Maxi Dress Repurposed to Fab Shirt

Before….

Cute… but could use a little something special.

After…

Pretty, pretty ruffled shirt.

 

What I did…

Cut off excess length at hem of dress.

From piece you remove… cut 1 1/2” strips

Set sewing machine on loosest straight stitch setting…

Sew strips down the center… I just eyeball it…

Gather strip by pulling top thread only…      

Pin in place and stitch down the center of the gather…

WaLa… Now you have a fab new Shirt…

I made a little hairpin with some of the leftover ruffle… likey, likey!

Woolen Project...

Tamra, Lynn Marie, Uncle David and I went to the
Greenwood Antique Show this weekend.
This was my favorite find.... the clipped sheep's wool.
I have a project, that was inspired from a DIY on One Pretty Thing.
If you would like to see the inspiration go HERE.

Here is my take... semi felted woolen soap. (I'm still learning)
How cool is that?
No wash cloth necessary... I thought these would make neat gifts for men.

How much is too much...

Misty blogged this query here.
I think the answer is, I obviously don't have a clue.
Is there such a thing as too much?
Well maybe if you were to attempt to wear them all at once.

I'm pretty sure these will all be either Birthday gifts or Christmas Gifts.
The necklaces above and below layer nicely... three options for earrings...
a girl has to have options.

Soft pink, lavender and rose... pretty, pretty.

I heart this one... can I have it???

It's Official...

We Love our Silly Little Puppy!

We decided on Roxie.
It was the only name we all agreed on.
She still looks like a little Tinkerbell to me.

She thought she'd do a little reading out in the sun yesterday or at least joined momma for her reading. She romped and played and wore herself out. Made me a little nervous. She was so tired she forgot to eat. She's made up for that lapse today tho'.

Oh, on another note, this a picture of my latest jewelry design. aka... project of the moment. You can't tell by the picture, but the beads are amber colored. I love how they looked against the pearls and gold findings. I'll be trying my hand at a few more designs over the next day or so. I'll share more pics later.

Sensational Summer Sundress Tutorial...

This is a quick and easy dress or shirt if you prefer. There is a picture step-by-step above... I'm sure more than you will need. If you're a seamstress, I'm sure the picture will do the trick. You might need the fabric measurements below. If you are new to sewing, If you can sew a straight seam, this dress is for you. No zippers or button holes required.

Fabric Measurements (for Size 18-24 mos)
Main fabric~
In center... 14 inches by WOF (Width of Fabric) ~ This piece will change depending on the length you need for your finished dress/summer shirt.
Straps... 2.5 inches by WOF divided into 4 equal pieces... folded in half length wise (this works for infant - 24 mos straps, for bigger sizes you might need to cut two strips and trim to appropriate length). Also, another option for the straps might be grosgrain ribbon ~ I would go with 5/8 inch to 1-1/2 inches.
Contrast fabric ~
Upper Casing... 4 inches by WOF folded in half length wise (right side out).
Lower Border... 8 inches by WOF folded in half length wise (right side out)... this creates the hem... very simple, very easy.
Elastic ~ Measure around your child's chest under the arms... or just hold it up and eyeball it... that's what I do... honest, seems to work fine.
Two buttons or add a bow or any little embellishment your heart desires.

Instructions:
We'll start with the straps if you are making from fabric. Fold in half right sides together. Serge along the length... I do all four in a row. Then serge across one end of each strap. Turn right side out. (I use a pen or pencil to help flip the fabric ~ start with the end for pushing the fabric up and then once done, flip over and use the point to fix the corners.) Press, press, press.

Now your ready for the body of the dress. Make sure if your fabric has a pattern, ie... up and down print, that you place the upper casing on the top... saves ripping out later. With the lengths together, serge 1/4 inch along the long edge. Press the serged seam towards the main body of the dress. Topstitch down the serged seam (I place the seam along the inside edge of my presser foot ~ works perfectly ~ see picture above), If you do not have a serger, you may choose to sew your seams, then use a decorative stitch to overlock the edges when doing your topstitching. Once done you are ready to make the seam for the casing... measure your elastic width. ( I use 1/2 inch - 5/8 inch elastic.) Make sure you allow for the elastic to move freely. Measure over from the seam where you attached to the main body of the dress approximately 1 inch... this will leave a edge on the top that create a ruffle much like sheared curtains.

Now we attach the lower border the same way. Once again, press the serged edge towards the body of the dress. Topstitch down for a nice finished effect.

Take your length of elastic, place a dress makers straight pin a cross one end. (This will keep the elastic from pulling all the way through as your feeding through the other side.) Use a large safety pin lengthwise on the elastic to help feed through the casing. Once all the way through, I pin the elastic in place about two inches in (This helps to keep the pins out of the way of the serger or presser foot.) Now you are ready to sew the short edges of your dress together. Lovely... now find the center of the front, line up with the center of the back. Measure out equal distances on each side... approx 2 inches and pin the straps in place... front and back. Sew across the strap, make sure to reinforce your seam for added strength. Sew at the seam between the elastic and the ruffled top edge. (this helps to hide the stitches)

Now you are ready to embellish to your hearts content... Everyone loves buttons and bows!

Enjoy!

I Guess Maybe I've Been A Little Busy (CRAZY!)...

I didn't realize just how many dresses I've made Ashelyn since May... Oh, and a few accessories too. Funny thing is, there are two dresses missing from the above shot. The pink one I posted last night and the little blue dress she is wearing with her hair in piggy tails in her birthday post... kinda crazy. (I think that makes 12 ~ Does she have enough summer wear yet Misty?) I sure am having fun.

Oh, and you think maybe I have a thing for pink and purple? Just maybe.

This little dress I just finished is for my Pay It Forward project. It will be departing to reside with Miss Abbie. I sure hope I didn't make it too long. Misty says Abbie is a little taller then Ashelyn ~ so it hopefully will work.

Options...

What to do, what to do? Both will work... How cool is that!?! I fell in love with both of these fabrics and couldn't resist making one more dress with both. LOVE IT!!! Can one little girl have too many dresses? I sure don't think so, but I think I better stop for a little while.

In Her Easter Bonnet...

What??? Easter has come and gone you say.

Okay, so I'm a little late for Easter... But, I hadn't found these babies yet. I am pretty tickled with them. Gramma Doan, Do you recognize this fabric?

Too bad I didn't have this one completed for Sweetpea yesterday... oh well, she'll have them for the next time she wears her little dot to dot dress.

Three out of four little bonnets for my little lassie. Ashe is going to look pretty stylin' wearing these little pretties.

Thought the lamp made a very nice hat display. I might just have to Etsy some of these in the near future... Wouldn't even begin to know where to start on pricing... fun thought tho.

Pretty in Pink...

Momma always loved butterflies. I guess I am somewhat the same. I've always been drawn to beautiful butterflies. When I saw this pretty pink fabric a flutter with butterflies... I knew I had to make Ashelyn something with it. I found some vintage buttons that were from Brent's Grandma Bailey-Ketchem's stash of old, old buttons. I am so lucky to have this stash to rummage through whenever I need a neat center for a hat or embellishment. It makes it seem like Ashelyn's Great-Great Grandma is smiling down thinking... yup, I remember what those came from. Good times.

Here's a close up of the buttons and the pretty little hat.

And here are two more hat in the making to go with the dresses I finished earlier in the week. You can't tell very well from the picture, but one is a light blue and the other is lavender... I found these little gems at the Dollar Tree... yup, that would be $1.00 each, before embellishments. What a deal!!!

I'm Seeing Spots... or is it Dot to Dots?

Misty has always loved "Dot to Dots" as she called them. She was very pleased when she saw I had acquired this pretty purple polka dot fabric.
These little sundresses make up so quick... Two in one night! Woo Hooo!!! These are for Miss Ashelyn's first birthday, so grandpa says she cannot have them until she unwraps them on her birthday. Whatever?!?!

Just a little something whipped up...

Sneak Peek...

Finished Sundress.

My Inspiration... Sandra Sue Richardson
I could always count on my
sweet momma-in-law when it came to
making Misty something pretty.
I am trying to follow in her footsteps.

I LOVE Paisley!!!

I love, love, love this little dress. The rosette can be used as an add on for the dress or it can be tacked on to a headband. I lined it with felt on the back so it's nice and soft and looks nice even from the back.

Pretty Posys...

Picked this pretty little posy fabric up at MO Star Quilt Company today while I was minding the store. Not too bad for a days work... oh, check out the decorative stitching I threw in for good measure...(The fabric I used was: Clementine - Floral by Me and My Sister for Moda and All You Need Is Love - Pin Dots by Deb Strain for Moda.)

ps, the detail work took longer to do than the entire dress did to make. If you have a little lady and you haven't attempted one of these little dresses, you are missing out. VERY Simple, VERY easy. There are several tutorials around already or I would do a quick tutorial... but really, try it out and then leave me a comment so I can see your take.

pps... I love comments.

Hello Betty! What Ya Got Cookin'

So... You might have seen I won a Hello Betty Charm pack from MO Star Quilt Company's give away... I might just have mentioned it before... just maybe.

I was able to make these two awesome runners... One for now with all these fun happy prints in reds, yellows, blues, greens and pinks...

and then...
This little lovely... with teals, rusts, chocolate browns, and greys for in the fall.

But that's not all folks!

I had enough charms left over to make four, yes ~ FOUR ~ trivet/hot pads. How cool is that?!? I still had two charms left... maybe a coaster? Just kidding... I'll save them for a later project.

So yup, Hello Betty has been good to me.

Thanks ~ MO Star Quilt Company ~ for the awesome prize!!!

Repurposed Polo to Sundress...

Here is my latest little sundress for Miss Ashelyn. This is a repurposed polo that I cut up and used. I trimmed the whole thing in light pink thread and added the little applique for something different. It's very soft and comfy feeling... I'm using the leftover sleeves to make a matching set of bloomers.
I just whipped these little cuties up... who would'a thunk they'd be so cute? I am lovin' them. Yeah, yeah for repurposed polos... fun, fun! I sure hope Misty loves the set as much as I do.

New Duds for Miss Thing...

Here is a little sundress I through together for Miss Ashelyn yesterday evening. You can't really tell by the picture, but the background of the fabric is a dark chocolate brown. I loved the graduated polka dots... love, love, love polka dots which will be very evident when I finish her other little dresses I have planned for Miss Things big 1 year birthday... doesn't even seem possible. One week from tomorrow Miss Ashelyn will be 1 Year Old... makes me just a little sad, It goes by so very quickly.

ps... Misty snapped some pictures of Ashelyn in her dress today, hopefully she'll be posting them soon.... and I'm sorry the head band is CRAZY!!! Reminds me of the old pill box hats when you see it on her head. Misty LOVED IT!!!

Quick and Easy Project...

So Natalie at the Missouri Star Quilt Company did a tutorial on these earlier in the year. What a great use of some worn out or stained t-shirts. I made this one out of a VolCoM Polo shirt. It got stained in the laundry so it wasn't being worn anymore... now it will be adorning my arm when I'm off to the Aldi's for some grocery items... so Thank you Miss Natalie. This was a very easy fun idea for re-purposing a t-shirt. Next on the agenda is a dress for Miss Ashelyn from a used Polo.

I added a box pleat at the bottom... oh, then I turned one of the sleeves into a pocket. I have the pocket flipped to the outside so that you can see it better.

Here is the final bag.

This is a step by step collage of how I made my next bag. I squared off the bottom and cut a flap off an old box to size and then placed in my completed bag to use as a bottom... nothing fancy, but it works.

Memory... this little white bag reminds me of the bag my Grandma had hanging from her clothesline to hold her clothespins.

Happy Birthday Renee!!! We Love You!

So Renee... Check this out! This will be adorning your table, minus of course my antique pitcher and glasses... just thought it made a nice picture... Happy almost 50th Birthday!!! te he he he he. I couldn't resist that, your little primary student made me laugh... no really, I hope you have a very Happy 49th Birthday. Sorry this runner will be a little late getting to you.

~ Love you to pieces Sister... sure wish I could see you!

Beginnings of a New Chevron Runner...

I had this awesome paisley fabric in my stash... added a little burgundy pin dot and navy mottled dot fabric for a pretty effect. I think it will look very nice on my kitchen table for the 4th of July holiday. My back was getting tired this evening... so this is as far as I got. I hope to finish it tomorrow evening and then back and begin quilting both runners. Sister of mine with a birthday on Friday... would you like to have a little something to adorn your table? Just say the word. I just need to know what colors you would like and then I'll come up with a little something just for you... It'll be Renee's Runner... kinda catchy if I do say so myself.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation Give-Away...

I'm not sure what this pattern is called... I think its a zig zaggy thing... maybe a cheery chevron in Kashmir (te he he). Anywho, here is a little table runner I started this weekend with some half square triangles made from a ... ta da,Kashmir IV charm pack by Sentimental Studios for Moda... when I started I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them... I'd done pinwheels... needed something new... sew, I mean so, this is what I came up with. My son, Zach, gave it two thumbs up... He likes the paisley prints especially. Who'da thunk it? You never know with my boys.

ps... Natalie help me out here. Didn't you make a quilt with a similar pattern to this. I would swear... not really... anyway I sure thought that's where I saw it. You know me... no pattern necessary as long as I've seen something similar... so, did you or didn't you? hmmmm?

Oh, I know I posted about this earlier... but I am so happy with my little back porch garden. And it is something else I did over the weekend. This is a nice shot of our little back yard oasis... The pictures I posted earlier were taken at night... so I shot a few the other morning. I love my little backyard pond. So do the dogs. They like to play king of the mountain on the rock pile... silly little things. I'll have to try to get a shot of them later... oh well, off to bed I go... 5 am will be here before I know it.
As for the title... tell me what you did over the weekend... kinda like the first week of school as a child when we had to write the dreaded report... What I Did on My Summer Vacation... ok, now it's your turn...

Ps... Did I mention "Give-Away?" What? No! you say. Comment to enter... post about and then comment again to let me know for two extra chances. A chicken wire planter or the table runner above (upon completion) will be the prize of choice, the planter will be minus dirt and flowers... it would be rather messy to ship... ps... Make sure I have a way to contact you.

I will draw one lucky winner on Saturday, June 6th @ 10:30 p.m. CST... hurry up and get entered.