Upcycling Challenge 2018

Hello there!

I know it's been a while but what a better way to feel inspired to post than with a challenge. Candice Ayala, from CandiceAyala.com and Sewing Portfolios launched her Upcycling challenge earlier this month, encouraging creativity through the use of things that we already have at home or from thrift stores. Well, I used both!

I have a few pairs of pants that didn't survive a full year being worn by my son and decided to turn them into shorts for my daughter, but of course I wanted to add a little something to make them new and special. I visited a thrift store in Denton and found a hospital gown that was new for $3.00! It had 4 ties and nice details in the sleeves and neck, plus lots of fabric to work with.

I used The Simple Life Pattern Company's Bella pattern and made it in top length. I cut the ties from the gown to the measurements indicated in the pattern instructions and that was fantastic, I didn't have to make ties!

I also used the sleeve details to add at the hem of the pants that I turned into shorts and used jeans thread to match the rest of the stitching. 

I added some beautiful Art Gallery fabrics I had been hoarding for the skirt portion of the top and the colors coordinated beautifully.

Overall, I am very satisfied with the results, my daughter couldn't be happier to have pretty clothes to play in, every now and then she asks for shorts and a nice top instead of dresses and this outfit definitely fulfills her demands.

I hope you enjoy my entry for the challenge and follow the other entries on instagram through the hashtags  #CAUpcyclingChallenge2018 #MichaelMillerFabrics #MakingitFun #Babylock #BabylockSewing

Love,
Paola

The Clementine Dress

Hi there!
I am finally getting my sewjo back (well I don't think I ever lost it, I just have so much on my plate it's hard to find time to sew). I was happy to test Tie Dye Diva's latest pattern: The Clementine Dress and Top for Girls, it is such a great pattern!
It comes with two different neckline options, 3 different sleeve styles and a beautiful double hem feature, but the special touch my little model liked the most was the inseam pockets, roomy enough to store little treasures (anyone have a little girl who likes to pick up random leaves and rocks? I do!)

This amazing pattern comes in sizes 12 months to 10 years and it is available in PDF format on the Tie Dye Diva's website HERE
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Love,
Paola

Easy Baby Burp Cloths

Hello! I'm so happy to start this week with one of my favorite kind of projects: Baby Gifts. This is one of those projects that can be perfect with or without embroidery and it is just so useful to the new mom! For a set of three, you will need:

• One fat quarter of fabric
• A pack of Gerber 3-ply pre-folded cloth diapers (Like these - Affiliate link)
• Sewing machine and basic sewing supplies

  Step 1: Cut one (or three for a set) piece of fabric 15"wide x 5"long.
 

Step 2: Fold one long edge of fabric 1/2" to the wrong side and press.

   

Step 3: Place the strip of fabric right sides together with the cloth diaper (the raw edge of accent fabric matching the diaper's short edge), centering the diaper so there is equal amounts of accent fabric on each side (between 1/2" and 3/8"). Pin or secure with clips.

 

Step 4: Sew along the edge with a 3/8" seam allowance.



Step 5: Press the side fabric to the wrong side so it matches de cloth diaper width. Fold over to the right side of the cloth diaper and press. Pin around to sew. Sew around all sides with a 1/8" to 1/4" seam allowance. I use my topstitch foot for even results.
   

 



Step 6: Enjoy! You have created a beautiful gift with very little fabric. You may add embroidery if you wish, that adds a special touch. I usually make several sets in advance so I am always ready, I made a set for my new nephew, Tyler, with his name and some birth stats embroidered. Just wrap some pretty ribbon around, maybe add a children's book and you are good to go!
 

 

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Hello February!

Hello!

Can you believe February is here? I can't either. I received a beautiful valentine's day bundle from Springs Creative fabrics a few weeks back so it was time to put it to good use. The best way to start the month was sewing for my little sweetheart, using Made for Mermaids Annie apron, a free pattern made for their 12 days of Christmas but great for any time of the year really. 

If you want to make this sweet apron, HERE is the link.

My little one loves to help in the kitchen, so now she won't get those pretty dresses dirty, and she will be cooking in style for sure!

What are you sewing this month? 

Happy Sewing!

Paola

After Christmas Gifts

Hi there!

Happy New year! It is the first week of 2017, the kiddos are finally getting back to their old routines and for me it's the first morning I've had to myself in weeks. 

With Christmas over it's time to get back to normal, but at least in my family we have a few after Christmas traditions that in one way or another celebrate the three wise men visiting baby Jesus. When I was little my family used to celebrate Three Kings Day (Dia de Reyes) on January 6th. My son just got introduced to "La Befana" from Italy at school and since I've heard about her before, I decided to celebrate her arrival on January 6th. La Befana is a good old witch who leaves sweets or a small gift to good children at night, but if the've been bad....they might just get a piece of charcoal instead!

Since I'm over shopping, this time they'll get a handmade gift. Here are a couple of super easy projects to try: The Cottage Mama's art tote (link HERE) I just replaced the straps with cotton webbing to make it even easier/faster. The small purse is a tutorial and pattern that is available on my blog (link HERE). 

I used Springs Creative Trolls fabric for both projects, I added some coloring books and crayons and got the perfect little gift for my daughter. 

So whether you celebrate Three Kings Day, the arrival of La Befana or have your own unique tradition, take the opportunity to create something special for the ones you love.

Happy Creative year!

Paola

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

Hi There!

I know it's already December and I am late to the party, a lot happening at home but not enough to take away my desire to create for my loved ones. I just took some time to finally create Julia's Christmas dress, well dresses really and a couple of stocking stuffers, wanna see what I made so far?

1. A Christmas Harper Dress (pattern by Made for Mermaids available HERE)

This is such a classic style, I've made many since the pattern was released but this one is by far my favorite. The fabric is perfection, Pixie Noel by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake Designs, Can you tell my little one loves it?

2. A Newly released Holly Dress (pattern by Made for Mermaids  available HERE)

This dress is just so cute and flirty, a combination of boho and classic, it was love at first sight and the perfect pattern to use the very last yardage I had of this fabric, which is now sadly out of print.

3. For a more casual look? Nothing better than a pair of Target leggings and top paired with a Jilly  Atlanta Criss  Cross Cape (available on etsy, link HERE) Amazing how just the cape makes this outfit stand out and look truly unique.

4. Stocking stuffers anyone? This book mark might be just what you needed to give the book lovers in your life, a perfect scrap buster and super easy, part of Made for Mermaids yearly 12 days of Christmas freebies.

Hope you got enough inspiration to get your creative juices flowing, if I could get in the mood to sew, you can too!

See you soon with more projects!

Paola

The Perfect Little Wallet

Hi there!
I am so happy to share that I am now a contributor for Crazy Little Projects ! This is such an amazing opportunity share some of my favorite projects to a large audience of crafters. My first contribution is up on the Crazy Little Projects site and I am sure you will love it!
Here's a sneak peek, for the full tutorial, follow the link HERE

Enjoy!

Paola

Team Spirit Bandanna Wreath

Hello!
Fall is here and in my house it means Football! My husband and I are big football fans so Springs Creative sent me the perfect material for a fun project, a wreath for my door, just to welcome all my football loving friends. I am in the Dallas - Fort Worth area, can you guess what team has taken over my heart? Let the colors tell you!

Want to make a Bandanna wreath for your home? Here's a quick tutorial. The process is super simple, it just takes some patience, straight stitches and pressing to create memory creases to follow and keep our stitching straight.

For this project I used:

15 Bandannas
14" Diameter Embroidery Hoop
Coordinating Ribbon (with wire)
Glue gun and Football embellishments

The good thing about working with bandannas: All the edges are already finished!

Step 1: place 2 bandannas right sides together, pin and sew (I used a 1/2" seam allowance). Repeat with the remaining 13, joining the bandanna ends in a long, long piece of fabric. Make sure all your sewing stays on the same side.

Step 2:  Press all the seams open and fold along the super long side, keeping the wrong sides together and creating a seam at the fold. From there, you will create two creases/marks with the iron, approximately 3.5" from each other. I know, you are now thinking, does all this pressing ever ends? Believe me, it does and it helps tremendously!

Step 3: Take that super duper long piece of fabric and sew along the crease lines, using the crease lines as a guide. See? Told ya those lines had a reason for being! Repeat for second crease line and you are just about done!

Step 4: Use the casing you created to insert your embroidery hoop. Close the hoop and join the open ends by hand with needle and thread. You can now create a pretty bow, glue embellishments to the center and add to your wreath with a piece of ribbon or twine. 

You are Done!

Are you feeling the team spirit yet?

Thanks for stopping by, it was a pleasure to welcome you into my football loving home.

Until next time,

Paola

Halloween for boys!

Hi There,
I'm so happy I got to finally sew a Halloween costume for my boy, woohoo!!!  This is a rare occasion, me sewing for him and him letting me take photos, it was a win-win in the end.

My 6 year old is obsessed, I really mean obsessed with Pokemon so he asked me to make him an Ash Ketchum, the main character, costume. After doing some image research, I finally narrowed down what I needed to make, and what we already had or needed to purchase. We already had a pokeball and Picachu plush toy, so everything else (except for pants and shoes) had to be made to accommodate this demanding, but sweet, boy.

For the shirt, I modified Made for Mermaids' Charlie button up shirt, removing the pin tucks and changing up some of the steps so I could add bias trim at the bottom and faux pockets and a 3"x2" tab to add a button. The good thing is, I didn't need all the buttons and buttonholes, just one at the top, secured by the added tab. For the gloves, I traced an existing pair of adult gloves and sewed with 1/4" seam allowance and then cut the fingers off. The green backpack was self drafted, a first but definitely not last for me. The cap was purchased from amazon.com for about $6.00.

The Charlie button up shirt pattern is available HERE (Affiliate link)

Here is a quick overview of the steps I took to modify the pattern to turn it into Ash's, I changed the order in which I followed the steps so I could have an opportunity to hide the bias tape and created the faux pockets with the same bias tape. 

I think I can say: Mission Accomplished! Can you tell little man is happy?

Thanks for stopping by!

Paola

Four weeks later...

Can you believe it's been 4 weeks since school started? I am still amazed at how fast time just went by. I was so excited about my little girl starting preschool that I made her a pretty cool wardrobe so she could go to school in style pretty much every day this school year.
Now, don't think I left my boy out, I made him a first day of school shirt too, up cycling a shirt my husband no longer needed, it turned out amazing!
For these creations I used Made for Mermaids patterns' Katelyn Jumper , Charlie Button Up Shirt and Riley Peplum Top and they turned out very school code friendly.

 For this look, I used Brownie Goose's Allie Oop top, perfect for this fabric and to wear with leggins, jeans and shorts.

I couldn't consider my mission complete without a custom shirt, so I used my Silhouette Cameo to create this shirt with heat transfer  vinyl, it says "Hello Preschool" and I paired it with a Samantha Skirt (modified) by made for Mermaids patterns. The combination of these Riley Blake fabrics, Bethany Lane buttons and shirt is just amazing, and of course little miss J had to add some glasses to look studious, this girl is too much!

I hope you enjoy this school themed inspiration, next on the sewing table is some fall apparel, so stay tuned!

Love, 

Paola

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