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

Inspiration: Floral Prints

1. Pants

2. Cell Phone Case

3. Dress

4. Watch

5. Blouse

6. Skirt

7. Romper

Coffee Date: Catching up!

So how about coffee? Or shall I say tea?

Yeah, I started drinking tea. And for anyone who knows me personally, you know I have spent the last 21 years of my life very intentionally avoiding hot tea. After I started dating Josh and was introduced to his grandma's meadow tea, which is basically cheating because it is so sweet and deliciously minty. It's kinda like drinking a stick of gum. But I don't mind one bit. 

Last weekend at Liz's adorable tea party bridal shower I decided to try a hot tea that was a vanilla caramel black tea which was very good. I decided to try another flavor. I went with a blueberry green tea. Thus far, blueberry flavored anything has yet to disappoint me.

I have been craving it since!

 So I stopped into A Tea Affair's shop to look for that delicious blueberry tea. (The lady in the shop was very kind and knowledgable! I recommend stopping in and trying some of their fine teas!)
So now I am finally enjoying some tasty hot tea out of my adorable tea cup and saucer set I thrifted a while back for such occasions as this. 

Anyway, go grab your coffee/tea and sit down with me as I gab about what's happening in life and sip this blueberry goodness. 

Oh, and just so incase you were wondering, this is my "let's meet up for coffee" outfit.

Ok, so maybe you were not wondering.

Don't mind that I moved the mirror into the leaving room so I didn't have our floral frenzy wallpaper in the picture.

Currently I have been working on some projects for myself now since my show season is almost over and the wedding has passed and the dress was fabulous. You will get to see what I am currently working on and what I plan to sew during the month of June in my video that will be up tomorrow!

Plus! I am hosting a giveaway this weekend. A fabric giveaway! So make sure you tune in!

I just downloaded the Blog Life e-course by A Beautiful Mess. I heard it is amazing, so I am excited to get started and start planning out the next steps for this blog. 

My logo update is complete, I am just waiting for the rest of my branding package to be complete. I am very excited about the designs I have been seeing! Next step is to update the website! We would like to make it easier to shop on a website that has a shopping cart so you won't have to be directed to another site to order or be forced to make an Etsy account. 

I have been busy in my studio this week going through my fabric stash and organizing every thing. I am opening my studio up for family and friends to come see and to shop my current collection of handbags in person. It should be a special evening and it will be great to show them what I have been up to and what my plans are for the future of my business.

That's about all I have for now!
Be sure to check in tomorrow for my giveaway!
(I'll give you a hint, it's leopard print!)

Blessings!
Katie

Project: Old Chair, New Paint

I did a quick DIY this week and gave an old chair I found at a thrift some a new look with some paint.

I love the shape and design of the chair, but the paint was very worn. Otherwise the chair was in great condition. I decided to pick it up to be used as Josh's nightstand, as I decided his current nightstand should be in our living room to holding our goldfish plant, because I originally bought it to use as an end table anyway!

We don't really have much of a theme going on in our bedroom right now other than some country rose wallpaper which neither of us are into, but Josh would rather leave it up than go through the work of painting the room. I on the other hand welcome the challenge.

I thought long and hard about what color I wanted this chair to be. When I first bought it I thought I would just paint it gold and be done with it. However, I came across something with gold feet and that vision stuck in my head and I knew I wanted this chair to have gold feet.

Which then I went between black or white paint, but I settled for the white to brighten the space.

I used painters tape to tape the original seat. I loved the black seat and it was still in perfect condition.

After painting the entire chair white, I measured up from the bottom how much gold I wanted on the feet. I taped off each of the legs and painted them gold.

I think it came out great! I just love those gold feet!

 Now for that wallpaper...

Blessings,

Katie

Etsy Shop Favorites!

Today I put together a little list of businesses I have purchased from on Etsy and have become a big fan of their products and wanted to share with you: 

Not One Sparrow sells handmade jewelry from New Hope, PA.

I ordered from Ina for my wedding last year. I purchased the above earrings for each of my bridesmaids and ordered a gorgeous vintage-inspired pair for myself. We have worn these time and time again!
I have a huge wishlist for her shop because I kinda want everything!
She offers several styles of classic drop earrings, studs, and bracelets in gorgeous rich colors.

Shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NotOneSparrow

Aubrey Elizabeth Apothecary has the cutest soaps!
I ordered some of these macaron soaps for my bathroom when it was Kate Spade themed.
I am very interested in trying out some of her lip scrubs. I have been looking for a good one and she has some citrusy options that sound nice!
Shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AubreyEApothecary

Fleet Collection dresses are my favorite. I own about three now and they are worn often and for almost every occasion. I have worn them for interviews, meeting clients, to church, weddings, and showers!

I loved my mint dress so much (which I wore during my lookbook shoot!)  I ordered another one in coral and recently wore it to Liz's Bridal Shower.
I love seeing pictures of bridesmaids wearing their dresses posted on their Facebook. They always look so lovely! If only they came out with the dusty rose color in time for my wedding!
Shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FleetCollection

 Zoet Bathlatier offers luxurious candles and bath items.
I found this shop at Clover Markets, where we both are vendors, and smelled every candle in the tent! They are wonderful unique fragrances and I had to pick myself up one!
I can't wait for her Pumpkin Lager to come out in the fall again!
Shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZoetBathlatier

Firebird has incredible scents of lotion and soap.
I tried a sampler of her soaps and every scent was unique and refreshing.
My personal favorite product is her body lotions. I love the lavender wood scent!

I am almost out and have to get some more!
She has great seasonal scents too that I can't wait for them to come out in the fall!

Shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FirebirdBathBody

The Paper Fairy is my go-to shop every time I am about to have a party.
They have so many fun things from printed goodie bags to flashy paper straws and cupcake liners.

Every time I look there are new awesome products being added to the shop!
So next time you throw a shin-dig, you know where to go!
Shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePartyFairy

What are your favorite shops on Etsy?

Comment below, I would love to check them out!

Bride to Be with Garden Tea

My weekend was full of marriage and soon to be marriage!

Liz's mom and sisters planned an adorable little bridal shower for her at A Tea Affair in Lititz.

Complete with a mimosa bar and garden tea served by the wonderful tea ladies. 

It was a pleasant afternoon meeting her guests and catching up with old friends. 

And a perfect excuse to break out my coral dress by Fleet Collection!

I am so honored to have Liz in my life who is always there to run my crazy ideas by and encourage me to keep pursuing my dream. Liz is also a designer and we are both working hard on our upcoming lines! I can't wait to see her samples!

And of course I picked my seat by choosing my favorite tea cup in the room.

I think I have been converted to a tea drinker during this delicious party.

Especially when it comes to fruit or dessert flavored tea...

Now for some news:

As my show season comes to a wrap for Spring '14, I have been offered an opportunity that would expand my faith, allow me to be a more determined steward of the word in my community, and learn a skill I have always admired. There are so many great benefits to the position that are beyond money. Yet I am struggling with my decision due to paralyzing fear. My past experience I finally removed myself from earlier this year is finally showing its wounds. 

 I just ask that you pray for me and my ability to make the right decisions regarding jobs and my business in the upcoming future.

Thanks + Blessings,

Katie 

Project: Wedding Dress Complete!

As promised I am sharing some pictures of the wedding dress I made for my cousin's wedding this past weekend! But first, I am going to hold you in suspense (unless you just scroll to the bottom right now, but wait!) by showing you this dress that my momma made me!

Look familiar? Yep, it is the same dress my bridesmaids wore in my wedding!

It is so pretty and classic I needed one for myself!

We used Vogue pattern 8241. We found a pink knit that is on the mauve side. The material is almost like an activewear knit. It is a super comfortable dress and it breathes! Which is something I was very concerned about for my bridesmaids. We had a July wedding, and knowing it would be hot, I looked for any fabric that could look dressy but would not make them too warm. I was looking for a rayon challis or knit until I came across this one for $1/yd at Fabric Mart! I bought the whole bolt!

She used a hanging button closure at the top of the keyhole. I found a bag of large buttons that looked like pearls at Fabric Mart in the clearance section. Picked them up for 10 cents for the whole bag!

I found the wide lace for the bottom at a thrift shop in packs of 5 yards for a dollar!

I dressed it up with a brown belt, vintage-looking rhinestone drop earrings, and nude heels.

And now, after dozens of fittings, muslins, and hours of pinning and stitching...

Candy's dress!

 Candy was looking for a simple, elegant gown that was vintage-inspired.

She came to me with the idea of an all lace gown with a scalloped neckline and a-line skirt.

She was ultimately looking for something modest and comfortable.

We used Simplicity Pattern 1460 as a guide for the top. 

I used a cotton lace with a swirl pattern in an ivory. I lined the lace with a white poly charmeuse.

I found some floral bridal lace trim to give her the scalloped edge she wanted.

I had to draft the skirt myself so I could get the shape I wanted. The skirt was four pieces that flared out to give her a full bottom that puddled around her. I added four box pleats to the back to make it fuller.

We finished it off with a champagne bow. The dress is fully lined with white poly charmeuse I purchased from Fabric.com for a great price!

The top closes with pearl buttons. I made her veil as well. I had to have a lot of patience glueing on tiny pearl beads with a tweezer! But it was all worth it. She looked gorgeous in this gown!

Congratulations, Candy + Chris.

May you live a life full of love and happiness!

And thank you so much for allowing me the honor to make your gown!

-Katie