Popolok Design Cece Dress

Earlier this month I was contacted by Popolok Design asking me to test their newest pattern the Cece Top and Dress.  It is a really cute pattern for a peplum shirt with the option to have a peter pan collar, sleeves or made into a dress.  It has a wide range of sizes (ages 1-8) so it can be used a number of times.

I love how this dress turned out!  I had the worst time convincing myself to use my Robert Kaufman Girlfriends fabric, but I'm so glad I did (and I have about half a yard left so I can use it again).  The mermaids are just way too cute.

The pattern was really easy to use.  I just suggest reading through the whole thing first to make sure you aren't doing something that will prevent you from adding sleeves or collar, if you want them, like I did and had to seam rip.  Something I did learn was that if you are going to do an invisible zipper, you need an invisible zipper foot.  I was able to do some finagling with the fabric and top-stitching to finally make it invisible.

You can't tell it by the pictures, but Eleanor really did love the dress.  I love the vintage feel it has.

Popolok Design have a lot of really cute patterns.  So you should check them out here and you can get this pattern here.

Collar to Crown

I thought it would be fun if I told you how I created the darling crown I showed in the Dress Shirt Challenge post.  I didn't take pictures as I went, but it was super easy.

First seam rip the top portion of the collar (that part that folds down) off a dress shirt.  Next hem the raw edge.  Over lap the two short edges slightly and stitch them down.  Last, but not least take some buttons and sew them on as jewels.  I used the spare buttons from the dress shirt.

TruBaby 2 in 1 Baby Body & Hair Wash Review

I was given the opportunity to review TruBaby Bubbly Baby Body and Hair Wash.  I thought it was pretty nifty that TruKid was started by a mother of six, that's a lot of babies needing cleaned!  As soon as I opened the box, the girls wanting to use it, probably because it has such a fun looking bottle.  I was excited to try it, because it is natural and non toxic (no parabens, phthalates, gluten, BPA, petroleum and any harsh chemicals.)

Usually, we use a very well known baby wash since we could get a bunch from Costco.  A couple of my frustrations are that it doesn't seem to bubble up well, the smell isn't the greatest, and it leaves Eleanor's hair a nightmare to comb through.  TruKid's met all those frustrations.  It lathered up amazingly, had a great fruity smell and when Michael combed Eleanor's hair it was just as easy as when we use a shampoo/conditioner all in one.

Nice and clean little girls waiting for story time.

I would totally recommend using this product.  I even want to try more of their products!  Now I just need to figure out a way to use up the other stuff we have.

They've allowed me to offer you all a coupon code for a free Sunny Days SPF 30+ face and body stick with any order of $30 or more from their website.

Coupon Code: sunnymom 

(1 use per customer)

You can find them on Facebook and at their website.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Project Run and Play Signature Look

 

It is the last week of Project Run and Play's current sew along, so that means time for Signature Looks!  I would probably describe my style for the girls to be practical (most of the time), feminine and whimsical.

I've been making a lot for Eleanor lately, so I decided that this one would be for Laurel.  I looked through my Ottobre Designs at all the patterns that would fit her and narrowed it down to a wrap dress (#9 from issue 6/2007), t-shirt and leggings (#1 and #2 from issue 4/2012).

It is hard to see, there are the cutest little bows at the hems.

 For the dress, I used some fabric my sister gave me way before I was married, or even thinking I would ever get the chance to date.  The leggings and t-shirt were made using some misprint shirts from Camp that Michael couldn't sell.  I used them so I wouldn't have to hem anything.  I hate hemming.  I even shortened the sleeves to avoid doing the sleeve binding.

I love her cheesy smile!

Project Run and Play Sew Along Week 5

The Men's Dress Shirt Challenge is what I had to work with this week for Project Run and Play's Sew Along.  Once again I pulled my inspiration from Pinterest.  I choose two post to base this week's outfit from here and here as well as a little something all my own.

I started with a plain white dress shirt stolen from my husband.  Then I used some leftover dye from a tie dye kit, I had from dying stained baby onesies to dye it a super pale turquoise.  I love how the color turned out, although I should have done my seam ripping before dying, because now there is an interesting pocket shaped less dyed spot.

She's getting over a cold, so I could only get to to take pictures if she got to sit.

Using tutorials that don't provide pattern pieces, remind me how much I need a physical pattern.  They didn't turn out exactly like I had hoped, especially the pants that I ended up having to turn into leg warmers of sorts.  Oh well, it still turned out cute.

My favorite part is the the crown I made from the part of the collar that was seam ripped off.

Project Run and Play Sew Along Week 4

Love is in the Air is the theme for this week at Project Run and Play.  My main inspiration for this week was this super darling stuffed robot toy.  

I couldn't find where it came from, but I did find where someone made one just like it and shared how here.  I started with her measurements traced on paper, but cut one head piece, one body piece and four hand/feet pieces as well as a little heart.  I played around with them on a t-shirt and cut some smaller till I found something I liked.  (I was going to use ric rac for arms, but liked it better without.)  

Head: 1.5 inches square

Body: 2.5 inches square

Arms and Legs: 1 inch square

Then I cut those sized pieces from fusible web.  I ironed the body pieces onto some white knit and the heart from a scrap of knit from the shirt and cut those out.  Next, I positioned them in the center of the t-shirt front, stitched them down on the sewing machine.  

For the next part, I used a technique I also found on Pinterest, where she colors in her embroidery with crayon and irons it to set it in.  

I then added buttons for eyes and a bow.  I nearly added a skirt made from ruffled lace, but couldn't make up my mind.  I also used a back stitch with embroidery thread  to make the mouth.

I used the Elise pattern again from Violette Field Threads, this time with the short sleeve option.  I really love it, because it is so fast and easy and fits Eleanor really well.  This will be her third shirt made using it.

For the skirt, I used the pleated skirt tutorial from here.  I've wanted to make it since I first saw it, around the time it was posted.

Source

I made it in the same fabric as the jumper from here.  I'm trying really hard to use it up.

I really like the buttons on the sleeves.

As well as on the skirt.

Lonesome for Laurel

This weekend my parents came over a decided to take Laurel with them for some special time.  Eleanor was pretty bummed about it.  She even played with one of Laurel's dolls all day the first day, calling it Laurel.  While I was trying to get some data entry done for camp she told me she needed to make a dress for the doll, so I gave in. 

 I used the same pattern that I blogged about here and let Eleanor choose which view and a fabric.  She picked view two, which is a cute little sundress, and some pink fabric that was some of that tiered fabrics with elastic that are basically instant skirts.  I seam ripped a couple of tiers for the doll dress and with the remaining, it was just the right width for a skirt for Eleanor.