Faux Purse Dress

I made this dress for my niece's 4th birthday. It is a size larger so that she can grow into it.

At Hancock Fabrics, I found some really cute corduroy fabric (perfect for fall) in a cute butterfly and floral print in brown and other fall colors. I made it reversible, the yellow 'lining' is the same print of the yellow butterflies in the brown print of the main fabric.



I made a faux purse (it is an actual pocket) on the side of the dress in the main fabric and used a coordinating color of rick-rack for the purse strap.





I used flower buttons at the shoulders and on the faux purse flap. On the purse flap, it is just for decoration, it does not actually button.







Rance's birthday is August 14 (he just turned 5) and my niece's birthday is August 8 (she just turned 4), so I asked Rance to try on the dress for the pocket placement and to see how it might fit. He reluctantly did it (he really love's his mother).





This dress would look so cute with a long sleeve tee or a long sleeve turtle neck under it and could be worn way into the fall.

Showing my Independence

It's a little late for Independence Day, but here you go anyway (better late than never right? - Nah, I don't agree either, just thought I'd try).

I made this Stars and Stripes Pillowcase Dress. I love the fabric because it looks antique-ish (I just made that word up, but it sounds good). The blue fabric has off-white stars in it, the red, striped, ticking fabric looks tea-stained, which gives it an aged look. A little girl could wear this any time, it doesn't just have to be worn on the 4th of July (but it does look Patriotic).

I love pillowcase dresses for several reasons...

1) The first is the history behind them. They used to be worn by peasants and poor people. They made use out of what they had. Nothing went to waste.

2) They grow with the girl. Since the ribbons can be tied tighter when she is smaller and looser as she grows, it is able to be worn longer.

3) The pillowcase dress can be worn as a top (this kind of goes with #2) when the dress gets too short. It can be worn with little bloomers, capri pants or jeans.

4) It can be dressed up or down depending on what you make it out of. Pillowcase Dress with lace trim in white with white leather patent Mary Janes makes a very cute Easter dress. Make it with a casual fabric and flip flops and it can be a summer play dress.



Here was a simple Patriotic table display. I had red and white dishes that I mixed up, I used red and blue bandanas for inexpensive place mats and napkins on a plain white table cloth. I had red and blue enameled buckets (Target $1 aisle) and American flags (Hobby Lobby half -off) about $0.25 each. Quick, Easy and Inexpensive!

For a little girl

Front...
Back...
I purchased another pattern from You Can Make This. It is a skirted diaper cover. I thought it was adorable. Think how much that it would dress up a little onesie or a simple little T-shirt or plain top.

This pattern is by Monkeysbug Tee and Tie Dyed Diva, you can also get their stuff on etsy. I am a fan of theirs. I may even be addicted to their patterns (I have a huge long list of their patterns in my 'Wish List' on You Can Make This). You can see a couple more of their patterns that I made here.

I'm Back (for a little while any way)

Sorry that I've been MIA lately, but I'm here now (today anyway - not sure how long). Things have just gotten crazy around here lately. I'm having trouble managing my time and I keep getting side-tracked.

I have been working on things and taking pictures, I just haven't been able to blog about them. But, I'm going to start now.

I love the Sock Monkey! I had one when I was a child (I actually still have it) and it is just a little bit nostalgic. I saw this cute fabric and had to get it (got it here). Now what to do with it? Well, I held on to it for a long time before I did anything with it. It was just too cute to even cut up (almost). ;o)

Well my first project were these burp cloths (check them out here) as a baby gift. Then I made this outfit...






I used a colorful sock monkey print and then the sock monkey 'knit' print. It is a pillowcase dress/top and ruffled pants. I think it would be cute as is or you can put a red long sleeve shirt under the dress/top if it is cool. You could also pair the pants with a solid color top (choose any color in the print). Would look great with a very colorful hair bow.

Now, what to do with it? I just don't think any of my boys would wear it (and if they did Frank would get us all).

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." Robert Brault

Tutorial: How to make a ruffle without a ruffler

I have 4 boys and other than sewing an occasional baby gift for a girl (and the gifts don't all have ruffles) I didn't see the need in a ruffler. I've heard other women that absolutely love their ruffler attachment for their sewing machine, so if you have one use it, if not you can still make great ruffles. (Not sure what they cost, but even if it was cheap, I didn't see me getting my money's worth out of it.)

But I do make an occasional ruffle and here is how I do it...

I get a length of fabric (1 1/2 to 2 times as long as what I will be sewing it to). Hem one long side. The long side that isn't hemmed I do a basting stitch about 5/8" away from the raw edge.


I then do another basting stitch right next to the first one, this one I sew 1/4" away from the raw edge.


Then I separate the bobbin threads from the top threads and begin to pull the bobbin threads (both at the same time).


It will cause the fabric to scrunch up or ruffle.


I continue sliding the fabric down the bobbin thread (or pulling the bobbin thread) until all the fabric is scrunched up.


I then lay it next to what I plan on sewing to. I gently pull out the ruffle I just made so they are the same width and begin to evenly space the ruffles.


When I sew it onto my item (diaper edge, bottom of a dress, skirt, or top, bottom of pant legs, etc.), I sew it between the 2 basting stitches. (After ruffle is secured onto item, remove basting stitches.)


There's how you make a ruffle. Now, go make lots and attach them to everything and then send me your pictures (or link to them in the comments section). By the way, did you know I love comments? I do, I do, I really, really do.

Turkey Hair Barrett Tutorial

"A turkey is a funny bird, his head goes wobble, wobble.
All he knows is just one word and that is gobble, gobble."
(That's what Anthony's pre-K class said before their Thanksgiving dinner.)



Well, I've finished my tutorial (that I mentioned here) on making the Turkey Hair Bow/Barrett and I even did it before next Thanksgiving. But I guess it's not in time for you to make one for this Thanksgiving (sorry) - unless of course you already have the supplies on hand (it just takes a few minutes).


You will need 3/8 inch grosgrain ribbon in the following colors: green, yellow, red, brown and orange...


...googly eyes, hair clips...


...hot glue gun and glue sticks...


...and optional (not necessary, but really makes things easier) metal cookie sheet, wooden ruler with a metal edge, and a wood burning tool with the chisel tip.


Measure your hair clip either with the green ribbon itself or with a measuring tape and cut ribbon to that length. (Depends on the size of your clip as to how long your green ribbon will be.) I cut my ribbon with the wood burning tool (chisel tip), this heat seals the ribbon and keeps it from fraying. (You can use scissors and fray check if you want.)


Hot glue the green ribbon around the outside of the hair clip (making sure you don't glue the clip together where it won't open).


Cut 3 inches each of brown, yellow, orange and red ribbon.


Cut a piece of orange ribbon slightly smaller than 1/2 inch.


Cut 2 pieces of brown ribbon, one 6 1/2 inches and another 2 1/2 inches.


Fold the small orange piece in half (to form a triangle - this will be the beak) and glue. Fold each of the 3 inch pieces (these will be the tail feathers) and the brown 2 1/2 inch piece of ribbon to form a loop (see picture) and glue.


Take the long brown piece of ribbon (6 1/2 inches) and make a large loop on one end and glue on the back side. (This will be the body of the turkey.)


Make a smaller loop on the top part of the ribbon and glue on the back side. (This will be the head of the turkey.)


Take the 2 1/2 inch piece (that is now a loop) and glue to the underside of the turkey body (see picture).


Glue the orange triangle and the googly eyes onto the brown piece (see picture for placement).




Glue the colored loops (tail feathers) onto the green ribbon covered hair clip in a fan shape (see picture for placement).


Glue the turkey body onto the tail feathers and green covered hair clip. There's your turkey hair bow.

I hope each and everyone of you has a very safe and happy Thanksgiving. Count your blessings.

Skittering Ladybugs

This is a dress that I came up with. There are 2 ladybugs skittering across the dress. The ladybugs are red and black (they leave a red and white gingham trail) appliqued on a navy and white gingham fabric. The dress is fully lined in solid navy blue. There are 2 red and black ladybug buttons at the shoulders.


This is a closeup of the ladybug buttons (sorry, it didn't come out too clear - I took several pictures and this was the best one).

This dress is posted on my Etsy site (see my button to the right). It will probably be a one of a kind because the ladybugs were a nightmare to do. (I did my own applique - the ladybugs weren't purchased). I am pleased with how it turned out, sometimes I get this great idea (at least I think it's great) and then it doesn't turn out at all how I had it pictured in my mind. This was exactly how I had it pictured.

Just for girls

I found this neat website that shows you how to make hairbows for little girls. I don't have girls, but I have made a few of these for my niece and great-niece. I also think they make great "bows" on top of packages and instead of throwing it away they get to keep it, it becomes part of the gift. You can find the instructions here.