The Office

When I was working in the Junior High, I had a su-weet office.  The building was brand new and I was on the second floor in a ginormous office that we lovingly referred to as "The Penthouse Suite".  It had an Inner and an Outer space {both equally large} and a testing closet.  Seriously, it was a great space!

So, in taking my new position, I knew I was downgrading a bit in the space department...and the newness department...and the factthatIhadawindow department.  In fact, everyone that I talked to referred to my new office as "The Closet".  And, indeed, it is far from my penthouse.

BUT, I took the new space as a challenge and used it as a clean slate to showcase some craftiness.  So, without further ado,

THE closet SHABBY CHIC OFFICE

Before

Blank Wall

After

The Feelings Wall

Before

The Empty Bulletin Board Wall

After

The Office Supply Station atop the Desktop Hutch
 

Before

The Built-In Bookshelves

After

The Beautifully Organized Counseling Library

Custom made curtains hide less-asthetically pleasing materials {aka storage!}

For this storage solution, I used copy paper boxes, my cricut, scrapbook paper {for the sides and the front labels}, spray adhesive, and Mod Podge.

Each counseling topic has a home! :)

I found these cute little metal and plastic wicker chairs with cushions in the "attic" storage area.  They were forest green with southwestern print cushions before I got ahold of them!!  Buahaha!

Perfect little chairs for 4th and 5th graders

I made a few little rosettes to tie in the clock {which sets on top of the desk that my awesome hubby painted off-white for me}...

...and the mirror.

So, yes, it's a little more snug than my previous office, but I really love it.  Though the JH office was super nice, I think this one is just more "me". :)

P.S. Notice my high-tech additions?  Now you can "Like" my posts {an easy way to make a comment without having to make a comment...unless you want to make a comment, which I LOVE!!} and, you can follow me on Pinterest!  Just click the button on my sidebar.  Not on Pinterest?  Well, it's time, my friend...comment with your E-mail and I'll send you an invite! :)

Pretty Little Headbands

Erin over at Worthy of the Prize has been a huge support of our adoption.  She has commissioned me to make several things that she's sold at her sport camps and events.  Most recently, I did an order of 20 pretty little fabric headbands.  I love how they turned out! 

The Black and White Collection

The Brights Collection

The Retro Collection

Now I just need to make some for me! ;)

Flowers In Her Hair...

Remember this 'lil sweetie?! 

Ah, Baby Liv.  My heart misses her badly, even though it's only been 5 days since we left Jeff City to come home and even though I will see her again when we go visit in 10 more days.  She is the first born of my brother and Amy...there's just something about that first born!

Brandon and Amy didn't find out baby Liv's gender beforehand {I call this MAJOR will-power!}, so it was a BIG mystery.  To be honest, I was convinced that baby Liv was really going to be a boy!  So, when she made her appearance, it wasn't long before I decided that I needed to get that girl accessorized.  So, the last several days, I've been whipping up these sweet little flowers {and bows} for her hair:

I put each of these on clips so that she can wear them on a headband for now and clipped in her hair later.

Triple Fabric Yo-yo Flowers

Two tiny Felt Blooms

Yellow Box Fold Felt Flower

Fuschia Satin Flower

Four Tiny Basic Boutique Bows

Four Rolled Fabric Flower Clips

Yellow Triple Ribbon Flowers

Royal Blue Satin Poppies

Funky Fabric Flower in Green and Blue

Funky Fabric Triple Flower in Black and White

Because I rarely attempt any craft without a tutorial, I linked a tutorial for each flower to their titles; you know, just in case you get the flower craft bug! :)

And last, but not least...

every baby needs a minky taggie lovie!

American Girl Doll Quilt {Tutorial}

 Looking for our Adoption Auction?  Click here. Ends tomorrow!!

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Yesterday, Melia and I fired up our sewing machines and used some fabric straps to create this cute little doll quilt perfect for Melia's American Girl doll! :)

I had so much fun posting my last tutorial here, that I decided this fun little snow day project was worth sharing, too!  This one is

Materials Needed:

5 strips of fabric in your choice of colors (4" x 20" each)

1 larger piece of fabric for the backing (20" x 16.5")

1 piece of thin quilt batting (19" x 15.5")

Scissors or rotary cutter with mat

Sewing Machine

1. Cut backing fabric and strips of fabric for the front.  I held the straightedge on my mat and had Melia used the rotary cutter since her hands were too little for the fabric scissors.

 2. Lay out the fabric strips in the order in which you would like them on the quilt. *Trim at this point if needed.

 3. Sew fabric strips right side together.  We skipped the step where you pin the strips since we had four hands for this project! 

Melia used her little Pixie sewing machine and I guided the fabric through while she used the foot pedal.  She was so cute and kept telling me to "watch your thumb, mommy".   P.S. That pile in the back is not the laundry...it's a pile of projects waiting to happen! :)

 4. Cut the batting to size and lay on top of the backing fabric.

 5. Iron the backing fabric and the panel made by the fabric strips (be sure to iron the stitched edges all the same way to create stronger seams).

6. Sew together the right sides of the fabrics with the batting on the outside of the backing fabric using a 1/4" seam.  Leave a hole unsewn large enough to flip the quilt inside out.

7. Cut the corners and flip rightside out.

 8. Sew a 1/4" seam around the outside of the quilt, creating a finished look and holding the batting in place.

9. Smile proudly and hold up your doll's new quilt! :) 

Yes, that is a tent in our living room...just one of our many fun snow day/night activities on our week off of school!! :)

Let us know if you make one of these!



Upcycled T-shirt Dress {Tutorial}

 Looking for our Adoption Auction?  Click here. :)

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It is snowing like crazy here!  This is the last pic of our deck I got before dusk...

Last I heard, we got 19.5 inches!  I feel like I live in Alaska with my buddy Anne! :)

It looks like we are going to be stuck inside for several days, so my sewing machine is going to get some good use!!!

In the spirit of the snow and because of some inspiration I got from this tutorial by Cheri at "I Am Momma, Hear Me Roar!", I made this upcycled t-shirt dress for Miss Melia today:

Since I made several changes from the original tutorial, I thought I'd do my own tutorial.  I'm a first timer, here, so bear with me!

Materials needed:

1 short sleeved shirt correctly sized for the child (M's was a size 6 that I picked up at Wal-Mart for $2)

A variety of t-shirts in any color/print that you wish (one should be long sleeved)

Scissors

Sewing Machine

Cute Little Girl

1. Cut out strips of the t-shirts.  I did 2 sets of 5 strips (one set for the front, one set for the back).  I cut each strip 5" wide.  Make sure they are wider across than the width of the small t-shirt. 

2. Lay the strips out to arrange them as you want them.  At this point, decide if you need to "embellish" any of the strips.  We used the stamp/fabric paint technique from the above mentioned tutorial.

 

I had the kids do this part, but it kinda stressed poor Camden out.  Who knew he was such a perfectionist?!

I painted the purple part according to Melia's specifications.:)

3. Pin the pieces together.  I liked the idea of having the rough edges out, so I pinned the wrong sides together.  I also used Cheri's advice about the bottom strip, using an already existing seam at the bottom.  Sew these pieces so that you have a front panel and a back panel. 

4. Use a straight edge and rotary cutter to straighten up the sides.  You want the bottom to be just slightly wider than the top.  Pin and sew the two panels together, right sides together, and then turn right side out.

5. Measure your little model's arm from shoulder to wrist and cut the sleeves off the long-sleeved shirt at that length.  Cut the sleeve down the seam and hold the sleeve up to your model's arm, pinning it all the way up where you need to sew it. 

6. Sew the sleeves up to create a smaller sleeve (it will be a tube).  This would be a good step to use a serger if you have one.  If not, cut the excess material from the sleeve.

7. Make sure the sleeve is inside out and turn the little shirt (the top shirt) inside out.  Cut the long sleeve at an angle and pin the top edge of the long sleeve to the seam where the short sleeve meets the shoulder.  I tried this on my 'lil model to make sure the sleeves were the correct length.

8. Sew around the seam to attach the long sleeve and turn right side out.

9. Slide the dress part into the little shirt, pin in place, and sew around, leaving the top edge rough.

And, you're done!!

I also made a little matching purse using some of one of the shirts for the main part and the bottom seam of the gray shirt for the handles.  And, what's a custom dress without a custom headband?  I just used the seam of the purple shirt, sewed it to create a finished look, and tied a few of the cotton scraps together for the "bow".  Cute!

The best part?!  As I was putting this together, I was thinking about where these shirts came from.  Guess what?  I only bought the gray one (for $2)!  The long sleeved one and the seafoam colored one were given to me by my mom.  I got the off-white damask one from my friend, Tiffany Jett's garage sale a couple years ago.  And the purple one was from a t-shirt stash that my friend, Kristin Perry, gave me!  I would definitely say this was the most inexpensive project I've ever done!

Hope you're inspired to make your own!