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College, schmollege! (And my self-led degree program)
So, I went to college. Twice. And it was fun and all that. But, as it turns out, I went for something I’m not interested in doing for the rest of my life…and, I racked up a large student loan debt that will take me the next three lifetimes to pay back. (Ask me sometime […]
The $5 Wedding Dress
My path to finding an appropriate wedding dress for our Thailand wedding has been an interesting one with multiple detours. First, I purchased a fairly traditional gown at Nordstrom Rack on a whim…even though it was a size 10 (I am a 4-6) and a little “high-school prom” (according to Scott). I reasoned that it […]
Spoonflower Color Chart….(and some priceless Wonton action!)
I was so excited to get home from my bachelorette party in Vegas on Sunday and find a package from Spoonflower! (And, so was Wonton, apparently…) I found this color chart on Flickr and had it printed at Spoonflower to see how all their different colors print. It’s a broad spectrum of 1,000 colors…Yes, 1,000! […]
Natalie’s Toddler Skirt
My future sister-in-law, Laura, just sent me these adorable photos of Natalie, one of her twins, modeling the toddler skirt I made for her. Doesn’t she just look adorable?!
Toddler Skirt Tutorial
Today’s tutorial is for a super easy-to-make toddler girls’ skirt. You will need: Fabric (1/4-1/2 yard – see chart below) Coordinating thread 3/4″, non-roll elastic (child’s waist measurement + 1″) Rotary cutter Self-healing cutting mat 6″x24″ Omnigrid ruler Thread clipper/scissors Safety pin or bodkin Seam gauge Sewing machine Serger (optional) (Don’t let the exhaustive list […]
Typewriter Keys Fabric Design
Spoonflower has a themed, “Fabric of the Week” contest, and next week’s theme is Numbers. I decided to give it a try to see what other fabric designers think of my ideas. For the contest, I mish-mashed a bunch of typewriter key letters that I found at Dafont. I actually entered a black & white […]
Creative Ways to Save Money
Challenging times call for creative thinking, and our current situation is no exception. It’s easy to say, “I’m so broke!” or, “There’s now way I can save money with my current salary!” However, barring extreme circumstances, it’s entirely possible to save money, pay off debt and build a nest egg if you abandon your old, […]
Pears and Apples Fabric Design
I was delighted when my future sister-in-law asked me to sew some placemats for her 2-year-old daughter as a Christmas gift. I decided to take it a step further and actually design the fabric, too! I can’t wait to send this design to Spoonflower and get it printed. I hope it looks as great on […]
Pretty Flowers from Fabric and Vinyl Scraps
I love that embellishing things with fabric flowers and buttons is so “in” right now. First, they’re easy to make…and second, it’s a great way to add some new life to your old stuff with just a small piece of fabric. For the yoyo flower, I used this tutorial on Heather Bailey’s blog. I essentially […]
Turn a 70s Dress into a Gorgeous Skirt
I found a dress at Deseret Industries the other day that absolutely captivated me. The print reminded me of some things in my mother’s closet in the early 80s, so I imagine that it was made sometime in the late 1970s. It also had a well-worn, vintage-looking tag, so I knew this was the real […]
From Pirate to Poetically Pretty
Lately I’ve been lusting after the ruffly, feminine shirts of the J. Crew and anthropologie fall collections. Yet, last time I checked, my budget doesn’t include a line item for $90 shirts. Never fear – that’s what the thrift store is for! I purchased this hideously ugly “pirate shirt” for $3 at the Deseret Industries […]
Oooh la la!
The French have a certain “je ne sais quoi” that emanates throughout everything they do – and crafting is no exception. I recently stumbled upon this collection of French blogs, and they are magnificent. I love the creative photo treatments, distinctive and bold typography and the use of color. Enjoy the list, and let me […]
Duct Tape & Decoupage
Over the years I’ve come across several tutorials for creating duct-tape dress forms, and I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of having a custom-made mannequin. Patterns can be unpredictable (I’m a size WHAT??!), and I’ve been longing for a break from the confines otherwise-known-as McCall’s and Simplicity. Enter “Duckie,” as I’ve just affectionately named […]
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