Thrifty Find

ohhh emmm geee. These little high tops KILL me. They are a teeny tiny size two which is unbeliveably cute, but the part that kills me is that Gus's feet are too fat big for them. Ahh well, I'll just save them for the next one.

btw, have a good weekend.

Thanks Mom!

she loves the dress and so do i.

Dear Internet

I found these amazing acid wash jeans for Hattie at the thrift store on Tuesday. Here is my question, do I alter them to fit her - or- do I make them into an amazing skirt???

And no, you can't talk me out of them, they are fabulous. I love that all of these 80's styles are coming back.

Gold Leggings - Attempt #2

Disclaimer: Please excuse Hattie's VDLs (Visible Diaper Lines), I tried to get her to wear the diaper thong, but she doesn't like the absorption properties of the diaper thong.....

These leggings turned out much better.

First of all, I love the color. The yellow backed gold is much prettier than the black backed gold.
Secondly, I lengthened the rise by about 3 inches, now the leggings stay up around her waist.
Thirdly, I fixed the too tight ankles by using a small zigzag and stretching the fabric as I went. Now she can put them on all by herself, which she loves and is key for any independent 3 yr old.

Inspiration

Slightly obsessed with the new to me blog matsutake. I love her tagline, 'no sleep till January'.

She is going to be vendor in the Martha Stewart craft show!!?? How bitchin is that seeeeriously??

And I am in love with her wooden pull toys and her muslin and felt lockets.  Really, honestly one of those inspiration blogs where every post I ask myself, 'now why didn't I think of that?'.

Sleep is for quitters!

Gold Leggings - Attempt #1

Here is my first attempt at these gold leggings.

These are the things that I did wrong:

• I made the rise too short, so the pants don't stay up on her waist. They fall down off  her butt like those bad pair of jeans you bought because they were a good price and now every time you sit down you sell some major crack - yeah, those ones.  
• I choose the wrong gold.  I thought the blackish gold would be better, it's not...it just looks cheap.  I picked the yellowish gold for the second pair
  
• I measured wrong and the material around the ankles is too tight and hard to get on and off, not ideal for a 3 year old.
  

Alright, so check in tomorrow for the 2nd Attempt - much better

Plush Alphabet Tutorial

I'm in love with this plush alphabet tutorial - what a great way to get rid of some scraps. I'm def. making a set of these for my kids for Christmas.

And We're Back....

Yeah, the charger came! I hate being without my computer. Although, I must admit I did get tons of work done.

Here was my table at the bijou market. Don't you just love the yellowey goldish skirts? I can't get enough of them.

Making Leggings

I showed Hattie these sweet gold leggings about 2 weeks ago and she has been obsessing over them ever since. My first try at making the leggings didn't go so well, (and if my laptop charger had gotten here like the ebay seller said it would, then I could show you pics of my first try and we could deconstruct the construction together) my second try is right on point. I'll post pics of my two attempts next week.

When I was looking for a cohesive tutorial online, I found these two sweet tutorials on youtube.  How awesome is the music?  I didn't use these tutorials, but I do love the simplicity of them.

Reposting - All My Good Ideas Stem From Her

I am re-posting this because yesterday morning Hattie came out of my room in lingerie and because my computer is still down.

Enjoy

Every so often Chris will set a piece of lingerie out on the bed as a 'suggestion'. When he does this, I want to put all of the cleaning products that we own in his recliner - as a 'suggestion'.

Hattie found one of his 'suggestions' & put it on. Then she came running out of our bedroom wanting us to say, 'oooh pretty', which of course we did because we are good parents. Chris said that she ruined that piece of lingerie for him - which gives me a great idea.

Why not let her play with all of my lingerie for 'dress ups'? Could I possibly ruin all 'suggestions' for him? Obviously I won't let her use the leather or the chains, that would be disgusting, but the maid outfit......maybe

totally kidding about the leather & the chains. but if you are into that - good for you.

Beehive Bazaar

Mark your calendars.....seriously

If you attend one Christmas show this season, it should be the Beehive Bazaar.

The line up of artists is not to be missed.

Plus, the show is open Thursday night from 9pm to 12am....genius.  Put your kids and your husband to bed and come on down.

After

The Bijou Market was so fun. I had a blast getting to know some new vendors.

I loved Peek a Boo Monkey's sweater and tweed shoes.

I also picked up a pair of these resin earrings from Armelle Jewelry.

Our laptop charger suffered an unfortunate end on Saturday. I have ordered a new charger, but I can't really post my projects until I get my computer back and running. Hopefully this week I can start to show you what I have cooking up for the Beehive Bazaar.

Bijou Tomorrow

Today I am finishing some pieces for the Bijou Market and then pricing/tagging everything. Phew, it feels good to be somewhat on top of things and ready to go tomorrow.



I got the funniest email from Courtenay (hi Courtenay!), she asked me how I get so much sewing done...really I laughed out loud. Here's my secret, I let my daughter dress herself. Don't you love the wrinkled dress and colorful tights? She will probably put on tap shoes for our walk today, maybe I'll take a pic so you can appreciate the awesomeness of it all.

More Bijou Market Giveaways

This is for all you out-of-towners.

Huge basket of goodness over on CJanes Guide to Provo.

Another sweet giveaway over at the Bijou Market Blog.

Sewing Newspaper

I know, I know, Halloween is over but I have to share this amazing newspaper dress. Think of all the possibilities....sewing newspaper. See more photos here, seen on CRAFT.

Pillow Give Away

Rockstar Diaries is hosting a giveaway for Bijou Market, sponsored by me. Head over here for your chance to win. I hope someone from out of town wins, good luck!

Still More Skirts

Here are 2 of the skirts that I sold. Hattie and I are in love with the pink one, she actually thought that it was for her. But it obv. isn't for her, it is for a sweet little girl that is having a pink robot party, I know awesome right???

Mini Show Tomorrow

I will be down in Provo tomorrow participating in the Heritage School Boutique. If you are in the area, stop by. It's for a good cause and it's gonna be rockin'.

Ole' Reliable

Pretty much you can always count on me bringing ponytail holders and velcro wallets to a show. They are great gifts and you can usually afford one for everyone you know. The ponytail holders are $2 and the wallets are $5.

ps. my shop is not open right now. i don't know when i am going to open it back up. maybe after the first of the year.

Wallet Day 4

I know, super lame that I posted two days of wallets back to back. We had some unexpected stuff happen over here and I was adjusting.

I'm pretty obsessed with these little ruffle wristlets.

They measure the same as the regular wristlet.

Wallets Day 3

Super fun wristlets.

These wristlets measure about 7.5 inches by 4.5 inches, and it will fit your check book if your old school like that.

Wallet Week - Day 2

Yesterday it snowed in SLC pretty much the whole day, we had a fun time walking to our fav. chocolate shop for hot cocoa. Today it is gray and dreary, I really hope that we get a little more fall before winter gets serious.

I'm loving these little zipper wallets. They measure about 5.5 inches by 4.5 inches. Perfect size for your cards, cash, phone, keys and some chapstick. If you're local, make sure you pick up your very own at the Bijou Market or Beehive Bazaar.

Kid Costumes

My faves from around blogland

Katie's baby flapper, with tutorial(!), here.

Sarah's Oscar as Oscar the Grouch, here

Dr. Horrible, 'With my freeze ray I will stop the world,' here from Paula

Fergie's little muscle man, here, via Say Yes To Hoboken

Ali's Stay Puff Marshmallow Man, here.

Thrifty Finds

I am sad that Gus is growing so fast, because both of these shoes are teeny tiny size 2. The blue ones are to die for when they are on his fat little feet.

I am still doing wallet week, but Chris took the camera to work - boo. I will post more wallets tomorrow.

Wallet Week

This week for my shows, I am working on wallets; mustached and non mustached, zippered and non zippered, and of course some will have ruffles.

Which makes me wonder, are ruffles the new birds? Remember how 2 years ago, you couldn't buy something from etsy without a bird on it? Are ruffle heading down that road? Discuss.

Bijou Market

If you live in Utah, you do not want to miss the Bijou Market! The show is going to feature creative and original vendors, check out the lineup here.

If your not local, don't dispare. The gals from the Bijou Market have cooked up some giveaways all over blogland. I will post to these as they are listed.

Bijou Market
November 7th 2009
10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
501 North 900 East Provo, UT 84606
(same parking lot as Stan's Drive-In)

Mocs in a Row

I've been working on moccasins this week.  I opted not to do a moccasin week, because seeeeriously how boring would have that been?  If your local and you are in desperate need of buttery, soft baby & kid moccasins, hit me up at the Bijou Market or the Beehive Bazaar.

DIY: Hemming Your Pants

I received an email from sweet Kelly asking about hemming jeans.  The following tutorials make the most sense to me and are the two tutorials that I have used in the past.

Sutton Grace
Dacia Ray 
Barefoot in the Kitchen (thanks natalie)


Do you have a tutorial that you have used?   Please do share.

Inspiration Overload

The colors, the colors, I almost can't handle how awesome they are right now.

BTW, I still have a couple skirt spots left if'n you are interested.

Skirt for Sale - Sold Out, Thank You!

A couple of ladies have inquired about purchasing the black ruffle skirt.  I have decided that I will be making/selling the skirt in limited quantities (like five...maybe 6).

The cost is $25 (shipping included) per skirt.
The sizes are 6-12months thru size 8.
If you need/want another color, that is possible - maybe.

Please email me suezpetersen at gmail dot com.  First come first serve.

Skirt

I made this skirt for Hattie using the same technique as the ruffle cardigan tutorial. She is obsessed with it and has been talking about it ever since she woke up this morning. Truth be told, I am a little obsessed with it too.



Inspiration
skirt
skirt

skinny laminx

studio on fire

Roman Klonek

New to me blog, Share Some Candy has a charming series called, Workspaces. I spent the better part of Sunday morning looking through the spaces...so inspiring.

favorite blogland links from this week:
Ambrosia Girl print
Liz's ruffle t
Sarah's ruffle pillow - looks great!
Barefoot in the Kitchen's Anthropologie shirt re-make.....so inspiring
Sew Mama Sew Scrap Buster Month - This scalloped garland esp.

Have a great weekend!

DIY: Ruffle Cardigan

Liz sent me this picture, wanting to know how to make these black ruffles. The ruffles on the cardigan are made with chiffon, I used organza. The difference between organza and chiffon is fibers and drape. Chiffon usually is made with natural fibers, organza is usually synthetic. Chiffon has a flow-ey drape and organza is a little stiffer. Chiffon is also slipperier compared to organza. This tutorial is good for both.

Materials Needed:
Chiffon or Organza 1/2 yard
Fishing line
regular sewing items

VERY IMPORTANT. THE HIGHEST YOU WANT YOUR IRON TO BE SET, IS SILK OR 2 OR VERY LOW. Sorry to shout, but you don't want to melt your fabric or ruin your iron.


Start with a 12X8 piece of material. You will make a french seam for the sides first. Fold the piece in half length wise, stitch the ends (1/8 inch seam).





Turn piece inside out, press.


Sew a 1/4 inch seam, you will want to catch your 1/8 inch seam inside your 1/4 inch seam, this is why you turned and pressed.


Turn and press again. Look at you, you just made a french seam! Work that into a conversation somehow today, everyone will be so impressed.


Using a zigzag stitch, catch fishing wire to the top of the piece. Do you see the fishing wire under the zig zag? Leave about 2-3 inches of extra wire on each side of your piece.


Turn top edge under about 1/4 inch. Press.


Pin to fabric and pull your fishing wire on each side to create your ruffle.


Using your machine, going very slowly, sew to fabric. Repeat 10 or so times on each side of your cardigan.



Do you have something you want to know how to embellish/make?  Email me at suezpetersen at gmail dot com, I'll try to help you out.

Thrifty Finds

My favs from the past week.

The dress is from Greece, never been worn, and how sweet are those baby shoes? I sort of wish that they came in my size. But they didn't, instead they are a teeny tiny size 2, perfect for baby gus.

Skinny Jeans

My little sister Jackie, with her skinny arse, talked me into turning some of her wide legs into skinnies. Ahhh to be 20, skinny and hot again.

Tutorial here.

Winner!!!

btw, exclamation points in blog titles are so annoying - doncha think?

The winner is:

Thanks everyone for playing, I loved reading all of your comments, you all are so creative.

Mel, please send me your address to suezpetersen (@) gmail.com

Day 5 - Giveaway!!!!!! - Times Up

Other possible titles for this post:
'You Can't Win Them All'
'Not Every Idea in My Head Will Translate Good to Cloth and Thread'
'Fug a Ruffle'
'If You Hate It, Then You Shoulda Put a Ruffle on It'

What would you title this post?

Here's the deal, this pillow sucks and I want to do a giveaway, no, the two aren't related. So help me come up with a clever title for this post. I will be giving away the sweet gray and yellow ruffle pillow from day 3.

Rules:

One entry per person - you enter by commenting a clever title for this post.

Comment by Monday @8:00pm.

Twittering, blogging, facebooking, myspacing or renting a small airplane with a banner streaming from the back that says, 'Freshlypicked Giveaway!!!!!' will unfortunately NOT get you more entries.

ps. have a good weekend.