Pleated Top

Have I mentioned lately that I love the blog Craftiness is not optional?

I sometimes feel like a stalker as I check the site several times a 

day just to make sure I am not missing a new post.

Anyway, I just adore the tutorials that Jess has posted on her blog

and plan to make many more of her projects.

Today I have made her pleated top.

Although everything went together well and the tutorial was easy to follow,

I am not too happy with my fabric selection.

Because the flowers are in a vertical row, it doesn't show off

the pleats as well as I would like.

I love the way it buttons up the back and may just have to add

some buttons to the front also.  That just may make those

pleats stand out a little more predominately. 

The only variation I made to the original tut was to add 3/4 length sleeves. 

The tutorial was for a sleeveless top with the arms bound with bias tape.

Super cute for hot, sunny days but, it is definitely not summer in Ohio anymore.

It has rained almost all day long and the temperature is in the mid-forties.

On second thought, I should have made this top out of fleece!

Oh well, maybe the next one.

I plan on pairing this top with brown leggings that I have

already purchased for my great niece, Korallynne.


Sorry for the terrible photos.
It is after midnight and the energy saving bulbs we use don't make
for good picture taking.

Until next time, 

The Libby Top Sew-A-Long

I am in love with the blog Craftiness Is Not Optional (aka: CINO).

Jess makes some of the cutest little girls clothing ever!

On top of that, she shares some wonderfully done tutorials on how to make them.

On Monday she started the Libby Top sew-a-long.  

It lasted three days and was a blast to participate.  

It was my first sew-a-long and certainly won't be my last, if she

posts more.  

WARNING: Crappy pictures ahead!

It was raining and overcast when I went to take my pictures.

I couldn't get a decent photo indoors as it was too dark in the house so I quickly

took my garment stand outside, plopped it down and snapped a few shots.

I didn't have time to straighten or primp the top or it would have gotten soaked

and I would have been drenched

This is my finished top.

A view of the back.

I strayed a little from the tutorial as it was written and added some piping

and bias tape to the edge of the bib portion of the bodice.

I love the dimensional quality it gives. 

I don't know if it shows up well on your screen but, 

the orange fabric is glittered. 

I also made my sleeves differently.  I followed the tutorial for measuring and cutting

but instead of adding bias tape to finish the lower sleeve edge I gathered it.

I added some more bias tape to coordinate with the bib detailing. 

I just love this little top and plan on making some black pants to match.

I am thinking of adding ruffles to the bottom of the pant legs using

the orange and print fabric from this top.

As they stitch up so quickly, I plan on making two more 

of these Libby tops for each of my great nieces.

Why not head on over to Jess's site and try one for yourself?

I promise you won't be disappointed!

Until next time, 

Junebugs Everywhere!

This morning I completed another Junebug Dress from the tutorial posted by 

Jess at Craftiness is not Optional.

As I had mentioned previously, a friend had given me a LARGE stash

of fabric a long while ago and in it were some very vintage prints.

As fall is quickly approaching here, I wanted to make a dress to

reflect the season that could also be worn well into winter.

Here is the fabric I chose.

Doesn't it just scream Autumn!

And here is my finished dress.

Although I have never sewn it before, I decided to try rick rack

around the chest flap. I love the look but wasn't to happy

with the way I sewed it on.  Need to find a tutorial on how to round 

corners with it.  I couldn't get it to lay flat so I ended up sewing it to

each side and trimming it. When I turned it right side out, 

the trim pulled in even though I clipped and trimmed the corners.

I couldn't believe I found the exact shade of trim as was in the dress.

I know it looks orange but it is more of a burnt orange color.

The buttons matched up pretty well too.

Once I had the dress completed, I felt that the bottom looked a 

little bare so I added a row of rick rack about 2.5 inches from the bottom.

As with the last Junebug dress, I made the sleeves longer and

added wide lace to them.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will fit my great niece, CiCi.

I enlarged it to an approximate size 4.

Although she is only 2 years old, she is, ummm...lets say a healthy

little dumpling. She is not overweight but, is fuller in the waist and

upper body than most toddlers her age.

Sorry my pictures are so bad.  The sun was shining when I started taking

them but then the clouds came in when I was finishing up.

Thanks again Jess for such a wonderful, easy to follow tut!

Until next time, 

Ice Cream Sundae

Today is my friend Becky's birthday.

She is such a wonderful person. One of those people you really, truly admire.

Because she is so sweet, what better way to present her gift 

than in an ice cream sundae gift card holder.

I had seen this idea made into a cupcake and made a few of those

as gifts.  Everyone that received one raved about them.

When you pull out the cherry, it reveals the gift card inside!

While at one of the dollar type stores a while ago, I found these plastic

ice cream sundae bases.  At the time, I didn't know what I would make with 

them but I picked a couple up anyway. I'm so glad I did!

I think the tall bases make them more substantial looking.

The original cupcakes called to paint the wooden knob red and then coat 

them in glue and sprinkle with red glitter.  

On this sundae I painted the knob red and once dried I coated it with

sparkle nail polish. I really like the looks of it.

When I finished the sundae I thought the base needed

 a little something so I added this bow.  

As an afterthought, to add a little more pizzazz and up the cuteness factor, I added a crazy straw. 

I know it doesn't match color-wise but it's the only unused one I had on hand.

Until next time, 

Junebug Dress Modeled

Today I presented the Junebug dress to my niece, Korallynne.

She was so excited when she saw it that she wanted it put on right away.

She was so cute and kept saying "Priddy".

She was the best little model.

This is the shot I got when I told her to turn around 

and show me the back of the dress.

I was lucky enough to find leotards that were almost the exact

shade of turquoise that is in the dress!

I was disappointed that I wasn't able to find any brown shoes. 

But, as it turned out, I'm glad I didn't because I found these brown ankle boots that were adorable.

You can't tell in the pictures but they have a leather ruffle on each side and they laced up the front.

Kind of reminds me of the "Little House on the Prairie" look.

The photo shoot didn't last very long.

When I got this look from my model, I knew it was over!

That's a two year old for you!

Until next time, 

The Junebug Dress

Today I have finished up a Junebug Dress that I made from the tutorial posted at 

Craftiness is not Optional.

To go directly to the tutorial click here.  

While your there, check out the other great projects and tutorials as Jess has some fantastic ones!

I wanted to make a tester dress so I chose this fabric I had in my stash that a friend had

given me a long while ago. The colors are trendy but I wasn't fond of the print. 

The fabric is definitely vintage and has a lovely hand to it. 

Now that it is finished I have changed my mind and am quite fond of it!

The front has a button up flap.  

Love the fact that there are no zippers to deal with.

I absolutely hate sewing in zippers.

I used the size 2/3 pattern that Jess provided in the tutorial.

It will be going to one of my great nieces.  

Both are two years old but wear a size 3.

I changed a few things up from the original tutorial.

I made the sleeves longer as it is going into fall now 

and I added lace to the sleeves also.

I'm thinking of pairing the dress up with a brown turtle neck and the same color leggings.

I also made the skirt of the dress fuller than what the tutorial called for.

I couldn't decide on what buttons to use.  

As this was a tester dress I didn't want to have to buy anything to make it.

I scrounged through my button tin and found these vintage ones.

Although they are not the exact brown in the dress, I think they compliment

the vintage fabric and old time feel that the dress took on.

I am also going to stop calling it a tester dress now as it came out

better than I could have imagined.  For that I have Jess to thank

for such a fantastic, easy to follow, tutorial!

Thanks Jess!

I'm going to be whipping up another one real soon.

I'm thinking of all the possibilities for trims!

Ric rac around the button up flap, ribbon along the bottom, the ideas are just flowing! 

Until next time, 

Summer Dresses Modeled

Here are my great-nieces modeling their summer dresses I made them. 

(See the June 15th posting for details on the dress and the tutorial to make it.)

I liked the dress I made for CiCi so much that I made Korallynne one exactly like it.

They looked so adorable running around at our summer place at the lake. 

Everyone kept asking if they were twins (they aren't). 

The girls had a great time watching my sister (their Aunt Brenda) catch fish.

That's all for now!

Until next time, 

Summer Dress

Today I finished up this darling little dress that I made using the tutorial from living with punks.

Susan did such a fantastic job creating her picture tutorial that I had this dress done in no time at all.

I made it using fabric that a co-worker had given me a couple years back.

I had no idea what I would ever make with it as the print is so 

large but I just loved the coloring in it so I held onto it.

When I saw Susan's tutorial I knew immediately that this was the fabric I would use.

Perfect for a summer dress for a 2 year old!

If you would like to make one yourself here is the direct link: 

http://www.livingwithpunks.com/2010/08/tutorial-ella-dress-with-free-pattern.html.

A first for me, I made my own seam binding.

It took me longer to make the binding than it did to finish the whole rest of the dress.

By the looks of my crooked sewing line, it appears I need a little practice sewing it on!

I think my favorite part of the dress is the ruffled neckline.

I love the top stitching at the waist line.

It gives the finished dress a high end look.

The bow is super cute, isn't it?  

I angled the ends of the ties which wasn't called for in the tutorial.

On the next dress I create, I will make the tails about 5 inches longer than what the tutorial calls for.

On Susan's finished dress she tied her tails in a loose knot rather than a bow 

so that is probably why mine are so short.

Thank you Susan! 

I couldn't be happier with this little number!

Until next time, 

Sweet Hearts Revisited!

This is my second card for TSTR challenge this week which is Sweet Hearts.

I am soooooo very pleased with the finished result.

Ain't she pretty?

I am in love with the crochet edging I did on the vintage valentine image!

This close up shots show the detail a little better.

I just adore the crochet flowers so decided to make a rosette and add it to my creation.

My main background paper is covered in the prettiest little pink and green

butterflies so I had to add some of my own for dimension.

I cut them on my expression, distressed the edges, painted them with sparkly nail polish

and glued on some little pink pearls.

 

This card was very time consuming to make but

I think the end results were worth the effort.  

As usual, I am running behind so gotta run!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Until next time,