Toddler Sun hat

the little lady photo by: The Mrs.

 I pinned the pattern about a week ago and hit up the fabric store (girls trip) yesterday and bought a bunch of fabric that I had loosely planned for but it's all so fun and springy I thought "hey I should make that hat" so I started it last night and wouldn't you know we woke up to a blanket of snow :O just how my world turns....oh well the little lady is already planning on having one for every outfit for out beach trip in April :D these are addicting so unless you have the time don't even attempt! For your sewing pleasure I am linking the pattern I came across and the sew along I happened to find which is waaaayyyyyy easier then the way the book says it should be done( I am referring to this pattern also being in the Oliver and S book) 

Pattern and instructions: http://www.melaniefalickbooks.com/storage/STCCraft_OliverS_BucketHatPattern_.pdf

Sew along (highly recommended) : http://alittlegray.blogspot.com/2011/08/lttsa-bucket-hats-part-3-look-no-hand.html

photo by: The Mrs

I am a PERFECTIONIST so I pressed and pressed every seem and top stitched every inch of the hat possible. It does run a little small too! I made the large for my very averaged sized small headed three year(who are we kidding almost FOUR!) old I think it will last her a couple years though but totally wearable xoxo enjoy!

Not a sewer?! Check out www.adoremade.etsy.com

Introducing.......adore!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/adoremade

I have operated under For The Love Boutique for what feels like forever!!! The name was cute and worked for the time being but it was too long and I wanted to move on.....and if you operate on etsy in any fashion you know almost every word humanly possible is already taken so it has taken me a couple months to come up with something that worked for me....technically its adoremade, with that being said, it's becuase I adore all things hand made!!! So far I have one item listed!!! Many more items to come, a spring line for little girls and bow ties for boys and of course yarn wreaths  and headbands - my little lady LOVES headbands! Starting out simple for now...phew.....it's done, up and going I am soooo excited to see where adore takes me!

adore \a-'dor\ verb: to be very fond of, to like very much

first item listed???.......check it out @  http://www.etsy.com/listing/93531658/hand-stamped-vintage-brass-charm

SPECIAL New shop promo coupon!! Free Shipping Code: ADORENEW
www.adoremade.etsy.com

Happy Valentines Day!

Little Ladies Heart Hair - how to found on Pinterest

Mom Tattoo T-shirt DIY

I won't lie we are lucky girls, the little lady and I, loved tremendously by a couple of handsome lads! Every year Valentines rolls around and we don't do much maybe a little treat for the kids a late dinner just me and hubs.....We love eachother a lot all year round there is no way I could show my family how much I love them in just one day but it sure is a nice reminder to celebrate LOVE! Happy Valentines Day! 

I whipped up a little "tattoo" T for Ava's Open Gymnastics Gym play date realizing her dress from last year wasn't going to cut it! Literally this took me a half hour and had I known it was going to turn out so darn cute I would have documented my DIY! But I will do my best to break it down and hopefully inspire a little creativity, and HECK this would be great for mother's day too....I can just see the hubs and the little man sporting these bad boys come mother's day ;)

Mom Tattoo T DIY 

Supplies - Red felt, scrap of white felt, freezer paper, black fabric paint, heat and bond lite(optional but helps hold it in place to stitch on) 

1:Print MOM on to a piece of freezer paper(cut it to paper size print on the non shiny side) 

2: Use and exacto knife to cut out the letter be sure to save the middle of the O

3: Iron freshly made MOM stencil on to scrap white felt

4: paint over stencil with black fabric paint and allow to dry

5: Cut large heart shape out of red felt (I decided to use the heat on bond after I cut my shapes so I just cut it slightly smaller then the heart then ironed it on according to the directions)

6: Cut white felt into a long strip (like picture) fold length wise and cut an angle to create the points I cut with a slight curve instead of straight on for a little character

7: place "MOM Ribbon" over heart and straight stitch on not going over the edge of the heart

8: Heat and bond heart with sewn ribbon to shirt I used a pressing cloth so as to not melt the felt

9: Stitch the outer of the heart with a longer straight stitch for a hand stitched look(not I did not stitch the over lapping "ribbon" tails down, it gave it a fun ribbony look) :D 

10: Enjoy Valentines Day!

Sweet Practically Free Art

Cell phone Pollaroid action ;)

This weekend I cleaned and purged my sweet little ladies room after an awe inspiring visit to another equally as sweet(type1) friends house. Said friends room was so organized the toys were out of sight and just seemed so much more serene then Ava's toy isle style bedroom (More pics of her new sweeter more serene bedroom soon). Upon cleaning up and purging I realized she has NO art! She did have fun tissue poms but one naughty monkey(the little lady herself) jumping on the bed decided it would be fun to rip them down and jump on them :O ugh terrible 2's! So again why buy when you can DIY and completely personalize ;)

DIY Embroidery Hoop Art: 
Embroidery Hoop ( I got mine at good will for .99cents!)
Fabric(enough to over lap about an inch) my fabric is a vintage sheet I have been holding onto ;)
Other textiles - Ribbon, felt, canvas, buttons, lace, ric rac - here you can go crazy!

For my specific hoop I printed the letter a onto heat and bond. Ironed it onto a small piece of canvas, heat and bonded the back of that and ironed it onto felt then went crazy with my FUN stitches on my machine. a couple of rolled felt flowers and bow and some buttons and it's PERFECT! Lay fabric over inner hoop, lay outer hoop over top and tighten the screw as you pull fabric taught(takes a little finesse mine ended up not being taught as I like), fold over excess fabric and glue down so it will lay flat on the wall.  She loves it too!

Matilda Who ;)

Matilda Jane's Knit Pants

My Version :D

I am super excited about today's outfit/ DIY!!!! I was recently invited to a Matilda Jane trunk show....while I was perusing their website and making a wish list I came across these adorable Strawberry Lemonade pants only exclusively available(whatever that means) and I remembered the pink stripe knit fabric I have been holding onto since I scored about a yard of it at an estate sale this summer for 50cents! I have not made an actual garment from knit fabric but for 50 cents how can you go wrong?! I am however fortunate enough to be the owner of a killer craigs list deal serger(not to be confused with craigs list killer;) so really why wasn't I sewing knits long before today!!!

Label- says made for a special princess :)

SO I set out with my basic pant pattern my .50 cent knit fabric and my handy serger and I did it!! Complete with funky little brown label! Matilda Janes website is a never ending inspirational site. I still plan to attend said party and maybe purchase some adorable pricy things for the little lady ;) other wise I will be making my own version of their ruffled pants!

So once again before you buy why not DIY!

DIY your own Matilda Jane Knock off Pants: all you need is knit fabric and a pants pattern and a little courage OH and some inspiration www.matildajaneclothing.com


Tips for sewing knits use a serger!! If not pin like crazy twice what you would normally pin. I had no issues with the fabric what so ever :O shocked still!

DIY Pretend Salt & Pepper

Pardon the cruddy pic, it's early AM :)

I went a little over board on the kids play kitchen accessories. All of it was quick and easy because I had a big list to tackle in order to get it all done by Christmas. Some of the accessories include: Apron's, Chef Hats, Felt Cupcakes, Plastic Eggs, utensils, dishes, cook book, etc,etc....the list goes on and on, a lot of it I made or purchased very inexpensively. My kids especially love the Salt and Pepper (they also love to put salt on their food at the table, the play ones have actually curbed the novelty of real salt shakers;). I thought about making them in felt but wanted them to have sound like real ones, that's when the light went OFF! Dur! Paper! So here's a quick little super satifying fun to play with DIY - you'll be thinking to your self why didn't I think of that!

DIY Pretend Salt and Pepper

Supplies:

Salt and Pepper shakers (dollar store or .97 @ walmart - for the pair)

1 piece ea black and white paper plus a piece of paper to catch punched holes (I used computer paper and kids construction paper)

Hole Punch

Step 1 put your husband to work while he watches sports(he'll love you for this)

Step 2 Have him fold the paper in half and in half again (4x the work in half the time) :D

Step 3 hole punch like crazy onto extra piece of paper (it takes forever this is why you have the hubs do it, you don't want the hand cramp TRUST ME!)

Step 4 use paper as a funnel to pour your salt and pepper in your shakers

Step 5 twist lids on very tightly or if your worried about the little monsters taking them off rub glue around the threads before doing so ;)

You did it!!! They will LOVE it!
The best part?! This whole craft cost me .97cents! What's stopping you now?!
The important stuff! Please do not re-use this tutorial as your own idea - you may however share it all you want and are more then WELCOME to sell any finished products you make using this tutorial(if you have the time and patience to do so!)

5 dollar, 5 step Mod Skirt - Tutorial! 18 mo. to 5T

Color block skirts are back and oh so modern! I have seen a couple of tut's on how to make one but I didn't want to get down with the fussy time consuming waste bands, love the results of the more time consuming ones, but a lot of people aren't brave enough to attack all that (ruffling especially, which is one of my favorite things!). So this is my Easy, Cheap and Fast version which is just the way I like it ;) Enjoy! 

Supplies: 2/3 yard Solid Fabric for skirt body(pictured in peach), 1/2 yard contrasting fabric for hem(pictured in lavender), 1 1/2 inch wide elastic(gives it a more waste band feel, helping it lay flatter), thread, safety pin,pins, sewing machine, rotary mat and ruler.

Cost break down 2/3 yd.  fabric 1.97, 1/2yd. fabric 1.50, 1 1/2" elastic 1.37@ Wal-mart.

Sizing:
18/24 Skirt: 9x18 Skirt Hem: 7x18 Elastic: 17
2T     Skirt: 10x19 Skirt Hem: 7x19 Elastic: 18
3T     Skirt: 11x20  Skirt Hem: 8x20 Elastic: 19(the size I made for the tutorial)
4T      Skirt: 12x21 Skirt Hem: 8x21 Elastic: 20
5T      Skirt 13x22  Skirt Hem: 8x22 Elastic 21

**These measurements have not all been tested they are based of US sizing charts(and tons of trial and error sewing skirts for my little one). For best results measure your little one for elastic(minus 2" from waist measurement for proper elastic fit) and length, ie: skirt+hem- seem allowances of approx 2" will give you an idea how long the final product will be. If you have questions as always feel free to email me :)

1: Cut Fabric according to above sizing with a rotary cutter, ruler and self healing mat - strip cutting works best with a rotary.

2 pieces 11x20 for skirt body & 2 pieces 8x20 for hem (3T)

2: Sew short ends of skirt together set aside, sew short ends of hem together. Press all 4 seems open with an iron. Fold hem wrong sides together length wise and press (a-lot!)

Wrong sides folded together to create a 4x40 hem band

3: Pin hem to skirt right sides together(either side of the hem is technically the right side) make sure your matching up raw edges when pinning, and lining up seems. Pin every couple of inches to keep the layers of fabric from shifting while you sew. Flip hem down press raw edge up towards waist and top stitch.

Top stitched

4: Fold top down about a 1/4" while pressing with an iron, fold down another 1 3/4"' press with iron. Stitch closed about an 1/8 inch from edge leaving a 2 inch opening for the elastic.

Elastic casing and opening

5: Feed elastic through the opening with a large safety pin(I like to use a straight pin to hold the other end of my elastic to the fabric so I don't lose it while I am pulling the other end through) sew elastic together with a zig-zag stitch reversing to secure at the beginning and end, even out fabric around the elastic and sew opening closed!!!!!! Your DONE 5 Bucks and 5 steps to a great MOD skirt!

I think she lurv's it!
The important stuff! Please do not re-use this tutorial as your own idea - you may however share it all you want and are more then WELCOME to sell any finished products you make using this tutorial(if you have the time and patience to do so!)