mad mim

May 17, 2012

The Button Up Refashion Swap

I’m so jazzed (hands and all) to tell you about this rad project I’m a part of! The Refashion Swap is a very cool collaboration of sewing, refashioning, men’s dress shirts, and talented sewing bloggers. There is some serious talent in this group, and I was thrilled to be asked to join in the fun. The swap works like this: myself and 9 other bloggers have all paired up with a partner–each one of us sewing for another in the group. We all began with the same blank canvas that is your very basic yet versatile men’s dress shirt. We then worked our individual refashion-sauce on it, and then sent it on over to our partner. Today we’re all posting the shirts we sewed, along with a tutorial so you can make your own version of our dress shirt refashion, and then next week we’re doing a blog hop wherein a couple of us will post each day a picture of ourselves modeling the shirt that was sewn for us (see below for schedule). This is just some classic F-U-N fun, and I’m just as excited as you to see what everyone came up with. Here’s a list of the bloggers participating; make sure to check out each of their blogs today to see their refashions!

Jennifer of Grainline Studio
Krista of Lazy Saturdays
Liz of Cotton & Curls
Megan of Megan Nielsen Designs
Melissa of I Still Love You
Miranda of One Little Minute
Kate of See Kate Sew
Sunni of A Fashionable Stitch
Suzannah of Adventures in Dressmaking

The Swap Hop schedule (where we model what was sewn for us!)will go as follows next week: (Liz sewed for me, and I love it!)

Monday, May 21st: Lizzie of Cotton & Curls, Krista of Lazy Saturdays
Tuesday, May 22nd: Sunni of A Fashionable Stitch, Kate of See Kate Sew
Wednesday, May 23rd: Suzannah of Adventures in Dressmaking, Miranda of One Little Minute
Thursday, May 24th: Me, Melissa of I Still Love You
Friday, May 25th: Megan of Megan Nielsen Design, Jennifer of Grainline Studio

I got to sew for the lovely and so talented Megan Nielsen, who many of you know from one of her rad blogs Design Diary and DIY Maternity, or maybe for her amazing clothing collections and patterns. Megan is beautiful and talented, and such a peach to work with. You may remember I did the Turn About The Room maternity dress tutorial for her last year when I was with (child). And here, folks, is what I came up with for her! Along with her measurements, I knew that Megan likes pretty and feminine (and that she has an itty bitty waist!) I wanted to play up all those lovely features, so I decided to work a peplum into the design. The pleated sleeve detail you may recall from this shirt, which has incidentally appeared several times in my sewing projects, due to its very flattering fit. The pleat detail down the front was just me not being able to resist a bit of subtle embellishment. I did not use a specific pattern, but based it on something I had so that you can do the same should you feel so inclined to attempt your own version. I really really love the way this turned out, and can’t wait to see Megan model it.

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May 14, 2012

By Miriam

The Easter Poppy Shoot

otherwise entitled: A Good Camera Does Not a Good Photographer Make.

Have I mentioned that I got a new camera? The SLR of my dreams? Well I did. I saved for a long time for this treasure, and as soon as Allan got a job, I finally made the plunge. I’ve had a lot of fun playing with it, but I’ve learned a sad truth which is: I still don’t know how to take good pictures. Bummer, right?

I had been planning on doing a little photo shoot with my kids in their sweet Easter get-up I made them, and when we moved into our house I found the perfect location. Across our street there’s a lovely little house that has this mini field of poppies in happy bloom, with a tiny little glade complete with deer statues. I asked my very nice neighbor if I could take pictures there, and then I waited til Saturday when Allan could help. In my mind it was going to be just brilliant, and I was already printing large beautiful copies of the fantasy photos in my head. It turned out a huge disappointment. As soon as I got out there I realized that A) Harper was tired and cranky, and in no mood for pictures. and B) Neither was Merritt and C) the lighting was awful. But I didn’t even know what time of day would be better (it was like…2 pmish). Or what equipment I need to buy (one of those light diffuser thingies?) I’m lost! And half the pictures aren’t focused, and my kids aren’t really smiling in any of them. I didn’t get a single really good shot, and I’m kinda bummed. I mean, it’s something, and I’m glad about that, but I can see that I have a lot to learn. My fantasy photography skills aren’t just going to blossom overnight.

So I’m asking you. Where did you learn how to use your SLR? Any ebooks/courses or books you’d recommend? What are your camera must-haves? What time of day is best to take pictures?? Where should I start?

(For all the mad sewing details of their outfits see here——> Josie:cardigan and tee. sundress. Merritt: vest and skinny shorts. Harper: dress)

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tagged as easter sewing photo shoot

May 4, 2012

By Miriam

Inkodye Giveaway Results

Hey thanks to everyone who entered!

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May 1, 2012

By Miriam

thoughts during a thunderstorm

Two of my cousins had a baby today.

One of them, my cousin Rob and his wife Marseille, called me tonight to let me know that their sweet daughter was born with a cleft pallet.

As you can imagine, I have a lot of thoughts and emotions going through my head. I couldn’t believe it. They said to me, over and over, that it was like lightening striking, and it could happen to anyone. It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that Anyone was our family 10 months ago, and now again, my cousin’s family. I’m sure that everything will turn out fine with them, just like it has with us–that they’ll slowly get used to all that will come their way, and that it will become simply their life, and they will joy in it just like they have thus far. I certainly have. Harper and her little package of experiences have changed and shaped my life in a way that I treasure. She has sent her sweet tendrils deep into my heart, and I’ve been blessed with so many precious experiences that I wouldn’t change for the world.

I have been thinking about a blog post I read somewhere about how having special needs children is a lot like planning a trip to Europe and instead, landing in Holland. I can’t find the post I read, but here’s the same idea (maybe the original?) This analogy couldn’t be more spot on, and more than anything tonight, I want to hug my cousin and his wife and say along that same vein: Holland is more amazing then you can dream of, and you’ll love it. Just be patient for a while during the learning phase, and allow yourself any emotion that turns up–you’ll find all the peace you need in the end.

After 10 months, 4 almost 5 surgeries, and 9 months (and counting) of a feeding tube, we’re still learning about Harper’s condition ourselves. She obviously has had more problems than just the cleft, but in the end I consider myself one of the lucky ones. And I’ve come to be okay with whatever her future might be. I know now, that it will be a happy one. She will be happy, because she has a strong spirit and a family who loves her.

My heart is with Rob and Marseille and their family tonight. I know how much it can be to take everything in, and to try and make sense of it all. I feel certain that our girls must have been friends in heaven, and I hope that we can help her and her family by offering them whatever support and help we can–having so recently tread the same mile. I know that this special little girl couldn’t be born into a more wonderful family. I’m sure, like my Harpsy, that she’ll knock their socks off with spirit and sparkle.

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tagged as cleft pallet, special needs children

April 27, 2012

By Miriam

Inkodye Wallet + giveaway!

Ahhhhhh.

The was me getting the internet again. We’ve been without since we moved last weekend, and I pined for it like Buttercup for her Wesley. Thanks everybody for such great moving tips, they really did help! I ended up deciding Friday night at about 6:30 pm that I wanted to move the next day, so my mom and sister came over, and we just attacked that beast. It was totally nuts, but I’m so glad we did it. And after a week I have TWO rooms unpacked, and we have internet! Woo hoo!

Now onto the coolest stuff you’ve ever heard about: Inkodye! I could barely wait to get my hands on this stuff, and have had a blast experimenting with it. It is so rad. It’s got endless applications–you can use it on lots of different surfaces, but as a seamstress, I was so excited to play around with dying fabric according to your projects structure and design. I decided to start by doing a project that I could play around with the design as it fit into the construction, as well as something that would be fun and show off the vibrant colors that Inkodye produces. Josie has a birthday right around the corner, so I thought an Inkodye wallet would sufficiently rock her world.

For all of you that haven’t heard about this stuff, I’ll sum up: it’s a dye that only develops its color when under the magical powers of the sun. This is particularly cool, because you can arrange whatever object or design (object, picture negative, etc) you want on the fabric, and when exposed to the sun, it creates a silhouette of the object. Is your mind exploding with the possibilities?? I know mine did.

So tell me, what would YOU do with Inkodye? Inkodye and I are super pumped to give away an Inkodye Tricolor Kit to one lucky reader! To enter the giveaway, take a looksy over at Lumi, and tell me about some of the cool things that pop into your head. We’d love to hear about them! You have until next Thursday (May 3,) 9 pm MST, at which point I’ll pluck one of your lovely names from a hat. I’ll let ya’ll know on Friday. May the odds be ever in your favor!

Inkodye Button Wallet Tutorial

You’ll need:

-Some inkodye. Enter the giveaway, already!

-about 1/4 yard of fabric. I used a simple white cotton.

-some interfacing

-measuring tools like a medicine syringe are handy

-something to apply the brush like a foam brush or paint brush.

-a button

-a bit of cord elastic

-lots of cards and money to put into it, very important.

1. Cut out your fabric:

-2 outer pieces 8″ x 4.5″

-2 pieces interfacing 8″ x 4.5″

-2 lining pieces 8″ x 4″

-3 pocket pieces 8″ x 2.5″

2. Apply interfacing to outer pieces (no pic). Finish one long edge of each pocket piece by serging/zigzagging, then turning under 1/4″ and top stitching

3. Round up subject matter for Inkodye: think big! I used everyday objects (buttons, beads, dominos), but check out Lumi for more ideas. You can also use Lumi’s super great resist for writing or hand drawing designs. I pored some in a fine tip applicator bottle (found at JoAnn’s) to write Jo’s name.

4. Mix up your Inkodye (I used 2 parts dye to 1 part water), and then paint your pieces. The color doesn’t show inside, but I will say that less is more with Inkodye; there’s no need to over saturate.

5. Arrange your objects in desired design, and then take outside to expose. It takes just a couple seconds to change colors, and then a few minutes to fully develop. SUCH a fun thing for kids to see. My kids LOVED desiging their own prints!

(I used a mirror to reflect light directly over the buttons to make sure light got into the tiny holes—not sure if this was necessary or helped, but it was kinda fun all the same)

Bring inside and rinse thoroughly, and then allow to dry. Lumi recommends rinsing with warm water, then with detergent, and then again with water. I just rinsed thoroughly, and it left the fabric a little stiffer which was ideal for this project. Admire your handiwork!

6. Assemble your wallet: Place your top pocket 1 1/8″ down from the top of an outer piece (hemmed side up), and sew near bottom edge. Place second pocket 5/8″ down from top and sew at bottom edge, and then remaining pocket 5/8″ down from that, sewing bottom raw edge aligned with outer bottom edge.

Measure and mark center point, and then sew down the middle to create two rows of pockets.

Baste side edges (no pic), and then sew a knotted loop to center side and secure the heck out of it. Clip knot off.

Sew anything you want to on the outside (like my little name tag) and then sew outer pieces, RST, around sides and bottom. Clip corners. (you’ll note that I had to UNpick this step because I forgot to sew the name tag on first).

Flip to right sides out.

Sew lining pieces RST around sides and bottom, leaving an opening at the bottom edge for turning. Place outer wallet RS out, INSIDE lining (WS out) and sew around top edge. Turn right sides out by pulling wallet through lining hole, and the sew up hole, and stuff the lining inside the outer wallet.

Sew outer wallet to lining by topstitching top opening, and finish by topstitching through all thicknesses around sides and bottom. Press flat and then middle crease.

Sew your button on, being careful to only catch that outer piece and not inner pockets. Press once more for good measure.

Done! Such a fun piece, that is so unique and vibrant.

Can’t wait to see what you come up with–don’t forget to enter the giveaway! Have a great weekend!

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tagged as bi-fold wallet tutorial, giveaway, Inkodye

April 18, 2012

By Miriam

Moving!

So for all of you who just scan through the pics of my posts (don’t we all?) and missed it, we’re moving! My boy Allan got a sweet job in SLC, and we found a great little place and are trying to get outta here in the next week. I hate moving. Well, that is–I’ve never really done it as a grown up married woman who has a family. Last time we moved we were three month old newly weds, and had a car full of stuff. Now we are literally bursting at the seam with crap, and I don’t even know where to start. Of course I’m trying to dejunk as I go, but it’s all so intimidating! Thus far I’ve had a HUGE mental block preventing me from getting much done, but I think I finally busted through the barrier tonight as I tore into our bookshelves.

Anyway, things will be kinda quiet around here until we get settled again. I may or may not slap up a few posts here and there, but no promises.

If you have any killer moving tips, do share, because I am a lost little lamb in this see of junk and boxes…!

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tagged as moving

April 16, 2012

By Miriam

New Theme for the Old Blog!

Woo hoo! Allan finally finished my new theme! This time around I had to compete with Master Thesis for Allan’s time, so I’ve been waiting for. ev. er. it seems, to go live with this sucker. This was another collaborative design (I did the design, he did the magic), and I love how it turned out! Allan’s so talented, and I keep telling him, if he learns wood-working he’ll be the PERFECT man.

Along with a new face, I am planning a couple new series for mad mim that I’m really jazzed about. More to come soon on that!

So FYI, Allan has a little side business making websites (depending on his time and demand). If you’re like me and want to do the design yourself (or have a designer who doesn’t program), you can come up with a design, and Allan can make it happen. I just create a mock up in Illustrator complete with images and fonts etc, and he does all the dirty work. He also has experience switching blogs over from Blogger to WordPress, and is great to work with. But a word to the wise: DON’T make any hasty trades with him involving dish-duty, because you’ll probably end up regretting it. I’m just saying. Email him at allan@atomrockets.com if you’re interested and to find out more about pricing etc.

Also, take note that I’m now on facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Mostly I post just photos of whatever I’m working on in my tireless and prolific craft life, but it’s likely that they’ll all have basically the same content, so just pick your poison.

So how do you like?? There’s actually still a lot of little things I’ll be adding/tweaking over the next few weeks, but I just wanted to slap it up and go from there. Pardon any glitches that may occur.

PS: ten points to anyone who can find my name (or nickname) subtly and maybe semi-secretly integrated into the design….!

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April 16, 2012

By Miriam

Black and White Chevron Maxi Dress

It don’t matter if yo’ black or white…stripes don’t match up. Mine don’t. I guess my cut must have been off grain, because I just couldn’t get those side seams to align without warping the fall of the dress. At least I nailed the chevron down the front. Knocked off from this Anthro dress, it proved to be like unto a cloud as far as comfort goes. I just floated along while we had a long day searching for apartments in SLC (any great leads??) and taking ALL THREE of our kids to Harper’s Drs appointment at Primary Children’s Hospital (don’t you LOVE it when your almost three-year-old wets his pants but you forget to pack back up so you have to shove his little fanny into your nine-month-old’s diaper without any pants? I do!)

I used the same basic cut as this top, and then just a simple a-line for the skirt. I also zigzagged some elastic at the waistline so it cinches with or without a belt. I think I’m going to at least ten more maxis (ok, maybe just two), because they’ll be a dream through the hot summer. That and skirts. I’m planning on living in skirts. I hate how frumpy I feel in shorts (I was blessed with major dough-knees), so skirts and dresses win. What are your summer staples?

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tagged as chevron maxi dress

April 6, 2012

By Miriam

His Easter Best: Vest and Skinny Shorts

Yeah, so Merritt’s really pulling in a haul this Easter. This is originally what I wanted to make him, but then when I saw that big pile of handsome suit all sad and forgotten in a thousand little pieces getting crumbled and lost in my current-project basket, I took pity on that sad mess and decided to force myself to finish it before I got into anything else. This was my reward project. The vest was a cinch, but those shorts! Whoa. The pattern was great, but you really do have to know what your doing to follow the more technical Ottobre patterns, because there aren’t any pictures and I had to read and reread to make sense of it. And I still ended up taking a few shortcuts. And here’s the bummer: they won’t fit him for long! I didn’t know I had to add the seam allowance to the pattern, so once I realized it was way too late, and I was out of fabric. They do look amazing on him RIGHT now though, and I’m grateful for his skinny little bum. Hopefully I’ll be able to conquer the pattern more easily next time. Bring it, Welt Pockets.

(I used vintage simplicity 8116, and Ottobre’s Slim Leg Pant pattern)

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tagged as easter sewing, Ottobre's slim leg pant, sewing boy's vest and skinny shorts, vintage Simplicity 8116

April 5, 2012

By Miriam

Easter Best: Her Cardigan and Tee

Are you sick of me sewing for Easter? I am. I’ve got one more thing left, but I just don’t know if I can make it to the finish line. We’ll see how tired I get tonight…I usually don’t sew during the day, but I’ve totally been cheating a little this past week, and well, I am ready to just read a book or something. Or pack. I could do that too.

Ok, so this little set to go under and over her jumper were both modified versions of Ottobre’s puffed sleeve tee (obviously the cardi was really modified–I think I might do a tutorial on that later). Anyway, I love these. The fit is pitch perfect, and I just love them all together. I think Josie is getting a tad spoiled though, because, bless her heart, she barely mustered an eyebrow lift when I showed them to her this morning. She’s like yeah, whatev, Mom. You sew something new for me like everyday. And…. I do. How can I get her to maintain a level of receiving-enthusiasm to match my vivor for production?

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tagged as easter sewing, girl's Ottobre t shirt, sewing a girl's t shirt and cardigan

April 4, 2012

By Miriam

His Easter Best: The Handsome Little Suit

Remember when I was scheming a handsome little suit? I got far enough to cut it out, complete the first step, become intimidated and bored, and then let it sit on my shelf for six months. I figured I’d better make a go of it again before he grows out of it, which turns out, won’t be a while because it drowns him. I sized the pattern down a size (audibal groan), but I’m glad because now he can sport it all year long (especially next Winter).

The deets: I should get a badge that’s fastened to a trophy that’s dangling from a ribbon for my all-time greatest squeak job. I repurposed a really weird pancho that someone gave me and squeaked out EVERY single usable peice. I LITRALY (Parks and Rec moment) willed there to be enough fabric by sure will-power, and had nothing but shreds left. It was a proud moment. I actually didn’t have enough for the pockets so I subbed corduroy, added elbow patches to tie it in (and because they’re adorable), and actually had to do a sneaky piecing job on the inside. I think the corduroy adds a lot.

I used Kwik Sew 3697, and only had to buy some matching thread. I really like how it turned out, but I gotta say, boy-sewing is not nearly as fun as girl-sewing, and I really have a hard time keeping up my sew-stamina. I’m just never really psyched-out-of-my-mind to put in a breast pocket, you know? And it also seems that boy-sewing is always a little more technical without the rewards of little trendy embellishments or detailing. And also let’s be honest, it’s a whole lot harder to wrestle a little boy into something you’ve made than a girl. Josie has been known to just hang out naked by my sewing machine waiting to throw on
whatever I’m making, hot of the press. What do you think? Do you enjoy one more than the other? Am I unfairly/ignorantly playing favorites?

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tagged as easter sewing, repurposing fabric from clothes, sewing a boy's suit

April 2, 2012

By Miriam

Easter Best: Sewing for the Girl–Sunshine Sundress

I made this. From a sheet that a friend gave me. I used McCall’s 6077 vintage pattern. I added the detail on the bodice because the placement of the buttonholes that the pattern indicated and I stupidly followed were, let’s just say, VERY unfortunately positioned, and I HAD to do something to cover them up.

My goal is to be in bed before midnight, and I’m 4 minutes late. ‘Night!

to go!

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tagged as sewing an easter dress, vintage McCalls 6077

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