BIG Flower Flip Flops

I'm pretty sure that flip flops are my favorite footwear of all time.... seriously, as a Midwesterner I wear flip flops until there is snow on the ground, and as soon as it melts (even if the temps are still sub-0) they go right back on. So, in honor of my favorite shoes, I made some hand sewn flowers, and with the help of an awl to punch holes in the plastic straps, sewed the flowers directly onto the shoe.... That's right, all hand crafted/ hand sewn and no hot glue! These are just a couple previews... the rest will be up in the shop within the week!

Have a special occasion you need a comfy yet classy pair of shoes for? Looking for the perfect bride or bridesmaid shoe? These are available in an assortment of sizes, colors, and flowers, and all for the very reasonable price of $10.50. Contact me for more information!

Ruffle Scarves

I have definitely been absent from blogging and facebooking lately (sorry!).... but I have a very good reason! Last weekend I hosted a table at an Arts & Crafts Fair in Rockford, IL..... Much of my time and energy this past month was devoted to getting items made and ready to sell (not to mention maintaining my other full time job as wife and mother extraordinaire!). Now that it's over, I am VERY excited to share with you a few new creations, the first being my new favorite: RUFFLE SCARVES!

A scarf is an easy way to dress up, add color, or give flair to any outfit. What's unique about these scarves is the ruffles which add a bit of eye catching detail! I also love that they are made from a cotton/nylon material so they are super lightweight which makes them a perfect accessory for summer. For $12 each, they are a steal! I will be listing them at the shop shortly... stay tuned!

Belated Valentines

Yes, I am THAT mom who dresses her children in 

"holiday themes". But seriously, they are only going to be little for a short while and I just have so much fun playing dress up. I found the cute ruffled shirt at Goodwill (did I mention I love that store!?) for $1.99, and made a simple elastic ruffled skirt with matching rosette pins. Finished the outfit with a crocheted flower hair barrette. Hope you both gave and received some love this Valentines Day!

Finishing Touches...

I spent January working on some "home" projects. I had a stash of items that I had purchased but just hadn't gotten around to doing anything with. Our half bathroom has been "done" for awhile, but it lacked finishing touches. My colors are Gray and Yellow with a bird theme. I found Birdhouses: $1.00 each, Subway Art Frame $1.99, Vase $.99, Shelf $2.99...... Using these thrifted items (LOVE Goodwill), a little paint, some spare scrap book paper, and some free printables, here is what I came up with! BTW, I know the vase is empty, I still have to put together a fun floral arrangement.... AND I am also hoping to make a yarny birds nest to add to my shelf, so many projects to work on and so little time!

Favorite "How To" Links

Here is a listing of some of my favorite "how to" links. Click on the picture and have fun crafting!

Matching Cuteness!

Just finished these dresses and hairbows for two little cuties, who happen to by my nieces! That's right folks, it's January 9th and I have finally finished my Christmas presents. (don't judge.... I didn't exactly procrastinate, I was just saving the best presents for last!)

My little lady modeled the older sister's version.... and though I admit I tried the younger sister's dress on my little man to make sure I had the sizing right, I think my husband would have had more than a few words with me if I took pictures of him modeling it! 

Of course, every dress needs accessories.... The crochet caps can accompany the dresses for the cooler months, and the hair bows/barrettes for the warmer ones! I used pinwheels on the dress (since they wash well and won't unravel), but I found this awesome free "how to" for making the fabric flower barrettes... check it out!

Looking for a Few Good Little Men

I have been busy getting ready for my first "Trunk Show" (you can check out the details under the "Trunk Show" link above). One of the items I have been busy sewing are Little Guy Bow Ties. I just have one problem.......

My handsome little man has temporarily quit (unfortunately he was forced to wear too many bow ties and is now trying to renegotiate his modeling contract). Therefore, I am looking for a few good little men (with their mother's consent) who would be willing to do a short photo shoot to model my products. The session includes free photos of your handsome little man and a $5 gift certificate to my shop. Contact me if you are interested.

Winter Wear!

My mom called to inform me she was getting rid of some old clothes.... so I jumped into the car to check out what was in the giveaway bag. Don't get me wrong I am ALL about hand me down clothing (secret: 90% of my wardrobe is hand me downs from my trendy aunt), but I wanted to scope out my mom's giveaways for materials I could re-purpose.... Clothes are free material and free notions (buttons, snaps, etc.) and as a crafter on a very strict budget FREE anything is a-ok by me!

I have been loving the picture posts on pinterest and etsy of ear-warmers.... yes, it's that time of year in the midwest again! I decided to transform one of my mom's sweaters into one.... btw, if you decide to attempt this make sure to rub the sweater against your cheek to make sure it's not going to irritate your skin (yes, this sounds ridiculous, but really no one's watching.... except maybe your kids but they think you're weird anyway). The project took about an hour, I used the cutting template from here (but not the directions), using a free sweater, thread, velcro, and a button I had on hand this project required no out of pocket expense. I'm pretty sure the worst part of this project was taking pictures of myself wearing it! Since there were quite a few sweaters in the bag.... I'm thinking Christmas presents......