Project: Blue China Dress

I can't believe my best friend Liz is married!

She was a gorgeous bride and I cried a little bit when I first saw her in the gown she designed. 

And I was so happy she was able to use some lace that I used in my wedding for her dress.

For months we went thrift shopping to gather items for her home and her wedding.

It all felt a little out of control as the day became closer and she sent me pictures of her bathroom floor covered in thrifted candle sticks and glasses. She collected a crazy amount of blue china plates for their reception. It was actually quite impressive how many blue china plates are in thrift stores!

I knew I wanted to make a blue china plate inspired dress to wear to her wedding at an adorable bed and breakfast near by. I mentioned this project in my June Fabric Haul video, so it is finally time I reveal it to you!

I used Simplicity Pattern 1418 and this blue floral cotton sateen from Fabric Mart.

I went on quite the hunt for this floral fabric and finally found the perfect one after searching several local fabric shops and four rooms of fabric at Fabric Mart. 

So there it is!

I absolutely love this dress. I felt awfully classy!

I see it making some reappearances at a tea party or two in the future.

Congratulations, Jeff + Liz!

I wish you the happiest marriage and the best success in your life together!

And now that the wedding is over, I am totally stealing my best friend back for coffee, asap.

Blessings,

Katie

DIY: Quick Crib Quilt for Nursery

As I mentioned in my June Fabric Haul video (there will not be a July video because I didn't get to finish everything from June! But there will be a August video, I promise!) I was going to make a quilt to gift to a friend who is expecting this month. They are having a baby boy, but I chose fabrics that would transition well between genders so they can keep the same look in the nursery, but have a different crib quilt print for either. I purchased these materials at Fabric Mart after they bought out a quilt shop that was going out of business. I picked them up for just $4 a yard and the cotton batting I had on hand for some reason... I think I used 1.333 yards of each print. I found the ombre first and then cut the floral to match the length because the ombre was the last of the bolt!

 Here is how you can make your own quilt in just a few hours! You can do this even if you are not a professional at sewing, all it takes is the ability to sew a line!

Layer your fabrics, prints facing out and batting in the middle.
Starting at one selvage, pin the edge and then pin occasionally as you work your way across the fabric, smoothing it out as you go. Cut off the excess fabric making sure all 4 sides are straight and matching.

I first used the ombre stripes as my guide to sew across the quilt.
I decided I wanted diagonal lines going across the quilt, so I laid my quilt out on my studio floor and used 1/4" quilter's tape to mark diagonal, starting at the corner, making a straight line across to the opposite corner. I then worked my way out from the center every 4 inches. 

 Sew right along the edge of the tape.
Remove the tape after you have sewed along each strip.
It's already looking like a quilt!
Just need binding!

 I had some of this blue quilt binding in my stash I picked up at my local Good's when it was in the clearance section for I think 50 cents a pack. It matched the floral print perfectly!

Open up your binding and flatten out the folds, but do not press!
Pin your binding tape matching the edge with the quilt edge.
One side of the binding will have a fold that is closer to the edge than the other, us that side to pin along your quilt.

Pin the first side of your quilt.

Begin sewing the binding using the fold as your guide like the image above. When you get to the corner, sew almost to the corner, stopping a quarter inch away. Pull your quilt out of the machine. Take the loose tape and fold it across the pinned tape making a 90 degree triangle on top. Holding the triangle with your fingers on the opposite hand, fold the tape over itself and your fingers towards the side without binding. Remove your fingers from under the tape and hold the top of the folded tape. Now you can pin the next side. Place back under the machine and continue along that side starting at the edge. Do this for all four corners.

If you run out of binding, leave yourself about 3" and make a seam with the next package of tape.

After you have completed the first step of sewing the binding you your quilt, fold the binding over matching the center fold of the binding with the edge of your quilt. Fold under the tape at the fold and pin around the quilt. Sewing on the side that you already stitched your binding to, stitch in the ditch (the seam line) all the way around your quilt.

Check the other side and make sure the binding is getting caught in your stitches like the image above.
This is the opposite side of the fabric, you will see stitching unlike the side we stitched in the ditch where the stitching is hidden. 

I had to do a little hand sewing here and there were my binding was not completely caught in the stitching. I also stitched the corners so they would lie flat.
And that's it! 

A homemade quilt perfect for your baby's nursery, your children's room, or to give to a friend. 

Let me know if you have any questions about the process.
Blessings,
Katie

June Fabric Haul + Fabric Giveaway!

It's the weekend!
And I have something new and exciting for you!

A fabric haul video and a fabric giveaway!

How do I enter to win some fabric?! What is the fabric?! Where can I see the fabric?!

Well, right here on this video!
Take a peek at what is currently on my cutting table and at the end of the video I will show you the fabric I am giving away. I will give you a hint! It's leopard print!
Two lucky winners will receive some of this awesome fabric.

Use the app below to enter the giveaway.
That's it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends on Friday, June 13th at midnight EST.
Winner announced on following Saturday. 

Best of luck!
Katie

Olivia Pope-Inspired Dress + Aussie and the Fox

So, it's been long over due, but the Olivia Pope-Inspired Dress I have been telling you about is finally here! Yep! I finished it and wore it last night for date night with the Hub! It felt like the perfect occasion.

I used Burda Pattern # 7232
The pattern was pretty complex with the way the back attached all together and then to the skirt. But once I took a good gander at the pictures in the pattern it went together rather quickly.  I would recommend making some additional markings for yourself when you cut out the back pieces. It was a bit challenging to figure out the direction the points were going. 

The inside it completely lined with no exposed seams. I used a white stretch cotton sateen I picked up at Fabric Mart in the clearance section for $2.00/yd. I used the cotton to line it as well because I wanted the dress to hold its shape and I knew I would not be able to wear a slip with that back! Or a bra for that matter!

I purchased a stick-on backless bra from Target. I was rather nervous about the bra situation. They kinda have the same stickiness of a mouse trap... My first thought was "will my these come off?!" "Am I going to have sticky boobs afterwards?!" But no worries. They came off and all is fine and well! Rest assured.

So yeah, here is the dress!

And a nice view of my front yard. #livingthefarmlife

I used buttons that look like pearls to close the back.

The front is also not very bra-friendly. But it sure looks hip!

I sewed all of the "pearl" beads on by hand. (I purchased a little bag of them at Joann Fabrics.)
Probably while watching a marathon of some terrible show on TLC that Josh would not approve of, like Hoarders or Extreme Couponing. Both shows which make me feel super-charged afterwards making me want to scrub every cranny of the entire house and run to the store to buy 100 bottles of toothpaste that will last me 50 years but were free just so I can say I did.

We decided to celebrate our dating anniversary this year at a new restaurant in Lancaster that I have been wanting to try since my birthday, last October...
But after spending 5 years together and almost one year of marriage, it seemed like a good time to finally go out on the town. So we drove into the city for our late night dinner reservations at 8:45 pm. It was definitely a stretch for this girl considering I like to be on the couch under a blanket at that time of night. I don't know what happened. Being married has made me old. But I was going to prove the night wrong and show it I am young and alive! 

(Not mentioning the couple seated next to us at the restaurant were probably in their mid-50's...)

Aussie and The Fox is a mix of classic staples with an Australian flair.
The menu offered a unique burger, tasty pasta, roasted chicken, fancy fish, and a popular pork loin. 

I tried the Aussie Burger, which was surprisingly delicious. I was a bit concerned about this egg and beets business. I'm PA Dutch. I like what I like and I like potatoes. But this was certainly something different and Josh and I both really enjoyed it. Definitely putting this on the list of things to eat again. I think trying new restaurants is pretty exciting. I love dressing up, going somewhere new and trying as many new and interesting things that I can in one evening. 

Especially when it gives me an excuse to wear an awesome dress I just made!

I will leave you with a quite a lady at a fabric store once told me:
"Don't make the dress for the occasion, make an occasion for the dress!"

-Katie

Resolution Ramblings + Christmas Ball Dress.

Here it is! 

My first outfit post!

I made this outfit for the Christmas Ball the Hubs and I were attending with our Young Adult Fellowship Group. I used Simplicity Pattern 2444, which is a Project Runway pattern.

I only used the skirt portion of the pattern because I liked the front pleating...and because my original idea required four yards of material and I only purchased two. 

I ordered the abstract floral material from Fashion Fabrics Club. I was super excited when I found this "velvet" print online. 

I was less excited when I received it and found out that it was really more of a brushed cotton than a velvet. 

Not as luxurious as I originally hoped, but it was still a great weight for what I wanted to do with it. 

The black ponte knit is from Fabric Mart. Black ponte knit is like my sewing room staple. 

I always need to have some! 

It is great for so many things! 

I used the top portion of Vogue Pattern 8615 to make the basic top to go with the skirt. 

I wanted this look to have a ballerina-feel. 

I added some additional length to the skirt to make it slightly tea-length without being too long for my height. I also added a waist band to finish the top of the skirt.

I was so happy with the finished product! I love how full the skirt is.
Unfortunately the wind blew the skirt to my legs in these images...but you can see the fullness better in my Christmas post.

Did you make a holiday outfit?

So today is New Year's Eve and I personally love New Year's.

Not because I really go to any parties or have some grand tradition...

Basically I just love the idea of it and the excitement it brings with the chance for a fresh start. 

Granted, you have a chance to change your life at any given moment during the year...

It just seems so much more exciting when the year changes too. 

2013 has been very challenging for me, so I am almost relieved that it is soon over.

I am definitely ready to make some changes for 2014.

My resolution for 2014 is to be happier with myself.

To take a leap of faith and trust God.

To become less stressed and worried.

To spend more time in studying and sharing the Word.

And to go after my purpose with everything I have.

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful New Year's Eve!
See ya next year!

Katie