Barbie® dress tutorial

 

Kicking off Barbie® clothes week...can I have a drum roll please?

ok, just kidding. quit banging on your desk. Yes, you!

here's a simple tutorial for a cute Barbie dress!

Click below for more!

barbie clothes!

Once Sadie got her first Barbies® for her second birthday this past month...I knew that I was in for it. It being Barbie® clothes! I'd been a little intimidated by them-they're so tiny. Of course, my sister and I had always made the most fashionable clothes (not) when we were younger with scraps tied around our dolls...but for Sadie's dolls I had something a little more fun in mind. ;)

Plus, I'm a sewer (sewist? sewee?) so I knew a wardrobe had to be made! Some of these are made from my own design-some I used Simplicity 5785 for. Like, the grey and orange dress, the pants, and the blue pleated skirt. The rest I made up. (yes, you can expect some tutorials! In fact-all week long-it's Barbie® clothes week!)

I love the blue skirt-one of my favs-and it came together really quickly!

had to use those skirt scraps somehow...

I made this skirt out of some wee scraps, and embellished her shirt with a little scrap flower. I love using my tiny adorable scraps up!

Tune in tomorrow for the first tutorial!

some new pics!

While we were in Utah last week, we were able to meet up with my cousin Jenni (photographer extraordinaire-here's her website: Apple Green Photography-cute name, right?) for some updated family shots. All of us were in less than stellar moods, but somehow Jenni prevailed and whipped us into some sort of shape-and got the money shots! I mean, they look pretty great to me!

Of course, I managed to forget Charlotte's headband and flower clip. Oh well. She's in a dress...so people should know she's a girl. RIGHT?

Can I just say...I heart photoshop? I was sweaty and red, and was sure I would look like some kind of sweaty and red monster, and lookit that! no sweaty or red monster. hooray!

she got some cute ones of Rory and Sadie...

Ok, I get the world's meanest mom trophy for a minute-cause I laughed for like 5 minutes after I saw this picture. I know she's freaked out...just look at her face though...sorry sweetie-that's priceless!

This pic reminds me of a younger, simpler time, where diapers didn't exist and we could go out to eat in peace. Also, we were bored a lot...

Little miss Sassy redhead!

She also got some gorgeous shots of Charlotte...awww.

love her mouth in this one..

and those eyelashes! and cheeks! Ok, I'll stop gushing now, but only cause it's the end of the post!

muwahahaa.

currently...

 ...loving on this cute face-she's already 2 months old! and a smiler-love it! She's sleeping well at night, yay!

...suffering from an infection...from nursing...we'll leave it at that, but...ouch...fever and chills, yuck.

... enjoying being at home again. ooh. That's nice. (that was for Joanna and Cody)

...loving on this cute face too. she saw how I ate my turkey pepperoni (YUM), and cheese on crackers, and copied me. I LOVE this stage-she's such a little person. (you know what I mean)

...started watching Veronica Mars on Netflix...anyone a fan? I like it.

...Happy Birthday to my bestie, Cassy!

...has another obsessive project in the works...here's a huge hint:

...is possibly going to go eat cookie dough straight from the freezer. Starve a fever, feed a cold? bah!

tablecloths and oven mitts

I hit the remnant jackpot the other week at Joann's! I found a ton of cute prints (usually those are rare), and bonus-the bin was 50% off. YAHOOOOOO! (Yes, I get that excited about fabric) One of my finds was this awesome fruit print-a whole yard for about $3. Niiice. I decided that Sadie's table needed a tablecloth. It's really taken me this long to make one! I've been on the hunt for the perfect fabric.

And of course, she needed a new matching oven mitt and hot pad! Her old ones were starting to fall apart. (not from MY sewing, heaven forbid) They were really easy, just quilted some fabric and batting, and trimmed it out in twill tape (which is Soo not a good idea on the hot pad...it's not bias tape!) so don't look too close. Anyways, I have about a fat quarter left of the fabric...what to do with it?

some fun things!

While we were in Utah this past week, I received a few gifts and got to go thrifting. (hooray!) This adorable apron and blanket are from my cousin's wife Courtenay. (also my sister in law Stephanie's sister-the two sisters married cousins) she also was fabulous enough to send along a bunch of adorable ribbons and trims that she scored at a garage sale! can you believe it? where are these garage sales in Cali? I can't wait to make something out of them-and to use that cute apron...I'll be the cutest homemaker on the block.

My crafty cousin Jenni was nice enough to make these crocheted hair bows for the girls after I begged asked her to. ;) I am no crocheter...and she is the queen! Thanks Jenni! (she also made two white ones but Sadie was wearing them)

Now on to the thrifting:

I got some cute sheets and these metal embroidery hoops-cool huh?

The big score for me were these children's books-I should've gotten more...

I had gathered a huge stack but Rory was giving me THE LOOK so I had to put some back. These are the Little Golden Books I got....but wait...

DISNEY GALORE! I found a bunch of Disney books I Sadie didn't have yet!

yay! I literally was on a thrifting high the rest of the weekend. lol

I also grabbed a couple of other books- I loved that Kitten for Kim book when I was a kid.

and does that A is for Apple book look familiar to any of you readers? I used the same exact book for my banner in the playroom!

Best of all? The books were only 50 cents each!

burlap banner tutorial

So, would you like to know how I made the burlap banner from my sister's shower?

Well, too bad if you don't. Cause it's MY blog. muwaha. ha. ha.

ANYways....first, cut squares from your burlap-mine were 4 inches square.

Gently pull a few strands off of each side of your square...it'll be uneven, but that adds to the charm. Right?

this will be what you end up with...

Then, use some craft paint and stamps and spell out your message! Easy, cheap, and cute!

Hang from some twine with clothespins, and you're in business. Perfect for a fun summer get together or fall greeting....ooh. ideas!

(by the way, I didn't wish her only one congratulatioN. There is an "S" on the end, it slipped behind the N. It was a windy night. :)

***If you have used any of my tutorials, I'd love if you'd add a quick pic to my flicker group! Thanks!***

that's a wrap

I found this gorgeous fabric in Joann's clearance section the other day, and had to get some for a shirt. For me. I know, ground-breaking right? Something NOT for Sadie? (or Charlotte)

Anyways, just to clear it up, this is NOT the gorgeous fabric (that one is in progress though)...it's a practice shirt made from a couple of remnant pieces...one wasn't large enough, but then I found another piece of the exact same fabric. nice. So, I found an old wrap around shirt, and used it for a pattern.

It was pretty simple to make, just the bias tape was a little time consuming. Nothing a movie on my computer couldn't take care of. I added a little ruffle cause it's gray and was kinda boring without it. haha.

and...this is why I don't like to model my clothing. My face looks like I'm smelling something gross, and I look like I'm pregnant. grr. just sayin'. (totally NOT trying to get compliments-I just don't like pictures of myself most of the time! ;)

crafty room

I've shown my craft room here and here, but I recently deep-cleaned it and I'd changed a few things so I took a few pictures the other day. I also love to see "behind the scenes" if you will, of other bloggers. Hope you do too!




I love my little "inspiration" board, made with twine and nails. Nothing unique or fancy, just a fun place to fill with pictures, magazine pictures, drawings by my daughters, and supplies I want to use. The DIY white board was gifted to me by my sis. You can also read about the wooden sign in that same post. ;)

 These drawers are full of my items to refashion...looks like I need to hop to on some refashioning! ;) That's my Silhouette in her pretty dust cover on top!

Here's my sewing table with ironing board, cutting mat, sewing machine, fabric weights, wrist pincushion, table pincushion, bowl for different machine foots, garbage/string collector, and an Amy Butler organizing thing I found at Michaels. This houses my needles, bobbins, hot glue gun, fabric glue, pins, size tags, etc.
 

I have my scissors, turning tools, rotary cutter, fabric pencils, etc, gathered in this cool little vase my brother made in his pottery class. He was going to just throw this away! I love it. Thanks Justin!

My yardage. Ahh...fabric is just so pretty. See how I organize it here, and about those little jars underneath here!

These shelves are where I store my fat quarters/large scraps (top shelf), ribbons and trims, embroidery stuff, sewing books, elastic and velcro, buttons, hair clip stuff, some jewelry supplies, and on the bottom, all my scraps. Yowsas!

Thread. Not much to say about that, is there?

On this little shelf I have some notions (bias tape, piping, zippers) and then those other piles are projects to finish. Underneath them is where I store my vintage fabrics, interfacing, freezer paper, heat n' bond, ironing stuff, onesies, and some paint.

I cleaned up for you all!

Yes, this is it clean. lol. Here is my bulletin board for even more inspiration pics! (and I'll be honest, fabric store business cards, lol) I have a couple of nails in the wall where I hang up a few of my latest projects for something fun to look at.

See that yellow bag in the bucket? Chocolate chips. Yes I am a chocolate fiend and must have my fix at the tip of my fingers. lol!

Here's where I keep my serger-I serge standing up so as not to be moving the chair back and forth. I keep serger thread (all one spool I have right now), some fat quarters, and random notions in those tin pails. You can see more about my serger quilt here.

I made those large decorative buttons from some wooden trays I found thrifting! You can see more about that here!

My (awesome) hubby got me those metal ribbon spools ages ago from his work, they used to hold spools of wire, but are perfect for ribbon.

I also got said awesome hubby to hang this little shelf for some random items-buttons, twill tape, headbands, a cute French doll I won in a giveaway, flowers-and a fun sewing machine print. I found that wooden spool for $1 thrifting and wound some yarn around it to look like string. Cute

This is how I organize my patterns-purchased, and homemade. All labeled and bagged and everything! They did look like this once. If you check the pic below they are not this organized anymore, lol!

This is the view from the door. I don't have a decorating "scheme" for this room, it's kind of a modge podge but I like to let the fabric and notions do the decorating for me! they're so colorful, why compete?

So thanks for joining me in a little updated tour of my craft room. I realize I am very lucky to have a whole room dedicated to my hobbies-my hubby is awesome. I hope the kids like sharing rooms...cause I don't want to give this one up! ;)

a cool little pouch

 hmmm, what have we here? A little unassuming bag...(made of cute fabric though) 

let's see what's inside, shall we?

A Viewmaster! Now, I know some of you had these as kids or play with them now.

A lovely padded (and lined) bag for the Sadester's favorite car toy.

 But, what's this? A handy little pocket for all her slides!? 

What insanely smart momma thought of that?

har har...Sorry for the dorkiness. I am really excited about this project though! If you can't tell. Sadie had $10 from one of her great grandmas for her birthday, 

so she I spent it on some new slides. So, when Rory suggested a little case for the slides, I went one further and made this little pouch for the whole gang! 

If there's enough interest I may turn this into a pattern/tutorial-but then again, I don't know how many people would think this is cool. 

It may just be me. (and Rory)

Anyways, what do you think?