Crazy Weekend

This week is going to be crazy-busy.  And that doesn’t include the mountains of fabric I had to maneuver this weekend. 

Before you think Mike is the one behind all the work… let me tell you that it was at this point that I called him into the room to see the piles of finished panels.  He thought it would be fun to sit at the machine.  Notice his foot isn’t even on the pedal, the poser.  ;)

I did the math, and I serged 344 yards worth of fabric this weekend.  I cleaned out a combined total of 1 of those huge cones of thread you see in the next picture.  And that look on my face was totally on purpose…

That trash can next to me is FULL of, and overflowing with, the cut off edges.  This pile does not include the large handfuls my munchkin snatched and ran off with to play “cake” with.

80 yards of white organza, 64 yards lavender organza, and 70 total yards of purple satin. 4 1/2 hours.

I never want to see that industrial serger again.

My bottom is still sore.

I do want to see these in action at my concert this weekend. -----> See sidebar.

And I do need someone to help make rod pockets on the top of all these panels…

Here’s where I apologize in advance for random, sporadic posting this week.  Love ya!

Two Tops!

I need some backing suggestions for these two babies.  I was going to back the zig-zag with a polka-dot vintage sheet, but there was just soooo much white.  I decided not to.  So here is where I recruit you for help!

This chair quilt top was sashed in white, but it was a monstrosity and the center embroidered squares were totally washed out and unnoticed.  So, it got some Kona Ash instead.  There was a lot of unpicking done to get all the white out, but I am much happier with the gray.

So, any thoughts? 

Have a great weekend!

Superbulous Sponsors

Yes, I know Superbulous isn’t a word, but they are the perfect mix of superb and fabulous.  Truly.

Sometimes a photo shoot (or life, for that matter) is made that much better by the toppings and garnishes you put on your cute kid.  For instance, this flower bib is to.die.for.  N’est-ce pas?  Ooh la la!! 

And, you know, this is totally my style.  Eye-catching!!  Lovely!!! With a fun name:  Ranunculus!!  Does it get any better?  Oh, wait, it does.  Remember, you can save some moolah by entering TCCReaders10 when you check out at LilyBelles Designs on Etsy.  Hurry- this offer is good only through March 1st!!

And if you want to wrap your baby in some fun love, MaterialGirlKirsten has a quilt to do the job, and matching burp cloth to go with if you like.  This quilt is even quilted with fun matching flower designs!!! Love it.

I was just thinking about how much I appreciate these ladies supporting my blog, and I am happy to help promote them as well.  If you have a shop you would like me to promote, contact me for some more information.  It will be fun, I promise!!

I’m sorry I don’t have something fabulous to share from my own craft room… I have two finished quilt tops waiting for backing fabric, but I’m fresh out of ideas on what to get or do.  I will let LilyBelles and MaterialGirlKirsten shine today while I brainstorm :)

Article of Faith Download

I told Kandis how much you loved her 13th Article of Faith print.  And she loves you too.  I’ve got the jpeg’s for the Orange/Pink/Yellow here and an awesome Pink/Kiwi Green/Black one here. 

Now, go seek after this good thing ;)

And do send your thanks to Kandis, she’d love to hear them.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a zig-zag quilt to work on.

Ruffle Bum Pants

Ok, so we all love a little frilly bottom, don’t we?  I was thinking about how babies are having all the fun, and since my baby isn’t necessarily a baby anymore, I ought to remedy the lack of frilly bum situation.

Start with some pants that fit your kid like a charm!  Use them as a pattern, first using the back (this will be the wider part to accommodate little diaper bottoms),

Then the front, and cut out your pieces about 1/2” from your original pant to allow for seam allowance (this picture is the back of the pants again, just to clarify).

I’d label your back pieces, which is something I didn’t do… or you might end up with a nice saggy front.  Not like I’ve ever done that… anyway, put a front and a back piece right sides together, and pin well.  I’m using knit here, because comfy is important! 

Sew the inseam, or the bottom of the pant to the crotch.  Don’t sew the whole side!  Finish your edges however you like.

Next, match front pieces right sides together and back pieces right sides together.  Pin and sew this U-shape.

With a little unfolding magic (it took me a second to figure out what was what! But it is there!), you will be at this point:

Now, ruffle up some fabric!  I chose 4 coordinating knits cut at 2”.  To gather, just sew a long stitch about 1/4” from the edge, and pull on one of the threads while moving the fabric along to gather it up. 

Make sure the front of the pants are out of the way.  Pin your first ruffle about 2”-3” from the crotch seam, making sure the ruffle extends just slightly from the edges of your pant.

Sew over your gathering stitch using a zig-zag stitch, so a tiny hiney can bend after all the ruffles are sewn. 

Continue to pin ruffles and sew them down.

After a few rounds, you will have a cute ruffle bum!

Now, turn the pants so right sides are together again.  Pin the pant legs, making sure you catch those ruffles.  Sew and finish your edge.

Make an elastic casing at the top, and insert your elastic.  I also chose to finish the pant legs with a small hem.

Put them on a little bottom squeal with delight as your little girl toddles around with a frilly bottom!!

Go ahead, make two pairs!

**for these pants, I did three 3” ruffles, which made it look more like a skirt.  I’m a bigger fan of the smaller ruffles, but the baby loved this pair just as much!  I used t-shirt scraps and other scrap knits (cheap stuff from Hobby Lobby) for both pairs of pants.

 

***Linking this fun project up to Today’s Creative Blog, Blue Cricket, and Sew Much Ado!

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!  You’ll love a little Eva in your life!

Time for a Giveaway!--CLOSED

Well, friends, it has been awhile since I last gave something away.  I thought I’d help spruce up your sewing station today :)

I first saw this on Craftiness is not Optional (a favorite kid-sewing blog of mine, by the way…), and knew instantly I needed one for myself.



A few Bliss fat quarters and some solid red binding…



Some fast stippling to quilt it all together…



And I’ve got myself a fun reversible Sewing Machine… Placemat?

Well, whatever it is, I made a second one out of Eva.  And it needs a home.



This one I tried my hand at machine-stitching the binding.  It was… interesting!  But it looks good in the end!



This one is also reversible!



Want it?  U.S. residents, leave me a comment.  I’d appreciate a “Follow” but I won’t make it mandatory :)  Just tell me something fun and I’ll pick a winner on Friday.  Sound good? Good! 

Your sewing machine might just thank you!  A little Pink never hurts the creative side!!

ETA: *** Congrats to Amanda Joy!!  I'll toss this little lovely in the mail right away!***

A little Spring Sprucing

I really want to add a little more fun around our place this Spring.  I started with some fabric for a pillow…

And now I want 4 more pillows for my couch.  Jo Ann’s has some fun Dwell Studio Home Décor fabric these days…

I also got a print of our Youth Theme this year:

My friend Kandis was the talent behind this, and made it in another color option as well for the Young Women at our church, and we gave each girl a 5x7 of this (the Thirteenth Article of Faith) a few weeks ago.  They love them!  I made it stretch to a 8x10 :)

And last, but certainly not least, I ordered this print from Christie.  Surely you have not seen something more fun!  Although, I have my eye on another print from her shop as well.  She has changed her prints to be downloadable, so when I got the jpeg at noon, I had the print matted and framed by 6pm.  Seriously.

Unfortunately, I got the cheapest wall frames at Hobby Lobby (I have high hopes for something magnificent later down the road for these), and there is nothing on the frame to actually hang them.  Dar be dar!  I might get some Command Strips later today; no sense in hiding this behind my sewing machines, it needs a good, prominent spot!

Isn’t it charming?  I love it.  And if you must know, yes, I love to sew.  :)

Custom Printed Shower Curtain

I pulled out the Mod Podge and Embroidery hoops again.  Yes, I screen printed my shower curtain!  After making this tray and having it reside on my bathroom counter, I began to really want gray and green in my bathroom.  Lucky me, I found a simple curtain at Target for $2.50 on clearance.  So, with my 40% off Hobby Lobby coupon, I armed myself with white Speedball Ink and got to work.

A word of thanks for my two girls who miraculously napped at the same time yesterday, making this project possible.  I won’t go into detail about our Wal-Mart trip just before, but lets just say those naps were absolutely necessary and well worth it! 

Anyway, I prepared my screen in the morning, and later noticed some spots that needed a tad more filling in. 

Then, I put out a protective tablecloth and got printing.

The shower curtain had a loose weave, kinda, so the ink didn’t go on impeccably smooth. 

But overall, this shower curtain is the bomb-diggity.

Totally random, these flowers tie in to the tray I made earlier.  I even have a fun green Target rug.

Our previous shower curtain was actually a window drapery panel, so it was heavy.  It looked heavy.  This is light and airy and… well, custom to my exact taste.  Don’t be too judgmental of my towels… I know they aren’t matching right now.  My husband uses a new towel every day.  He’s a tad OCD.

Are you jealous of my counter space?  Don’t be too jealous. This big bathroom means a teeny tiny master closet. That wall with my towels is my closet.

Just so you know, I cleaned my bathroom from top to bottom, including mopping the floors, for this post.  Because you don’t want to see it otherwise.  And in other news… I got skinny jeans.  And I love ‘em.  Just like I love my sponsors! ;)

Visit LilyBellesDesigns for your hair accessories.  All that time spent on your hair in the morning will be worth it if it has a little hair candy on top!