Blog Index

Hope you all enjoyed the first year of my blog!
I had a fantastic time reaching my one year goal as a blogger.
 I am taking some time off from the shop and the blog as I attend graduate school.
Below, I have provided a quick list of links to my most popular posts.
Stay tuned and as always...

 

Have a beautiful day!

Sewing Tutorials

Silk Infinity Scarf (Serged or Machine Sewn)

Boxy Grocery Tote

Shirring Scrappy Coffee Sleeves

Reversible Pirate or Princess Pouch

Easy Draw String Pouch ...Fits Mary Kay Pro Compact!

Girls T-Shirt or Onsie Revamp to Dress!

Sewing a Coloring Book Fabric Tablecloth

Vintage Sweater Spruce Up

Add Cuffs to this Free Cardigan Pattern

Shirred Boutique Headband

Shirred Sash With Removable Rosettes

Polo Shirt Refashion Nursing Friendly Pattern!

Turning Shorts Pattern into Pants

Open Back Dress Modification ~ Cross Shape

Add Snaps To Your Favorite Dress Pattern

Fussy Cut Quilted Christmas Stocking

Recipes
 

Best Ever Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff

Mushroom Swiss Chicken Bake

Seasoned Cheezy Sausage Bites

White Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Easy No Cook Freezer Jam

Party Time!

Free Printable Template: Custom Cupcake Wrappers

DIY: Custom Party Plates

DIY: Indoor Bowling!

Treat Bucket ReDo!

Sewing an Heirloom Toy

Artwork
 

How to Create Beautiful Fall Artwork

All about Printmaking

 

 

Have a beautiful day!

 



Girl's T-shirt or Onsie Revamp turned Dress!

I just love to shop, and sew for my daughter! Although it is fun, I have a tough time finding clothing that fits properly. My youngest dollie is a size 12 months in her shoulders, but a size 24 months in her height!

That is a huge difference. So, I love to add length to her t-shirts by adding a skirt!

Today, I will tell you just how to do that with or without a pattern.

 

 

First up here, is the fantastic

Tasha's T-Shirt Dress 2 Ways PDF Patern by Create Kids Couture.

You can buy it and download instantly here:

http://www.createkidscouture.com/tashas_girls.html

 I was a bit scared to ruin my first one, so I purchased this great pdf for just $3!

Now, I have all of the measurements, tips and tricks to attach the fabric to a T-shirt, or in this case onsie, of choice!

 

 

The great thing is, that once the onsie is too short on her, I can just cut off the snap crotch and she can still wear it!

This particular dress, I was even brave enough to use knit fabric.

It is super soft, stretchy, doesn't wrinkle and will last for a long time.

 

 

 

Next up here, are a few creations of my own.

Since my tall string bean here needs her clothes lengthened, I added a drop waist skirt to the top!

The top was a cute, but inexpensive 12 month onsie from Walmart.

I simply trimmed off the snap crotch and added the skirt.

Again, I used a soft knit.

To cut the fabric for the skirt piece, just measure the very bottom of the t-shirt or onsie, then multiply by 4. For example, the onsie pictured here was 11" wide. The knit I cut was 44" wide.

The length is up to you. I decided that 5" would be a good length, so I added a half inch to that for a seam allowance.

In the end, I cut my knit fabric to be 44" wide x 5.5" long.

To sew, join the two short ends, right sides together(RST) using your favorite stitch (serge, stretch stitch or zig-zag).

 

 

On this cute onsie revamp, I used lace! Adorable.

Again, I simply cut the fabric in the same way, and joined the two short ends (RST) to make a loop of fabric.

 

 

Next, I ran a gathering stitch along the long top edge of the skirt.

Then I pinned the right side of the skirt to the right side of the t-shirt and serged them together.

 You can also use a stretch stitch or a zig-zag stitch to join them.

 

 

She just LOVES playing in her pretty dresses! 

 

 

Her majesty is pleased.

 

As always, have a beautiful day!

From the artist: All about Printmaking

I love to create. Housework, not so much. If you have not checked out my Etsy shop lately, you are missing out! Free shipping on all in stock artwork. That is just awesome.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/theelegantartist

I hand drew these scenes on a rectangular metal plate when I was attending Old Dominion University's Art Education program. the drawings were for my printmaking class. We were specifically studying Intaglio print making.

Want to learn more about the Intaglio Print process? Read this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intaglio_(printmaking)

These prints were hand drawn in several stages while I attended Old Dominion University's Art Education program.  I had a blast there! Great teachers, friends and lots of Art. What could be better?

http://www.deborahkunic.com/EtchingProcess.html

Anyway, the drawing additions were combined with a series of acid baths. These baths removed portions of the metal creating channels or pools in the shape of the drawing.

http://orangeexplainsitall.blogspot.com/2010/05/back-to-printmaking.html

The ink was then hand rubbed into the channels. The metal printing plate was then lined up with high quality Reeves BFK paper and hand pressed.

https://s-media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/da/27/52/da2752051fed3cddadfa847a8f449769.jpg

A Heidelberg press was used. Fancy, huh? It was a great process to learn. Slow going, but it made me appreciate the art processes that used to be new "technology"!

Intaglio Printing Press

http://alexandershum.blogspot.com/2012/02/gutenburg-press-1450-ad.html

Each print is one of a kind due to variations inherent in the lithography process. Small wrinkles of the paper or dots of ink are desirable and expected in this fine art process. The speed of the hand cranked printing press and the thickness of the paper, water content and amount of ink used can all change each "copy," or print.

A proof is one of a kind. The detailed drawing varies from the printed series of drawings. If you are looking at a print within a series, it will be numbered 1/5 or 4/6. The second number indicates the total number of prints made from the plate. The first number indicates the order of the exact print you are looking at.

My favorite Master of the Press would have to be

Albrecht Dürer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight,_Death_and_the_Devil

His use of line, contrast and attention to detail are amazing.

Well, I hope that you all enjoyed my little Art "lesson" today.

As always, have a beautiful day!

Free Tutorial: Easy Draw String Cosmetics Pouch - Custom Fit for the Mary Kay Pro Compact!

 

I love to make sweet little things! I found the need for a drawstring pouch for my new Mary Kay Pro Compact. I wanted something to protect the case while traveling. I found it especially handy to clip a carabineer to the string and then onto the hotel towel rack.

 

This was so fast and chic, I whipped up a few more for my favorite Mary Kay Consultants as gifts!

 

 

It fits just perfect!

You could use this handy pouch for many other girly things too.

 

Are you ready to get started? Super!

All you need are your basic sewing supplies...

and remember, if you do not have a serger,

just use an overcast stitch or zig-zag on the edge instead.

 

Here is what you need to cut out ...

 

One strip of fabric measuring 1.5" x 20" for the drawstring.

Two pieces of fabric measuring 8" x  14" for the pouch ...

go ahead and fussy cut these pieces so that your fabric shines! 

 

* All seam allowances are 1/2" unless noted.*

 

 

 

 

 

Find the open edge of the pouch.

Down from the opening, on one long side, measure and mark the 2.5" point.

Rip your sewn seam and remove the stitches from the opening down to the mark.

 

Along this same edge, open up the 2 flaps of fabric.

Serge each flap separately, trimming away ~1/4".

 

Press the seam allowance open, if desired.

 



 

 

 

Finish the open top edge of your pouch by serging, trimming away ~1/4".

 

 

Use a large eye needle to bury your serger thread tails into the seam.

 

 

Trim your thread tails.

 

 

Fold the open top edge down to the split that you created in the side seam.

 



 

Press if desired.

 

 

Pin the edges in place, with a slight angle away from the seam.

 

Sew ~1/8" away from the serged edge of the bag, creating a casing for your drawstring. 

Remember to backstitch well, as this will be the area with the most stress.

 

 

Now that your pouch is finished, it is time for your drawstring!

RST, folded lengthwise, press your 1.5" x 20" strip of fabric.

 

 

Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew the open edges together, remembering to backstitch...

 

 

AND leaving a ~2" gap in the seam for turning.

 

 

If desired, sew a slight curve on each end of your drawstring.

 

Trim the seam to ~1/4" to reduce bulk, and turn your drawstring inside out.

 

Edge stitch (as close as you can, sew ~1/8" away from the edge) being sure to close the 2" gap you left for turning.

 

Add your "made by" tag if desired to one of the inside serged flaps.

 

 

Run your tapered end draw string through your casing, using a safety pin.

 

Voila!

 

 

And there you have it ladies...

 

Your very own custom Mary Kay Pro Compact (or other girlie item) drawstring pouch!

 

I know that you crafty ladies can easily customize this project to ANY size for the perfect fit!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by, and as always,

Have a beautiful day!