When the
Shaffer Sisters asked me to participate in their Family Photo Stitched With Love, I responded “yes” without hesitation. They’ve been guests here when I ran the Lost Arts of Sewing series this May with an adorable
embroidered vintage style dress.
I thought through the handmade items I’ve made for my daughters Arden and Hadley, and for myself. Then I realized that I really haven’t sewn any apparel for hubby Dave. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to make him a Negroni button down shirt from Colette Patterns, especially as a discount was being offered as part of the
Super Online Sewing Match competition put on by Sew Mama Sew.
You know what they say about the best laid plans, right? While prepping my digital pattern printouts to make a muslin for the shirt, I sliced part of the tip of my left index finger off with my rotary cutter. Based on my experience, I’ve posted about that and offered some rotary cutting safety tips in my post
A Public Service Announcement About Cutting Safety.
Al, Jo, & Scary were so concerned about my poor finger that they offered to let me reschedule my post. I told them I would be fine but that I obviously wasn’t finishing Dave’s shirt. As it turns out, he wasn’t able to be there for the photo shoot as he was catching up with work after taking care of me the evening of the accident and the morning after. And let’s be honest – color schemes for all girls are a little more flexible!
We went to our local State Park to try to capture some of the autumn color. This photo shoot started out rough, and honestly didn’t get much better. I had Arden and Hadley sit on a tree stump on it’s side and they began to pick at each other and ended up toppling over backwards, getting soot on Arden’s clothes and leaves and sticks in their hair. That was before I even had my camera ready!
I did manage to capture a few moments showing everyone in a happy state.
Hadley is wearing a dress I drafted which I call The Matinee Dress. The fabrics are both Birch Fabrics organic cotton, “Abacus” in Pool, and “Dottie” in orange. Both fabrics are from
Sew Fine Fabrics, a sponsor.
Arden is wearing a
Sally Dress made during pattern testing. The fabric is embroidered cotton from Jo-Ann, which I custom dyed.
I’m wearing a Washi Dress sewn from Anna Maria Horner’s Sinister Swarm cotton from Fabric.com. I don’t know why on earth I waited so long to sew this pattern after everybody and their sister had already raved about it. It’s so comfy and versatile!
Despite the difficulties with the shoot, I’m so happy to have some great photos of the girls which will work for holiday cards.
We put the tripod and timer to work as I still haven’t located a remote which works with my Canon Rebel T3. Had I known the T3i worked with most remotes, I would surely have chosen that one instead! I set the camera to take 10 pictures after the timer counts down and ran back and forth – it was a little harried, but it worked!
I will finish the Negroni shirt for Dave and I always have my little journal handy for new ideas for mama made clothes for the girls. I’d also like to work on a pattern block for a bodice for my measurements so I can design for myself. Oh, the list of to-do’s! You can be assured that I’ll use more caution when cutting from now on!
Don’t miss out on the rest of the participants in the series to see what they’ve created for their families:
I’m so sorry about your finger!!! Glad you’re ok and the dresses turned out adorable!
So cute! I’ve also done the whole running back and forth to the camera before. You can’t tell from the pics! I’m excited that the Washi pattern will be updated with some additional options. Think I will get it when that is released!
Sorry about your finger! Your portraits are gorgeous!