a few of my favorite things (the outfit) *A BIRTHDAY BASH*

No birthday is complete without a new outfit, right!

After I won this super cute organic cotton fabric from simplifi fabric I knew Zadie needed a birthday oufit out of it.

I really wanted to showcase this sweet fabric so I decided to make Dana's circle skirt.

I really loved how quick it was to make and how stinking cute it turned out!

There was still plenty of material left over after the skirt and I  really wanted to make something that had her age on it, mostly for the pictures, so I decided to made a crown.

Luckily I remember this fabric crown tutorial from The Little Giggler that even has a FREE PATTERN.

This was another easy to follow tutorial that was finished in one nap time.

To bad she decided to not cooperate for the pictures.

This is what the majority of the pictures looked like from the shoot.

This makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it!

I love my little drama queen.

And here is a picture of the birthday girl at her party in all her glory.

(This is not pee on my shorts, I swear ;) It is my war wounds from a water gun fight!)

Can you tell this little goose was having a good time!

This is what a sugar high looks like y'all :)

What this mamma loves is:

The crown went into the dress up bin and is worn fairly often still

and she wears the skirt once a week!

xoxo

Linking to these great parties!

Baby Blanket

Have I told you yet that I am going to be an Aunt again?!

This will be my 8th niece or nephew!

I just LOVE being an aunt!

I decided to make this newest bundle of joy a baby blanket.

I thought....

Easy peasy, who could mess that up?!

Well, ME!

And, as always, I learned a lot along the way.

I got the inspiration for this blanket here.

Notice the title "EASY baby blanket."

Obviously I have some learning to do :)

I mostly followed her directions except I added and applique.

Here is how I did it:

I printed out the letter I wanted, in the size and font I wanted, from Word.

I backed the fabric I wanted to use for the applique with fusible interfacing and I ironed them together.

I put my letter on top of the fabric and I traced it with chalk.

The chalk came right out with a quick swipe from a damp cloth.

Then I just sewed it onto the fabric using a zigzag stitch.

Lesson one:

This minky fabric is VERY stretchy!

An amazing seamstress I know gave me the best tip- after I finished this project- that I will definitely use next time.

She said to use spray adhesive instead of pins and it will not stretch as much...

GENIUS!

She also said the adhesive will come right out in the wash.

Now for the actual blanket I could ( and should) have used the spray adhesive too

because I REALLY struggled with the stretch in this fabric and

was not entirely pleased with my finished product.

I set out each of my layers in order:

batting on bottom

then the minky fabric

finally the quilt top

(right sides together with the minky fabric.)

Cut each layer to size and then pin (spray adhesive)

the layers together.

For the rest of the blanket I used the tutorial above

which I thought was clear and easy to understand.

Thank goodness! :)

It may not be perfect (or close to it!)

But it is still cozy and made with love!

{It would REALLY help if I learned how to sew straight-

I'm working on it. ;}

So let this be motivation to you today:

You are your harshest critic.

Be nice to yourself and

enjoy the projects you make,

Imperfections and all!

Last minute Turkey Shirt {and my first applique!}

Can I get a Whoop Whoop from all

of my fellow procrastinators out there?!!

Hahahah!

Sorry for being a corn-ball.

I am being serious about the procrastination though.

I have a serious problem.

So the fact that I finished this shirt 3 whole DAYS

BEFORE

Thanksgiving is a truly magnificent thing.

Maybe I am changing my ways. ;)

I followed this tutorial to make it.

I am not showing you her finished product because it is

WAY

better than mine!

But that is okay because this was my

FIRST applique!

She used her daughter's hand as the pattern in her tutorial too .

(I used mine)

I think it is a WAY cuter idea to use your child's hand,

but I was not up to the extra curves challenges a little

hand would bring.

It only took me an hour.

Seriously.

If you have procrastinated and need to make something

cute for your child to wear tomorrow

then go make this.

NOW!!! :)

~Happy turkey making!