Spring Top Week Contest Entry

I have never entered a contest of skill before. Giveaways sure, I have even won a few of those but a contest dependent on my abilities, not a chance. I am rarely confident enough in my skills to compete. Although I did win a photo contest once but I think that was pure odds. Regardless! I am entering a contest now. Made By Rae's Spring Top Week Contest. And I am so excited. I actually think I have a chance. With this little number:




Rarely do you see me in something strapless, having a small chest I normally like to pretend I have more but I could not resist trying this one out. And I love it! I was inspired by the leftover material from my bubble skirt but I did not have enough to do what I wanted to do so I waited. And then I had the idea to make this. For once, having a small chest did me a favour.




The pillowcase was found a couple months ago on a thrifting trip. And after I realized the only seam I had to take apart was the bottom seam I was super happy. I turned the pillowcase inside out and folded the scalloped edge out so that the embroidery face out. I then three-step-zig-zagged elastic underneath it, out of sight. To hide the one seam that was now showing I sewed pink bias tape over it and then lace over that to soften it up. It looked a little too 'athletic stripe' for me.

That was it. Oh yeah, and I had to cut a few inches off because as small as my chest is, my hips don't lie lol. I did a rolled hem and double stitched it. Turned out great!




I am pleased as punch with both the shirt and my execution. (it looks exactly like I pictured it!) I think it really does stand a chance. I also think I shouldn't wait any longer to enter it. The contest closes tonight at 8pm eastern time.

Storybook Sunday : Fancy Nancy : Bonjour Butterfly

This is a super fun edition of Story Book Sunday! After I review the book: Fancy Nancy Bonjour Butterfly, I have a tutorial for a great craft inspired by the book! So stick with me, I promise you will not be disappointed!

Fancy Nancy: Bon jour Butterfly is a fantastic book written by Jane O'Connor. It touches you on so many levels. It touches on the joy of being feminine (that is a fancy word for girly), it touches on disappointment, it touches on the need to be there for your family (and in return, your family being there for you.)

This was our first Fancy Nancy book. As a parent I loved the constant infuse of larger vocabulary. The fancier the better. As a mom of a little girl I was almost squealing with delight at her costumes and accessories. And as a person who appreciates illustrations j'adore (that is French for I love) the artwork in this book. I think it might even have stolen the show.

As intriguing (that is a fancy word for interesting) as the text and dialogue were, it was the artwork that drew me in. I just loved how expressive Robin Preiss Glasser was able to make Fancy Nancy on every page. Not just when she was sulky but when she was happy and angry. I think my absolute favourite picture is when Fancy's Mom gives her some bad news. She is just beside herself, I mean, distraught (that is a fancy word for upset) and it is clearly (and adorably) illustrated.

But the story is wonderful too, with a most important lesson to be learned. Our lives are enriched (That is a fancy word for better) because of family. This was our first Fancy Nancy book, but it is definitely not our last. I am on the hunt for more. Apparently there are a few lol. Between the library, eBay and discount stores we may just be able to read them all.








And what Fancy Nancy reading time would be complete without our own Fancy Nancy parasol?! Well, it just wouldn't so let's make one! It is super easy and super cheap!


















Thanks for stopping by! Bonne nuit! (That is French For good night.) Linking to:

Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative BlogTutorial Tuesday @ Hope StudiosWhatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts  Creative Share Wednesdays @ Trendy Treehouse Idea Sharin' Wednesdays @ Women Who Do It All Make It & Wear It @ The Train To Crazy

How To: Ruched Scarf From Pajama Pants

Good evening! What a day it has been. Full of get up and go and naps and photoshopping, dinner and a new Tinkerbell at 9pm I can post this tutorial! But I am just so proud of this scarf I would have done it all three times to show you how! Have a look, it is pretty wonderful yes?






I absolutely love it! I wear it everywhere I go. It is so feminine and yet so comfortable. You have to know that I intend on buying up all of the cotton jersey pajama pants in the nation for more of these! The tutorial has some [badly drawn]photoshop images because I over-complicated the original process. Also, this was one of those things that just didn't offer up the right opportunities for clear, instructional photos. regardless, it is so simple!

Full tutorial after the jump.

Tu Tu for Two Year Photos

A little over a week ago I made a tutu for Wednesday's upcoming second birthday. I spent about four hours tying the tulle to the elastic. While doing this I watched a couple four episodes of Supernatural (for the plot i swear!) and ate half of a bag of Reeses Pieces. But it went by like a breeze and had I not knotted half the tutu backwards (I had to take it off of my leg to pee.) it would have only taken me between two and three hours. A couple of days later I added some skinny chocolate brown ribbon and self adhesive 'rhinestones'. I sewed fat chocolate brown ribbon to the elastic instead of sewing the elastic into a loop so that I could adjust the tightness/size on Wednesday and remove it easier.

Below is a slideshow of the pictures we took at the park a couple of days ago for her second year mailer cards plus some tutu progress photos. It turned out wonderful, if not a little bit long but this means it will fit her for years and years (and should last as long).

I did not use a single tutorial but I will leave the links fo the most useful ones and why.

This one from Plum Tickled has a great idea about buying the tulle in rolls and cutting your strips two at a time. But I didn't like how she knotted hers so I kept looking.

This one from Grosgrain had the knots I wanted and I liked her idea for staggering the lengths.

I used two lengths (30" & 24") and did it like this....

white 30
pink 30
white 30
pink 24
white 24
pink 24
white 30
pink 30
white 30

"etc. etc. etc. and so forth."

And then I tied the skinny ribbon between every six pieces of tulle and added the shiny bits willy nilly.

If you have any questions feel free to ask, but for serious it does not get any easier than this. that is the beauty of it all. :)