Project Run and Play- Week One

September 2, 2011 6:12 am

I’m so excited to be a part of Project Run and Play, 2011. If you  haven’t already gone over there, go over and see all the other amazing participants. We have Jen and Autie from  iCandy Homemade, Jessica from Me Sew Crazy, Jessica from Happy Together, Nicole from Coles Corner and Creations, Liz and Elizabeth from Simple Simon and Co. and Leisel from Brown Paper Packages.

Whew! What a great group of creative women!

The first theme was a back to school outfit. Now, my kids wear uniforms so I had to use  my imagination on this one. I kept two things in mind for this back to school outfit. 1. My kids are always mismatched- stripes on polkadots with all sorts of off colors and prints. It’s what I love about them. So  I wanted this outfit to reflect that sort of childish combination. 2. I don’t know about you, but whne my kids start school, it’s still warm, actually probably our warmest months. So I didn’t want to make an outfit too fall weathered, I wanted it to be more transitional pieces. That being said, here’s how we do back to school.

The top has a pleated bodice and goes to a V in the back with several small pleats to create some movement towards the bottom. For the bodice top I made small pleats or you can use a pleater board.  I baste them together then just proceed with your top as you want. I attached the bottom half of the top then the back and added straps.  I’d have Bel wear this over a long sleeve shirt in the winter.


For the shorts, I did a brown linen in a sort of paige boy style with oversized pockets and tabs at the  leg band. The pink buttons feminize it. We happen to love shorts and tights in the winter, maybe paired with some boots, so I knew the brown would transition great into the Fall and Winter months. For the shorts, I cut it from my only other pattern then the Sienna Dress, this Oliver + S  one. I do all my own variations, but  I love the basic shape of this short.  Then to top it off, a frivolous headband.

(headband tutorial coming soon, and I’ve been informed the oliver + s pattern is out of print. I will do a post on how to make these shorts soon)

Don’t forget to accessorize with the perfect dotting of summer freckles.

I love it with the leopard flats. One more print thrown in the mix.



I hope you’ve all enjoyed my back to school look! I’m so thrilled to be a part of project run and play. Head on over to cast your vote for your favorite look. The other women did such great jobs!



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Posted in children's clothes, Original Designs, Uncategorized | 20 Comments »

I Conquered the Short. Part 3

August 26, 2010 2:01 pm

Here is my final Summer shorts post! These were shorts I made at the beginning of the summer and I wore them ALL summer long I made them from an oatmeal linen.

I did this pleated all around the front and back.

Then on the sides I did this pick-up detail.

I have a new love for shorts now. I’m even working on some fall shorts!


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Posted in Original Designs, women's clothing | 5 Comments »

Wardrobe Staples- Denim Cutoff Shorts

August 17, 2010 10:17 am

Denim cut off shorts. I’ve always loved them. I had them when I was a kid and I still have some now. (not the same pair :) )  You can have longer length ones or short ones. You can roll the hem or have them frayed. Almost anyway, they look great and they’ll be around forever.

I love them with a flowy top and heels.

I love them with plain old sandals.

But now that summer’s coming to and end, here’s some other ways to wear them. I love this way with thights, boots and a big, warm sweater.

Knee high stockings are huge this season and they look great with Wellies and a button up.

And here’s one more way with tights and heels (don’t like these giant boots, but think great black heels).  I love it with this loosely fitted T.

Make your own!

-What I did was go to the thrift store and got a pair of jeans for $3.

-I cut them off about an inch and a half below where I wanted the hem to fit. They’ll fray, remember.

-Then I used  my denim distressing techniques to distress them at the pockets and hems a little.

-Wash them a couple times for the ultimate look before you wear them.

Just don’t wear them with iceskates. It looks white trash. ( I learned the hard way)


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Posted in refashions, women's clothing | 9 Comments »

I Conquered The Shorts. Part 2

May 21, 2010 8:17 am

Ok, shorts round 2. I realized jersey was the stupidest thing to do for round 1. I thought it would be easy for some reason. It wasn’t. But here’s my second go at it!

For this pair I used a coffee colored linen with a contrasting cream stitch. I used that same Burda pattern, just changed my style. I added a band at the bottom, just like on the first pair, but I didn’t bubble these.

Read more »


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Posted in Original Designs | 10 Comments »

I Conquered The Shorts. Part 1

May 12, 2010 7:16 am

It’s been hanging over my head for months. Like a nagging annoyance. The pant.

I’ve never made a pair of pants. I knew I had to do it. But I was scared. Veeeery scared of failing miserably. I mean, there’s the fit, the waistband, the zipper, the hem….all components that have to be perfect or else it would be a terrible disaster!

So here’s what I did. I bought a pant pattern. It was Burda 7738. I didn’t like the actual pant style, but I just wanted a basic fit for the top.

I know. Shocked? I HATE pattens. But I didn’t want to just experiment on this one. I cut out the pattern pieces then just put them together my own way and made my own style of pants. I just needed the fit for the top, pretty much. Lord knows I can’t read or interpret pattern instructions! Then I scoured You Tube for instructional videos on how to do the fly and insert a pant zipper. I did lots of trial and errors on that one! And somehow, I came up with my very first pair of shorts.

I wanted to make a bubble short with a thick band at the bottom out of something cozy. So I used a sweatshirt material.

Now these are FAR from perfect. (like, if you enlarge this picture on your computer screen I’m gonna come after you.) The sweatshirt material and the zipper weren’t a good mesh. It was sort of bulky. That’s why I’ll be wearing them with a covered t-shirt.

But I did it! And that felt good to get over that hurdle. I have made two others since them and I’ll post them soon. Things have been getting progressively better, I might add. :)


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Posted in Original Designs, women's clothing | 18 Comments »
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