Lil Blue Boo Giveaway!

I had the opportunity to be a pattern tester for Lil Blue Boo for the "T" patchwork dress. 

I love sewing with Lil Blue Boo patterns because of the variety of sizes, the thoughtful and thoroughness of her patterns and directions as well as the other options you can do to make the pattern different over and over again! Underneath, I added a pair of the leggings that has paid for itself over and over since buying the pattern. These leggings were made from sleeves of a long sleeved shirt, and the body of the shirt can still be made into a skirt!

It's almost impossible these days to get some good shots of Ellie, but I did what I could. Here she is modelling our version of the T patchwork dress! I used an old onesie from Jackson for the top:

Love that fun optional flower!

Right now, Lil Blue Boo is doing a giveaway to 4 lucky winners! Hop on over for a chance to win!

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Hippo Dress

Even though we are still needing our a/c out here in Arizona, it is starting to cool off! In the morning when I take my son to school, we all have to at least wear jackets. That's something, and I will take what I can get!

With the weather changing, we need to start looking at colder weather clothes. I bought a pattern from Dear My Kids to make my daughter some long sleeved dresses. I have been buying patterns on etsy here and there because for the most part, the sizes tend to range from tiny to larger, which makes it a great value since I can just print them out as each size happens. I originally bought this for the tunic to match up with those cute leggings I can't stop making, but I thought for the first attempt, I would go for the dress. I also skipped the inside pocket and the elastic sleeves.  I like the bell sleeves on this.

It has a fun button closure on the back

and its reversible! I lined this with corduroy so its a bit heavier and stiffer than I normally would have done.

I am about 3/4's done with another dress from this pattern that is a lot lighter and flow-ier (is that a word? because it is now!) and I added elastic to the sleeves this time. 

Happy Sewing!

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Outfit for my Night Owl

Remember that tutorial I said was coming soon? Well, sad story, my laptop died, and took those pictures right along with it! Thank goodness I had kept up on backup up pictures up to that point!

I thought instead, I would show a picture of what I was going to write the tutorial on, and just explain it here!

This entire outfit was handmade, from the bows to the toes :) Well, the leggings anyway. I'll break down how you can do it too.

Bows: two pieces of fabric right sides together, sewn into a rectangle, leaving a small opening to turn right side out. Once, it is right side out, close it and top stitch around. Accordian fold it in the center so that you can wire it for that nice pinched center. Cover with a ribbon and glue onto barrette. 

Onesie: I love decorating onesies, but white ones tend to get old. Instead, I dyed this that fun caramel color using tea! I used about 6 teabags and made tea, and then soaked the onesie for 30 minutes. To help keep the color, soak onesie in fabric softener first. Then once desired color is achieved. rinse in cold water until water is clear. Different flavors of tea produces different shades. This is great to antique something as well!

The skirt: was made from a tutorial here and is the same material as the owl on the onesie as well as the bows in her hair.

Finally, the leggings were made from an old  tshirt I had here using Lil Blue Boo leggings pattern here: I can say I have used this pattern in a variety of ways and it has definitely paid for itself. This way was ruched legs :)

 Sorry for a lack of pictures, but hopefully the links will help! Feel free to ask questions as well! 

Happy Creating!

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Making over a Wipe Box

I made this about 5 months ago and saw the pictures on my computer and remembered I never shared this project. (I think I never shared because I didn't like the pictures I took. :))

I actually saw the original idea on Marah Johnson's facebook (I love her work!!) and decided that Ellie's nursery needed one of these. Or should I say extremely fancy storage room, the girl never uses that room!

Makes a boring looking necessity into a super fun accessory! Plus, if you have the stuff laying around, it won't cost you anything to do!
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Kimono and Pants Set

I have to share this outfit I made today:

I requested this free pattern from habitual and it went so fast. She was so sweet and it was emailed really fast too!

I cheated and didn't make my own bias tape (although I started to. I just wanted to cheat since I had some that matched already. I am all about short cuts.)

I thought it would look really dressy to add some silky looking pants with matching trim to make it a complete outfit and traced some sweat pants that we already had here. The fabric was an old tablecloth!

Love the completed look!

I bet it would be a great boy outfit too. Thanks again for sharing that great pattern, Habitual!


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Glitter Bond

Hey there!

Meet my new friend, Glitter Bond. An inexpensive way to add some sparkle to fabric!

For this project, I used a onesie I had previously dyed, glitter bond, martha stewart glitter, and lace.

I used the freezer paper technique for the glitter bond. I cut out the stencil on freezer paper, ironed on, and then applied the glitter bond generously with a sponge onto one of the images. IMMEDIATELY after (because it seems to dry fast), I sprinkled the glitter on and then shook excess off. I repeated the process with the second color.

For the lace, I just made sure to pin it all on so that it sewed nice and straight. I pleated the ruffle collar so that it wouldn't bend up into her face. I thought the lace looked like a fancy little tablecloth.

Easy enough, right? It's so satisfying to see all that shimmer! :) 

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Ruffle Leg Onesie with Butterfly Wings

Awhile back, my sister in law showed me these ruffle leg onesies. I thought they were pretty cute, and finally got around to making them when I saw the tutorial here

Then I saw this tutorial on how to add butterfly wings, and decided to combine the two:

  

Super fast and simple, and I love the results. I think I will add some baby legs to protect her little knees though :)

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Pettiskirt and frilly stuff!

I absolutely adore pettiskirts and frilliness. I think they are really fun and feminine, but to buy the super full ones are also kind of pricey. I found out exactly why over the last month! They are tedious and a bit time consuming.

I watched this link, read this blog and then also this blog.

The only reason why I hadn't made it earlier was because you have to have no-fray chiffon. No one local (that I know of) sells no-fray chiffon, so I ended up ordering it here. I already had the blue no-fray chiffon magically in my stash (my mother in law finds the coolest stuff at yard sales) and I already had the yellow ribbon for another project and the yellow satin from a previous project, so it made sense to put it together. All I had to purchase was the no-fray chiffon in yellow. (A tip: The first time I put an order in, I only ordered 60 yard, thinking that would be more than enough. Wrong! I ended up having to put in a second order, and for like a dollar something more, I bought the 90 yards and have tons to spare.)

I used my gathering foot NOT the ruffler foot for this project. The reason why, is because the chiffon is so thin and delicate, the ruffler foot was just making it all a mess.

I started out hand gathering and did the blue this way. WHAT A PAIN! It seriously took me way longer than I think really it should have been. Then when I got the gathering foot, the yellow took no time at all.

Also, when you make it, if you are doing it for a baby or small child, make it larger than necessary. Ours will last a lot longer because I can pin it in the back for pictures. It's a lot of work and I would have been sad if she had outgrown it soon!

After I finished the skirt, I embellished a onesie

did a hair clip:

and made shoes from a mary jane pattern I had gotten on Etsy a long time ago:

I am so excited to get some good pictures of her when she turns 9 months at the end of the month (whoa!)

Hopefully if you decide to do one as well, something here will help you in the process! :) Enjoy!

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Apron Dress

I have been eying those cute apron dresses for awhile now, and on Saturday, I just went for it. Took a deep breath and just plunged on in!

I took a dress I already had here to use for sizing and then added the apron to it as I went along. Here's the finished results!

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A little sparkle is distracting.

This week, I sent my first baby to his first day of kindergarten. I think it has been traumatic for all of us. Today was the third day. I think it was the hardest for him. Can not wait to pick him up in an hour. Its only half day, thank goodness!

I have been in need of distraction. Everything here has shifted, and I have been trying to figure out my new routine. But as my husband always says, if there is a sparkle around, it will catch my eye and distract me. So I got out the rhinestones and glue, blinged out a pacifier and then made a pacifier holder. (The clip is a badge clip covered in more rhinestones). Once she outgrows it, it can be converted to a bracelet.

Only an hour until the weekend begins! I'll try to not think about Monday coming!

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Another Lil Blue Boo Dress

Last night I made two more lil blue boo dresses and the process seems to get smoother the more I make them! I have such a hard time sewing with knits sometimes, and I know its because I am too lazy to change out my needle or use different thread.

This dress is from hand me downs from my sister (appropriately named Olivia). I wanted to make a dress to match the cute tights from my mother in law! (I totally have the Olivia the Pig theme song stuck in everyone's heads today!)

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wet bags

Since cloth diapering our baby, I have learned how valuable it is to have wet bags around. Wet bags are great because you can put wet things in the bag and they keep the moisture and the stink inside of the bag. These are perfect for swimming suits too after getting out of the pool!

I have a large one and a small one, and I use them all of the time, but always have a hard time on laundry days because when they are being washed, I don't have anywhere to put the dirty diapers. I spent a lot of money on them, and just couldn't justify buying two more.

Recently, I learned that Jo-Ann now sells PUL. Score! With a 40 or 50% off coupon, it makes it only 5-6 dollars and yard, and if you have a local one, that saves on shipping!

Today I bought 1.25 yard of pul and made 2 more with enough to make another small one. With the zipper and the toggle for the drawstring, it only cost me 12 dollars. Wow! I also didn't have to wait for it to be shipped to me,  bought it this morning and had made both super quickly.

Here are the ones I had purchased when Ellie was born: 

Here's the ones I made today:

I followed the exact same way the other ones were sewn, and even though I didnt lay them out flat for the picture, they are both the same construction. The large is a drawstring and the small is a zipper.

I know these will be great for other things long after she is out of diapers. I think I have been on a bag making kick, because I have also been making drawstring bags for the boys' toys around here. Its so nice to organize the randomness of their toys.Have you seen the cute peek a boo toy sack tutorial? I haven't made them yet, but its such a cute idea!

Happy Thursday!

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