Holiday Knit Dress

 Ok there is a reason I don't typically sew for myself, and why when I do I don't share them here. 1. I have to wrangle my husband to take a picture of me and not only do I feel like  total dork and I have no idea what to do with my arms/hands... (seriously how do they become so awkward when the camera comes out?) but it always seems my husband who only pays half attention to what he is doing never gets me in focus... 2. I am rarely pleased with how something turned out. You see... I am pretty err umm... busty. There I said it. It is seriously my biggest challenge (literally) Having children just increased this issue. I do have a waist. (and some hips thanks kids) My issue is that I aways feel like a large bust makes me feel frumpy or just kind of "big" all over. So when my husband brought home his invite for his work Christmas party to which I read... "best holiday attire requested" I realized I didn't have any holiday like dress up clothing. Really I needed a new dress anyway. So I made a dress... what did I use? Knit. Why? Nothing is more comfortable or has a more flattering drape than knit. I picked up this super soft and stretchy rayon knit and I was set. Now this is kind of a crappy mini tutorial because I changed the dress 3 times while I was making it. (sometimes things don't go as planned the first time) that made making a tutorial kind of tricky. But hopefully you will get the idea. It is pretty easy to make I just used a tee shirt as my guide.

 So I made a front and back bodice piece following a well fitting tee as my guide. I also made sleeve pieces that I don't have a picture of since I changed them a bit but I made the sleeve drafted after the tee shirt's sleeve only I made the curve of the sleeve a few inches taller so that I could add a ruffle there. I also made a full front facing and then just a back neck facing... not really sure why I kind of wish I would have done a full facing on the front and back the double layer just helps make everything look smoother so you don't see bra line and all, which would have been nice for the back... Then Sew them right sides together at the shoulder as seen above. Then sew the facing right sides together to the bodice, along the neckline. Turn right side out.

 Next sew in the sleeve. Now in the picture you will see pleats... but I took the sleeve out and made it a gather instead, either is fine really.

 Then sew the bodice right sides together along the sleeve and sides. You now have a bodice. For the skirt I just cut a large rectangle (double the width of my waist) and sewed it to make a huge tube. Then I gathered the top. Sew the bodice to the skirt right sides together. Then hem the bottom of the skirt.

 Now for the sleeves. Because of the way they were cut and sewn with the gather they will have kind of a cone effect on the shoulder. I tried it on for this step... Take that cone and pull it down and tack it in place with the bottom of the sleeve so it has a little gather. I just tacked a stitch or two to secure it. It will kind of look like this. This makes the "cone" look go away and it adds a cool look to the sleeve. Then that's it. Done with a super easy, and quick holiday dress and since it is knit it is super comfy.

 I especially love the sleeve detail since it makes it a little more special.

I simply throw on a belt to define the waist  a little more, you could skip that if you wanted it just has a nice little gathered waist line. So there you have it... sewing for me. Next up holiday dress for the little one...

Fabric Envy Giveaway!!

Ok Ladies! I have a treat for you today! Our newest Sponsor Fabric Envy is the cutest little online fabric shop I have seen. I feel like I am stepping into a cute little boutique. She has amazing prints and fabrics from all of the popular designers. 

 She has kits and patterns to make lovely quilts. All with the prettiest fabrics I have ever seen.

And the best selection of notions I have ever seen. Buttons, bias tape, flowers. They are all so lovely. 

 I mean just look at these buttons! How cute would they look as an embellishment, or on a top? You know me I LOVE buttons and I seriously love these!

You need to go check out the shop to see all of the amazing things she carries!

And guess what?? Today Fabric Envy is offering one lucky winner a fabulous little bundle!

• Fat Quarter Bundle from Dazzle Mei by Melissa Averinos 
• Friendly Blossom in Salmon by Basic Grey
• One yard of Riley Blake Ruffle Elastic in Hot Pink. 

Awesome right?? So here is what you have to do to enter:

Visit Fabric Envy Then leave a comment telling us what you LOVE the most. (please leave your email address so we can contact the winner

For extra entries:
(leave separate comments letting me know you did so)

Like Fabric Envy on Facebook and leave some love (everyone loves some love)
Follow Fabric Envy Blog (totally worth following her blog is amazing!)
Tweet, facebook or blog about Fabric Envy
Pin something from Fabric Envy (only counts once but you can pin more)

Giveaway Ends Dec. 14th at 11:59 P.M MST

Good Luck!

Sail Away Again...

 Earlier this spring, I made some pants that I really loved. The Ahoy Pants. Seriously my favorite pants. So I was pretty sad when Abbey out grew them. I was going to just add cuffs to the bottom, but I decided to just make some new ones up. I changed a few things this time around. I made the flap in front a real button flap front. I also made them from denim this go around.

 Perfect for the the winter time. Especially when it is paired with the sweater I made last year. SO let me show you the changes I made for this pair. Other wise you can follow the Ahoy Pants tutorial.

 For the front flap I cut out two flaps. Then I put some strips along the sides of the front flap. Then I put the other piece on top. Sew along the sides and top. Then turn it right side out.

Then for the flap opening I stitched some flaps to the sides and then turned them around to the inside and stitched them in place.

 Then sew some button holes and buttons on and done.

 Then for the pockets I skipped the fabric strips and added some buttons to the back pockets. I pressed some folds in the legs for detail.

 I love the cute little back pockets...

 And the buttons on the front. The cute wide legs... I am so glad that I made another pair... and I added an extra wide hem on the bottom so I can let them out when she grows.

Since she grows a little everyday... Enjoy!

Penny Lane Dress

 Sometimes I get an idea in my head for a design and I make it right away. Then sometimes I get an idea and it festers for a year. You see sometimes in my mind I know what I want but I can't always find it. Well as I was browsing Fabric Envy,(my newest sponsor who wanted to send me some fabric) I came across this darling print. I knew it was just the print I needed. I wanted the dress to be fun and whimsical, and something Abbey would just love wearing so I needed a print that was fun, but that I still liked. And since Abbey is obsessed with her baby bunny right now, this print with a little girl and her bunny floating away on balloons was just too perfect. (let's just get over the pretty horrible pictures right now it's been a little dreary here, and the cold is moving in, not the best combination...)

 My favorite detail of the whole dress? The buttons on the sleeves. I simply love them. Of course, I love buttons.
SO let's make on shall we?

 The dress it's self is really simple. I grabbed a shirt as my guide and cut out a bodice piece(ending just under the armpit) I made the sleeve and bodice all in one. (almost like a square tunic) When you do this make the sleeve a little wider than you want it, since sleeve allowance will eat some and the way it fits the arm will be a little slimmer. Then I cut out just a rectangle for the bottom. I made it wider than the bodice since I am adding a gather in the middle.

 You will want 4 bodice pieces. 2 for the front and two for the back. They can all be the exact same. For the front sew two of them right sides together along the sleeve and neckline. (follow the white lines) Then you can turn it right side out.

 Then you want to cut out some rectangle strips for the button flaps. Cut 4 (two for each side) They should be the width of the shoulder. Then sew two right sides together along the sides and top. Turn it right side out.

 Then you will sew the back bodice pieces the same as the front but first you want to put in the button flaps so line them up on the shoulders so the raw edges meet. (there should be room for a seam allowance on either side of the flap) Then place the other layer on top so the flaps are sandwiched between the two bodice pieces and sew along the sleeve and neckline. Turn right side out.

 Then sew a gather in the middle of the front and back pieces for the skirt. (need help with gathering?)Then sew the bodice and the skirt pieces right sides together.

 Next with right sides together sew the front and the back along the sleeve and sides. (follow the white lines)

 Next I added a little pocket to the front. Abbey loves having pockets to hold the little treasures she found. If you need help making a pocket go here

 Then sew button holes on the flap and the buttons on the front sleeve. Then the buttons hold everything in place.

 Lastly hem the bottom. I added a nice thick hem since Abbey is always growing up faster than out. This way I can make the dress longer as she grows.
Fabric is from HERE

 That's it. The dress that was dancing around in my head for the better part of a year is finally real. I love the print and the buttons!

 And with a scarf and some leggings it makes for a hip fall/winter look that will transition nicely into spring. (and jacket of course, she is just not wearing one for the moment)

Abbey and her baby bunny have never been happier.

Brought to you by:

Sodee Naturals Giveaway!

 Oh do we have a treat for you today! We were recently able to try out a product that changed our life around here... ok maybe not life, I may have been a bit dramatic but it really did change some things.

 You see Sodee Naturals (my parent's company) has this Eczema cream that is formulated to help clear up Eczema. My daughter and I share a skin condition, it's not Eczema, one dermataligst told me once that my skin was simply missing some natural oil and that the bumps {that cover both my arms and legs and in the winter it can spread to my neck and face} are caused basically by chronic dryness. NOTHING has ever helped clear these up and even though they are annoying, they don't itch or bother me like so many other skin conditions can so I have just lived with it. Well I thought I would go ahead and try this Eczema cream to see if it would help. I love that it is natural and safe to use even on my daughter.
And guess what? It cleared the bumps up! Completely gone in a mere 3 days use (day and night application) Both my daughter and I have soft, smooth skin something I pretty much figured was never going to happen.
We used the Seabuckthorn Oil formula which was amazing. It is a really thick cream but it rubs in really well. They have a couple different formulas since every case of Eczema can be a little different. My husband recently had a breakout of Eczema on his leg that is super itchy so we just ordered him the anti-itch formula and I will update on how well it works. Sodee Naturals is great to work with and they have sample packs to help you find the right formula for you. So even though it is an Eczema cream I found it does wonders on other skin problems as well, I even used it as a natural diaper rash cream and it cleared it up by the next diaper change (amazing!) I don't think I will ever be able to live without the cream again (see life changing)

 They also have some great soaps. I love their Sea Salt Soap Not only is it also great for Eczema and acne but I love using it for my dry winter skin. Also my own little secret? Laundry soap. Yep natural soap has always been my laundry secret and this soap is natural and great I just rub it on the stain (even set in) and bam like magic gone.

 I know it seems like things can't get any better but they have two really cool products. Shampoo bars. I know what you are thinking... a bar? How can that work. Well it has a better lather than any shampoo I have ever used before, and my hair has been so soft and shiny, I love it. No plastic bottles clogging up your shower, and washing my kids hair has never been easier a little rub of the bar and done.

 Follow it up by a conditioner bar, and my hair is set. Simply massage the bar through your hair let it sit for a min. and rinse, and my hair feels great! I love them.

They have other amazing products as well, and they all smell heavenly.

So are you ready for the best news?? The giveaway! They are giving one lucky winner a great little selection of products ($77 value):
1 Eczema cream
1 Shampoo bar
1 Conditioner bar
1 soap
1 Body Butter
1 Shave cream

To Enter:
Visit Sodee Naturals on Facebook and become a fan. (leave them some love while you are there) Then come back here and leave a comment saying you did so, and what product you would love to try.

Extra entires:

Visit the Sodee Naturals blog and follow them then leave a separate comment here saying you did that

Follow Sodee Naturals on Twitter then come back here and leave a comment saying you did that.

Blog, tweet, or facebook about Sodee Naturals. (link to them) Then leave a separate comment saying you did that.

Giveaway Ends Sat. December 10th at 11:59 P.M. (MST)

Good luck!

Holiday Gift Guide {For Baby}

Is someone on your holiday list this year having a baby? Or maybe there is a baby on your list? Well here are a few ideas of some easy holiday gift ideas for the baby's in our lives. 

Home-made ideas from us:

Dressed up:

For Baby Boy, get him all dressed up in:

Bow tie onsies

Baby Pants

Little Man Shoes

 For the sweet little girls:

The Abbey Dress

Pleated Mary Janes

For Playtime:

Try out the fabric flash cards. Bright and colorful sure to keep all the little ones entertained and educated, while being drool proof.


Buying Hand-made:
Don't have the time to make something special? Buy something special.

 Like some super cute Baby legs. The argyle is so sweet. Baby legs are perfect for winter, whats not to love about cozy baby legs? Even Better? Shwin&Shwin readers get 15% off this month! Just use the code SHWIN at checkout!

 Let's not forget about the boys here with the sweet hand embroidered lovey. I love the fabric combination on this one. Perfect for any baby to love.

How about some super cute hair bows? How about a whole set? One for every outfit they could ever wear.

DIY Ranunculus Flower Clips

 Ok these flowers are everywhere. So before we start let me just say that I did not "make them up" I have just seen them for sale, but I am cheap so I make my own. When I saw the pretty Ranunculus flowers at the craft store I knew it was time to make some with them. So incase you have never made some and wanted to know how I will show you how I made them. I even added my new love (if you remember when I confessed my love a while back) They add a cute little pop in the middle but you could use a regular button or jewel, or anything you can hot glue in the middle really.

 So here are the ranunculus I found in the floral section of the craft store. Pretty and vibrant orange. I also picked up red and regret not getting the plum purple. (I guess I have to go back)

 First you will want to pop the flower off the stem. Then remove the little green piece.

 Then you will pull the petals off the stem I pull a whole group of them all at once, just stop when you get to the little plastic pieces that wrap around the center.

 Then just peel off layer by layer until you have the petals you want to use. Discard all the plastic pieces.

 Then to make the the fabric covered button grab your button making kit. (can be found at any craft store by the snaps)
1. cut your circle according to the package.
2. put the fabric face down in the mold. then put the dome piece down into the mold. press the fabric into the center of the mold.
3. press the button piece down on top.

 Then pop your button down in the middle of the flower. I hot glue them all in place. Then you can glue the flower onto a hair clip, or a broach clip to make a cute broach. The perfect gift for the friends on your list.

Especially when it is easy to make a bunch of them. I am making a hair clip for each of the girls in my achievement day class (it's a group in my church that is basically boy scouts for the girls and I think they will all be thrilled to have a cute hair piece.)