Love it When that Happens

Have you ever planned and planned and then planned some more for a special event only to have it go completely and utterly horrible??  Yea, me too.

BUT, that did NOT happen this weekend my friends.

Happy Dance!!

Everything actually went according to schedule. 

{{gasp}}

I wasn’t even late (I’m always late.  I try not to be. I can’t help it… getting better though)!! 

WARNING:  THERE WILL BE MANY PICTURES IN THIS POST!!

My main centerpiece for the gift table was a bouquet of baby clothes!!  I saw this tutorial here on You Tube and based my arrangement ideas from it. 

I used pants, onesies, bibs, bloomers, and a ruffled skirt in the bouquet.  The above green flowers are a little skirt that I rolled tightly and then folded in half to make two “blooms.”  The leaves in the arrangement are green velvety  poinsettias from Michaels.  There are two different types of pink silk/paper flowers tucked throughout the bouquet to add a bit of variety.  I would have taken pics of the process, but it took both hands and sometimes my feet to get everything just right.

I found this picture frame at Marshalls (Love that place).  I knew it would be a perfect little touch and that my sister-in-law could use it as a decoration in the baby’s room after the shower was over.

I covered the the cardboard backing in green taffeta and added a rose with double sided foam tape to the front of the glass.  I didn’t use hot glue as I wanted her to be able to used it as an actual picture frame later on if she chose.

Voila… easy but extremely high impact!

Time to wrap the presents…

The largest box was topped with sock roses and a tulle bow.

I tried to make each one just a bit different.

Now for pictures of a few other décor items that made me smile.

(these are going on my mantel now, btw)

crinkle paper and vase filler jewels

paper roses, spiral wood filler, eucalyptus

Oh, and the bunting (see all the details here) now lives on the wall above baby Charlotte’s crib. 

In my defense, I DID warn you about the large volume of pictures.  My friend Jessica made all of the food and an adorbs diaper cake for the shower. 

Party food/baking and me: not so much. 

Decorations: all over it like flies on poo during a hot summer day in Georgia.

Linking up here and here:  

this week my blogger friends!

Say It Ain’t So

You are gazing upon the true and final version of my soon- to-be niece’s bunting.  I thought I was finished 2 times before this, but was sadly mistaken. 

No more tweaking, I promise!

This is my first attempt at making a bunting, although I have admired them for… my whole life I think.  I’m not a scrapbooker AT ALL, so this project was a bit overwhelming for me. 

As always, the planning phase took as long as the execution phase.   I made my own pennant template (5x6) and then used a variety of of pink and green cardstock prints to make each pennant unique.

I set each letter on a pennant, switched the order of the pennants about 20 times, and finally decided on the placement.

I wanted a layered embellished look.  Another trial and error process of picking/changing shapes and prints ensued.  My goal was to make each pennant unique.  With 9 letters to incorporate, it was quite a task!!  When everything resembled the vision in my head, I used that double sided sticky foam stuff to secure the fabulousness in place.

To attach the pennants, I sewed double sided bias tape across the the top.  To make sure the pennants stayed an equal distance from each other, I ironed little strips of steam a seam connecting the pennants to the bias tape.  A time consuming process, but it definitely made the sewing step a walk in Central Park! 

After I sewed the letters together (and thought I was finished), things still just didn’t seem right.  It needed something else…

For the third time, I played around with prints and shapes.  At 12:30 am last night, it FINALLY came together!!!  I have never been more thankful for my stash of clearanced-have-to-buy-because-I-might-need-some-day crafting supplies as I was last night.  After I layered the flowers, my non-scrapbooking self had no idea how to finish them.  I scurried off to my small “scrapbook embellishment” bin in my sewing room and found these little perfect matching glittery green brads.  I  secured those babies like a pro if I do say so myself!

SUCCESS!!!!

I’m sure there is an easier way to make these, but I’m happy with the outcome.  I will blushingly admit that it took me 3 days to complete this project.  I blame it on my perfectionism. 

As I am typing this, I am cursing the thing in my basement called an elliptical.  I really need to reduce the proportions of my backside AND I need/want to get back to blogging.  Two birds with one stone?  We shall see…

Linking up to a few of these parties!!  Check out the fabulous inspiration if you get a chance.

Texture LOVE (and a twirl skirt, too)

I’ve only been working on this twirl skirt for Em for

about a year. 

Every time I started working on it, I would get overwhelmed and just put it to the side.  I think God knew I didn’t have the patience to sew for more than one girl and that’s why He made the other 3 boys. Emily and I collaborated  to pick out the fabrics and we both agreed on Tina Givens…  my baby girl has GOOD taste! :)

She wanted to make sure it had purple and blue, her two favorite hues.  I obliged.

After the skirt was finally finished (and by some miracle still actually fit), the shirt posed another challenge.  The fabrics of the skirt are so bold and colorful that I didn’t want the shirt to distract from the outfit.  Em and I looked at embroidery designs for HOURS to no avail. 

You know that state where you aren’t exactly awake but you aren’t quite asleep yet either? 

This time is when the best (and weirdest) ideas pop into my head.  I even keep a notebook beside my bed to write down the good stuff. Seriously, if I don’t write it down, it’s g-o-n-e by the next morning!  I know, I know, I’m crazy.  I blame it on all the kids. :)

Back to the idea…

LAYERED TEXTURE!!

I started digging around the next morning and found everything I wanted…. silk, mini pom pom fringe, lace, tulle, and a scribbled rose embroidery design.  Put them all together and

                         swoon

                                                      texture love!!!

Multi-textured designs just make me happy.  When everything comes together like it’s meant to be, my heart gets all warm and fuzzy.  I’m just saying…

Linking up with these parties this week.  Check some of them out for some fabulous ideas. :)

Back on the Wagon

I had the opportunity to sew a few burp clothes this past week. :)

It has been so long since I have created anything for a little boy that I almost forgot how!

I always end up designing 4-5 different fonts and typically only use 1-2 of them.  This particular font is from Meringue Designs and I find myself wanting to use it with just about everything.

It looked a little too plain so I topstitched a double row around the edge of the fabric in the same color as the embroidered name.  I really like the final result. :))

Back to the pink and brown for baby Morgan! 

I added a big shabby ruffle at the bottom of burp cloth #2 complete with raw zig zagged edges.  Shabby ruffles make me smile!!  I love the unkempt look they create.

So, I think I am finally back on the wagon again.  I have tons of ideas swirling around in my head again and find myself trying to balance them all with my kidlet responsibilities. 

Cheers!!

Partying with a few of these fabulous ladies this week!

Avery’s Cupcake

I have had the privilege and honor of creating Miss Avery’s  1st AND 2nd birthday shirts!!  Avery has a blanket  she calls “Manky” that goes EVERYWHERE with her.  Her mom has enough material to make an extra blanket when needed and wanted to incorporate “manky” into Avery’s birthday this year. 

The cupcake base is the ever coveted blanket fabric and Avery was soooooo excited when she saw it on her birthday shirt!! 

It was also Auntie Julia’s 15th birthday and Avery’s mom didn’t want her left out!!

As soon as I receive a picture of Miss Cutie Patootie in her shirt I will definitely post it!!

Partying HERE this week!!

Inspiration for Lily Kate

Remember my little birdie coffee cozy that I have been swooning over??  Here is the onesie that it was designed to match!  I was hoping to have a cute little collage to showcase different views of this lovely, BUT Photobucket is NOT cooperating this evening.

   

Bear with me…. here is my make shift collage! 

 

 

I accented the embroidery with mini pom pom fringe in pink.  I fell in love with this little bird from Alexander Henry’s Starling Line and knew he would be ab.so.lute.ly perfect as the focal point for this design.

The burp cloth uses another coordinating bird from the same fabric.  I changed it up a bit and embroidered it horizontally instead of vertically.

The diaper bag is designed, embroidered, and cut out….  I just have to finish sewing it together!  I have thoroughly enjoyed this project (really and truly).  I sincerely hope (with all my heart) that Lily Kate’s mummy likes it as much as I enjoyed creating it. :-)

I’m partying with this project HERE!!