Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone had a great Sabbath day! I did! :o) It's hard to believe, but 2012 is quickly coming! I'll be back later this week for the last posts of my first year of blogging!



Luke 2:6-7
While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Giveaway Winners! :o)

I was trying to decide how I would choose the winner... and decided to just pull 2 names out of a hat. But hats aren't very festive (well, Santa hats are...), so I had Daddy pull the papers out of my Christmas stocking!



And the winners are... *drumroll*




Laura and Cailin!

Thanks to everyone who participated! Hope you had fun - I know I did! I may have to start having giveaways more often. :o)

Last Day!

Just a reminder that today is the last day to enter the giveaway! So for all ya'll who haven't yet, click on the link in the sidebar to find the different ways to enter!



I'll be back tomorrow to announce our 2 winners! :o)

Cross Stitched Dogwood

Most of my crafting over the last couple weeks has been on a blanket with different cross stitched flowers on it. First up: dogwood blossoms!



How do you like my festive new background? :o)

The Season for Giveaways

Christmas must be the season for giveaways, and Sarah over at Welcome to the Good Life is giving away some beautiful headbands! Go check it out!



Thanks for doing this Sarah!

Oh, and to all my dear readers, I've got some posts in the works, so look for updates in the next few days!

Christmas Ornament Giveaway!!!

I've been thinking for a while now that I would like to have a giveaway. And with my recent fetish for felted wool ornaments, I decided that a Christmas giveaway was the perfect thing!

So here I am announcing a Christmas Ornament Giveaway!







All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with something you love about Christmas/winter time.

I ask that (unless you know me personally) your comment includes your email address or blog address so I can contact you if you win.

You may enter until Tuesday, December 13.

On Wednesday, December 14, two winners will be announced, the first winner getting to choose the ornament they want.

For extra entries (please leave a new comment for each entry):

1. Follow Sailboats and Circle Skirts (If you are already a follower just leave a separate comment stating that.)

2. Post about the giveaway on your blog (Please include a link to your post in the comment.)

Have fun and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just popping in to say Happy Thanksgiving to all of my dear readers! Hope you've had a lovely day, with lots of yummy food and good fellowship with family and friends!

As of tomorrow it's time to get full-swing into Christmas crafting! I'm hoping to get some crafting done this weekend, so you can look forward to updates soon!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

3-D Christmas Ornament

As promised, here is the ornament I made at our felted wool party. I wasn't exactly sure what to do with the top of it, but I think the ribbon bow worked pretty well and doubles as the hanger - so no metal hook (or sometimes an untwisted paperclip) needed.



And no, our tree isn't really up yet. Not until the beginning of December. (Counting down the days!) But we happen to have a tree that we don't un-decorate every year, so I was able to take pictures with a tree still in storage. :o)

Enjoy your week before Thanksgiving, even though I'm posting Christmas projects!

Felted Wool Party

Any excuse to have a party is a good one. At least, that's what we think. So we were very willing to attend a pleasant afternoon spent chatting with friends and making felted wool Christmas ornaments!



Usually I avoid anything Christmas until after Thanksgiving. But Christmas ornaments should be made a little early so they're ready to hang. Now I'm feeling ready to put up the tree! Oh, wait... Still a couple weeks til Thanksgiving? Okay, I suppose I must be patient...



I chose to make a 3-D ornament in very Christmas-ey colors, but unfortunately I have yet to take pictures of the finished product... Coming soon!

Another way to zig-zag

I've never loved the way zig-zagged seams looked. Even after sewing it can still ravel to the stitches. But my sister gave me a new idea for zig-zagging seams - instead of doing it in the middle of the seam allowance like so...



...she suggested I try doing it on the edge, as it works the same and looks much nicer.



And now I think I'm addicted! Try it out; you won't regret it!

A Good Sunday Afternoon

A good Sunday afternoon is spent opening your home to lunch guests, getting out your quilting, and maybe even sipping a homemade frap while piecing.



I wonder what it is about coffee that makes the quilting process even more enjoyable? :o)

Fingerless Gloves

…Are terribly delightful, don't you think? I haven’t worn them as much as I would like, but I made three from this Ravelry pattern. Yes, I know it’s inspired from Twilight. And I'm not a Twilight fan. (Never seen the movies. Never read the books. Never plan to.) But I really like the design of this pattern, so… there you go.



I made two pairs out of the variegated yarn that's shown, and a purple pair for a friend. I’m thinking I need to make another, but I haven’t decided if I want to try a new pattern or not... Continue with tried and true or be adventurous? Oh, decisions, decisions! :oP Any suggestions?

Saltwater Dreams

Since this is my senior year I'm afraid I haven't had as much crafting time as I would like. But Saltwater's website has some adorable looks in their 2011 winter collection that I thought would be fun to share, and hopefully I'll be able to update with some sewing next week...



I love the pose with the book. Books make awesome picture props.



I've been looking at my fall/winter wardrobe and thinking it's a bit lacking. Something similar to this simple dress could definitely be included in the inspiration for my sewing plans. :o)




And I'm feeling very inspired by the tights and leggings their models almost always wear! It's a very cute style for the fall and winter months. :o)

Perfect for a Funeral

I'm really not trying to be morbid. But you know how in the movies funerals are always held on a rainy day so everyone can carry black umbrellas? All the gents wear black suits, the ladies don black dresses and coats, and everything is amazingly set for the most perfect tear-jerking scene.

Don't worry: no one has died. It all started when I saw these adorable gloves at Dress Barn...



Which led me to putting together my current version of the perfect funeral garb. Hopefully that's not terribly morbid.

First and most important: the dress. I found this LBD on Chadwick's website which made the perfect piece for my funeral dress.



Now, let's accessorize. Simple, yet elegant, necklace and shoes from Ann Taylor... (Hope the rain hasn't been too hard or the heels will sink into the muddy ground. But even if it has, fashion over function, and they are relatively washable, right? And on a movie set, I'm sure we'll figure out some way to keep the heels up.)



Bag from Dress Barn...



And if it's cold (as it usually is on those rainy, autumn, funeral days) add this coat from Chadwicks, this hat from Dress Barn, and, of course, the hounds-tooth gloves from the beginning of the post.



Black umbrella optional. We'll leave that up to the director.

Next time I'm working on my costume design for an upcoming film that entails a funeral scene, I've got one scene of the heroine's wardrobe covered. :oP

Pictures from Ann Taylor, Dress Barn, and Chadwicks

Rainy Days and Mondays

Remember when I started this dress last June? I did most of the sewing back when I posted, but then I realized that I bought a regular zipper instead of an invisible one. And I had never put in a regular zipper... So I used one of my amazing talents: procrastination.

But as the end of summer started coming on, I decided that it was time to finish it before it became too cold to wear a sundress! So I have now officially put in my very first regular zipper, and finished my third dress off See and Sew 4957!



I made some alterations, adding ~1 inch to the bodice and a couple inches to the hem. I did this with the blue and white version, and I really like the way it changes the fit. Sometimes when you're 5'9 you need stuff to be longer!




I love how simple this dress is. Simple lines, easy assembly, and very fun to wear. A good combination! Though the construction is easier when you buy the right zipper. I much prefer putting in invisible zippers!!!



I probably won't get to wear it much until next summer, but it's always fun to have new clothes, no matter what season! And with a cardigan or jacket, I think this dress will get some use this fall!

My First Blog Award - The Liebster Award

Hey everyone! Miss Virginia from The Lady's Resource Blog charmingly gave me my very first Blog Award! Thank you so much Miss Virginia!



The Leibster Award:

The goal of the award is to spotlight up and coming bloggers who currently have less than 200 followers. The rules of the award are:
1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all - have fun!

I'm going to award -

1. Anna at Simple Thread

2. Laura at Sigh No More

3. Amy at Purple Paraphernalia

4. Emily at The Welsh Family Blog

5. Tricia at Little House in the Hills

Awards are so fun! Thanks again, Miss Virginia!

Nautical Blocks

I finished another quilt block today! Quilting is so much fun, and I love dreaming of the day when the finished quilt will be my bedspread. :o)



The design will eventually make stars, but at this point you can't really tell... I'll have to get to work so that we can see them!

60s/70s Patterns

Because people know that my sisters and I like to sew, we are sometimes given sewing things, which is so lovely! We're handed anything- fabric, notions, patterns. All very fun and often times useful! This time it was a bag of vintage 60s and 70s patterns.



I prefer 40s/50s fashion over 60s/70s, but I really like this basic 60s dress, and have thought about making one before off Simplicity 3833, which is very similar.



Maybe getting these will inspire me to organize the sewing stuff in my closet... And it's probably time to make a list of the sewing projects I have going and the things I want to make in the future!

Simplicity's New Baby Layette Pattern

I've fallen in love with Simplicity's reproductions of vintage baby layette patterns and have been slowly collecting them when they are on sale at JoAnns. I happened to check their website today and discovered the newest one in the collection! This sweet little thing is a reprint from the 1950s - my favorite fashion decade!



Isn't it adorable? Next time Simplicity patterns are on sale, I'll have to pick one up!

Mushrooms and Fairies

My sister recently discovered Cinderberry Stitches which is full of adorable, inspiring things. It's all adorable, but I think the fairy in the sailboat is definitely a favorite. :o)



Her stuff is just so darling! There is even a free pdf pattern for a little mushroom house, if any of you embroiderers are interested. :o)

Photo from CinderberryStitches.com

Of Slouchy Berets

I've always liked hats, though I've never really had any. I recently decided it was time for that to change! So after looking through many, many pages of free patterns on Ravelry.com, I found a hat I really wanted to make. Now it's finished, and I really like it!



I chose the pattern for the All-Day Beret, and I found a ball of silky light blue Caron yarn on sale. Only I didn't read the directions thoroughly enough, so I had to rip out the first 5 inches of the hat... But after that it came along very smoothly, and in just a few days I had a new hat!



I love the way the center back is shaped as the stitches get fewer and pull into a small circle. While I was knitting I wondered how it would finish off (I really had no idea because I've never made any kind of hat before), but I really like the way this pattern was made. :o)



I think this hat will incorporate into my closet very well, and I'm heartily excited about this new step in my fashion life! I already have a 2nd beret ready to start!

Lucienne’s Farwell Outfit

The last time we see Lucienne her outfit consists of the skirt from her Visit Ensemble, the blouse from her Flying Ensemble/Meet Rawling outfit, and a new green sweater. Pictures for this scene weren’t the best, but you can see her blouse pretty well.



Her sweater is dark green and comes down below her hips. It’s not fitted, and there doesn't appear to be a tie or anything to help pull it in.



We do get a good shot of the fabric during their hug good-bye. Is her sweater faded on her shoulders or is it just the sun??? Either way, the green material is embroidered with something like vines or flowers, but I can’t be completely certain what.

And just as a note, I love the ties in her hair, though my hair is too thick for that to work for me. Maybe she has an elastic band underneath. :oP

So we come to the end of my costume study for Flyboys! I hope everyone enjoyed it and that it will be a good resource for anyone wanting to recreate any of Lucienne’s costumes or in need of WW1 inspiration!

Feel free to give advice or suggestions for future costume studies by comment. And if you would, please vote in the sidebar’s poll! (And feel free to be brutally honest.)

Lucienne’s Rescue Ensemble

When Rawlings rescues Lucienne from the Germans she is in her red skirt and purple sweater from the Flying Outfit. She is wearing a new white blouse with a deep V filled in with striped material. When he returns with his plane she has put on trench coat.



During most of this sequence, the movie is either dark or only head shots, so it was difficult to get good pictures. However in this one you can see her boots well and a little of her coat sleeve.



And we actually get a glimpse of one of the blouse’s sleeves! Not the greatest of shots from a costumer’s perspective, but this is the only time in the whole movie that you see her without a sweater over her blouses. As you can hopefully tell from the picture, this blouse has short sleeves. It looks like it might have a tuck or two along the sleeve hem, as well.



We also get a look at the dark stockings Lucienne is wearing under her boots. This is also one of the few times the lighting is good enough to see some of the details on her trench coat.



Lucienne’s blouse is very pretty and rather “titanic” looking in my opinion, which isn’t really a surprise as their very close timewise… Also note that you can see the lace from her undergarments peeking out of the left side in this shot. Perhaps a corset cover?



Difficult to see, but the closest to a full-shot I could get.

We only have one more post until the end! Next Monday is the last of this Flyboys costume study – Lucienne’s Farewell Outfit.

Scrolling Along

I’m so excited because I’ve finally scrolled my cross stitch up on the frame! I wasn’t to the point where I exactly had to, but I couldn’t finish the flower I was working on unless I did. And it definitely makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something!



This is my first project on a scroll frame, so this is the first time I’ve ever done this! I'm so excited that I just had to share. :o)

Baby Dress Stash Busting

When I first started sewing pretty much all of my “dream projects” consisted of dresses for my dolls, so I bought three floral prints for my three dolls so I could make them matching dresses. However, I never actually got around to making the dresses, and have now been storing this fabric for… I don’t know how many years!

A use for this stashed fabric appeared when I made this baby dress a few months ago using a free pattern we found online. I really liked it, and it only took a few hours to make, so I thought it would fun fun to try again with different design elements. This time around, instead of ties I made a new bodice with buttons!




After I got started I realized I had enough fabric for two of them, so I made another the same day. The buttons are just for decoration as the dresses really close with Velcro that I sewed beneath on the underside of the straps. I had originally planned to use snaps, but Mom recommended Velcro since the dress is for newborns and she thought it might stay closed better.



I found some navy rickrack in our stash, which worked out perfectly for some details on both dresses. I had to buy the dark blue buttons, but other than that it was completely made of things we already had either in my closet and the sewing room. It's so nice to stash bust!



It’s hard to believe that a baby could actually fit into these because they are so small! When I walked downstairs after finishing the first one my mom thought it was for a doll! But it’s the version for a 9-11 lb baby, so hopefully it will fit on a newborn just fine. And a tiny newborn has to have cute clothes when she's born, right?

Lucienne’s Flying Ensemble

When Rawlings comes to take Lucienne flying she is wearing a red skirt, white blouse (from Meet Rawlings Outfit), and purple sweater. In the beginning of the scene, she’s holding her hat from the Counting Plane’s Outift.



You can see the hem of her petticoats underneath, and that she’s wearing black boots.





The skirt is a wrap-around with buttons all the way down. (What an amazing idea! Wrap-arounds can get awkward depending on the depth of the wrap, but buttons would completely solve the problem! They might inhibit walking a bit, though…) Lucienne’s buttons are in groups of three, and there are three groups of them. The skirt has a belt with a front clasp. In these pictures, you can also tell that the collar on Lucienne’s sweater is a different material from the ribbed sweater fabric.



Here you can see the buttons on the sweater, starting low because of the long collar. I believe there are at least three buttons, and the buttons may be fabric covered but you can never see them very well. There are two pockets on the sides of the sweater, with a fabric top like the collar, but I wasn’t able to get any good stills of them.



Here’s the best shot for the length of Lucienne’s skirt and sweater. You also get another peek at her petticoat’s hem.



The back of the sweater’s collar is a simple curve.



Above you can see more blouse details, and the ribbed fabric of her sweater…

Next Monday is Lucienne’s Rescue Ensemble.