I made shorts!!!

Well, I have really been branching out in my sewing lately! I have seen some pretty cute printed shorts out there. A bit classier of a style than jean shorts. Just check out this J.Crew page to see what I mean. But, not only do I not want to pay J. Crew prices, I wanted shorts just a little longer than I usually find in stores. So, at the last JoAnn's sale, I bought a couple a couple of Lisette bottom weights on clearance (which was an additional half off). So, each of these shorts cost about $4 to make! I already had the pattern and the zippers (because if ever there's a bag o' zippers at a thrift store, I do not pass it by, I buy it ;)

Here's my first pair:

 And with a different shirt:

 The pattern is Simplicity 1617. I've already made the skirt on the same pattern, so I have more than gotten my 99 cents out of this one, ha!

Here's my second pair:

 I wasn't sure I had any tops to go with either of these, but once I took a lot, it turned out I had a few for each pair! Actually, though, this last one I am not liking in the pictures. I don't think it's the best fit for me, so it might go in the giveaway pile. See?? Everyone should take pictures of themselves in their clothes if they really want to know what they look like. Ha!

 This pattern had no pockets, so I drafted some based on a different skirt pattern I have. On the green pair, I used a cute Heather Bailey cotton for the pocket lining. It's a cute surprise in there :)

 And for the second pair, I added a ruffle, just like the pockets on my favorite yellow corduroy skirt I made last Fall! So cute.

I did not photograph the rear view, but the fit back there is perfect! Also, I tried out the fabric glue stick method for the zipper instead of hand basting in it, which was previously the only way I could get them in right! The glue was awesome, it worked like a champ and did not gunk up my needle.

I'm super proud of both of these because I took extra time in making a muslin (in two different patterns, actually--I was determined!) and the extra time paid off because I feel like I can use this as a base for all kind of shorts and pants! I have one more pair in mind to make, so hopefully I'll be sharing those soon!

Hope of Spring and Kelby mischief

I don't want to speak too soon, but Spring may finally be arriving in Colorado. The snow melted in pretty much one day and we have sunny warmth in the forecast! Yahoo!! I would say I've never been so relieved for winter to be over, but I think I say that every year ;) I think I'm just a Summer girl and become more so as the years go by!

I made a pretty cute skirt a few weeks ago and still haven't had an opportunity to wear it other than for these pictures. The weather will hopefully change that this coming week and I'll get to wear this little cutie!

 I love a good shirttail hem!!

It was very windy this day! I couldn't keep my hair out of my face!
The pattern Simplicity 1617, one of their new Summer line.

I was drawn to the hem and the unique pockets, although when I finished mine, I thought the drapey pockets just added bulk to my hips, which I do not need ;) So I fiddled around with them and put some hand tacked pleats with cute buttons on there. So now they look like this:

They lay flat now and I like the skirt a lot after that little adjustment!

I've been sewing for my kids too! I found some knit army fabric recently and had to get it for Kelby. Anything camo print, he calls "Daddy clothes". Some days he wear his army pants, army shirt, army jacket, army beanie and army sandals and is so proud that he matches ;) Casey works in a recruiting unit, so there is a reason why we have so much stuff that says "Go ARMY.com" or "Army Strong" on it. Like sunglasses and beach towels and coffee mugs, for example :)

Anyway, I whipped up some knit pj pants for Kelby and he is very happy. They took my less than one episode of Bones, so it really was instant gratification.

Speaking of the little dude, he's been up to a lot of this lately:

He sure can make a good Lego mess, but I'm okay with it because as long as he's making a mess that I can see, he is not off making a mess that I cannot see ... like spilling a can of paint in the basement  and then painting the futon ... or giving himself a nosebleed while climbing on an upside down laundry basket (same way he attained the paint can) in his room to get the framed pictures down, which he later broke--on his bed, after which he fell asleep with a pile of broken glass. Eek! This kid takes mischief to a whole new level! I thought it was just a boy thing because although my girls were curious, it wasn't like this. But then, yesterday a mom of three boys told me none of her boys took mischief to the extent that Kelby does either! So, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, hehe :D