C&C

The cropped tapered rectangle top

2012-03-05T10:56:00.001-07:00

I love wearing the crop tops with maxi skirt or dresses, and now with the growing belly they fit perfectly together.

I swear I'm NOT obsessed with myself in all my posts, just in a few (just kidding). I'm just so serious when Beck isn't around to help me take my pictures.

Instructions:

Follow the rectangle top tutorial, crop the front a good 4 or 5 inches shorter. and make sure to gradually taper.

My friday SHOW and tell

2012-03-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

Finally I must come out with the big news....as you can tell, I'm pregnant! 21 weeks with a BOY! Beck will have a little best friend I'm so excited!

Hence the lack of outfit shots and a complete disappearance in December due to morning (or all day) sickness. This pregnancy has been a lot tougher than the last, I'm a way more emotional and hungry and was way more sick. At least I'm in the feeling good stage now, just wish I could fit into the majority of my pants.

Beck is so cute, after I had my ultrasound, he climbed onto the table and lifted up is sweatshirt. We asked if he had a baby in his tummy and he said, no it's a hamburger. Funniest little man ever.

The square pintuck top

2012-03-01T10:55:00.002-07:00

I made this top for one of the giveaways at the blogger meet and greet last week. I was sad to see it go! Hence, why I made a second but in a watermelon pink. This top took me less then an hour to make, and for a perfectionist, that is quick. Remember the pintuck skirt...you can get a lot of help from that tutorial too, especially if you are going to use a stiffer fabric like cotton.

Currently Beck is on the counter spreading butter (while licking the knife every other time) onto a very burnt piece of toast, this was only after he emptied the honey bunches of oats out onto the floor. And now he is saying "shhhhhhh" to prevent me from disciplining and leave him to destroying the kitchen. The price I pay to quickly write a post.

Supplies:

1 Yard of Fabric (I used a poly chiffon - sheer)

Pins

Fabric marker or chalk (both optional, you can use pins if you don't have these)

Scissors

Sewing machine

Matching thread

Ruler

Instructions:

1. Cut the front and back to the same dimensions as the square top - but the front piece will be an additional 7" (6 inches for the pintucks and 1 inch to be on the safe side).

2. Mark the pintucks with a fabric marker, chalk or pins 2 inches apart starting 1 inch below the armpit. I laid a long plastic ruler straight across, and made marked 6 lines 2 inches apart. Add more lines if you want more pintucks.

3. Pinch the markings together to make a pintuck. I pinned, then ironed the pintucks together first. Sew along the markings so the 2 inch pintuck will become 1 inch wide.

4. Pin the back piece to the front piece WRONG sides together and sew the sides seams together (starting from the ends of the sleeves to the bottom of the shirt). Make sure your pintucks are pointed down. We are going to do a pretty french seam, so there is no ugly fraying or serging needed.

5. Flip inside out and sew the sides one more time, concealing the raw edge. This is a french seam!

6. Hem the sleeves by turning the shirt inside out and sewing one quarter inch hem. Then flip it one more time this time a half inch, then sew a top stitch around the sleeve end. The outside will just look like a top stitch (straight stitch reaching across the sleeve end) while the inside looks hemmed. Iron!

7. Cut the bottom by lining up the side seams and cutting a shirt and wide half U in both the front and back of the top.

8. Hem the bottom of the shirt while its inside out and sew a quarter of an inch. Make sure not to stretch the fabric or go to fast, I have made many mistakes rushing it….take your time. I usually fold the fabric in a quarter of an inch, a few inches at a time (shown in the pic) to prevent mistakes. Fold over one more time and sew a top stitch. Iron!

9. Repeat with the neckline. Usually you will have to sew a smaller hem with this.

Tailor it to fit February: Taking it out inspiration

2012-02-28T10:53:00.001-07:00

Here are some ideas I loved but never used on how to take things out or make things longer. Maybe you guys will use them!

Extend a dress/skirt or top with a block of fun colored or matching fabric at the bottom.

Take out the sides of a dress but cutting out the some of the waist and hemming or cutting it out and adding a little stretchy fabric

Cut out the back of tight tops and add something decorative like buttons or bows.

images from jcrew, asos

Tailor it to fit February: Past tutorials (taking it in)

2012-02-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

Today I thought it would be nice to share some of my tutorials on taking it in instead of out!

Take in a knit dress

Two more options of how to take in a knit dress

Take in a skirt with lining to make more penciled

Make a skirt smaller by adding a bow in front

Take in a blazer with a bow

Custom fit a blazer

How to downsize a top

Take in pant's waistband

Friday sew and tell: Tailor it to fit February edition

2012-02-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Rebekah from the mixed up files took out this top with some side panels, didn't it turn out darling?! I !

Tailor it to fit February: Loosen a tight top with a fabric panel in back

2012-02-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

I was so happy with how this turned out! I was inspired by a cute anthropologie sweater that screamed "how to loosen things up". I want so badly to do this with more tops!!! But instead of floral, maybe with striped or polka dot fabric next time.

Last night's blogger meet up party was a BLAST! I looooved meeting everyone there!! Thanks Shelby and Jane!

top: banana republic refashioned pants: thrifted/refashioned shoes: Zodiac vintage thrifted sunglasses: f21

Supplies:

Shirt

Fabric (preferably something flowy like polyester or lightweight knit)

Ruler

Fabric marker (or use pins)

Pins

Scissors

Sewing machine

Thread

Instructions:

1. Cut the fabric into a shape that looks like a triangle with a rounded bottom, but the top is cut off.

2. Seam rip the shirt.

3. Cut the shirt from the middle bottom of the back, and cut into a diagonal toward the armpit. Repeat on the other side. It will look like you have a funky v left over in the center back.

4. Gather the top of the fabric to fit from armpit to armpit.

5. Pin and sew the sides of the of the cut fabric with the newly cut sides of the shirt.

6. Mark with fabric pen or pins where you want the fabric to hit on your back.

7. Flip the fabric to pin and sew right sides together, pin the gathered part to the marked line. Make sure you sew into the corners to close the gap.

8. Cut excess shirt that is the shape of the v now that the fabric has been sewn to it.

9. Iron and sew the bottom both fabric and shirt the way you like the hem to look.

*Optional - Cut the neckline and re-hem (I cut out a new neckline and sewed a new strip of ribbing or knit fabric that was 1.5 inches wide, folded it over and sewed a top stitch)

Let's hang out?!

2012-02-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

This is just a sneak peak of one of the giveaways I made and the yummmmmmy tartlets!!

I'm SOOOOOO excited about this fun event! Everyone is invited and I'm making a few blouses to giveaway (something sheer and something color blocked if that sound enticing). Today wednesday the 22nd! I'm going to be there! I hope to see you guys :) I want to meet YOU ALL!

come one, come all! bloggers can meet bloggers; bloggers can meet their readers... the best of both worlds, really.and lucky for everyone...

soel boutique is offering 20% off one item during the event + i will be giving door prizes to the first 50 guests + we will have giveaways all evening + refreshing goodies + drinks + a photo booth + a free make 'n take! {you can learn how to make yarn balls from elsa bags!} + it's the perfect reason to enjoy an evening out to mingle!

head on over to all these sites to check out the goodness that will be there! {happy clicking!}

♥ sponsored by ♥

becky kimball * soel * see jane blog * milkglass and honey * elsa bags * armelle * freshly picked * cotton & curls modern palm * annily green * fifth and hazel * sycamore street press zupas * {collected} * gatehouse no.1 * heirloom restaurant group mer mag * the Alison show * the house of Smith's * Studio 5

♥ my dear friends, we will also be collecting donations for a sweet momma, kelly during the meet 'n greet. kelly is the best esthetician and a genuine friend to many of the bloggers in this area who had a major tragedy hit her life in december. if everyone can contribute just a little... together, we can make a big difference. you can read her story here.{image created by milk glass & honey}

Help us spread the word!

Tailor it to fit February: How to make a tee shirt and sleeves longer

2012-02-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

I really took apart my little brother's shirt! I added a good 1.5 to 2 inches to the the shirt's length and the sleeves. I want to do this with beck's shirts, he stays skinny and gets taller and taller.

If you want to know how to make a tee shirt wider (a size or two bigger), tutorial here.

Supplies:

Old tee shirt or fabric (you can make it match or not)

Tee shirt that is too tight

Perfectly fitted shirt

Ruler

Scissors

Pins

Sewing Machine

Thread

Instructions:

2. measure the sleeve or bottom of shirt and cut out a piece of fabric or part of an old shirt to the length of the sleeve's opening or the opening of the bottom. Make the widths at least 2.5 inches. Half inch for the seam allowance and 2 inches for the new hem.

2. Unstitch the sleeves's or the bottom of the shirt's hem.

3. Iron flat

4. Pin the new piece right sides together to the ironed end of the sleeve or bottom of shirt.

5. Flip inside out and iron open.

6. Fold the added (now minus the sewn seam allowance) 2 inch piece in half so the hem is now an inch wide. Iron.

7. Flip right side out and topstitch the top of the newly added sleeve or shirt bottom end. I tried to mimic the original hem line by sewing the first stitch at least one inch in (directly right under the new seam), and the second a quarter of an inch outwards from that.

8. Wash to get rid of the old hem line.

Tailor it to fit February: Past tutorials (taking it in)

2012-02-18T00:30:00.000-07:00

Today (and next Saturday) I thought it would be nice to share some of my tutorials on taking it in instead of out!

Taking in your trousers or making pants into skinnies

video

pleated and high waisted

Taking in an oversized button up

Taking in a men's church shirt

Taking in pants with darts

Taking in pants at the side seams

Taking in your pants at the thighs

Crop your top

Friday Sew and Tell: Tailor it to fit February edition

2012-02-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

Melissa from I still love you is a women of many many talents, one being creative refashioning. This first one shows one easy way to add an inch to the waist..super easy.

The second is how to take out the legs of a pair of jeans, though she only takes it out a little bit, that little bit may be what adds brings more comfort to those legs.

Tailor it to fit February: How to take out a tee shirt

2012-02-16T00:30:00.000-07:00

My little brother, who's not so little anymore, just turned 19 and still holds onto those beloved grown-out-of high school clothes. Hmmmmm sounds exactly like me! Like brother, like sister I guess. He has been bringing literally a big full of clothes over to my house to repair, shrink, make bigger etc. and this was one of the tops. It fit perrrrrrfectly! I was so excited.

So what is the difference exactly? Well, I added a good inch and a half to the sleeves and the bottom, widened the shirt by 5 and a half inches, and widened the sleeves by 3. I was so nervous about ruining his shirt, am I'm so happy he loved it. Thanks for letting me cut up your closet John :)

See the panels

Supplies:

Old tee shirt or fabric (you can make it match or not)

Tee shirt that is too tight

Perfectly fitted shirt

Ruler

Scissors

Pins

Sewing Machine

Thread

Instructions:

1. Measure your small shirt against a perfectly fitted one. Measure the sides of the shirt to the bigger shirt. My brother's needed 2 inches on both sides and I added a half inch for seam allowance.

2. Then measure the sleeve width's difference, my brothers was 3 inches with a half inch for seam allowance.

3. Then measure the length from the end of the sleeve to the armpit (my brother's was 6 inches) and from the armpit to the bottom of the shirt but add a few extra inches for hemming (my brother's was 23 inches). Add these measurements together too (29 inches).

4. With an extra shirt or fabric, mark out the extra material you need to make the shirt fit, plus an inch to the width for seam allowance. Do this by marking the end of the sleeve to the bottom of the shirt (for example 29 inches from #3). Then split this measurement into the sleeve length measurement (6 inches) and the length of the armpit to the bottom (23 inches). Measure the width you need and cut (3 inches + .5 for sleeve and then taper it to 2 inches + .5 for the armpit to bottom).
5. Now cut! I wasn't very even.
6. Cut the sides of the shirt and underside of the armpit.
7. Seam rip the hems of the sleeves and the bottoms open an inch or two around the newly cut openings of the tee shirt.
8. Then pin the strip of fabric right sides together to the shirt newly cut openings. Make sure to pin all the way through the seam ripped openings.
9. Then then hem back the few seamed ripped openings with the new panel in there to complete the shirt and sleeves.
10. Iron!

This is what the inside and outside look like.

Tailor it to fit February: How to lengthen a tight short shirt

2012-02-15T00:30:00.000-07:00

Finally, I have been able to finish some projects and post them! Miracle! This month has been quite a challenge due to the amount of clothing I have to left to refashion (I have seriously done a number to my closet) and lack of patience my 2 year old has in allowing me to go thrift shopping to find those refashionable goods and to actually sew. But that is life!

A lot of people have asked me how I made a certain top last year that resembles this one very much and this is basically the gist, the difference this one is refashioned and the other one is made from scratch. But maybe this helps give you an idea.

Supplies:

Sewing Machine

Thread

Shirt you will refashion

Elastic (length around waist stretched)

Either fabric (same material as your top you will be adding to) OR a big shirt you can cut up

Scissors

Flexible measuring tape

Pins

Instructions:

1. Measure the width of the shirt. You will be doubling it in both the front and back. For example, my shirt has a 14" width, so I would need 28" in front and 28" in back.

2. Also measure how long you would like the piece of fabric to be starting at your waist line. Mine was 11" long.

3. Buy or find the fabric or shirt you are going to cut up.

4. Cut it into the specified measurements of #1 and #2. Mine was 11" wide (because I used knit, I made sure it was non stretchy running up and down) and 56" long (the stretchiness runs from right to left). Or you can have two pieces 28" long.

5. Sew the piece(s) together to make a tube.

6. Gather the top together with the basting stitch technique (run a long stitches around the top of the tube and pull) or do what I do and gather it manually by bunching a roll or two of fabric under the foot with your left and and lifting the foot with the right and sewing a few stitches. Then repeat.

7. Pin the ruffled tube to the top where you would want it to sit on your top. Then sew with a zig zag stitch or sometimes I like using the blind hem stitch.

8. Cut off the excess shirt and serge if you like.

9. Add elastic to the excess fabric piece of the newly cut and sewn part of the top. Stretch it as you sew.

Love me some Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T22:51:00.001-07:00

Today I spoiled him with candy and a big fat kiss. Love you babe.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Love Balloon Pillow

2012-02-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

I guest posted over at icandy handmade over the weekend for their amazing Pink Week. You have to go check it out!

Supplies:

Burlap - 15" was the size I used. Make it bigger if you want.

Scraps for the hearts, cotton and felt

Yarn or embroidery thread

Big needle

Sew machine

Pins

Fabric paint

Sponge brush

Iron

Scissors and/or Exacto knife

Ruler

Fabric pen

Instructions:

1. Cut out your burlap to the desired size. Mine were 15" x 15"

2. Cut your hearts out (I just folded a piece of fabric in half and cut a half heart. Then use a heart shape I liked and traced with that while layering 3 or 4 pieces of fabric). I cut about 13 or 14.

3. Print out a picture of a tandem bike from freezer paper, then cut it out with an exacto knife or scissors or buy a stamp and dip it into the fabric paint (I used a die cut machine)

4. Cut out the word love from freezer paper with and exacto knife or scissors or buy love stamp or the letters l-o-v-e and dip it into fabric paint (I used a die cut machine)

5. Iron on the freezer paper of a tandem bike and sponge paint it on

6. Iron on the freezer paper of the word love to a piece of felt fabric that has been cut into a heart shape and sponge paint it on or wait till the very end after all the hearts have been sewn on.

7. Arrange 13 + cut out hearts in the way you like to the burlap and pin them on.

8. Sew the hearts onto the burlap with a straight stitch, make sure to place the big felt love painted one near the center.

9. Then thread some yarn or embroidery thread in a big needle and sew it through the burlap to make it look like the strings from the heart shaped ballons. First sew a knot on the underside of the burlap somewhere on the tandem bike. Then thread through out the tips of the hearts and back to the bike till almost all balloons have strings. Then when done, knot the bottom of all the strings together and wrap it around a few times, then knot on the under side.

10. Pin and sew the opposing square right sides together, leaving a 3 to 4 inch opening.

11. Cut the edges off and turn right side out.

12. Stuff the pillow with batting. Here I used a the filler from a $1 IKEA pillow. Filled 3.5 pillows with one.

13. Because Burlap frays easily, I glued the opening shut first and secured it with pins. Then after it dried, I hand stitched it closed.

*Optional - Iron the sides stitches more flat.

Friday Sew and Tell: Tailor it to fit edition

2012-02-10T11:00:00.001-07:00

I'm kicking off the first of the tutorials with a fellow refashionista! Because this month is focusing on taking things out i.e. making things just a tad bigger or longer, I thought this refashion would be perfect.

This is Kim from Proud as Punch and her two skirts she lengthened. I love how one looks like a pintuck or new tier was added. Great work!

If you have anything you want me to post this upcoming Friday send it in! I try to post them in order of when I receive them. cottonandcurls@gmail.com

Valentine's craft swap party

2012-02-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

It was that time of year....the infamous Valentine's craft swap party with the ladies! This is the best party theme ever, you make a craft for all the people there (as well as everyone else) and give and receive crafts. So I made 13 pillows and received 13 different handmade crafts. I had so much fun chatting way past my bedtime, we all shared past secrets (like one lady is a secret chronic skinny dipper...I won't name names). It was seriously a blast.

I made the strawberry truffle cake....it was a struggle. But loving who brought the mini cupcakes.

Freezer papered pillow my buddy Brenna made. SO DARLING.

Mmmmm....healthy.

Kim (the lady in the last photo) has the cutest house, she is a queen crafter. She is amazing.

Awesome crafters.

What I made..tutorial coming soon.

Linen wreath cut with a scalloped rotary cutter. BEAUTIFUL.

Mini Valentine's banner, want to make one for a different holiday. Seriously cute.

The loot! Check out all the bags full of craft goodies!

Happy Birthday Kim!

Tailor it to fit February! Taking it out!

2012-02-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

I'm SO excited for this themed month that I had to contribute a whole dang month to it. I will be doing other projects here and there this month, but I will try to focus on making thinks fit....ie taking things out, instead of in (which is what I mainly have been focusing on). These projects will be for both men and women, and little kiddos.

I'll be taking out jean's waistlines, making shirts a size or two bigger, longer and etc.

Submit your tutorials or before and afters to cottonandcurls@gmail.com and I can post your work! You can stick this button up on your wall to spread word. Excited to see what you guys come up with!

Freezer paper heart top

2012-02-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this heart shaped project forever now and waiting to do it and stick it up around Valentine's day. I felt it was very appropriate. I think this would be so cute in hot pink with arrows running through it or the word amore written in it. But for now, plain and simple and loving it. I cut off the collar and the bottom to add a more romantic carefree look. Maybe I just got that feeling.

Supplies:

Top to refashion or upcycle if you will

Sponge brush

Fabric Paint

Hairdryer (if you want it done quickly)

Freezer paper (I bought a HUGE roll at walmart for $5)

Iron and ironing board

Scissors

Something to put in in the shirt to prevent paint linking through to the back

Instructions:

1. Cut out a heart from the freezer paper, leaving plenty of room on the sides of the heart. I folded mine in half and cut a half heart.

2. With the iron on the hottest it will go, iron the freezer paper in place.

3. Slide something in-between the layers of the shirt.

4. Sponge the fabric paint onto the shirt.

*optional - do a second coat after it dries (I liked my heart nice and solid)

5. Wait for it to dry or blow it dry with a hair dryer

6. carefully peel the freezer paper off.

**optional - cut out the neckline and the bottom to create that rolled hem look

Friday Sew and Tell

2012-01-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

So excited about this one! Lahtoyah made a fur bomber hat from my tutorial! I LOOOOOVE when people send these pictures in. And isn't she so darling in it?

Thanks for sharing! Keep sending those in!

Yarn X & O

2012-01-26T10:30:00.001-07:00

This ended up being lovely. I love yarn and especially if its on an X and an O together. I will say the O takes an hour or so, but the X takes a few nights of wrapping and glueing as you're watching your husband play call of duty. Well, that was me anyway. And it turned out awesome on my mantle with my pages heart garland. I'm loving this crafting thing.

On another note, I'm SOOOOO excited! My sister-in-law Em Dickson (and brother Mike of course) is having her baby today! She was just induced an hour ago and I can't wait to see that sweet little thing. Good luck to them. Give her some good luck or congrats over on her blog if you like!

Instructions:

Supplies:

X and an O, mine were $3 or $4 each

Yarn

Hot glue gun with a few extra sticks

Tacky glue

The O:

1. Tie one loop and hot glueing it in place in the back anywhere are the straight parts of the O.

2. Then, wrapping the yarn passing it through the center and out a few times then squishing it back with your finger. Hot glue here and there to keep secure. Don't worry about making it really tight because one, its easier and two, its faster and three, mistakes aren't as noticeable.

The X:

1. Start the X off with hot glueing strips onto the end, I would quickly round 2 strips per hot glue strip. 2. Then cut off the ends off (I left an inch, but if I were to do an X again, I would cut them almost off to the end).

3. Wrap a single loop and hot glue it in place at the middle of the X.

4. Wrap more tightly then the O and hot glue the sides of the X every other side. ie. wrap once with hot gluing it on the right side of the X, then wrap again, and hot glue it on the left side the next time. So, every other loop on each side is glued. You can do this part how ever you want, you could do it with tacky glue and have more time to wrap (I wish I had tacky glue at the time because I think I would have done that). Do this until you get to the point of the v.

*Make sure here and there you add a tiny bit of glue in the center front to keep the yarn strips from pushing each other out and looking bulgy.

5. When you get to the v (like the image below), start wrapping one leg, this is where the glue comes very handy because the yarn doesn't want to stay. stick hot glue in the point of the v, and jam the first few yarn wraps in there. Make sure to glue both sides as you go down.

6. When you reach the end, hot glue a little over the bottom pre-yarned piece in order to hide a little bit of the yarn you added earlier to the bottom.

**Optional - Rolled Felt Flower:

1. take a square of fabric and cut in a spiral, making sure the very outside layer is wavy.

2. Roll, starting with the outside first.

3. Hot glue the bottom with the center of the spiral. Then glue to the O.

Meet Pierre

2012-01-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

I had literally 2 seconds to take pictures because Beck was 2 seconds away from pulling me down the steps to make him a snowman....I promised him I would. So...no jacket, nothing, just quick pic. I currently am wearing it with a mustard yellow sweater, looks better that way.

Beck above and below throwing a snowball at me, punk.

Pierre the silly snowman, sticking his tongue out at us....rude!

Just cut and hem!

Friday Sew and Tell

2012-01-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

I've decided to stick do these Friday Sew and Tells again because I'm getting soooo many awesome people sending in some amazing work. Feel free to send in a link or picture of something you've sewn or crafted.

First up, Donatella's, from inspiration & realization, t-shirt refashion! I love the cute bow and sheer back. Perfect for a valentine's day?

This is Breann from thing we fancy, and this is her take on bleached jeans! Turned out amazing!

This week's sewing craft - Felt Heart Garland!

2012-01-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

Plenty of ways to hang this around the house...and it was an AMAZING addition to the Valentine's theme going on. SO simple too. I wish I had thought this up myself though. I have yet to become thaaaaat crafty. For now, this is good enough for me.

I'm really happy with my crafting this year, I mean, 2 crafts done in one month or even one year. That is a record for me!

Instructions:

1. Buy some felt, you don't need very much at all! I used maybe 10" x 4" fro each color. So you could by those felt sheets for 39 cents a piece. Cheap!

2. Cut them into heart shapes, like I did with the last heart garland here or you can draw a heart on one piece of felt and lump a few pieces of felt on top of each other and cut it out using the top drawn heart as a guide. I found that to be the fastest way. This part did take me a good hour though because I cut out 105 pieces. Phew!

3. Then with your sewing machine, attach the hearts together, like the picture on the bottom. I tried to overlap the edges of the hearts a little when they were sewn together because sometimes when I didn't there would be an annoying gap and i would have to redo it.

3. Hand sew this part, you can just put a big stitch between the hearts or hand stitch them all the way through.

Inner Nerd

2012-01-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

Just a quick project that I couldn't pass up when I bought it for 99 cents at savers. What a buy! Pleats, pink and floral..love. And I paired it with a top that I made more wearable (modest). All I did is take out a few pleats and because there was no zipper, I had to add some elastic in the back (ie starting from one side seam or the side of skirt to the other. Stretch the elastic as you sew a zig zag stitch) and next time I would have used wider elastic, probably as wide as the skirt's band.

My Birthday Dinner with the Ladies

2012-01-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

Though my birthday was on the 31st of December, we still needed to celebrate and it was a hoot!

I love these ladies.

ps...I'm wearing my tapered rectangle top, still love it.

Pages Heart Garland and My First Attempt at Crafts

2012-01-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

I rarely do crafts, and sadly, I have a hard time not wanting to copy others because there are a million amazing crafty people out there. That is why this garland looks to similar to this one from Maisy and Alice, which is dang cute paper garland store, you've got to check it out, as well as a million others. This was my version. And shockingly it was soooooo easy and quick to make and a perfect touch of valentine's day decor. All I need to do is a few more crafts to stick on top of the mantle piece and then it will be complete.

Why can't I be this crafty naturally!?

Instructions:

1. Buy book that's pages are thicker/sturdier, tear out a six or so pages.

2. Draw a heart on it, trace the ones after the first set.

3. Fold in half, try not to crease, and cut out the hearts.

4. Trace the newly cut out hearts to the other pages that are torn out. Cut as many as you want for length. I cut 32 with 2.5" in between made a 7.5' long. So the length of the garland will be how ever long the heart is from point to point + how long of the space in between is going to be divided by how long you want it to be = will be how many you need to make x 2 because the hearts are doubled up.

5. This is optional, but I distressed my hearts, I rubbed ink to the edges with a small olive green ink pad.

6. Cut out strips from paper that are as long as you want the spaces in between (mine was 2.5").

7. Sew two hearts on top of each other and sew through the center of the hearts, then near the end of the hearts, slip a the small piece of paper that was previously cutout, at the end of the hearts. Sew through the piece of paper and at the end slide two stacked following the piece of paper. Continue with rest of the hearts.

8. Tear away the small pieces of paper carefully, done!

New Years Resolutions

2012-01-10T09:12:00.003-07:00

I know it is a little bit past the new year, but I have some resolutions for me and my blog this year! I know that some (the cooking) will probably not last. Anyway, hear me out!

For the Blog:

1. Every month I will host a one themed week (Like Faux Fur Week and Granny Chic Week) where I will need help from you guys!

2. I'm going to try to be a little more paper/whatever crafty (which I have a hard time with).

3. I'm going to focus on more clothes making, random stuff, normal decor and seasonal decor (my house needs some help on that end).

4. I'm going to try to learn more in depth, complicated sewing techniques to improve my sewing.

5. Last year my resolution was to get my blog noticed/seriously started (January I refashioned a new thing a day for 30 days) and this year its to DO something more with it. Not sure what yet, but something.

For Me:

1. Start up scripture study and nightly family prayer with Beck and Danny (I guess we should be more on the ball with this stuff now that he is a little older).

2. Cook more - 4 times a week (most likely will be 3).

3. Be more tidy in the house and the car...they always need to be presentable.

4. No swearing out loud or in my head.

5. Pay more attention to Beck and Danny and less to my blog. Cherish ever moment I can with Beck. He is growing up so fast.

There are a lot more I should be adding to this list, but I think I would get overwhemed. I think I have a handle on just these 10 things. I have faith!

Faux Fur Week Day 7: Projects Done by You and What I've Learned!!

2012-01-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

I learned a few things this week from sewing with fur that I thought would answer some questions for you guys:
1. The best fur to be bought it not at somewhere like Joanns. It is either online or if you live somewhere like NY or LA, you will probably run into some awesome fur stores. Bascially do some research about where you live, and if there is nothing...then internet is key!
2. Sewing with fur is awesome because it hides ALL mistakes.
3. Very little fabric is needed for most of these projects. I was shocked that I used literally 1 yard for 3 projects (coat/vest, bomber hat, pom poms).

Here are a few faux fur projects that people sent in over the past week! They are SO awesome! Check them out.

Hanna Paal from Hapa's Eco Renewals made a super pretty white fur collared sweater refashion for her mom for Christmas. Isn't it pretty?

Lucija makes a pretty leopard print fur scarf and teaches you how! Though it is in croatian, the pictures speak very well for itself.

Evanne from Simply Fabulous makes a circular fur vest....so awesome! Check it out!

Elena made some fur cuffs, nice way to spice up your outfit! Though this is in Spanish, the pictures also speak from themselves too.

Faux Fur Week Day 6: Vintage Inspired Fur Hat Tutorial

2012-01-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

Growing up I watched SOOOOOOO many old movies from the 50s and 60s and loved them. Because of all these countless hours of viewing time, I fell in love with that era's fashion. Well, who wouldn't, so beautiful! One particular movie that popped out at me Charade...Have you guys ever seen it? With Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn? Well, you've got to see it, anyway, I always love what she wears in her movies and in this one she wears a few hats like this but leopard print. Divine. I wish women would wear hats like that out and about these days!

This is so easy that you don't even need pictures to make it!

Instructions:

1. Cut a 6" to 7" band that is as long as the circumference of you head + 2".

2. Cut a circle out that is 7" x 7" (smaller to make it taper)

3. Sew the circle to the band, right sides together.

4. Sew the band together, make sure to taper out when you sew it (the circle of the hat is smaller then the bottom of the band where the hat hits your forehead).

5. Repeat with the lining (if you want lining).

6. Pin and sew right sides together, the bottom rim of the hat. Leave a little gap.

7. Pull right side of hat through the gap and push lining up into the hat. Hand stitch the opening closed and if you want you can top stitch the hat into place. DONE!

Faux Fur Week Day 5: Beck's Animal Backpack

2012-01-06T00:30:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be fun and very appropriate if I included a kid related tutorial because of one.......how could I not include little Beckster in faux fur week?! and two I know for a fact that some of you moms/dads or aunties/sisters or whatever can totally benefit. This might have been my favorite of the week, probably because Beck loves it so much and it looks so cute on him when he runs around with its ears, arms, and legs flop all around. SO CUTE. I love how he walked in to his grandma's house last week and ran up to her and said "look at my packpack gama". We jammed lots of candy and sponge bob toys.

Materials:

-stuffed animal that is pretty light and soft.

-lining fabric 2' X 1' - I prefer knit fabric.

-thread that matches the stuffed animal.

-Zipper - size depends on how big you make the opening

-Cording for the straps that is at least 1" wide. Length depends on the size of backpack you are making and if you want it adjustable or you can make your own fabric straps like I did.

*If you want it adjustable buy those adjustable metal or plastic rings.

-Needle must be new or meant for heavier fabrics

-sewing machine

-scissors

-ruler

Sewing instructions:

1. Cut open the middle back of the stuffed animal at least 6" long. Anything smaller you won’t be able to fit many toys or books inside.

2. Pull out most of the stuffing from the main body, make sure to keep the head, arms, legs and a little in the booty area (to retain some cute stuffed animal shape).

3. Secure the remaining stuffing using fabric glue and hand stitching pieces of fabric over the stuffing, or just hand stitching the stuffing in place. You don't want the stuffing to move!

4. Time to sew on the straps - there is the easy way and the long way. The easy way is to directly pin and attach the end of the strap with zigzag and straight stitch to the outside of the animal. The long way involves cutting a slit where the end goes, sliding the strap end in, and from the inside sew the opening and the end together so there are no seams shown. Make sure no matter what way you do it that secure stitches will be able to handle the weight of the backpack contents pulling on the straps.

5. Time to sew the zipper in. Pin one side of the zipper to the opening, making sure that the ends of the zipper are plenty hidden. Allow a good amount of space between the zipper teeth and the fur (I did a 1/4"). Sew! Repeat with the other side, make sure that when you pin/sew the other side it matches up perfectly with it's other zipper half. I made sure by closing up the zipper first and pinning, then unzipping when I sewed it in.

6. Make the lining by taking a piece of fabric that is either 1.5'-2' long or sewing pieces together to get that length and 1 foot wide and fold it in half hamburger style, i.e. the longer side should be folded in on itself. Measure the opening you cut in the stuffed animal and that will be the length you need the open end of the lining to be plus 1/2". Make it a circular shape as you sew, leaving the opening ready to attach.

7. Pin the opening of lining to the inside of the zipper/hole. It should line up perfectly. It's ok if not, just do some stretching or pulling as you sew. That is why I like knit! When you pin, fold inside itself and to the zipper in order to leave a clean fold edge as you sew it to the opening. Remember! Make the bobbin thread match the lining and the main thread to match the stuffed animal. Unless you don't care, of course, then no worries.

NOTE: be careful that you don't sew into the teeth when you get to the ends as it sewing onto zippers tends to break needles. So… when you get near the zipper slow down and make a big stitch over the teeth and go back and forth a few times to secure the zipper ends in. If any of these parts get tricky (which some did for me) it doesn't hurt to get out the old needle and thread and do it by hand.

Faux Fur Week Day 4: Boxy Fur Coat Tutorial

2012-01-05T00:30:00.000-07:00

Love how this turned out. I just wish I had a little more fabric to make it a little longer in the sleeves and the length. But I still like how it turned out! It says you need both a yard of fur and a yard of lining, but I only used 2/3 yard because that was all I had left! But it worked out.

Instructions for measurements/cutting:
1 yard of fur
1 yard of lining
thread that matches fur
flexible measuring tape
pins
sewing machine
scissors

1. The main back piece of the coat - measure from shoulder to shoulder, this will be the width from top to bottom. The length depends on how long you want it + 2" for hemming and seam allowance.

2. Two front coat pieces - half of the shoulder to shoulder measurement + 2". Make the length the same length as you made the back main piece.

* Make sure to add an inch to the width of the two front coat lining pieces.

3. Arm holes - measure from top of shoulder to under the armpit to the top of shoulder + 2" divide by 2.
4. Sleeves - measure the length from the top of the shoulder to your wrist + 2". The width is the measurement around your arm + 2". The round part at the top is as long as the top of your shoulder to under the armpit back to the top of the shoulder again + 2".

Instructions for sewing:

1. Pin the front coat piece to the main back piece with right sides together (fur facing each other) with arm holes lined up. Sew From the arm pit to the bottom and sew from the end of the shoulder to the neckline. Repeat with the other side of the front coat piece. Hem the bottom of the coat's lining and the coat about an inch, make sure the lining is hemmed shorter than the coat.

2. Sew each sleeve together by matching the sides together, starting from the bottom of the round part down, right sides together.

3. Pin the sleeve's round top part to the armhole's opening with right sides together. Make sure to match the seam of the sleeve to the side seam of the coat. If it doesn't line up perfect, then pull the top part of sleeve through a little more. Sew.

4. Repeat with the lining.

5. Pin the lining to the coat, with right sides together. Pin it together at the collar, matching up the shoulder seams, through to the ends, ie the front of the coat. Sew!

6. Flip right side out, and hem lining's sleeve ends and hem the fur's sleeve ends. Make sure the lining it shorter then the fur sleeve.

Faux Fur Week Day 3: Fur Collar and a Fur Scarf!

2012-01-04T08:41:00.000-07:00

This was inspired by not only the many movies from the 50s and 60s, but from all the fall/winter runway shows. I just wish I had some extra plushy colorful fur laying around. That would be amazing!! This literally took 10 minutes with under half yard of fur. I think I might have to wear this with everything. You aren't feeling dressed up, just pop this on top or under as a scarf and you're lookin' good baby!
cape: thrifted/vintage coat: h&m tank: splendid boots: thrifted/vintage pants: f21 fur: antique store

Instructions for measuring/cutting:

1. Cut out a rainbow looking shape that's curve is 33.5" long, 6.5" at the middle/widest and 2.5" at the thinnest - half inch is added for seam allowance. An easy way to make sure that it is very similar to the picture below is to cut out a rectangle that is 15" by 30", then on the non fabric side mark 6.5" down from the top middle. Then take a flexible ruler and lay a rainbow shape 33.5" long from the bottom corner to the 6.5" mark to the other corner, mark where the ruler hits. Then lay your flexible ruler 2 inches above where you started the other rainbow shape in the corner, making it hit the middle top of the rectangle then back down to the other corner 2.5" above the other corner marking, mark. Folding it in the center, so it becomes a square, cut!

2. Trace the newly cut fur piece onto some lining (whether you want that a matching fabric color or fur), cut!

Instructions for sewing:

For sewing machine-

1. Pin and sew the lining and the fur right sides together, leave a 2" gap.

2. Flip right side out, pulling through the 2" gap.

3. Hand stitch the gap closed.

4. Comb out the fur that is caught in the seam to cover the seam.

For hand-stitching -

1. Pin the lining on the fur, wrong sides together. If the lining isn't fur, then fold and iron down the edges of the fabric lining, then pin wrong sides together to the fur.

2. Hand-stitch the lining to the fur. If the lining is fur, then the hand-stitching will be very will hidden! I prefer this over all because it has the best results, it is just a bit more time consuming.

For those who don't sew at all- Fabric Glue-

1. Fabric glue the wrong side of the lining piece, making sure to get the edges.

2. Carefully place it on the wrong side of the fur piece, matching up the edges perfectly.

3. Let dry.

*You can add pins to the underside of the of the collar, then pin it to the lapels or close to.

*Add snaps or buttons to the underside of your coat and snaps or button holes to collar (do this before you sew the two pieces together).

Faux Fur Week Day 2: Fur Pom Poms Tutorial

2012-01-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

Can I just say I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE these pom poms. I want to stick them to all my hats....I am loving this faux fur week. Lots more projects to come people and I'm so DANG excited.

Stuffed Pom Pom Instructions:
(better for bigger pom poms)
1. cut two circles, these are 4 inches wide.
2. Pin and sew the two circles, right sides together, leaving an inch and a half of and opening. Flip right side out.
3. Stick stuffing or fur remnants into the opening till its nice and full.
4. Hand stitch the opening closed.

The Baste and Pull Pom Pom Instructions:

(better for smaller pom poms)

1. Hand stitch a basting stitch with each stitch being a quarter to a half inch long all the way around the edge of the circle.

2. Pull closed.

3. Stitch the end closed.

*The circle will be half the size it starts out to be. So, a 4 inch will be a 2 inch pom pom. If you make a bigger one, then stuffing may be needed.

Faux Fur Week Day 2: Boxy Fur Vest Tutorial

2012-01-03T00:30:00.000-07:00

Oh how I wish I could find huge plush fur fabric. This was the plushest I could find. Still loving it, especially because it takes 20 minutes to make and it needs very little fabric. Next time I'm going to buy more fur fabric and make it a tad longer. LOVING fur vests though, now that I have one!

Instructions for measurements/cutting:

1. The main back piece of the vest - measure from shoulder to shoulder, this will be the width from top to bottom. The length depends on how long you want it + 2" for hemming and seam allowance.

2. Two front vest pieces - half of the shoulder to shoulder measurement + 2". Make the length the same length as you made the back main piece.

* Make sure to add an inch to the width of the two front vest lining pieces.

3. Arm holes - measure from top of shoulder to under the armpit to the top of shoulder + 2" divide by 2.

Instructions for sewing:

1. Pin the front vest piece to the main back piece with right sides together (fur facing each other) with arm hoes lined up. Sew From the arm pit to the bottom and sew from the end of the shoulder to the neckline. Repeat with the other side of the front vest piece. Hem the bottom of the vest's lining and the vest about an inch, make sure the lining is hemmed shorter than the vest.

2. Repeat with the lining.

3. Pin the lining to the vest, with right sides together. Pin it together at the collar, matching up the shoulder seams, through to the ends of the vest.

4. Flip right side out, and pin the arm holes of the vest and lining together. Rolling the vest's armholes over the lining and hand stitching or sewing the edge down.

Faux Fur Week Day 1: Fur Bomber Hat Tutorial

2012-01-02T00:17:00.000-07:00

Hello 2012 and faux fur week! I'm soooo pumped! To start off this week, I'm sharing this super easy bomber hat tutorial. I love it so much that I want to make it for Beck asap. It only took me an hour or so to make, with very little fabric or hassle! Perfect cheap and easy present perhaps? Especially if it was made for a tiny one, sooooo adorable.

Materials:

Half yard of fur (if lining is fur as well - then this is all you need for both!)

If lining is fur, then half yard of fur as well

fur matching thread

ribbon, string or something to make the ties

needle for hand sewing

sewing machine

flexible measuring tape

scissors

Instructions for measuring and cutting out fur and lining:

Use this chart below to get all the measurements for the 4 main pieces and the 4 lining pieces.

1. Top circular pieces - make sure the circumference (the length around the oval) is the same length + 1" or 2" of the length around your the top of you head where the hat would sit. I kept cutting the ovals until my flexible ruler when wrapped around it would say the right size.

2. Long strips or the hat's main bands - measure the length around your head where the hat's band would sit + 2"

3. Half circular pieces or the bill of the hat - measure from temple to temple to get the length of the forehead area.

4. Funky looking pieces or the back of head band with ear flaps - measure from temple to temple around the back of the head + .5" or none. There isn't much lenience with this.

Instructions:
1&2. Take the long strip and match it up with the circular piece, as shown in the first row of pictures. Pinning first would be smart here because if the circular piece is bigger than the band, then the circular piece needs to be trimmed down. If the band if bigger then the circular piece, that is totally fine as long as it still fits your head, just trim off the extra! Mark with pin or marker the center of the circular piece and the bands to make sure they line up as you sew.
3. Then sew them together, keeping in mind the marked centers so it all will line up, while moving in a circular motion, making sure to leave about a quarter to a half inch of seam allowance. Then when you get to the end where the bands meet, backstitch and align the band ends together. You can try this on here to make sure it all fits (if it is a little snug, then when you align the bands together remember to sew in a diagonal to give more room), if it does, then sew a straight stitch to join them. (picture 3 is how it should look).
4. Pin and sew the ear flap piece to the newly sewn circular/band piece. make sure to align the center of the band with the center of the ear flap piece with right sides together. Picture 4 if how it should looked after sewn.
5. REPEAT steps 1 - 4 with the lining.
6. Pin the lining and the main fabric (fur) right sides together (for the me the fur was touching), matching and pinning up the halves perfectly.
7. Here you can add the tie by shoving it into the end of the ear flap and having an inch hang out to be sewn and secured by the sewing machine. Go over the end 2 or 3 times with a zig zag stitch to prevent it from pulling through.
8. Sew the lining and the main fabric together leaving the forehead part open for the bill to be sewn in later and to be able to pull the hat right side out. (you can see the pulled out hat with the hole in picture 10)
9. Time to sew the bill of the hat! Pin and sew right sides together, leaving the straight side unsewn. Flip right side out.
10. Attach the bill to the top part or the main fabric, pinning the side of the bill you want to be shown less (the lining) to the front, main fabric of the hat. Sew. As shown in picture 10.
11. Then pull the lining from where the hole is over the raw sewn edge of where the bill has just been attached to the hat and hand sew the lining to cover the edge. DONE!
Optional: If you want the fur to look its best, take a comb and brush around every seam to get the fur uncaught and popping out instead of pulled under.

FAUX FUR WEEK and thanks for the Holiday Hiatus!

2011-12-30T08:50:00.001-07:00

It was so nice to not think about anything, but my little family and the holdiays this past month.....soooooo nice. Thank you guys so much for your patience. But now I'm dying to start things back up again, and I'm starting it up with...

FAUX FUR week to kick off 2012!!! Woot woot!

I'm so dang excited because I have quite a few furry projects to share and I LOOOOOOVE them all. And guess what?! You can do a lot of them just by hand! So for you non sewing machine owners or users, this next week may be a little bit easier on you.

I'm very excited to get things up and going again and I hope that you guys may want to join in. If any of you have any projects, refashions, ideas that you've done that incorporates fur, send it on over to cottonandcurls@gmail.com so I can post it!

If you want to spread the word, you can post this picture up anywhere you like...it would be much appreciated.

Downsizing a striped knit dress and excuse the messy house

2011-12-05T16:33:00.001-07:00

I've basically been in (and currently am in) black sweatpants and an oversized WAZZU sweatshirt for the last two weeks - due to a little bit of jet lag, sleeplessness, laziness, and the z-pack the doctor put me and Beck on. Honestly I've been enjoying almost every minute of it. But for the few times I decided to put on some makeup and do my hair, like my husbands birthday, I documented it. And I'm wearing my newly tailored blazer! Woot!

Excuse the nasty house I have yet to clean up. Like I've said, I haven't been doing much these days.

dress: evelyn (rouche) jacket: thrifted and refashioned shoes: aldo necklace: china

Instructions: SO EASY!

1. Put it on inside out, pin or mark to the size you want it.

2. Sew!

3. Cut off extra!

Comfy Fitted Knit Top and a Christmas Tree

2011-11-28T23:19:00.001-07:00

Lots to talk about today! First, I will say that when I got back from China I was SO sick of all the clothes I wore there....ALL. They smelled moldy (humidity) and fishy (chinese food), so I needed to rewash everything. Blah. In the meantime, why not take advantage and whip up something new! I actually started this top before I left, but didn't take it because it wasn't totally done. It is the EASIEST top ever, along with the loose fitted knit top. Instructions below.

Putting up the christmas tree, bulbs, lights, decor while listening to christmas music, sipping on some hot chocolate - this has always been one of my most favorite times of the year!!! LOVE IT. Nothing will make me feel more at home after 3 months in a very foreign country. Surprisingly, Beck put up most of the bulbs! He loved it.

Instructions:

1. Take a fitted knit top you like and some stretchy knit fabric. Make sure it stretches from left to right, NOT so much up and down. Line it up and cut it out! I made mine curve at the bottom, and extended the sleeves a bit. If you aren't hemming, skip to #3.

2. You don't have to hem anything if you don't want because knit doesn't really fray, but I wanted it to look more done and bought, hence the hem. Usually, I hem the neckline very last, but in this case I wanted to try something new, and I love how it turned out! You cut the and hem the neckline when it is still in 2 pieces, making it a little easier to round the corners.

3. Sew the two pieces, front and back, together at the sides (from end of sleeve to bottom of top), and the shoulders (top end of sleeves to neckline. Pinning right sides together. You can skip #4 if you like.

4. Hem the bottom under, making sure it is at least 3/4 of an inch to 1 inch wide so it doesn't roll out as you are wearing it.

P.S. The winners of the Bijou Market Giveaway is Wilson Woman and Allison! Email me!

Internet is now up and running....and Question!

2011-11-22T20:20:00.001-07:00

Now that i'm almost settled back in and the internet is finally up as of an hour ago....I am SO excited to get sewing projects and my blog up and running again! YAY! You have NO idea. I've been losing sleep over all the ideas I have.

My question to you.....If I could do any video tutorial in the world, what would you want it to be?

I do have LOTS of ideas, but I was just wondering if there is anything in particular you guys want to know or something I've done that may be better explained in video. Let me know.

This is what we are up to right now.....sweatshirts with glasses and bubble baths with nemo. Hmmmmm. How I have missed home.

Friday Sew and Tell and internetless!

2011-11-18T21:09:00.001-07:00

The internet went our at my apartment which means no internet until i leave for home. I found an wi-fi spot and am enjoying it VERY much....mostly because when my internet is working in my apartment, it take 10 minutes to load a page and 2 hours to put upload pictures for my posts. Annoying! But I will have the internet up and running soon....only because i'm flying back to the states! WAHOO! Yes, a little earlier than expected, due to danny's work there transferring here. Anyway, I' just popping back on to share a few sew and tells from a few lovely people.

First....Brittany, from a fine triangle, NO SEW headband! YES! No sewing, and it is so stinkin' adorable. I'm seriusly going to make a ton with all the millions of fabric scraps I have.

Second, Fabiola from Fab Handmade with this cute fold over clutch tutorial! Also, something to make from my ever growing fabric scrap pile. Thanks girls!

Send in your tutorials, before and afters or your takes on my tutorials and I will post them!

The Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven

2011-11-15T08:11:00.000-07:00

Not much to explain here...just saw one of the coolest wonders of the world and it was amazing. So very pretty up there. Danny's friend's, Tyson and Sam, tagged along and I was SO happy they came...they were quite entertaining and reminded me of good old Utah.

Did you sign up for the Bijou Market giveaway?!

Wearing a thrifted refashioned jean top, some forever 21 jeans an some chucks.

What Beck was doing most of the time....watching movies.

Danny, Tyson, and Sam playing some form of hackie sack with the locals.

A winner and another giveaway!! Woot woot!

2011-11-14T18:19:00.001-07:00

Now closed :)

YAY! Another giveaway and I'm VERY excited about this one!! Why you ask...well, all these shops can be found in the upcoming Bijou Market, which happens to be one of my most favorite events EVER! And its in the little town of Provo (and Salt Lake now too!)! I went last time....Twice, both days! Ya, I couldn't get enough of it. Not only will you walk away with bags full of amazingly handcrafted things and but a zillion ideas. Imagine all the Christmas gifts...mmmm. The Bijou Market is a MUST see. In fact, I'm going to try my hardest to be there myself, this weekend! Yep, I'm coming back into Provo this saturday, just in time to sneak on over there jet lag and all.

Luckily for me, Emily, one of the awesome peeps in charge of the event, is giving 2 of you the chance to win something from some of the shops that will be there this weekend. You guys are stinkin' lucky!!

$45 "I love this town" poster by Annilygreen

$38 Mini arrow set by Verla Ivans

Sugar Fresh 8x10 of winner's choice $20 value

How to enter:

Check out the Bijou Market blog and leave a comment below saying what item you would want if you won.

Additional entries (one entry for anything extra you do):

Link the giveaway on twitter (+1)

Link the giveaway on facebook (+1)

Link the giveaway on your blog (+1)

Become a follower of the Bijou market blog (+1)

Promise that you will attend the Bijou Market weekend (+1)

And how ever else you want to enter!

And the Shabby Apple giveaway winner is Leah! Congrats! Email me within the next 2 days and I'll get you all set up! cottonandcurls@gmail.com

Friday Sew and Tell X 2!

2011-11-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

Due to not having time to post last week due to the parents stopping by here in good old China, I'm doing 2 posts this week! Wahoo!

The first person is a blog buddy of mine who is VERY talented, Melissa from I still Love you. The tutorial she sent in is SO perfect for today because she teaches us about hand-sewing (here), which is very much needed for yesterday's blazer refashion. You have to check her out!

This is Nay from Sweet Lemonayde with her knit circle top...what talent for an eighth grader!

Last....don't forget to sign up for the Shabby Apple giveaway that ENDS this MONDAY!

Custom fit your own blazer!

2011-11-10T19:07:00.001-07:00

I'm very excited about this refashion or alteration or upcycle...whatever you think it is! I seriously have 4 jackets at home that I am going to do this to. I will say, with the jackets that are HUGE like men's jackets or whatever, I will have to do some even more major changes and tutorial. So, that is to come!

Don't forget to enter the shabby apple giveaway!

Instructions:

1. Try on the jacket right side out and inside out and mark (I just mentally eyeballed it) how much you want to take in on the back seams and the side seams. I made sure to have the side seams curve in toward my natural waist, then back out for my hips. The back is the same, unless you want to shorten the back, then you can just take it in with out any curving.

2. Seam rip the inside bottom stitch of the jacket that holds the lining and the jacket together to create a long opening that will expose the jacket's inside seams on the wrong side of the main fabric and wrong side of the lining fabric.

3. Pull the jacket inside itself so the wrong side of the jacket is exposed. Sometimes the jacket's lining is sewn into the main fabric's side seams, if this is the case then you may have a lot more seam ripping to do ( take all the seams out and resew them back to gather after adjustments have been made) or you can do it the easy way and just take it in from the inside with the lining and jackets together with out any seam ripping at all! It just won't look very pretty on the inside though.

4. Sew a straight stitch down the back seam following your markings - you can make it a basting stitch (very long stitches) first so if you make mistakes or you don't like how it looks, it will be very easy to take out. Repeat with the side seams. Remember, if you want it to look less boxy and more fitted to your natural waist, then sew a curve - it will taper bigger starting beneath the armpit toward the natural waist, then taper smaller toward the hips or bottom of the jacket.

5. If you want to take in the shoulders - you may have to seam rip the lining from it. Make sure the shoulder seam is the only thing exposed so make sure the sleeve is flipped under as you sew or the sleeve is shoved back into the jacket. Then sew a curve from mid or bottom shoulder to the same place on the opposite side. This is one of my favorite tricks!

6. If you want to take in the sleeves - measure and sew how much you want to take in at the arms, then taper from armpit to the end of the sleeve.

7. IRON all the new seams down as flat as you can get it, you can iron it on the inside and the outside.

8. If you want the blazer shorter, mark and iron the fabric and lining to the desired length.

9. Sew the lining and the jacket back together at the bottom by hand stitching. For best results, add some fusible interfacing in the fold of the main jacket fabric.

Custom fit your own blazer, baby!

2011-11-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to do this to soooooo many of my blazers/jackets at home, I have at least 3 hanging in my to-refashion closet. Due to boredom and curiosity I took the bow boy blazer I refashioned months ago, debowed it, and made it custom fit! AWESOME! It was dang easy and I'm so glad I did it. All I had to do is pair it with my f21 pants, my square top, and little Beck of course.

Tutorial here!

This is the park that we always play at, just a little bit of greenery among the honking, car filled roads. And a bonus in that park is the european looking museum, hence the perfect place to take pictures. Beck was shockingly easy to pose, he just kept copying everything I was doing. Cutest thing ever.

ps...dont forget to sign up for the shabby apple giveaway!

Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway!

2011-11-07T09:13:00.002-07:00

Now closed :)

This week I'm happy to help giveaway one of Shabby Apple's women's dresses!!! Woot woot! Not only that, for this next month you can use a code to get $10 off anything at their online store (COTTONANDCURLS$10OFF). Can I please enter the giveaway myself?! So thank you Shabby Apple for making cute vintage inspired dresses and for giving one of these two bowed darlings away to my readers.

spanish steps dress lighthouse dress

So, how to enter you ask? Well, it's simple:

Like shabby apple on Facebook and visit the Shabby Apple website, then leave a comment telling me you did so

For bonus entries (do as many as you want!):

Blog about the giveaway (one entry)

Tweet about the giveaway (one entry)

Facebook about the giveaway (one entry)

Link back to this giveaway (one entry)

Stick the giveaway up on your sidebar (one entry)

Anything else you can think of!

DIY update and a guest post!

2011-11-03T06:51:00.001-06:00

Due to not having much to refashion and sew over here in China, I decided to fix up my DIY page. (Its killing me to not have much to do!) So I've done some much needed organizing and categorizing and such. Maybe one day I will add photos...one day, but until then, you can check out a guest post I did over at I am momma hear me roar. Cheri is hosting a refashionista series over there and I'm very honored and excited to be apart of it! Woot woot! Refashionistas ROCK! So, if you want to check out some awesome refashionistas (including the incredible Cheri), and my granny chic week's pink high waisted trousers refashion, head on over to her site!

An Expat Halloween

2011-11-01T07:52:00.001-06:00

One of the saddest things about leaving the US of A was missing my favorite holidays. Luckily the local members here throw awesome halloween parties and keep all the American traditions alive! So, I thought it would be funny to dress up Beck like a little chinese boy (I mainly did it to get the reactions from the locals) I originally had his hair in a long braid, but he wasn't diggin' it.

Anyway, we ran from apartment to apartment of the ward members to trick or treat. It was very new and unique experience because we had to cram the kids and parents into a tiny elevator in transit to the next location. I'm just so happy that he got to actually do something....and eat candy.

Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

2011-10-31T08:36:00.002-06:00

Due to some of Danny's Utah friends visiting us here in China, we decided to take a 2 day trip to Beijing. And of course we had to visit the infamous Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City. We found the square to be, well, just a square with tons of buildings that we couldn't visit. But it was HUGE, in fact the biggest public square in the world. It was cool to see all the soldiers marching together and the awesome view of the heavenly gate which leads to the forbidden city. It is weird seeing it because for years and years I've seen it in text books, studying it, yet never ever imagined being able to see it in person. Once inside, I was so excited to finally see some rich Chinese history and architecture that hasn't been totally rebuilt. My MOST favorite part was seeing the living spaces of the emperor and his wife, as well as the concubine's and servant's. It was exactly how I imagined it to be.

I totally didn't mean to wear my bright red pants to a very red city, but it worked out perfect. I refashioned these pants here! coat: ae shoes: thrifted

This was one of 10 pictures taken while we quickly crossed Tiananmen Square

This is one of the emperor's courts

This is the servent's or concubine's hallway to the living quarters.

I had to shove my way to the front for this one, so not the best quality, but this was my favorite part of the whole forbidden city. Where the sleeping quarters of the emperor and his wife. All the Chinese tourists were staring at the cool silk fabrics and the embroidered rug.

This is the huge mote around the outside of the forbidden city

This is the quaint little hotel we stayed in, very very tiny.

Friday Sew and Tell

2011-10-28T09:27:00.002-06:00

Sorry for the lack of posting! I just returned from a trip to Beijing and yes, I will tell you ALL about it next week!

For this week's Sew and Tell is a pretty lace embellished tee by Hanna from hapa's eco renewals.

Send in your tutorials, before/afters, or your version of my tutorials to me at cottonandcurls@gmail.com and I will post them! Thanks!

My creeeeeepy hallway - getting you excited for Halloween!

2011-10-24T18:42:00.003-06:00

Yes, I have a creepy hallway to my apartment, and a creepy apartment for that matter. And seeing as I decided last minute to take some pictures late at night in our sketchy hallway, most of the images came out blurred. Therefore scariness and creepiness….I guess I accidentally am prepping for halloween guys. Beck makes an excellent scary face, especially with out pants. I will be posting more shots of my apartment and such later.

Anyway, onto the dress. My mom bought this for herself, and lucky for me it didn't work out for her! Oh yay! Score! I loved how loose it was at first, but the more I tried it on the more I realized it was a bit drowning due to me having a small head and all. So, I took it in and shortened it up. There are two ways to do it, the easy (or lazy…which ever you prefer :)) way and the more complicated but more legit way. I first did the lazy way, but out of boredom, I decided to make it look legit and give you both tutorials.

He seriously makes the BEST scary face ever.

Creeeeeeeepy.

I kept telling him to pose and this is one of the things he came up with.

Beck was cracking me up when he was all pantless throwing a ball around in his socks

Sexy scary!(I had to put this picture in because of the hot hip popping I'm doing - and I'm actually looking kinda hot in it)

Instructions:

EASY WAY #1

1. Pin/mark where you want the dress to be taken in - do this inside out and on your body.

2. Sew the markings together

3. Try on inside out, and make sure it isn't too tight

4. If it is good, then cut off the excess fabric (you can serge here)

LEGIT WAY #2

1. Cut off the skirt from the top

2. Try on the top and pin/mark where you want the top of the dress to be taken in - do this inside out and on your body.

3. Sew the markings together

4. Try on inside out, and make sure it isn't too tight

5. If it fits good, then cut off the excess fabric (you can serge if you want)

6. Zig zag stitch the top to the bottom right sides together….if you want the bottom or top or both (that was me) to be shorter, then take out some length from the toop or bottom when sewing them together.

Friday Sew and Tell

2011-10-21T10:00:00.000-06:00

Meet cute Krista from Lazy Saturdays and her new skirt......made from a men's top! AWESOME! And look how even more cute it is on her. You must click on her Trashion link too...you will be amazed!

Keep them coming guys! Lets see the tutorials and before/after pictures! Cottonandcurls@gmail.com

Guest post and TONS of fabric!

2011-10-20T18:25:00.000-06:00

So..I know I have been lacking on the sewing this week, but this weekend danny promised me that we will be buying tons of fabric (we have to travel quite the distance to get there) so I'm very excited and I have a million ideas! Next week plan on some tutorials!! YAY!!

But until then you can check out a guest post I did on my fall favorites on a cute blog called Etta Grace.

a little bummed out

2011-10-19T08:39:00.000-06:00

First off, I'm just going to say that I'm sorry if I have been lacking in the refashion department, or even the sewing department in that matter. Oh do I MISS thrift stores and refashioning. Danny and I wondered around the city for 2 hours today looking for cheap shops and thrift stores and nothing. The cheapest stuff were towels. Not ready to sport one of those around. So, I'm must letting you guys know, that when i get back home, I will go back to normal and refashion like a maniac. I'm so excited for that.

We rarely go out past 7 or 8, which is funny because the best time to venture out in Shanghai is night due to everything being lit up…buildings, museums, malls, the opera house, and in this case, the fountains. This fountain is SO awesome. Beck and I were in love with the colorful floor lights, the water works, and loud classic music that accompanied it. I kept jumping in and out of the fountain, but I immediately got yelled at. Pshhh. This fountain was meant to be played in! The pretty building with the curved roof is the pretty opera house which is across the street from the fountain, which also happens to be 2 blocks from my apartment!

Lake Tour and Old China

2011-10-17T07:38:00.000-06:00

We ventured out of Shanghai toward the a little river where we took a cruise boat tour, fed the fishes and walked around the surrounding greenery. I adopted the Chinese manner of using an umbrella for shade, I felt so cultured! A little car ride away from the river we visited one of the oldest, preserved chinese towns around that only had 750-ish inhabitants. We wondered around this little town and check out the lifestyles of inhabitants and the preserved wooden machines and techniques from way back in the China's day (I say this because I don't remember when, but I know it was way back). We saw how they gathered water with hand cranks, what they slept in, how they made fabric and their own clothes, how they cooked, how they collected salt, washed clothes in barrels as tall as me, it was so awesome to see these old homes and lifestyles. Made me really appreciate electricity, could not live with out it. We ended the day with a million course dinner, and yes there were many crazy dishes, including pig's tongue. bleh.

My handsome boys.

The primitive baby bumbo to the left, we stuck Beck in it and he hated it of course. They said there is usually one of those in the kitchen so the mom is hands free to cook. Those are the woks on the right built straight into the concrete.

SO COOL how they made fabric, it looked so complicated.

Walking toward where they plant their food.

yummmmm, pig's tongue.

Friday Sew and Tell...and more

2011-10-14T10:30:00.000-06:00

We have more then one this week because one is sewing and one isn't...but I HAD to include it.

First, this is Rebekah from the Mixed-up Files and she made a square top from my tutorial! I was SO excited that - 1. she used my tutorial and 2. that is turned out so AWESOME! I love the details on the sleeves and the pretty necklace that was paired with it.

And second, my high school friend Randy Bishop is a BEYOND amazing artist and he sent me a link the other day of a illustration based on one of my photos. I was so excited that I had to post it. Isn't he so talented? You can check out the rest of his work here!

the (LOVE) Bund

2011-10-13T18:41:00.000-06:00

We had our 4th (crazy right...4 years what?!) wedding anniversary last week and we went to the bund which was full of historical European looking buildings on one side of the water and super modern bright buildings on the other. Loved it.

Love my honey bunny.

Isn't he handsome?

I heart Shanghai!

We wanted American food....so Hamburgers it was!

Tapered rectangle top tutorial

2011-10-11T07:13:00.000-06:00

Here it is as promised...one of my favorite things I've made to date! If you want to see this top in action, go here.

What it looks like when I'm in this really awkward position..see the rectangle?

Materials:

yard of lightweight flowy fabric - like polyester, I chose a teal sheer

sewing machine

matching thread

pins

fabric marker (optional)

scissors

Instructions:

1. fold the fabric almost in half, leave 6 inches to a foot hanging out (depending on how long you want the front or back

2a. sew two straight lines 2.5 to 3 inches from the sides and five + inches down from the top fold (this varies depending on the size of your arm - measure your arm's diameter just above your elbow, add a few inches and divide by two, there is your answer!).

2b. Cut out the long rectangle under the soon to be sleeve and cut out your neckline. I find cutting the neckline is easier when matching the side seams together (like picture 5 and 6) and cutting a half U twice, making the sure the back part of the neckline or U is much smaller then the front.

3a. Hem the neckline by flipping it inside out and sewing a tiny bit inside, then once again both times nice and slow (like the real pictures show).

3b. Flip the top right side out and pull the sleeve through, sew together the bottom of the sleeve together, then hem the sleeve outwards with right sides together.

4. fold the sleeve completely in half on top of itself with right sides together, then tack or completely sew to keep it a cuff (follow the hemmed stitch).

5. Measure and mark how short you want it in front and back first by trying it on, then cut the bottom of the blouse how you like, you can either do it like picture 5 or match the side seams up for a side angle and cut a nice gradual tapper.

5. side view - This is what the side view should look like when all cut! It can be a straighter line or an even moor curved line depending on how you like it.

6. Hem the bottom by flipping it inside out and rolling it inside, then again (like shown in the real hemming picture). Make sure to do it slowly, hemming on curves are very tricky.

7. Iron all the seams and hems to make it nice and flat!

*Optional: pockets

1. Try the top on and mark where you want the pocket to go

2. Cut out a square or rectangle piece of the fabric and sew one of the sides for the top part of the pocket

3. Iron under the remaining 3 sides of the pocket.

4. Pin the pocket to the skirt (I did a beautiful pin job…hmmm…right)

5. Top stitch the pocket to the blouse inside the area you marked, making sure the side you sewed under is at the top, and is left open.

6. Iron

Another way to view it:

Tapered rectangle top in the antique market

2011-10-10T02:18:00.000-06:00

I LOVE this top, in fact I'm planning on heading back over to the fabric store this weekend to buy more sheers to make more of these tops…for myself. I was inspired by all these cute, flowy sheer patterned tops I keep seeing around. I wanted to make it as simple as possible, therefore the tapered rectangle top was made.

Tutorial coming tomorrow!

Seven blocks from my apartment there is an awesome antique market that is full of old authentic chinese artifacts and of course the fake stuff made to look authentic, which I didn't mind because it was all eye candy to me. Seriously, I wanted (didn't need) all of it. There was cute tin cans from the 70s, creepy plastic dolls and figurines, cameras from who knows when, suitcases, furniture, guitars and trumpets, paintings/scrolls, tea sets, rustic looking cars and planes, old coins, lamps, jewelry (oooooooh the jewelry..divine) and so much more. We strolled up and down the 4 blocks full of little dusty antique shops and almost came away with a cute necklace watch (the lady wouldn't haggle down to my price, I'm quite the stickler). Anyway, I was pulling sleeping Beck behind me in hopes to make him more comfortable in his stroller - so he will sleep longer - so I can peruse just a little bit longer. I wasn't 100% successful with that. But, he ended up liking all the random things too. I can't wait to go again!

Sorry for the picture overload!

pants:citizens top: self-made rings: f21 necklace:mom's

Danny trying to entertain Beck after he woke up from is way to short nap

Beck's favorite little antique shop obviously because of all the cars, planes, and motorcycles

creeeeeeeeepy

Checking out all the birdies

You better believe I'm buying one of those watches before I leave Shanghai

Friday Sew and Tell!

2011-10-07T05:55:00.000-06:00

I have officially changed the name to Friday Sew and Tell...it is way more appropriate don't you think? Anyway, meet the lovely Nicole and this lovely bow tied top she made from scratch!

If you want to see your tutorial or before-after pics or your take on one of my tutorials up here one of these fridays...email me with SEW ANS TELL in the subject line. cottonandcurls@gmail.com

Who knew pioneers could be so hip?

2011-10-05T00:00:00.000-06:00

Thank you Lauren Moffatt for channeling some of my ancestor's fashion! Because I love it!!!

Want to know how I would refashion a skirt/dress into that coral dress? Well, freezer-paper! Cut out some sweet arrows into some freezer-paper, iron it onto a solid colored skirt, spread some fabric paint over the cut out arrows of the freezer-paper, let dry, pull off the freezer paper and voila! Pioneer arrow skirt or dress.

via Honestly wtf

ps...it is my (and my husband's) wedding anniversary today...4 years and going strong baby! I'll fill you in on our adventures later.

Golightly Jewelry Giveaway winner!

2011-10-04T18:23:00.000-06:00

Winner of some awesome Golightly earrings goes to a little bit bolder! Congrats! Just email me and I'll give you the info - cottonandcurls@gmail.com

Inside a Chinese candy store

2011-10-03T10:08:00.001-06:00

I bought this top before I left and brought it on over to the east side for some good old refashionin'. Ohhhh how good it felt to do a refashion, I swear it has been a long refashionless month. When I saw this pink polka dot, shoulder padded gem in the sea of possibilities, I was hooked. I just took in the sides and sleeves, shortened, rounded and hemmed the bottom..done! Tutorial here.

I wore this top on over to one of our (or I should just say Danny's) favorite spots in Shanghai, the candy store that sells a very tiny assortment of American gummy candies. They have mastered gummy candy making, they are divine, I mean, delivered straight down from the heavens. They're so soft they instantly melt in your mouth. Mmmmmmmm. Anyway, this is not your typical American candy store, but a typical candy store you would see here in Shanghai….with its mixture of American candy, Chinese candy (something I have had once, and will never have again, and Beck agrees), herbs and things for teas, nuts, leaves, other random things that unknown to me, and random skinned chickens hanging in the back. Love it. And of course, on que, a sweet Chinese lady picked up Beck and give him treats. They love to spoil him and I don't think he minds at ALL.

GIVEAWAY ENDS TONIGHT! SIGN UP!

We told him to make a funny face, so he decided to growl.

Here is what the typical Chinese candy looks like on the right and here is the lady spoiling Beck on the left. To be little, blonde, and cute in Shanghai..

top: thrifted/refashioned pants: citizens necklace: mom's

Friday Sew and Tell

2011-09-30T02:59:00.000-06:00

Jessica from a Little Gray is Awesome! Quite the quilting goddess! But here are just a few of her many non-quilting refashion tutorials below.

Quick and Granny (doily shirt redo)

and Corky Corkboard and

a great tutorial and how to turn a dress into a styln' top.

In the last few weeks I've decided to incorporate your refashions/tutorials on my blog because I am unable to do them as much I used to due to China and all...so I need your guys' help over the next few months. Lots of help. When I get home, it will become a fun challenge (very excited about that), like granny chic week was.

If you want to see your tutorials or before/after pictures and posts up on Fridays...Email me a link!!

cottonandcurls@gmail.com (put in the subject line...show and tell...so I can get things separate)

ALSO SIGN UP FOR THE LOVELY GIVEAWAY THAT ENDS MONDAY!

Very random post on the awesomeness of the LDS church

2011-09-28T09:36:00.000-06:00

I had no idea what this little trip to Chongming Forrest had entailed. I was thinking a few dinners, some sight seeing and just lounging and waiting around the hotel while Danny went off to do a little bit of work with his bosses. Little did I know that Beck and I would be joining the entire crew to 3 nursing homes and a hospital amidst breakfasts, brunches, lunches, dinners, and sight seeing. It was a very crammed and eye opening 2 days.

The BEST part of it all were those few short impacting visits to the nursing homes and hospitals. I found out that nursing homes are a newer thing here in China, due to younger people wanting to be more independent from their elders (thats what people tell us). Therefore, there has been a huge need for nursing homes, as well as supplies, like wheelchairs, beds, and walkers. I wasn't fully filled in on the details until after I got there and noticed rows upon rows of wheelchairs and walkers with the letter "LDS" on them. Then like a dumby it clicked....hundreds of brand new wheelchairs, hospital beds, and walkers were donated to over 15 places in just Chongming Island alone. I sat there in the back of the long room with sleeping Beck in my lap and seriously got teary eyed (yes maybe too emotional, but it was in the moment kind of thing) thinking of all the love and help the LDS church gives to the world, even to this little island in China. Cheesy I know, but I love how we believe that whether you are a member or a 99 year old Buddhist Chinese woman, everyone is a child of God and we are our brother's keeper. Love, love, love that.

The sweet nurses trying to dodge my picture

Brother Crook

What Beck was doing during the Ceremony

What Beck was doing after. He easily draws a crowd.

The group that helped make this happen!

Right outside of a brand new hospital where tons of hospital beds were donated. I was keeping Beck entertained.

Road trip!

2011-09-26T08:19:00.000-06:00

The second we got to the room Beck explored the crap out of it.

Look how cool this little foresty area is?!

Right before this picture he had his arms folded and was saying the prayer to bless the food...silly boy.

This crab was actually pretty yummy, but the other stuff....not something I would choose, but it looked scrumptious to the others. Just wait till I post the other food pictures.

Last weekend I road tripped it with my 2 babes (baby and ya know… my babe) and it was quite the culture shock! But it was sooooo fun. We took the drive up in a nice spacious van with a Danny's co-worker, boss, and boss' boss, as well as the Crooks (who are senior missionaries, but not really because missionaries can't serve in China so they are basically "LDS charity workers"..so it's complicated), and last the two adorable hosts, who were also high officials, who hooked us up with everything (they basically were hosting everything to show gratitude to the Crook's and the LDS donations).

Anyway, we went to this huge place called Chongming Forest where we stayed as VIP (We weren't the VIP, but luckily we were guilty by association) at a fancy resort situated in the middle of tall groomed forest. The forest had lots of footpaths, bridges, ponds, and canals that seem never end. I will say, this made me miss Gualala CA and it's redwoods with the awesome family memories there… this in return made me miss family….which made me homesick. But I was often distracted because this trip was NONstop. Literally one thing after another after another. So, get ready for a lot of posts about it.

First and foremost we were welcomed by a very traditional Chinese brunch and later dinner that included 25 courses and fruit for dessert. You would think I was stuffed after the first 3, but no…I skipped many because they were, hmmmm how could I put this, not something I would ever eat….ever in my lifetime, unless I was Chinese. I did try to taste a lot but not all 25. Let me tell you a few….turtle with shell included, crab with bacon (that was actually tasty, pictured below), duck tongue (pictured below), pig tongue (pictured below) with actually tasted like turkey, lots of funky veggies I have never seen before, Duck skin rice wraps (also very tasty and crunchy), a fish fried whole, and basically, lots of foreign strange meats with funky textures, yet tasted so delicious. I will say, all 3 of our stomachs/intestines are now suffering, but worth the new Chinese experience.

All in all, we ate like royalty, chinese royalty.

I have recently finished one skirt, a top, and refashioned a top. So....stayed tuned. I feel my blog is soooo naked with the lack of refashions. Burrrr.

Oh and did you sign up for the GIVEAWAY?!

Friday Sew and Tell

2011-09-22T19:44:00.004-06:00

Check out these two awesome tutorials from Michael Ann....

DIY ombre, check out how she does it!

And her remake on a man's shirt!

Learn how to shorten a leather/fabric belt...it looks like it was bought that way!!!

Tutorial by Erika from Sew Her Style

Send in your tutorials or your takes on my tutorials and I will post it every friday!

Oh, and don't forget to sign up for the giveaway!

Golightly Jewelry Earring Giveaway!

2011-09-22T08:24:00.002-06:00

Hey friends, you can head on over and read my guest post over at Golightly Jewelry here because I'm their blogger of the month (awesome right?).....and/or enter for an awesome giveaway from them right here, right now!! YES!

To enter its easy, all you have to do is check out the Golightly Jewelry shop and leave a comment below telling me what you think! For bonus entries, just spread the news anyway you like (facebook, twitter, etc.)

Now...what to choose what to choose. That will be the hard part!

Click here if you are having a hard time commenting, this will help.

Beck - the Celebrity

2011-09-21T04:06:00.000-06:00

Today, I met up with 7 American ladies and their little ones for a playdate and the photographers were very very excited about it. They were snapping hundreds of shots of all the little blondies running around...and we just had to take a picture of the paparazzi mayham. At this point I was holding Beck because he desperately needed a nap. But literally, this is the story of Beck's life here in China. The surprising thing though is it doesn't bother me that much. I actually like that the Chinese people love my little one. Not only do they take pictures of him and try to get pictures taken with him, they are always concerned for him - they want him to wear jackets and socks under his sandals in 90 degree weather, feed him candies and moon cakes, try to sneak in hugs, and other stuff. Seriously, Chinese people are SO nice!!

Polka Dot Pintuck Skirt Tutuorial

2011-09-20T02:49:00.000-06:00

Instructions:

What you need:

-Around 2 yards of fabric (if you want it less big then mine, then so less fabric) *make sure it is a more flowy or light weight/thin fabric because if it is heavy or stiff it will be very hard to gather or it will be way too fluffy looking.

*optional - lining fabric or buy extra to add underneath. I just wore a slip

-sewing machine

-thread that matches

-scissors

-elastic (or zipper if you want to add a waist band with the fabric instead)

1. Measure how far you down from your waist (where you want the skirt to sit) to where you want the first pintuck to start and make sure you add an inch for the elastic (All together mine was 8 inches form the waist to the first pintuck).

2. Mark this with a fabric pen, or if you are like me and you don't have one, then mark it with pins.

3. Then start marking your pintucks. Choose how big you want your pintucks ( I choose an inch), the double it (for me 2 inches), then mark that with pins or a fabric marker. So....in my case 8 inches down plus 2 more inches.

4a. Iron or just sew depending on what you are more in the mood for. If you iron, match up the pins or the fabric pen markings (This is why I feel pins are WAY more helpful) then Iron down a crease. Keep the pins in to make it your guide to sewing the pintuck, unless you marked it then that will be your guide. OR 4b.

4b. Because I have a lack of a big ironing board I decided just to sew and bypass the whole iron thing till the end. So, This is where I matched up the pins between my fingers then added another pin to keep it perfect. If you also marked, then you can take out the 2 pins and just keep the one pin.

5. Time for pintuck #2...and the rest! So, space the pintucks out however much you want. I decided to make the pintucks and inch long and the space between an inch long as well. So, I measured an inch from the first pintuck and marked it, then measured 2 more inches below that (because my pinctucks are an inch long, then you have to double it). Then sew by using either 4a or 4b. Then continue with as many pintucks as you want. I did 7 all together.

6. Now time to hem! Under your last pintuck, cut down the fabric short enough so it can't be seen. Mine was about a quarter inch. Here you can serge or finish it off by zig zag stitching the edges like a serge. Make sure the thread matches. I didn't have matching thread so I ripped the fabric short so it would curl inwards. But that won't prevent the fraying.

7a. How to add the elastic is super easy. The first way you can do it, shown below, involves stretching the elastic as you sew. The more you stretch the more gathered it will be. I put it on a very long straight stitch because it will give more room to stretch and the stitch will be tiny when unstretched. If you want the fabric to be stretched equally around the elastic band, then mark the elastic band in quarters as well as the skirt's un-gathered waist.

7b. This isn't shown, but it is the method I used. If you are using lots of fabric or you want it very gathered and need it to fit in an elastic band, but the stretching isn't getting all the fabric gathered then you will have to gather the fabric before hand with a basting stitch or ruffling or gathering foot. When the waistband of the skirt is all gathered to exactly your waist size, add the elastic without any stretching at all, but make sure to zig zag stitch this time. when you have finished, pull the waistband to hear lots of stitches popping, which is the basting stitch. Then at this point the zig zag stitch will be holding it up.

8. Sew the two ends together putting right sides together. pin the pintucks and elastic band together before hand to make sure they line up perfectly.

9. Iron the gathered part of the waist band to de-fruff it and iron down the pintucks!! DONE!

If you feel the skirt is very big, then wash is to soften it.