Bathroom Inspiration

Well it's week #5 for the inspirational workshop over at gussy sews and this week's topic is the bathroom.  Our "master bath" is more like the bathroom you experience when you're on an airplane.  If you're on the toilet, you can touch the sink and the shower at the same time.  There's nothing "master" about it.  So I found a couple of bathrooms in Country Living that are really quite stunning!  Have a look...

Hellooooooo chandelier!

Helloooooo gorgeous ceiling!

Helloooooo marble vanity!

Flanged Pillow with Embellishments

Is it really possible to have too many pillows?  I think not!  Aren't they even cuter when they have little embellishments?  I think so!  So this weekend I set out to create just that - a flanged (fancy word for border) pillow with embroidered embellishments.

Want to make one?  See below!

I started with these fabrics: the floral pattern for the pillow and the other two for my rosettes.  To make the pillow, I just sewed two pieces of fabric measuring 22 in. x 22 in.  To make the flanged border, just topstitch a 1 in. border all the way around the pillow.

I created three large rosettes (yellow circle fabric) and three sets of three smaller rosettes (green fabric).  See rosette tutorial here: spring rosette shirt

I took my fabri-tac (best thing since sliced bread) and glued the rosettes together to create three flowers. 

I stitched the stem of the flower using embroidery thread in tangerine.  Across the top of the flower, I made six french knots in grape.

And now I have a comfy spot to sit back and relax!  Now all I need is a slice of blueberry pie and some vanilla ice cream.

Linking up to: Life Made Lovely, Craftomaniac, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Lollipops, Sewmuchado, Somewhat Simple, Paisley Passions

Spend the Day Playing

My husband and I grew up in a little, touristy beach town that we like to still call home.  It never gets old for us even though there's not a whole bunch to do except go to the beach.  You'd think that would get old too, but it doesn't.  It's good for the soul!

When we had our daughter, I couldn't wait to let her toes get wet.  We were a little uncertain at how she would react to the big waves, but she wasn't phased in the least.  She's a water baby through and through - must be in her DNA.

Since the inspiration for today is "Spend the Day Playing," I thought these were perfect!

 Linked up to: gussy sews

Sweet Summertime Purse

When I'm not toting around my big backpack full of diapers, bottles, formula, toys (should I keep going?), I like to have a little home for my stuff.  

This weekend I put together a cute little purse using a couple of very different fabrics. 

Its a perfect harmony of "Mod Meets Granny" and I love it!!!  

I'm not sure I'll be able to make it happen this summer, but if I do get the chance to ride up to the beach with just me, myself, and I, this little gem will be riding shot gun.  It's just the right size to hold sunscreen, keys, some mu-la, sunglasses, and a good book.   Find the tutorial over at Prudent Baby.

Linked up to:

Life Made Lovely, ABowl Full of Lemons, Sewmuchado, Somewhat Simple, Paisley Passions, 30 Days, Fun to Craft

Green

This week's inspiration workshop over at gussy sews is anything green.  

I found this necklace on Etsy and fell in love.  So sweet!

The perfect cotton dress for summer...

A classic little 1950's vintage number (I think I was born in the wrong era)...

And this just because I wrote about it yesterday...

Frozen cocktail anyone?

I hope all of you have a great weekend!!!

Fried Green Tomatoes. Bacon. Avocado. Oh, my!

I finally took my daughter up to the library today to check out some books and wound up in the magazine aisle with this month’s edition of Southern Living in my hand.  This, of course, spells immediate disaster because 1. I had only eaten one slice of leftover pizza for lunch and 2. I was still hungry.  Naturally, the first thing I flipped to was a photo of a Fried Green Tomato Po’boy with Remoulade sauce, bacon, shredded lettuce, and avocado slices.  Have a look.

Now let me divert for just a sec.  Have you ever played the game, “If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?”  I’ve played it a handful of times as a kid last week.  Anyhoo, I think if the chefs at Southern Living made that for me for the rest of my life I would be sittin’ fat and happy.

Okay, so back to my story.  Basically, I stared at that amazing photo and thought long and hard about how I could recreate that Po’boy.  I even thought about the remoulade sauce and how I had no idea what it was but I wanted it.  I dreamed of enjoying it with my friends for a make-believe backyard party with pasta salad, iced-tea, and cutesy cupcakes topped with fancy icing.  In this dream of mine, it was 78 degrees, mosquitoes had been wiped off the planet for years, and the backyard had lush, green grass with a mean game of corn hole going on.  Ahhh, sweet daydream!  And then I snapped back to reality after hearing an old man clear the back of his throat for the 84^th time.

I wish I had the time to whip up some fried green tomato po’boy lovin’, but I don’t with a ten month old in tow.  For now, I’ll just have to settle with another slice of Domino’s decadence.

What I Love Wednesday - Father's Day Photo Book

Father's Day is just around the corner and if you're still thinking of ideas for dad, then check out my photo book below (make a fingerprint book too).  This homemade gift is great to make at any age and it's sure to make dad smile!  I did most of work because our little girl is just shy of one, but she came in at the end and put the finishing touches on it...i.e. drool and scribble scrabble.

To make the book, you will need the following (x-acto knife missed the photo shoot; be sure you have him too):

I found everything at Michael's except for the name plate which I actually pulled off a photo box we already had at home.  I'm sure you can find these at any office store.  The paper is just scrapbook paper that I cut down to size.

I first cut the paper so that it was 8 1/2 x 11 and then folded it down the center.  I used three sheets of scrapbook paper for the inside pages.

Place it under your sewing machine and set the stitch to a basic straight stitch.

The stitching is a little off center.  To correct this, just don't wait until midnight to do it. Ha!

Once you've bound the book, take your glue stick and paste the outside cover to the first page on the inside.  Repeat this for the back, outside cover as well.

I used a scrap of one of the inside pages to type Happy Father's Day.  To do this, just tape it to a regular 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of copy paper and print.  It should feed through the printer just fine.

Now take your name plate, center it on top, and cut.

Take a small amount of glue and secure it into place.

Okay this is where it gets a wee bit tricky.  Once you've centered the name plate on the paper, poke it through just enough to see where the holes are.  Now take an x-acto knife and cut open the hole just enough so the brackets fit through.  If you try to push the name plate through without creating a big enough hole, it could cause the paper to rip.  Once the brackets poke through to the other side, take the bottom of the x-acto knife and press down on the brackets to secure. 

Are you lovin' the stripes like I am??!!

For the photos, simply take your photo corners and slip the picture into place.

Under the picture, I wanted to create lines so there was a place for writing...or scribbling in our case.  

Now your kids have a place to write something personal about daddy.

I let the baby use some colored pencils to "write" something.  

And there you have it - an adorable homemade gift for Father's Day (minus the teeth marks)!

Linked to: Someday Crafts

Day 12 Winner

This month the blog guidebook is turning 1 and they're doing 30 days of giveaways!  It just so happens that Sunny Vanilla is a winner.  Woot, woot!  Check out this cute little blog button I just won over at the blog guidebook.

Kitchen Inspiration

We're working on a little kitchen project today and I thought it tied in great to the kitchen inspiration linky party over at gussy sews.  I'm lovin' these kitchens!  They feel warm, inviting, and a wee bit vintage. 

Dingleberry Dress - Part 2: The Redemption

Alright folks I finished up the dress blouse so that my baby girl can actually put her head and arms through it.    This dress turned into a blouse because I ran out of fabric.  So basically this was an Amelia Bedelia project from the get go.  I'm sure you can't wait to see the finished product...right?!

With a little snippity snip, we're now back to two pieces... 

I started by sewing the base of the shirt.

Then I took my second piece of fabric (the bottom piece) and set the machine to a basting stitch (this is a long, loose stitch).  Once you've sewed the second piece of fabric, pull on the thread to create a gather.

See how the bottom piece is gathered now...

Now sew those two pieces together.

Now you'll want to finish off the neck line.  Fold the fabric over 1/2" and press it using your iron.  Fold the fabric again another 1/2" and sew.

Attach the two pieces together at the shoulders.

Sew the sides together using a zig zag stitch, pinking shears, or a serger to prevent fraying.

For the final step, fold the bottom of the shirt over 1/2" and press.  Fold again another 1/2" and sew into place.

Lookin' good, lookin' good, lookin' good. 

Linked to Somewhat Simple