Just A Bag

Broke out my sewing machine for the first time in a looooong time. This is just a simple reversible bag pattern that I sketched out years ago and just never got around to making. Needs some tweaking, the straps are way too short to sling on your shoulder... I really hate when your purse is lodged up under your armpit. (I probably shouldn't mention armpits in my blog, but you know.. it's true!)

Seriously, though...

I enjoyed the process of cutting out the pieces, threading the machine, and watching the whole thing come together. Sewing can be relaxing and rewarding, and fill that need to CREATE something. Like blowing on a dandelion, and having a little piece of yourself floating around out there. <3

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xoxo, Whimsical Road

Giveaway Time!

I am giving away another shirred dress to one lucky winner, just in time for the 4th of July!

This one is a bit longer than the last, it's 16 inches long (not including adjustable straps),

and will fit a wide range of sizes from 18m - 4T (or any child with a chest measurement 18"-23".

(My husband tried on my very first top... he's kinda skinny, but it fit, LMAO... just to give you an idea of the wide range of sizing... and he said "hey, it's kind of comfortable" Wish I had a pic of that, but I digress.)

Although this IS decidedly a U.S. themed item, I will post internationally to anyone who is interested.

All you have to do is leave a comment below. Just make sure your e-mail is available on your blogger profile so I can contact you.

One winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, June 23rd.

xoxo, Whimsical Road

Upcoming Giveaway and Something to Drool Over.

Just a quick note... I'll be hosting another giveaway

Friday, June 19th- Tues, June 23rd.

Stop by then to see what I'm giving away, and enter to win.

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p.s. Stop on over to I Love Baby Quilts to see the winner of my last dress in action!

While you are there, check out the *AMAZING* hand-sewn quilts she makes

(Yes, I said HAND-sewn. As in, no machine. By hand.)

You have got to see the Heather Ross blocks she is working on right now....go, go, go.

Quilty Goodness

So.. I finished sewing all the rows for my very first quilt. I still need to press them all and sew them together, so please excuse the uneven and wrinkly looking photo. I promise to take a better pic when it is all finished.

One problem... it's WAY more pink that I pictured in my head. I mean... REALLY pink. For some reason I thought the yellow and purple/blue would play a larger role, lol.

I'm not a pink kind of girl to begin with. I chose these fabrics because:

1.) They are 30's repro Aunt Grace prints, and I LOVE that entire line... and these were the last available.

2.) They were on sale (and I didn't want to go all out for my FIRST quilt.)

The binding will be in the purple/blue.. as well as most of the backing. I love the bunny's on the yellow.. and I love the process so far. Next time, I will select my fabrics a little more carefully.. (Amy Butler, here I come!)

xoxo,

Whimsical Road

Shirred and Unshirred.

Just a quick post today. I finished two new dresses.

The first one gave me a heck of a time, sewing the bodice was a challenge for me and this dress hung unfinished for several weeks before I went back and tried again. I also could NOT get a decent picture of the dress, no matter what I tried. :( In the end, I think it turned out quite nice, and would be perfect for a summer birthday party. The dress is a girls size 3.

Close up of the bodice detail:

And the second, a new shirred top... already in the shop. (I really need to work on my photography)

My First Quilting Class

I attended my first quilting class yesterday afternoon... and I had a great time! I learned a few new terms and how to "properly" square up my fabrics. :)

The quilt is a simple rail type pattern, here is a preview of the fabrics I chose:

The fabrics are 1930's reproduction Aunt Grace prints by Judie Rothermel for Marcus Brothers. The blue one reminds me of my gramma and the "housecoats" she used to wear.

I also picked up some Amy Butler, which will soon be shirred tops for the shop.

For anyone interested, there is still time to enter my SMS Giveaway... about 6 more hours to go! See my post below for details. Winner will be announced tomorrow!

xoxo, Whimsical Road

Giveaway Time!

Today's the day for the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway!

I'm giving away one Sweet Tweet's shirred top.

This item will fit anywhere from 12-18 Months up to a 4T... however please measure for an accurate fit. Chest measurements should fall between 18" and 24".

The length is 13", and the straps are adjustable.

Enter to win by becoming a follower of my blog and leaving a comment below.

Winner will be chosen at random, and entries will close Sunday, May 31st at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time. Please make sure that your e-mail is available on your Blogger profile so I can contact the winner!

Good Luck!

xoxo Whimsical Road

P.S. International entries are welcome :)

Pink Lemonade Pinafore

Another new pinnie, in pink with white daisies and a lemon yellow lining. Totally reversible:

I keep finding homes for these before I can even list them in the shop. So... I'm working on a whole batch to list all at once, hopefully before the end of the week. This one is 18-24 months.

xoxo,

Whimsical Road

Pinafores

A new line coming for the shop: Pinafores! They are reversible, with a snap on each strap. This one is 18-24 months, and already has a new home :)

xoxo,

Whimsical Road

Toy Society Drop, plus new Stash

New Toy Society drop.. a little calico kitty. My sweetie and I were visiting someone in the hospital, and he suggested we take a toy to the pediatric ward. We left it with one of the nurses to find him a new home. The pattern came from Cherryskin's blog.

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Speaking of my sweetie.. he had a rare day off of work yesterday. In the afternoon, he took me to a quilting store that I've been wanting to visit for months, and while we were there, he signed us up for a 6 week quilting class!! He loved all the japanese and asian themed fabrics (his hobby is japanese gardening), and said the classes would be something we could do together... I was shocked. Next weekend, we are going to pick out the fabrics for our projects. *swoon*

Of course, while we were there, I picked up some new stash...

9 x 11 remnants, .25 cents each:

There's some Moda in here, plus Heather Ross mermaids...

And Joel Dewberry (40 5 x5 squares that I ordered from Ebay, they arrived yesterday, yay!):

Mother's Day Gift

I made this bag, card wallet, and key holder for my Mom for Mother's Day. There is a zippered pocket and magnetic clasp on the inside. The lining is in muslin, but the pocket lining is in the blue and red floral. Don't tell her, though, because she hasn't recieved it yet :).. I just couldn't wait to post, because I think it turned out pretty nicely, if I do say so myself. I just hope it doesn't get too wrinkled in the mail.

New coffee cozy in Robert Kaufman Sweet Tooth cupcake fabric. These are pretty adjustable due to the elastic and button, and even fit cold plastic cups.

I also made several two-pocket wallets (pattern from Bend The Rules Sewing). Shown below in the sushi fabric and a blue and brown floral... but I also made several using the cupcake fabric.

I also finally caved in and bought a snap setting tool, and believe me... it's SO much better than the hammer setting method. I cracked so many of the pearl snaps that way, ruining the whole wallet. With the new tool, I haven't cracked a single one. The brand I bought was the Dritz Snap-A-Plier from Joann Fabrics.... make sure you get the correct tool for the size snaps you wish to use.

Sushi Wristlet (love, love, love how this came out):
The interior is a lime green with white dots.

Skully Wristlet:

Interior lining of Skully Wristlet... with a pirate theme!

Close up of the pirate fabric...ARRG!



Blue and black, the iso on this photo is off.. the fabric is not quite this bright.

Interior lining... light blue with tiny black dots.

New Japanese Knot wristlet in brown, teal, and white. I like these little bags so much, they are great for running to the store... the bag stays securely on my wrist and I don't have to worry about a lugging a big purse or losing a little wallet.

A new purse, in spring blues and greens. I added a pin-back fabric flower, which is a little hard to see in this picture, but it's on the left corner...

And I made a crafty little pin cushion for myself. I was tired of loose pins and my old pin cushion was much too small. This one is made from a little garlic jar, stuffed with fabric scraps, and a piece of ric rac.. super simple.

Clutches

Here are a few pics of old projects.

Skull clutches! I didn't use a specific pattern, I sort of experimented until it came out the way I wanted.. bits and pieces from various sources. These were my first ever sewing projects. Super simple, and done in less than an hour. I'm considering adding a tutorial.

Wristlet Project

New wristlet project coming up:

I love this cherry fabric, and the lining fabric is red with tiny white polka dots. The pattern I am using is a retro reprint from Simplicity.

Stash

Some of my stash. I love fabric, and I can't stop collecting it. Pictures never seem to quite do the patterns and colors justice...

Welcome to Whimsical Road

Welcome to the launch of Whimsical Road. The purpose for the new blog is to seperate the sewing projects from the crocheted items in The Crochet Bakery. Here, I will be highlighting my Etsy items and tutorials from around the web. Enjoy!