Hello for today!!

Farmer's Market update: To answer your question, Liz, no it did not all sell.   I sold the big brown and orange bag and this little blue and white one I had made before.

So 2 out of the 9 bags I took sold.  Which I'm thinking is good because Stephanie is selling again this weekend and I won't have to make much to send with her. 

Switching gears... I went to a Baby shower last week...or was it the week before that??... anyway here is a little onesie dress I made to take.

I looked for tutorials out there but all of them chop off the onesie bottom.  I made the length of the skirt too long so it quickly became empire waisted.  MOM has been making these a bit so I'm hoping for a tutorial or pattern from them so I can get it right.

And lastly... I had a great idea last night.

a friend called me and said she needed to make 10 matching ties for kids of all ages and asked me to help her figure out how to make them.  I instantly referred her to the Purl Bee tutorials. That got me thinking... Halloween is on Sunday this year, so why shouldn't all my boys have matching Halloween ties? I think I'll be putting this fabric to good use for them. 

Tagged!- Around the World Blog Hop

Tag I'm it! I was tagged by my friend and co-author Caroline to participate in the Around the World Blog Hop. Caroline is the brains behind SewCanShe.com.  She is one of those people who can accomplish an amazing amount of work in a day. She scours the web to find great tutorials to share with you in her daily newsletter, as well as keeping up a great blog where she shares a ton of her own free tutorials. In the mean time she is writing a new book and she's a mom of 4. There is no limit to what this gal can do. Go check out her blog hop post HERE. It's fun to see a few behind the scenes pictures of her as well.

So basically for this blog hop I get to tell you all a little bit about myself, and what I like to create.

What I'm working on.... 
Well, currently I'm working on snuggling this little newborn (I'm now a mother of 5!) and doing my best to finish unpacking boxes in our new house, (we moved the week after he was born, which was slightly insane).

So I've been busy doing some non-sewing related things over the last month.  Don't worry I have plenty of projects on the back burner just waiting to be finished up. I love to design handbags and I have always wanted to write up my own patterns. I have a couple of patterns in our new book, Just for You: Selfish Sewing, but have 2 more mostly written that I just need to finish up a few things for.

My Garden Tiles bag and the Tulip Tote.

 I also have a finished quilt top that is waiting to be quilted, here's a picture of it in process. I call it the Bejeweled Churn Dash.

I have big plans to use up more of my quilting cottons this year to make scrappy quilts. My UFO list seems infinite. I'm way better at starting projects than actually finishing them.

Why do you write/create what you do? 

I'm going to interpret this as why do I sew? I sew for a few reasons...
1. It keeps me sane. It is just the creative outlet I need to keep me balanced and ready to tackle the mundane daily chores of keeping house and the challenges of parenthood.
2. It is challenging. I like trying to figure out how things are constructed. I'm always looking at peoples bags and thinking about how I would put them together.
3. I LOVE fabric! "Love" might be an understatement here. I get a little rush when I go to a fabric store. It's just all so beautiful. I love how colors play together. Colorful fabric makes me happy!

How does your writing/creating process work?
I frequently think about how I want to make something when I'm going to sleep at night. I also solve my sewing puzzles by just digging in a sewing them up and unpicking along the way. Sometimes I have moments of brilliance when I figure a way to make something that is so quick and clever that I find myself saying "I'm a genius". Like the time I needed a light colored slip to go under a skirt on my way out the door to go to church. I took an old silky pillowcase, cut off the bottom seam and threaded some elastic through the hem. I was so excited I found myself saying "I'm a genius". It happened again today when I sat down to write this blog post and my little guy started crying.  I needed two hands to type. I needed a sling! Which I'm planning on buying or making, but who am I kidding, I needed it right now.  So I went to the giveaway box, pulled out my husbands old shirt and chopped the top off. Instant sling that took my 30 seconds to make.

I love solving problems with sewing!

That's enough about me, I'm tagging my friend Becca at Bryan House Quilts. I love her quilts and her color aesthetic. She has a new book coming out too, which I can't wait to get my hands on.

 Here's her bio:

Becca shares her creative journey and missteps over at Bryan House Quilts. She is a quilt pattern designer and her first book, Modern Rainbow: 14 Imaginative Quilts that Play with Color, is due out in only a month. She has 4 young children - 3 girls and a boy - and recently moved from Houston to St. Louis. 

Check out her blog next Friday to for her stop on the blog hop.

Happy Sewing!

4 Easy DIY Face Mask Tutorials

Hello!!! I'm jumping in the mask making frenzy and I keep getting asked by my non-sewing friends what is a good tutorial to use. So I thought I'd do a quick round up review of some of the ones that I have tried. A couple things to think about before making your home made mask.  I found a good article on an NBC site that suggests using a double layer heavyweight quilting cotton material instead of knit fabric is best. It even suggests that a layer of flannel in between increases the virus filtration. There are many tutorials out there that use elastic loops to go around the ears. The word on the street is that the elastic behind the ears gets painful after a while so if you are making these for Healthcare workers opt for ties instead of elastic. Ties make the fit more adjustable as well.  I used to be a surgical nurse and it is really not as hard to tie these on as you think it might be. Also if you are making masks to donate to Healthcare workers please contact the facility to see if there are any specifications that they require and if they are actually taking donations. In our area there is a local facebook group that is coordinating orders. Take a look, you might have one  for your area too.

**Remember none of these masks are intended to be used as sufficient protection by themselves. Please follow the CDC and WHO guidelines if you are making one for yourself or family member.**

First up is this simple pleated mask by Dana from MADE EVERYDAY. I love her tutorial because it is simple and easy to follow. It includes instructions for ties or elastic, as well as multiple size option. I would say this style is probably the best and easiest if you are making them for yourself to help prevent spread of the virus if you have to go to work or to the store. This tutorial is easy to follow and she has a video too! Find her awesome tutorial HERE.

Next up is this molded version called the Olson Mask. Caroline of Sew Can She made a beautiful tutorial for this mask. The construction is a little more complex but it includes instructions for inserting a removable filter as well. It is more fitted than a pleated face mask and may be the option you are looking for. She also has a great video explaining the process. Check out her tutorial HERE

This next tutorial is also for a fitted mask but is constructed a little differently. It is designed by Suzanna of Hold it Right There. I like this one because it is specifically designed to go over a N95 mask to help prolong the life of those that have to be reused. It is simple and comes with a variety of sizes and tie options as well.  However, this pattern is only for use for those making masks for the Healthcare workers. This feels to big and strange to be worn on it's own anyway  Download the pattern HERE if you are sewing for your local health care facility.

One last tutorial I found a super simple mask designed by Bijou Lovely  for the Million Mask Challenge. You can read all about the project and help make masks to donate.

I hope these are helpful!! Signing out not to go sew a mask! Stay healthy everyone!

Soccer Mom Series: Waterproof Blanket Tutorial

Hi everyone!  Have you ever sat down on grass that you thought was dry only to feel water seeping through your pants after you've sat there for a minute?  No fun!  Well today I'm sharing a little blanket you can make to sit on so that will never happen again!  

Soccer Mom Series: 5 Tips to Get You out the Door On Time

Hello! Today I have a few ideas to share with you to help you to get organized and get out the door on time.  I think the most stressful thing about having kids in any extra curricular activity is getting out the door with everything you need.   I have four kids (ages 12, 10, 7, and 5 ) and it seems like it takes us FOREVER to get into the car when we have anywhere to go.  I don't like to be late.  I'm not saying I always get to soccer on time but I have figured out a few things that help our family get out the door and help me feel a little less stressed.  So here we go!

Quick Summer Cutt-offs Get a Touch of Fabric!

I love wearing Jeans!  Love them! About this time of year I like to chop my favorite fading pair off so can enjoy them as shorts.  We are experiencing an unusually cool spring here in Florida but it is about to get HOT.  And when it gets that hot skirts are best, but for now I'll wear my cut-offs.  This morning I decided combine my beloved cut-off Jeans with another love of mine, Fabric!  I added a little bias trim to the bottom to keep that fraying in check.

 

Just a little cute. Just a little pop.   Fun right?  

There are loads of tutorials out there on how to apply bias tape.  I think it would be cute if the bias was wider too...What do you think?

Quilty Penelope Bag

Hello sewing friends. I get to be the guest designer this month for Patchwork Posse's online Quilt Guild and I'm so excited to share with you the project I've created for it.  I've added a little "quilty" flare to my Penelope handbag and turned it into a PDF pattern to share. Introducing the Quilty Penelope Bag.

The handbag has a Variable star built into the side panels, giving it a pop of color and a cute way to show off your love of quilting. The star panel is great for using up some of your scraps or for playing around with your new favorite fabrics. You can also substitute an 8”, or larger, orphan block to the center panel for a completely different look.

 The Quilty Penelope Bag is perfect for carrying all your essentials, plus a few extras. It’s small enough that it won’t weigh down your shoulder, but roomy enough to hold what you need. 

There are pockets on the inside and a simple magnetic snap closure. The comfortable fabric strap stays on your shoulder and easily slips on with one hand. 

This pattern is written exclusively for Patchwork Posse's online Quilt Guild. Are you a member yet? You may want to consider joining. Not just for my pattern but for access to all the other exclusive patterns, tutorials, Block-of-the-Months, and giveaways that come along with membership. 

There's also a facebook group where you can show of your projects and get feedback and fun swaps you can participate in. It's just like being part of a local quilt group but with the convenience of your own schedule. You'll find all the details about how to join on the Quilt Guild Info Page 

You can read more about me and my project on the Guest Designer page. Sign up and download my Quilty Penelope Bag pattern and let me know what you think.

Happy Sewing!

Soccer Mom: Super Easy Sleeve Tie Tutorial

Hi everyone, This is the last week of our I Am a Soccer Mom series! Today I'm going show you how to make a quick and oh sew easy shoulder sleeve tie, also sometimes called sleeve scrunchies. 

Tom - the Hero from Beast Quest Costume

Hello Sewing friends! Anyone else have a "Halloween hangover"? Too much junk food for me. I'm showing off my son's finished costume today. Introducing Tom, the hero from Beast Quest. 

Road Trip Toiletry Bag PDF Sewing Pattern

I made a fun project this month that I get to share with you today. It's a Toiletry Bag for Dad, just in time for some Father's Day sewing. I don't know about you but the Dad's in my life are hard to sew for, but this is the perfect gift. Manly on the outside, personalized and fun on the inside.

Soccer Mom Meal Prep with Clean Eating Mom

Today we have a guest joining us for our Soccer Mom series! Clean Eating Mom is giving us her best meal planning tips and a recipe for delicious bean and rice burritos.

Are you a Soccer Mom?

Hi friends!  Is it Soccer season in your neck of the woods?  We are mid-way through Spring Soccer here in Florida and I have come to a realization, I am a Soccer Mom!  I drive a minivan and I have 4 children in soccer this season, so I guess that makes it official.  I am a soccer mom in the most literal sense of the word.   I'm even coaching this year!  Yep, that's me getting ready to coach my littlest son's game.

Yes, I would rather not have everyone playing soccer, but they all love it so and I have a hard time making the young ones sit on the sidelines and just be spectators. And so this is our first season with everyone on their own team.  We have pulled off 3 kids in soccer for a while so that makes me an expert on how to make it all happen right? Getting out the door on time, dinner, keeping track of the uniforms. Ha! Not really an expert,  but I think  I've figured out a few things that make it all run more smoothly and I want to share them.  Starting Monday, for the rest of the month of April I will be running a little Soccer Mom series over here on Blue Susan Makes.

   I'll give you a little run down of the tricks I've learned over the years that have helped make our soccer seasons successful and kept me from pulling my hair out in craziness. "But, this is a sewing blog!" I can hear you saying.  Don't worry, I have sewing tutorials to share as well that you won't want to miss.  And have you had a chance to check out the new handbag patterns released by Sara at Sew Sweetness? They are fabulous!

At the end of my Soccer Mom series Sara is letting me giveaway a pack of patterns to 3 lucky readers.

Of course, if soccer's not your sport, all these tips can be used for any sport your kids might be in as well.  Do you have something to share too?  I would love your input, I want to know what works for you!

 Get excited, I know I am!

See all of  the posts in this Series

5 Tips to get you out the door ON TIME!

Waterproof Blanket Tutorial

Sideline Survival Activities

Soccer/Camping Chair Cover

Meal Prep with Ducks in a Row

Drawstring Backpack Tutorial

Super Easy Sleeve Ties Tutorial

 

Announcing theTwelve Days of Christmas!

Hi there! I am just quickly posting to tell you about The Twelve days of Christmas going on at Ellie Inspired. Ellie Inspired is a sewing blog that features tutorials and patterns for cute little girls dresses.

For the next 12 days she is introducing a new pattern and hosting a blog hop.   12 days of Christmas starts today.  You should see the prizes offered in the massive 35 prize giveaway!  For the blog hop each day a different blog will post a Christmas related craft/tutorial/recipe.  I get to be Day 12 on the tour so be sure to come back and visit me on November 21 when I'll show you how to sew up a cute Christmas gift.

Hope your weekend is going great!  

We just finished soccer games and are off to do a little clothes shopping.

Ciao! 

Knockoff Anthropologie Somerset Maxi Dress Tutorial

I finished my Knock off Anthropologie Somerset dress! I'm really excited that I was able to pull this one off. Today I'm sharing which patterns I loosely used, the fabric I chose, and things I learned making it. Keep reading for all the details and an explanation of my steps so you can make one too. 

More Handmade gifts in the Etsy Shop

Rachel has been sewing up a storm and filling up our Etsy Shop.  Woohoo!! She's been working so hard I thought I'd show off some of her stuff. But before I get to that I just want to let you know that I get to be the curator for the Handmade Holiday on Sew Mama Sew today. Click over to their website to see my list of must sew Handbag tutorials for everyone on your gift list this year.  

Okay now for some Handbag goodness.

This bag is called the Vinca Zip Top bag. It has a pretty piecing on the front and back.

 The inside has a zipper pocket and slip pockets and the top stays closed nicely with another lovely zipper.

The piecing on this Vinca is a little different than the first.  I just love the way it turned out with the zippered top. 

She also sewed up some coordination Girlfriend Clutches.

This is the Pleated Shoulder Bag in Purple Zebra.  I love it's simple design and I think the zebra pattern on that purple fabric is cool.


The inside of this one has a zipper pocket and some slip pockets as well.

And one more  Pleated Shoulder Bag.

 

She also listed a bunch of Painter's Clutches. You can find more info about the Painter's Clutch in this post.

The inside of all of them has an invisible snap and a divider like pocket so you can keep your keys and phone separate

You can find more details on all of these bags in the Shop.

Happy Browsing!

Confessions of a Soccer Mom: 4 tips to Survive the Season

Since I love to read about how other people manage all they do with a bunch of kids, today I'm writing about just that. Well, as far as Soccer is concerned at least.  I confess, I was a bit leery of putting all 4 kids in Soccer this season.  I was afraid of getting stretched in too many directions and we don't have family around to help.  Watching 4 soccer games each Saturday didn't sound like what I wanted to do with my time.   But I am here to say the way it has worked out has been totally doable.    My younger three play in the Rec league and my oldest plays Competitive.  Thankfully her team does not usually travel too far.  Because games somewhat overlap, most of the time my husband and I each end up watching 2 or 3 games a Saturday.  Most Saturdays we are home by 2 and sometimes wear are done by 11 am.  

Here are a few things we've done to help the season run more smoothly. 

1. Step up and coach!

  This season I am coaching my littlest son's team and my husband coaches my oldest boy's team.  When you are the coach you get to pick the practice schedules.  When everyone's practices are on the same nights it makes our lives a whole lot easier.  We just contacted my middle son's coach and made our practices around the same times.    I have no soccer experience, which is totally fine for the younger age groups.   The league gives us suggested practice plans and there are a lot of online resources as well.  I love it because a get to play with my son and get a little exercise too.  You can do it too!

2. Make Friends! 

Make friends with the parents of other kids on your team.  Most of the time I just like to keep to myself but getting to know other families with multiple kids in soccer has saved my life.  When games overlap or I have to be two places at one time I know them well enough to trust them with my kids and help me out.  Chances are they'll need my help another week and it all works out. 

3. Carpool!

Any mom of more than 2 kids knows that carpools can be a life saver. My daughter has practice from 6:30-8:00 two times a week at a different field than the rest of us.  We take her and a friend to the practices and the friend's mom pick up.  It is great because we are in the middle of getting the rest to bed at pick up time.

4. Ice Cream!

I have another confession to make, we bribe our kids with Ice Cream.  If anyone scores a goal in a game they earn Ice Cream for the family that day.  We started this little tradition to add a little motivation to my timid kids and make the games a little more exciting.  Of course this mainly just works for the younger ones.  The older ones don't always have an opportunity to score goals depending on the position they play.  Sometimes hard work and excellent playing earns ice cream too.  With 4 kids playing we celebrate with ice cream every week.  One crazy day my youngest scored 7.  He was so excited and proud to earn his family ice cream.

That's all for today!  I am not going to lie and say it isn't all a little crazy.  We do get the fields late sometimes and lose the occasional shin guard along the way. I even forgot about make up pictures for my son this week and he had to squeeze into the littlest's uniform for the picture, which was less conspicuous than the tie dye shirt he was wearing.  But we are doing it.  My kids love it and because they do, I do to. 

Looking for more Soccer Mom tips and tutorials? 

Here are rest of the posts in this Series

5 Tips to get you out the door ON TIME!

Waterproof Blanket Tutorial

Sideline Survival Activities

Soccer/Camping Chair Cover

Meal Prep with Ducks in a Row

Drawstring Backpack Tutorial

Super Easy Sleeve Ties Tutorial