The Fox, Made it to the front page of Etsy

As most of you know, Etsy has the chance to put Treasury lists together of some of our favorites. I recently put this treasury together, and it made it to the front page of Etsy!! How exciting!! I was so thrilled when I woke up this morning!!

KyandKin

I was very lucky to have Heather with kyandkin test the Olivia Dress pattern for me.  She is absolutly amazing, so talented.  Please take the time to read her bio here and then go check out her shop!!  Here is a picture of the Olivia Dress that Heather made.  I love how she used the white for the collar, cuffs and belt!  Beautiful!!

kyandkin is a small business that creates handmade children’s clothes and necessities. I have always loved the soft colors of baby & children’s clothes and the free flowing comfortable feeling of clothes, and have put the two together to create kyandkin.

I live with the idea of quality over quantity, and take time with each item as if my own children would wear them. The pieces are sewn completely with a machine and have zig zag stitching for secure seams in place of a serger for that extra durability and handmade touch.

I started kyandkin with the inspiration from my 2 beautiful daughters, Kylie Rainn and Kinley River. I am a military wife of an amazing husband who serves as a Riverine in the Navy. My family is absolutely everything to me and they have inspired me to start something that would last forever, something small...growing into something big...

I wanted to make clothes for my girls and other children that were something a little different from the norm, something that they are comfortable in and something that they can run and play freely while still being able to look stylish. I always fall in love with particular styles that are way over priced and can never afford them, and due to the fact that children grow so fast, I always thought it would be a waste of money…so with that in mind, I started to make clothes that I would’ve loved to wear as a child and be good on the pockets as well.

Most of my supplies are either from local shops in town, online fabric stores or, my favorite, other etsy shops, to help other etsy owners build their businesses as well. I love the diverse options, overwhelming creativity and friendly people that I have talked to through etsy, just over the last few months. It means so much to me to give back to others, and watch sales grow for shops trying to make it as well.

I had sewn for years, and had started with selling handbags to friends and family a few years ago…but I knew that there was something else that I was even more interested in but just couldn’t put my finger on it…until I had my second little girl. I had finally found something that I LOVE to put my time and effort into, something that I just can’t get enough of. The time I put into my shop is time that I love to put aside, something that’s freeing, a little “outlet” of mine where I can relax and take in my day piece by piece. I use every opportunity to get a little work done, whether it’s early in the morning before my girls wake up, during a nap or after they’re fast asleep. My business is a dream that I can’t stop thinking about, which is what I always wanted for myself.

Make sure to visit KyandKin.  She has such beautiful and well made items in her shop.  She is truely talented!  Also visit her on facebook and leaver her a note!

Olivia Shirt Dress, Pattern Tester

Time to get ready for school!!  As much as I am not too excited about it, I have to jump in a get going.  So here is my 1st dress pattern that will help welcome us back to school, the Olivia Shirt Dress.  This dress is perfect for those girls who don't want to wear pants, and it gives them that preppy girl look!!  The dress comes with an option of long sleeves or short sleeves.  Belt and belt loops.  Buttons all the way up the front with a cute yoke around the neck line.  Pattern comes in sizes 2 - 7 for the little girls.

Long sleeve option -

short sleeve option -

I am needing 2 people to test this pattern for me. If you would like to test this please leave me a comment below. If you would like an extra point in the drawing, please leave a comment on facebook or twitter and leave me the link to see it (I would appreciate your help in telling people about my shop).  Please leave me a way to contact you if you win!!!

Here's the deal. You get the pattern for free. I only ask that you are able to sew the bag within a week of me emailing it to you, and give me any comments or suggestions you may have.  This is very important.

Contest will end at midnight, on Wednesday, August 3rd.



T-Shirt Skirt FREE Tutorial

I started looking at my daughters old shirts one day.  She had so many shirts that either had a stain right up front or I didn't love enough for her to wear more than once or twice.  Those of you who come to my blog often know how much she loves skirts!!  So we decided she needed a new skirt!!  And I wanted to share with you how we made this skirt.  It was simple, fun, quick, and didn't cost a penny to make.  Give it a try, you will love the skirt, it washes great with no wrinkles and is perfect for play.  No serger needed, and no need to add an elastic to the waistline!!!

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 Start out going through your closet and pulling out 5 or 6 old shirts.  Notice that I have used a tank top, polo shirt, and basic t's.  You will also need an old pair of leggings.  If you don't have leggings, any old pair of pants would be just as cute!!

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Cut just underneath the sleeves on all the shirts.  Don't worry that some will be taller than others.  Throw away the top.  I am using this ruler, and it definitely is wonderful, but don't worry if you don't have one!

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Cut off the side seams.  Throw away the side seams.  We are keeping the hem of the shirt on, so make sure not to cut it off!

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Cut into 3 even rectangles, with the shirts hem at the bottom of each.

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Lay out all the rectangles from all your shirts into how you would like them for the skirt.  Some of the shirts are taller than the others, this is just fine, we will fix this later. 

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Starting at the shirts hemline, sew 1/8" seam allowance up the side of each rectangle.  Sew with the ugly side of the fabrics together, making the seam show on the outside of the skirt. 

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This is what it will look like as you start to add more rectangles together.  Keep going until you sew the first rectangle to the last, making a circle.

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Cut the leggings somewhere above the crotch.  This is up to you where you want to cut, the main difference it will make is the length it adds to the skirt.  Throw away the bottoms.

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To get the bottom of the skirt ready for sew to the top, cut the extra lengths from the rectangles off the top.  This will make a nice edge to sew to the top of the leggings.  You are not cutting the edge that has all the original hems from the shirts.

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Make a gathering stitch at the top.  To do this set your sewing machine at the longest stitch length you have available.  Then sew 1/8" away from the edge then again at 5/8" away from the edge, all the way around the top.  Make sure not to back stitch at the beginning or to stitch over top the same stitches.  Keep your threads at the beginning of the stitch and the end of the stitch long.  You will be pulling these strings to make the gather soon.

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Separate the legging top and the skirt into fourths and place pins. 

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Pull the top threads of the gathering stitches.  Do not pull the bottom, just the top.  If you pull the bottom and the top you will end up breaking a thread and have to start over. 

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Match the pins that you placed in the leggings and the skirt together so you have the fourths evenly placed.  Make sure the fabrics have the ugly sides facing each other so the seam will show on the outside of the skirt.  Then play with the gathers to make the skirt the same size as the leggings.  Place a lot of pins.  The more the pins the better, they will save a lot of frustration!

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Sew as close to 1/8" seam allowance as you can around the edge.  Then pull out the gathering stitches so they don't show on your skirt.

Yey you are done, and it looks fantastic!!  New skirt at no extra cost!!!

Melanie Bag, Needing Pattern Tester

The Melanie Bag!!

New pattern needing a tester.  I had a very good friend of mine ask if I would be interested in making this pattern, and of course I said YES.  This is such a fun and go everywhere bag.  I have been using mine since the day I finished it.  The straps are long so it can lay up over one shoulder and lay on the other hip.  I love that when I am running after my kids, my purse isn't falling off my shoulder (It's GREAT!)

This bag has a button and loop closure.

 There's plenty of pockets inside lining both sides of the bag.  Take everything with you, and still be able to find it all!  Pockets for cell phones, pens, keys, lip stick, and more.

When it came to time for me to name the bag, I just had to name it after my good friend.  So thanks again Melanie for the idea, and for letting me use your name!

I am needing 1 more person to test this pattern for me.  If you would like to test this please leave me a comment below.  If you would like an extra point in the drawing, please leave a comment on facebook or twitter and leave me the link to see it (I would appreciate your help in telling people about my shop).

Good Pattern for you beginners out there.  Very few pattern pieces, and steps.

Here's the deal.  You get the pattern for free.  I only ask that you are able to sew the bag within a week of me emailing it to you, and give me any comments or suggestions you may have.

Contest will end at midnight, on Thursday, June 16th.

Jack and Jill Winner

What a crazy last couple weeks!!  I got a virus on my computer, the second in the past month.  I have a wonderful neighbor who is kinda an expert when it comes to these things.  So, he fixed it, he brought it back.  We worked on the computer for one day trying to catch up on everything we missed.  Then it got a virus again!!  So frustrating.  It is now fixed.  Life is now somewhat caught back up.

I did have a winner for the Jack and Jill Romper!!  Thank you Jamie for sewing this for me!!

Jamie is a stay at home mommy of a 3 year old and infant twins, and wife to a great guy. She enjoys cooking, sewing, quilting, and knitting for her kiddos and people she loves.  Go check out Jamie's blog find out how to mother a toddler and twins, keep her sanity through crafts and live happily and healthy on a budget.  While pregnant with her twins she got a crazy urge to create things and just wanted to try different types of crafts. She loves crafts that involve some kind of fiber-sewing, knitting, folding fabric flowers.  After the twins were born she decided to stay at home because good child care cost more than she brought in each month. So she created her etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/jlchatt) mostly to cover the cost of all the fabric and yarn that she loves to buy.  Jamie has so many things to see on her blog.  Tutorials, sewing projects, recipes, and so much more!  She is an amazing woman, and fun to follow along with as she is definatly staying sane with raising her children.  Also go to her Etsy shop that will be re-opening by mid July!!!  Check it out!!  My computer wouldn't let me add the cute picture that Jamie sent me of her Romper, so here is a cute picture she sent me of the Hailey Wrap pattern!

Jack and Jill Bubble

It is time again for a new pattern tester contest!!!  This is a fun new pattern for boys and for girls.  So the name had to go both ways.  That is why I chose to call it the Jack and Jill Bubble Romper.

The Jack and Jill Bubble can be sewn as a basic bubble romper.  Or a pocket can be added to the front.  And of course for those frilly little girls, we gotta have some ruffles!!  Next week I will tell you about a new friend of mine who suggested this pattern to me, Jenn.  She will be testing the pattern as well, so this time I will only be needing 1 more tester.

Contest for pattern testers will begin right now.  Ending next Wednesday night, May 11th at midnight.  I am needing 1 person that is willing to sew this pattern with in one week of me emailing to them.  I will give the pattern to you for free, in exchange for any comments or critics that you can give.

Toasted Coconut

I want to tell you about my newest sponsor for my blog!  Emily from the Toasted Coconut as such a cute shop, you will love it!   And of course a fun name!  Inspired by her LOVE for coconut.  Let me tell you a little about her and then please make sure to stop by and say hi to her.

Besides keeping busy as a wife and mom to 2 little boys, Emily is inspired by vintage styles and makes beautiful accessories and more.

As soon as Emily started creating her one-of-a-kind pieces, everyone came up to her wanting their own. 

This bracelet is my absolute favorite!!  I have already warned my husband that I want it for my birthday that is just around the corner.  Emily, he better be emailing you soon!!

When you check out Emily's blog, be sure to look up the Ring Holder Tutorial, it is fabulous!!

Go check out the Toasted Coconut shop, then go to her blog and become a follower, then find Emily on facebook!!

Will? Identity Theft? What To Do?

I have a fantastic product review that I want to tell you about!!  Mike and I have had this Pre-Paid Legal membership for at least 6 years, and it has paid off so much for us.  I am so happy about the piece of mind it continues to give me!! Here are a couple recent stories for you of how much it has helped me.

Back in November I had just taken my son on a bowling trip with his school.  When we drove to pick up my other kids afterwards, we were pulled over for speeding.  It was one of those moments you don't even realize you were speeding, and you got caught!  It all happened so fast as I turned the corner, and must have sped up too fast.  Well I got caught, and I was so ticked off about it.  This all happened in a school zone.  I don't know if it is the same for all of you out there, but here, we get a triple fine for it being a school zone.  Complete bummer!!!  I didn't have to money to pay $180.00 for a stupid ticket.  And I didn't want the extra points on my ticket.  So I have been super lucky to be a Pre-Paid Legal Member.  So I called my Law Firm and asked for advice and help.  They were WONDERFUL!!  They had me plead not guilty, and then I didn't have to do anything else.  An attorney went to court for me (I was home with my kiddos!), and he asked for the judge to go easy on me or what ever it is they say.  I ended up only having to pay the cost of a regular speeding ticket of $60.00 and I didn't have any points to mess up my record.  AMAZING!  I was so thrilled to have this all go so well.

About a month, maybe 2 months ago, I had a legal question about one of my sewing patterns.  I was unsure what to do, so what did I do?!  I called my providing Law Firm again!  They sat on the phone with me through a couple phone calls, took some emails from me, and answered every question I had.  I honestly don't know how much this would have cost if I were to have called any other attorney out there?  But for my piece of mind this was FABULOUS!  I am at ease and LOVE it!

To top off my wonderful mood with all of the membership that I have, I also got a will for free in the cost of my membership!!  How nice is that.   I don't have to worry about the state or someone taking my kids from my family if both Mike and I die.  How comforting.

I felt like I should tell you all about this.  Some of you may have heard of it before, and some of you probably have no idea what I am talking about.  But I would really encourage you all to look into it for yourselves.  I honestly am loving my piece of mind.  We have used our membership so many times, I would bore you with all of them.

This membership also helps cover us in Identity Theft.  I had my purse stolen 4 years ago, and panicked.  Luckily I have this protection to help me make sure no one has ever taken my identity!!  How WONDERFUL!!!

I could keep going on about how helpful this has been for me, but I would hope that you would look into it for yourselves.  If anything, for the WILL.  Go to this link and check this out for yourselves!!  My husband is who you would contact if you have any questions!  He is also looking for people to work with who are willing to work hard!

http://www.greatworkplan.com/mikephillipp/

Dragons2Daisies

I am excited to tell you about the other winner to test the Hailey Wrap for me.  Here is a picture of Dragons2Daisies Hailey Wrap.

This is such a fun way for me to get to know such creative people.  Sarah with Dragons2daisies is so talented!!  Thanks to a late night of sewing, or should a say an early morning, Sarah was very dedicated to get this sewn.  Thank you Sarah!

She currently makes children's clothing up to size 8, super hero capes, diaper clutches and re-usable lunch bags.  She does all this as she is a WAHM, who is inspired by her children.  Sarah is absolutely amazing.  You really need to check out her shop to see how much she has done and can do.  And you have heard me say it before and I am saying it again, her talent shows through her pictures.  I was just amazed when I looked through all Dragons2daisies pictures on facebook.  So don't forget to fan her!!  Here are a few pictures that I loved of her work!!