Spring Parade

Update: Austin won 1st place in the school parade today!!!!!! He won a giant chocolate bunny and a free field trip. Woohoo! I'm so happy for him! It really made his day.

Every year at Austin's school they do a Spring Parade. The preschoolers decorate bunny ears, the elementary boys decorate a tie, and the elementary girls decorate a hat. The kids can do whatever they want to decorate and it is an "at home" project. Then they get to parade around the school and have a fun spring party day. This is Austin's first year to decorate a tie. We decided to go with Cars theme. Of course it involves fabric since I am helping make it. =) I just got some black/white checkered fabric for the background and cut Lightening McQueen out of some Cars fabric. I used some double sided interfacing and ironed it on and it stuck. That made it really easy and it looks cute too! When I finished the tie I decided he needed a shirt to match! So I made him a matching shirt. I designed it and made it without a pattern. There are some things I see that are wrong with it, but for my first time making a shirt without a pattern I think it turned out great! I'm proud and Austin loved it. When I dropped him off at school this morning all of the kids thought he was so cool! =) And just for fun I added the pictures from his other Spring Parades.

Spring Parade 2010
(The back of the shirt has McQueen and Mater)

Spring Parade 2009

Spring Parade 2008

Dress Rehearsal Outfit

I really enjoy making things for other people. I rarely end up making anything for myself. I just find joy in giving someone something special that is hand made just for them. So I told Kendyl that I wanted to make her outfit for the dress rehearsal for the wedding. She had no problem with that. I wanted to make it using the same colors from the wedding just for fun. I wasn't able to find the aqua color in the fabric i needed for the skirt so I went with a different color that i knew she would love. I think it turned out so cute. I almost didn't want to give it to her so I could keep it for myself. =) I will take pictures of her in the outfit because it always looks cuter on a person than on my dress form.

I took the photos before my dad returned from Hawaii so this picture is terrible but the outfit was on it's way to Kendyl so I had to get some photos. I made this flower out of extra fabric from the skirt. It has a rhinestone button in the middle, but you can't really tell in the photo. It's a pin so it can be removed for washing the top. I like how it ties the whole outfit together.

Ring Bearer Pillow

(note: Wonderful news...My dad came back from Hawaii last night. Now i can get the good camera from him and take better pictures!)

Cheryl and Kendyl were looking on Etsy for ideas for the wedding. One of the things they came across was a ring bearer pillow with the damask pattern. They asked if I could make it. It turned out really cute and pretty much just like the photo they sent me of one they liked. I just used some of the damask fabric leftover from making the tote bags and bought some wide satin ribbon and a rhinestone button. Cheryl is going to cover the flower girl basket with the same fabric and add ribbons to it. I will get some pictures of it to share. It really has been fun making all this stuff for Kendyl's wedding!

Table Runners

Kendyl has decided to use black, white, and an aqua color for her wedding. She wants to use a black and white damask pattern for most of the decorations, with the aqua. When they were deciding on table linens they couldn't find exactly what they wanted so they asked if I could make some table runners for the reception. I think they turned out beautifully! They are going to put them over an aqua table cloth at the reception and it will be beautiful. I will be sure to take lots of pictures at the wedding so you guys can see my table runners in action. =) It's only a little over 2 months away!

Quilted Pillow

This is something I have wanted to try for a long time now. I found a tutorial online, but was a little hesitant because I have never really quilted before. I had tried and failed in the past. It turned out to be easier than I thought, but it is a lot of work and I have a new found respect for quilters who make huge blankets! I chose a few coordinating space fabrics because Austin's bedding is space and it's what he likes. I let him choose the font for his name. At first I didn't think the font he chose would work, but it turned out cute. He is VERY happy with it and I am proud of myself. This project has made me want to do more quilting! Now I need to get back to all of the stuff I am making for Kendyl's wedding. I just needed a little break from it so I whipped this up.

Front

Back

Tote Bags

Kendyl asked if I could make tote bags for the bridesmaids for her wedding. She wanted them to have the black and white damask print that is going to be a big part of her wedding decorations and then each girls favorite color. She showed me a picture of one she liked and we went from there. I am very proud of these because I made the pattern. It's the first pattern that I have made and it wasn't easy, but I learned a lot. I was going to make them and send them to her and then she was going to have the girls names embroidered on them, but my new machine does embroidery so I was able to put the names on as I made them. Embroidery is a little difficult in the beginning but I think I have the hang of it now. I have had several people ask if I could make them a bag similar to these...so once I am done with the wedding stuff I may be making some more bags.

(note: I lost my camera right before Christmas. I figured I just misplaced it since I don't lose things, but it has been 2 months and still no sign of the camera so I'm pretty sure it's gone. =( I have been using my dads Nikon D90 for all of my photos since he was kind enough to let me borrow it until I can get a new camera. But he is in Hawaii on vacation with his camera so the photos are not the best quality because I am using a camera that is not quite as good with indoor pictures.)

Fleece Robe

I made this for Austin a few months ago. He loves it because it is soft and warm. He doesn't get to wear it much because it doesn't really get that cold here but it was something fun I could make for a boy. These are quick and easy to make. Maybe this fall I could make some for all the kids and use my new embroidery machine to put the names on it! I'm going to add that to my list. I could also sell these on Etsy and personalize them when they order it. I'm going to go practice and put Austin's name on his. I will share a picture when it's done.

New Clothes for Macy

Update: I had serious issues with the placement of the photos, but after an hour of trying to fix it I decided to just go with it. So the photos are a little out of place, but you get to see the cute clothes. And, Yes I will take some orders!!! =)

Brandy asked if I would make Macy a handful of new outfits for spring/summer. Of course I jumped at the chance because little girl clothes are so much fun and I rarely get to make them. I ended up with six outfits that I am very happy with. I used a variety of colors, but all can be worn with the pink leggings. I also think all can be worn with a top underneath for the cooler spring days. Once I get these outfits to Macy I will have to get Brandy to send me pictures of Macy wearing them because they don't look as cute hanging on my dressform as they will on Macy.




















The purple outfit above is a nice halter top with capri pants. The fabric is very soft and nice and light for spring/summer. The middle picture above is a cute butterfly skirt. It is not completed in this picture, but I think it is going to turn out really cute. I cut some butterflys out of the extra fabric and sewed them on to the top with some fun stitching from my new machine. It's the first time I have done any appliquing and I think it turned out pretty good. The third picture above is a dress I made from a photo Brandy sent me of a dress she found on Etsy. I am very proud that I was able to make the same exact thing just from looking at a photo. The straps can tie at the neck like a halter top or then can be worn straight back or cris/cross. There are button holes in the back that the straps can slip through to hold them back there. Brandy will have to take a picture of the dress on Macy so that you can see the back.

This is just a normal pillowcase dress. I really like this cupcake fabric. I used a brown polkadot ribbon for the tie. I think this dress looks really cute with the pink leggings. (photo below)












This halter dress is made from the same type of material as the halter top and capri pants above. It's really soft and light. This fabric is really cute in person. I think this dress would be cute with the leggins and a white long sleeved top on a cooler day. (photo below)









I really like this outfit. I love the colors and the way the fabrics go together. I also did an applique on this top. I used a ribbon spool to get the larger circle for the middle of the flower and then I used a thread spool to make the "petals" of the flower out of the second fabric. I think it turned out really nice. (last two photos at the end)