Just wanted to post a slideshow of our new house! Finally, we get to move in! We have a few more rooms in the basement that I didn't include in the pics, but if you've seen one room with tile floors and cement walls, you have seen them all. I am so excited to actually have some space to move around after being stuck in this little 2-bdrm apartment for the past month and a half!
A blog about family, little divas, chunky munkys, and my "tiny" obsession with photography, sewing, and anything with the word "how-to" involved.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A little late, I know!
SO, I have had quite the busy week! We are getting ready to move into our new house on Monday, and I am so excited!! I just lost track of time, and then we lost internet connection for almost 2 full days. You know that I almost panicked and went through withdrawals. Now, after giving you all my excuses for why I didn't get to post any of the possible giveaway prizes, here are just a few for you to take a little peak at. There will be more to come when I get a free minute to take some extra pictures. I am only 9 people away from having 25 followers, so keep an eye out for the first giveaway posting....
Adorable Flower Headbands
made by yours truly
Super Cute Crochet Hats
made by Busy Hands Boutique
Sanity Saver a.k.a Crayon Caddymade by me as well
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tell everyone!!
So, I have decided to start something new. Something that I think everyone will really enjoy! In an effort to get more followers, I have decided to start having some fantastic giveaways. Prizes could possibly include hair accessories, clothing items, patterns, and many other items. All items will be handmade in nature by me or fellow crafters.
The first giveaway will be when I have reached 25 followers, and then there will be another giveaway for every 25 more followers. Once I have reached the first 25, I will post a blog with the featured prize. If you would like to enter the giveaway, you will have to comment on at least one post within my blog. Then, the winner will be chosen randomly at the end of 1 week!
I will post pictures of some possible prizes tomorrow, so keep your eyes open for the latest updates :o)
The first giveaway will be when I have reached 25 followers, and then there will be another giveaway for every 25 more followers. Once I have reached the first 25, I will post a blog with the featured prize. If you would like to enter the giveaway, you will have to comment on at least one post within my blog. Then, the winner will be chosen randomly at the end of 1 week!
I will post pictures of some possible prizes tomorrow, so keep your eyes open for the latest updates :o)
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Shirring 101
I had a couple of people ask me about tips on shirring after I posted the peasant tops that I made for the girls. So, I decided to make a short tutorial on how I shirred all of the areas of these shirts. Originally, I tried to use the method that the pattern suggested, but it just wasn’t quite turning out the way that I wanted. So, I played with it until I found what I liked, which is in the tutorial below.
1. You will need elastic thread for your bobbin only. Your top thread will be whatever you choose for your topstitch to be. You will also want to make sure that you hand-wind the thread (this I did find out from the pattern). You will want to wind your elastic firmly around the bobbin, pulling just slightly to give it some tightness. Then, insert the bobbin, and you are ready for the next step.
2. Next, you will want to make sure that you are doing your shirring on the right (top) side of the fabric, so that your elastic is on the back side of the fabric. Always make sure to start with the needle in the fabric that way you know exactly where it will start the row. Now, the position of your first row is your preference. For this example, I chose to make it about a half an inch from the topstitch of the hem. In the previous posted project, I started the first row about a quarter of an inch from the edge of the rolled hem.
3. Hold on to the elastic thread when you first start to sew (just so the elastic doesn’t shrink back into the bobbin). Then, do a quick backstitch to lock everything into place and start stitching around the edge back to where you began. Now, backstitch again, and then leave a little extra elastic before cutting because you will now tie both the beginning elastic and the ending elastic together in a couple of knots to make sure the elastic has a secure hold.
4. Now, you will move over and line up your first stitch line with the right edge of the presser foot, and follow the same process as in Step 3. One thing that you will need to do each time from this point on is make sure the fabric is flat as you are feeding it through the presser foot.
5. You can continue this process for as many lines as you would like shirred, depending on the project you are working on.
6. The last thing that I do (which I did learn this step from the pattern as well) is to use your iron on the steam setting and just shoot some steam onto the area that was shirred. This will gather the shirred area even more and give it a fantastic look and feel.
1. You will need elastic thread for your bobbin only. Your top thread will be whatever you choose for your topstitch to be. You will also want to make sure that you hand-wind the thread (this I did find out from the pattern). You will want to wind your elastic firmly around the bobbin, pulling just slightly to give it some tightness. Then, insert the bobbin, and you are ready for the next step.
2. Next, you will want to make sure that you are doing your shirring on the right (top) side of the fabric, so that your elastic is on the back side of the fabric. Always make sure to start with the needle in the fabric that way you know exactly where it will start the row. Now, the position of your first row is your preference. For this example, I chose to make it about a half an inch from the topstitch of the hem. In the previous posted project, I started the first row about a quarter of an inch from the edge of the rolled hem.
3. Hold on to the elastic thread when you first start to sew (just so the elastic doesn’t shrink back into the bobbin). Then, do a quick backstitch to lock everything into place and start stitching around the edge back to where you began. Now, backstitch again, and then leave a little extra elastic before cutting because you will now tie both the beginning elastic and the ending elastic together in a couple of knots to make sure the elastic has a secure hold.
4. Now, you will move over and line up your first stitch line with the right edge of the presser foot, and follow the same process as in Step 3. One thing that you will need to do each time from this point on is make sure the fabric is flat as you are feeding it through the presser foot.
5. You can continue this process for as many lines as you would like shirred, depending on the project you are working on.
6. The last thing that I do (which I did learn this step from the pattern as well) is to use your iron on the steam setting and just shoot some steam onto the area that was shirred. This will gather the shirred area even more and give it a fantastic look and feel.
And VOILA!! You're finished and should have a perfectly shirred garment. If you have any questions, feel free to comment or email me!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Picture Perfect
So, here they are, as promised, just not in the same picture. It is nearly impossible to get them to actually sit together and crack a smile at the same time. One is usually pulling hair, while the other one is complaining about having to help hold her sister up. The outfits did turn out wonderful though, and they were each happy to give mommy one of their big beautiful grins (as long as they didn't have to share the spotlight).
Friday, February 6, 2009
I LOVE my serger!
I am in love with my new serger! I have been sewing like crazy since I opened the box, and I can't wait to make more outfits for the girls. This is my most recent project, which is the "Claire" peasant top from Sandi Henderson's Portabello Pixie patterns. Also, I used fabric from her gorgeous Farmer's Market line. Of course, I made them coordinate, so that the girls would match! I love the fact that they have such a finished look on the inside, and my favorite feature is the ability to do a rolled hem. This is one thing that I absolutely adore. It looks so much more professional than a plain, folded topstitch hem, especially on shirts like these. Considering this was one of my first serging projects, I think it turned out pretty nice. Although, I did have to do some slight alterations to the necklines because they were slightly large for both my girls. It doesn't seem to be too noticeable though. I will post a picture of them both wearing their new clothes as soon as I can get them both in the same place sitting still at the same time!!
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