Two Twenty One

Jaime took the kids to go launch rockets.  It's the first time I haven't gone to help and observe.  I want to go, but it's just too hot out for me right now.  Sooo, I'm using my time wisely by blog hopping and checking out what's going on out in blog world. :) 
One I enjoy reading Just A Girl.  Today she posted her Show and Share Day (SaS) review post.  Usually there are some pretty fabulous things out there that people have made, redone, created, painted, etc.  Today the Cork Candle arrangement caught my attention.  We are wine drinkers here in Casa Martinez (though not in my current state, of course!)  Off and on we will save the corks, me often saying I want to do some kind of project with them other than tossing them in a vase or decorative jar.  But, inevitably I end up throwing them away.  Now, though, I've found the perfect and quick decorative thing (and great for the Autumn season) to display/use those corks!  Chelsea has a quick and simple tutorial on her blog, Two Twenty One, showing how to make these.

I decided to check out some more of her blog when I saw her side bar pictures.  This project in particular is what started it:

Yes, peony topiaries!  Aren't they sweet?  I'm thinking of making some (the trick is finding good quality silk flowers), but in colors that would work better in our home.  Though, the pink are so sweet.  They might look too cute in Penelope's room :)  Chelsea has a step by step tutorial on her blog for these too...I'll be following it every step of the way when I make mine!
Another project on her blog is something that I already do and love to create except I do mine without the fancy-schmancy-kinda-wish-I-had-it Silhouette machine.

These applique shirts are fun to create and can be so cute and unique.  I'm thinking of making some pumpkin ones for the Autumn.  I saw one idea that made a tree on the shirt and then sewed red buttons on the tree for apples--super simple and super cute.  I've got some other ideas cooking up depending on if this baby is a boy or girl too.

Pretties for P

 My aunt has made Penelope some cute dresses.  Last week we got a surprise in the mail from her.  She made Penelope a tutu, headband, and a dress with bloomers.  It all coordinates with shades of blue and purple.  When I opened the box she insisted on wearing the headband and tutu immediately :)

 She's such a sassy, girly girl, but is so tough and loud.  We just love our Rosie!

Fancify My T-shirts

I'm a T-shirt wearer, but I've been wanting to look more dressed up, pulled together, cleaner, and fancier, so I've found some fairly easy ways to fancify my T-shirt wardrobe.  Here are a few of ideas:

And these last ones...not T-shirts, but fit the bill of getting a little dressy :)

Most are knock-offs of some pricey T-shirts at places like Target, J-Crew, Anthropolgie, and others.All of these ideas are already tutorials, so they're that much easier :)
Photo credits: Ribbon Flower, Ruffle Shirt, Center Ruffle, Dressy Tunic, and Alice Dress.

Tutu Shirts

I promised a while back some pictures as well as tutorials.  So, here's to partial promise keeping :)
These are 2 tutu shirts.  I forget which blog I saw them on and adapted the idea (if you know, let me know please) from, but I will keep hunting.  They are super simple and just too much fun.  These shirts I got on clearance at Target. I really wanted some in a similar style for Penelope, but they were all sold out in her size.  These are 4/5.  To make them, lay the shirt flat and measure across the bottom of the front of the shirt.  Double this number to have the distance all the way around the shirt.  Next, measure the tulle 2.5 times more than the total of the shirt.  So, if the shirt front is 15 inches, then all the way around is 30.  Your tulle length should be 75 inches.  These are made with 2-3 layers of tulle.  Sew your layers of tulle together, but do not back stitch.  Pull the bobbin thread to gather and make the ruffle/tutu.  Sew the tulle to the bottom of the shirt, right sides together.  Flip the tutu down and you've got a dressed up sassy shirt.  Pair with leggings or jeans~~super cute and fun!

 

 

Pictures and Projects

I've got a handful of projects that I want to show you and even a couple of tutorials too.  I just haven't been good about uploading/downloading the pics from my camera.  So, for now I'll just tell you...
A couple of tutu shirts
A tutu skirt/apron
More crayon and marker rolls
A couple of bags
A super quick and easy baby blanket
and lastly, a couple of pillows.
I promise the pictures and tutorials will be here soon!

Recap of last week

Not quite sure why I never made the time to post pictures last week...I took several!
First up is John Paul...look at how proud my fiercely independent little dude is of his star:

 

His independence can be seen here in that he insists on brushing his teeth all by himself (yes, a good thing, but it's also why getting dressed is saved for last ...usually) and that messy face...that's marker, from his hands, because he insists on holding the marker way down on the marker tip and he thinks his hands are a perfectly good canvas to showcase his artistic skills.

 

My other artist.  He's graduated to teacher :) If he's not playing Legos, pouring over his Lego Star Wars Dictionary then he can be found drawing Star Wars pictures.

 

Just 13 months old and already such a helper.  She loves to hand me each piece of silverware.  It sure does make the chore of cleaning out the dishwasher more enjoyable.

Light sabers aren't only for boys!

 

There's something about this cup!  The vanilla cappuccino extra hot skim milk tasted incredible, but then I rinsed the cup out and have been drinking water out of it.  I have been drinking so much more water this way. I think I better get another coffee this week. :)

I did some sewing with Mom this weekend.  Just for fun we made this cute little skirt.   

New Dress

I started making Penelope a dress last night based off of the tutorial that Disney has over at Ruffles and Stuff.  I was able to finish it up today and even have Penelope wear it too.  I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out and it was very easy.  The shirt part though has a pink stain in a funky spot and I haven't quite decided how I want to cover it up.  So, what do you think?
I started just like Disney said to, with a stained shirt

then I measured the width, which was conveniently 10 inches

Since it was 10 inches across, I used fabric that was 40 inches so that I could gather it up and also have it go all the way around. I also added a little fabric at the bottom for some fun.  The length of the skirt part was 9 inches then the accent part was 3 inches.  I used Amy Butler material and love it!

 

A little side note, Penelope took 5 steps while I took these pictures and she's 13 months old today :)

Fixer-upper

Good Will was good to me this past weekend.  I picked up a gaudy gold/brass mirror and a frame for Penelope's room as well as a gorgeous (but severely shrunken) Garnet Hill sweater that I plan to shorten the arms of and then let Penelope wear.  The other sweater I got I have plans to cut up and use for my owls.  Here's a part of the mirror that I only paid $4.99.

What? you don't think it's great?!  Now imagine it with a couple of coats of this green apple:

Now you are starting to get the picture :)

Naomi's Apron

 Here it is as promised.  This little mini apron was pretty quick and easy to put together (I'm getting better and faster with each one!)  I used pieces of 3 different fat quarters for it and have plenty left over to make a matching one for Penelope.  I love the girly-ness of it.  All the pink and the ruffle...so much fun.  Happy cooking Nomers!

 

 

Making them fit again

Just in case you see me walking around this spring and summer with shirts that look like this, you'll know where I got the idea.