Melody's Spring Wardrobe

Melody's closet is getting jam packed with handmade goodies for the spring/summer, though I'm pretty sure the spring is gone already, since it's pretty short lived in the Carolina's! There are still many more items in my 'queue' to add, but look who else has been contributing.....

My Mom! She is a sewing fool right now, and is making the cutest little things! Melody sure is lucky! She's already made a handful of dresses, and as I'm typing this, I'm staring at a package that came yesterday with a couple tanks and an adorable romper! Thanks Nana!

I may consider outsourcing my designs, and send fabric straight to to my my mom :-)

I Learned It From My Mama!

Everytime I make a cut, or run anything through my sewing machine, I'm learning something new. My mom and friend En both taught me the basics in college, and from then on I've been pretty much self taught. Still trying to get through this stack of books however!

Remember this Dress?

More pics Here

Well, I used a new gathering technique that worked wonders with all the layers of lining and Tulle I used.

There are many techniques for gathering for a ruffle. You can use your machine if it's set right, there is a 'gathering foot', you can do a long stitch, and pray it doesn't break when you pull the thread, which it usually does, yet this is the technique I normally use.

Not Anymore! All you need is a little DENTAL FLOSS!


Yep, just do a zig zag stitch over the thread, set at the longest setting.

Worked like a charm. Need to invest in some unscented floss though. Melody smelled a bit minty when she wore her dress the first time!

Thanks MOM for this tip!

Weekend Treasury Lovelies

So this weekend I got hooked on Etsy Treasuries. All the sorting, searching, color coordinating, and prettiness, is enough to get anyone hooked!

I just wanted to display a few of my favorite lovely things I discovered, during my crazed Treasury fun!

These purses, and basically everything her shops page, I love!

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I love this picture of this ferris wheel so much. I'm loving the turquoise and yellow combo almost as much as grey and yellow!

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And these!.....

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I love this taupe and blush pink broach. Amy fyi, I need to order one of these fo sho!
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This cake stand is amazing. I would never do it justice though.

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And this picture just makes me plain happy.

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Might need to seek rehab if this continues...

Treasury Links:
Taupe and pink

Oh the Colors
Sun and Sky Goodness
Toes in the water

Meadow dress pics at the park

A couple weeks ago we took Melody to the park to get some pictures of one of the dresses I'm selling on Etsy. It's a peasant style dress. She did great, and I'm loving that she is at the age that I can get pics of her in the style of handmade dresses that I'm making!

I'm still only half way through the Nikon book for dummies (I read everything like 20 times), but i'm learning a lot and feel like i'm starting to get the hang of my camera!

So...Etsy? Yep! Posted a few 'ready to ship' dresses in this exact style! Check em' out here. This is what us advertising folks refer to as a 'soft launch'!

Wanted to take a quick break to share! Now back to sewing, I'm working to get more items up for Easter!

My New Bestie

It's not like I didn't know what it was good for. And it's not like I didn't know exactly where I had it stashed all these years. But what I didn't know is that is would be by best friend!

Ahhh...The walking foot....

It finally made it out of it's original box from 10 years ago when I got my sewing machine. I made Melody a dress this weekend that was made out of a gauzy knit cotton, and it just kept getting jammed down in my machine. So I thought what the heck, I'd try the walking foot. After all I hear about it all the time for quilting and applique projects.


Oh how i've been missing out! The fear of jamming my machine as I was sewing was suddenly lifted! I want to use it forever and always!

Anybody use their walking foot for their everyday projects?

New Pillows for Spring

We are seeing signs of spring and me likey!

It's been time for new pillows for our living room for a while. I ordered a bunch of fabric that I liked, but really wasn't sure how it was all going to come together. And I have to say i'm liking the results! Our couches are dark leather brown, so we really needed something light and colorful!

Here is the result...
So...Two fantastic blogs are both hosting pillow contests this month. Stitched in Color and Sew Mama Sew (both must reads)!



For Stitched in Color's Blogger's Pillow Party, i'm entering the linen pillow with the vine applique. And for the SMS pillow contest, i'm entering both in the 'Pieced Pillow' category.


I started with the blue pillow with the strip of yellow fabric, and wanted to coordinate the other pillow with that.


I used mostly coordinating Heather Bailey fabrics from her Nicey Jane collection. Love the cutesy modern feel of these fabrics!

And because I think linen is the cat's pajamas, had to use it. Couple books that I've been reading lately (Applique Your Way and Sew Liberated) helped with the inspiration of the applique and the chain stitch embroidery of the vine. I used fusable web in where I sewed the leaves in placed, but wanted to keep the edges natural and loose from the pillow, to add more texture.

I made both pillows as slip covers, so I can easily switch them off when fall and winter roll around. And so I can wash them easily, since I know Louie sneaks up on the couch when we aren't home!

Oh Lou.

Amy Butler spotted at Homegoods!

As if Homegoods couldn't get more awesome, today I spotted sheets and comforter sets from Amy Butler! Not exactly my bedroom colors, so I took a pass, but it was still fun to see.

Then I saw this comforter in twin size by Cynthia Rowley. Love it. Got me thinking about Melody's room, when It's time to move her out of her crib. I think we have a long time still (which i'm totally fine with), but It will be fun to make her a big girl room.

And after reading a Prudent Baby post last week about making your own twin comforter, I realize I will probably end up purchasing something. It's an undertaking with ALOT of fabric, and at $9 a yard, I don't think so. Absolutely love her little girls new comforter though! Check out the tutorial here!

Amy Butler fabric of course!