spring fling top

I have had this fabric for awhile and figured I should use it. I made one of these tops for each of my girls but Bramli is not big on getting her picture taken so Londyn is my model. As you can see she hates it. . . . . hehe. Here is your supply list, I am estimating as I made 2 tops and had leftovers.

1 yard main fabric (fits 7 yr old)
1/4 yard contrasting fabric
1/4 yard of lining/bib fabric
buttons
thread



I started out by cutting the fabric doubled and folded to the measurement of my girls' shoulders and then the length by measuring shoulder to hip, I then added 1/2 inch for inseams. I simple added 4 inches to the shoulder measurement for the bottom of the top so that it would flare out. I also doubled the fabric and cut 7 inch by 4 inch rectangles, for my big girl, for sleeves. For the bib I folded the fabric and traced a water bottle cap for the bib making it 7 inches long and about the same across, making it oval shaped along the bottom. I did the same thing for the scalloped hem but with a juice lid. Double the fabric, cut it the same length as the bottom of your top and cut your scallops. I just pinned the bib piece to the brown dot and bottom scallop to the cream fabric with both right sides up, and the used my machine to sew them together by following the scallops on the top piece, then I cut the brown dot and the cream to match the scallops. Then cut a 2 by 7 inch strip of brown for the button placket.

Above are the pieces you should have
2 sleeve pieces
front and back piece of shirt, I cut the shoulders on the top fold of fabric so I didn't have to sew the shoulders together
bib piece
bottom scallop front and back
button placket


Here is the bib, same thing for bottom. I sewed the sides of the top together and then attached the sleeves by just putting them into the arm holes right side of fabric together and sewing them. The nice thing about this was that I am sure you noticed I cut the sleeves long and square, once they were in I had plenty of length to play with and I simple trimmed the inside where there was excess in the arm pit from cutting the ends square. I did do a little scallop and then hemmed it. I cut a square neck by folding my top and then cutting it to the dimensions of the bib. I hemmed the neck, attached my bib and button placket and then hand stitched the buttons. the neck is a bit big but it was nice because I didn't have to mess with buttons or anything and she totally has room to grow.

Next time I am going to try to get Bramli to pose for me, people are going to start thinking she doesn't exist!!!

3 sisters dress

The week before Easter was spring break, and my kids and I were lucky enough to squeeze in a quick 3 day trip to see my sister in San Clemente. The weather was gorgeous and we had fun hanging out and playing with my nephew. I took my sewing machine hoping to slip in a project and when I got there my sister (Jayde) and I decided that it was time to make something for us grown up girls!! I literally never make myself anything, but it was fun and turned out cute, so I may just have to try it again! This dress is so easy, I made one for myself, Jayde and our youngest sister Paige in 3 hours tops. While being endlessly interrupted by my kids. Here is the supply list

1 3/4-2 yards of jersey
1/4 yard of a contrasting knit (it does not have to be a knit, but you do want it to have some stretch)
thread


This is actually the layout for Jayde's dress, because I guess I didn't take pics of every single one. I told her to pick a shirt that was pretty loose and that she liked how it fit. I doubled up the jersey and folded it in half and basically traced it. The only thing you want to watch is the length. I knew the shirt that she picked is pretty long on her, but the one I did was a bit shorter and you want to make sure that the top will fit a bit slouchy into the skirt.

Then I measured her hips and her hip to ankle measurement and added a couple of inches for inseams. I doubled and folded my fabric for the skirt, measured 1/4 of her waist measurement in and cut to there. I then cut into the hem 3 inches further than the waist and simply cut a diagonal line until they met. I am hoping this makes sense.You want to cut this pretty much the same size as you are or else it won't stretch and fit you well. It will be baggy. So, for example, if the waist is 28 and you have a front and a back then each side of your skirt needs to be 14 inches. Since you fold your fabric that means that you would cut 7 inches in at the waist. 10 inches in at the hem and then cut a straight diagonal until you have your 2 pieces. Whew! I am horrible at reading directions and now feel that I should apologize to all the people I said wrote stupid directions. . . . . .

Sew your top right sides together, DO NOT SEW THE SHOULDERS CLOSED, only sew the sides! Sew your skirt together. Then you then take your contrasting knit and cut a piece that is 5 inches by your waist measurement. Then you pin that right sides together to the top of your skirt and attach. Don't know why the top is upside down in the above picture.

Finish it off by opening up the neck of your shirt, slide it onto the skirt, upside down and right sides together. Sew the waistband knit into the bottom of your top, if your top is a little wider around the bottom than the top of your skirt, either pleat the excess into either side of the waistband, or do 2 folds equal distance apart on the back. I know its sounds tricky but I eyeballed it on all three and it was so easy and you don't even notice. Turn your entire dress inside out and sew up the shoulders and you are done! Super easy and nice for summer. I need more colors!! And a shout out to my 9 yr old who took the pictures of me in the dress, he was less than thrilled.

I posted the tutorial on the twiggy wreath awhile back , but decided to do an update after putting these together for a couple of friends. It's exactly the same, I just used silver paint and then a couple of other things that I will get to below.

I wrapped some netting around some moss hot glued that and my fingers to the wreath, said bad words, pulled my fingers off and proceeded. Put some eggs on there, added a strip of fabric and you are good.

I sprayed the base really light silver and then used this webbing spray paint, I am telling you I am so so so excited about this for Halloween, it totally gave the wreath a rustic feel without losing a bit of glitz. I don't know how well you can see, but it made the kind of cobweb looking stuff below, it looks better in person, trust me. I gave it all a shot of glitter and we are done. I also have found an unlimited supply of twigs, so if you live in the area, come by some night and we will go out and explore my mysterious nightlife of twig collecting. Oh, how far I have sunk. . . . . . ..

I have always been afraid, I mean terrified of patterns. It is really just so silly because when I think about it, of course things are easier with directions. I guess its just that I am a visual learner and all those words printed on that thin paper with weird symbols. . . . . . it freaks me out. There is something I really like about just cutting and making things up as you go, the down side is that honestly, sometimes it does not turn out the way I wanted. That can be pretty hard to swallow if you have spent a really long time on it!! I really wanted to make Londyn a special dress for her violin recital and I ordered a couple of vintage patterns (seriously so much cuter than anything I saw) on etsy and bit the bullet! I am sure you seasoned pros can spot my mistakes, and I did add sleeves myself, but overall it wasn't too painful. I am not going to lie, I really do hate math that much, just ask Mrs. Paves (7th and then consequently 8th grade math teacher) thanks to whom I am now nearly ambidextrous as that was a better use of my time than algebra, a lost cause. But I digress. . . .

I got the butterfly fabric half off at Joanns and found a perfect peach to go underneath in the red tag section, and then got black lace, black velvet ribbon and the blingy bow I had from the fashion district down in LA. Londyn was very happy that it was twirly and I was very happy that it was done. I got another pattern so I think in the near future I will try something else.

She did a really good job at her recital, which made all of the screechy- er- I mean, lovely music we have been listening to worth it! If anyone wants the name of the etsy site with the vintage patterns, I can track it down, her prices are awesome! The pattern I wanted was as high as 50 and as low as 30 on every other site. She charged 10! So. . . . . who wants to come fold that pattern back up and get it back in the envelope for me?

twiggy wreath

Last thursday I was on my evening run when I found a really good pile of twigs. I am almost ashamed of how excited I was. I decided to take them home and make a new wreath for spring, even though I looked ridiculous walking home sweaty with my arms full of twigs.

Here are the supplies

twigs

spray paint

ribbon or hook to hang it with

felt or fabric for flowers (or a bird or decoration of your choice)

lots of hot glue

I broke them into 10-12 inch pieces and 14-16 inch pieces and then laid them out and gave them a quick and really light coat of blue, pink and white spray paint. I just did it really light and uneven just because the wood looked a little more like a fall wreath. Then I took the sturdiest 4 pieces and glued them together in a frame shape and then built on from there. I made 3 quick felt flowers, used a strip of pink fabric to hang it with. It was so so so easy and quick and I didn't even go to the store once! I had everything!

End table makeover. . . . . and more

So I know I have mentioned that we are currently renting a house that is not really my favorite. I enjoy decorating and it has been challenging for me to feel motivated when I cant knock out a wall or something! But I came across this little end table at the Goodwill down the street and got inspired to give my little family room a lift. So above is my 10 dollar find, I will admit, I was pretty excited.
These are the supplies
A piece of furniture
spray primer
spray paint in desired color
spray gloss (if desired)
faux glaze (just get a pint, you will have leftovers for a future project!)
black acrylic paint
an old towel or cloth you can ruin
an old sheet or tarp for under your furniture.


I started out by priming it with good ole spray paint, I thought I might have to sand it a bit, but I was pleasantly surprised, it was really smooth and the coat of primer went on so well I didn't bother. I then went over that with a Home Depot Lagoon Blue spray paint. I really usually like Krylon but they didn't have a color I liked. I can now say I really recommend the Home Depot stuff too. It worked just as well. I decided to finish it off with a faux antique finish. It is so so so so super easy, if you have never done it, please try it, I did it to my kitchen in my old house in one night and it made a huge difference. You really can't mess it up. After your bottom coat is dry, get your faux glaze, mix in some regular black acrylic paint and mix it up. Then take a old cloth rag and literally wipe it all over your piece. Make sure to really get it in the details so they will pop. as you go wipe off the excess until you are happy with it. If you mess up, take a clean part of you rag immediately wipe it off and start over. As you can see in the picture below it is done on the left and not the right. Big difference!!











I also got the lamp below at goodwill for five bucks! I am lame and didn't take a before picture but it was just a dark nasty brown. I threw a coat of primer on it and a high gloss white spray paint. My sister Jayde, found me the awesome lamp shade at TJ Maxx for seven dollars.

So since it was going well and I had paint leftover, I decided to spray paint my old table, it was brown wood around the edges, had a ceramic middle and wrought iron legs. I primed it and then sprayed it glossy black, I don't think its exceptional, but it gave it a lift and just changed it up. I do seriously love my old black lamp with its glossy teal! I used the same paint as the table but put a layer of clear gloss on top. The lamp shade was 4 dollars at goodwill! If you look on the couch, the teal and white geometric pillows are some pillows I already had that were looking rough, I just got 1 yard of fabric and hot glued it inside out where you would normally sew seams, I was feeling really lazy and as hard as my kids are on pillows I figured it wouldn't matter anyway. Then I stuffed the pillow in and folded the seam over and glued that. The best part is that when they are trashed, I will rip it off, get another yard of fabric and do the same thing. Someday I will maybe have gorgeous pillows with beading etc. . . . . .right? Anyway, I am still in my rental, but it was a super cheap and easy pick me up and I feel like when we move I can still use it all somewhere or spray paint it again! Up next? My girls room, Bramli is ready for a big girl bed!! And a ridiculously cute rocking chair that I got at goodwill for five dollars!!

Charming

Having 2 kids with autism has changed my life in a lot of ways. Before we started all of our many therapies, I never knew that a lot of the people that would be helping us would come into our home. Truthfully, it's a little intimidating to have people that you don't know come into your home to talk about the problems your child has and what needs to be done. I am pretty outgoing and knew that my kids needed a lot of help, but I was a little nervous. I guess I always thought of therapy as something that happens at a clinic, but I have realized that really all aspects of life are hard for my littles and so we need therapy in every setting. I do not feel like I even have the words to describe how amazing our therapists are. I literally feel their love for my children. Keep in mind that these kids do not willingly do any of this!! And yet, here they are, tirelessly motivated and upbeat. Bramli's therapist, Mara, always greets us at home or school with a new idea to help Bramli and her victories are just as special to Mara as they are to me. I can't tell you how many times I have gotten a text on the weekend or in the evening from Mara following up to see how she is doing or to offer advice. She is priceless!!!
I found out that it is Mara's birthday tomorrow and so I really wanted to make her something that was meaningful. A puzzle piece is the symbol for autism and Mara started working at the program she is at in 2001. So with this as my inspiration, I decided to make a charm necklace.

I had a gift certificate from Christmas and I have been wanting a few charm making supplies so I went with my 40% off to Michaels and got metal cutting craft shears. Some metal sheets, the alphabet stamps, and the thing that drills holes, sorry can't remember what they called it. It is the silver thing up top. Then I found a 2001 penny for the year she started and a 2011 dime to mark her 10 year anniversary there. I also got a chain and some jump rings to attach the charms.

The puzzle piece was a bit tricky, the far right was my first attempt and it was pretty rough, I tried scratching it up so it looked distressed, but I knew that a second attempt would be better. I also got 30 gage metal and then found a site that recommends 22-24 for charms so that could have been part of it. I cut out the second one and then, of course, decided hers needed to be gold. I cut the last one out of gold and then stamped it with letter O's to make it more textured and not so plain.

It was a fun little project, didn't take very long and I think its something a lot of moms, teachers etc would like!

Here is our sweet Mara and Bramli today at school!! Notice she is wearing her necklace! Happy Birthday Mara!!!!