Made By Trisha

Currently...

2012-02-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

Obsessing over: New patterns from independent pattern companies. Specifically, I'm drooling over Minna from Salme patterns, Anouk from Victory patterns, and Abbey Coat and Miz Mozelle from Jamie Christina patterns.... Ok- just bought the Minna--couldn't wait! I have some fabric in my stash in mind for this.

Working on: Finishing up a test run of Vogue 1224 with a Hawaiian-print fabric. I'm not crazy about this fabric, but I'm trying to use what's in my stash. We'll see how it turns out.

Thinking about: This weekend! Last night, we went to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art for an art opening, this morning we're headed to the local Farmer's Market, and later today we're meeting family for happy hour. And hopefully plenty of sewing will also occur!

Anticipating: Our upcoming trip to Vegas! It will be short and sweet, but it's going to be great to have a little getaway with my hubby.

Listening to: Florence and the Machine station on Pandora.

Eating: Girl Scout Cookies--we got Tagalongs and Samoas.

Wishing: There was more time in the day to work on creative pursuits. But that's what weekends are for, right?

Lowell Tie Blouse- Jalie 2921

2012-01-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

Introducing the Lowell Tie Blouse! Lowell was my grandmother's name, and February 5th would have been her 101st birthday. Something about the print on the fabric and the feel of the fabric really reminds me of my grandma. I just feel like she would have worn this top, so I've named it after her!

Close-up of the fabric and the tie.

This pattern is a repeat--Jalie 2921. I used it for the White Scarf Top, also seen here. This time, I shorted the ties significantly. Otherwise, no changes--the pattern was still a dream to work with and it came together easily.

I had to take these photos inside before work, so the lighting wasn't great. As a result, you can't see my blue tights! They match the blue accents on the top, and they make me feel like I have Smurf legs! Ha!


If you look very carefully, you can see a hint of my Smurf legs!

Grandma Lowell, Happy (early) Birthday! I think of you often, and I'll think of you whenever I wear this blouse.

Love,

Introducing a New Craze-- Let's Sewercise!

2012-01-26T06:36:00.000-07:00

Do you love sewing? Do you wish you had more motivation to exercise? Then please join me in this new craze-- Let's Sewercise!

Here's how it all started- On the one hand, I love to sew, but spending any length of time sewing leaves my neck and back aching and stiff. I'm terrible about taking enough breaks when I get in the groove. On the other hand, I am working hard to try to stick to a new workout routine that was recommended by my physical therapist. I've never been able to keep up a workout plan before, but I've been religiously doing my PT exercises every-other-day since November (hooray). Now, I'm wanting to add in additional moves to take the workout to the next level! Enter Sewercising. Sewercising is a circuit where you rotate sewing with exercising--this encourages you to workout while doing something you love to do anyway--sew! This motivates me to workout and helps sneak in more sewing! Maybe it will work for you too.

Here are some examples of Sewercising:
- While cutting out your fabric: Cut out a piece, do a set of squats. Repeat.
- While sewing: Prep a piece, grab your weights and do a set of bicep curls. Sew a seam, do a second set of bicep curls. Iron seam, do a third set of curls. Repeat, but change to a new exercise for the next set!

See how easy it is to combine the sewing and exercising! No more feeling guilty for sewing instead of going to the gym. Huzzah! Are you with me? Let's Sewercise!

Currently...

2012-01-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

Currently...
I like reading these types of posts on other people's blogs. If you're here just for the sewing, feel free to skip this one! Otherwise, read on:

Obsessing over: feeling great! This past week, I've reduced my dairy intake (Greek yogurt is all the dairy left), and I've added ground flax seed into my diet. I'm feeling so energetic! Did these little changes really make such a big difference?

Working on: doing more. I've had more energy both in the mornings before work and in the evenings. In the past two days, I've squeezed in as much sewing as I usually do in a weekend. Boo-yah!

Thinking about: my dreams for the future. I would love to live in an exotic location near a beach. In my opinion, hearing the ocean, feeling the breeze, and having your toes in the sand is pure bliss.Wondering if that could ever happen.

Anticipating: our anniversary! This weekend, my hubby and I have been together for eleven years! I'm sure we'll do something small, but wonderful to celebrate... perhaps dinner at Liberty Market?

Listening to: The Secret. Yes, that cheesy, new-age, self-help book (I have the audio-book version). In 2006, I worked in a job that I hated, and this book helped me. It helped me feel better and find a better job. Very recently, a lot of people around me have brought up motivational books, so I took it as a sign from the universe and dug out my copy of The Secret audiobook, and I'm listening to it again. It can be a bit cheesy, but the core message still resonates with me... the power of positive thinking and the idea that like attracts like.

Eating: homemade lemon bars. Delicious.

Wishing: I could bring my dogs to work. Seriously. Wouldn't it be awesome to have Scout cuddled up under the desk?

Blue Off-the-Shoulder Top- McCall's 6400

2012-01-18T06:23:00.000-07:00

I am in love with this top! It is made from a soft, blue fabric that I purchased from SAS Fabrics--a local warehouse where you can buy fabric by the pound. The pattern is McCall's 6400, view B. I first fell in love with this pattern when I saw Erica B's version--it just looked so cool on her! Like Erica B, I cut it a little bigger than normal (that meant cutting a M for me), to make sure that there would be plenty of drape for an off-the-shoulder look.

Here's how it looks with arms down. The top does require a certain amount of zhuzzing.

It sewed up very quickly, as it just has one pattern piece that you cut out twice for the front/back. Just sew together, and hem the neck, sleeves, and botton, and you're done! Here's what the finished top looks like laid out flat.

It's an interesting shape when laid out flat.

I think this top is trendy in a "Totally 80's" kind of way that I love. I've worn it out 4 times already--to Christmas Eve dinner, to a belated birthday dinner, and to two happy hours. Unfortunately, there are no pictures of the top in action, but it holds up well. In fact, it's great for dinner or happy hour because it's not too tight, and it gathers over the tummy... plenty of room for expansion, just in case you have one too many pineapple-cheese wontons!

UPDATE- My awesome sister shared a picture of the top in action at Christmas Eve dinner. Here's a shot with my lovely little family:

Whatcha Wearin- Jalie 2921 White Scarf Top

2012-01-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share the Jalie 2921- White Scarf Top in action. Wore it to work today under my gray-red cheetah-print cardigan. Rawr! I love this top underneath cardigans--the scarf/drape looks great this way. It's not always the most fun to sew basics, like a white top. But these are the pieces that will get worn over and over again.

This hairstyle--the side braid is one of my go-to styles. It's quick, easy, and looks pulled-together. Today, one of my co-workers asked me if my braid was fake--ha ha, no, it's all mine!

My Creative Space

2012-01-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I spent some time rearranging and reorganizing my craft room to make a space more conducive to creativity. The biggest change--more room for painting. Painting is something that's very important to me, but I've been neglecting it for quite some time. I hope this space encourages me to pick up a paintbrush more often AND continues to be a great space to sew in. Check out the video for a mini-tour!

This is a close-up of the magnet board and some of my inspiration drawings!

No-Heat Bun Curls

2012-01-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

I'm still trying out new ways to style my hair that are quick and easy, and don't require heat. This is the latest experiment. Last night, I washed my hair. When it was about 85% dry, I twisted it up into 5 buns on top of my head. I slept in the buns, and when I took them out this morning, my hair was super wavy-curly. It was very comfy to sleep in--just make sure to put the buns where they won't interfere with your sleeping position.

Yes, my precious...

I'm so used to my hair being stick-straight that I feel a bit like Hermoine Granger, but I kinda like it! (After all, Hermoine is the best!) If anyone else has hair tips, let me know!

Isn't Hermoine cute?!?

Zebra Shirt- McCall's 6435

2012-01-05T07:01:00.001-07:00

On my 30th birthday, I wore my new Zebra Long-Sleeved Shirt. I made this using McCall's 6435 as a starting point (I already had the pattern out for something else)--I eliminated the yoke details. The fabric is a zebra-print thermal knit from Girl Charlee. First off, have any of you ever ordered fabric from Girl Charlee? They are great! I think they stock some really cute knits, and they are reasonably priced. I've already placed a second order with them.

I added a tiny pocket with a zebra on it on the left breast. It's so cute! I don't think anything will actually fit in the pocket, but I couldn't resist adding it.

When I got ready this morning, I was aiming for cute comfort. I had no idea that my hubby had planned a surprise 30th birthday party for that night! So I may have looked extremely casual for the party, but at least I wasn't in my jammies! It seems that we neglected to take any pictures from the party, but it was a lot of fun. My friends completely surprised me. I started crying when they showed up--I was that surprised! My hubby did a great job of organizing it. We had lasagna with salad and sugar cookies for dessert, lots of great conversation, a fire, and sparklers! Yay!

Looking back at 2011, Looking forward to 2012!

2012-01-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

LOOKING BACK-
Looking back at 2011, I'm very proud of all that I've made! I put together a round-up of all of the projects I made in 2011. (I still need to blog about the last one!) I made 25 items! You can always view the page by clicking the Past Sewing Projects tab at the top of my blog.

What were my favorite makes of the year? This year, I did a good job of picking out patterns and fabrics that I actually want to wear! As a result, there are a few contenders. For work, the Plum Sheath Dress wins. For going out, the Rainbow Paint Dress wins. But my two overall favorites are:

The Art Deco Pendrell Blouse

This top is a work horse! It is fancy enough to wear to work, but also comfy and casual enough to wear on the weekend. I fell in love with this fabric the minute I saw it. I love how it has waves of different colors, so it seems like it goes with everything. And the sleeves really make it feel special.

The Teal Shoulders Top

I feel sexy in this top! The cut-out shoulders are flattering, and the top itself is drapey enough to hide any "problem" areas. The cut-outs also work as great "air conditioning" in hot weather (ha ha)! I wore this top on our amazing trip to Italy and Greece (still need to blog more about that). When we were in Venice, a group of stylish Italian women liked this top. That made me feel very proud.

The top in Venice!

LOOKING FORWARD-
I like making New Year's Resolutions every year. What a great reason to make a positive change! I have a couple in mind for 2012:

1. Stop cracking my knuckles! I am seriously addicted, so this will be hard. Now that I'm noticing when I crack my knuckles, I realize I do this ALL THE TIME. Yikes! I'm trying to quit cold turkey.

2. Enjoy Arizona more. We do a lot of travelling, and I'm a planner. As a result, I spend a lot of time planning all of the amazing things we will do on our next trip! While I love doing this, I want to also make a conscious effort to enjoy where I live more. We're starting out by trying to go hiking every Sunday morning. We've done this for a couple of weeks already, and I love it.

3. Continue my love affair with sewing! I love sewing. I LOVE IT! It is hands-down one of my favorite ways to spend a weekend afternoon. I want to continue to hone my skills and to make more clothes that are in the everyday rotation of my wardrobe.

Cloth Napkins

2011-12-15T06:30:00.007-07:00

When my mom was here a couple of weekends ago, we decided to do a sewing project together. We wanted a quick project that we could finish together, but we also wanted to make something that we would actually use, so we decided to make some cloth napkins. I absolutely LOVE using cloth napkins! They are more hardy than paper napkins, they feel better on your skin, and they are so easy to throw in the washing machine. They are tiny, so they don't take any extra room in the wash. I feel very green using cloth napkins.

We went to the fabric store and let the printed cottons speak to us! This was a lot of fun! I'm usually in the apparel fabric section, but there are so many cute cotton quilting prints! I wish I had taken a photo of all of our great fabrics, but we both fell in love with this Mexico-themed fabric. Won't these napkins be fun to pull out with chips-and-salsa and a Margarita?!? They turned out really well, and are super easy to make.

Look at that nice, straight line of stitching.

If you have a serger, you can just serge all of the edges, but I think it looks nice to have folded-under edges. Here's how to do it: First, cut or tear the fabric into equal-size squares. (I love that you can tear 100% cotton in straight lines.) Make bigger squares for dinner napkins, smaller squares for cocktail napkins. Second, fold and iron all of the edges under once. If you want to be precise, you can measure equally around, but we just eyeballed it. Once the edges are all ironed down once, cut out the small triangle in the corner--this reduces bulk. Third, fold and iron under all of the edges again. This encloses the raw edges. If you want to be fancy, you can fold the corners in to make a mitered corner, but we just left them square. Fourth, sew all the way around the napkin. Because we left the corners square, I like to backstitch on the edge to hold them down extra good. Ta-dah! You now have a cloth napkin! Such a gratifying project!

Here you can see the backstitching at the corner.

Android Cases

2011-12-14T06:17:00.002-07:00

My hubby and I have entered the 21st century--we now have smart phones! We picked these androids out a couple of weeks ago. It sure is handy to have a smart phone. But the phones themselves feel more fragile to me--that big, flat, glass screen needs special TLC, so I whipped up some padded cases for the phones.

My hubby requested a black case. The fabric is pretty cool! It feels like an ultrasuede with a texture on it, and I talked him into a print for the lining. Love this key fabric! This case is padded with quilt batting, and I added some plastic-grid-stuff for structure. His case closes with velcro.

Hubby's phone with case.

The case closed. Very chic and understated.

A peek at the key-fabric lining.

My case is a copper metallic animal print with a purple satin lining. The case is also padded with quilt batting, I added an extra pocket in the lining to hold a credit card, and it has a key ring attached. My case closes with a zipper.

My phone with case.

The case all zipped up.

A peek at the purple lining.

Marcel the Shell Two!

2011-12-13T18:22:00.001-07:00

The second installment of Marcel the Shell is out! (You can view the first one here)
This little shell cracks me up! I want to be his friend.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!

2011-11-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope everyone had a nice day yesterday. We spent the day with my hubby's family enjoying each other's company and enjoying great food. We also spent the day in obnoxious Thanksgiving-day sweaters!

My hubby and I have an affinity for "ugly" Christmas sweaters (we've even had Ugly-Christmas-Sweater parties before). Wednesday night, my hubby and I were feeling creative. "What if we made obnoxious Thanksgiving day sweater?" We thought it sounded like a hilariously fun idea. So we spent Wednesday night making these creations out of old sweaters and felt.

My hubby made a Turducken sweater. (For those that don't know, a turducken is a chicken, stuffed in a duck, stuffed in a turkey. People actually eat this.) The Turducken sweater was a BIG HIT!

I opted to cover the neckline of my sweater in a Thanksgiving feast!

The front includes, from left to right: corn on the cob, stuffing, pumpkin pie, cranberries, and a turkey leg. Bonus: crescent roll necklace!

The back includes, from left to right: green beans, pecan pie, peas, and corn on the cob.

Close up of front.

Close up of crescent roll necklace.

Close up of back.

It was quite fun to make and wear these sweaters. Plus, it was a great reminder of one of the things I'm most thankful for--a fun, spontaneous, witty hubby. I'm so thankful that I have a partner who likes to be goofy like me!

Teal Waves Top- Sorbetto

2011-11-19T06:07:00.004-07:00

Over the last few months, I've really enjoyed playing with Colette Pattern's simple Sorbetto top free pattern. Its simple design has emboldened me to try out new things. Which is how I came up with the Teal Waves Top. I used the Sorbetto as the starting point, but omitted the front pleat, added layers of strips across the front, and added sleeves. My knit fabric looked different from the front and back, so I alternated the strips to give more texture and depth to the layers, or "waves" as I'm thinking of them.

Here I am, staring off into the sunset.

It was a pretty simply process. I started by cutting 1.5" strips, and then drawing lines on the front piece of the shirt 1" apart--that way, the strips overlap a little. Next, I sewed the strips on the front piece, starting from the bottom-most line and working my way up. Then, when all of the strips were sewed on, I basted across the edges--neck, armhole, and sides. Finally, I was able to sew together the shirt like normal!

Work in progress

Here it is as it's coming together on my dress form:

Close up of the waves

I think it worked out really well! What a great way to add visual and textural interest to an otherwise plain top.

Scout peeks in to say "Hello."

Want to check out my other Sorbettos?
Plum Lace Top
Navy Velvet Tee
Brown Buttons Sorbetto
Mustard Print Sorbetto

I can't believe I'm saying this.... but I have skin cancer

2011-11-17T06:34:00.020-07:00

I wrote this post exactly one year ago today, but I was too scared to post it. (I don't know what I was scared of... scared of saying the word cancer? scared of exposing my fears?) I'm posting it now in hopes that it will encourage someone to go get an annual skin check:

November 17, 2010- I can't believe I'm saying this.... but I have skin cancer.

Here's what happened. I went to the dermatologist for a chemical peel for my complexion. While there, I mentioned something to the technician about a "weird zit" that I'd had near my upper lip for a while. It looked just like a zit that wouldn't go away. She looked at it and said, "That's not a zit." She told me that the doctor should look at it right away. I had an appointment scheduled for the next week, so she went out to the nurses' station and put a note on my appointment for the doctor to look at it. Quite honestly, I was planning to cancel that appointment. I see my dermatologist every 8 weeks or so to check in, and the appointments usually last less than 10 minutes, but cost me a $30 co-pay. Something about her urgency made me keep that appointment... I'm glad I did.

At the appointment, they immediately told me that I didn't have a "weird zit," but it looked like skin cancer. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Me? Skin cancer? I wear sunscreen. I don't go tanning. They took a biopsy that day. I waited a week for the results, but based on my doctor's actions, I was pretty sure it was cancer, and it was. I have basal cell carcinoma on the skin directly above my upper lip. I will have to go in for Mohs surgery to remove it, and reconstruction to minimize the scarring.

I'm still reeling from the diagnosis a little bit. As far as cancers go, I have the "best" kind-- it rarely spreads, and as long as you get it out early enough, it usually doesn't come back. Still, I have been diagnosed with cancer. That word sucks. And I'm only in my 20s! This isn't supposed to happen! Right?!? It feels like my body is turning on me.

So, my brain is a little mushy with this news, but my family and friends have been great--very supportive. I know that I'm very lucky that it was found early, and that I can have it easily removed. I'm so grateful for that. Surgery is coming up in a few weeks. Let's just hope that my skin heals well, too.

1-year Cancer Free! If you look closely, you can see the scar in the middle of my upper-lip.

And here I am a year later! When I went in for Mohs surgery, they ended up having to take a bigger chunk than they originally planned, and I had 9 stitches running from under my nose to inside my mouth. I couldn't talk for 2 weeks, and I could only eat soft, mushy foods. My family was incredibly supportive! (My hubby even pureed some macaroni and cheese for me when I was sick of milkshakes!)

Since my diagnosis, my dad was also diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on his face--on his temple. He also had Mohs surgery and is healing well. He says that his incision hardly hurt at all.

We all go out in the sun everyday. Please remember to wear sunscreens, get a good hat, and get checked regularly by a dermatologist. If something is weird or different for your skin, have it checked--everyone is different, and in my opinion, it's better to error on the side of caution. Let your doctor decide if it's suspicious or not. Your skin is your largest organ--treat it with love and respect.

Long Weekend with my Mom

2011-11-15T06:50:00.011-07:00

Hooray for long weekends! We had a great long weekend here. My mom came into town, and we squeezed as much fun as we could out of the weekend.

Do you think we look alike?

Saturday, we went to the Desert Botanical Garden for their annual Chiles and Chocolate Festival. Yes, you read that right, lots of delicious samples of chiles and chocolate were eaten!

I love Saguaro Cactus.

After we did our sampling, we walked around the gardens. They have huge wooden sculptures of bugs scattered around the gardens, so we decided to walk around and find all of them. Here are some of our favorites:

Praying Mantis

Daddy Long-legs

Ants

Damselfly

The wooden bug sculptures are a fun addition to the garden. If you're ever in Phoenix, it's a must-see! The desert landscaping is one-of-a-kind. It was such a treat to spend the long weekend with my mom and hubby!

p.s. You may notice that I'm wearing my Art Deco Pendrell blouse. I re-hemmed it shorter, and I like wearing it untucked a lot better now.

White Scarf Top- Jalie 2921

2011-11-07T06:46:00.003-07:00

I'd like to introduce you to my White Scarf Top- Jalie 2921 Scarf-Collar Knit Top. This is my first time trying a Jalie pattern, and I think I'm hooked!

Things I love about Jalie:

The pattern came with 22 sizes ranging from kids' sizes to women's sizes.

They give recommendations of how to sew stretchy knit fabric with a regular sewing machine.

It actually fits straight from the pattern! With most patterns (Simplicity, McCall's, Butterick), I usually cut a smaller size and still end up taking the sides in. With this Jalie pattern, I cut the size that my measurements corresponded to, and it fits perfectly. In fact, while I was sewing it, I was worried that it was going to be too small, but it fits perfectly!

To me, this Scarf-Collar has a nautical look to it, and there are many different ways to wear it. My favorite is to pull the scarf-collar through a hole left in the front of the top. But you could also easily tie the ties in a bow. Or even tie the ties at the back of your neck.

Pumpkins!

2011-11-05T06:24:00.001-07:00

Even though Halloween is over, is it too late to share our pumpkins from this year? We did a lot of carving in our household. On our first attempt, we ended up with three masterpieces: My brother-in-law's 3-Eyed Monster, my Flying Skull, and my hubby's Happy Puppy Pumpkin.

Here are the guys working hard to gut the pumpkins:

A little sketch I drew for the design:

And the final outcome, looks a lot like the sketch, huh!?

The next week, my hubby was recruited to carve a pumpkin for work. He really wanted to carve a literary character, so we looked at pictures online, drew it on, and my hubby painstakingly did the carving (it took almost 3 hours!). Can you guess who it is???

Now, can you guess who it is?

It's EDGAR ALLAN POE! Didn't he do a wonderful job?!? I can't believe how awesome it turned out. This pumpkin was a masterpiece.

Finally, no pumpkin carving is complete without roasted pumpkin seeds. We made our favorite spicy version.

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
Carefully sort pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin guts. Rinse off and spread on a towel to dry.
Melt some butter and lightly drizzle the seeds.
Generously cover in garlic salt and cayenne pepper.
Spread on a cookie sheet and roast in the oven until lightly browned on the edges.

YUM!

Peacock Skirt

2011-11-04T06:57:00.003-07:00

Back in July, I whipped up this Peacock Skirt with a matching top to wear on our trip to Italy and Greece. You couldn't really see the skirt too well in those photos, so wanted to share how I'm wearing the skirt today. In this case, I wanted the pretty fabric to be the focus, so it's a super-simple pattern. The skirt was made from one big rectangle--sewed up the side, inserted elastic in the top, and hemmed the bottom. Easy peasy!

Sewing for Men

2011-11-01T06:14:00.012-07:00

Have you ever tried to sew for men? More specifically for your manly significant other?

I love to sew, so I naturally want to share my sewing creations with my hubby. Unfortunately, I have a hard time figuring out what to make for him. When I ask him, he always jokingly asks me to crochet him a cocoon that he can disappear into.

This baby cocoon is the only picture I could find. Looks pretty comfy!

So this holiday season, I was super-excited because I found 3 contenders to sew for him. Luckily, I decided to tell him ahead of time to gauge his reaction.

Contender #1- Jalie 3137 Men's Polo Shirt-
My hubby wears polo shirts to work all of the time, and I thought this pattern was really neat. Hubby's verdict--he seems tepid at best. He says ok, but only if I leave off the pockets and tabs.-- What?!? Those are the coolest parts!

Contender #2- Noodlehead's Basic Boy's Wallet-
Hubby likes thin, lightweight wallets, so I thought this would be a winner. Hubby's verdict--these wallets are not "manly" enough.-- Really?!? I specifically picked this pattern because I thought it looked very guy-friendly. Guess I'm not good at gauging this.

Contender #3- Men's Tank Top-
No pattern for this one, but on our trip to Italy and Greece this summer, he wore a couple of men's tank tops in the hot weather. Arizona is hot, so I thought this would be a hit! I planned to use his existing shirts as a pattern. Hubby's verdict--maybe he would wear something like this to work out in.-- Ok... So I will use my precious sewing time to painstakingly make you a gift that you might wear while you sweat in the garage?!?

For a minute I felt personally offended, but then I shrugged it off. We don't have to enjoy each other's hobbies (I don't enjoy football). And I can use the sewing time for something else. But sheesh! Anyone else have a hard time sewing for the guys in your life?

Plum Lace Top- Sorbetto

2011-10-13T07:00:00.005-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a FOURTH Sorbetto top to share with you! This is the Plum Lace Top. The fabric is a stretch lace that I bought eons ago for who-knows-what. Since it is lace, the top is see-through, which is quite fun! This is my first time sewing with stretch lace. It acted a little strange in my machine (it wanted to bunch up), but I was able to coax it through ok.

I'm wearing it at work today with a plain black pencil skirt and a bright green belt! I'm digging the pop of color.

I highly recommend this pattern. I think I like it so much because it is so simple. The simplicity has emboldened me to experiment a little more on my own! In fact, I have another Sorbetto up my sleeve, so stay tuned.

Want to check out my other Sorbettos?
Navy Velvet Tee
Brown Buttons Sorbetto
Mustard Print Sorbetto

Pop of Pink Dress

2011-10-04T06:28:00.002-07:00

Yay, another knit dress! I'm calling this the Pop of Pink Dress. I love all of the neutrals in this dress--khaki, tan, brown, eggplant, and gray---with a pop of pink! The fabric is an ITY knit, and it almost feels like it has some silk in it--very sleek, soft, and drapey. The skirt is McCall's 6112 (also seen here), and the top is self-drafted.

Believe it or not, I just took my hair out of rollers. This is how little my hair will curl.

This fabric was a bit fiddly to sew. I had to cut strips of tracing paper to sew over for each seam to prevent skipped stitches. I've never done this before, but it was easy and worked beautifully.

Can you find Scout in this photo?

I wore this dress out to West Side Story. The musical has been updated, and while on one hand I appreciated it, on the other hand I missed the original. My two favorite songs--America and I Feel Pretty were changed. We bought a 4-pack of shows this year, so I still have Blue Man Group, Wicked, and American Idiot to look forward to!

Navy Velvet Tee- Sorbetto

2011-09-22T06:35:00.002-07:00

I'm quite pleased with this top, and it came about completely by accident--I bought a super-cheap remnant of what I thought was plain navy knit fabric from JoAnn. When I brought the remnant home and unrolled it, I discovered that the plain navy knit was just the back--and the front of the fabric was this navy, stretch, crushed velvet! Score! At first, I wanted to use it for a slim cardigan, but I didn't have enough material. So, since I'm on a roll with Colette Pattern's Sorbetto top, I decided to use this pattern again as the basis for this top. (See my other Sorbetto tops here and here.)

This time, I omitted the front pleat and left it plain. I also used the sleeve pattern from Sew, Incidentally--Thanks for posting that! (On a side note, I finally bought a rotary cutter and mat, which I have been using since my first Sorbetto. Can I tell you how much I LOVE it! It has completely revolutionized the cutting out phase! But you'll notice that the neckline for my Sorbetto tops keeps getting slightly bigger--I think I'm nicking off a little of the pattern each time.. Got to watch that.)

I think this tee is the perfect Fall transition piece. After all, I live in Arizona, and the forecast says 100+ degrees every day this week. So I'm still wearing summer clothes, but I'm in the mood to have a Fall-look to my outfits. The navy velvet fabric definitely gives a nod to Fall, while still keeping me cool in the Arizona heat.

Brown Buttons Sorbetto

2011-09-07T07:39:00.001-07:00

(Ready for work in my Brown Buttons Sorbetto)

I love my Mustard Print Sorbetto so much, that while I was on a Sorbetto high, I whipped up another. This one is also made of a knit jersey fabric--some type of Rayon mix.

I took the lessons that I learned from my last Sorbetto, and used the same technique I used before to finish the neck and arm openings. I also deepened the armholes about a 1/4" more.

(Next time, I'll try wearing it tucked in)

This time, I hemmed as indicated in the pattern (instead of the band I used last time). And I used lace hem tape to finish the hem inside. Doesn't it look pretty? I also made French seams on the shoulders and sides.

(View of the inside- notice the lace on the bottom hem)

I also added some decorative buttons to personalize the look even more. These four buttons were lost without matches, but they really look nice together on the placket of this top.

(Close-up of the front buttons)

Mustard Print Sorbetto (from a knit fabric)

2011-08-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

I work at a university, and on Fridays, we are supposed to wear school colors to promote school spirit. That means "wear gold" on Fridays. I'm not a huge fan of gold, but I want to participate, so I was excited to find this fabric. To me, it looks like a more sophisticated way to "wear gold." (Even if the color is really mustard.)

I wanted a simple pattern, so I could wear this shirt over and over again without it getting old--and Collette Patterns Sorbetto seemed to fit the bill (it's a free pattern!). This pattern is for woven fabrics, and my fabric was a knit, but it worked out ok. I did make some changes:

(Untucked, for a more casual look)

I lengthened the top by about 4 inches. I also deepened the armholes by 1/4". For future versions, I'll deepen the armholes even more.
I omitted the bust darts. My fabric has enough stretch, so I didn't need them.
Instead of bias tape, I cut strips stretch-length-wise and used those to bind the neck and arm holes. I'm REALLY happy with how this turned out!
I made a band for the bottom instead of a traditional hem. It helps the shirt to sit closer to my body at the bottom. I think this looks a more polished when un-tucked, and I can also wear the top tucked in.

I finished this top last Sunday and wanted to wear it right away, but I also wanted to wait until Friday to proudly wear my gold (ahem, mustard)--but then I forgot! So I am wearing it today!

Sewing for Italy & Greece- Purple Ruffle Top & Peacock Top and Skirt

2011-08-19T07:16:00.005-07:00

This summer, we had the opportunity to go on a wonderful 17-day trip through Italy and Greece. I hope to post more about the trip after I have time to go through all of the pictures. But before we left, I furiously sewed some clothes to bring along. I want to share these three creations with you!

(At the Duomo in Florence, Italy)

Purple Ruffle Top- I made this knit top loosely from McCall's 5853. I altered the pattern by only making 3 ruffles that go half-way down the front. Also, I used this tutorial to bind the neck and armholes. Although the dark purple made the ruffles hard to photograph, I really like how this top turned out. It's just as comfy as your favorite stretchy tank top, but the ruffles elevate it to the next level.

(At the Colosseum in Rome, Italy)

Next up:

Peacock Top and Skirt- I also made this knit set. The top is from BurdaStyle 5/2011 Sleeveless Jersey Top. I really love the graphic peacock print on this fabric. And I was very pleased with how easily the top pattern came together. When I completed the top, I liked it so much that I whipped up a simple, slim skirt to match (no pattern used). I really like how I can wear each piece separately, or together as a dress.

(Outside Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy)

While I really love the look of this fabric, it turned out to act weird. The shirt seemed to GROW with each wearing! By the end of the trip, my friend had to safety-pin the straps up so it wouldn't fall off! Any suggestions on how to fix this?

(Sketching the Colloseum in Rome)

This was such a fun trip, and I felt so proud to be wearing my handmade clothing around the world!

A Week Without TV -OR- How I Found Balance

2011-08-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

I've made the pledge to go a week without TV for my 30 Before 30 list. I had one simple rule--no TV for a week. Here's how the week unfolded:

(Speaking of balance- this drink is the perfect balance of deliciousness--orange fizzy water, cranberry juice, and lime! And don't you love the metal straw?!?)

Day 1- Talked with my sis on the phone after work. Today was a particularly stressful day. It's 7:30pm--my body is sore; my eyes are tired. All I want to do is collapse on the couch and watch an episode of "The Cosby Show." Resisted the temptation. Took the dogs for an extra-long walk.

Day 2- Met some friends and their adorable new baby boy out for dinner--Indian food! Yum! Came home, walked the dogs, and watched an episode of "The Cosby Show" while I flipped through the newest "O" magazine.

Yes, I caved and watched some TV (and it's only day 2). But that's fine with me! I've decided that watching one show at the end of the night while I'm winding down for the night is perfectly acceptable. This challenge is about finding a new balance, where I have more variety in my evenings. It's probably unrealistic to have no TV, because I do plan to watch TV after the challenge is up.

Day 3- This morning, I felt creative and energized! I spent the morning commute scheming about an unfinished sewing project. I love mornings like this!
Got home from work late. Got out the unfinished sewing project out and put it on my dress form. Thought some more about how to alter the pattern to make the sleeves work. (I think I've come up with a solution! Don't you love it when you figure out a sewing puzzle?!?) Part of me wanted to start cutting into the fabric, but another part of my brain said, "Trisha, your feeling tired and hungry. Will you be making the best decisions right now? Should you really cut the fabric?" The truth is, this is why I rarely sew at night--my brain is mush after work! Instead, I had a lovely dinner of falafel, naan, hummus, carrots, and tzatziki, then walked the dogs, watched one show, and went to bed.

Day 4- It's Friday! It's Friday! Tonight, we made a delicious pizza--we just love making our own pizza for a Friday-night treat. Tonight's creation had baby bella mushrooms, green onions, and vegetarian Italian "sausage." The smell was so good that it literally made my mouth water! Did some furious crocheting while we watched a Friday-night movie. So although the TV was on, my focus was on the crochet project.

Day 5- Today is Saturday, so I think it will be easier to adhere to my challenge. The weekend is usually when I immerse myself in projects. Can't wait to get into the craft room this morning!
Did quite a bit of crafting today, and a little bit of sewing. Played Rummy with my hubby. At the end of the night, watched a disc of "The Big C." I highly recommend this show.

Day 6- This afternoon, I felt like flopping on the couch and mindlessly watching some TV. Instead, I took stock of what I wanted to accomplish this weekend. I ended up doing some housework, throwing in some laundry, baking some cookies, and then spending the remainder of the afternoon switching between sewing, crocheting, and playing a game with my hubby and bro-in-law. I feel good about what I accomplished today!

Day 7- Really?!? It's only been a week?!? Maybe it's only been 7 days, but I feel like my entire approach to the boob-tube has changed.

The Verdict- Well, I didn't succeed to go an entire week with no TV. But I think I did succeed in finding a better balance. For me, it's hard to muster up the energy to do much after work. I get home around 6pm-ish, and I like to be in bed by 9pm. Once you account for dinner and walking the dogs, that doesn't leave much time! This exercise made me more mindful of how I am spending that precious time each evening. Watching a show became a treat, not a mindless activity.

Feeling like a Slug

2011-08-09T06:34:00.005-07:00

I am ready to tackle another item on my 30 Before 30 list:

Go a week without watching TV.

Friends, I have been feeling like a slug lately. I get home from work, make dinner, walk the dogs, watch a couple shows, and go to bed. Bleh. I've always been a morning person, so it's hard for me to get up the energy to do much after work. And it's too hot to do anything outside (still 100+ everyday here in AZ), but I'm sick of feeling like a slug!

(Get this cute crochet slug pattern on Etsy here.)

This is something I've been wanting to do for a while, so today, Tuesday, August 9th, I am taking the plunge! I will update you at the end of the week on how it goes.

Fabric from Italy

2011-07-29T13:21:00.002-07:00

We made it back from a 17-day trip to Italy and Greece! The trip was phenomenal, and I can't wait to share some of the highlights, but I'm still getting over the jet-lag, and very busy at work.

So, for now, I just want to share a fabric purchase that I made in Rome.

This is Casa Del Tessuto. It is a fairly small place, but jam-packed with fabrics. Some of the bolts had big-name designers on them, like Versace and Dolce & Gabbana. Like in New York, I didn't have a specific project in mind to buy for, so I froze up a little bit. Then, I came across some cotton knits with just a little bit of stretch. I found a pretty floral at a reasonable price, and beckoned to the clerk that this was my choice. (I had to place my order in meters instead of yards! Fun!) Not entirely sure what I'll make with this, but right now, I'm envisioning another Pendrell blouse.

Also, this picture is a sneak-peek of some of the sewing I did for the trip! Hope to post more about that soon.

Me-Made-June: Family Edition

2011-06-30T13:06:00.001-07:00

Me-Made-June wrapped up with a visit to my family. We were celebrating my parent's wedding anniversary, and my dad's birthday! Here's a photo of my lovely family--mom, sis, and dad.

Me-Made-June item: Double Cardinal Top

Here I am frosting a Chocolate Mocha cake for my dad's birthday. Mmmmm! Please ignore the wonkiness of the cake! It was delicious to eat, and that's the most important part. This is my Double Cardinal Top--made to support St. Louis Cardinal's baseball & Arizona Cardinal's football. (I don't think it's ever made it on the blog before.)

Me-Made-June item: T-shirt Dress for Mom

Even my mom participated in Me-Made-June! She's wearing a T-shirt dress that I made for her, and it looks great on her. She's also wearing locally-made jewelry. You look gorgeous, mom!

For my dad's birthday, we took a wildflower identification class. Here, my dad took some time to stop and sniff a butterfly plant--a milkweed variety that butterflies really like. Doesn't he look cute here!

Me-Made-June item: Two-toned Aqua Tank

Comfort was key for the wildflower class--it was 3 hours long on a hot, humid day. This hat kept me shaded from the sun. Behind us, you can see the prairie grasses.

My lovely sis found an Echinacea flower. The purple/fuchsia color was so vibrant against the green of the landscape.

Me-Made-June item: Aqua Elastic Waist Skirt

That night, we had a homemade family feast out on the back patio. We had lobster ravioli with a parma-red sauce, spinach salad, green beans, toasted bread, and wine. Yum!

Couldn't resist sharing this picture of Sassy, my parents wiener dog. She's got the shortest legs I've ever seen on a dachshund! She loves napping in her sunbeam. (Really, she just loves napping, period!)

Another thing Sassy adores--her people! What a sweet family.

Me-Made-June item: Peacock Batwing Top

On our final day, we took a walk around a local park, and caught some schoolchildren giving a free violin concert. It was a great visit--great weather, great food, great entertainment, and most of all, great company!

Me-Made-June: Week 4

2011-06-24T06:21:00.003-07:00

Me-Made-June items: Black Pencil Skirt & Top (altered by me--lace inset added)

I know this isn't the best photo of the outfit, but I love the panoramic view of our living. room... it looks so grand and spacious in this picture! Plus, it really shows off our paintings--my hubby did the one on the left, and I did the one on the right. We really do love our house, and we try to keep it simple and open.

Me-Made-June item: Rose Dress

It's been forever since I wore this dress last, and I don't know why! I was looking at the construction of this dress when I put it on. I self-drafted it in January 2010, and the design really works. It was fairly easy, so maybe I should make another... This is also one of the first me-made items where the inside is impeccable.

Me-Made-June item: Teal Shoulder Top

Of course, I had to wear my newest creation! The last few days, we've had a heat advisory warning here in Arizona, so cool tops are a must.

One more Me-Made-June update to go! I will be visiting with my family, so I hope to have some action shots to show off next week.

Teal Shoulders Top

2011-06-22T06:54:00.008-07:00

(Check it out! This top matches my new glasses!!!)

I'm on a roll! This is another knit summer top. I am so in love with the Peacock Batwing Top, that I decided to use McCall's 6287 for another top. Once again, I took the extra step to finish all of the raw edges by serging and then hemming under. Also, I sewed not only the tiny shoulder seam, but added a tiny seam at the bottom of the sleeves.

This fabric is in one of my favorite color-families (as seen here, here, and here to name a few). It's a lightweight rayon-blend knit jersey from fabric.com. If you make this top, there is one thing to be aware of--when I lift my arms, you can see up the sleeves. I don't mind this, but be aware.

The top is great to wear in the Arizona heat because: 1) it's lightweight, and 2) the design of the shirt allows for breezes to come into the sleeves! Wheeeee! These photos were taken on Father's Day. We took my father-in-law to the movies to see Super 8, and then grilled at his house. I had a chipotle black-bean "burger." Mmmmmm! (You can read more about the burgers on my hubby's food blog.)

Me-Made-June: Week 3

2011-06-18T06:09:00.002-07:00

Here's this week's round-up of Me-Made-June outfits! I've already got a couple of repeats--not because I'm out of Me-Made clothes, but because I just enjoy wearing these items so much!

Me-Made-June item: Brown Knit Dress

Oh Brown Knit Dress, how I love thee!

Me-Made-June item: Gray Splatter Ruffle Top

Scout was not interested in being in this photo this morning, but since he matched the outfit, he was recruited to participate.

Me-Made-June items: Aqua Infinity Wrap Dress ; Earrings

I have a LOT of Me-Made earrings, but I often forget to get photos of them (or my close-ups don't looks too good). I love that most of my Me-Made earrings are super-lightweight. Nothing's worse than really heavy earrings dragging down your day.

Me-Made-June item: Purple Leopard Cardigan

(see dress made of the same material here)

I made this cardigan soon after I made a dress of the same material, but I never blogged about it. It's a little long and floppy, so it's not my favorite, but I thought Me-Made-June would be the perfect opportunity to try it out again. The verdict? Meh.

Me-Made-June item: Art Deco Pendrell Blouse

This was the first day I wore my new glasses. And I picked this outfit to pick up on the brown and aqua in the glasses. :)

Black-Pink Ruffle Top

2011-06-17T06:59:00.003-07:00

This top was made using Simplicity 2554. I've used this pattern before, but in a different view, for the Gray Splatter Ruffle Top.This fabric is a very thin, VERY stretchy rayon/mix jersey from Fabric.com. Nice to wear, but pretty annoying to work with. While you're working with it, it tends to stretch when you don't want it to.

Looking at these pictures, I wish I had planned out where the pattern would hit before I cut the fabric. I think it would have looked better to have the pink on my bust and the black over my belly. Ah, well. This is just a quick and easy weekend top, so that's ok.

New Glasses

2011-06-15T06:25:00.003-07:00

I'm very excited to unveil my brand new glasses! Just picked them up last night. I was so excited that I asked my hubby to take a picture right away! (On an unrelated note, don't you love this T-shirt?!? Can you tell that I love macaroni and cheese?)

This morning, I got to try them out with "real" clothes. To me, they seem VERY different from my last pair. I think they have a bit of a vintage vibe to them. I'm still getting used to them, but my hubby seems to really dig the new look. I still like the old look, though... (The good news is that the prescriptions are close enough that I can still wear both.) Here's a comparison:

Old Glasses (Rimless with purple sides)

New Glasses (Top rims brown, aqua sides)

Me-Made-June: Week 2

2011-06-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from the second week of Me-Made-June. I've decided not to drive myself crazy trying to get a picture everyday. I'm wearing Me-Made clothing, and doing my best to document it, but also, I want to make sure to keep this fun. (And sometimes, I'm feeling rushed and stressed in the morning, so I may not have time for a picture that day. I've decided this is ok, no big deal.)

Me-Made-June item: Aqua Infinity Wrap Dress

I love the pups on this photo! Scout is gazing at me adoringly, while Jack is intent on the photographer (my hubby). It was so hard to leave for work after this sweet moment.

Me-Made-June item: Art Deco Pendrell blouse

Just love this blouse. It is lightweight and not fussy. So easy to wear. Plus, I received several compliments from co-workers. I am just now starting to tell people at work that I make some of my clothing.

Me-Made-June item: Peacock Batwing Top

Here's an example of Me-Made-June helping me push my boundaries. I would never have thought to wear this top to work. To me, the open shoulders are a little too casual, but my co-workers really responded well to this outfit. So I guess a little open shoulders is ok, as long as the rest of the outfit is conservative.

Me-Made-June item: Aqua Elastic Waist Skirt

A little weekend relaxing in my Aqua Elastic Waist Skirt. I also wore this outfit one day at work, but with a cardigan added on top.

To wrap-up this week, I really relied on separates. I tend to gravitate towards sewing dresses, but in reality, I wear a lot of separates. Need to keep that in mind when choosing my next projects!

Other things going on this week- I ordered some new glasses, and I can't wait for them to come in to show off to you!

Peacock Batwing Top

2011-06-08T06:43:00.017-07:00

Here's my latest summer top-- the Peacock Batwing Top. Love this fabric. It's a peacock feather print poly knit from Fabric.com. When it arrived in the mail, I wasn't sure, because it's so shiny and slippery, but it worked out perfectly with this pattern.

This top is made from McCall's 6287. It's a "Generation T" easy pattern, and boy was it a breeze to make! The description calls it a pullover top with wide neckline and unfinished edges; top front and back extend to draped sleeves, very narrow shoulders and lower band. I modified this a bit. The directions have you leave the sleeve and arm openings raw, and just sew a tiny piece for the shoulder seam. Instead, I used my serger to serge and then hem all of the raw edges. I think it gives it a nicer finish. Here's a picture that shows the serged and hemmed edges, and the hem tape on the tiny shoulder seam. I decided to sew the bottom of the sleeves together, instead of letting it hang free. This way, my shoulders are exposed, but the sleeves aren't just hanging at my sides. Also, I added about an inch to the length, but if I make it again, I think I'll add even more length.

I may make this pattern again! It was super-easy, it's comfy to wear, and it's flattering (hubby loves the exposed shoulders). What's not to like? Also, the loose design makes it a cool top for the Arizona heat. This top will probably be worn a lot over Me-Made-June.

Me-Made-June: Vegas Edition

2011-06-06T06:12:00.004-07:00

For part of the Me-Made-June challenge, I decided to wear my handmade items on our trip to... FABULOUS LAS VEGAS! (insert cheesy game-show music here)

We stayed at the Excalibur hotel, which was actually pretty nice. Good pool area, too.

Me-Made-June item: Rainbow Paint Dress

The first night, we walked around to see the sights. Highlights included: Hofbrauhaus dinner, where we had some German treats. Then, we walked to Ellis Island for some light gambling. I am drawn to the cheesiest penny machines ever. I put $1 in this one--Kitty Glitter, and walked away with $32. TRUE STORY!

And one final artsy shot from the evening--in front of the fake Eiffel Tower at Paris.

The next day, we did more walking around the strip. I wore my newly made Peacock top. I need to dedicate a blog post to this shirt. No action shots today, my camera died after taking this picture, and we had to buy more batteries. We ended up spending most of the day out at the pool, anyway.

Me-Made-June item: Peacock Batwing Top

That night, we saw Zumanity, one of the Cirque du Soleil shows. Check that off my 30 Before 30 list!!!

The next day, we decided to check out the old downtown Vegas area, but first, we stopped by Caesar's Palace.

Me-Made-June item: Gray Going-Out Dress

At Caesar's I met the TWO Most Interesting Men In The World!

We finally made it to Fremont Street in old downtown Vegas. It was a chilly, windy day, and the backless style of the Gray Going-Out Dress was proving to be a freezing choice. Thank goodness for Walgreens--I bought a cheap black undershirt and put it on under the dress. Here's another super-cheesy penny slot machine-- Maltese Fortune, the evil twin to Kitty Glitter.

The light show at Fremont Street was truly amazing! We had a lot of fun grooving out to the music and the lights.

Made it through a Vegas trip in Me-Made outfits. Overall, they were really comfy to wear, but I wish I had brought warmer clothes. Oh well, it was just another excuse to snuggle up to my hubby!

Handy as a Pocket

2011-06-03T06:42:00.007-07:00

Today's post shows some sewing that was requested by my hubby. He had an old pair of khaki shorts that he loved to death (see one of many previous repairs here), but they finally had to be sent to clothing heaven, and he got a new pair. On the new pair, he missed having zippers on the cargo pockets, for added security. So I told him I'd add them in.

Here are the original pockets:

I simply hand-sewed the zipper to the flap on top and the pocket itself on the bottom. I sewed a double-thread running stitch down the middle of the zipper tape, and secured all around the edges with catch-stitches. Also, I tried to position the zipper so that he could still use the velcro closure. We were super excited to find zippers in the right color and length (Yes, hubby came to the sewing store with me to pick out the zippers). Score! Here is the zipper pocket in action:

Here it is closed. Look for the hand-stitches at the top of the pocket. They're hardly noticeable!

Also, he asked me to sew in an internal security pocket for travel. This is a zipper pocket on the inside of the shorts.

He liked the security pocket so much, he asked for the same type of pocket in another pair of shorts. I think it's easier to see in this picture that the pocket is on the inside of the shorts.

So handy! Watch out, I may be installing zipper pockets in all of our clothes!

A-Z About Me

2011-06-02T18:18:00.000-07:00

Just saw this "A-Z About Me" survey on One Pearl Button, and it looked like fun, so I'm playing along!

A. Age: 29 and loving it!
B. Bed size: Queen. My hubby and I used to sleep in a full bed with our two dogs. Crowded.
C. Chore that you hate: Dusting. Blech. Scrubbing the bathtub is also lousy. My hubby is more of a clean freak than I am, which is great!
D. Dogs: Yes, I love pups! We have two rescue dogs--Scout and Jack. They are chihuahua mixes, and they are perfect. (See posts they're tagged in here.)
E. Essential start to your day: Frosted mini wheats and a magazine. (But sometimes I eat Pop Tarts at work for a treat!)
F. Favourite color: Cool colors- greens, purples, blues, and aquas.
G. Gold or Silver: I like both. In fact, my wedding ring is gold, but my watch is silver, so I wear both everyday.
H. Height: 5'9" and 3/4".
I. Instruments you play: I took piano lessons for 12 years as a kid. Also trumpet, but I was never very good at it.
J. Job title: I don't like talking about my job on my blog--like to keep work and play separate-- but I work at a university.
K. Kids: We'll see. No commitment either way, at this point.
L. Live: Arizona, but I grew up in the Midwest.
M. Mother's name: Linda.
N. Nicknames: Trish, Torto, T-dog (please don't call me that).
O. Overnight hospital stays: Several. Blech.
P. Pet peeve: This seems to change. I'll get annoyed by something, get over it, and move on to something else.
Q. Quote from a movie: Hello! My name is Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
R. Right or left handed: Right.
S. Siblings: One older sister.
T. Time you wake up: Ready for it... 5:30am on weekdays! I try to sleep in on the weekends, which usually means 7:00am-ish.
U. Underwear: Bikini. I have an irrational fear of thongs.
V. Vegetable you hate: Overcooked broccoli, but as a vegetarian, I like most veggies.
W. What makes you run late: I am extremely punctual!
X. X-Rays you've had: Teeth, left wrist (broke it twice as a kid).
Y. Yummy food that you make: I make yummy desserts! My hubby is the cook in our family, and I am the baker.
Z. Zoo animal: Penguins. The St. Louis zoo has an awesome penguin house.

Art Deco Pendrell Blouse

2011-05-20T06:57:00.002-07:00

At long last, I can join the legions of sewing-bloggers who have made Tasia's Pendrell Blouse. This pretty blouse has princess seams, and can be made plain, with ruffles, or like I did--with folded sleeves. So cute!

I am in love with this fabric! It is a rayon blend knit from fabric.com. When it arrived in the mail, it was a little stiff, but after washing it twice, it softened up quite a bit. (In retrospect, it might have been easier to work with when it was stiffer!) I think the print looks very Art Deco, and the colors are divine--plum, teal, pink, navy, tan, and yellow!

(Untucked- just enough fitted, just enough loose)

The pattern came together easily (with one major hiccup, I'm getting to that). While making it, I referred to some of Tasia's thorough sew-a-long posts--a list of all of those posts can be found here. When I cut out the fabric, one panel was inexplicably several inches shorter than the others, so I had to shorten all of the panels, but it still turned out nice and long. Also, I took in the side seams by over an inch on each side--probably because I was using a knit with some stretch instead of a stable woven.

The one issue I had was due to user-error. While trimming the princess seam allowance, I accidentally cut through the back of the blouse! Arrrrgh! The horror! My hubby came running into the room--he thought I had cut myself by the screams!

(See how big the cut was?!?)

I Frankenstein-ed a patch with fusible interfacing and a scrap of fabric, and hand-sewed down the edges. Not perfect, but a good enough fix.

This blouse was also the first time I used my new serger on a "real" project. I was terrified!!! I serged the bottom hem before turning it up, and it took me almost 20 minutes to serge that one hem. I kid you not... that's how slow and careful I was going.

(Got a lot of air on this jump! ha ha ha!)

The verdict-- I love this blouse, and recommend it! Hubby is a fan of the folded sleeves! And it was a joy to make! Now, here are some gratuitous shots of how it can be styled.

(Belted with a tan belt, and tucked in)

Hilarious Dog Video

2011-05-15T07:41:00.001-07:00

Mwa ha ha ha ha ha ha! HILARIOUS! If you have a dog, you'll love this video! My hubby loves it so much, he's going around using that voice for our dogs.

Serger Class

2011-05-13T06:41:00.004-07:00

You might remember waaaaaay back in December, I got a gently-used serger--a Bernina 2000DCE. Well, I finally was able to make it to a Serger 101 class to learn how to use this beauty! Above, you'll see my serger, all threaded and ready to go. Below, are my test swatches. I am now able to successfully sew a 3-thread overlock, 3-thread rolled hem, and 3-thread flat lock. Unfortunately, it looks like I won't be able to do any 4-thread stitches, unless I take the machine in to be looked at. I think that's ok though--- from what I've read on other people's blogs the 3-thread overlock is the stitch most commonly used.

We practiced on cotton muslin and some pretty stable knits. On my own, I tried serging some of my really stretchy knits, and had some trouble. At the end of each piece, it wants to bunch funny and I miss stitching on the last bit of the fabric. Any tips on serging super-stretchy knits? Also, any tips on keeping the seam allowance even as you feed the fabric through the machine?

Striped Maxi Dress

2011-05-01T12:53:00.002-07:00

This weekend's sewing creation-- a maxi dress. I've never worn a maxi dress before, but now I see why everyone loves them! This dress is one of the comfiest things I've ever worn.

I sewed this dress out of a rayon knit from fabric.com. When it came in the mail, it looked different than I expected, and I wasn't sure what to do with it. But when I held the fabric up in front of a mirror, I knew it would make a great maxi dress. I didn't use a pattern-- just traced the top of a tank top and sewed up the shoulders and sides. In theory, that makes this a really easy dress, but matching up all those stripes along the side was a lot of work! Phew! (Can you find the seam in the photo? It's matched up pretty well!)

I can definitely see myself wearing this for lounging around on the weekends or to a pool party. Maxi Dress = Yes! hee hee.

Me-Made-June

2011-04-29T06:46:00.001-07:00

Have you heard? So Zo is hosting Me-Made-June this year. This is a challenge to encourage seamstresses to wear their handmade clothes, with pride! I had so much fun with Me-Made-May 2010, so I am thoroughly looking forward to Me-Made-June.

Here's my pledge:
'I, Trisha of Made By Trisha, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-June '11. I endeavor to wear at least one handmade item each day for the duration of June 2011'

Now, to work on any last-minute sewing to get ready for June!!!

Aqua Infinity Wrap Dress

2011-04-25T07:08:00.003-07:00

Last weekend, I finished Butterick 5606. This is a simple tank dress with 2 long straps that can be wrapped around in many different ways to produce many different looks from one dress! This dress was super-easy to make-- it is just four pieces, which makes it a quick sew-- and because it's a knit, it's really comfy. I used a beautiful turquoise knit that I found at Goodwill-- it was a 2+ yard piece in great condition.

Since completing it, I've already worn this dress three times. I think this would be a great dress to travel with because it can provide so many looks from one dress. Here are some of the variations on how to wear it:

Wrap 1- Shawl wrap and twist

(My dress form was great to try out different wrapping combos)

Wrap 2- Criss-cross wrap

(I wore this version to a "Laughing Party")

Wrap 3- One-shoulder wrap

(I'm wearing this version today!)

Wrap 4- Double strap wrap

(I look like Eeyore in this photo--had trouble getting a good pic at this time of day)

Wrap 5- Necktie-twisty wrap

(I wore this version to Easter)

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone is having a nice day. We picked this bouquet of roses from our front yard, and I made the little bunny decoration out of a pipe cleaner.

I finished a dress this weekend, so I plan to get that up on the blog soon!

Reusable Tea Bags for Chai

2011-04-17T09:22:00.002-07:00

One of my 30 before 30 items was to find a good de-caff chai, and I've found it! Red Blossom Tea Company loose de-caff chai. Oh, my, the smell is devine. It is the chai of my dreams! And de-caff to boot! The loose leaves are very fine, so you can't steep it with a conventional loose-tea-leaf mug. This led me to sew up some reusable tea bags. I'm very excited about this--they can be washed and re-used, no more waste.

I made my tea bags out of unbleached cotton muslin and some basic string. I think you can see how from the picture below--

It's just a simple drawstring pouch.

Fill with loose tea leaves.

Pull the drawstring tight, add water, and...

Voila! A lovely breakfast beverage! This morning, I also made lemon poppy-seed muffins (thanks Betty Crocker). You may have noticed the books on our kitchen table--a travel book to Italy and to Greece. That's right---we're planning a trip to Italy and Greece! So excited!

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday morning too!

Rainbow Paint Dress

2011-03-26T17:25:00.001-07:00

I am officially in love with McCall's 6281. The Gray "Going Out" Dress was such a breeze to make and so comfy to wear, that I decided to make another in a different view. The fabric is an ITY knit from fabric.com. I thought it looked like painterly brushstrokes, so let's call this the Rainbow Paint dress.

I actually finished this dress weeks ago, but I was so sure of the fit that I didn't even try it on when it was finished. Today was the first time I tried it on, and it is soooo comfortable! I feel like I could wear this dress everyday. Isn't the back cute?!?

This pattern is a win. It is easy to make, forgiving, flattering, and "now" looking. There are more possibilities with this pattern too... I just may whip up another.

I have a question for those who regularly sew with stretchy knits. How do you prefer to hem yours? I find that a straight stitch doesn't always leave enough "give" for me. I used a zig-zag stitch for this hem--hope it holds up well. I'd appreciate hearing your recommendations.

Whatcha Wearin' 03.22.11

2011-03-22T23:05:00.001-07:00

This is a very special Whatcha Wearin' post because today, I participated in the culminating consortium for my Master's program. I presented a poster display about my final project. I was feeling very spirited, so I dressed (and designed my poster) in the school colors--Maroon and Gold.

Here's a cheesy photo standing next to my display. I know that this was a "scholarly" event, but it kind of felt like the 4th grade science fair. :) Oh, and yes, that is Yoda sitting on my table!

Outfit Details:

Maroon Velvet Blazer- Kohl's

Gold Shell- thrift store, altered by me

Black Pinstripe Pencil Skirt- Gap

Black Flats- Rocketdog

A baby boy and Boston terriers

2011-03-07T06:30:00.022-07:00

There's been some exciting news in my neck of the woods--- two of my best friends are pregnant. One with a girl, and one with a boy!

Sunday was the shower for the baby boy. His mama sent me a picture of a painting that she bought for his room--a pirate ship with animals in it. Because they have Boston Terriers, she asked me to paint something with Bostons to go along with it. Here's what I came up with-- 2 watercolor paintings, and a matching felt flower bouquet. All completely hand-made and drawn! Wrapped it up in a basket with a store-bought whale hoodie towel. So cute!

Close up of the first painting-- 2 Boston Terriers in a pirate ship! Notice that the treasure chest is filled with bones. Also, a chicken is perched on the mast--my friend loves chickens.

Close up of the second painting-- a pirate Boston Terrier with a peg leg and a parrot!

Close up of the felt flower bouquet.

It's Sharing Time!

2011-02-23T06:46:00.001-07:00

A big thanks to Su from Su Sews So-So for passing along this award. I always have fun reading about everyone else, so I'll play! I've been thinking about blogs that I love, and I love reading about the person behind the sewing/craft/style/etc., so this is also a great chance to get a little more personal.

Here are the rules-- share 7 facts that others may not know about you:

1) I'm a Midwestern girl. I grew up in Southern Illinois. I don't feel like I have an accent, but people in Arizona always know I'm from the Midwest.

2) I love school. I was nerdy as a kid, and I just can't get enough education! I have a BFA in Painting, a MA in Painting, and I'm about to complete my MEd in Higher and Postsecondary Education.

3) Maybe I love school so much because I met my hubby in college. We lived in the same dorm. Awww! How cute is that?!? January 2011 marked 10 years since we started dating.

4) My hubby is an amazing cook--he's even started a cooking blog. Yes, technically this is a fact about him, not me, but as a result, I'm a lousy cook. He is so creative and talented with food, that I feel kind of lost in the kitchen... I'm a vegetarian who occasionally eats fish, and if it was up to me, we'd always eat cereal for breakfast and salad with cheese crisps for dinner. (This is basically all I ate during grad school.) But baking is where I excel! I love homemade baked goods!

5) I have a secret vice. I love schadenfreude--I love the sound of the word, I love that it's a song from Avenue Q, and I love watching schadenfreude reality TV. I used to watch a lot of Real Housewives, but we no longer have cable, so my new love is The Bachelor. (I hope he picks Ashley.)

6) While watching my schadenfreude, I like to cuddle on the couch with the pups. When my dog, Scout, gets warm, he smells like Tostitos. Scout is a Dachshund/Chihuahua mix. When I was a kid, we had a Dachshund, and he smelled the same way. Weird, I know. Anyone else with a dog that smells like corn chips?

7) Finally, Seven! Seven is one of my lucky numbers. When I was in the 3rd grade (my favorite year of elementary school), we all were assigned a number for lining up. I was number seven. I often think of that when number 7 comes up!

Because I really do enjoy reading these, I pass this on to any followers reading this blog! If you'd like to participate, please post seven wonderful things about yourself so we can all learn about each other!

Made by Trisha labels

2011-02-22T06:10:00.001-07:00

I wanted to share these awesome labels I had made. I ordered them from Sterling Name Tape. They are woven, sew-in labels, and the quality is very good. They were a little more expensive than I was looking for, but the quality is great, so no complaints here. I ordered 12 dozen, so it will take quite a while to go through these babies.

Here's a sneak peek of a new sewing project I'm working on. Sewing a tag in makes it look so much more professional!

30 for 30 challenge update & Doggies!

2011-02-21T13:02:00.002-07:00

Blog-world, I have a confession to make... I have failed at the 30 for 30 remix challenge. I participated like a champ for the first 13 days. But then, I got behind on taking photos. And then, I started thinking about other items in my closet. And then (gasp), I went shopping. Yes, it was a grand failure. BUT, the whole purpose was to have fun and style some of my clothes in a new way. By those terms, it was a success!

Now, let me distract you with some uber-cute pictures of my hubby and I cuddling the pups! Here is Jack blissfully accepting a snuggle from my hubby.

And here is Scout, looking for an escape route from my cuddle-death-grip.

Just Dance!

2011-02-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

For Christmas, my awesome brother-in-law got me the Wii game Just Dance 2. I love it! (This picture is a screen shot from one of the songs.) It is seriously so much fun, but I'm glad we don't have a mirror in the living room-- I have a hunch that I look ridiculous while playing!

Well, it was my goal this week to dance every night after work, for at least 3 songs each night-- and I did it! It's a great way to work some movement into your routine, and I think it helped me de-stress after a long day at work. I definitely didn't want to do it every night, but I'm glad I did... and I hope to keep it up! (Thanks for encouraging me, hubby!)

And now I have another item to check off of my 30 before 30 list. Huzzah!

Gray "Going Out" Dress

2011-02-16T06:34:00.006-07:00

My goal for this project was to sew a stylish, yet comfy, "going out" dress for a trip we're taking to San Francisco. And I think this dress fits the bill! (I can't believe I made it! It looks like a "real" dress that you buy in a store!)

The pattern I used is McCall's 6281, view B. This dress was a lot of fun to sew, but I did make some changes. The fabric I used is a light-weight, gray sweater knit--very light-weight. You can see through it, so I doubled up all of the pieces (except the arms) for added stability, coverage, and warmth! Believe it or not, I also added 4 inches to the length of the pattern, and it is still this short! I had to do a super-tiny hem to preserve every last millimeter of length.

The back is my favorite part. So fun! And don't you love the leopard tights I found to wear with it?!? I can't wait to dance the night away in this dress. And because it is comfy and stretchy, it will hold up to a lot of dancing! (Here comes an action photo!)

One more fun little detail--the tag! I ordered woven tags to sew into my creations that say "Made by Trisha"!!!!!!! These will go in all of my sewing projects, from now on. Trying to decide if I want to go back and sew the tags into already completed projects.

I enjoyed sewing this pattern so much, that I've already started another dress in view A. I hope to have something to show off soon.

13 for 30

2011-02-13T09:09:00.004-07:00

I'm feeling a bit mod--a bit like a beatnik. Or maybe like Mary Tyler Moore in the Dick Van Dyke show. Whatever way you want to look at it, I predict a sassy Sunday!

We've been watching a lot of reruns of the Dick Van Dyke show on Netflix. The show is just as funny as I remember it, but a lot more sexist. Yikes! Have you ever watched an old favorite and had a different view of it the second time around?

Outfit Details:
30 for 30 items:
Black top- Thrift store find
Black leggings- from the Target clearance rack
Black flats- from the clearance rack

See my 30 for 30 items & ground rules here.

Sometimes, I wish I was a dog

2011-02-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist posting this picture. This morning, Scout was lying in his sunbeam, playing with his toy opossum-- so cute! He looked so relaxed and content. Ah, the life of a pup!

12 for 30

2011-02-12T10:20:00.004-07:00

Today, I had a photographer! Thanks, hubby! Please try to ignore the neighbor's 2 satellite dishes that look like they're growing out of my head... Still not feeling fabulous today, so we're just planning to run a couple of errands today, and I hope to get some sewing done on a new dress!

Outfit Details:
30 for 30 items:

Gray ruffled top- from the Last Chance clearance rack

Jeans- from the clearance rack
Brown cardigan- from the H&M clearance rack

Additional items:

Brown belt- from the Target clearance rack ($2.48!)
Metallic purse- from the Target clearance rack ($3.48!)
Tennis shoes---ok, these are a 30 for 30 cheat, but my feet needed to wear tennis shoes today

See my 30 for 30 items and ground rules here.

11 for 30

2011-02-11T06:16:00.001-07:00

Not too much to say today, other than I'm not feeling fabulous. But I did manage to do a little experimentation with the photographs. I'm still trying to get a good indoor picture--the lights in my house are not very flattering for photography! So here's a second outdoor photo.

Outfit Details:
30 for 30 items:

Gray, embellished T-shirt- from the Target clearance rack

White cardigan- from the Old Navy clearance rack

Gray tiered skirt- from the Sears clearance rack

Black flats- from the clearance rack

Additional items:

Gray tights- TJ Maxx

See my 30 for 30 items and ground rules here.

10 for 30

2011-02-10T06:45:00.018-07:00

I've slowly been trying to go through the 30 for 30 remix list---Yowza, there are a lot on the list! So many interesting and beautiful bloggers out there.

I'm surprised by how much I like this outfit. I never thought I was the type to wear a scarf like this, but I really like it! It sorta feels like I'm wearing a lobster-napkin around my neck.... but in a good way.

Outfit Details:
30 for 30 items:

Grape top- Thrift store find

Black cardigan- from the Old Navy clearance rack

Black pants- from the NY&Co clearance rack

Black flats- from the clearance rack

Additional items:

Purple floral scarf- Thrift store find (25 cents!)

Silver/Copper earrings- Tacoma art fair

See my 30 for 30 items and ground rules here.

9 for 30 & Guest post

2011-02-09T06:25:00.009-07:00

Last night, I wrote a guest post for my hubby's blog This Delicious Dish. He recently started this blog, and he is a wonderful cook. If your interested in seeing how I eat, or you just want to see some yummy vegetarian meals, head on over!

As promised, I'm wearing a different pair of shoes today. These are blue flats that were too wide for me--my foot would slide right out. So I hand-sewed some black elastic in to make them fit better, and it turned them into Mary Janes. I think the outcome is pretty cute!

Outfit Details:
30 for 30 items:
Cheetah Blouse- Thrift store find
Teal Skirt- Made by Me (read how to make your own here)
Black cardigan- from the Old Navy clearance rack
Blue flats- from the Target clearance rack, and altered by me

See my 30 for 30 items & ground rules here.

8 for 30 & I need blog advice!

2011-02-08T06:21:00.009-07:00

Blog-friends, I think you will appreciate this story-- I am required to keep a blog for a Master's class that I am taking. I set up a separate blog for this, and I posted in the "About Me" section that it is a class blog. When I started this blog, it took weeks for anyone to find me and follow my blog. Well, with my class blog, I had a follower within minutes---MINUTES! I was so excited... until I clicked on the profile and saw that my only follower is a random, crazy nut! Has this ever happened to you? Is there any way to block a follower??? Please comment and let me know.

In fashion news, today is another magenta tights day! I'm wearing a black cardigan too, but you can see the scarf/belt better without it. Also, I've noticed that I wear these shoes like crazy. No one is forcing me to wear black flats everyday, but they are just so cute and comfy! I'll try to mix it up a bit more... but no promises!

Outfit Details:
30 for 30 items:
Gray dress- from the Target clearance rack
Black flats- from the clearance rack
Additional items:
Scarf- from the Target clearance rack
Magenta tights

See my 30 for 30 items & ground rules here.

7 for 30

2011-02-07T06:15:00.005-07:00

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. We had a great weekend, but it's always hard to get up on a Monday! I love wearing this skirt. It always gets a ton of compliments, which makes me giggle with glee because I bought it for $1.99 on the Sear's clearance rack! Seriously! And the cheetah cardigan-- $3.99 on the Sear's clearance rack. I don't often look for clothes at Sear's, but both of these items were winners.
Here I am, jauntily draping my cardigan over my shoulder, then over the arm. Hee hee!

Outfit Details:
30 for 30 items:
Maroon top- from the Kohl's clearance rack
Tiered skirt- from the Sear's clearance rack
Cheetah cardigan- from the Sear's clearance rack
Black flats- from the clearance rack

See my 30 for 30 items & ground rules here.

6 for 30

2011-02-06T13:22:00.001-07:00

Had to go get a big drink today--half Coke, half Coke Zero, and a squirt of cherry! Mmmm! I'll be heading out to a Super Bowl party later this afternoon. I am not a football fan, but it's good excuse to meet up with friends!

Outfit Details:

30 for 30 items:

Grape Top- Thrift store find

Sequin Vest- from the Macy's clearance rack

Jeans- clearance rack

Black flats- clearance rack

Additional items:

Silver cuff bracelet

Clear stone necklace

p.s. Later, I also plan to work more on my green plaid dress. First, the fabric took forever to arrive, due to inclement weather during shipping. I finally received the fabric, got it cut out, and starting sewing happily away... and then... I realized that I put together the sleeves wrong! Gaaaah! I just couldn't bring myself to unpick it all, so that's where I'll be starting this afternoon... unpicking sleeves and then moving forward. Wish me smooth sewing!

See my 30 for 30 items & ground rules here.

5 for 30 & Happy 100th Birthday Lowell!

2011-02-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

I know this is a casual picture, but it's Saturday... And even though it's a Saturday, I have to attend a class for my Master's program. I usually go to classes after work, so I'm (ridiculously) excited to be able to wear jeans to class--like a regular full-time grad student can!

Outfit Details:

30 for 30 items:

Brown Cardigan- from the H&M clearance rack

Gray sequin tank- from the Kohl's clearance rack

Jeans- don't remember where these are from!

p.s. If my Grandma--Lowell Irene--was still alive, she'd be 100 today!!! She always said her favorite color was brown, so I wanted to wear brown today. Unfortunately, I didn't have anything brown in my 30 for 30.... BUT... I had left a few spots open. Phew! Brown cardigan is now in the mix!

See my 30 for 30 items & ground rules here.

4 for 30

2011-02-04T06:48:00.005-07:00

It's Friday; IT'S FRIDAY!!! It's been a week of the 30 for 30 challenge, and it's been fun so far. I can't wait to keep mixing and matching, and re-mixing and re-matching!

Outfit Details:
30 for 30 items:
Black top- Thrift store find
Patterned long skirt (worn as dress)- from the TJ Maxx clearance rack
Leggings- from the Target clearance rack
Black flats- from the clearance rack
Additional items:
Black braided belt- from the NY & Co clearance rack

See my 30 for 30 items & ground rules here.

3 for 30

2011-02-03T06:44:00.005-07:00

The magenta tights are back! I enjoyed wearing these so much the other day, that I had to bring them out again. (And in fact, I want to pair them with everything!)

Yesterday was super-cold and windy here (for Arizona), so I have tights on today and a sweater, just in case I need it. (I also put on my long-underwear shirt for added warmth!)

Outfit Details:
30 for 30 items:
Black top- Thrift store find
Pencil Skirt- Made by me
Black flats- from the clearance rack
Additional items:
Magenta belt- Thrift store find
Magenta tights

See my 30 for 30 items & ground rules here.

2 for 30

2011-02-02T06:37:00.005-07:00

Brrr! Ok, so this outfit is a little cold without a sweater over it, and without tights... but it can be difficult to dress for Arizona weather. The mornings are cold, but by lunch, it's downright hot in the sun.

This is the first time I've worn this vest, and I'm in love!!! My sister and I found it when she was in town--it's an oversized black vest with sequins and pockets! Swoon!

Outfit details:
30 for 30 items:
Cheetah Blouse- Thrift store find
Sequin Vest- from the Macy's clearance rack
Gray Tiered Skirt- from the Sear's clearance rack
Black flats- from the clearance rack
Additional items:
Leaf earrings

See my 30 for 30 items & ground rules here.

1 for 30

2011-02-01T06:14:00.003-07:00

Hooray! Today is the first day of the 30 for 30 challenge! This weekend, I cleared out a space in my closet just for my 30 for 30 items. It's nice to have them all in one place for inspiration and easy access.

This outfit was the first to jump in my head. I normally wouldn't pair a gold top with magenta tights, but this challenge is supposed to stretch your comfort zones--right?!? So I'm sporting my gold and magenta proudly!

Outfit details:

30 for 30 items:
Gold shell- Thrift store find, altered by me
Black pencil skirt- Made by Me
Black flats- from the clearance racks
Additional items:
Black long-strand necklace- from my Mom
Magenta tights

See my 30 for 30 items & ground rules here.

My 30 for 30 Challenge Items & Ground Rules

2011-01-28T06:39:00.000-07:00

I've picked out my 30 clothing items for the 30 for 30 challenge. (Read more about the challenge here.) Check out my choices in the drawing, below. I've left a couple of spots blank for last-minute choices.

My Ground Rules:
1. All of my items are either thrift store or clearance items.
2. Each item cost $30 or less (in most cases, much less).
3. In my 30 items, I have included: tops, skirts, pants, cardigans/vests, dresses, shoes.
4. In my 30 items, I have not included: PJs, underwear, tights, jewelry/accessories.
5. I will wear a different remix each day for 30 days-- no repeats!

Let the games begin--February 1st!

30 Before 30- Picnic

2011-01-23T07:12:00.000-07:00

I've got another item to cross off the 30 Before 30 list. Last weekend, we went on a January picnic. The weather was so gorgeous that we were both wearing short sleeves. This is the park by our house. It has a lake and ducks, and lots of people walking dogs. Our pups are usually ok, but Jack felt like he had to guard our picnic blanket--so lots of extraneous barking and growling when other dogs walked by. (How embarrassing!)

Other than that, it was a splendid picnic! We brought our T-shirt blankets to sit on, and ate leftover pizza, grapes, pretzels, and cashews. After lunch, we played Quiddler, a word game. Ahh! (contented sigh) Hopefully, we'll take the time for many more picnics this year.

30 for 30 Challenge

2011-01-21T06:29:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking about signing up for the 6 Items or Less challenge--where you can only choose 6 items to wear for an entire month. I like the idea of doing more with less, but 6 items?!? That's so little!

When I heard about the 30 for 30 challenge on Kendi Everyday, that seemed more like my style--choose 30 clothing items to remix & match for 30 days. (Kind of like baby steps towards 6 items or less...) Plus, the 30 for 30 challenge vibes with my goal to do 30 before 30. :) Ok, so it's not exactly the same thing, but I'm into the number 30 right now.

I've signed up for the 30 for 30 challenge! It starts February 1.

You can read more about the challenge and/or sign up here.

Whatcha Wearin' 01.19.11

2011-01-19T07:55:00.001-07:00

(What am I looking at in this picture? Dust bunnies?)

This is the first Whatcha Wearin' of 2011! I found this silk leopard print Nicole Miller blouse at the thrift store over the weekend for $2.50. It's pretty fantastic! And the best part--even though it says "Dry Clean Only," it made it through the washing machine with no problems.

Outfit Details:
Leopard Print Blouse- thrift store find
Black Pencil Skirt- thrift store find
Green Scarf- Target
Navy Tights
Cobalt Blue Flats

p.s. Lip STILL healing... I've progressed to an open-mouthed smile. Still weird looking, but getting closer to normal.

Weekend Plans

2011-01-15T07:33:00.002-07:00

Woo hoo, long weekend! I was excited to get some serious sewing in this weekend... but the universe may have other plans for me... I loved my version of Butterick 5520, the plum sheath dress, so much that I couldn't wait to sew up another version.

I even planned ahead and ordered fabric online from fabric.com--this green/black stretch-cotton check for the main dress, with plain black cotton for the shoulders. This fabric is an unexpected choice for me, but hopefully a GOOD unexpected choice!
Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the package is stuck in Georgia and has not arrived. Alas! I guess this is a gentle nudge from the universe that instead of sewing, I need to do some serious work for the final semester of my Master's program... Ok, universe. I hear you!

Fabric Necklace Ideas

2011-01-14T06:32:00.001-07:00

Necklace Ideas- January 2011 by madebytrisha

Today, I am thinking about necklaces. Specifically necklaces that could be replicated in fabric form. Here are some beauties that would work well in fabric. Doesn't the upper-left necklace remind you of zippers?!? I especially like the gold knot-- can't you imagine taking some sheer, shimmery gold organza, tying it in a knot, and attaching it to some chain? I just may have to try that!

Plum Sheath Dress- Whatcha Wearin'

2011-01-10T07:46:00.002-07:00

Today, the plum sheath dress also made it's debut out in the world! When my hubby saw the outfit on this morning, he said, "I think that's the best dress you've ever made." No one could ask for a better compliment!

p.s. My lip is still healing... so this is the best smile I can do.

Plum Sheath Dress with Lace Shoulders

2011-01-10T06:46:00.007-07:00

UPDATE: See the dress in action, here.

This weekend I finished this dress, and I couldn't be happier with the result! I love the plum color, and I was excited to find a plum lace to use on the shoulders. This dress looks so professional-- like a professional made it, and professional-looking for work. I'm so proud. I used Butterick 5520. I loved the drawing on the envelope, and it was such a delight to make that I'm already planning my next version.

I did have to make some modifications because I didn't use a lining. So, I finished all of the inside seams with french seams, hem tape, or zig-zag. I also had to draft my own neck facing. It looks great inside! I think this inside really does look as good as the outside (excited squeal)! Here are some gratuitous shots of the inside:
Hem with pink hem tape:
Self-drafted facing with fancy stitches to tack it down:
Using a dress form really helped with the fitting, which is why the finished dress fits like a glove. I don't know how I worked without my dress form--Formy. (Thanks, mom, for suggesting that I get one.)

Green & Orange: Yay or Nay

2011-01-07T21:04:00.004-07:00

Blog-land friends, I have a serious question for you---- Do green and orange go together?

My sister asked this very important question. See, she is a lawyer, and she almost always wears black to work. Today, she felt moved to wear green and orange. But she wondered, does this work?!? I think my sister is just not used to such a bold expression of color-- and green & orange together is quite the bold statement to make. What do you think, dear reader?

This is the first poll ever for Made By Trisha. Let your voice be heard!

30 Before 30 Update

2011-01-05T06:02:00.001-07:00

I've got a few more items to check off of my 30 Before 30 list:

6. Find a Good De-Caff Chai- I'm working on this, but I need help!
I added this item to the list because I'm not supposed to have caffeine anymore, so I need yummy caffeine-free treats. The best de-caff chai I've found is Stash brand, but I'm not in love. A lot of the ones I've tried are too fruity. Any suggestions?

I have found another caffeine-free drink that I love: Orange Fizzy Water! Mmmm!
7. Wave Sparklers- 11/15/10 & 12/31/10
My hubby and I went out to the backyard and lit some sparklers. I love these things! They always make me think of July 4th--one of my favorite holidays. We pulled these out randomly, but we also got some out for New Year's Eve.

25. Try New Hairstyles- ongoingI wasn't having great success with low-tech curling methods, so I bought a hot roller set-- Conair Xtreme Instant Heat. With some LottaBody they work great!

p.s. Sorry for the funny face in the picture. I'm trying to smile, but my lip is still stiff from a surgery I had on it. It's healing really well, just stiff, which makes it hard to smile correctly. Hopefully, you were distracted enough by my curls not to notice! :)

A Look Back at 2010 Projects

2011-01-03T06:35:00.003-07:00

I put together a round-up of all of the projects I posted about in 2010. I've included the list below, but you can always view the page by clicking the "Past Sewing Projects" tab at the top of my blog.

My favorite project this year was the Brown Knit Dress. I wore this dress a TON! It was also a revelation to me that I can sew knits successfully. And they are so easy and comfy to wear. Since I received a serger for my birthday this year, I imagine there will be many more knit dresses in my future.

Sewing Projects 2010

Here is a list (with links) of all of the sewing (and craft) projects I completed in 2010.

1. Rose Dress

2. Bedroom Curtains

3. Scottie Pin

4. Gold and Pearl Necklace

5. Aqua Alexander Blouse

6. Jungle Print Dress

7. Altered Rainbow Swim Suit

8. Bedazzled Black/Brown Top

9. Altered Target Dress

10. Sheer Black Batwing Blouse

11. Nativity Set

12. Rag Curlers

13. Blue Blouse

14. Pouf Necklace

15. White Eyelet Shirt

16. Mother's Day Corsage

17. Colette Mini-Bloomers

18. Garden Party Dress

19. Alterations- Swimsuit lace, T-shirt beading, and T-shirt lace

20. Red Flowered Headband

21. "Bride" Shirt for a Bachelorette Party

22. Altered Bridesmaid Dress

23. Emerald Cotton Gauze Dress

24. Navy "Alison" Bathing Suit

25. July 4th Cover Up

26. Brown Knit Dress

27. Purple Leopard Dress

28. Gray Splatter Ruffle Top

29. Make your own Lederhosen- tutorial

30. White Flower Trim Top

31. Elastic Waist Skirt- tutorial

32. Weekend T-shirt Skirt- tutorial

33. Felt Flower Bouquet

34. Nativity Backdrop

35. Strawberry Necklace

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T06:18:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to say "Merry Christmas!" My family is in town, and it is supposed to be 72 degrees and sunny--- so we're looking forward to a very nice Christmas. Hope you have a wonderful day, too!

What to Wear with a Sequin Skirt

2010-12-22T12:45:00.001-07:00

What to Wear with a Sequin Skirt by madebytrisha featuring sleeveless tank tops

Wow! I am having so much fun playing around on Polyvore. (and I swear they're not paying me! ha ha!)

Also in my sewing queue is a sequin skirt. In NYC (back in August), I bought some sheer, sequin stretch fabric that I plan to make into a simple skirt. So, I put together a set of tops to wear with it. With a sequined skirt, I think a simpler top is appropriate.

All of these tops would be pretty easy to replicate (starting from the left)--
- Simplicity 2554 could make a similar black knit top
- I've been wanting to use fabric paint to paint on bows, like this pink top
- pull out the BeDazzler for the middle white one
- everyone has a simple black tank in their wardrobe
- some simple pleating could replicate the cream tank

Polyvore- Fuschia dress with sheer black vest

2010-12-22T06:58:00.004-07:00

Fuschia Dress with Sheer Vest by madebytrisha featuring black belts

Have you ever heard of a site called Polyvore? I just learned about it from Tasia's blog. Polyvore makes it really easy to put together dream outfits. Well, I haven't posted a sewing project in a while, but I thought I would put together a "dream outfit" that I am working on. I am sewing a fuchsia knit dress. Unfortunately, when I went to join the bodice to the skirt, it's acting a little funky, so not sure if I'll be able to salvage it or not.

I'm also planning to refashion a sheer tank top in a vest! I'm really excited about this one. Lately, I've wanted a black vest to pull over a couple outfits, so I really hope this one works out.

If all goes well, I'll be able to turn this dream outfit into a reality!

Happy 29th Birthday to Me!

2010-12-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

I turned 29 this year, and I'm feeling pretty good about it. Probably because I got lots of great sewing treats.

First, let me introduce you to: Formy!Formy is my brand new Singer adjustable dress form. She was a group gift from my mom, my grandma, and myself. It's really boosted my self-esteem to get her. I think many women have skewed views of their bodies, me included. When I set the dials to my measurements, I thought, "She looks good! Do I look like that?" I measured again, and the measurements matched up. Sure, her boobs are a different shape, and she doesn't have a tummy, but I still think that Formy and I have a nice figure! And I know she's going to help with sewing garments.

Next up is, my very own serger!!!I have always enviously looked at other's beautifully serged seams. I am mystified and excited to try serging my own. My sister's sister-in-law wasn't using her serger, and offered to give it to my sister, so she could give it to me. It's on the way, and I'm really excited to try this puppy out! I see many serged garments in my future. Hooray!
(I don't know what kind it is, so this is just a random serger picture.)

Strawberry Necklace

2010-12-04T08:03:00.003-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen-- introducing-- the Strawberry Necklace!Hee hee, good morning! I had a dream that I made a strawberry necklace, so of course, I had to turn that dream into reality. The strawberry is made from scraps of T-shirts, and the seeds are embroidered on with french knots.

Not exactly sure what I'll wear it with, but it sure is cute!

Nativity Backdrop

2010-11-30T06:45:00.001-07:00

It's the holiday season, and that means it's time for Christmas songs on the radio, and festive decorations around the house! I recently pulled out my trusty Nativity set. I love the folk-art look of the set--it inspires me to add to it (as we did last year).
This year, I decided to paint a backdrop to set the scene for the little characters. It is pretty simple-- just painted cardboard. I decided to paint sand with camel silhouettes on the left, Bethlehem in the center, and a flock of sheep on the right. I think it adds a little gravitas to the scene!

Maybe at some point, I'll decide to make an entire set from scratch, like I did for my friend, but in the meantime, I really enjoy adding to our little set.

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

2010-11-25T07:46:00.003-07:00

In honor of Thanksgiving, I want to pay tribute to those things that I'm thankful for this year!

1. My HubbyI honestly feel like the luckiest person alive that I get to share life with this man! Love you, honey!
This picture cracks me up. My superman hubby has been diligently working out all year, and it's really made a difference for him. He feels better, and look at those arms! I'm proud of him.

2. My family, friends, and pupsI'm so thankful to have a loving and supportive family--mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, father-in-law, and friends too. And, of course, I consider my pups as part of that family! It's nice to know that there are folks out there who care for you, and that you care for them. This picture is from our wedding. We love it because it shows all of our best supporters.

3. My healthNow, I've had a tough year health-wise, but the bottom line is, I'm still very lucky. Even with the scares we've had this year, I'm able to wake up in the morning, go for a walk, and enjoy life. In this photo, I'm going for a "jog" with a fun sculpture that we saw in Key West.

4. My jobIn these tough economic times, I feel lucky to have a job that I enjoy at a university that I love.

5. My creative outlets

Being creative is so very important to me. I love it that I can sew, draw, paint, craft, bake, and create, and can then share it with my blogger-land friends! I definitely feel an internal drive to create, and sharing those creations (and reading about other's ideas) is a great way to spend a weekend afternoon.

Happy Thanksgiving,

One Lovely Blog Award

2010-11-23T17:04:00.002-07:00

I've been awarded a blog award by Nancy at Waiter Waiter Percolator! This is the first of these awards that I've been given... feels good! Thanks, Nancy!!!

Accepting the award means doing the following: 
1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who awarded it along with a link to their blog.
2. Send it on to other bloggers that you have recently discovered.
3. Contact those bloggers and let them know they've been chosen.

I'm going to pass the love back to some lovely folks who are "followers" of my blog through blogger. I also enjoy reading their blogs regularly!

Here are my choices (in alphabetical order). I'd like to say a little something nice about each of these lovely ladies. If you have time, feel free to play along!

A Sewn Wardrobe
-She sewed all of her own clothes for an entire year!!! Major props for that.

Camelias & Crinolines
-She has a great sense of style, and I love the way she layers clothes.

Craftopia
- Bethany has to be one of the sweetest people I've met through blog-land. And her refashions are always super cute!

Emily Kate
- She sews and drinks wine slushies-- my kind of gal!

Fashions from the Past- My Happy Sewing Place
- Debi not only sews lovely vintage fashions, but she always looks so put together. Love your hair!

Kat's Creations
- Kat is planning a wedding, so it's fun to come along with her as she picks out things!

Puppy Dog Tails
-Marybeth is a kindergarten teacher who sews. Don't you wish your kindergarten teacher sewed? I know I do!

Shari Sews
-Shari sews great work clothes. Seriously, I think I could put all of her sewn clothes in my work wardrobe.

Pups Posing for the Camera

2010-11-23T06:50:00.001-07:00

Scout and Jack seem to know when we are taking a picture, and they pose for the camera. Do your pets do that? I couldn't resist sharing these sweet shots. Jack (the blonde dog) looks particularly angelic in this shot, but don't let that fool you! :)

Weekend- Harry Potter & Jeggings

2010-11-22T06:41:00.001-07:00

This weekend was my hubby's 30th birthday! We had already celebrated with an Oktoberfest-themed Birthday Party, so this weekend was low key. We started out by going to see the newest installment of the Harry Potter movies. Overall, we really liked the movie. It's going to be so hard to wait for this summer for the last movie! Here's another pic with my favorite character-- Hermoine.
Saturday was a lazy day for hanging out around the house. I had posted a drawing of my jeggings, but here they are in action.

Whatcha Wearin' 11.20.10- Jeggings!

2010-11-20T13:52:00.003-07:00

Today is a lazing around the house type of day, but I'm excited that it's finally cool enough to try out my jeggings! Yes, I'm wearing leggings that are made to look like jeans, but I was won over by the cute yellow stitching and the back pockets. And they're really comfy.

Hope everyone else is having an equally relaxing Saturday.

Outfit details:
Gray T-shirt- Target
Jeggings- Target
Drawing details:
Colored pencil on paper

Whatcha Wearin' 11.18.10

2010-11-18T07:13:00.002-07:00

Good morning! I have had a tough week--personally. So I did a bit of retail therapy last night. I didn't get anything too exciting, just some basics that I'd been needing. I had been wearing the same pair of black pants since 2006! It was definitely time for a new pair. I'm also excited about this ruffly white top. Gotta love ruffles!

Outfit Details:
White ruffle shirt- Kohl's
Brown cardigan- H&M
Brown belt- thrift store find
Black pants- Kohl's
Gold sandals- Aerosoles

Scout's Perfect Cuddle

2010-11-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

I'm jealous of Scout's perfect cuddle.

Pumpkin Cake Squares- UPDATED with Recipe

2010-11-08T06:57:00.005-07:00

This weekend, I made my mom's delicious pumpkin cake squares. They are made from two layers-- the bottom is a crust made from yellow cake mix, and the top is a gooey delicious pumpkin treat! If anyone wants the recipe, let me know-- I'd be happy to share!

Here's the recipe!
For cake-like bottom:
1 (18 1/4 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 large egg
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted (I used half of this, and it was still good, but a little drier.)

For filling:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (If you don't have this, you can use 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp cloves)
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter melted (Again, I used half of this, and I bet you could get away with even less.)
1 (16 ounce) package powdered sugar
Pecan or Walnuts for garnish
Optional: Whipped cream, as an accompaniment

To prepare cake-like bottom: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Combine cake mix, egg, and melted butter; mix well by hand. Pat into pan.

To prepare filling: Beat cream cheese until smooth with mixer. Beat in pumpkin, sugar, salt, spices, eggs, and vanilla. Add butter; beat until smooth. Seat aside 2 tablespoons powdered sugar; add remainder to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Spread over cake mixture.

Bake for 40-50 minutes. Do not overbake; center should be a little gooey. Let cool, then sprinkle with reserved 2 tablespoons powdered sugar. Cut into bars. Garnish with nuts.

I couldn't resist having a pumpkin square for breakfast! Probably not the most nutritionally sound breakfast, but the banana makes it nutritious enough, right? :) Mmmmmm.....

Felt Flower Bouquet

2010-11-05T06:51:00.005-07:00

Seems like I haven't been doing much sewing lately... probably because I haven't worked on a sewing project in weeks.... WEEKS. This is crazy! By the time I work a full day, commute home, have dinner, hang out with the fam, and do my homework, it's time for bed.

So, I've been trying to adjust to try out projects that are bite-sized, and these flowers did the trick! This bouquet is made of hand-made felt flowers. All you need to get started is felt, scissors, and a hot glue gun-- how easy is that?!?

I found that I could easily make a few flowers at a time, and stockpile them until there are enough to make a bouquet. I was inspired by this post on Creative Jewish Mom. She has a great tutorial to get you started, but it's also fun to play with shapes on your own. The light orange flowers in my bouquet were an experiment, and I think they turned out as my favorite.

(Caption: Scout stops to smell the roses.)

Watch out... making these flowers is addictive! (Also watch out for hot glue gun burns!) I'm already planning the colors for my next bouquet!

Reader Lederhosen

2010-11-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Dear readers, I am very happy to show off a reader's handmade lederhosen! Derek from Worcester, England followed my tutorial to make his own handsome pair. (And doesn't his maiden partner look great, too?)

He showed off his creativity by combining the designs from my hubby's pair, and my brother-in-law's pair. Derek doesn't sew much, so he used WonderWeb (also called Wonder Under or fusible web) to put his together. Great idea, Derek!

And thanks for letting me share your handiwork!

How to Make Lederhosen in GOOGLE!

2010-10-26T21:46:00.004-07:00

Guess what I just discovered?... If you type how to make lederhosen into Google, my blog is the 2nd link that pulls up?

How cool is that?!?

Oktoberfest Birthday Party

2010-10-23T11:07:00.004-07:00

Happy Birthday, Honey! For my hubby's 30th birthday, we hosted an Oktoberfest-themed party for him. We really went all-out on the theme, which made it a lot of fun to plan. A big thanks to our friends and family for making it a great night!!!

Above, you can see our little family all in our homemade German garb. You can read more about making your own lederhosen here and here.

Decorating the house was a lot of fun! I sewed German flag bunting to hang all around the house-- inside and out. It turned out to be a LOT more work that I anticipated, but it turned out great. The German flag on the wall was a really easy decoration to make-- we just used 3 cheap plastic table cloths pinned to the wall, and the letters are just cut out from printer paper.

Below, you can see the trophy table. Yes, we ordered trophies for the winner of the games. And we ordered special mugs for everyone to drink from, as a souvenir to take home.

Next, is the beer garden in action!

It was a beautiful day. Perfect for hanging out with friends and having a good time. Later that evening, we served an authentic homemade German dinner-- schnitzel, brats, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, green beans, veggies, German chocolate cupcakes, and Paulaner to wash it down. (I wish we'd taken a picture of a plate!)

Here's the photo op board in action. Ridiculous! Fun! (read about the creation here)

The guys had fun goofing around in their lederhosen, and they really looked great. Happy Birthday, Honey!!!