While surfing the blogosphere looking for ideas on what to make for those last minute gifts, I came across thread sketching on clutterplunk via sew, mama, sew. I don't know anything about it, but it looks self-explanatory. And I doubt there is a right way or a wrong way to do it.
I'm not really sure what I have been doing these past few weeks. I've been a little discouraged with my sewing... some of the last few projects I have attempted have not turned out the way I wanted {frowny face}. As in, the scrunchy-gathered scarf. The tutorial says it takes about 10 minutes and after 2 1/2 hours, I gave up. I thought about it all that night and came up with some ideas on why it wasn't working for me (thread tension who-ha) and gave it another go the next day and again gave up after about an hour. It's too bad because I have alot of knit fabric and elastic thread right now.
This past weekend I was invited to a baby shower for an old family friend. The cute mom and dad have decided to wait until the baby is born to find out the gender. I love that! I don't know if I could wait that long, the suspense would kill me, but I love it when people do. It's got to be the ultimate surprise in the delivery room.
Saturday was my baby sister, Kate's, homecoming dance. I told you she looked smokin' hot in her dress! I can't take all the credit for making the dress...I was super sick and my mom did a lot of it. But, I handstitched that ruffle around the neck and the damn thing took nearly 4 hours. I guess that is what happens when you are a perfectionist. Will I make this dress again?... I absolutely hope so! Maybe longer with a printed fabric... I thought it turned out so cute!
We stayed home this past holiday weekend with no big plans. It was nice. We did have a big BBQ on Monday with the world's best potato salad present. It is amazingly delicious. I'll have to post the recipe. There is a special ingredient in this recipe that I have never had in potato salad or would have ever thought to include. Check back later for that one:)
I started (and finished) a few projects that have been on my list of things to try...
This off-set square wrist pincushion came in handy as I worked on
this elephant. Isn't he cute!!
And I spent some quality time with these two babes.
This is Jayson's only cousin, Kailo. Kailo is the sweetest little guy. I get to babysit him once a week or so and I love it! He is so darling and adorable. He is 6 months old and learning how to crawl! Don't you love what his shirt says:) Lock up your daughters! For real because this guy is going to break some hearts! He was too interested in the camera so I couldn't get him to give me a smile with his dimples. He has the cutest dimples!
I got an idea for some bean bags from a blog I am loving. Ashley from Lil Blue Boo is a crazy-talented superlady! She makes some really adorable stuff!
I did not stencil & paint the letters on like she did (although she does give an excellent tutorial of how to do it here), I just drew letters on the fabric with a pencil and then cut them out and appliqued them to the bean bags before filling them up. Meet my friend Stitch Witchery, who helps me keep appliques in place while I sew them on. 
Anyway, I started out making a set for Jayson, my nephew, and he loves them. 
Patrick and I were invited to a birthday party for our friend's daughter and so I made a set for her.
Tatum's mom loved them so much, she had me make a set to give as a gift to a friend of hers. With Avia's set, I made a cute little bag to keep them in.
Love my labels:)
I am that person that loves to receive letters, postcards, packages and such in the mail. Especially when it comes as a surprise. I like to send them out, too. I recently received a thank you note for a package I had sent to a friend who has been dealing with some serious stress in her life. It made me feel good to know that 1. my package made it to her safely (the USPS is not always the most reliable and trustworthy source for delivery. Most of my problems of expectant letters/packages that have mysteriously been "lost" have happened with the USPS, particularly in NYC.) and 2. I know that she knows that she has been in my thoughts and prayers lately and that she is a kind and special lady.
I just came across this book The Art of the Handwritten Note on Kate's Paperie (such a glorious and drool-worthy site) and I could completely relate to what the opening paragraph says...
"Writing by hand makes you look good on paper and feel good inside. Even an ordinary handwritten note is better than the best email, and a good handwritten note on the right occasion is a work of art. It says to the reader, 'You matter to me, I thought of you, I took the trouble on your behalf, here's who I am, I have been thinking of you in the days since this was mailed, I want to share with you the textures and colors and images that I like.' And that's just the unspoken messages..."
Awe. So now it's time to restock the cards and stationary:)
This purse was the surprise I sent up to my friend. I used the (free) buttercup bag pattern from Made by Rae and just enlarged it a bit. I found the original pattern to be make quite a small bag. More like a clutch. I added a zipper and one of my new labels. Yeah:) I love them!
*When I hung up our wedding photos I totally mis-measured and have a random nail between two of the pics that I don't want to pull out for fear that the empty hole will look worse than the nail. And I kinda don't care, but am happy it made for a good place to hang the purse for a photo op.
My blogging buddy over at Lil Blue Boo is doing a giveaway for the most darling fabrics from This and That from Japan etsy shop.
It was love at first sight. Naturally.
I gave a sewing lesson last week to a friends 12 year-old daughter. She had never really sewn before, but she picked it up like a champ! We made Amy Butler's Birdie Sling bag over two days. In all, it took us about 6 hours give or take. I thought that was pretty good after reading reviews (here and here and here) that said that bag takes 10 hours! I took the pattern home the first night and made a bag in about 3 hours. However, I used mid-weight fabric (denim for the main panel and a home decor fabric for the handle) and did not interface it, so it didn't take me as long. I used fabric that I already had on hand, so my bag cost me nada! Yeah for free! My mom called dibs on the bag, but I think one of my sisters stole it for her diaper bag!
Here is a pic of the little lady's bag. Not a great pic (it was taken with a camera phone) but the colors were too cute!
This is my bag.
Up-close and person with the pleats.
For the lining, I used a darling Hawaiian print that I have been "saving" for that special project. I love this print!
It was so fun to hang out with the little lady and share my passion for sewing. And I love this bag! Can't wait to make more:)
Finally. Here are a few pictures of some of the dresses I recently made and sold.
Black & White Apron Dress, size 2T
Primary Colors Apron Dress, size 2T
Japanese Pink Ruffle Dress, size 2T. I found this fabric in my mom's stash of Japanese fabrics. I love this fabric...it has a little stretch to it.
These last two dresses were made for sisters. Pink Apron Dress, size 2T. Brown Apron Dress, size 6.
I sell these custom dresses for $25-$30 depending on the size. Email me if you have any questions or would like to order carlykillpack{at}gmail.com.
My calling cards came in the mail today! I am so excited! I have been sewing a bunch of stuff lately... and I haven't posted any pics of my stuff. Sorry. Coming soon, I promise! I Certainly need to! I have been selling some of my goods, so I ordered some labels to sew into my stuff as well as these cards. Yeah!
happygirlgreetings made my cards. She has beautiful ideas and creations! And she was a delight to work with:) And JennifersJewels made my labels. Also a delight to work with. I love supporting others on etsy! What a great site for all goods handmade!
I'll be posting more pics of all this fun stuff soon!
Addilei
Kailee
With all the little baby dresses I have been making lately, I have been doing some experimenting. I really didn't like the raw edge on the inside of the first dress I made (sorry Shanel, you got the first one) so, after a little research and asking the best seamstress I know, I learned about the French Seam. It makes things so much prettier and more professional looking. It is easy, too. I got a good tutorial here...
Ivory Cowl 
