MIA Blogger

Sometimes life is just crazy.  I have a couple of things I have been working on lately but I need to finish them up before I can post them, but I realized the other day that I did not show you my creation for my daughter's baptism.  In our church the children are give the opportunity at the age of 8 to choose whether or not they want to be baptized.  Our daughter Kirsten made the decision and on December 29th she baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).  I was watching Martha's Sewing Room one day and a guest showed how to make beautiful designs on a sheer material with the serger.  (I can't find the link, sorry.)  I knew right then that I was going to make Kirsten's dress that way.  So here is a picture of my beautiful daughter in her dress.

I created the cross work on my serger on to a sheer organza material and then lined with the white satin fabric.  It was a lot of stress.  I did the serging first before I cut the pattern out.  I am grateful to my mother that did all the handiwork on it and helped me figure out the zipper.  Kirsten just radiated and the dress was the finishing touch.

After the baptism we had a lunch at our house.  It was crazy with over 30 people in my little house but it was a lot of fun.  I had found this beautiful dress on Pinterest and knew that I needed to make it for Kirsten's baptism luncheon.  It was fairly easy once you figured out the rhythm out of how to make the flowers.  I used my largest star in my pastry set and went to work.  To make the Buttercream recipe more white I just used half the butter it called for and substituted the shortening for the butter and used clear vanilla from Wilton.  It turned out adorable.  I sprinkled a little bit of white sugar crystals on top to make it "shine" and bought some pearls from the Wilton store for the waistband.

So much fun!  I love getting things together for a party.  We had a great time and enjoyed having friends who could share this special day with us.

Winter Wreath

I needed a wreath to hang on my door during January. I wanted something white...maybe it's because we have had NO snow and I'm tired of gray and dark and dreary. I followed the tutorial found HERE. I LOVE how it turned out! I added silver ribbon because I didn't want it to look too Christmasy {although it would be super cute with a red ribbon too!}

If you have left over felt you can make these projects HERE. Happy Winter!!

 

Pinterest Projects

I LOVE Pinterest. Recipes, project ideas, tutorial, ALL with PICTURES! Best idea ever!!!!

I have found so many cute things to make on Pinterest. {probably too many}. Today I just wanted to share a few.

Last year I saw this ruffle Christmas tree skirt and I KNEW that it was what I wanted for my Christmas tree. Over the years, my Christmas decorations have evolved into a LOT of white/red, candy canes, and peppermint candies. I wanted my tree skirt to look like a big peppermint, with white and red fabric.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how it turned out.....exactly what I wanted! I can't wait to put it under my tree.....

I followed the directions on pinterest, except I sewed each row, instead of hot gluing. I think it will hold up better and will last longer.

I also made a cute little elf hat {in the same colors}....for a special someone on my gift list. {a baby doll for my niece!}

I used THIS PATTERN from Oodles4Noodles and adjusted the size smaller to fit a baby doll.  {mine is only 34 rows instead of 43. She includes instructions to make them bigger at the end of the pattern. I hope her baby doll likes it} :)

Getting Ready for Christmas

I've been trying really hard this year to get in control of my never-ending list so that I can enjoy the holidays. I started early working on a few projects {and I lowered my expectations and didn't add so many new things to my list this year}. It might be because I work full time this year and I KNOW that I don't have time to add new things to my list.

I redesigned one of my designs and added a little more to one of my aprons.....I added an extra strip of the green striped fabric to the top and the pocket. I added three smaller ruffles to the bottom and then covered it up with a strip of the green. It turned out super cute. {too bad I made it for someone else to give as a gift...oh, and I can't find the Christmas fabric this year}

Just in case you are wondering: The original tutorial is HERE, I added a 2" strip to the top and pocket. The strip across the ruffles is 1" and the ruffles are 4" each.

Pink and Purple Baby Shower

I haven't had the chance to post much but have been busy at work making lots of things, mainly I have been trying to get my house back together after our major remodel.  It would go a lot faster if I would just get the painting done.  Soon enough.  Pretty soon I will be in the Christmas crunch and will be frantically trying to get things made and mailed before Christmas.

But in the mean time here is a baby shower I got to help set  up.  It was pretty fun and with a budget much bigger then I am used to I got to be the "decorator".  It was great fun and I just wanted to show you a couple of pictures from the event.

Our theme was teddy bears and since it was Halloween we decided to use the Halloween colors but add hot pink and purple with polka dots, too.

 

 The cake was made by a bakery in Clarendon Hills that makes the most adorable cakes, but this week was her last week of making cakes.  I am sure there are a lot of sad people wishing she was still in business.

 

 

I just love the place mats that Allison found.  They were amazing.  It doesn' help that she has an adorable house and it was very easy to dress it up.

 

 

 I spent a little time making this diaper cake for the mom to be.  It was fun and I loved that with just a couple simple flowers and ribbon, it made it so adorable.  Here is the link to the YouTube video I used to help me figure out how to make it.  http://youtu.be/bFwZOvn4AqI

Here is the spread.  Chicken salad on croissants, cheese with crackers, strawberry spinach salad, pasta salad, grapes and vegetables.  It was all so yummy.

We placed all the gifts in a bassinet to continue with the baby theme.  It is covered in this picture, but you get the idea.  They were overflowing and it made such nice place to keep them until we were done.

Here is a picture of the cute mom to be and her mom next to the huge teddy bear they got to take home.  The were a little surprised that they got to take it home, but I think she was pleased.  I am not sure it will fit in her apartment but she can figure out what to do there.  We hope that everything goes well and that cute little girl is born safe, sooner rather then later.

 

INDIANA DUNES

Just a reminder. We are going to the Indiana State Park {the Dunes} next Wednesday August 15th. Meet at the church at 9am to carpool or meet us at the dunes at 11am. It costs $10 per vehicle to park so it's best to carpool! PLEASE let us know if you are coming so we know to look for you. Bring lunch, beach chairs, umbrella, beach toys, and sunscreen! It is a very FUN day! Let me know if you have any other questions. Here is a map from the church to where we usually go! PS. Who wants to ride with me? I have an empty van!!

Here is the map to the location we go to:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=7201+Woodridge+Drive,+Woodridge,+IL&daddr=Indiana+Dunes+State+Park,+1600+N+25+E,+Chesterton,+IN+46304&hl=en&sll=41.655295,-87.057381&sspn=0.008689,0.01929&geocode=FYEnfQIdBnPA-ikDUDI7iFAOiDHAubYkTw5sfA%3BFeadewIdk6XP-iFhW0hGamxMKCnD_OE2sKQRiDFhW0hGamxMKA&oq=7201+Woodridge&mra=ls&t=m&z=10

Jewelry Holder

Ta-da!  I am finally posting this.  I made this back in March and haven't posted it yet.  I kept meaning too but I have a conflict with the computer.  When I spend too much time on it, the kids spend too much time making HUGE messes all over the house.  It is hard.  I have been working hard on making all kinds of other things that may or may not get up here on the blog.  Anyway - you don't really need my excuses.  You are thinking - okay get on with it.  How did you make it?  Well, as the name of the blog says, I redesigned a pattern I found in Marie Osmond's Heartfelt Giving Sewing Book.  In there she has one that is for taking with you.  I knew I would never travel with all my jewelry but Liberty has said she saw something like it and it triggered something in my head that said "I NEED THIS" and "I CAN MAKE I."

I am not sure that I changed it all that much from the original idea.  I did make my pockets to fit my watches bands and other jewelry I had.  I also used a different kind of hanger and I would suggest that you find the wood ones because it gets very heavy with all the jewelry in it. 
If I didn't have 3 very "helpful" children, my OCD tendency would have led to making sure that all the jewelrly was color coordinated and that earings were near matching jewelry and the like.  But as you see it - they "helped" me put everything in and my 1 1/2 year old seems to think it is a play place for her.  I have moved it to the back of the closet so she won't take it all apart.

Here are some close ups of the pockets and the jewelry.

I think the best thing about it was that it only cost me the price of the hanger.  I had the clear vinyl, velvet material and everything else in my closet.  I love it and love that I can SEE all my jewelry in one place.  Maybe one day they will let me organize it in the way I want it too look.

Christmas in July Craft Group

We are pretty excited that Meagan Johnson has decide to do Christmas in July for our next Craft Group activity.  She has some ideas that she is putting together.  Here is the link to her pinterest ideas.
http://pinterest.com/meaganjohnson/christmas-in-july-ideas/ (see pictures below also)

Date:Friday July 20th from 6 pm until we are done.

She is looking at doing one craft in each of these areas:

• Home Decor (paper star wreath or stocking advent)
• For Kids (laminated nativity puzzle or file folder game)
• Christmas Cards (the reindeer one will be really easy...I also have an ornament punch and stamp set that would be really easy)
• Gifts (the glass ornaments and tags for brownies in a jar)

She is trying to keep each craft super simple! 

More details are coming as we figure what exactly we want to do.

http://pinterest.com/meaganjohnson/christmas-in-july-ideas/

A closer look at the ideas.

Ruffle Apron TUTORIAL.....finally!!!!!!

I am SOOOOOO sorry it has taken me so long to get this Tutorial to you. Thank you for being patient with me. Instead of giving you all the reasons why it's taken me so long, I will just get right to it......Here is the finished apron....below are all the details {and pictures}

MATERIALS NEEDED:
Pair of old overalls
18-20"x 19" of bottom weight fabric {width of your overalls x 19"}
1 yard of MAIN fabric (the one you want to use for the ties)
1/2 yard of 2 DIFFERENT fabrics
Follow instruction for flower HERE.  {I serged the edge on mine with a rolled hem stitch to make it more finished.}

First of all you will need a pair of overalls. You can use any kind, in any condition....you mostly just need the bib and the hardware....I have used pants, shorts, a dress, anything that will work. I find most of mine at a thrift store, but you might still have some in the back of your closet! Cut off the bib just below the waist band seam. You will be cutting off the pockets and the legs. You just need enough of an edge to serge the canvas material to the bib.

Serge overall bib to the piece of bottom weight fabric. Don't worry too much about how it looks right now because it will all be covered up when we are finished. Lay out on your table and mark up your piece in the following locations. Horizontally you need to mark 3" down from the surged edge and then 3" down from each marking. You should have 5 marks. Vertically, you need to mark the center (I used the middle stitching on the overall bibs. Then mark 1/2 way between that mark on the right and left. You should have 3 markings this direction.

Now. Cut your fabric into the following strips.
FABRIC #1 - Main COLOR - use for straps and waist tie.
CUT:
2 - 5 1/2" x WOF (Width of Fabric) {ruffles}
2 - 5" x WOF {waist tie}
2 - 4" x 22" {neck ties}


FABRIC #2 - 
CUT
2 - 5 1/2" x WOF (Width of Fabric) {ruffles}



FABRIC #3 - 
CUT
2 - 5 1/2" x WOF (Width of Fabric) {ruffles}

Serge, Zig-Zag or finish the edges of your ruffles. {make sure you use the 5 1/2" width pieces} I used my serger and just surged both edges of the ruffles. The top edge will be zig zagged onto the apron and will be completely covered. You can choose to finish the bottom edges if you desire. I liked the serged edge on these aprons to give it a more "pioneer" feel.

Now divide your fabric in the middle and then in the middle again. I pinned it {shown above} and then matched these pins to the markings on your bottom weight fabric. {shown below}. Use the horizontal lines to make sure your ruffles stay straight across the apron.

I used my ruffler on my serger to make the fabric ruffle on it's own. If you need more help or have questions about ruffles, see this TUTORIAL on MAKE IT AND LOVE IT.

REPEAT for all 6 ruffles. Pin the bottom ruffle first and then move towards the top ruffle. You can sew on each ruffle as you go or you can pin them all and sew them all at the same time...just be careful not to get poked with all those pins.

Zig Zag each ruffle to the bottomweight fabric. You are done with the ruffle part. If you just serged the edges of the ruffles, you will need to zig zag the excess threads onto the ruffles or use fray check on the ends where the serger thread stops.

NEXT: Take the hardware off the straps that go around the neck. You can throw away the fabric, you won't need it.

Take the 4"x22" pieces of fabric and sew them together into a long tube, turn and then topstitch around the entire piece of fabric.

Pull one strap into the hardware. Going around the middle piece and back through about 1".

Sew down and make a box that is about 1/2" on the strap. I tried to get this as close to the hardware as I could on my sewing machine.

Now thread through the clip and back through the hardware. Repeat with other strap, and connect to the overalls. These will just tie behind the neck.

Now take the 2 - 5"xWOF pieces of fabric. Sew them together on the SHORT edge to make it 2xWOF in length. Now sew them the LONG direction into a long tube. turn tube and topstitch entire length of waist tie.

Now you just need to connect your waistband to the apron. Find the center of your waistband {where you sewed it together}. Pin across the apron front making sure to overlap over the top ruffle edge to cover it up. Sew across the top, sides and bottom making a rectangle

......at the sides you will want to angle slightly to stay ON the fabric.

This is the back of the apron.

I hope it's not clear as mud. I realized I am assuming you have some sewing experience. If you have any other questions, please leave me a comment with your email and I would be happy to help. Enjoy!