RTW jeans, at least on my girls (and me if I'm telling the whole story), have a tendancy to travel south. Does everyone have this problem? I mean I KNOW I don't have enough butt to keep my pants up, but between the three girls you'd think one of them would have a butt that could do the job. Maiah's in the best shape and that's only because her pants still come with an elasticasized back. All this to say that it was high time for some cute belts! With the girls all 2 years apart I wanted the belts... Continue reading

Our family doesn't normally go out for the Rodeo and usually my kids barely squeek by with a bandana from the dress up box on Rodeo Day at school. Lucky me that I've had this shirt in the hopper for a while. It would have been done sooner but after starting construction (with the intent of using the brown/black stripe for the neckband) I didn't think it had enough stretch to make a good band and that was that, it sat. All the while this great rib, Ringel, kept staring at me yelling "use me for that neck", and I... Continue reading

and every thing nice. This girl and her clothes fit the bill, both sweet and a little saucey. Full of complimentary contrasts, texture reigns king on this ourfit. The skirt is the Redondo pattern, with added flounce, made from nice nice soft corduroy, smooth woven cotton and using a rolled hem. The pattern design screams I'm not your ordinary twirl skirt but made in brown, pink and off-white still looks sweet as sugar. The sporty double sleeved tee pattern Quiara is a contrast to the cute pink little dogs. Thermal fabric, and soft jersey in dots and stripes play with... Continue reading

Getting ready for gift giving is a bit challenging. I mean right out of the box, WHERE do you keep your list? I can't check it a second time because I haven't got it made in the first place. My kids aren't overly snoopy, and a good thing too or there'd be no surprises. But I need a list that won't be uncovered at an inopportune time, like say anytime in the next month. T and I keep talking about what to get the kids but can't seem to finalize it and we're starting to run out of time. We're... Continue reading

Random quotes from the day: "Why, there's a turkey in the popcorn bucket!" (said in a very British accent) "Come take a look at this dough, somethings ... not ... right ..." "I'm thankful for ... Bacon" said by the last person at the table after everyone else has offered up very heartfelt Thanks. "May I please have an alternate dessert" "I'd like to make a toast to fizzy, sugary, goodness" "You should cover everything in fabric, it makes it look so much prettier" Speaking of fabric, this is an enlarged version of TINI, made from corduroy, lightweight cotton, and... Continue reading

Jumping back into this space with a little Mellow Yellow, because beauty is where you find it. Our First family Kayaking trip ... everyone loved it! Sewing with Campan one of my all-time fav fabs. Continue reading

I'm feeling a little punchy this evening and my mind wandered straight to the 3's company theme song when thinking up this invitation. So I've added a little trip down memory lane for you :-) Three's Company Get More: Free Full Episodes,Classic Video Clips,TV Land Schedule Back to business: You're welcome to come knock on our door for another Banberry Place Open House, Monday, July 25th from 11-7. The door will be open for you to come and shop our selection of fabric, patterns and trims. If you're in or around San Antonio we would love to see you! Please... Continue reading

This outfit is on par... It's cute and meets the expected requirements for this 11 year old girl. The outfit was designed around the need for a black, or mostly black, shirt for a school field trip. But lemme tell you, it's seeing a lot more than the Texas State Capital, mini-golf is just the tip of the iceberg. The thing about knit circle skirts is that 2 sides stretch more than the other 2. This has really gnawed at me. I didn't think the stretch would be as much as it is, but since it is and since this... Continue reading

This has been the "summer of the concoction". We've gone a little overboard trying out new ways of mixing things up and it's been a blast. One of the first things we did was make salt crystals. The instructions we found were pretty vague: Hang a pebble on a string, suspend string on a pencil, which is balanced on a glass jar. Mix salt and warm water together until you've added so much salt that it won't dissolve any longer. Add food coloring for colored crystals. Hang pebble so it's covered in water but not touching the bottom. Set jar... Continue reading

This is a single layer of the Mod tunic modified into a super comfy knit dress. love! the knit fabric, Baby Nay, is not heavy but I opted for a woven neckband anyway. The reason is that part of the circle band is on the bias and will stretch even more than knit will stretch, regularlily. There is a facing piece which would probably help control the stretch but I didn't want to chance the neck sagging AND I liked the way this Michael Miller compliments it AND I'm always trying to add more fabric in a design anyway! The... Continue reading

I think this might be my best rolled hem, like ever! I followed my sergers instructions for rolled hem settings but this time I used wolly nylon thread in BOTH upper and lower loopers, and look at that magic! No thread stringys hanging down, just nice solid threaded hem ... Sweet! Continue reading

Preface: Pre-wash, if that's your thing. It is mine. Press if needed and cut out your pattern pieces. Make sure to measure your girl to ensure proper sizing and add seam allowance when tracing. Here are the pattern pieces. 1. Place right sides of ouside tunic front and back together and sew the side seams. Place right sides of inside tunic together and sew the side seams. 2. Press your bias strips and stitch them to the arm opening of both outside and inside tunics 3. Outside tunic: place right sides together, and starting and the mark on the pattern,... Continue reading

This tunic is so rad! I knew from the minute I saw it that it was a must-sew. Sometimes it just takes me a while. It's a good thing summer temps last a LONG time here in South Texas. This is the Abacadabra 118 tunic pattern. The leggings that just happened to match nicely came from a big box shop. I was going to hack them to capri length but didn't want to loose the lace at the bottom and the length of lace was too short to "move" it up the leg so we improvised and schunched them up.... Continue reading

As I took up a seat to write about a baby blanket that I recently made I glanced up to see our little baby chick up out of it's nest getting ready for the first flight. My own fledglings came scrambling from every corner of the house to share in this exciting moment. Mama and Daddy birds chirped encouragements, bringing bits and bites to eat while the baby gathered courage, spread it's wings, had false starts and even pooped a few times, certainly from fright. And then, as sometimes happens the parents missed it, off getting more bugs the baby... Continue reading

A couple of years ago I went on a fabric exploration trip to Milan. I've not ever talked about it here but last night when I was working with G on her Ancient Roman project I whipped up some images and find myself, this morning, drawn into looking at them again. At every turn there are religious figures with their eyes on you! Wish I saw more of this around here ... public transit, bikes and walking The very old and the new just breathtaking A modern art sculpture of needle and thread Continue reading

This weeks sewing itinerary was ironing, more ironing, and a dash of sewing. 20 aprons were embellished with iron-ons and hand selected, personality appropriate ribbon. M was so thorough and conscious in selecting ribbon, it was a really nice expression of her thoughtfulness. All these aprons were part of the annual 1st grade reading restaurant. Which is a fun way for our readers to show us, and let us take home in our 'to go' bag, what they've been working on all year. They read to us and generally show off their skills and then in their very best manners... Continue reading

and I'll cry if I want to. Every darn time I try to switch my 'evolve' serger to coverstitch I end up in a fit of one sort or another. Which is really a shame, I'm pretty sure it's all operator error but I'll be darned if I can re-thread and be happily on my way. GRRR. I'm starting off, right out of the gate, with that because it's right there... UN-HEMMED TOP! Like a homing beacon; it's pressed for hemming, even has some needle marks along the back where there are unpicked wonky coverstitch stitches, but it was the... Continue reading

With two Friday's in a row off of school I bumped "teach the girls to sew" to the top of my list. This trumped "sew girls some new clothes" along with many other things, and is a trade off I'll happily make time and time again. 1 of the 3 girls was over the moon about the day and the project. She kept going and going, very much like a certain bunny, that is not the associated with a recent holiday. Another girl came around once the machine started up and has since invited her teacher to come and learn... Continue reading

Thank you, Jenny, for your thoughtful and thourough sewing guide for this adorable pattern. Abacadabra 64 tutorial Finally! I'm posting the tutorial! I think you will really enjoy this pattern. It is SO girly and springy and summery. Love it! If you have not purchased your supplies you can still hop over to Banberry Place and buy the pattern and fabric. I think what I like best about this pattern and the fabric is I feel like I made my daughter a dress you could easily find at Nordstrom's for almost half the price. Okay on to the pattern. Supplies... Continue reading

This is a bit of the rec area of our neighborhood. I hadn't ever noticed how GREEN it is. Vollyball, Basketball and Tennis courts. Even the playset area was green, so I went with it. It was an overcast and grey day out there. Continue reading

Thanks again, Nancy at Capable of Flying, for this meme :-) Today it's2 parts love and 1 part finally hanging some stuff on the walls, you know - like we own the place. Slow but sure, wins the race. right? No editing, just 10 minutes to snap 10 shots for 10 days, if you'd like to join me. Continue reading