Blog – Page 5 – My Sweet Sunshine Studio Blog

Color Me Blog Tour-Dream in Color

Hello, Sorry it has been so quiet around here. I have been busy sewing, sewing, sewing! 🙂

I am back today to share with you a new FABRIC Collection by Hayley from Mouse House Creations and Michael Miller fabrics. Color Me is a collection of fabric designed for both Boys and Girls that you can COLOR on. Yes!! I said COLOR!! This soft Quilter’s Cotton weight fabric was a perfect substrate for coloring and sewing with. I forgot to add a hard board between the fabric layers when the kids were coloring it, but no worries because it did not bleed through! SWEET!

Coming up with my plan for the blog tour I wanted to sew a clothing item that was good for both Boys and Girls and BIG and little children. My kids LOVE to jump into PJ’s the minute they get home so this was the perfect opportunity to make some PJ’S. Art in the day, Dream in Color at night, right!?!?!

So let the games begin! Interesting trying to mange 3 kids! Ummmm, note to self: the dissolution that all of them would be standing still and smiling at the same time, NOT going to happen!

Before we got our Art on we had to get some before pics…

It cracks me up -One of those kids has been in front of the camera way too much!

I used Whimsy Couture Easy Boy/Girl Pants

LET’S COLOR!!!!!!

Miss S. who is almost 4 yrs old was very excited to color on her PJ’s-Oh my! I hope she does not go home and do that on her other Pj’s Mom may get a little mad at me-Eeek!

Mr. L was very excited to have fabric that he could play with. I found him last night sitting quietly at the table coloring his pants. I may need to make MORE!!

Miss. T is still coloring her pants to this day… Love her seriousness! That is SO her!

After…

Yep, it got a bit crazy the 2nd time I let them jump on the bed ! At least no one was injured!

Fun Fun Fun Fun

Thank you Hayley for having me join the Color Me Blog Tour!!

Make sure you check out all the other Bloggers for inspiration…

Bonnie Christine Ribbon Tour/ Ribbon Headband

Hello and Happy Thursday!

I am so thrilled today to be joining 18 Bloggers on Bonnie Christine’s: Going Home to Roost Ribbon Blog Tour.

If you don’t know who Bonnie is (you can come out from under the rock now) here is a quick bio ::
Bonnie Christine is a surface pattern designer, mother hen of the Roost Tribe and author of Going Home to Roost – a blog dedicated to living an extraordinarily creative life. She is inspired by the great outdoors and is passionate about sharing what she knows and creating community around creativity.

If you are following along on the Ribbon Blog Tour then you have already seen an amazing collection of ideas on how to use Bonnie Christine’s new Jacquard Ribbon collection with Renaissance Ribbon. I hope you had a chance yesterday to check out Whitney Deal from Darling Dexter and please come back tomorrow for Marni Weaver from Haberdashery Fun to see how she lets her creativity flow. Today I get to share the headband I made using the Aqua Butterflies Jacquard Ribbon from Bonnie’s Collection.

As many of you can relate, I started out with an idea of what I would make for this blog tour and 5 minutes later came up with 50 other ideas. By the time I finished the headband I was up to 101 (ok, maybe not that many). What impressed me the most with this ribbon was that no matter how many pins I used in it, they never left a mark. QUALITY!! I finally decided on this headband because I wanted a change from my typical clothing projects. My daughter and I both love headbands and I often us them to add the perfect finishing touch on my projects.

When you are ready to purchase, check either A Stitch in Time or Renaissance Ribbon

I used one of my favorite patterns, the Alley Cat Pattern by Lil Luxe Collection

I used the Winged Fabric collection that was designed by Bonnie with Art Gallery Fabrics

Thank you Bonnie for letting me join in on the fun Blog Tour!!

Ok, I know that was a TON of pictures!! But here is one more collage….

-Alexis/My Sweet Sunshine

Full of Joy- Violette Field Threads

Hello!

It’s FRIDAY! Last day of the school and work week (unless you are like me and work 24/7). I know many of you are looking forward to Spring and hopefully thawing out from all the snow that has come down this Winter season. Last week I had the privilege of testing Violette Field Threads new pattern, JOY. The name is perfect for this dress, it radiates joy and Spring!

It is due to release – Monday 2/23/15

Quick Look at Joy:

The Joy pattern will come in size 12mnth-10yr

Panel Skirt

Side Ties

Back is 2 Rows of Elastic

Curved Bodice that is perfect for embroidery or applique or vintage fabric design

Button Closure in back

Features Finished Size Chart

*****ALSO- You can now skip the printer!!! VFT Joy Pattern features a Measurement Chart for cutting all rectangle pieces. Only piece you will need to print is the Front Bodice

The Fabric is a combination of Riley Blake (Aqua/White Stripe) and Square Dance in Sweet Voile by Anna Maria Horner. I have been waiting to use this out of print fabric for just the right project. The Voile Fabric swings in the breeze.

My daughter will be wearing it to Church for Easter and My Grandmother’s 90 Birthday Party (or maybe she will be wearing the Annabelle Dress? Hmmmm)

One of my favorite features of this dress are the panels. You can mix and match fabric to create a unique one of a kind MASTERPIECE! It is so much fun to play around with fabric and this is the perfect dress to do so!!

Outtakes…

Thank you Violette Field Threads for allowing me to test the Joy pattern, It was a Joy (ok-had to say it-LOL) to work with you.

Thank you for reading My Sweet Sunshine Blog today!!!

-Alexis

Little Lizard King Sewalong- Day 5- Last Day

Hello and Welcome to Day 5. The LAST DAY!

So we finished the Top and Skirt and now we are going to bring them together (love bird-it is Valentines after all).

So grab your favorite beverage and snack and lets go and finish up

Attaching Bodice to Skirt:

34)Mark the skirt into quarters with pins as shown below-This will help for the next few steps

35)Take your bodice and flip upside down and match raw edge (or the edge you serged) of bodice and raw edge of the skirt making sure you have right side to right side. **Bodice will be on the outside of the skirt***

36) Start Pinning by Matching Side seam of Bodice with one side seam of skirt. Continue Pinning all the way around the skirt. My bodice side seam matched the other side seam of the skirt. Your bodice back will overlap- Make sure the back bodice side that has the ELASTIC LOOP is ON TOP after it is flipped up. The back bodice side with the elastic will be closest to the skirt

37)Start sewing at side seam and sew all the way around.

38)Flip it up, love it and now flip it back and serge or pinking shears

39)Now you can flip it up , Iron and Top Stitch- eeek!!!!! Almost time for the Happy Dance!

40)Last Step decide where you want the button- sew it and DONE! **I like to use Wonder Tape to hold button.

Please please please share what you made with use on LLK Cafe Facebook Page. Congratulations!!!

41) HAPPY DANCE!!!

Thank you Little Lizard King for allowing me to host your Peggy Sue Sewalong! Also Thank you to RJR Fabrics , your fabric was a dream to sew with and I look forward to many more projects with your fabric!!
Don’t forget #PSSAL on Facebook.

Little Lizard King- Sewalong -Day 4

Hello Ladies!! I hope you have been sharing on LLK Cafe Facebook page. I know I am loving what everyone is doing. Ok day 4 – we are going to Work on the Skirt

(Sorry for the quality of pics- working late at night with no good lighting)

Skirt: Option: adding a ruffle- see pattern instructions.

27) Grab the 2 skirt pieces you cut on day 1 and fold each in half widthwise. Right sides together.

28)You will now need to use either a measuring tape or ruler and a fabric pen to cut the circle skirt from the fabric you just folded in half. Use the Skirt Length measurement found on the Measurement Chart (page 3). For example I am making a size 7/8- my skirt length needs to be 22″. Using a fabric pen and ruler or tape measure start at the top corner of the folded fabric and mark the required skirt length. Make several marks and then connect them to make a curved line.

29)Cut Curved line

30) Now Grab your pattern piece . place on top corner and cut. ***Important to be exact cuts so that it will align with your beautiful top properly.

31)Bring the two half circle skirt and place then right side together and sew along both raw edges. 1/2″ SA. Serge edges or zig zag or pinking shears if you do not have a serger.

32)Serge bottom of skirt and hem. If you do not have a serger fold over a 1/4″ and fold over again 1/4″ to enclose raw edge. option: rolled hem, ruffled edge – see pattern instructions

**Now is the chance to add options like Ric Rac or Ruffle – See instruction for more details,

Alright ladies that is it for day 4!

I will see you back for tomorrow for day 5 and we will attach the skirt to the bodice. -Alexis

Sewalong – Little Lizard King- Day 2

Welcome back for Day 2 of the Little Lizard King Sewalong – Peggy Sue Dress/Tunic

Plan for Day 2: Cutting and Starting your Bodice

*So if you are ready with your Beverage and snack of choice, lets get STARTED!!!

Cutting:

Grab your pattern and cut that baby out!: Front Bodice (liner and main), Back bodice (2 main and 2 liner), bib, ruffle for the bib, sash and rectangles for skirt (don’t cut them into circles yet-that is left for day 4)

Bodice:

1) Grab your center sash piece and fold the top over 1/4″

2)Place Wrong side of Sash on top of Right side of Front Bodice- Top Stitch

My Favorite Foot to use is the #10 edging foot. I have a Berninia Sewing machine (Love it!) So if you don’t have one go check out if your machine has a similar foot. I don’t know how I sew without it!

Bib:

3)Grab your Ruffle piece take it to the Ironing Board fold in half lengthwise and iron it.

4) Ruffling the Ruffle Piece:

There are several ways you can ruffle: Ruffle Foot, 2 rows of basting stitch, Serger or Zig Zag/thread method. I have used every method and for me personally I like the ruffle foot. For small areas of ruffling I like to use the basting stitch method. I will me using my ruffle foot on this Sewalong. You can adjust the depth of the ruffle and how many ruffles on your fabric piece. You could do a test piece but I don’t typically do that. I usually just cut the piece longer then asked to assure I have enough fabric.

5) Take your ruffled fabric and place on top of the right side of bib matching raw edges. Pin in place and sew using 1/2″ Seam Allowance (SA).

Option: Ric Rack material

6)Flip ruffle out and iron

Bodice:

7) Next let take the bib and center it directly on top of the front bodice, Wrong side of Bib to Right side of bodice

8)Pin and Top stitch the bib to the bodice (great time to use your edging foot)

9) take a minute, grab your drink or cupcake and look at your beautiful top coming together. 🙂 🙂 🙂

**Options: This would be the time you can add embroidery, buttons, trim, etc to the front. Just don’t forget the 1/2″ SA at the neckline (mine does NOT show that- shame on me!)

Ok, moving on… Put the wine down Ladies!

10) Grab the front bodice and both back bodice pieces. With right sides together match the shoulder at sew using 1/2″ SA.

11) Repeat with Front and Back lining

12)Iron the seams open

That is it for Day 2! Please Share and use #PSSAL

-Alexis

Meet Lillian by MHC

Hello,

Meet Lillian , the newest pattern by Mouse House Creations. I know, I know we have been waiting for this pattern for ~~years~~ ~~months~~ weeks now (just kidding) but It is finally here!!! Yes, TODAY you can purchase it through the UpCraft Club until 2/6/15. Also at a discounted rate of $7 (until February 2nd 2015 11:59pm EST) wahoo!!!! After that it will be $9

Here is a quick run down of the pattern because I am sure you just want to jump over to UpCraft Club and buy it already….

*Best for Intermediate to Advanced Seamstress

*Pleated front with tie back- Don’t be afraid of the pleats. MHC walks you through all steps and the pattern includes pleat guides.

*Large size range 3mnth-12yr

*Size Chart

*Finished Measurement Chart

*Dress or Top

*Long Sleeve or Short Sleeve with and without elastic hem

*Can be done lined or unlined

*Grab your pattern HERE

Here is my Lillian:

Fabric: Cotton and Steel

Tie Back

Precision is key to make beautiful pleats

Thank you Moue House Creations for have me part of your Testing Team!!!

Another BEAUTIFUL pattern!

-Alexis/My Sweet Sunshine

Violette Field Threads- Annabelle

Hello and Welcome to My Sweet Sunshine Blog!

Annabelle Maxi Dress by Violette Field Threads is on the Blog today!! Can’t wait to show you what I did with Annabelle. This dress pattern and 10 other patterns are being offered through the BundleUp Sale. If you don’t know what BundleUp is well, you’re missing out on a great deal. Bundle Up is an opportunity to purchase several new patterns at a discounted rate. The more you buy the more you save. To receive the best pricing you need to purchase at least 6 patterns and the more you buy after that the price drops even further. Whats not to love, right?? Be sure to read all the way to the end to hear details on how you can win a COVERSTITCH and many more prizes!!

I made two dress. One per the instruction and then a shorter version with a single chevron row. When I first printed the pattern and started cutting I asked myself, “Am I making a Quilt or a Dress”?? Well, It’s a Quilt Dress! 🙂

Quick Run Down:
*Size 2T-10
*Size chart- Sizing is comparable to Ready to Wear Sizes
*Elastic Back
*Sweet Heart Neckline
*Maxi Dress
*Cap Sleeve

As soon as I saw the pattern I knew what fabric I wanted to use- Wild and Free by Maurren Cracknell and Art Gallery Fabrics. I love the Bohemian style of the print and the soft touch and flow of Art Gallery fabric. Long maxi dress played off the bohemian design of the Wild and Free Collection.

Here are some pointers to make this dress a quick sew:
*Non Direction prints
*Reading directions first will make the construction of the panels flow faster
*Precious sewing- 1/2″
*Pinning
***Laying out your pieces on the floor to see how it is all going together- This helped me a lot!

Floral Halo by Little Sparrow Bow on Etsy-Thank you!!

Shorten Modified Version:

A fabric store , Needle in a Fabric Stash, recently opened in my hometown and on my first trip I saw this gorgeous fabric by Michael Miller, Emma’s Garden by Patty Sloniger. So when I decided I wanted to modify the dress I ran back to the shop and picked up a few yards. This fabric screams Spring, right??

Mini Tutorial for the shorten version of the Annabelle will be on Pattern Revolution !!

LOVE

Fabric-

Shoulder Straps: Cotton and Steel XOXO

Top and Skirt: Emma’s Garden By Michael Miller Fabrics

I am so in love with this photo location. Found it completely by luck as my daughter had her soccer Tournament at this park. 🙂

Check out the BundleUp HERE and grab the Annabelle Dress by VFT!

Thank you Violette Field Threads and Pattern Revolution for allowing me to sew up the Annabelle Dress

Ok, Ladies sign up HERE for Amazing Giveaway!!! Just look at all the great stuff you could win!

-Alexis/ My Sweet Sunshine

Outtake:

Pattern Revolution -Party Time

Hello Beautiful,

Head over to Pattern Revolution today to see Day 2 of Celebrating Christmas! If you have not decided what to have your kids wear to all the Christmas and New Years Parties this season then jump over HERE for some ideas …

XOXO,

Alexis/My Sweet Sunshine

Few of My Favorite Things Holiday Blog Tour and Giveaway

Hello Beautiful,

First off I want to thank Amy for allowing me to represent Brownie-Goose in the Few of My Favorite Things Holiday Blog Tour. Brownie-Goose along with 6 other Pattern designers have teamed up to Share a few favorite patterns along with Giveaways and some discounts.

So I want to start this off with a little story… Something that will make you laugh, I hope!

When I was deciding on what fabric to chose for the blog tour, Amy shared with me her next pattern, Lennon, which is a vintage styled dress or Top. At first I was at a loss as to what fabric to choose. I looked on Etsy and several of my favorite fabric shops but nothing was just right. One morning I was searching thru my fabric closet for another project when I found this large Red and White Gingham fabric my Mother had passed down to me. Perfect, I don’t have to buy anything and it is vintage! I could not be more happy, or SO I thought! Well, about a week ago I was walking through Walmart to grab a zipper to finish up my Lennon. I had both kids with me which means constant trips to the bathroom. I had to walk down the fabric aisle to get to the restroom and THERE IT WAS! The SAME Red Gingham FABRIC! It suddenly all came back. It didn’t come from my mom, I had purchased this fabric 5 yrs ago (is that still count as vintage? just kidding) for my daughter’s birthday party. WORST memory ever! My immediate thought was, I can’t tell these ladies that I use Walmart fabric , I will never work again in this town. Should I take it to my grave or should I tell? Well… Hi. My name is Alexis and I used Walmart Fabric. There I said it! Please don’t stop talking to me :0 . Ok, Ok, it is all said and done and now we can move on…

Since the Fabric is thin I backed it with Heavier Solid white fabric by RJR Fabrics. I serged the Red Gingham and White Solid together before I stitched it up!

The Lennon Pattern is a dress or a top. The dress features a zipper closure- don’t freak out by the zipper, Amy does an amazing job teaching you how to install an invisible zipper. The Top features a button closure. You can make the Lennon in several different substrates like wovens or knit. Per the directions Pleats hold better with heavier weight fabric.

The Best Part is that Amy is Hosting a Cyber Monday Sale. Everything in the shop is 30% off-No code needed!!! Don’t Walk, Run to Brownie-Goose to snag your Lennon Pattern and every pattern your BG heart wants!!

I LOVE the Vintage style and those PLEATS!

OK! Here is the Really BEST part…

You can also sign up for a chance to WIN the Lennon Pattern by Brownie-Goose

CLICK:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

You don’t want to miss out of all the Giveaways and Discounts
Follow along with us all week (I will update each day with a link- so follow my blog to stay updated)

Alexis Wright/ Brownie-Goose
Jessica Stewart/Izzy and Ivy – http://snickerdoodlestew.com/girls-in-white-dresses/
Elizabeth Daugherty Whitehurst/LilyGiggle: http://lilygiggle.com/favorite-things-holiday-blog-tour/
Kara Orr/Jocole: http://jocole.blogspot.com/2014/12/merry-and-bright.html
Tameka Murrell/Ellie Inspired: http://www.ellieinspired.com/blog/2014/12/05/a-few-of-my-favorite-things/
Sarah Hancock Unthank/Greenstyle
Raedene Samuel Averitt/Little Lizard King: http://littlelizardking.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-few-of-our-favorite-things-blog-tour.html

Out takes…

Someone was begging to be in the pictures 😉

	psstlex on Mood Sewing Network Colla…
	Brittany on Mood Sewing Network Colla…
	psstlex on Mood Sewing Network Colla…
	Malini on Mood Sewing Network Colla…
	psstlex on Style Maker Fabrics Spring Blo…

	psstlex on Mood Sewing Network Colla…
	Brittany on Mood Sewing Network Colla…
	psstlex on Mood Sewing Network Colla…
	Malini on Mood Sewing Network Colla…
	psstlex on Style Maker Fabrics Spring Blo…

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