 

I made the shortie shorts and the bikini length color block top.

I made the size 5 as indicated by JubeJube's measurements of 23 inches at the chest, 20 inches at the waist and 23 inches at the hips. After stitching the side seam at the recommended 3/8" I had to take it in another 1/2" on each side to get a slimmer fit. I still find the top a bit loose to my liking but she will grow and have it for next year.

I omitted waist band on the shorts, I felt they were highwaisted enough for JubeJube without adding another inch. I also left out the bands around the armscye, simply turning to hem at 1/4 inch. Again with the shorts I used a 3/8" seam allowance as recommended in the tutorial, and this time the fit was snug, but I wouldn't say they were too snug.

Changes to the pattern have been made, but unfortunately I have been able to sew a new one up in time to post it here. I can tell you that JubeJube is thrilled about her swimsuit, and for me, the next time I make it, I'll make sure to slim down that top a little more.

For now, I'm just going to sit back on the beach and enjoy watching JubeJube and Amelia play!

Until next time, xx.

*I did get this pattern for free for the purpose of the tour, but all opinions are my own.

Join in on the Summer Swimwear Tour fun by using the hashtag #sewswimtour to share your favorite swimwear makes.  And don't forget to enter the rafflecopter below to win some fabulous prizes from our sponsors!

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During the tour Designs by Call Ajaire is offering 20% off all patterns in the Etsy shop using the code SWIMTOUR, Gracious Threads is offering 15% off the purchase of 3 or more patterns in her shop (no coupon needed), and The Wolf and the Tree is offering 15% off patterns in her shop using the code SWIMTOUR as well.  So take a few minutes to visit Call Ajaire, Gracious Threads, and The Wolf and the Tree and of course the rest of the lovely blogs we have on the tour:

imagine gnats - Buzzmills - Sprouting JubeJube 

Our Chez Nous - Replicate Then Deviate - Once Upon a Sewing Machine

Once Upon a Sewing Machine - Kadiddlehopper - Lulu & Celeste - Skirt As Top - Needle and Ted 

Straight Stitch Designs - Rebel & Malice - Rae Gun Ramblings

Paisley Roots - Made by Sara - The Crazy Tailor - Skirt Fixation

Sew Chibi Designs - Max California - Better Dressed Child - Shaffer Sisters

Sew Country Chick - Handmade Frenzy - House of Estrela - Elegance & Elephants - SewsNBows

Pool side Beach Party Day 6

Here we are on Day 6 of our Pool Side Beach Party Tour...not quite the end, we still have to announce the winners of our daily giveaways...and today we have another giveaway!

Let's go see what our featured bloggers have made!

Over at Phat Quarters, Gemia has garnished her swimsuit cover-ups with pompoms...go check out all the details on her blog!

Essence has some fun colorful swimwear...I really can't wait to see the full look. For more go check out the Adventures of Bubba and Bug.

Miranda have it all in her post, the hat, the cover-up and the bikini...go get inspired with Inspinration!

Now I'm seriously wondering what Karly of Paisley Roots has put together...no clues at all from this teaser, but I bet you its amazing! Go take a look, I know you want to!

Looking for an ladies swimsuit, I think Eleri of the Sew and Tell Project has got that covered! Go take a look what she made using 5 out of 4 patterns!

Look back at the week and visit all the other stops...so many fun, colorful and inspired projects!
We'll be back in a few days with a beach bag designed by The Handmaiden's Cottage,  the winners of the daily giveaways, a round up post and maybe even a list of FREEbeach and pool realated projects...oh and also that hemp bracelet tutorial that I promised...there was just too much to pack into one week that's its flowing into next week!

Lulu & Celeste * 5 out of 4 * The Wholesome Mama * Sew Happily Ever After * BLAVERRY *  From a Box * Élégantine! * Wining Wife * Phat Quarters * Handmade Boy * Sew Sophie Lynn * Sprouting JubeJube * MCB Créations * Gracious Threads * Sew and Tell Project * Pear Berry Lane * Creative Counselor * Inspinration * Golden Rippy * Mahlica Designs * Filles à Maman *  Call Ajaire  * Cindy Parrett  * Adventures with Bubba and Bug  *  Paisley Roots *

Thanks so much to all our amazing sponsors! Here are some amazing deals, catch them beofre they're over!

Modkid (use the code POOLSIDE2016 for 25% of at checkout until July 2nd)

Sew Happily Ever After with the code Poolside16 get 50% off the Nana tote in thier Etsy shop until July 4th

Also Jennuine Design (one of the prize sponsors) is having an unrelated sale on selected patterns until June 30th. 40% off with code SATYASEASON

Phat Quarters Free US shipping on orders of $25 or more with code SUMMER25

BLAVERRY 15% off with code INDEPENDENCE2016  until July 10th

5 Out 4 Patterns  FIREWORKS2016 for 20% off your purchase now (6/27/2016) through Monday, July 4th, 2016. (Coupon cannot be used on PowerNet fabric)

Filles à Maman JULYONETOFIVE for 25% off everything including bundles, the coupon is valid from july 1st ending July 5th midnight EDT

Gracious Threads 40% off all patterns with code canadaday2016 Good from July 1st to 8th

Today's giveaway  is a $20.00 from Phat Quarters.

Mouse House Creations 35% off patterns and ready-to-sell items with code BOOM Good from June 30th to July 6th 11:59pm est

E+M Pattern 50% off all patterns with the Code SAVE50 at checkout good until July 6th (11:59p.m. PST).
Sofilantjes use the code FREEDOM for 20% discount excluding bundles

Today's give away is a $20.00 gift card from Phat Quarters fabric shop!

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Pool Side Beach Party Preview, Part II

As promised here's another sneak peek of what's ahead next week on the Pool Side Beach Party tour. 

I was thinking, what's a beach party without the proper accessories or even make them for your guests as party favors...Stay tuned because I'll be posting a short tutorial on how to make some of these fun hemp bracelets! 

Lulu & Celeste * 5 out of 4 * The Wholesome Mama * Sew Happily Ever After * BLAVERRY *  From a Box * Élégantine! * Wining Wife * Phat Quarters * Handmade Boy * Sew Sophie Lynn * Sprouting JubeJube * MCB Créations * Gracious Threads * Sew and Tell Project * Pear Berry Lane * Creative Counselor * Inspinration * Golden Rippy * Mahlica Designs * Filles à Maman *  Call Ajaire  * Cindy Parrett  * Adventures with Bubba and Bug  *  Paisley Roots 

More exciting news...there will be daily giveaways! Thanks to all our sponsors!

Plus we also got some great discount codes, just for you! Stay tuned!

Until next time, xx.

Spring Break PJ Party Tour: Day 5

What a week this has been on the Spring Break PJ Party Tour! We've featured over 20 designers from 30 bloggers, had a number of giveaways, and walked away with tons of inspiration! For the last day take a look at:

Made By Jaime, Mae & K, SewSophiLynn, Amazing Adventures of Bubba & Bug and MahlicaDesigns 

A huge thank you going out to the 24 designers sponsoring prizes for this huge party! 

We are also lucky to have four fabric shops offering readers discount codes:

Mabel Madison is offering 20% off with the code JAMMIES. Code expires March 31st!

PhatQuarters is offering 10% off OR FREE shipping to US addresses on orders over 40$ US (with an equivalent discount for international shoppers). Use the code PHAT10 for 10% off OR FREE40 for free shipping within the US.

Raspberry Creek Fabrics is offering 15% off

Tangled Blossoms Designs is offering 10% off with the code PJPARTY. Code expires March 25th!


And now for today’s giveaway!

Today’s prize is sponsored by Felicity Sewing Patterns and StitchART. You could win 1 pattern of choice (excludes bundles) from Felicity Sewing Patterns and 2 patterns of choice (excluding bundles) from StitchART. Visit Felicity Sewing Patterns and StitchART to see what they have to offer. The giveaway ends March 26th at 11:59pm EST. See the Rafflecopter on how to enter! You have up to 8 chances to win! The winner will be chosen March 27th and will have 48 hours to respond to the email before a new winner is chosen.

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This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook.

Want to win more prizes? You still have time to enter yesterday's giveaway! Go to Made By Jaime's post from yesterday to enter the giveaway that ends at 11:59pm EST tonight (March 25th)!

Missed a stop on the tour? The full schedule is below:

Monday, March 21st

Sew Far North  |  The Wholesome Mama  |   From-a-Box |  Pattern Revolution  |  Inspinration | Paisley Roots

Tuesday, March 22nd

Sprouting JubeJube | 5 Out Of 4 | Sew Happily Ever After | Beri Bee Designs |  Phat Quarters | Connected by A Thread

Wednesday, March 23rd

Create 3.5 | Handmade Boy | HattieLu Handmade | Made by Melli |  The Crafting Fiend | Sweeter Than Cupcakes

Thursday, March 24th

Lulu & Celeste | Sew Starly | Phat Quarters | Pear Berry Lane Rebel & Malice | Creative Counselor

Friday, March 25th

Made By Jaime | Mae & K | Mabel Madison | SewSophiLynn |  Amazing Adventures of Bubba & Bug | MahlicaDesigns


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An InLinkz Link-up

For the Love of Dresses and Tunics

I'm so excited to be sewing for me again, AND another keeper I might add! Its the last day of the For the Love of Dresses and Tunics Tour featuring the PDF patterns of Love Notions. I get to show you the Pemberly Tunic I've made myself....and at the end of this post you get to enter a giveaway to win 5 patterns and a $50.00 gift card from Girl Charlee Fabrics! 

When I put this one together I was thinking date night out but this top is so comfortable that I can see it as a date night in. Pair it with leggings and get me some pop corn and I'm ready for movie watching all cuddled up on the couch.  

I made the 3/4 length sleeve and added the button tabs. I love that the bodice pattern pieces have two different sizes, regular bust and a fuller bust. Also included in the tutorial are details on how to adjust the front bodice pattern pieces to fit the way you need them to fit.

Pemberly is designed for woven fabrics, I went with a rayon spandex blend. 

I will need to make more of these, they're quick enough to make and I'll be able make a short sleeve version!

I was offered this pattern for free for the purpose of the tour, but all opinions are my own! 

This is the last day of the tour, so go back and see what you've missed! Don't forget to enter the giveaway! Also...enjoy 10% off  ladies patterns with the code "LADIESLOVE" in the Love Notions pattern shop!

Feb. 8th Pear Berry Lane,  Rebel and Malice,  Craft Blizzard

Feb. 9th Friends Stitched Together,  Bunch o Berries,  HattieLu Handmade

Feb. 10th Beri Bee Designs,  The Wholesome Mama,  Handcrafted by RED

Feb. 11th Phat Quarters Blog,  Sew Sophie Lynn,  Sew Starly

Feb. 12th Boutique Birdie,  Pen Seb & Rox,  Creative Counselor

Feb. 13th All Things Katy!,  Sprouting JubeJube,  Lulu and Celeste

Until next time, xx.

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MinShan Fabric Blog Tour.

I'm starting off by saying a huge thank you to the ladies over at Phat Quarters for invinting me on this tour to show off this beautiful fabric line by Lewis & Irene! Fabrics were supplied to me by Phat Quaters, but all ideas and opinions about the fabric line are my own!

Its so hard not to be inspired by an Asian theme when you take a look at this fabric line. This is the dress I felt most fit the ideas I had for Lanterns and Pink Lotus.

The pattern is Brooklyn by Sew Sweet Patterns. I felt it looked like a pretty little Kimono. Amelia was quite pleased with her dress and was overjoyed to see the mess of lanterns.

The fabric itself is beautiful and you can feel the quality, even after washing. No fadding and the colors are just sublime, just a bit of shrinking due to the fact that it is a 100% cotton fabric.

Lewis & Irene are donating part of the proceeds from this fabric line to Act for Wildlife, led by Chester Zoo in the UK to help protect Giant Pandas & Red Pandas in their natural habitat. For more information about this group click here!

You'll want to check out what other pretties can be found in the Phat Quarter Etsy shop!

Until next time, xx.

Merry Modkid Tour Featuring Charlotte

So glad to be of the Merry Modkid Tour! I instantly fell for Charlotte when I saw the cover to the pattern. Here's my Charlotte on Amelia.

Don't forget to go all the way to the end of this post for the giveaway!

I didn't make changes to the pattern pieces, but I did play around with the button sizes and ended up using two big buttons and a small handsewn snap for the front closure instead of the recommended 6 buttons.

The fabric is Subtle Blooms from Free Spirits from the Pirouette collection. It was supplied to me by Christine over at Threads and Stiches...you really need to go check out her Etsy shop with all the gorgeous fabrics in it!

The bodice is fully lined so one would think that its a huge project. Infact, this was fairly quick considering having to sew up two bodices and the belt detail at the back.

There are many options to this pattern and I went with the short sleeve as per Amelia's request, the belted back rather than the tied sash, tunic length with the inseam pockets.

The instrustions to the pattern are so easy to follow with multiple drawings to accompany the steps.

I added the detail of the lace at the front but didn't have enough to go around the neckline and I also would have wanted some at the lower hem, but when you're sewing from your stash you use what you have and try not to go out and buy more.

This is what you get when your 4 year old wants to go outside for pictures in the freezing cold, you follow her and let her do her thing...She was saying that she loved her pockets because the kept her warm, Ha!

I did get the pattern for free for the purpose of the tour but all opionions are my own!

The coupon code MERRYMODKID25 at checkout and gets 25% off an entire order at the Modkid Etsy shop, valid Monday 11/30 through Friday 12/04 at midnight EST.

Monday, November 30th

Rebel and Malice * Handmade Martini  * Falafel and the Bee

Tuesday, December 1st

Handmade Frenzy * Kimmie Sew Crazy * Because of Brenna

Wednesday, December 2nd

Mama Says Sew *  Made by Sara * Mabey She Made It

Thursday, December 3rd

Handcrafted by Red *  Pear Berry Lane * Taylor Made Creates

Friday, December 4th

Sew Happily Ever After * Sprouting JubeJube * Sweeter Than Cupcakes

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ADVTee Blog Tour for Sofilantjes Day 3

Over the past 3 days we have seen 8 fun versions of the ADVTee by Sofilantjes. Here are all the direct links just incase you've missed one...come back tomorrow because it isn't over, there's still more to come on Thursday and Friday! Until then don't forget to get your copy of the pattern along with other goodies in the Sofilantjes Pattern shop*, you can 20% off you entire order (bundles excluded because they already reflect a discounted price) by using the code "CELEBRATE" at checkout!

Starting from top left going clockwise:
Handmade Boy, Sprouting JubeJube (that's me, your host), Rebel & Malice, Boevenbende, From-a-Box, The Wholesome Mama, Khadetjes, and Vera Luna.

From-a-Box - The Wholesome Mama - Sprouting JubeJube

Lulu & Celeste - Handmade Boy - Boevenbende

Rebel & Malice - Vera Luna - Liesel Love

Vaahtokarkkimonsteri - Huisje Boompje Boefjes - Khadetjes

Call Ajaire - Straight Grain - Nononsonsmoms

Be sure to join us for the second half of the tour!

Until next time, xx.



*This blog contains affiliate links meaning I make a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase through it at no extra cost to you.

ADVTee Blog Tour for Sofilantjes Day 1

I'm so glad to be hosting the ADVTee tour for Sofilantjes*. Today you'll be able to link to From-a-Box by Stacey and the Wholesome Mama by Courtney to see what they've created with the ADVTee pattern, here's a sneak peek...

From-a-Box

The Wholesome Mama

I know I can't wait to go take a look a what they've made! Before going to check them out, here's a look at Amelia in her comfy loungewear. 

You'll also want to keep in mind that you can get 20% your purchase (blundles excluded since they already reflect a discounted price) by using the code "CELEBRATE" at checkout in the Sofilantjes pattern shop*.

 I paired her top with the Domi sweat pants, these two patterns were a perfect match in style!

Some features of these patterns are:

• Layered printing, print only the sizes you need or want to save on ink.
• Size range from 12 month to 14 years, so you can really get a lot of use out of these great patterns.
• 3/8" seam allowances included.
• Tech drawings with easy to follow step-by-step instructions on assembly.
• Size charts and fabric requirement charts included.
• Designed for knit fabrics. 

See what I mean...perfect for lounging around! She acutally didn't want to change after her mini shoot so I go a couple of extra shots of her in her natural habitat, heeeeheee.

Don't miss any of the stops on this tour, there's a great line up and you'll be sure to be inspired!

Until next time, xx.

From-a-Box - The Wholesome Mama - Sprouting JubeJube

Lulu & Celeste - Handmade Boy - Boevenbende

Rebel & Malice - Vera Luna - Liesel Love

Vaahtokarkkimonsteri - Huisje Boompje Boefjes - Khadetjes

Call Ajaire - Straight Grain - Nononsonsmoms

*This blog contains affiliate links meaning I make a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase through it at no extra cost to you.