Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Reversible Dress Tutorial

I have made two of these little dresses for my munchkin to play in this summer! They are soooo easy and lots of fun! This is my first tutorial, so bear with me as I try to direct you :) Please feel free to comment if you have any questions!

Here is what we will be making.....

the dress, not the ice cream ;)

Sorry, not very many pics of her in the dresses! Not the fabric I will be showing you today, but same pattern. Her "aaaaaaaple" dress is her favorite thing to wear :)

Let's get started......

Here is what you will need:
1/2 Yd. fabric #1 of your choice
1/2 Yd. fabric #2 of your choice
2 packages of coordinating Rick Rack (roughly 3 yrds.)
2 coordinating buttons
sewing machine
basic sewing supplies



First thing, and probably the hardest is to cut your fabric pieces. Unfortunately, I don't have a way to create the pattern pieces for you. I created the original shape and have copied it since then. Measure your little one to decide the correct dimensions in length and width. Use chalk to create a shape you are confident in and cut one piece of each fabric.

*remember they will need to match exactly with RST (right sides together)


Next, take your rick rack and pin it along the inside of one piece of fabric (RST) like this:




Once you have lined the entire piece of fabric, sew to secure and remove pins.

we paused for a quick shot...she kept tapping my arm saying, "mama, mama, cheeeeeeese?"

Here is what your dress should look like so far...


Next, pin your two fabric pieces together. RST




Turn your fabric so you can see the previous stitch line and sew on that same line.

*remember to leave a 4-5 inch opening to turn your dress right side out!!



Turn your dress right side out and sew your opening closed. (sorry, no pic for that step)

Now use your sewing machine to create button-holes on both....well, both spots that look like this! haha. This is the front of your dress. 



Now add your buttons to the outer ends of the dress. like this....


Unfortunately, I didn't have some cuter buttons on-hand...

Now just cross the outer pieces around the back and button in the front! Voila! 

back

front

opposite side front

opposite side, back
 Completely reversible and super comfy for your little one :)
Fits my 21 month old...hits right at the knee. Sometimes she wears bloomers (or fancy pants as we like to call them) underneath, sometimes shorts, sometimes leggings, jeans....whatever the occasion, its super cute.

So have fun! and I'm sorry if the directions aren't clear! If you make one, please let me know how it turns out! :)



I think she likes it!? 


Monday, May 23, 2011

"this is braves country"

I can speak for both of us when I say our favorite part of living in Atlanta is being 10 min. from Turner Field!

It is so much fun to decide last minute to go to a Braves game, grab some hats and sunscreen and hop in the car.

We recently attended a game vs. the Phillies and witnessed a great win! Here are a few pics.

Phillies warming up

taking advantage of my camera's zoom ;)

ClaireBell ready for gametime!

Me and my hubby :)

the team wore their old jersey's and stenciled the small "a" on the field as opposed to the normal "A"



It was the Civil Right's Game and this is Hank Aaron in the flesh

Morgan Freeman

Carlos Santana

Members of the U.S. Army holding the flag

doing some crazy stretching!


ClaireBell's favorite thing to do during the games :)

680 THE FAN....who we listen to when we aren't at the games!



doesn't that look like it hurts????

old uniforms
 Fun afternoon...I think we will be going this weekend as well!

Go Braves!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Hello Beautiful South Carolina!

My littlest sister, Hannah Grace

Last week ClaireBell and I had the opportunity to go to Beaufort, SC for a few days to visit family, friends, and the beautiful views of the Lowcountry! Dakota was in Ohio for the final baseball tournament for the season and, well, I don't particularly enjoy being home without him, so we headed out an hour after he did :)
Sweet Little Grin



Christina and Hannah (Habersham pool)

We enjoyed the pool, the sun, the beach, kooky mooky's, habersham, Alvin Ord's, and of course, seeing loved and familiar faces!


ClaireBell and Grammy

Ashton
My Mother's Day present was a new camera! (Thank you so much Dakota and Clairsy) and it was perfect timing....I was able to try it out and capture some precious memories with my family and the beautiful surroundings.

ClaireBell's first beach trip!!!
Unfortunately, I have to say, my little one has NOT grown up on the beach as her Mama and Daddy have and does NOT like to be sandy, have the sun in her eyes, or splash in the salty waves! Thankfully, she was somewhat content for about 20 min. and I was able to get a few shots without tears :/

hopefully next time will be better!


Seagulls

As annoying as the seagulls are, snatching any crumb you drop or leave unattended, aren't they beautiful?



(from left to right) Kaitlyn, Samantha, Hope and Adam
Pre-baby, this is probably what I wouldn't spent my time doing that day! They were making a pretty impressvie sandcastle using the classic shovel, buckets, seashells and of course those dried hollow sticks that seem to cover the shoreline (what are those things, anyway??) well, whatever they are, they make great bridges, flagposts and walls!

wish I had taken pictures of the final result!! this was towards the beginning. good job guys!

Hope, unknowingly posing for a windblown shot ;)
Adam, of course, posing for his...haha
Ashton playing in the wet sand
don't you just love the feeling of that sand between your toes, the smells, the waves crashing on you, sinking deeper and deeper into the sand with each second?? we miss you salt water and sand, somehow sulfar water and red clay just don't compare :/

advetisement for a summer vacation? i think so.
Ashton and Julia
They remind me so much of Christina and I. Almost the same years apart and the resemblence is uncanny! 


finally gave it up and fell asleep in my arms :)
Just a few more pics from the week.........

Love this one!

At Kooky Mooky's trying so hard to be serious!

Mom and Hannah enjoying the pool!


sooooo....now I just wanna go back! for all/any beaufortonians reading, enjoy your summer and take advantage of the beautiful creation around you!

georgians, what can I say.....anybody have a blowup pool and a yard? meet u there.