It's that time of year

It's time for Colette Patterns' latest sewing challenge.

I completely failed the last one having made only one piece, a turquoise and black houndsooth maternity dress inspired by Joan Holloway from Mad Men. But as I need clothes both for Me Made May and so I can nurse an infant in public without given people tickets to the skin show, I figured I go shopping in the old stasharoo and see what I could make happen.

What I found was that once again, I have waaaaaaaaaay too much sewing crap. This can be a good thing though. Due to my vast fabric hoard I can pull together a cute little wardrobe without buying much of anything. Just don't tell my husband. Not only would he forbid me from buying more fabric (Horrors!) but he would probably call A&E. Then, next thing you know, you'd see me on tv sobbing over a pack of $.97 buttons crying about how I was going to use them for that seersucker top and my life has come to a sudden and tragic end now that Mr. Man has tossed that little bag into a huge old dumpster parked in the front yard.

Once again, I digress.

The fact of the matter is that between my stash and instant Burda Style downloads, all I needed to buy to complete this challenge was an invisible zipper, some yellow embroidery floss, and a handful of red buttons (which is why I would have cried had some psychologist, a camera man, and the Got Junk people coerced me into given up my button stash.)

Wanna know what I'm making?

1. The Sorbetto Top: a free download from Colette Patterns involving white eyelet and a smocked center panel

2. The Ladybug Skirt: another free download, this one from Burda Style with some blue chambray I picked up, not just one sale but end of bolt bonus from Joann's while on vacation in Florida. I'll be breaking out my freshly acquired, mad bullion embroidery skills to dot the scalloped hem with ladybugs. (shaddup, it will so be cute!)

3. Ruby Shorts: a downloadable pattern of the not so free variety from Burda style out of orange gingham seersucker that I've had in my stash for two years. I can't decide if I want to go with blue buttons or white.

4. The Jasmine blouse: also from Colette. I have some navy and white floral lawn that will be perfect for the main body and a navy linette for the tie.

5. Simplicity 2255, View C, a cute, button down blouse using a white fabric of questionable fiber content that shrinks like a mofo if you look twice on it but involves so cute a pattern that I can't help myself. There may or may not be a gingham facing.  

6. McCalls 6503, a new pattern and spur of the moment purchase that I picked up a few weeks ago. I loved it so much that I bought it from walmart at full, walmart price instead of waiting for a Joann's $1.99. It would not be denied especially as it will look divine in a red, white and blue print I bought on ebay for something like five dollars for 6 yards, including shipping.

So what do you think?

I've already begun the Sorbetto. The smocking is giving me fits but I am confident I will overcome. Look for pictures by the end of the week.