Thursday, October 27, 2011

Halloween's a Hoot

Have you heard?  Owls are "IN" right now. 

My seven year old is kind of obsessed.

Her idea of a perfect costume was to be a blue owl with white feathers.  I searched {Pinterest} and found a few examples that were really adorable!  I took all that inspiration and made her costume.  It is finally finished!  I started with an old shirt that she won't wear anymore and stitched lines of the "feathers" I had cut out from coordinating fabrics.  I did this on the entire front and back.  {WOW} Then we wanted to add wings!  I took panels of felt and measured how much I would need (if she were to raise her hand in school for example) and intended on sewing them to the shirt she will wear under the costume.  However, when she heard this idea, and reacted, I decided it wasn't worth the drama!  We will be safety pinning the wings on this Monday.  {she wins yet again}  Originally I was going to make the mask from a technique found {yes, again on Pintrest} using a fabric doily and fabric stiffener, however, when I found a doily at the fabric store, I decided NOT to spend the $9 on it.  The plastic masks and feathers were very conveniently next to the doily's and together only cost $2.50, so voila, a new idea was born.  I chose white feathers and clear jewels to decorate.

This year's costume is no where near as elaborate as last year's, but I think it is JUST as cute!




Thursday, October 20, 2011

Twirl Dress

Every girl loves to spin in a pretty dress.  It's especially fun if the dress is long and flowy, and has 16 panels of pretty fabric to look at while you twirl!

I just finished this beautiful pink and purple (among other colors) twirl dress for a client's daughter's first birthday.  Since it isn't her birthday yet, I don't have any pictures of her wearing it {and I think if I put my lil guy in it my husband would frown} So when I have a picture with a child in it I will re post!

But for now....






So pretty. 

I also made my boys tee shirts for our upcoming family portraits.  Hopefully the dreary Chicago October skies turn sunny by Sunday!!  I made the boys matching shirts with the letter from their first name on front.  The fabric coordinates with Briana's twirl dress!! 




Keep your fingers crossed we have great weather! 

To purchase a dress or tee, visit my shop!


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Lovely Days Were Here Again

It's been a very interesting start of the school year this year!  The first few weeks, we had weather that reminded me of mid October.  And this past week we were blessed with weather reminiscent to late summer!  I took full advantage and finished my lil guy's nursery. 

Yes, Charlie is almost a year old, and I just finished the nursery. 

My feelings are, you never know what your child's personality is until you actually spend time with him/her... 

I could go on, but it would just not be fair... it's just not the truth!  I just didn't have time until now to finish his room.  {hehe}

I love the mid century modern era for furniture.  I've been searching Craigslist for months trying to find something I could re purpose.  And I lucked out!  One day, I found this amazing dresser for only $30!



So, it wasn't as beautiful in person as it is in the picture, and I was slightly worried about being able to make it shine.  The back needed to be completely taken off, everything needed to be sanded and primed and painted (all 12 coats of paint!!)  But after a few days of hard work, I am so pleased!! 

I painted it with semi gloss for a sheen and the drawer handles I painted a matte gray color for contrast.  It looks great in his light gray room!



Now I haven't decided yet if I'm keeping all of those decals up.  I had thought they would be perfect in the room, but the more I look at them, the more I feel only the bees are necessary.  (Charlie has a thing for bees)
Plus, they are not a matte finish and therefor hard to see when there is light in the room reflecting on them. 

But that's the great thing about decals...  they are easy to remove!

Gotta get back to sewing now!