Dress in Progress...need your opinions

You're either turned on by prints or turned off. I am definitely pulled towards a printed fabric when I see it. I'm not sure if it's the color, the way it catches my eye, or if it's simply because it's a bit more inviting when it's on the bolt. Whatever it is, I'm definitely more likely to come home from the fabric store with a print than a solid. 

This material I found was just a poly blend and falls really well. I've had difficulty hemming and turning necklines on poly though. It doesn't hold an iron crease (what am I doing wrong?) and so I'm mostly hand-turning it or running a stay stitch through it as my turning line. 

I wanted to make a dress that had open shoulders. Have you seen that trend? Here is one dress that caught my eye: 

Inspiration #1

Inspired by print!

And I absolutely LOVE anything...yes anything...made by Diane von Furstenburg as seen here (above). Her use of print is breathtaking and simply stunning. The prints are usually very bold and exhilaratingly beautiful.

I used my love of print along with the open shoulder dress inspiration and am working on this:

So far I love the top and sleeves. But the bottom is throwing me off. I do not want something with too much structure, but rather something to give it a more casual feel. I might add an elasticezed waist from the inside or do small pickups on either side by the hips to give it some fullness.

What do you think? What should the bottom look like?

Fall Table Runner

Waking up to the cooler weather yesterday was such a good feeling! Living down South it isn't very common for us to have that kind of treat until late November or sometimes December. There are even pictures from past Christmas mornings of my cousins, sister and I when we were younger dressed in shorts playing with our new toys. So you can imagine how refreshing cooler weather is in October!

I ran to Hobby Lobby and found this gorgeous home dec fabric on sale (the bolt was almost empty so it was on SUPER SALE), scooped up 1 yard, 2 tassels that coordinated and made this table runner.

It's so FALL and really seems to bring out the color of our table. Now I need to get some pumpkins and gourds!

This bromeliad is the perfect indoor plant! It's been on our table for 2 months. I love the subtle purple in it's flower.
Does anyone else get inspired to sew now that the weather is turning? What are you making? Halloween costumes, curtains, table covers....? Do share!

And because we have to keep it somewhat whimsical, here's my favorite accessory on top my china hutch. Such a French Country look, I had to have it.

Hope you're all having a great week crafting, sewing and hot glue-ing something creative and inspiring!

Bow Holder

My little girl, Catherine, is finally 2 and some of that blond, curly hair is starting to come in!

How excited am I?!?

Well she had been given so many bows from her cousins that they had outgrown and some new bows before she went to Disney, that her diaper basket was overflowing. I knew it was the perfect time to CRAFT something...and off to the store I went.

I picked up a wooden letter (turquoise glitter and all) "C", one spool of striped 2" wide ribbon and turned it into this:

It was so super easy! All it took was cutting 2 strips of ribbon the same length to hold the bows and a dab of hot glue on each strip to attach it to the "C". Then I cut 1 strip for the "loop" to hang over the nail and another longer strip to make a bow.

Next time I will try the ribbon with the wire in it so it will hold the shape of the bow a bit better.

I loved the turquoise C because the color really popped in the rest of her room's decor. This is a painting from Z Gallerie that hangs above her crib. LOVE!

This is a decoupaged mirror from a store in town, The Royal Standard. Modern, yet it has so many baby colors in it...a great combination! If you look closely you can see a hot air balloon that hangs in the corner of her ceiling.

 

My friend, Brynn, decoupaged this hot air balloon for Catherine when she was born and I love it's handmade and personal touch.

Now when Catherine wakes up and I walk in there in the morning, she shouts, "Look, it's a "C" for me!" And I let her choose what color bow she wants to wear each day before I pick out the coordinating outfit. Before I would pick out the outfit and she would throw a fit if she wanted to wear a bow and I said, "Let's pick another one that matches." Now I let her guide those decisions (and nix the tantrums) and feel a little more independent and of course SUPER CUTE and PRECIOUS!

Tow Mater CARS 3 Pajamas

My little boy, John Patrick, is...shall I say...obsessed with CARS 3! He LOVES it! Absolutely LOVES it! All he talks about when he plays with his cars are Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater, Chick Hick, Dinaco trucks....all the cars that really come to life in the movie when he watches it.

Well when I saw this fabric I thought what a great surprise it would be to John Patrick! I scooped up just 2/3 of a yard, a blank blue t-shirt and drove straight on home to sew it while he napped.

It didn't take long before I came up with these pajamas....

I appliqued a 3 on his t-shirt and made sure part of Tow Mater and Lightning McQeen were visible when it was cut out.

Ironed it on, sewed around it and it was done!

When John Patrick woke up from his nap he was a little groggy, so maybe I should have waited to give it to him until he was more awake...but I went for it anyway. He LOVED it!  He took them to his room and changed into them all by himself (he's turning into a big 3 already!).

I'm not sure how I will get them off him to go to school this morning!