Brocade and Corduroy Jacket and Project Run and Play

 

And so begins Day #4 of being cooped up!  Last week Greg's car was in the shop and I was wheel-less at the beginning of the week, and by Thursday my car wouldn't start!  I was completely bummed, because Kate and I were on the way to go shopping, errrrr, I mean, to the Dr.'s office :) and my car wouldn't even get out of park!  Completely dead.  Turns out it's probably the alternator (which means absolutely nothing to me since I don't know a thing about cars).  No car again today, and probably tomorrow, sigh.  Soooo Kate and I have been logging a lot of hours the past two weeks at home.  Our big accomplishment last week, besides learning how to slide all by our self at the park, do tons of laundry and eat m&m's, was to whip up this little coat.  I had the corduroy in my fabric stash and I had bought the pink brocade that I used for the lining last week at Jo-Ann's on sale.  We added to the pattern a pink stretch velvet ribbon for a belt and the singed fabric flower.  For my first outerwear piece, I am pretty happy with it!  And of course, we needed a matching headband to complement of nearly hairless, except for about three very tight corkscrew curls, head.

 

 

As you can see, Kate was delighted with the photo op...insert the sound plllllllll with some spitting into the photo above....

 

 

 

 I also wanted to mention that I have been following a very cool blog called Project Run and Play.  If you are even semi-interested in sewing or kids clothes I think you would really enjoy this site!  The two girls that created it are sister-in-laws that basically designed a competition off of Project Runway, only their version is for kids.  They have done it for several season's and each new season pick various girls who blog and sew/craft to be featured.  Each week, the contestants sew up a full new ensemble for the public and a panel of judges to vote on.  Each week there is a winner and someone gets voted off.  In addition, blog followers may also "play along" to each week's theme and post a pick to a Flicker group showcasing your creation.  If any of you follow my blog, you may remember that I posted in their "Skirting the Issue" series.  Anyway, last week's theme was sewing an entire garment on the bias and wow, I was completely in awe of the creations!  I had really, really wanted to play along and just post to the flickr group, but with the  lack of car, didn't have my ducks in a row with the fabric I wanted to use.  This weeks theme is to design off of your favorite fashion icon.  I am really considering this one, both if I should try to enter, and who I would pick.  I love Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and the likes, but am curious....who is your favorite???

If you want to check it our for yourself the link to Project Run and Play can be found here.  I would love to know what you think!

The Julia Bib Necklance and Headband

The Julia Bib and Headband are now available!   I ran across this pattern a week ago and it  immediately got bumped up to the "must make it NOW" pile. My niece Julia turned 6 months this week and her momma was looking for a cute photo prop for our new little sitter. When we took my daughters six month pictures I remember it being tough to figure out what to put her in because she had just started sitting up and wasn't doing to much. This little necklace is the perfect attention grabber for those little one pics!

I am really excited to whip one up for Mary Kate in golds and browns to wear this fall with a little corduroy/brocade jacket I am getting ready to make for her. What a dramatic statement! And I may be stashing one away for myself as well :) 

Julia's momma, my talented sister, Emily, took these beautiful pictures.  We are so lucky to have a photographer amongst us!  We have used Mary Kate's room for several photo shoots because the lighting is just perfect for these airy, soft photos.

Here are the details about our newest addition, available in the store today:

 This beautiful accessory will compliment any girls look. Used individually for little ones, the Julia Bib Necklace and Headband makes a lovely statement as a photo prop. Children, as well as adults, may dress up the neckline of any simple tank or dress with this bejeweled bib.

The Julia bib features silk, organza, and lace flowers, some singed, some sewn, all handmade. The center of each flower is finished with a bead, button, or rhinestone. Each embellishment is hand sewn and tied with strong floss to prevent removal. Each bib is finished on the back hiding all hand sewing and ties with satin or silk ribbon, making it completely adjustable to fit your little one.

Two Bib Sizes Available:
0-3 years: 5 1/2 inches wide x 3 1/4 inches tall (pictured above)
4-adult (a larger size with more flowers) 6 1/4 inches wide x 4 inch tall

Headband Sizes:
(headband is one flower with a button rhinestone on a satin front stretch elastic)
Newborn - 13 1/4"
3-6 Months - 14 1/2"
6-12 Months - 16"
12 Months-Teen - 17 1/2"
Adult - 18"

Example above is creams and pale pinks, but I can work with you to customize this creation.

Buttons and jewels may vary based upon availability. I accept keepsake treasures to incorporate into the design (ex. a grandma's brooch, handkerchief from a wedding, etc).  I used several buttons from our grandma's vintage button collection in the one pictured.

Each piece is a unique creation just for you; therefore it may slightly vary from pictured above.

Please just send me a message if you would like to purchase just the bib or just the headband and I will make a special listing for you. Bib alone is $30.00, headband alone is $10.00

Bib and headband combo: $38.00

pattern compliments of Violette Field Threads

The Pottery Barn Console Knock-Off

 

Happy Labor Day everybody!  Hope you have all had a nice relaxing end to your weekend!  I have one or two more house projects that I wanted to share with you. Our newly finished baseball room (aka: basement) has really been needing something for when we entertain to serve off of. I had seen this console in Pottery Barn a few years back and thought it would be perfect for our little room!   I stumbled across a blog several years ago: http://ana-white.com/, and was really motivated by her easy-to-follow directions to try a "build-it" project.  Sure enough, Ana had come up with a pattern for my console table, and seeing the savings and awesome finished product, I couldn't resist giving it a try ourselves.  I enlisted the help of my trusty sidekick, always up for a challenge with my hair-brain, creative ideas; the hubbers. After three weekend's of picking on this console table, we finally have it done!

 

After Greg and I finished our basement (almost all by ourselves) we are feeling quite capable these days of tackling "easy" building projects.  In this table we were introduced to a little tool called a Kreg Jig...and this is gonna sound really stupid, but I am in LOVE with this little thing!  It makes building things super simple and they look completely professional when finished.  It's not some big fancy tool, just a little vise that you drill into so that all of your screws enter boards on a slant.  Super-duper strong.  If your not into that sort of thing :), this all sounds like mumbo-jumbo, but the point is, anyone can do this project if you have a screwdriver, saw and Kreg Jig! ( and sadly no, I'm not getting an endorsement!)

 

 

We originally wanted to make the whole table from pallets.  That proved a little difficult in some parts, so in the end, the top and the sign were made from salvaged pallets.  I think we spent under $80.00 for all the wood and screws...Pottery Barns' original was something like 1100.00, but it has been discontinued so I had a little trouble finding the exact amount...either way, a massive savings.  The top is so cool with the old nails and staples just left in and stained over...exactly what we wanted for our baseball room.

But what to do with all those leftover pallet boards?  Really, poor Greg cut up like seven of them.  My hero.  That's were the sign idea came from.  I laid out the boards I wanted to use, then flipped them over.  Making sure I was using nails that wouldn't be two long, I laid two pallet boards perpendicular to the vertical boards, like a brace.  I put two nails into each board on each of the two braces.  It would have been really helpful if I had stopped and taken pics for you at this point, but I was in the creative groove.  The boards all nailed together, I was now ready to design the text.  I did a little Microsoft publisher magic, taped a big poster sized document together and s-l-o-w-l-y started transferring the letters.  This was really the hardest part.  They came out so light, even after repeated tracings.  Once finished, I hand painted the letters, adding shading where needed until it "popped".  (My middle school kids always made fun of me when I talked artsy like that to them...makes me smile thinking of it!)  Last, I outlined the "Johnson's" with sharpie marker...thank you Greg Johnson for that fantastic suggestion!  I am tickled pink with the final design!  Our baseball room is now really feeling like the boys dugout!

And just for the record, I still have like a million pallet boards sitting in my garage if anyone wants to come get some for your own sign, or you might be able to sweet talk me into making you one too. 

Have a great Tuesday everyone!  Thanks for stopping by!

Jenny