Currently Sewing #2

I really love these posts because it helps me realize what I've actually accomplished and what I need to prioritize in the sewing room.

Recently Finished

Pink Everyday Dress

This dress turned out simple and cute just like I wanted. The problem? I have no idea what the fabric content is but there is no way it's cotton. It's pretty hot. So now I want to find some pink cotton and make another pink everyday dress.

Strawberry Dress

This is my new favorite dress and currently my most favorite thing I've ever made. My goal was to finish it in time for the Strawberry Fest last month, but we were making and selling cookies and I had no time to finish the dress. BUT it does not need to be Strawberry Fest for me to wear this adorable dress!

Maisel's Harness

This turned out so cute! It's a little small for her (I based it off a harness she already had but... she's gained a little weight). 

Working on

White floral dress

I thrifted this cute fabric thinking it would make a cute quilt back. Until I saw Amanda from ModernJuneCleaver make a dress out of the same fabric. And then I realized this fabric was meant to be a dress. I'm still working on the bodice (currently finishing off the neckline). The sleeves are going to be puffy. I've been thinking about doing a few layers of the skirt, but it depends on how much fabric I've got left. So... I guess future me will be able to tell you later what I chose!

Sarah and Zach's Quilt

While I was hanging out with Sarah during wedding prep, she came across a cute patchwork quilt on Pinterest that she showed me. She had no idea I had that same photo pinned, and I decided to use it as inspiration and make a patchwork backing for her quilt. Now, this definitely added A LOT of time to construction, but I think it is fun and was an amazing way to use up a bunch of scraps, especially since most of the fabrics I'd chosen for her quilt weren't my style and I was wondering what I was gonna do with them. I might start doing more patchwork quilt backs as a way to use more scraps!

Eye spy Quilt

Still an ongoing project. I felt like working on it a little yesterday and got another block finished and a few blocks sewn together. This will probably be a fave quilt when it's done.

Things on my to-do list

Summer Scrappy QAL: Yeah I haven't worked on this one. Maybe once Sarah and Zach's quilt is done I'll pull this one out and spend an afternoon on it.

Finish vintage quilt top: I thrifted a vintage quilt top (I think it's made of flour sacks) and I want to turn it into a quilt. I think I may skip the batting so it can be a thin summer quilt, perfect for picnics. I need to pick backing fabric and binding.

Finish cutting Fresh as a Daisy quilt: I started this a long time ago. There is so. much. cutting. I need to just make a few blocks to get the momentum going. But probably I should focus on one quilt at a time.

Did I mention I started a log cabin quilt too? It's been a while back and I had 4 blocks finished. It will be a cool quilt when I finish, but it's def not a priority now.

Mending pile: I don't even wanna talk about it.

Life Lately Brain Dump

Just a few things about life lately!

SALT. I've been a part of SALT since 2011 and it's one of my favorite things in the world. Planning has been ongoing for the last few months and now it's crunch time. Between handling stuff for SALT and making sure we're prepped and ready (HOW did we just realize that Casey doesn't even have a week's worth of pants??), volunteer days, and trying to finish a wedding quilt (for Sarah and Zach who got married 2 months ago)... things are busy!

Easy Dinners. That's what's on the menu. Sandwiches, spaghetti, hot dogs, grilled cheese. I keep reminding myself it's just a season, and the important thing is to feed my family.

Name what matters. This is a principle I've learned from the Lazy Genius (Kendra Adachi) and it's been helping me so much. Like with easy dinners. What matters during this season of life? Not fancy meals, not healthy meals. Just... meals. As someone who would love to have more veggies and variety in her meals, it felt like a fail to admit that those just can't be my priorities right now. But man, how good it feels to just let myself be okay with "feed my family." 

The Lazy Genius. I. Am. Obsessed. Ob-sessed. I don't remember how I found her podcast last year, but I listened to a few episodes then borrowed The Lazy Genius audiobook from my library. It was so good and I loved her principles. Now I follow her on instagram, listen to a few of her podcasts a week while I do chores, and her newest book, The Lazy Genius Kitchen, will be delivered to my doorstep today. Applying her principles "Name What Matters" and "The Magic Question" are helping me to prioritize things. I'm on the waiting list for The Lazy Genius audiobook because I want to give it another listen. 

Sewing. I'm stealing moments here and there to sew. I finished my strawberry dress and it might just be my most favorite thing I've ever made. I need to make another Currently Sewing post. Those are a great way for me to keep up with what I've made and need to work on. My current goal is to finish Sarah and Zach's wedding quilt in the next week and a half. I have some extra time this week so I hope to at least get a good amount done on it.

Currently Sewing #1

I tried to make a list of all the sewing projects I did in 2021 and I got a pretty good ways... but I'm not sure I actually remembered everything I made. So here's what I've sewed in 2022 and what I'm working on.

Finished:

Scrappy Blue Irish Chain for Julianne and Caleb

I wanted to make a quilt for my bestie and brother-in-law for a wedding present, so I went with a scrappy blue Irish chain quilt. It was so fun because there is a story for every fabric--some of them were ones that Julianne gave me! It's backed with a super soft sheet and is so cozy!

Jon Fav(th)reau Quilt Top

I was inspired to work on clearing out my scrap bins so I dug into the pinks and yellows to piece together a fun, simple quilt top. I told Casey it was made with happy colors and he said, "Happy like Jon Favreau?" I thought it was funny so I'm calling this the Jon Fav(th)reau quilt. I need to buy batting for it and quilt/bind it.

Working on: 

Pink everyday dress

Literally all I have to do is hem and then finish the raw edges where the top and skirt meet. I'm excited to have a pink everyday dress!

Maisel's Harness

We have a cute harness for Maisel that looks like a dress, but it is a winter harness (made with velvet and lined with fleece) so she needs a summer version. I made a pattern from the harness we have and only have a few more things to finish it up. I'm making it out of some strawberry fabric I had (not the strawberry fabric I bought--see below) and a vintage pink gingham pillow case.

Scrappy Summer Quilt Along -- 2020

Yes, I started this quilt top in 2020 as part of a quilt along... it's still not finished. I'm getting there though! This entire quilt has to be laid out to work on it, so I tend to grab an easier project when I feel like sewing. This was the quilt that first inspired me to learn to quilt, so I'm not mad about it. I hope to finish it before this summer... we'll see.

Eye Spy Quilt

I started on this one last year, inspired by Gigis_Thimble. This is such a great way to use those little scraps--every square is cut at 2 inches and finishes at 1.5 inch. This is the perfect project when I just feel like sewing for a little bit--I don't have to pull out all the blocks and can just start sewing a colorful square to a white square. I love playing with all my fabric scraps! I really think I'm gonna love this quilt, and I might always have a similar quilt in the works as a way to use up those tiny scraps. There is no hurry to this quilt--I will likely be working on it for a while, and that's okay.

Sarah and Zach's Wedding Quilt

I was on schedule to finish this quilt (a modified Heirloom Hearts quilt by Lo and Behold Stitchery) before I had to leave town for the wedding, but then I got sick and wasn't able to finish it. I considered bringing it with me to finish but decided it would be okay for them to receive their quilt late. I didn't have to haul my entire sewing room on a five-hour drive and I'm able to be more present as I'm helping with wedding prep. I've got all the hearts sewn and just have to do top assembly, quilting, and binding.

Fabric Acquisitions 

-white and cream sheets to use for quilts (thrifted)

-white sheet with cute flowers on it--will be a cute quilt back (thrifted)

-Pink floral sheets that are the exact same as I have on my bed (I LOVE them) that I got at Dirt Cheap for half the price (originally from Target). I love these things so much and I'm sure they will find their way into a quilt. Maybe I should buy another set and turn it into a dress???

-Fabric for Sarah and Zach's quilt (navy background, a mix of blues, greens, yellows, and terra cottas for the hearts -- all from JoAnn) (blue floral fabric from Hobby Lobby for binding)

-strawberry fabric from Hobby Lobby - it's PINK and has strawberries on it and was 40% off. I wanted about 4 yards but decided to just buy what was left on the bolt. I think it's around 6 yards. I plan to make a flowy dress out of it which will be perfect for summer and the upcoming Strawberry Festival. I don't know what I'll do with the leftovers but I'll definitely come up with something!

Disneybounding!

In 2020 I found the Disneybound challenge on Instagram and thought it would be fun to participate. I loved it so much that I participated again in 2021 and I was even featured on the official Disneybound account! I thought it would be fun to share some of my Disneybound looks here.

What is Disneybounding? "Disneybounders dress up in stylish, everyday outfits (known as Disneybounds) that are simply inspired by a particular character." (source)

The theme was obscure characters so I was the picnic blanket from Frozen. So many people loved it and this look was featured on the official DisneyBound account!!

Inspired by Princess Diaries 2 -- the water fountain scene! This was one of my favorite looks. Everything is thrifted or secondhand.

A classic Snow White look. Everything but the shoes and headband was thrifted!

Eve from Wall-E. I made the purse but the leaf symbol was just taped on. The dress is secondhand--from my Grandma!

This look was inspired by Aqua from The Cheetah Girls. I made the skirt and thrifted the jacket and shoes.

Toulouse from Aristocats! I took these photos with our foster kitten, Peggy. She got adopted and has a lovely family and a new name - Angel! I made the pinafore and bow and thrifted the top.

Daisy from Mario. The dress was thrifted and the belt was actually a napkin that I turned into a belt!

Another Cheetah Girls look! Top and skirt were thrifted.

The Best Books I Read in 2021

In 2021, I crossed a biggie off my bucket list--read 100 books in a year. I read a ton of good books. So many rereads (I LOVE to reread books) and also a bunch of new ones. Here are some of my fave books I read throughout the year.

I'm gonna start with nonfiction. I've only gotten into nonfic in the last few years and usually prefer to listen to audiobooks (unless it's a home/hobby book). Writing this list made me realize I would like to make more of an effort to read historical nonfic and biographies, as I mostly read/listen to Christian lifestyle, home, and hobby nonfiction.

Nonfiction - Christian

To Hell with the Hustle by Jefferson Bethke | This book is about slowing down in life so we can make sure to leave room for God to do what He wants. I want to be more purposeful with how I spend my time, and this book was a good read. I actually listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author, and highly recommend. Bethke is fun to listen to and includes some "extras" in the audiobook. I need to reread this one.

Loveology by John Mark Comer | Comer is such an excellent, entertaining reader, so I was thrilled that he narrated the audiobook. I truly enjoyed this one and would love to get a hardcopy to read, highlight, and make notes. So much good, practical stuff, but also things I've never thought of in that way. The questions section had EXCELLENT answers to questions that would be asked before marriage (i.e. dating advice). He did a good job at handling sensitive topics in a loving manner. 

The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi | I had listened to a few episodes of The Lazy Genius podcast and enjoyed them so I decided to give the book a try. It was so good! So many good principles I can start incorporating in my life to make better decisions. Yet again, another author who narrated the audiobook, and I enjoy listening to her. I didn't realize this was a Christian book when I started reading it--most of the "Christian content" is towards the end.

Nonfiction - Home and Hobbies

Quilt-As-You-Go Made Vintage by Jena Brandvig | I've really gotten into quilting and borrowed so many quilting books from the library last year. This one was a fave and I borrowed it three times. I love looking through the vintage-inspired quilt blocks. I also read Quilt-As-You-Go Made Modern and didn't like the designs, but I did like the binding tutorial and used it on my last quilt.

The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith | This. Book. I picked it up thinking it was a basic home decor book and then she starts preaching. This book is about learning to love your home, no matter where you are in life. I told two of my friends about it who are getting married and moving into places that aren't really where they want to live, and they both were interested so I bought copies for both of them and they loved it too! This book is such a great read if you're feeling discouraged about your home. It is also a Christian book (that I didn't know was Christian when I began reading it).

Nonfiction - Historical 

"The President Has Been Shot!": The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by James L. Swanson | This is a YA nonfiction about JFK. What I enjoyed about this book was the detailed account from both the President’s and assassin’s POV. I learned a lot of things about this historic event that I had never heard before. The great amount of detail in this book is stunning, yet not overwhelming. My only complaint about the book is that I wish it had been printed in color. It’s a shame to read a detailed description of a color photograph only to turn the page and find it in black and white.

Fiction

Funnily enough, most of my favorite fiction reads this year were rereads. I LOVE rereading my fave books--they never disappoint! So I only have two new reads on the list. I pretty much exclusively read Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction.

The Giver by Lois Lowry | I never read this in school, but a teacher friend of mine was telling me how good it was, so I decided to read it. I had it on my shelf already and pulled it off to start it before bedtime. Then I stayed up and finished the book. I couldn't put it down! 

Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg | I have read this book at least five times. It's my favorite YA standalone book. I love a slow love story, and this one takes place over several years. It's funny and real and believable, which is why I keep coming back to it.

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris | Another one of my most favorite books that I've read many times. This is a Middle Grade book and I consider it the Princess Bride of middle grade. It's funny and has lovable characters. I also read Twice Upon a Marigold and Thrice Upon a Marigold this year and enjoyed both of them as well!

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein | Yes, another reread. My besties forced me to read this in high school or college, despite not liking historical fiction. It's a little slow at first, but gets better as you read through, and the ending is... wow. This is the best friendship story I have ever read.

Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery by Ally Carter | This is the second book in the Winterborne trilogy by Ally Carter (my fave author) and it did not disappoint. At all. If Ally writes it, I will read it.

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord | So incredibly cute. At first I thought the situation was way too *much* to feel believable, but those doubts quickly went away as I fell in love with the characters. I love that their romance was nice and slow—those types of relationships are always more enjoyable to me. Adding every Emma Lord book to my TBR now.

From Besties to Sisters!

This weekend by brother-in-law Caleb (Casey's brother) married Julianne, my bestie since we were 14. So now my bestie is my sister! Their wedding was so beautiful and held in this adorable little chapel in Opelousas, LA. 

But let's get down to the important thing. Julianne MADE her wedding dress. Like, designed it and everything. It is so stunning!!!! Were we still making adjustments to it the morning of the wedding? Yes, yes we were. Did it turn out absolutely perfect? Yes, yes it did. 

Also, she wore a stunning vintage crown that she picked up on Etsy for a grand total of $18. The word I used to describe it is iconic. 

She also wore my wedding veil as her something borrowed, so that was very special. :) 

Okay now, onto photos. Some are mine but most I stole from other people off Facebook and Instagram.

2021 Highlights

• Adopting Cocoa Puff and Maisel
• Painting the dining room green (it was meant to be emerald)
• Family photos
• March trip to NOLA
• Kaleigh and Josh getting married
• Two of my besties--Sarah and Julianne--getting engaged. Juju got engaged to my brother-in-law! 
• A fantastic Kids Kamp
• My nephew Ethan visited for a week
• Day trip to the beach
• Turned 30. Had a fabulous celebration with my bestie--mani/pedis, Indian food, and a sleepover!
• Coordinating a friend's wedding 

Some of the not-so-highlights, but things that happened:

• We had to say goodbye to Oxford, my dog of 10 years. And also to Casper, our outside cat.
• Hurricane Ida. We evacuated to Mississippi for a week (with one dog, three cats, and five foster kittens), then came back and still had no power, so our friends let us stay with them for a week until our power came back on. We were without WiFi for a month and a half (which made my working from home a little difficult, but my work was very understanding). However, we are very grateful and blessed. We lost a tree and it took down the fence, but I was so beyond thankful that it did not land on the house!!
• I still didn't get my strawberry birthday cake from my favorite bakery in Shreveport...