Tshirts to maxi skirt

Now that I'm working outside my home I can no longer wear my "mom uniform" (yoga pants and a tshirt). So I've had to get creative with the seven pieces of clothes that I have that are actually acceptable to wear, in public, to my job...and that don't make me feel totally uncomfortable. I've even gotten brave enough to wear two different skirts. Don't drop over in shock!! I really do not generally wear skirts...ever. Okay, maybe on Easter and to a wedding but that's it. But that may change...if I continue to find skirts as comfortable as the ones I wore this week. I saw the idea for this skirt on pinterest....another shocker right (although now I can't find it, go figure)?! 

I was able to make this skirt in about 45 minutes and it cost me $9...well, actually a little less than $9 because each shirt was $3 and I didn't use any shirt in its entirety. I just cut the shirts under the armpits and cut the bottom hem off the black and green shirts. I kept the hem on the white shirt so that I wouldn't have to create a new hem! Then I sewed the shirts together using a zig-zag stitch and created a casing for my elastic, put elastic in and I had a skirt! Now, since I'm no "sewing with knits" expert this skirt does have a few areas that pucker a bit between the green and black because it stretched more than it should have but once I ran my iron over it that helped smooth it out a bit (go figure, an iron making things smooth! ha!).  

This skirt is SOOOO comfortable! It's the next best thing to my yoga pants!! I still get to wear tshirts to work...they are just disguised as a cute skirt! I have a few more shirts in my closet that I am planning on using for another skirt! At this rate, I could be wearing skirts much more often...but don't hold me to it!

What have you made lately from old or new cheap tshirts?

Continue Reading ...

Excited to Share

Hi Everyone, Hope your weekend is going great! I wanted to share a quick post about some exciting news for me.  I recently have been busy creating patterns and after my first successful test group, I released my first pattern.

You can find it on my Etsy Store. I only have one item in there now, but still so excited! LOL

And more exciting news, You Can Make This accepted my pattern for their site.  It went live on Friday!!! YAY!  Check out the link by clicking on the photo below or by clicking HERE.

In another post a while back I shared how to take a screen shot. I used it again today. Find out how I did it in my other post about Overlays HERE.

Please Check Out My Other Links Below

I would love to have you like, follow, connect and chat with you more!

Continue Reading ...

Making dresses

I've been having so much fun sewing lately! I'm almost done with the girls Easter dresses. Hannah's dress is finished. Naomi's needs a hem, the lining hand sewn and buttons added. And I just started Abi's dress. Hannah loves to sit next to me and watch me sew. She loves to watch the needle go up and down. I tell her to watch and make sure it keeps going up and down...mostly to keep her busy and away from trouble. She likes to stick anything she can under my needle so I've really got to keep an eye on that little lady. 

I love being able to make clothes for my kids...it is SO rewarding to see them wearing something that I made. I love it even more when they love the dresses I make for them. I'm not a great seamstress but I can get the job done. My dresses can hold up in the wash and to daily wear...yes it would be nice to have a serger for the seams but I make what I have work!! And lately, Naomi has been wearing old dresses that I've made for her and it makes me smile every time. Yes, it's good for my ego! 

I also like to be able to help my family out a little bit with spending money or money for some of the bills so I love being able to sell some of the dresses I make. I asked Hannah to model two of the dresses for me and had to keep reminding her that these were not for her to keep. I don't think she understood because every time she sees one of those dresses she says "hannah's dress". Well, when it's not hanging in her closet I think she'll understand. I do hope to make more for her for this summer. My plan is to let her run around in pillowcase dresses while potty training just to make life easier! Here are some of my favorite photos from the little "product photo sessions." I would have taken her outside to do these but it's been kind of chilly lately!

 Size 2T/3T - $25 plus s/h

Size 3T/4T with ties that can go to the front or back - $25 plus s/h

Hannah in her Easter dress before I finished it. I have a feeling she'll be giving me that look when she's a teenager!

Here is Hannah's dress all finished!!

 Naomi's dress is almost done...

I also plan on making some headbands for them as well!! Check out my etsy store if you're interested in having me make your little lady a dress!!

Continue Reading ...

Framed Pin Cushion from Pine Creek Style

My mom is visiting us again today. She made me the cutest pin cushion.  I shared it on Instagram and a few people asked how to make it. My mom was happy to share it with us. Read below for her how to.... ;)

I have seen some cute things done with picture frames lately. And they have been on my "To Do" list for TOO long!

 Picture Frame Pin Cushion...Functional & Cute!

 *See the above items you'll need.
**I used the back cardboard from an old tablet to attach my padding. It was just the right thickness; sturdy but not to thick!

 Cut several thicknesses of quilt batting to use as the pin cushion. I cut two pieces larger than the rest. The larger batting is the backing for the cushion. The smaller pieces fit just inside the frame opening allowing thickness on the inside/open part of the frame. i used 8 smaller pieces for my thickness.

 I used burlap for my outer material and a thin piece of muslin for the backing. This way, none of the batting would come through the larger weave of the burlap fabric.

 Neatly fold the fabric around the batting closing in the cardboard backing. You may glue, tape or sew it in place if you wish.

Then I replaced the back to the frame. That simple, that fast.

I sent a cell phone photo to my daughter who replied; "I want one!"

So the one on the left is Tara's (from Trendy Treehouse) and the right is mine!

**Note my scissors....After years of having many scissors ruined by being used for the wrong items....I NOW mark my territory! 
Haha...I feel your laughter....IN agreement! :)
There's more...See what Tara DID to my gift!!!

Update:
I gave Tara her gift (pin cushion frame) this past weekend! She loved it! 
She also loves StringArt! 
Using straight pins, she created a pretty StringArt Style pattern on her pin cushion. 
Then she sent a "Thank You" photo to Me!
Very, Very Cute! Of course I had to share!

Would love to hear your comments!
Just Framing MY Style...

Tara had fun with her photo apps! :)

Thanks again MOM for making this for me and helping ChaCha make one too!

Make sure you stop by my moms blog and say hi and thank her for this tute! You might want to also click that follow button too. She has some pretty cool posts over there!

Continue Reading ...

Matching girls dress and American Girl Doll dress

My kids got invited to a birthday party for a little friend from church. I love when I get to create little gifts for their friends! It's always fun to sew for my kids but I love when I get to share my limited sewing skills with others as well. So I decided to make a pillowcase dress with a small dress to match for her American Girl doll as well. Pillowcase dresses are pretty easy to make...and there are a ton of tutorials out there so I'm not going to post a full tutorial just some of the things I do to make it easier on myself!

I always fold the fabric in half and cut BOTH the front and the back at the same time. Saves me some measuring and cutting and then I'm sure my pieces match (maybe everyone does that, I don't know)

This was a size 8 dress and I measure the top part to be 8 inches (folded) the length was about 27 inches and the bottom of the arm cutout was at 23 inches.

Then I sew wrong sides together (right sides out) and then the top layer of fabric close to the stitch line.

Iron the longer piece just to the stitch marks

Then fold over again and sew (does that make sense?). This is so that you don't have any unfinished raw edges!!

And I just wanted to show you that you CAN make a pillowcase dress without using bias tape! I just folded the edge under twice and sewed it down!

I made a little hair clip for the birthday girl (that's my daughter in the pic, not the bday girl)...and I decided to try something new and added this ribbon behind the "flower"

Here's the finished dresses!

Dresses for a little girl and her doll, and matching hair accessories too!

Here's the birthday girl and her doll Kit!! So cute!

She really seemed to like the dress and is excited to match her doll!!

I haven't listed these in my etsy store yet but I will be. If you're interested in buying a set for your daughter or a loved one they are $30 per set (which includes 4 items). Email me to start the fabric conversation (I don't have anymore of this fabric and couldn't find it where I found it the first time)! purejoycreative at gmail dot com. Hope you had a great weekend!

Continue Reading ...