Refashioned 4th of July girls T-shirts.

Cici and Nini ready for the concert.

These festive 4th of July shirts were refashioned from a boys plain white T-shirts (3 for $8.99).  Each year Cici and Nini have had a wonderful singing concert at their school for Memorial Day.  I enjoyed making dresses for them last year out of the same material in I used in the shirts (recycle!).  This year, since they insist they are getting too old for festive dresses, I opted for a more low-key solution -just trying to help them be as cool as they can!  Here's how I did it (keep in mind I'm not a seamstress and am still learning all the sewing terms!):

1.  I cut two T-shirts using the diagram below and saved the third T-shirt for the ruffles around the neck.

2.  My next step was to work on the neckline and make it smaller.  I cut two strips from the extra tee in the width I chose. Next I stitched with my sewing machine down the center of the strip.  I made the ruffles by pulling the threads and gathering them into two ruffled strips.

3. I pleated sections of the neckline to make it smaller and more fuller around the neck.  I stitched over each pleat and then went to work on pinning the ruffles around the neck.  You may have to make more strips into ruffles if your neckline is larger.  I sewed down the middle of the ruffle over the gathered fabric.

4.  The sleeves are capped flutter sleeves and do not meet under the arm pit.  I did puff the sleeves by making pleats and then sewed them into the shirt, making sure each sleeve was even.

5.  Make sure to hem the sleeve before sewing it to the shirt - much easier!

6.  Cut your stars first before sewing the two sides of the shirt together.  I gently traced and then cut the star pinning whatever fabric you desire underneath - to keep the stars shape, use lots of pins!  I stitched the star from the right side of the fabric.

6.  Sew the open sides together but be sure to measure arms first so that it's not too big or small around.

7.  I cut the fabric from the underarm to the bottom of the shirt in a diagonal cut to make the shirt look more of a bell look.

 8.  My last step was to trim off all the extra thread and then embroider the star shape onto each shirt.

I really enjoyed this project!  I hope this helps and inspires :)

Love, Michelle

A Bear and Turtle Makeover.

Emptied Animal Cracker Bear bin.

I just couldn't stand it any longer...I took the rest of the animal crackers from this bear container and did a bear make-over.  While the animal crackers rest peacefully in our food pantry, this bear is now found life among the little red-headed boys that run amuck in our home - one shouting "This is a car" (seriously) over and over; and the other pointing profusely at the cars and then giggling.



Mr. T (r)and the Hawk using their new repurposed bear bin.



Here you can see Mr. T and the Hawk playing intently with Mr. Bear as he is protector of the cars in our home now.  The little boy colors work perfectly in their room.  It was all put together with decoupage and some hot glue.  It did take longer then I expected thought - around an hour.

 Four years ago I found those little turtles in a fabric store and swore I would do something with the fabric.  I wanted to make a quilt out of the material, but I really haven't had time.  Instead, I decided to upstyle these very inexpensive fleece jackets by cutting each turtle out individually and sewing them onto the jackets. 

We got to wear them today since our New England weather seems to have declared winter over!

How is weather in your neck of the woods?
Do you like animal crackers?

What do you think of this new upstyling craze?

I spy...a basket purse?!

Basket Purse - perfect :)

I hate diaper bags.  I know this is a very negative way to start a post, but I am trying to be honest.  I can never find anything in them, or when I do, it's usually some sort of food that has been hiding in it's depths.  It was around Easter time 2011, the boys were almost 18 months old and I had had it with those big bags.  I still needed something to put all the things I needed in my shopping excursions and trips to church.  The answer, as uneventful as it may be, came after I muddled what to do with the girl's Easter baskets.  I love to buy them, but how many more do we need?  Before the the massive Easter clearance, I had a clearly brilliant moment - I can use this basket as an alternative to my diaper bag....I bought one more on clearance and have the one in the photo, white, and pink...I was hooked.



alternative to a diaper bag or purse

Perhaps it's the color, the size, or the cute handle - but this style basket has proven to be a perfect fit.  It's not too big, not too small, it's a great color and it fits everything I need for my twins when I am shopping.  I even had room for a half package of wipes that I forgot to put in these photos. 



Here are my contents:

Here is what I took with me on my last shopping adventure:

Two sippy cups
1 banana with peel
lots of change at the bottom of the basket
My keys
A flower pen
A planner.
A wallet
2 baggies of grapes (sliced)
2 baggies of pretzels
2 fruit snacks
2 Keebler treat bags
2 bottles, just in case!

Hilariously, all items within this basket were consumed on one (1) forty minute Target trip!  ReallY!



fits perfectly



 The basket sits perfectly on the floor on my passenger seat and fits nicely in the shopping cart or underneath my double stroller.  When the contents of the bags and packages are eaten, I use the basket as a temporary garbage and throw everything away on the way out.  Leaving only what wasn't devoured behind!  That usually means my money too!  Surprisingly, I have received tons of great compliments - and that's even with my cute little red heads as a distraction :)

What do you think about diaper bags?

Do you hate or love them?

Would you do this?

Window repurposing project.

Old Window awaiting repurposing.

High amongst the bats and dust, on the third level of our New England barn lay 20 something old wooden windows.  This one was like a lighthouse in a storm standing out among all the others.  Now, it is being washed, scraped, sanded, and painted and awaiting finishing details; like, corkboard, and fabric.  This old window is to become my office cork board and dream board.  This was just peek -more to come!

Any projects in the works?