I love owls, so it was only a matter of time until I had to look up some pattern and tutorials. Unfortunately I’m having crafters block at the moment, so no owls for me in the near future :( 

Owl Hoodie -  how about some appliqued hoot on you hoodie?

Owl Doorstop - owls can be useful too

Crochet Owl - for you crazy crochet people out there

Holiday Hoot - pretty ornament from Anna Maria Horner

Owl Softie - cute and tiny softies

Owl Pillow - I just had to repost this cute pillow

Owl Bean Bag - you can even use this for your camera

Owl Plushie - don’t you just wanna cuddle it?

For even more owliness, check out these cute feathered friends on flickr:

1. silly peepers Mr. Owl, 2. Ollie the Owl, 3. Whatizzit? Amigurumi Owl or Pill Stuffie, 4. DSCF2718, 5. Olwen the Owl with Patchwork Quilted Belly, 6. Lucky Owlie, 7. Hooty owl zipper pouch, 8. Little Birds 9, 9. Bubbly the Owlet with Patchwork Belly

The good news: I made my first dress! The bad news: it doesn’t fit. I know it looks quite wearable in the photo but that’s only because there is a binder clip holding it together at the back :) But let’s start from the beginning and please excuse my scary face expression in the picture.

I really wanted to try the Kimono Dress from Heather Ross Weekend Sewing and found the perfect linen for it, but before I screw up the 24 Euro/meter fabric, I thought I’d go with something cheaper first. So I bought this really cheap dotted viscose that was pretty enough to wear it in public if the dress would turn out fine. 

The pattern was really easy to follow, up to the point where you have to join the bodice with the skirt, using elastic thread to shirr the fabric. I don’t know if it’s my machine, the fabric, the thread or my sewing skills, but I couldn’t get the fabric to shirr up for the life of me. Any tips on that? Fortunately I still had some elastic lying around, so I just sewed in an elastic waistband and tried it on. Well, guess what: the bodice is waaaayyy too big. I have no idea how to fix this, other than ripping the thing apart and even then I don’t know how much I have to take in. And if I take in the bodice, I have to make the same adjustments with the skirt too, but that one is fitting quite nicely. The skirt still needs hemming and I didn’t make the obi sash (I used a scarf for the picture) because there is no point in an obi if I don’t have the dress to were it with, now is there?

Even though I can’t wear the dress it still feels good that I made it! I can’t just go on making more bags. Oh wait that’s not true :)

Even more fabric from my Tony Stash! The funny thing is, that these are actually some of Tonys favorite prints which is weird, because I really thought I would be getting a lots of robots and zombie fabric or at least more black stuff, but I guess deep down in his heart, he’s a girl. In a good way of course :)

Patricia Bravo, French Riviera Collection

Floating Dots in Brown

Swirl in Teal

Want to show off your Stash? Join the Sunday Stash at 1/4 of an inch.

Wanna see more stash? Check out the Sunday Stash flickr group.

Just a quick post to let you know I’m still alive and crafting. I finished another bag from my list, the Highbrow Hobo from U-Handbag to be exact. This bag was pretty easy to make, even though it took me around 4 hours to finish it.  I love the shape and how big it is! I used some Ikea fabric (new collection is out!) and I found some cotton for the lining in the exact shade of green like in the Ikea print. 

On second thought, white might not be a good color for a bag, because while I was cutting the fabric on the floor, my cat came back from a stroll and walked right over it with his muddy paws. So the bag has already a lovely cat paw shaped stain. But hey, maybe this will gonna be my trademark, who knows :)

In other crafting news: I made the first version of the Summer Blouse and I’m glad I used a bed sheet, because I messed up the binding and plancket. And it’s way to short for me. So back to the drawing board and sewing machine.

The lovely Anita from Bake and Sew tagged me and gave me this:

Thanks so much Anita, I really enjoy reading your blog too! Especially because I really like everything crochet but have no idea how to do it :) Part of the deal is to list 5 addictions so here we go:

1. Coffee and cigarettes. I’m sorry to say this but I’m a chain smoker :( And some of the great moments of my life went a long with a cup of coffee and a cigarette. Like the first time I was in NY, walking down the street at New Years with a cup of coffee, a cigarette, sunshine, blue sky and someone  playing “Take Five” in an appartment with an open window.

2. Cute and fury things. I’m totally addicted to ICanHasCheezburger and Cuteoverload. I have to check out the sites at least once a day, and you should hear me squeak if I see a cat, or anything else that is remotely cute and fury in real life. And I would LOVE to have a raccoon in addition to 20 cats!

3. Books. I don’t love books I NEED them! I’m constantly reading and as soon as I don’t have a new book I get really jittery and HAVE to order something from Amazon. It didn’t help that I started sewing, even more books to buy.

4. Sewing. I sew in my head. At night. In the office. On the tram. It drives me crazy sometimes

5. The Two Ts. Tony and Tuna. They drive me crazy sometimes but I just love them to bits.

Well, I think you now know a little more about me than you should, and that’s why I have to tag 5 of you so I don’t feel so exposed :) Here we go:

Staci and her Notebook, because she was one of the first to welcomed me in the blogging world and I adore the things she makes.

Paloma and the Three Kitchen Fairies,  because she is one of the nicest people out there, takes beautiful pictures and has the cutest fairies :)

Sina from Erase and Repeat, because it’s good to know that there is somebody else sitting with a bowl of cereals on the other side of the world. Oh and she makes the lushest fabric flowers ever!

Mal from turning*turning, because her blog makes me think about why I craft. Truly inspirational. 

Karen from Craftermath, because she’s a crazy bag addict and always has the coolest fabric

Finally! After weeks of waiting, emails from Amazon about delayed delivery and searching the web for projects, my copy of Heather Ross Weekend Sewing arrived. I can’t wait to get started on the Summer Blouse, but before I’ll cut into the fabric I bought for it, I’ll test drive it with an vintage bed sheet I found at the thrift store for 1 Euro. But now, with no further delay, the review.

The book starts with an introduction from Heather and some ideas how to set up your sewing space. The pictures and layout of the book are beautiful and the only thing I would have changed is the pattern storage, because the two pattern sheets are glued onto the first and last page of the book. I really wish there would have been a pattern bag like Seams to me and Institches have, and a spiral bound would have been nice too. 

The book is divided into four Chapters: Home and Away, Dressing up and Down, Sewing for Kids and Sewing Basics. I really like that in between the projects you find recipes (like peaches with basil, yum), general sewing tips and a sewing play list (which is close to what I listen to when I sew). On every project page you’ll find the finished dimensions, materials needed and fabric suggestions. As far as I can tell without actually sewing anything, the instructions are clear and nearly every step is accompanied with an illustration. If you’ve ever been to Heathers blog, you can imaging that these hand drawings are a lot clearer than most of the photos you’d get somewhere else. 

Home and Away
Here you’ll find some basics you’d get in most sewing books like napkins, a drawstring bag, pillowcases, dishtowels and a apron. If you already have some sewing books, you’ve probably seen and done these projects before. Nevertheless, there are projects like the Everything Tote, the Guest Room Slippers or the Weekend-Away Travel Bag (which is actually a boxy make-up pouch), which are a bit more challenging than your average beginners sewing project. 

Dressing up and Down
In my opinion, this is the highlight chapter of the book! You get 5 totally different kinds of dresses, a blouse, pajamas, a wrap skirt, a bag and a head scarf. I’m totally in love with the Summer Blouse and this will be the first time I’ll try some garment sewing (I don’t count the PJs I made). The dresses are different enough to suit different body types. While I really like the All-Weekend and Trapez Sundress, it wouldn’t fit my body type (I’m on the chubby busty, curvy side), but I’m sure I would look great in the Kimono Dress and maybe in the Saturday Night Silk Jersey Set. With every dress pattern, you get suggestions what kind of fabric would work best for the project. The only thing missing, at least for me, are some tips on how to alter the pattern (if you’re tall, curvy, shorter) or suggestions on how to spice things up (making a shirt out of a dress like the illustrations Heather has on her blog). I’m sure the more experienced sewer knows how to do this, but some inspiration would have been nice for everybody else who doesn’t read Heathers blog, and would have lifted the book to a whole new level. 

Sewing for Kids
I don’t have kids so it’s always hard to review a chapter like this, because I don’t have any use for it. But if you do have some kiddos at home, I’m sure you’ll like the projects. You get two adorable dresses, some cute bloomers, a great shirt (and the tip that you can make it out of hubby’s old shirt) , basic toddler pants, baby blanket and an absolutely adorable baby kimono. And to top things off, the recipe for blueberry mash and tips about sewing with kids. 

Sewing Basics 
Sewing basics are sewing basics so not much new here. You’ll get the basic stitches, how to choose a sewing machine, sewing tools you need and so on. I liked that she focused a bit more on the different kinds of fabric like in the other books I have. 

Final thoughts
I really, really like this book but then again I’m biased because in my opinion Heather can’t do wrong :)  Even though I’m not a fan of all the napkins and dishtowels projects, it doesn’t feel like they were chosen just to fill the book. They make sense with the whole concept of Weekend Sewing and making time for your favorite craft. To use Heathers words: Weekend isn’t just a pair of days, it’s a state of mind.

So do I recommend this book? Hell yeah! If you are totally new to sewing this book might be a bit challenging, but if you’re like me (beginner with some experience) it’s just perfect. Especially if you want to try out some garment sewing. Even if you’re an experienced sewer I’m sure you can get a lot of inspiration from it. The bottom line: Go and buy the book!

Still unsure? Maybe these links will help you out:

Find more project pictures here

Sneak Peak inside the book

Ashleys version of the Summer Blouse

Weekend Sewing Design Challenge on Heathers Blog