Baby Shower Gift

I am going to a baby shower today! It's for a friend I haven't seen in years. We grew up going to elementary school together and have since reconnected via Facebook. There will be several of my "old school" friends there and I am so excited to see everyone.

I love making baby gifts for friends. For this baby girl to be I made a skirted onesie, little booties with "flower" accents and a bib. I used Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks fabric in baby bouquet.

I packaged it up in a little bucket I found in the $1 section at Target and made a little notecard to tie onto the outside. The notecard it a flat card I folded and sewed a little ruffle onto the outside. I punched a hole in the corner using a hole punch and attached it with a light pink grosgrain ribbon.

Happy Shower baby Girl!

I have been working on a tutorial for this ruffled tank shirt. I hope to have it up tomorrow!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend!

A Resting Place for the Rufflelier

I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the Rufflelier after the tRuffles and tEa party. I originally was going to break it down and reuse the ruffles on a skirt. Then my sister said she would like to have it, but didn't know where she would put it. After much thought and a broken lamp shade, I think I found a pretty good use for it...

The original shade never really fit well. I bought the stand and the shade separate and didn't bother to check and see if it was the correct type of shade for the stand:0 Oh well, it lasted for three years and now it's been replaced by the "ruffshadelier".

I just used a little hook and screwed it into the ceiling. Then I tied a knot in the string, hung it up and the rest it history!

I think it makes a nice addition and will be lovely to read under.

Spring Top Submission: "In Full Bloom"

I am always up for a good challenge:) This will be the third one this year (Lil Blue Boo/Dharma Trading Co., Ruffles and Stuff and now Spring Tops) and I LOVE it! It really pushes me to explore my creativity and actually finish projects. So often I start something and don't finish. Does anyone else share that vice?

Spring Tops contest is a little different from the past two. I have to make something for myself!!! The only other thing I have made for myself is this. I have never actually made a piece of clothing for me until now! Truth be told...my kids look way cuter in clothes than I do and are much more fun to sew for. But without further ado...here it is...

I call it "In Full Bloom." Here is my journey in completing my first top for me!

I sat down...well, not really. I had both kids with me. I stood up and in between potty breaks and feedings I browsed through the pattern books at the store. There were a couple different ones I liked, but ended up choosing Simplicity 2601.

Things I loved about the look of the pattern...

Style -classic, simple, feminine and a tailored

Versatility-dress up and dress down...could be worn with a skirt, shorts, dress pants or jeans.

It also had several different options for sleeves and collars.

Then I was off to choose some material that I thought would compliment the style of the pattern. I chose a light weight 100% percent cotton for the main fabric and a swiss white dot fabric for some of the flowers, covered buttons and sash. I loved both the look and feel of the fabric. I was also looking for a fabric that I would want to wear through the hot/humid Florida summer. And it was 30% off...an added bonus!

Now, since I wasn't creating the shirt from scratch I needed to make it my own. I started thinking about what I love about a shirt and next to comfort it's definitely how it's embellished. Flowers, buttons, ruffles and sashes are four embellishments I used. I knew I wanted to incorporate these items into my shirt, but I didn't know exactly how. So I turned to my favorite store...Anthropology. I don't think there is one item of clothing that I wouldn't buy from that store...if I had unlimited funds that is, but I don't...so I use their clothes as an inspiration for my own. This, This and This were all inspirations for embellishing my shirt. I love a ruffled neckline, beautiful fabric flowers and a sash to define the waistline.

So...after I finished the basic pattern for the shirt I made the little flowers

I made "Yo Yo" flowers, little roses (I serged the edges of these first) and what I like to call "scrunch and sew" flowers. Not much to them. I just cut a circle scrunched it into a flower and sewed it to tack it in place. Then I wanted a little fray, but also wanted to contain it so I applied a little fray check to the edges of the flowers. In the center of two of the flowers are covered buttons. For the ruffle along the back of the neckline I used a scrap piece of fabric about 2 inches in width. I serged the sides with a rolled hem and then sewed a basting stitch down the center. I gathered, pinned, and sewed it into place. Voila!

I love it! It's comfortable and makes me feel pretty! And I think that's a big part of this contest. If I have time I may make a couple more spring tops! If you sew you should treat yourself too!

Thanks for hosting Rae! It's been fun focusing on me for a change!