green

Maybe I am subconsciously getting ready for St. Patrick's Day, I don't know. I made a few necklaces last week and chose green beads for both. I'd rather have gotten another color of bead for the top one, but that was the best choice available at the time. Aren't the braided beads cute? I pinned this tutorial AGES ago and finally got the materials to make one. So happy with the results, and now I want one in another color. Mustard yellow perhaps? (it's a sickness!)

I made the other one the same way, just with larger beads and no braiding. (obvs) I can't decide which I like better!

the Elinor top tutorial

 Since we read Sense and Sensibility this month for book club, I decided to name this simple little top after one of the characters.

The curved ruffle makes a really interesting shape, which I love.

Here's how I made it!

See  below for the tutorial!

book club favors and treats

So, I hosted our monthly book club this month, and chose Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen for us to read. Ok, so the gorgeous cover of this copy might have been a factor...but can you blame me? helloooo pretty lady.

I had mixed feelings about the book-it was good and I enjoyed the story, but parts of it were extremely hard for me to get through and not want to fall asleep from boredom. Nevertheless, I soldiered on and finished it. (the day before we got together but hey-done is done!)

A get together, however small, is just another excuse for me to have fun with a theme! Also bake a bunch of goodies.

I made these brown sugar pound cupcakes with brown butter icing, recipe from the queen of cupcakes.  I figured it sounded like the type of recipe they might make back in those times.

Also made those little flowers from royal icing leftover from the sugar cookies and some sprinkles.

I made some button bookmark favors-more on those below!

We definitely would not have good lighting once we got started so I snapped some shots right after I finished icing the cupcakes.

The girls were sorely tempted by the treats. As you can see. ;)

These cookies were soo much fun to make, and they actually didn't take much time at all. I found the technique here, and pretty much copied them, even the color, lol. Also, they seemed old timey to me...

I finished off with writing this quote from the book on our chalkboard. (used a chalk pen, and traced a piece of scrapbook paper for the border.)



So! Back to those bookmarks! Awhile ago I saw these adorable button bookmarks and wanted to make some, so I decided that book club would be the perfect opportunity/excuse to make some for favors! I cut bookmarks out of card stock on my Silhouette, two for each, then cut a slit on one side, then glued them together around the edges, tied on some embroidery thread on the top, and then slid the button bookmark in!

So really, it's like 2 bookmarks in one. Score.

I bought the bookmark blanks here, and the buttons to cover from Joanns. Background fabric is from my sponsor Oilcloth Addict. :)

Saressa Designs giveaway!

***This giveaway is now closed. See the winner below!***

 
Hey everyone! I've got a great giveaway for you today, from Saressa Designs-she makes some adorable wire wrapped jewelry, plus other classy designs. You saw a few of her necklaces in my post yesterday, and here's your chance to get your hands on something of your own from her shop!

Here are a few of my favorites right now!

So, onto the giveaway details! She is giving away a $25 store credit to one lucky winner! 

To enter:

Visit the shop and do some perusing, then let me know a few of your favorite items in a comment on this post.

Additional entry:

Like the Saressa Designs Facebook page, and let me know in a comment on this post.

Please leave an email address with at least one of your comments!

I'll choose a winner Sunday evening, the 26th. Good luck!

The winner is.....Nique!

outfit a day

Weird smirky face says hello.

Tank: Downeast-$5

Top: thrifted-$4

Jeans: Ross-$12

Scarf: made by me-$3

Ring: vintage, Etsy-$ 9

Shoes: Payless-$12                                Total: $45

Tank: Downeast-$10

Top: Boden, thrifted-$2

Cardi: Walmart? ages ago...$6 I think?

Jeans: Ross-$12

Shoes: Old Navy-$10

Belt: Forever 21-$7

Paperclip earrings: made by me                                Total: $47

I made this circle skirt way back around Christmas time, but had the darndest time finding a top to match. The colors are really specific in the print.  But I finally found a top to match! Hooray!

Wondertee (underneath sheer top) Downeast-$10

Top: Forever 21-$17

Skirt: made by me-$10 in materials

Shoes: Target, gifted

Earrings: Target-$3                               Total: $40

You may notice the chicken top that started this all! I love that top.

Tank: Downeast-$10
Top: thrifted-$2
Cardi: thrifted-$5
Jeans: Ross-$10
Shoes: Payless-$10
Cameo necklace: vintage, Etsy-$6                               Total: $43
 

I've got myself a tripod! Well,  borrowing it...but taking these pics using the self timer was soo easy-and bonus: the pics are in focus. almost.

Tank: Downeast-$5

Top: Forever 21-$13

Jeans: Ross: $13

Boots: Old Navy-$25

Earrings: Forever 21-$4

Rings: gifted                                Total: $60

Except for the earrings...this whole outfit is thrifted! 

Top: thrifted-$3

Skirt: thrifted-$2

Belt: thrifted-$2

Shoes: thrifted-$9

Earrings: Kohls-$3                               Total: $19

Tank: Downeast-$10
Top: Ross-$4
Cardi: thrifted-$4
Jeans: Ross-$12
Belt: vintage, Etsy-$14
Shoes: Payless-$10
Necklaces: c/o Saressa Designs                               Total: $54

I just got these necklaces from my new sponsor, Saressa Designs, and I love them! I picked out this one and this one, and decided to try layering them together. Love them! She has a ton of cute wire wrapped jewelry and other adorable pretties in her shop. (click on pictures to get a closer look!)

Check back tomorrow for a giveaway from her shop!

shelves are good.

My sewing room has been needing more storage. badly. Things were leaking onto the floors and I kept tripping over piles of fabric....which isn't always a bad thing, but in this case it was. So I grabbed my bestie and her kiddo and we headed up to Ikea. (which is a whole different meltdown story, but I'll spare you)

I bought two cheapo Kilby bookcases ($25 each) and Rory and I put them together that night. I left the backs off so that I could still use the plug, and I was lazy, and I like seeing the wall color. Although that means I now need to patch some holes where my previous shelves were. (Will I ever do it? bwahaha. )

You can see my previous post about the sewing room here...looks like I need to do an update sometime!

I ordered more of those comic book boards for the rest of my fabric. (I only had enough for about half) Are you nosy? I am.  (at least about craft rooms)

Here's what's on each shelf for you gotta-know-it folks!

Left bookshelf:

top 3 shelves: fabric...all my 1 and 1.5 yard cuts. (plus a small stack of half yard cuts)
Bottom two shelves: larger cuts of fabric and on the bottom all my Go Baby dies and some patterns.

On the right bookshelf we have: (top to bottom)

More patterns, embroidery supplies, and some sewing books. (Just got this one! It looks good. :)
1/2 yard cuts and solids.
apparel fabrics and knits
more knits!
sheets crammed in (should find another method...this one's not so pretty looking)

Oh, and ignore my fallen-over pink J...I haven't quite decorated the top yet, and this was my attempt...which obviously failed. ;} That cool sewing machine sign thingy bob was made by my brother for me (Christmas gift), and on the top, cut out (with a laser cutter machine), is the name of my blog. Cool, huh?

So yep. This is what it looks like most days, it's actually pretty cleaned up!

I love seeing all my fabrics lined up so pretty. Welcome to my fabric shop! just kidding...you can't have any. (actually, you can...I'm destashing some yardage and scraps in the shop! Yardage coming soon)

mustard yellow circle skirt

Back around Christmas time (in between Christmas and New Years) we were all sick with the flu. :( This is the one thing I was able to sew that week, and only because it was SO easy. I used Dana's tutorial, which is great. I've used it before, but only for the girls.

I love how it drapes! I think it was a rayon knit from Fabric.com, but I can't find it on the site anymore. boo. Sorry. Getting the elastic from my cousin in law Courtenay made this dress about $10 to make. I didn't hem the bottom because...did I mention the flu? ;)

thrifty!

So...Rory was gone all Saturday morning (helping our friends move) and afternoon (at a basketball game with his family), so I was pretty darn desperate to get out of the house with the girls by the time night fell. We went to our my favorite taqueria (they ate like two bites of their quesadilla...crazies) and afterward I was still desperate to stay out....so off we headed to look at Salvation Army. I decided we would just look at books, since trying out clothes was pretty much out of the question.



Yeah.....we pretty much scored.

 They were having a 50% off sale, (but not on books, but I thought so...more on that) so when I found these gorgeous vintage assortment of books I freaked out and started grabbing willy nilly!

Then I maturely and demurely weeded out the ones we already had or didn't need.

So anyways, the nice gentleman at the front gave me the books half off anyways! What a nice guy. So these books were all 50 cents each. Sigh....I. love. thrifting.

ANd How's about that cool book on top...which is written about me? (I'm only assuming) Hehe so excited about that find!
 

I also found this nice wooden tray ($2.75), and these AWEsome napkin rings. ($1) There are only 5, so I guess we can only have one more kid. Or, only our favorites will get to use them.

I also spotted this pretty plate ($1, and continuing the mustard trend of the day), and snagged it because months back I had also thrifted.....

...this blue one! They are both from Mikasa, and are different sizes but still go together.

So...a very quick yet fruitful trip to the thrift store. (and the first one I've tried with the girls in like 6 months!) They did very well except for when we got in line, it was really slow and they were getting bored. So this sweet Grandma behind us in line (she just had the Grandma vibe) started showing them the things she was buying and asking them questions. I am so, so grateful when people are willing to help entertain my kids when we're stuck somewhere and they are bored. 

So the total for this trip?

 $10.25

Create Kids Couture pattern review and giveaway!

*****This giveaway is now closed! See the winner below. *****

Hey guys, I've got a cute pattern review and giveaway for you today! I made this little dress for Charlotte and it came together pretty quickly! Meaning I started and finished it in about 2 hours. Not bad considering the gathering. (man, I need me a ruffle foot for my machine)

This dress is also for Charlotte's birthday party-the horse should be a bit of a hint as to the theme (but if you follow me on Pinterest you should know it already hehe I'm a bit obsessive!)

The floral and green fabrics are from my sponsor Ribbon Retreat!

The reds are from Joann...and the yellow is from my sponsor, Bloomerie Fabrics!

Charlotte is a fan of the dress! (ok, it was a struggle getting these pictures, but hey-we persevered!)

The pattern is from the Create Kids Couture shop-called the Mia dress. It was very easy to make, though I did leave out the underskirt because I didn't have enough time...just attached the ruffle to the bottom of the pieced skirt.

They have lots of adorable patterns in their shop-if you love that patchwork-y look, this is the shop for you!

They are giving away a 3-pack of patterns  to one lucky winner! 

Retails for $25.

To enter:

Visit their shop and do some perusing, then let me know a few of your favorite patterns in a comment on this post.

Additional entry:

Like the Create Kids Couture Facebook page, and let me know in a comment on this post.

Please leave an email address with at least one of your comments!

I'll choose a winner Sunday evening, the 19th. Good luck!

The winner is....Heidi!