Backpack embroidery

It took me a few tries 20 minutes later, but I got the hoop on strait and put "BCM" for Brycen Conner McArdle or Bailey Carson McArdle...whichever we use it for. Bailey still has her backpack from last year in fabulous condition since it was basically used to hold an extra outfit and a folder...now her lunch box from last year...that was thrown away. So this will be Brycen's over night bag or maybe his diaper bag?!? I don't know yet. I made him a burp cloth with the new little elephant I ordered...he is so cute...or she if it was in pink ;) And lastly I made a reversible Long Jon-Jon to sell! It is super cute, but Blake is not for the Jon-Jon look on little boys...oh well! I had a feeling but wanted to make it anyway. Now I have my first item to put on sale in an etsy store! whoop whoop! I will wait until I stockpile a few more things before making the site...plus I need a good name for it.

I stayed up way too late last night working on the above mentioned as well as other projects. I hate bringing out both machines now that my craft room is a nursery so the kitchen table = disaster zone with two machines, sewing box, bags of scraps for appliques, the laptop hooked up, projects lying in their special piles... I repaired a giant hole in Blake's jeans back together (they are his favorite's) and I shortened straps on Bailey's mickey mouse dress that we bought at Disney World...yeah a few projects that needed to be done back in APRIL. Procrastinate much?!?

Burp Cloths and Pillow cover

My Sunday school class has 2 upcoming baby showers in the next month so I started a while ago working on a few things but I finally finished up the boppy pillow cover with their last name embroidered on it. I also added ribbon and appliques to two cloth diapers/burp cloths for gifts as well. I made binky ribbon tags a while back as well for part of the present. I will add a few baby items to the gifts and they will be ready to go. Below are pictures of just one of the gifts.

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Kilts

I am back on the sewing wagon and enjoying it again so when asked a few weeks ago if I could make a kilt I said, "Sure, if I had a pattern that was easy to follow and materials." I didn't mind because I had time to work on it while Blake was gone for 2 weeks traveling for work. Plus, I am saving up for baby furniture so it worked out great. They are costumes for the Warrior Run in Tennessee. I had never heard of it but it is a run through obstacles and mud while wearing costumes. I didn't make them with a slit in the front since they are running in them but I put plenty of pleats in the front to give the look of a slit. They asked for a drawstring as well for when it gets wet and there is an elastic waistband.

Working on all four at the same time made it easier. I would get the basic shape of the kilt and sit on the couch watching TV while cutting the ends all the way around and pinning the 1 1/2 inch pleats.

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Minnie Pants with Ribbon Cuff

I saw a picture of a little girl wearing this on etsy and had to make it for Bailey. I made the Minnie knot top last week and finished up the pants this past Sunday as well as a pair of ruffle pants. I used to be scared of making pants but now they are so easy to make. The ruffle pants are so expensive at boutiques so I got over my fear really fast because I can't pay $30 for a pair of cotton pants with an elastic waist. I can make a pair of pants in less than an hour including cutting time. Bailey is going to have the cutest wardrobe this summer once I finish everything up. All I have left is a Princess Jasmine outfit and a few tops before Disney World!

Minnie Knot Dress/Top

I started on Bailey's Minnie Knot Top this last weekend using the bodice piece of the knot dress I found on here: http://bridgetbaxter.blogspot.com/2008/04/happy-anniversary-to-you.html I used the size 6 pattern and glad I did because it fits great (Size 4's fit a tad snug). I wanted something more casual and saw a few cute outfits on etsy that gave me the idea to do the knot top with matching pants that have a ruffle on the bottom. I would have made the top more full but I didn't buy enough fabric...plus it would have made it heavier and I wanted a light weight top for her to wear at Disney World. I may shorten the top after I finish the pants to see if it needs to be shorter. This was my second attempt at button holes and after a few practice rounds I remembered again. I can only embroider one letter at a time when I use letters from my zip drive which makes it difficult to get everything spaced right and leveled. I used the Disney Font for her name. I'm sure with time it will not be as time consuming. It turned out so cute with the ruffle ribbon and I can't wait to see her in it with the pants and Minnie ears. I showed it to her last night and she said, "Oh mommy! It is so pretty!".

Front of Top

Back of Top



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Tag Binky's for Baby Gifts

After learning to use my embroidery machine I cut out a few squares and made these two adorable binky's for some upcoming showers. I used soft flannel to make them because its an easy material to work with and wash and they are super soft. Both babies haven't been named yet so I embroidered the last name initial or name.

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The Little Mermaid Costume

Do you ever go into JoAnn's to buy supplies for a project and walk out making 4?!? Yeah that is what happened to me when the Simplicity patterns went on sale for .99 cents each....I limited myself to 5, but there were at least 20 I wanted...Have you seen the dog outfits!?! We are planning a trip to Disney World for Bailey's 4th Birthday. I have reservations to eat dinner on her birthday in Cinderella's Castle! We are so excited! So I went in for a pattern on making round pillows and walked out with a princess pattern. I love it! I let her try it on without the finished trimmings and will put it away until our trip for her to wear it while we are there. Now I can get to making the other three patterns I have left...boppy pillow cover, baby shoes, and possibly "Jasmine" from Aladdin with the left over pink material from Ariel's dress. I'm a big saver when it comes to materials so I used the left over sequin straps to make a coordinating bracelet.

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90% Completed Projects

Here is my sweet Bailey modeling her "My Little Mermaid" outfit for me in front of the half finished filing cabinet. There are still a few more details to add to the costume like glittery, hot pink, wavy ribbon on the top and around the bottom of the skirt. I am getting better at reading and understanding patterns but still face issues. I would say this outfit took 3 hours to make if you didn't mess up (not including cutting everything out)...5 hours with messing up...it took me 5 :)

I am mod poding a filing cabinet from my work that we were not using. Blake spray painted the black filing cabinet to look brand new. I finished one drawer and cut out the other three so all I have to do is glue them on with a few coats of Mod Podge.  The paper I am using is crimson red and this pretty black and white design on the drawers. I was going to do houndstooth but I wanted something more pretty. I plan on putting our files on the bottom drawer and using the other three to hold craft supplies. I may give Blake a drawer to hide some of his things that are in the golf/hobby room with Alabama decor.

I starting taking her picture and she posed!? Where is she learning this stuff? You can't really tell but her straps are hot pink, glittery sequin trimming! Love it!

Baby Shower Project

I have been very busy the past few weeks getting ready for my good friend's baby shower. I made 2 bibs, two diaper cakes, "D" & "I" painted letters, 2 little stuffed elephants, 4 dozens cupcakes, 23 blue and pink elephants with "S" on them (forgot to take pictures!), some fabulous strawberry limeade punch, and a wooden green elephant to hang on the door. Here are my creations for her shower!

Craft Night Tuesdays - Dipes Cases

My friend Robyn and I have wanted to get together for a while now and go through my patterns and supplies to make something "crafty". Last night we made diaper/wipes pouches and they turned out soooo cute! I am very excited about the way they turned out and how fast they were to make. I have tons of friends that are having babies this year so I have found my new trademark! What I love it that it takes me about 45 minutes from start to finish to make one! That is awesome and they are so practical and adorable. Next Tuesday we are going to work on "how to applique". If (when) I learn to do that...I will hopefully get back on my sewing kick again. As for now I have to make 9 turquoise and 2 silver decorative sheets for rush as well as other items...so much to do until recruitment gets here but I will be SO GLAD when it is over. I may be taking the sewing machine to the practices and knocking them out while I critique dances, door songs and speaking parts.

July 4th weekend

It feels like the past two weeks have flown by. July 4th weekend was a three day weekend. I could have had plans but decided to make it very low key. To start it off on the perfect note I went to the library and grabbed a couple of FREE movies for the weekend then we went with Blake's little sister to see Toy Story 3. Now what I did not know is that it was going to cost $12 a ticket because it was in 3D. I would have waited for the 4:00 showing to watch it the regular way but since we were already there with my purse crammed with 2 Share & Tear bags of M&M's (peanut and regular) along with 3 bottled drinks: diet coke, mountain dew, and sprite (don't judge me...so I like to save money. I still bought their buttered $7 large popcorn!) there was no turning around. It was such a good movie but I do not prefer the 3D because Bailey didn't like wearing the glasses and it made the movie have a dark tint and the 3D effect wasn't enough to pay $5 extra a ticket. Also kitty cat came with us (see picture) and they did not charge for her to enter...thank goodness! And Yes we did take home the bottom two inches of that popcorn bucket - I spent $7 on that thing we were not going to waste that high cholesterol goodness.

The rest of the day we stayed at home in play clothes playing with legos, dolls, and markers while I finished sewing Bailey's new dress! I had a hard time deciding on the color to accent the hot pink but the paisley turquoise pattern turned out great. I also made Bailey a zebra pillow to match her curtains with the left over material - pillows are like the easiest things to make in the sewing world.

On Saturday we took a mini-trip to see Blake's family down in Brewton for a pool party. On Sunday I met up with my shopping gal Robyn to hit the 4th of July sales where I bought some princess fabric that was already smocked at the top. I thought it was on sale but it wasn't! Thank goodness I had a coupon. I didn't realize it was .50 cents an inch (total was $17 but I had a 40% coupon)! I said "make it a yard" without looking...that would have cut the cost by $4.00...oh well. At Dillard's they ALWAYS have a fabulous 4th of July shoe sale. While other people are at cookouts - I am at Dillard's finding my beloved shoes. I was beginning to think I wouldn't find my "special" shoes but then on the top rack in box marked size 9 I opened it and there they were...if only they were my size instead of a 9 AND THEY WERE! (who's getting chills!!) They were size 8's in the wrong box - the heavens opened up and the angles were singing "hallelujah, hallelujah...." I put them on and felt like the "hot" girl (this doesn't happen often). I looked in the mirror and it was like they were destined to be mine! They were Nina's with a 5 point crown marked down from $60 to $40 with 30% off making my total $32.00! Mission Accomplished!

On Monday I made Bailey her princess dress with the fabric I purchased - wow! It took all of 3 minutes to make the actual dress and maybe 20 minutes total to do the straps. What's perfect about this material is that it is stretchy and I can adjust the straps or take them off and she could wear it as a skirt. I still have to make my sister-in-law her scrubs that I started on in January...they are coming! Sometimes I get an itch for sewing and this weekend was perfect for it.

Learning as I go

Sewing is definitely not a relaxing hobby. Some people may think you just take the fabric out of the bag and begin but there is so many steps involved before you can even begin. I thought the same thing about cake decorating before I realized the long process of making icing and getting the cake ready before you can even begin decorating.

Steps before sewing: sew sides that may unravel, dilute the fabric, wash the fabric, dry/line dry the fabric, iron the fabric, iron the pattern, cut the pattern, pin the pattern on the fabric, cut the fabric, AND then you can start.

Then the hard part starts- you have to figure out what the heck the pattern is saying in a very short fragment. There is no explanation with pictures or dictionary. I have to open all my books and refer back to each one to read a sentence/fragment AND then it still doesn't make sense. I learn from watching others do it and then I can copy it, but having to do what is says from reading is so hard for me to figure out which is why it takes me 2 hours a night for several nights to finish one project. I usually quit when I reach a point of not understanding and then I have the rest of the day to figure it out in my head - which I usually do and am able to start off where I left the night before. I had big dreams of making so many things, but honestly I understand why boutiques charge so much for their homemade items because there is a lot of labor and hours that go into each piece. I am hopefully getting better and learning from my mistakes as well as learning the "language of sewing" so I don't have to refer to three books each time I read a sentence.

I don't want to discourage anyone from learning a new hobby because it is very rewarding once you finish a piece that you spent many hours on. This weekend I am going to teach myself how to make fondant shapes. I have spent a few hours researching it this week and watching videos so I have a good understanding of it. I have a cake due on Saturday for my parent's church cake walk and another cake due the following weekend for a baby shower. I love being able to switch back and forth so I don't get burnt out on either one. Wish me luck!

Here are other pieces I have finished since my last post:

My first sewing creation!

I'm so excited to show you my first piece! I worked on it for three nights in a row because I wanted Bailey to sport the wedding colors at the rehearsal dinner - she is the flower girl so she needs to be pretty at the rehearsal dinner. Tonight is my last sewing class and I will finish my pants! So those pictures will be posted soon. I have worked on my pants longer but I had help from the teacher - with this dress I figured it all out by looking at another dress I bought Bailey from a boutique. I know this is a "simple" dress but it still took over 6 hours to make! I will of course get better and make fewer mistakes but I am really proud to say that "I did it all by myself".

Sewing Classes

So after waiting and waiting I finally got in a sewing class at Hancock Fabrics. Me and a friend are taking the class together on Thursday nights. We ordered our sewing machines off of Amazon.com not having a clue how to use them. So the first class was two weeks ago and we picked out our patterns and materials. We are making pants, but I wanted to do something really soft like pajama pants. I thought it would be fun to do a Christmas pattern since our class would end right before November - just in time to bring out Christmas decorations. We found this bright green pattern with adorable Santa's in bright red suites with bright turquoise candy in between. I will post pictures soon! I am going to get a bright turquoise satin ribbon to use as the tie and I am going to get some turquoise fabric to add a cuff on the bottom of the pants! They are going to be the most fancy Christmas PJ's ever!

So I go to pay for the fabric and it was $22!! I was like - we could have bought some for that amount! Now I know why these boutiques charge so much for their stuff - because fabric is expensive if you don't buy it on a big sale. We even had a 30% discount and it was still $22 for 2 yards of fabric. Then we got homework! I had no idea these classes were going to be work outside of the two hours I went each week. So like a good student I waited until the night before to start on it...I mean how hard could it be to cut out a fabric and pin it? Okay - well it isn't as easy as I thought it would be especially when your fabric shrinks 4 inches on the right side causing the pattern not to fit. All my dreams of making fun dresses and nic-naks came crashing down as I stared at the 20+ pictures, steps from 1 - 45 that made no sense, and everything was coded with lines, dots, dashes, arrows, shaded areas, triangles, squares, circles... Sweat started beading on my forehead as I looked at the clock - it was already 10 PM and I had only cut out the pattern - I had been staring at the directions for over an hour trying to figure out what to do. So I finally lay it all out according to picture C and although the fabric was too short I pinned it on to show that I put forth the effort. Well the next day in class it wasn't just me who had issues - we all had to restart over. Then we practiced on our machine - making the bobbin, threading it, and THEN we made our first stitch...and all my crushed dreams came back to life!

Sewing Time!

Well I have been looking online for a portable but nice sewing machine to take classes with and I bought a refurbished one for $45 with only $10 shipping today on Amazon.com. I am really excited about making my own stuff! I have lots of ideas for Bailey and gifts like Aprons, blankets, window scarves, super cute luggage tags, hair bows, bags....I just can't wait to learn to follow patterns and then branch out and do my own thing. I won't be making matching sweaters for the family or anything like that, but boutique style clothing and accessories that when you see them you say to yourself, "Now I could make that!". I have a whole bunch of those moments which is why I take pictures of those things and collect them because I know I can do it myself. Plus I have the perfect model for children's clothes and everyone loves a cute homemade item at a baby shower. I'm going to take the classes soon, but I may get a jump on things and learn from a book so I'm not stuck on step 1 while people are on step 10. I will post pictures of projects as soon as they start. I guess this is my project for the summer: learn to sew.