Sponsored Post- Smart Casual Work Wear with The Fabric Fairy

I recently started a new job with a Fortune 50 company doing what I love and know best! Now, I am working in a totally different town, company, team and environment than the one that I had previously been employed with for the past decade. The dress code is MUUUUCHHH more relaxed than my previous employer and I'm enjoying the more easy-going attire. 

For the longest time, I've wanted to do a capsule wardrobe (where you mix and match a set number of clothing pieces to come up with multiple outfits). So, with the start of a new job, I decided that this was my chance to do just that! While I shopped retail and/or my current closet for most of these items *gasp*, I just couldn't find a white and navy striped shirt that I loved/fit well to fill out my capsule wardrobe. SOoooo, I decided to sew my own!

Full disclosure- I HATE sewing stripes- too much stripe matching and all that! ;) However, I was willing to bite the bullet with a large enough stripe, IF I could achieve my intended goal of a nautical shirt to round out my wardrobe. I found a great navy and white 1" stripe nylon spandex fabric from The Fabric Fairy to use for my dream shirt. This fabric is typically used for swimsuits but it makes a GREAT base for a top! It's cool to wear and has great stretch, drape and durability. It's thin enough to wear in layers and the color if bright and vibrant!

In my humble opinion, a simple dolman sleeve shirt would be simplest to match stripes. So, I turned to a trusty favorite PDF sewing pattern, the Made for Mermaids Paige Piko (a freebie!). I sewed up a size Purple, half sleeve, top length Paige Piko with low neckline.

Following, are a couple of ways I styled/would wear my latest make!

Boots, cardi and scarf- perfect for Fall!

A splash of color and some leopard flats- oui, Paris!

A black blazer, statement necklace and some nude pumps make this top ready for the office.

Ready for the weekend in jeans and some ballet flats!

I am so happy with the end results of my inspirational navy and white striped top! It's so easy to wear and mix and match with clothes that I already have in my closet. I cannot wait to wear my new top!

And, can we just all pause for a moment and admire that beautiful stripe matching along the side...?!! 

;-P

***Disclosure: "I did receive free fabrics from The Fabric Fairy The opinions expressed here are my own."***

****This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small percentage of the sale.****

Sponsored Post- The Fabric Fairy Patterns for Pirate Mama Bear Joggers

Miss is one week away from her 11th birthday and she is growing UP! I recently noticed that her pants were starting to look more like capris, so I decided to sew up some new joggers for her. When I measured her, I was SHOCKED to find that her inseam is a WHOLE THREE INCHES LONGER than mine! *gasp!* No wonder!

I sewed up my personal favorite jogger pattern, the Patterns for Pirate Mama Bear Joggers for Missy in this yummy Dark Olive Poly Lycra Fleece Backed Knit from one of my favorite online knit retailers, The Fabric Fairy. The fabric is warm and insulating but not so thick that your sewing machine starts to have fits and begins to hate you. ;) The fabric cut really cleanly and I had no problem getting a size XXS Patterns for Pirate Mama Bear Joggers out of less than two yards of Dark Olive Poly Lycra Fleece Backed Knit (including pockets- of course! ;). I also got the flat drawstring from The Fabric Fairy- this was my first drawstring installation!

Needless to say, Missy is comfy and stylish AND her pants actually fit her like pants (and not capris!).

***Disclosure: "I did receive free fabrics from The Fabric Fairy The opinions expressed here are my own."***

****This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small percentage of the sale.****

Sponsored Post- The Fabric Fairy Swim fabric featuring Jalie Diane (3893) Tank Swimsuit

Happy January 2020! New Year, new start, new RESOLUTIONS! However, this post isn't about New Year's resolutions- rather, it's about a goal that my almost 10 (I can hardly believe that she'll be TEN in less than a month...!!) set at the beginning of her swim season...

Back in September 2019, with a full year of competition swimming under her belt, Missy was asked by her fourth grade teacher to make some goals for herself in the new school year. One of her goals was to make a "BB time" (a certain qualifying time that allows her to swim in age group sectionals for her region). Her two best strokes are the backstroke and butterfly. She had six chances in six meets to make it happen... and she did!! She made her qualifying "BB time" in her third meet (and very first away meet!) in 50y backstroke!! Woohoo!! I couldn't be prouder of her hard work, dedication, and practice! She definitely has a sense of athleticism that she clearly didn't inherit from me!

Now, because Missy swims year-round and because she is literally in the pool three to four days a week, it should go without saying that she goes through A LOT of swimsuits! A LOT! While I cannot sew her competition suits (those are strictly regulated- that's a good thing!), I do enjoy sewing her practice suits- it's her chance to show off her individual personality in a pool full of mermaids and sharks. ;) 

As my sewing has evolved and Missy has matured, I find that having her personally select fabrics makes the whole process more enjoyable for all. Missy's current favorite colors are teal and purple. So, when she laid eyes on The Fabric Fairy New World Nylon Spandex Swimsuit fabric, it was LOVE at first sight! It's just perfect and eye-popping on the Jalie (3893) Diane Tank Suit (my go-to swimsuit pattern- the pattern comes together easily, is a great pattern to mix and match fabrics and is stays in place during practice)! I coordinated it with the White Pindots on Laribe Nylon Spandex Swimsuit fabric, also from The Fabric Fairy. I fully lined the suit in swimsuit lining also from The Fabric Fairy Now, she's ready for the pool in her mama-made!

***Disclosure: "I did receive free fabrics from The Fabric Fairy. The opinions expressed here are my own."***

****This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small percentage of the sale.****