Flower Girl Dresses

  I had been surfing the blogs one day and came across an awesome idea for cute little flower girl dresses.  I quickly emailed my daughter the link, which you can see if you  CLICK HERE.  The blog where I found the idea, has an amazing seamstress, which I am not, but she made the concept so easy for me that I figured even I could muster my way through it!   The bride to be (my daughter), decided it was an awesome idea; pillowcase dresses.  After finding the perfect pillowcases, I sat down at my machine and started to sew.  The one I took pictures of  is the second one.  The first was already shipped off for a trial fitting.

I started by folding the pillowcase in half.

Cut out the armholes.  Also trim off the seam on the top of the pillowcase.

It should look something like this when you unfold it.

Press the armhole seam.  I double folded to make a neat finished  seam.

Stitch each  armhole.

Press the edge over  for the top of the dress.  Stitch.

Press over again creating a pocket for your tie to slide through.

Stitch down.

You can make a tie from your own fabric or you can just use a scarf like the one above or maybe a piece of ribbon!

One side will tie into a bow, and the other side creates the strap that sits on the shoulder.

Hopefully we will get some cute shots on the big day with actual models in them, but for now, you can enjoy my stunning new hangers!  They feel like velvet!

Cheers!

Wedding Garters

I made two.  One for tossing and one for a keepsake.  

I cut the length of the fabric piece 1 yard?? (I think) by 2 1/2 inches wide.  My elastic was 1".   The second garter is made with 1 1/2" elastic.   This measurement is for your elastic, 2 side stitches, and seam allowance.   Fold in half and press or pin. 

Sew with right sides together and turn right side out. 

Press the seam to the center.

Add the lace.  It was cut to the same length of the tube.

I sewed the top and bottom edge of the fabric to the lace.

Insert elastic

Tuck one end into the other and stitch closed.

Add a bow and, I used a bead but you could use a tiny silk flower to add some bling.

Garter #2

Turning the tube right side out.

While pulling elastic,  I secured the other end to the fabric so I didn't pull it through and have to start again...........  (Just avoiding a Hulk Moment)

Made my little bows

I hand sewed the bows to the fabric.  I was unsure of using hot glue and didn't want the bling to fall off.

Hope she likes them!

Cheers!

Cutting Board Storage

 We use a lot of cutting boards.  In we, I mean my Cooking Man.  I am lucky enough to have a Cooking Man.  You can probably buy your own on Ebay, but they are not cheap.  Bids happen fast and if you aren't sitting by your computer at the end of the auction, they will slip right through your fingers.  I was lucky!  I got mine for a song. 

I do enjoy to build though.  This was a quick little project, but necessary.  Our cutting boards were leaning up against the vent on the microwave. Here's my solution:

Vent needs to be clear of cutting boards.

I measured depth and height of opening.

I grabbed my roll of oak edge to laminate my melamine board.

Heat up a household iron.

Iron it on and let it sit to cool.  Sand edges flush and apply stain.

Install board using long finishing nails.

Insert cutting boards and go to Ebay to get your own Cooking Man.

Cheers!

Window Bling

I measured my windows and added 1/2 " seam allowance.   Marked out my fabric with my chalk marker and  laid this out on the fold.   

This is the style I wanted.

Four windows = eight pieces.

Wanted to put some coordinating trim on the edges of the valance.  I also inserted a tassel at the center point.

I cut strips of a coordinating fabric and sewed them together to insert my welting.

Trim is ready to use.

I put my fabric right sides together with trim and tassel inside.

Sewed all the layers together!

Turned right side out....and voila!

All three done for the bigger windows.  One left to make for the smaller window.

I covered the trim piece with some fabric.

I used some double sided tape to hold in place.  I must confess I only used this for one as the fit was tight enough to hold them in place while I tacked them up.

First window.

Second window

Third window.

This is how I installed them.

A look from underneath.

I used two finishing nails to install the valances.

All three big windows done!

Small window complete.

That's my Window Bling.

Cheers!