Wedding Dress to Blessing Dress

A few weeks ago a client came to me and asked me to make a blessing dress from her wedding dress for her baby girl. I was really excited to work on it because I rarely get to make something for little girls! This is her wedding dress. If you can see in the picture, the dress has diagonal gathers across the bodice and back. She wanted the blessing dress to mimic her wedding dress without being exact. I did a sweetheart neckline, diagonal gathers, a gathered skirt, and little cap sleeves. The back is pieced with the gathers on the bottom piece and has a lapped zipper and ties. I think it turned out really cute, and my client was happy which is the most important!

Wedding Dress Alteration: Building Up The Top

My friend had a quick engagement and decided to order her dress online. The picture of the dress was beautiful and perfect, but when it showed up it was not what she expected! Fortunately, she came to me and I was able to fix it in 24 hours just in time for her bridals. My other friend was the one who took her bridals, and she did a fabulous job. (The three good pictures are hers!) You can find her at Etre Photography, and you really should check her out because she is AMAZING!
Here is the awful picture I got before I changed anything (I was in a hurry!). The dress is supposed to be a mermaid style, but didn't fit her waist or hips. It wasn't lined under the shoulders and sleeves. Also, the back zipper wasn't tight against her back.

I took it in from high waist to low hips to give that lovely mermaid fit. I built up the top, so it was lined like she originally wanted.

I fixed the zipper on the back which was the weirdest fit issue I have ever come across! It was like the company didn't have a straight center back seam! I also added a French bustle which she only used when she was walking around.

It turned out beautifully! I am amazed that the lining I added blends in so well. You can hardly tell that there was any change at all!

You Flew: A Sewing Linkup - 25

I’m reading a really interesting book right now called, Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. It is becoming more and more apparent that most people would rather turn towards online relationships because we can control them. This only leaves us feeling more lonely. I can see some of these tendencies in myself, but I really worry about my son growing up in a technology-filled world. I know there is no going back, but how do you teach your children to work through their emotions on their own without being dependent on technology? How do you remember that people are most important?

The link with the most clicks was How to cut patterns perfectly by Sugar Tart Crafts

Guinea Pig dress by Sews N Bows

Free Sailor Pants Pattern by Compagnie M.

Maternity Dress Knock-Off by Sisters, Sisters

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23 Ideas for Apartment Decorating

I've been living in different apartments for 5 1/2 years and still have some ahead of me. Over the years and with the help of Pinterest, I have collected lots of temporary decorating ideas for apartments. I hope you can find inspiration here to dress up your apartment without hurting anything!

Contact Paper

1. DIY Embellished Stairs

2. Contact Paper Chevron Wall Tutorial

3. Contact Paper Polka Dots

4. DIY Embellished Stairs

5. Chalkboard Contact Paper Dishwasher

6. Contact Paper Rose

Fabric Decorating

Temporary Fabric Wallpaper Tutorial

Tape

1. Masking Tape Striped Wall

2. DIY Washi Tape Switchplates

3. Wide Washi Tape

4. Tape Hopscotch Floor

5. Masking Tape Headboard

6. Tape Design Door

7. Tape Design Floor

8. Striped Tape Walls

9. Tape Design Wall: Temporary Wallpaper

10. Tape Design Kitchen

Miscellaneous Ideas

1. DIY Drum Shade Tutorial

2. Recycled Carpet Samples to Rug

3. Recycled Carpet Headboard

4. Painted Washing Machine

5. Chalkboard Paint Washing Machine

Boys 2013 Spring/Summer Line Wrap-Up

This is how I started when I decided to sew Henry a collection. I drew a picture of all the items I wanted to make. I wrote notes for each one. As you can see, I changed mind a lot! Also, some of the scribbles are for when I finished something.

 And here is every piece! I can't believe my ideas went from paper to form so quickly. It's such an amazing accomplishment, and I love seeing it all at once! I can see my ideas flow and where I used the same fabric. Thanks for encouraging me and following along! It was so much fun!

Sequins and Stripes: Project Sewn Entry

I'm really excited for the women's sewing competition going on over at Project Sewn. I wasn't going to sew along this week, but then I found a fabulous sequin top at the thrift store. I was just going to resize it, but then I realized I had altered some white and gray striped pants the week before that would look great! Both of these happened to fit into the theme this week, Black and White.
I don't often wear black, but I interpreted the theme to be bold. (I hope my interpretation makes sense!) Bold for me is glam which is why I went with this top. It is a huge wow factor because it is covered in sequins! It is a beautiful dark gray.

The original top was huge so I used one of my shirts to get the fit I wanted. I would rather it be shorter, but I didn't want to deal with sewing much on the sequins. Instead I just reused the original neckline and hems. I think the tunic length will be great even if that isn't what I planned!

The back is stretchy gray velour.

I bought the pants last fall. They are white and pale gray-blue striped. They were pleated bootcut pants originally. First, I lengthened them. Then I took the legs in to make skinny jeans, but that made the pleats look awful! They've been sitting on my to-do for months and months, so I took out the pleats while my husband was home last week and could watch Henry. They are definitely my new favorite pants. I love stripes, and they are so fun and summery!

Chevron Shirt and Knickers: Boys 2013 Spring/Summer Line

I went trendy with one last outfit and used some of my white and gray chevron knit in both the shirt and the knickers.

The shirt is a basic v-neck shirt with a zigzag seam and some zigzag hand-drawn lines. Check out my zigzag seam tutorial.

The knickers are a pattern of mine that I'm actually working on and hoping to have it ready sell in a couple of weeks! The knickers are dark gray with chevron pockets.

Do you like the knickers? The pattern is going to have lots of different variations!

Henry looks kind of like an angel in the picture with the light falling softly behind him. He is anything but!

I love this little boy and this really fun boy collection! I can't wait to make a Fall/Winter one!