Tutorial Time! Adding a Ruffle

I LOVE ruffles!  Once I learned how to do ruffles, I wanted to put them on everything! 

My love for ruffles has actually helped me stretch my daughter's wardrobe, too.  She is a skinny long little thing.  Most people don't realize this because she has really full cheeks.  Often I hear things like "That baby hasn't missed many meals", etc.  Anyway, I'm getting off subject.

The waist in most 12 month pants are still too big for her, but they are getting too short.  I can't go up to 18 months because they would swallow her whole!  So what do I do?

Add a ruffle to the bottom for length!

Step 1:  Measure the width of the bottom of the pants you are using.  Multiply this by 2.  This should give you the total width around the bottom.  Now, you'll multiply this number by 2.  This will be for the fullness. This will be your W (width).

Step 2:  How much length do you want to add?  In this example, I wanted to add 3 inches to the finished length, but I was positioning the ruffle an inch above the bottom of the jeans, so I added 3 + 1 + 1.5 (for finishing)= 5.5 inches.  I didn't want to finish the bottom, so I doubled this so that the edge would be a fold.

Step 3:  Fold your fabric in half lengthwise (wrong sides together) and iron to have a nice crease.  Open this fold and fold it in half widthwise (right sides together).    In the picture below, the fabric is folded.

Step 4:  Staystitch the top edge.  Now you should have a circle.  Fold in half (on your crease) so that wrong sides are together again. 

Step 5:  Baste your top (raw edge).   (Technically, you should sew two parallel stitches in case one thread breaks while pulling for your ruffle-- I rarely do this, though).  Leave enough thread to pull for your ruffle. 

Step 6:  Pull your thread to gather your fabric.  Spread out the ruffle and pin on to pants.  I pinned mine facing upward (with the raw edges facing downward).

Step 7:  Since 12 month pant legs are still quite narrow, I sewed from the inside of the pant leg.  Be sure not to stitch the legs closed! :)

Step 8:  Trim threads, let the ruffle fall towards the bottom and you're done!

 Above, you'll see the Appliqued T-Shirt from last week's tutorial.

Imagine the possibilites now that you know how to add a ruffle!

I know you're jealous!

I stopped in the last day of a consignment sale today just to see what they had marked 1/2 price. Guess what I found.... (for $1 I might add) .... An old game of scrabble! It was taped shut, so I was afraid that there would be some letters missing. However, when I opened the box, I found that it was brand new!

Stay tuned to see what I decide to do with all those letters....

I LOVE a challenge!

One of my favorite blogs is Living with Lindsay.  She's just full of wonderful ideas!  After visiting her site, I'm always inspired. 

She's hosting a $5 challenge.  Each participant is to make something by using only $5 worth of Dollar Store items.  Luckily in Nashville we have several dollar type stores, so hopefully I'll be able to come up with something!

If you're interested in joining in, be sure to check out her site for details.

Miss Rhea's Easter Basket Swap!

It's been a while since I've participated in a swap, so today I set out to find one.  I was hoping to find a swap that would incorporate Easter or Spring.  I went to SwapDex to see what she had listed.  (By the way, this is a great resource if you enjoy doing swaps!)  The first one I saw was Miss Rhea's Easter Basket Swap.  Come join the fun!  If you're interested, sign up by THIS Friday, February 26th!

Peasant Blouse

I saw this great tutorial at here for the cutest little peasant blouse.  If you love to sew without patterns as much as I do, then you have to head over there!  When I saw this, I just had to try it! 

Below is a picture of the one that I made.  I'll be making some matching ruffle pants to go with it soon.

Be sure to stop over at Indietutes blog for great tutorials and ideas for repurposing all those clothes that kids outgrow so quickly!   If you like what you see, she has an online "tip" jar.   Be sure and give her a little something to tell her how much you appreciate her ideas.

If you love this but don't love to sew... good news!!!  Vegbee has allowed me to sell these in my etsy shop very soon.  10% of my proceeds will go back to her just to say thanks.

Appliqued T-shirt Tutorial

This is it! My first tutorial!!! For my first one, I wanted to make sure it was really exciting! Who doesn't love those adorable initial t-shirts you see everywhere? Well, now you can do it yourself!

Here's what you need:

sewing machine

thread to match your project

t-shirt

fabric scrap for your letter

computer

printer

heat n' bond lite

stabilizer

scissors
pen
pins

Step One:

Open a word document. Go to View - Toolbars - Drawing. A toolbar will pop up. Click Word Art "A". Choose the first box (top left) - select ok. A test box will appear. Type in the letter you want to applique. Next choose your font. Click ok. Click on letter once. Another word art tool bar will open. Select Text wrapping. Choose "in front of text". Now you can drag your letter to the size that you want it. Next, you will want to flip it so it will print out backward. To do this, you will click "draw". This should be on your word art toolbar. Next choose "rotate or flip horizontally". Now you are ready to print!

Step Two:

Lay your printed paper with the letter facing up. When you look at it, it will be backwards. Lay a piece of Heat n Bond, paper side up, on top of your printed paper. Trace. Cut out your letter.

Step Three:

Place bumpy side up on your fabric. Make sure your fabric is wrong side up! Rub your iron over this for 2-3 seconds. Cut out the letter.

Step Four:

Now you should have a fabric letter with the heat n bond paper on the back. Now, peel the paper off. The back of your fabric letter should have a glossy finish on the backside. Place the letter on the t-shirt in the position you would like it. Rub your hot iron over it for about 10 seconds.

Step Five:

Cut out a piece of stabilizer. I use Stitch and Tear. Place stabilizer on the inside of your t-shirt and pin it to the front of the t-shirt.

Step Six:

Time to sew! Choose a zig zag stitch that you would like to use. You may want to get a scrap piece of fabric out to test the stitch length, width, and thread tension. I always do a test strip just to remind myself where the stitch begins so I will know where to line up my t-shirt when I begin.

Once you feel confident in your stitch, place your t-shirt under the needle and go! Oh, and be sure you don't stitch the front and back of the t-shirt together!

That's it! You're done!

Have you heard of this?

I recently found a wonderful website called You Can Make This.  It is a wonderful resource for all skill levels.  One amazing benefit to signing up for their newsletter is a free bundle package ($75 value) just for signing up!!!  This package has free downloadable e-books!  I LOVE FREE!  Especially when it comes to crafting!  On the right hand side of my blog, there is a direct link to the site.  Just click on it, join the community, then sign up for the newsletter to receive your free package.  Or, click on the link below. It's that easy!  Head over there right now! 
YouCanMakeThis.com
Download Today - Make It Today!

One of my favorite things I've come across after I joined was a video tutorial on letter appliques.  This is something I've been doing for a while.... sure do wish I had come accross this first!  Speaking of appliques, come back tomorrow, I'll have my own tutorial on letter appliques. 
Check it out and let me know what you think!

I'm Yours!

My sweet husband told me last week that he wanted to cook me a Valentine's dinner.  He said that he felt like taking me to a restaurant was the easy way out.  As much as I like to be taken "out" to dinner, I agreed to let him to this for me.  On Saturday, he and our daughter went to Whole Foods to do the shopping for the meal that he had planned, giving me an opportunity to be alone at home for a while (which rarely happens).  When they arrived home, he was a bit worried about the amount he spent, saying, "I took your grocery shopping budget mindset to the other extreme."  At this point I'm thinking, "We could have had a really nice meal out", but I didn't say anything to burst his bubble.

He prepared a 3 course meal consisting of things that he knew I liked. 

First, he knew I liked olives, so he made an olive salad complete with fennel and lemon zest!  I was impressed.

Next, he served a pork loin stuffed with wild rice and roasted asparagus.  Delicious!

Finally, he put together such a sweet dessert platter which had an assortment of cheeses, peach chutney, granny smith apples, chocolate raspberry bread, dark chocolate covered pomegranites, dates, and water crackers.

I'd say he did a great job.  It was fun seeing how excited he was and how much effort he put into preparing a meal that would honor me.  He loves me!

Oh, and here's a little something that I made him....

There are few things in the world that my Daniel loves more than semi-sweet chocolate chips!  I know they are not technically kisses like Hershey's, but they look similar and he loves them!

And the Winner Is......

I used Random.com to generate a winner for the One World, One Heart giveaway.  The winner is Whimsical Creations!  Congratulations Melanie!  I hope your little one enjoys it! 

Min: 1

Max: 198

Result:

134

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

I've enjoyed participating in this worldwide giveaway.  Thank you so much Lisa for hosting!

Testing

Just playing around with some different options for my blog.  Sorry for the inconvenience! :)

My little Valentine!

Here's a sneak peak at Elizabeth's Valentine's outfit. This was so much fun to make. She didn't know what to think about the huge double ruffle though!
I hope you all enjoy your Valentine's weekend!

Valentine's Day Gifts

I was trying to come up with a little gift for the grandparents for Valentine's Day from us and Elizabeth. Grandparents always love pictures of their granddaughter, so I knew I wanted to incorporate pictures. Then it hit me! I remembered an idea that I saw on Little Birdie Secrets blog.... Photo blocks!

Here is my version....

These are such a nice (and inexpensive) gift. All you need is a few supplies, a little time, and a little creativity.

For a step-by-step tutorial, check out the link above!

Thanks so much Little Birdie Secrets!

One World, One Heart! ** NOW CLOSED**

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!     CHECK BACK SOON FOR ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!
Hello! Welcome to TOTEally Posh! As I've been perusing blogland over the past few weeks, I kept seeing "One World, One Heart" posts. After a few, I thought, "What is this all about?". Once I read all about it, I decided I had to get on board. It is the most amazing thing! Lisa, the blog creator, started this 3 years ago "to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet". Basically, bloggers from all over the WORLD are getting together and hosting giveaways.



If you are interested in participating, click the above link and head over to her site.

Now for the fun part! Here is my giveaway.....

A beautifu boutique quality tutu! The waist on this tutu is 21". I believe it should fit a 2-5 year old.

I will also be throwing in some suprise items, as well!

If you would like to enter this giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment below. In your comment, be sure to include your email address if your blogger profile doesn't link to it. The winner will be announced on February 15th. Also, while you're here, feel free to check out my the rest of my blog and my etsy shop!

Thank you for stopping by! Good luck!