Girls Weekend!

My SIL, Jordan, and I decided that we were long overdue for a girls weekend.  Our idea of a big time?  Lock ourselves in the country, in a house that is 90% empty, and stitch away!

Jordan is just learning to sew.  She decided that an apron would be a great first big project.  After making a run to my parents' farm for dinner and digging through Nana's old aprons, we had a style that was perfect.

A few ripped stitches, and several rounds of rethreading her machine (we all do this) later, she had an original, beautiful, feminine apron!

Her fabric vintage inspired fabric choices were perfect for this style!  Don't you love the button detail at the neck?

She mastered so many techniques in just this one project!  

Ruffles

Top stitching

&

Button holes

How lucky am I that I have a beautiful SIL, who likes me enough to hang out in an empty house in the country sewing away?

The Perfect Top

During my rounds of craft shows and art fairs, I receive more compliments on this little style than any other.

The Reversible Pinafore Top/Tunic

It really might be the perfect top for your little lady.

Great with layers underneath in cold weather.

Great on it's own in warm weather.

Fully reversible....2 tops in one!

I found this spunky orange and pink pig print and whipped up 2 pinafore tops for The Peanut and her cousin. They'll be the cutest girls in the crowd at the county fair hog show this summer!

Several pinafore tops are available in my Lois Pearl etsy shop.  Have a specific color or size in mind?  I'd love to create a custom top just for you!

Lois Pearl items are made of the highest quality fabrics.  All fabric is pre-washed to reduce the likelihood of shrinkage, and only the finest professional construction methods are used.

Stenciled Burlap Pillows

Sometimes it's just fun to dig through my crafty closet and see what I can create.  It can be a rewarding challenge, especially when it works out!

I found some burlap, fabric scraps, acrylic paint, and an old sheet.  Here is a quick glimpse of what I created!

I free-handed the little branch onto the burlap first.  One it had dried, I stitched the little birdie on so that the raw edges are exposed.  I like that it will fray over time.

I printed an "H" out on the computer in the font and size that I desired.  I then cut it out and used it as my stencil.  I love that it's personalized!  Wouldn't these make a great gift?

It's funny how something as simple as a few new pillows can really brighten up a room!

Happy Crafty!

Upcycled Stripey Dress

The Peanut has hit a huge growth spurt over the past couple of months.  She must have inherited her Gam's height genes!  (my MIL is 6' tall and very willowy, lucky lady!)

As a result, all of her old t-shirts are too short in the torso, but fit through the shoulders.  I decided to try my hand at crafting up a little dress from these old t's.

First, I cut her t-shirts off about 4" from the underarm seam.

Next, I collected several old knit shirts of my own, and cut 12" x 6.5" strips.

I then serged the striped together, creating a seam down the long side.  

I continued this process, until I had sewn 6 strips together to form a skirt.

I then attached the skirt to my top, and had a dress!

I chose to embellish the dress with a little flower created from my knit scraps.

What could be better than a new dress....that is one-of-a-kind, made with love, and free?

Happy Crafty!

Quilt Block for a Cause

Valerie, of Pink Please!, is creating a wonderful quilt that will be auctioned off to raise funds for breast cancer research.  She requested that her fellow crafties submit blocks, along with a 4x6 card letting her know who the block was honoring.

The blocks are stunning.  She chose a beautiful pattern with a super easy tutorial, and I was so excited to create my own block for her!

I created my block in honor of two wonderful ladies who both fought breast cancer.  My friend Megan S. Ott, and my grandmother, Francis Mellon Phillips.  Both had such a great appreciation of craftiness, I know they would love this project!

Be sure to keep your eye on the blog this weekend.  I'll be launching a fun GIVEAWAY of sorts, and I'll need your help!

Knit Bracelet

A friend pointed these great bracelets out to me at a recent craft show.  I loved them, and snatched up 3 for myself.  When I got home, I found this quick tutorial by Vanessa Christenson.  They are such a fun way to use up my knit scraps!

Here is the end result.

It took me about 5 minutes to complete the bracelet.  The best part, I didn't need to buy any supplies!  Just a strip of knit, and your fingers, and you're ready to go!

Won't they look great layered up on your wrist this spring?  Such a simple way to spice up a plain t-shirt!

A Stretchy Scarf

When my friend Traci sent me a link to this tutorial at Make It and Love It, she had no idea what great timing she had!

I've been staring at a big strip of cream knit fabric (leftover from double ruffle pants) and wondering how to best turn it into a scarf.  This was the perfect inspiration!  My trusty Janome was even set up for the shirring!  In about 10 minutes I had 2 super stylish and soft scarves.  

You just stitch your way around the scarf, using normal thread on the top for the front, and elastic thread in the bobbin for the back side.  It makes beautiful gathers, and is virtually fool proof.

They are fun for winter, but I really think they'll be perfect for dressing up simple t-shirts this summer.  Especially looped infniti style with a fun fabric flower pin!

Me with my super-expressive face.  

Nothing like taking your own picture in the mirror to make you feel like a big nerd!

This would be a great project for someone just experimenting with shirring (ahem....Kimberlee!)

All Rested Up!

Sorry for the long absence.  I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season.  We had a great holiday spent with friends and family.  Of course, we incorporated a bit of crafty too!  Here's a quick glimpse.

A sweet trio of personalized shirts.  What a fun custom order!

We made homemade ornaments for our Aunties and Uncles.

Daddy and E Lo made a family favorite, homemade snack mix!

I hope that you had a wonderful, family filled, restful, delightful holiday.  We'll be back to our normal schedules tomorrow, and I'll have a wonderful recipe to share!

Happy 2012!

Last Show of the Season

Indiana folks, come see us today!

We're at the Hoosier Road Elementary Holiday Bazaar from 8am-noon!

(located at Hoosier Road Elementary, Fishers, IN)

Here's a little glimpse of what we'll have on hand!

Lots of dresses, pants and tops!

And of course my little monsters!

Unable to attend?  You can always browse our etsy shop, or email me for a custom order!

Scraptastic Little Monsters

Like most crazy crafties, I have one seriously overflowing scrap bin.  

Yesterday I decided to take a wee break from making dresses and whip up a few of these darling little dudes.

  

The inspiration came from my super crafty friend Barbie, who also happens to have a scrap habit!

There are so many fun textures for a little one to check out, bumpy corduroy, soft minky, sturdy denim....oh, and all those fun ribbons too!

These little guys will taking a little road trip with me to my last show of the season tomorrow.  

Come see us at the Hoosier Road Elementary Holiday Bazaar at Hoosier Road Elementary in Fishers, IN.  We'll be there from 8am-noon!  

Bitty is HERE! And she needs diapers!

Yep, Santa is bringing a Bitty Baby to the Peanut this year, and she arrived on our doorstep yesterday.  

She's darling, with dark brown hair and blue eyes just like this little girl.

A little mommy can't be without her accessories for her baby.  Since the Peanut insists on diapering everything these days, including her sock monkey, I thought that some handmade tiny cloth diapers for Bitty would be a hit!  

I found this tutorial by skiptomylou.  In no time, I had a sweet trio of diapers for Bitty.  

They'll be the perfect stocking stuffer!

Vintage Button Cuff Bracelet {a tutoral}

I have a confession to make.  I dearly love to shop at art fairs and craft shows.  This is in general a good thing, except when your business involves exhibiting at these shows.  It can sometimes be tough to keep money in my pocket!

My neighbors at a recent craft show were selling these sweet little packages of vintage buttons.  Oh how I have such a love of vintage buttons!  At $2 per bundle these were a steal!

It didn't take long to decide how to put these little guys to use.  A sweet shopper came up to my booth and had on the most fantastic button cuff bracelet.  I promptly decided that I needed to make one of my own!

First, I started off with 1.5" wide black elastic.  I cut several pieces to fit comfortably around my wrist.

I looped them and stitched the ends together with a wide zigzag stitch.  This created the cuff.

I then dumped all of my lovely buttons into a bin and went to town with my needle and black thread.

Here is the finished product!

A one-of-a-kind vintage button cuff bracelet!  These would make such a sweet gift for teachers, sitters, friends and neighbors this holiday.  This little gem will be going to my mom!

Handmade Halloween

I love Halloween.  In my book it marks the start of the Fall season, my personal favorite!

I lucked out this year, and the kiddos chose costumes that were super simple to put together.

Nate is in love with the Busy Town books, and insisted on being a "worker".

We already had the hat (left over from Hill's ADM days), shirt, and shoes.  The Bug helped me whip up a tool belt from leftover brown felt and he was all set!

The Peanut was a little fairy.  I love an excuse to make a tutu.

Along with the tutu, I made a hair bow, pin for her shirt, and a wand using pencils and ribbon.  We already had the fairy wings (from the Dollar Store), so her entire outfit only cost $5!

I hope that you had a Happy Halloween!

Rainy Days and a Skirt

We knew that after the warm dry weather of August, rain and cooler temps would eventually hit Indiana.

Well, they're here!  And it's cold, and rainy, and windy.

Perfect weather for hibernating in my "sweat shop".

I've been trying to decide what to dress the kiddos in for our upcoming family pictures.  This little skirt is a definite contender.



I used the free apron skirt tutorial on Lil Blue Boo.  It would be perfect for beginners!

Here's a quick peek at my help for the day too.  Miss Nessarose found the coziest place in the house to nap, the scrap basket.



What is this fall's weather inspiring you to create?

Who Doesn't love an Owl Print?

Owls are just the rage these days, and I admit I love them too.  Occasionally we get treated by the owls in our woods to a concert of "Who Whoo's".

When I found this super cute owl corduroy on clearance at JoAnn's, I had to have it and keep it for Miss E Lo.  It made the perfect reversible tunic for fall.

What fun fall projects are you up to?