Ribbons and Puffy Sleeves

Those were the only requirements for this little dress, according to my little princess. We were headed to Disneyland and I had to make sure she would be going in style!

This dress was surprisingly easy to make. I had originally go to the store, picked up the Tangled pattern and copied the measurements and fabric requirements and got all of the supplies. Then I promptly put the pattern back on the rack. I have a hard time paying full price for patterns, so I was going to go home and wing it. But when I got to the register, I was informed that the pattern was only $1!! I picked that sucker right back up and my life just got a TON easier:)

I definitely didn't follow every detail in the pattern...do I ever?? But I made it just what we wanted it to be. Needless to say, she was thrilled with it, and can't wait to wear it for Halloween as well.

Far Far Away II Quilt...done!

I've been working on this quilt for a long while now and am so glad to have it finished. This is for Emmie and Kai will get his after the baby comes. I love love love this quilt and I love love love this fabric. It is so beautiful and surprisingly soft, for being linen.

 

I tried my hand at freehand quilting and really enjoyed it once I got the hang of it. It definitely takes some practice,  but it was really relaxing and I love the way it turns out. For the sashing I used a wonderfully soft cotton/linen blend found on Sew Mama Sew.

 

For the binding I used a vintage sheet that matched just about perfectly. I was unsure of what color to go with when a friend said "I was thinking yellow!". Done. (Thanks Kristen!)

Sweet and Easy Baby Gifts

Between fulfilling orders and babies being born every time I turn around, it was high time I got to business making some baby gifts. Here's a sample of what I've been up to.

Both booties patterns came from Precious Patterns on Etsy. They seriously have some of the sweetest patterns on the block and at very reasonable prices too! The raggy burp cloth idea came Homemade by Jill. I just drew half a basic burpcloth shape, cut all my fabric on the fold, sewed them wrong sides together (including a cross in the center to keep the pieces from shifting in the wash), cut the fringe and washed them. Super easy. You can seriously whip so many of these out in such little time. And honestly, I do love making practical things for new moms.

I am currently trying to sew my way through my WIP pile...what a job. But it always feels so good to get another thing out of that pile. Not to mention, all those projects are taking up so much room in my craft room right now that I have moved downstairs onto the kitchen table....much to my husband's dismay....muah hah hah! I should make him a deal: He finishes my kitchen backsplash and floor and I'll move back into my own space. Hmn. Wonder if he'll go for it.

Boys Need Aprons Too.

In fact, I think they need aprons MORE than little girls. My little guy sure knows how to make a mess. So, using my super easy, 30-minute apron pattern (which I would LOVE to share with you, if only I could figure out how to make a printable PDF pattern with a few pieces that you would tape together...) (and yes...it truly only takes 30 minutes) I whipped up a special airplane apron just for my little man who is utterly obsessed with "papa's airplane."

I shortened my usual pattern for this one, but, it still has that nice, simple button enclosure in the back, which for some reason is always my favorite part.

And while I could have SWORN that I posted my daughter's apron that I made about a year ago, I'm not finding it ANYWHERE on this blog. So. Here is hers, using so sweet little doll fabric that I picked up at a garage sale a couple of years ago.

Vintage Nightgowns

Baby, it's HOT outside! And since we're mega cheap-o...I mean, frugal...we refuse to turn on our AC for a little while longer. It's only MARCH for Pete's sake. Therefore, we are all rather warm at night. The fans are turning and trying to keep the room cool, but the little ones need some summer jammies.

You just gotta love the little man's bedhead:)

Enter: vintage pillowcases. Yum:) One found at a thrift store (the yellow flowers) and the other was actually MINE when I was just a little girl. It was always my favorite because it had ruffles. I distinctly remember asking my mom for those sheets every time my bed got changed. And as I got older and I wasn't supposed to think ruffles were cool anymore, I STILL asked for them and made up excuses like, "they're nice and cool so I don't get hot," or, "the other ones give me life-threatening rashes," because I have always loved ruffles. Always, always. Which is why I think that I should have another girl. Too much fun. But I digress.

Pillowcase jammies. Just lovely.

I used two different tutorials for inspiration.

First, this one. This night gown is ridiculously easy. Perfect for any beginner, that's for sure. In fact, you probably don't even need the tutorial. I switched up the back a little to be sure the sleeves won't be falling down. 

For the second I used this tutorial, sort of. Just looking at her sweet little nightgowns made my heart go pitter patter. I basically just looked at her pattern and took a dress out of Emmie's closet to trace a pattern and went for it. I made the flutter sleeves into actual cap sleeves. LOVE them.

"NOW can I jump, mama??"

Next on the list is something for little Kai....Anyone know of some fabulous summer jammies patterns for the little men in our lives??

Fairy Garden Playmat

About a year ago Emmie and I made this little fairy haven for her, with a couple of fairies to go along, but we decided it needed a little more, so she helped me to design a little fairy garden. She simply let me know that it needed a path and a stream.

It was super easy using some wool felt and slapping two pieces together and embellishing the top. I always like to use two layers of wool felt when making items like this for children simply because I find that it hold up to their play a little better. It would be even more exciting to create TWO scenes, one on the front and one on the back, but Emmie didn't care about that. She just wanted her stream and her path.

If anyone is interested I would be glad to post a simple little tutorial on how to make a sweet little fairy sometime in the near future. 

Felt Crown Tutorial {with template}

Today I am going to share with you my number one go-to gift for little girls.

The Felt Crown

It is so easy and is so quick to whip up several at a time.

Here's what you'll need:

2-  9.5"x 4" pieces of felt
12 in elastic (this fits my 4 year old's head perfectly, so adjust accordingly)
optional:
10 in ribbon
felt scraps
buttons

First, using the template below, cut out two crown pieces and whichever other pieces you wish to use.
Felt Crown Template

Then take your decorative pieces and lay them on top until you get it the way you want it.

Now, pin the ribbon down and sew it. Then sew each of the felt pieces down. You may want to use steam-a-seam for this if you consider yourself a novice sewer, that way they won't move around or bunch up on you.

Cut the ends of the ribbon to match the edge of the crown.

(You can easily make this a reversible crown by decorating the other crown piece as well!)

Now put the two crown pieces wrong sides together, sewing the elastic into one end first. I inserted the elastic about 3/4". Sew along the bottom of the crown and then when you reach the other end, insert the other of the elastic about 3/4", being sure that it is not twisted and sew it in. **Note: You will want to sew over the elastic 2 or 3 times to be sure it is secure.

Then finish sewing around top of the crown. In some places your pieces may have slipped a bit and aren't perfect. Have no fear!! That's why we love felt, just trim it up to where everything looks just right from the front. Although, if the front and the back are the same color, this really won't be much of a problem.

 I know....poor little guy. I guess I need to make him one of his own.

Please let me know if you have any questions at all!! Have fun!

Sharing this tutorial over at * a little lovely

Sharing the love at some of the following:
Monday:
Making the World Cuter Mondays
Keeping it Simple-- Motivate Me Mondays
Skip to my Lou-- Made by You Mondays
Sew Can Do-- Craftastic Monday 
C.R.A.F.T-- Making Monday Marvelous
Tuesday:
Sugar Bee-- Take a Look Tuesday
Today's Creative Blog-- Get Your Craft On!
Creative Itch-- Sew Cute Tuesday
Tip Junkie-- Tip Me Tuesday
Wednesday:
Sew Much Ado-- We Did It Wednesday!
Blue Cricket Designs-- Show and Tell
Friday: 
Simply Designing
Kojo Friday Fun Finds 
Fingerprints on the Fridge-- Feature Yourself Friday 
Tatertots and Jello-- Weekend Wrap-up
Weekend:
The Girl Creative-- Just Something I Whipped Up
Under the Table and Dreaming-- Sunday Showcase 

 

Travel Buddies

We do a lot of traveling. And almost all of it is in the car these days. So my kids needed something just their size.

Something with a little pocket for keeping their very special bits and things. And a handle for easy retrieving, or for clipping onto their backpack on an airplane trip.

I got the idea for this on MayaMade, although I didn't actually follow her instructions or measurements.

Here are my measurements and method:

(you'll need about a 1/2 yard to complete one pillow)
2 coordinating pieces: 9 1/2" x 14 1/2" for body
2 pieces: 7 1/2" x 6" for pocket
1- 4 1/2" x 12" piece for handle
Polyfil

Use 1/4" seams.

First I made the pocket by sewing the pieces right sides together, leaving a 4" hole on a long side to flip. Clip corners, turn, press, and sew along the side with the hole. This will be the top open side of your  pocket. Now place it on a pillow piece, pin and sew.

Then, fold your handle piece lengthwise, right sides together. Turn the tube right side out, press and edgestitch down both long sides.

Now, for the pillow. Take one piece and pin the handle, right sides together with raw edges matching. Then pin the other pillow piece right sides together. **Be sure your pocket is face the right direction! Sew the two sides together, leaving a 4" hole in the middle of one of the short ends. Clip the corners, turn and stuff with Polyfil. Then slipstitch the hole closed. You're done!

This was definitely one of their favorite mama-made Christmas presents, next to the playhouse, of course.

And my son was rather irritated that I dare to remove his pillow from his bed...

Ruffles!!

I love ruffles.And I have been blessed with a little girl who does also. With as much as she loves clothes I thought it would be fun to get her something different for Christmas, and something the matches her personality perfectly, but alas, everything I found in the stores was either not quite right or just plain expensive.

So I made her a little something.

With simple matching bows and sweet little flowers sewn to the shirt

I am just thrilled with how all of that ruffly goodness turned out. Since I didn't have any pattern to follow, I was a bit nervous about it.

I'm especially glad that she's thrilled about it also.