Monday, August 29, 2011

Giddy Up Rocker Chic

I'm participating in a fundraiser for a little girl, Rosie who is battling brain cancer among other scary illnesses.  She is really into rock n roll so when I found the new Michael Miller guitar prints I knew that's exactly what I should get.  I made a little purse and coordinating pin and alligator hair clip for the auction style fundraiser




I was finishing this up as Briana got home from school a few days ago and she was so excited about the colors she asked if I could make something for her from the scraps.  And they were just that, scraps!  It took a little imagination and patching, but I was able to make a cute ruffled outfit for her.  I absolutely love how the tank top came out!  I will be adding these to my etsy shop very soon!



                                                                                
                                                                                 




For more information on the amazing little girl, Rosie please visit Rock Star Rosie

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Halloween Is On My Mind

I was at a new {to me} fabric store the other day and they had ALL of their holiday fabrics out.  They must never take them down!  But on display was the Halloween.  I have learned in my first year of sewing that seasons start before the season prior to it.  So even though its still the middle of a hot HOT summer, I knew if I wanted to get the cute prints, I had to start now.  I picked up mostly Halloween, but a few fat quarters of the cute Christmas too.  I kept telling myself I was preparing for the craft show.  MmmHmmm.

Anyway, I digress. 

These really cute Halloween fabrics have been wonderful to work with.  Great quality and everything matches.  I decided to change Charlie's trick or treat bag once the other little's decided they also wanted new bags to go trick or treating with.  His was cute, but I didn't like the applique I had "made" for the front.  It was my first time, and I did it wrong, unknowingly.  The second time around was better.  I'm happier with it anyway. 

You can check these out for sale on my etsy shop!

The three munchkin's bags:



Briana's Bag

Brayden's Bag

Charlie's Bag


Saturday, August 20, 2011

Ella Grace

Ella Grace turns 7 next week.  I remember when my sister, Beth, told me she was expecting.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  But it was 7 years ago.  Sigh. 

She is having her "American Girl" birthday party today, and Briana had asked me to make a 'shirt' for her American Girl doll, Kit to match the pinafore I had made for her last week.  Briana intends on wearing her pinafore today and it would really be cute if they matched. 

So I took my pattern and tried to scale it down to Kit's size.  I didn't want to make it reversible, because that's just ridiculous.  {Ha}  I used bias tape for the unfinished edges, and just made a hem at the bottom of the dress, because I ran out of tape!  {whoops} 

And since Briana had a pinwheel headband, Kit had to have one too.  Good thing a normal sized pony tail holder is equivalent to an American Girl doll headband! 

Here we have it!  My first American Girl doll pinafore dress. 





If you would like a custom order of this, please message me through my etsy shop.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Pinafore Palooza

My daughter is turning into a young lady.  I sometimes look at her and wonder where the baby girl has gone, her eyes are this soft alluring blue and her faces (although sometime demon-like) are so grown up. 

In order to keep my baby, a baby for just a little bit longer, I decided to make her a pinafore.  These are making quite the comeback!  They look especially cute on babies beginning to walk, with a ruffled tush diaper cover on.  I {of course} did not insist on Briana wearing a diaper cover, but did make her a pinafore shirt today to wear with skinny jeans.  I'm excited to say it turned out perfectly!  I bought the pattern from Laurie  and it came with a printable pattern, directions and even a youtube video! 

My intentions were to make something she could wear right now but also through the cold months.  And I couldn't be happier with the result!  There is enough room for her to put a long sleeved tee under it, and it is beautiful on her just as the pinafore. 

I had purchased this material months ago, thinking I'd make something out of it, and I'm so happy I hadn't yet!  Green is a good color on my belle and the elephants and dandelions are adorable.  Yes, adorable.  I would like to say I think this top has accomplished my goal of preserving her baby years *for me, but I have to say, she looks even more like a growing beauty.  All you moms out there know what I'm going through!  {DEEP BREATHS}

Here are some pictures







Thursday, August 11, 2011

Yipee! Howdy Partner!!

I am in love with the Michael Miller "yipee" fabric. 

It reminds me of those story books from the 50's... 

I grabbed a bandana and an 8in x 8in piece of the fabric and went to work!  I added cow print fabric for the lining of the purse I decided to make. 



Then decided to add a pinwheel pin...



And finally decided it was finished!





Check it out in my etsy shop!

Purses and Totes

I was at home one morning thinking to myself I needed to go get a purse for myself.  But I didn't have anyone to watch the kids and grandma, so I again was searching Pinterest and found the cutest {and easiest} tutorial for a pleated purse.  I LOVE it!  I've been able to make a few changes to the original and make not only a purse for me, I've made a purse for a three year old and a tote for Charlie to use to "trick or treat" this Halloween! 

If you would like to purchase any of these (I have tons of fabric to chose from) send me a message from my etsy shop. 

My purse is made from upholstery fabric for extra wear, and is fully lined. 



The one I made for a special little girl is made with fun designer fabrics I found at the local shop in Northbrook, Quilter's Heaven.




And last but not least, the tote for my lil guy.  Since he won't really be trick or treating I wanted to make something for him to carry around when we go out this fall.  I love it so much, I think I will make two more for my older kids!  Its a good size for the candy they will get, and it will be fun to let them pick out the spooky fabric they like best!




And it's reversible too!!



The Vanity

When I was young, my mom handed down her vanity (from when she was young) to me.  When I moved out it became my sister's.  With three owners came three different paint finishes! 

While cleaning out the basement before moving in to my grandmothers house, we found the vanity.  It is perfect for Briana's room!  But the color is just not right.  It had been painted a midnight blue for my sister Cathy a few years back.  I looked on Pinterest to see what I could find and I love this antique look!



So I looked at the paint selection we had at home and found a light blue and white available!!  I only wish I had taken out my dad's power sander because I think I didn't distress it enough!!  Briana loves it, so I guess I shouldn't worry about it. 

Start to finish was a whole day's worth of work.  Trying to paint and entertain a 6 year old, 4 year old and 9 month old is crazy.  And by crazy I mean one of the dumbest things I've tried to take on by myself.  Charlie nearly ended up in the paint can a few times...and once when I tried to divert him from the can I accidentally got his arm with the paint brush.  So it took several hours, where as I'm sure if I had bothered to get a babysitter it would have taken only 2 or 3.  Including time for the layers of paint to dry.  Yes, I said layers.  Unfortunately I grabbed the "bone white" instead of pure white and had to do the base all over again.  In the long run it turned out okay, because while distressing the wood, it showed the white, bone and midnight blue.  Which actually looks pretty cool!

This picture shows the beginning, middle and finished result...


I've got a close up of the distressed look on the drawer...



I'm in the market for some cute drawer knobs if anyone has a vendor they prefer... let me know! 

This is the vanity set up in her room.  It needs a mirror and drawer knobs and a cute seat cushion for the chair, but I'm sure I can find some fabric to go perfect with it!


Tuesday, August 2, 2011

It's Done!!!!

My sewing table is done!!!  Hooray!  A little late, but that's okay.  It's in the perfects spot too.  Since Grandma broke her hip, I feel like I should no longer be in the basement (in case she needs me).  So we gave away a couch, moved around some furniture and made the sunroom into a toy room for the kids and a sewing room for me!  Its beautiful!! 

We took two 9 cube organizer bookshelves and an old table top (our first table from our first apartment bought at IKEA) and together it makes one super table with 18 storage containers! 

We went to Target and bought a few canvas bins and in their dollar section right now they have plastic bins that worked great for some smaller notions and such. 



...And my view is SO much prettier now!  Before it was of the laundry room's unfinished walls.  Solid concrete that has grime and dirt from the last 50 years.  So now this is what I get to look at while I'm working...



I can't wait to show you what I am inspired to create with my new surroundings!