Baby Onesie Dress and Headband {Tutorial}

Another baby girl is on her way--a friend is expecting her little one in less than 2 weeks now! Unfortunately I was unable to attend her baby shower and missed the fun and games, but still gave her a few handmade gifts for baby Fayelyn. Using the same tutorial from Running With Scissors as I did for the onesies in this post I made a custom dress and matching headband from some girly vintage fabric.

The headband was a first-time creation and it turned out better than planned! Since I had no 'baby headbands' on had, I created a cloth casing from the matching pink & white fabric and inserted a piece of elastic. After googling I came to a common measurement of 12-13" for the headband with it being able to stretch to approximately 16" for a 6-9 month baby size.I made a simple fabric rosette and centered it with a pearl button and attached it to the headband using a felt backing and hot glue. One of the easiest projects to date and it turned out darling!

 

 

Along with her onesie, I made a picture frame to match her nursery.
HOW TO make frame: I painted a wooden frame with 2 layers of pink acrylic paint, sealed it with a layer of Mod Podge, glued on ribbon, a matching handmade bow, a few pearl and crystal embellishments along with matching epoxy letter stickers.

We can't wait to meet baby Fayelyn!

Fabric Flower Belt {Mini Tutorial}

As promised, here is the mini-tutorial for the matching belt to my latest one shoulder summer dress! This is a SUPER quick and easy accessory you can add to any outfit!

::Supplies::

Belt Fabric (I used a suede)

Flower Fabric (I used a stretch knit--the same fabric as my dress)

Small piece of Velcro

Hot Glue
Scrap Fabric

Safety Pin

Sewing essentials (machine, thread and scissors)

The fabric I chose for my belt was a brown light-suede. I wanted to be able to add an accessory that would allow me to wear brown wedges or heels with my dress rather than just a lighter pair of shoes. My flower was made from the same material as my dress--a stretch knit.

First step: Measure your waist (or where you want your belt to sit). I wanted mine to hit right below my chest--the smallest part of my torso. Add about 3 inches to that for finishing and overlapping. Also, decide how wide you want your belt to be. My finished belt is about 2" wide. Cut a strip of fabric the length of your waist measurement (with the extra 3 inches) and 2.5 times the width that you want your belt to be. (For a 2" belt like mine, cut your strip about 4.5 inches wide)

Second step: Sew! Face your fabric right sides together and pin along the edges to keep the fabric straight, if necessary. Sew a straight line down your belt from end to end creating a tube. Trim off your excess seam allowance.



Try to cut your fabric straighter than I did :)

 Third step: Turn your belt ride side out and press flat with the seam in the center. Sew a top stitch at both the top and bottom of your belt for a finished look and to keep the belts shape. The center seam will be the back side of the belt.

Front side of your belt with top stitches

Back side of your belt with top stitches and center seam

Fourth step: Turn in both of your ends and sew the openings shut. When determining how much to turn in, make sure that the belt fits snug but still has some extra length for overlapping to add the velcro (that's where the extra 3 inches comes into play). Once sewn shut, sew on your velcro at the overlap by making sure one piece is on the "top" side of the belt and the other is on the "bottom" side of the belt so that they adhere when you put it on. Your belt is done!

 

 

Fifth step: Make your flower. I used the ruffle flower technique. After I made my flower, I hot glued a piece of scrap white fabric that I cut into a circle to the back of the flower to secure the shape. I then glued a smaller extra piece of fabric to the back that I could slide my safety pin into--only glue the ends of the small strip so the pin can slide through it. Slide your safety pin onto the flower, pin it to your belt and you're done!

I wore my belt to where the velcro was in the front and the flower was pinned directly over the velcro. It would be cute to off-center your flower as well (just not as cute with my one shoulder dress--too much asymmetry going on) ;)

The fact that the flower is safety-pinned and can be removed allows for your belt to be worn solid or with any other accessory attachments. :) I think a solid ruffle flower would look nice with my dress as well!

 Enjoy your new belt!!

Spring has Sprung Bib Necklace

They're being sold everywhere from Old Navy, to Anthropologie, to Etsy...these beauties are super popular right now and I have been itching to make one for months. I finally scrounged up some scrap fabric and a few jewelry supplies to make one for myself--finally, my first bib necklace!

Here are some details of the various flowers...I thought it would be perfect for spring and summertime to do a variety of different styles and sizes. I made the majority of the flowers into rosettes and had two additional burnt petal flowers. I also added a few pearls, lace, some other floral embellishments, pearl trim and some ribbon for that extra detail. I used contrasting (but complimentary) colors for all the different flowers so that I could be sure to wear it with multiple outfits.

 

And here she is...

I know she seems pretty big and has a lot going on--but that's the point, right? I wore her for Easter with a simple blue linen dress and yellow cardigan. She also looks fab with any solid color shirt or tank. The key is to wear something low-key so that the necklace will really liven up the outfit!

I love her and all her glory...each little flower handmade with love <3

Thank you Tammy from She Wears Flowers
Krista from Thar She Sews 
Chiara from Calico and Cupcakes 
and Katie from Sew Woodsy
for featuring my necklace!

 

The Interchangeable Rosette {Mini Tutorial}

One of my most favorite accessories that I am currently addicted to is the fabric rosettes and flowers. Any style, shape, size or color. They are so easy to make and add the perfect girly touch to any outfit! I started off making my first fabric flower to match one of my elastic waistband skirts. I made this one by cutting various sized circles from my fabric. I then ran a short loose stitch in the center of each to gather the fabric and then layered them on top of eachother, securing it with a button in the center. I added a piece of felt with two slits in it to the back where I can switch out between a hair clip or safety pin. 

One of the next fabric flower styles that I attempted was from the ruffle shirt by Tea Rose Home on my grey ruffled tank. These are made by creating a ruffle in your fabric, folding it in half and rolling it into itself, sewing it together along the way. I have since used this method the most often to create other brooches and accessories to outfits. 

 

My most recent endeavour was to make the rosette. I have been wanting to create a bib necklace, headband, bracelet or anything of the sort to get that vintagy, girlie feel from these beauties. There are MANY tutorials out there on how to make these flowers, but this one here from Little Birdie Secrets is perfect (I sometimes use hot glue in place of fabric glue which works JUST as good). Little Birdie Secrets also has an amazing post on rosettes and the MANY things you can create with them. Her genius idea of making these accessories removeable/interchangeable is awesome! Since I had no velcro on hand (or that I could find!) I simply used a second piece of felt on top of the original and adhered it with hot glue on only two edges of the circle--this creates a "tunnel" to slide a headband, bracelet or hair clip in. Now you can use the SAME rosette for your hair, a headband, bracelet, pin or anywhere you can think of! :)

My first interchangeable rosettes consisted of a larger one from a shinier black material and two smaller ones from the scraps of an old black t-shirt; all three finished off with a white pearl center. They look great all together, paired up or by themself.

Here they are paired on a headband, a single one on a strip of lace around my wrist, 

and two variations slid onto a clasp bracelet.

 

I can't wait to make more and play around with multiple colors! :)